Dear Saddleback Family,
NO SUCH THING AS LONG-RANGE PLANNING!
When life throws you a curve-ball, like our sudden discovery of Jaime's brain tumor, we realize once again that much of our schedule is often beyond our control. Unforeseen crises prove the futility of long range planning. No one but God knows the future. While the Bible tells us that we ought to prepare for the future, no one can predict the future. No one. As Jeremiah said, "Lord, I know that a person's life doesn't really belong to him. No one can control his own life." Jeremiah 10:23 (NCV) The Living Bible translation says it this way: O Lord, I know it is not within the power of man to map his life and plan his course."
The godly way to plan is scenario planning - having the attitude of, "We'll do this...IF such and such happens..." This is the kind of planning that the Bible recommends: "Instead, you ought to say, "IF it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:15 (NIV)
Thanks for your prayers for Jaime. She is an incredibly strong woman, refusing self-pity, fighting back, and making progress everyday in her recovery. I cancelled all my commitments through this weekend (including speaking at the White House yesterday) so I can stay with Josh and Jaime. In life or death situations with your kids, I would expect you to do the same. We are still awaiting the pathology report to tell us what kind of brain tumor it was. You can click here for a video update on Jaime's condition. Also, I encourage you to visit the CaringBridge website, where you can read and write comments to Jaime. THANK YOU for loving my family.
ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM YOU
One of the things that has encouraged me here in the hospital waiting room, is reading so many great stories from 40 Days of Love. Your stories are so inspiring. Please keep sending them to pastorrick@saddleback.net.
One stunning development is that our members have started over 400 new Workplace small groups that meet in businesses and offices during the day across Southern California! Workplace groups are made up largely of people who don't attend church, but are open to attending a small group. Teachers have started Workplace small groups at schools during lunch. Police and law enforcement folks have started precinct small groups. Nurses, doctors, realtors, retailers, insurance companies, and even government workers have started daytime groups at work.
Imagine the impact these workplace groups are having on the atmosphere and relationships in all those worksites! I am SO proud of these caring, courageous, and loving people! Here are just a few stories:
1. AT A TELEPHONE COMPANY - An hourly service representative started a group with a small group kit for 6 people. Today she is leading 2 groups with 37 people total! She was told she could not use the conference room but she could use the lunchroom so she and her husband used their own money to buy a portable DVD player. WOW!
2. AT A HIGH SCHOOL - An English teacher is leading a voluntary group for students. Several have already come to Christ and now the teacher has been asked to lead a group for teachers too. The principal supports these efforts as it is a way to combat violence in the city.
3. AT A TECH COMPANY - So many employees wanted to attend the Workplace 40 Days of Love group that HR ask them to move off site! So they found a place close to their office to meet.
4. AT A HEALTH CARE COMPANY Everyone, from the CEO to the VP of Sales and VP of Ops to middle management and hourly workers have joined in together to go through 40 Days of Love to learn how to improve relationships!
What about YOUR workplace? YOU COULD DO THIS TOO with the 3 week PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS series!
THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS
At Christmas, your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and relatives are more open to receiving the Good News than at any other time of the year.
Everyone will be hearing music about Jesus for an entire month. They will be thinking, "Why is Christmas such a big deal?" So we have prepared 4 friendly tools for you to use in sharing Christ with your friends:
• The Purpose of Christmas BOOK will be released in bookstores across America on Nov. 4. The first printing is 1.7 million copies, and Wal-Mart ordered 500,000! This book contains the clearest, simplest explanation of what it means to believe in Christ that I've ever written. I created this gift book for you to give to all your unchurched friends this Christmas season. Give the gift of salvation before Christmas. Inside this beautiful full-color gift book is a page where you can write a note to the person you are giving the book to.
• The Purpose of Christmas MUSIC CD will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart. David Pack enlisted top artists for this project: Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Third Day, Amy Grant, Stephen Curtis Chapman, David Benoit, Paul Baloche, David Pack, and Adam Watts. My Christmas message is interspersed between Christmas songs.
• The Purpose of Christmas AUDIO BOOK is a great gift for those who prefer listening to reading.
• The Purpose of Christmas SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE & DVD - A 3 week study that I want all of our small groups to complete before Christmas. I have videotaped 3 Christmas studies based on the 3 statements the angel announced at the first Christmas.
Just click here to pre-order these Christmas tools for you and your small group now.
PROPOSITION 8: THE MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT
For 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion - not just Christianity - has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population. This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called "gay marriage." Even some gay leaders, like Al Rantel of KABC oppose watering down the definition of marriage. Of course, my long-time opposition is well known. This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue.
This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes. I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 - to preserve the biblical definition of marriage. Don't forget to vote!
Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
