New Hampshire cappuccino

I'm sitting at Caffee Fresco in Hampton, New Hampshire, enjoying a triple cappuccino and free WiFi. Sweet. The temperature is in the 70s and there is no humidity. It won't feel this good in Central Texas until at least October! Andrea and I won't be with you tomorrow but our good friend Terry Michaels, Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel of the Springs in San Marcos, will be filling in for me. Terry is a great teacher. Gifted communicator. Great sense of humor. You'll love him. We'll be praying for you and see you next week!

Get connected!

So you've decided to make Calvary Austin your church home. You're attending and giving. Now what? What's the next step? When we talk about what it means to be fully engaged at Calvary Austin, here's what we mean. In addition to attending and giving on the weekend, to be fully engaged means to plug into a Life Group and to find a place of service.

In seven weeks, we will launch Saturday evening services in Cedar Park and Round Rock. These are not church-plants. Instead these are alternate, off-site locations (satellites, if you will) where this church will meet. Think of this way: four worship gatherings . . . at three locations . . . over two days . . . all one church! It's all part of our vision to relocate and, ultimately, to impact one percent of the Austin metro population.

To accomplish this, we need everyone's help! That's what Connections Day is all about. This event is designed to be the biggest single-day recruiting effort in the history of our church! If you attend Calvary but haven't found a place of service, this event is for you. If you attend and already serve but sometimes wonder if you're in the right position based on the way God's wired you, this event is for you. If you attend and serve but just don't want to miss any of the excitement leading up to the launch of these satellites, this event is for you.

I can't think of any undertaking more exciting since my wife, Andrea, and I packed up and moved to Austin 14 years ago to start this church. Those were heady days. We want that for you. We want you to get a taste of what it's like to be part of such a venture of faith. To be part of something bigger than any one of us. Part of bringing change to the lives of people God cares about.

Change is possible!

T minus 60 days!

So yesterday I hit a Wendy's drive-thru in Round Rock. When I pulled up to the first window I was greeted by a woman who attends the church! That was a nice surprise. She shared with me that she's had to work on Sunday and hasn't been able to attend church. It was great to be able to tell her that we plan to launch the Round Rock satellite service Saturday, September 17.

For those who don't know, we're transitioning to multi-site ministry. We're talking four worship gatherings, three locations, over two days, all one church! On Saturday, imagine a 5 p.m. worship gathering at Cox Elementary School in Cedar Park and a 6:30 p.m. worship gathering at Ridgeview Middle School in Round Rock. Then on Sunday, imagine that we still have 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. services in Austin.

We are forming volunteer teams for both new campuses. If you currently volunteer at Calvary Austin and want to be considered for one of the new teams, contact your ministry leader as soon as possible to let them know. If you attend Calvary Austin but don't currently volunteer and would like to get involved, call the church office for information about Connections Day Saturday, August 6. If you live in the Cedar Park/Leander or Pflugerville/Round Rock areas, no need to wait for September. Check us out this weekend!

More Momentum

Last month we submitted a letter of intent to the owner of a 15-acre tract at Parmer Lane and Avery Ranch Road (see previous post). We have received a response from the owner's realtor informing us that our offer has been rejected. It's our understanding that it was the Avery family's wish - as well as the intention of the developer - to see a church on this property so we remain hopeful. Please pray that the Lord would give us favor with the owner and/or that the Lord would give us the resources needed to make a larger offer.

Building Momentum

Building Momentum is what we call our campaign to buy land and build a permanent church home. Last month we submitted a letter of intent to the owner of a 15-acre tract at Parmer Lane and Avery Ranch Road (just north of 620 next to the new Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex). It is our understanding that this tract was set aside for a church but that the group planning to build there no longer intends to do so. We offered what we think we can raise based on feedback from our church and this offer is more than the owner paid for it. This tract is perfect for us as it sits between Cedar Park and Round Rock where two-thirds of our people live. We've received a response from the owner. More tomorrow . . .

What is the world coming to?

Bombs blasted London today in an act of terror that has apparently claimed dozens of lives. Do you ever wonder what the world is coming to? The Bible has a lot to say about the future of mankind and planet Earth. As we continue the Summer message-series Future-Proof, we're going to be talking about an event known as the Rapture. What is the Rapture? And what difference does it make? Join us this weekend to find out.

Allen

Love v. Lust

Sunday we asked the question, "Why would God create sex only to ruin it with rules?" Our conclusion was that He wouldn't. That must mean the rules don't ruin sex. Instead the rules keep us from ruining it and keep it from ruining us. If you missed Sunday's service, watch it this week.

Bonus material: When we came to 1 Thess. 4:4, we said that the word vessel refers to our body so that Paul was writing about the need for self-control. There is another possibility. The word vessel may refer to a wife as it does in 1 Pet. 3:7. In this case, not only does the verse echo other Bible verses that teach marriage between a man and a woman as the only God-given context for sex but it teaches another very important lesson.

Verse 5 indicates that Paul is contrasting lust with love. There is a big difference - even for married couples - between a sex life that is love-driven and one that is lust-driven. Lust is selfish - love is selfless. Lust pleases itself - love pleases it's partner. Lust may demand or deny - love does neither.

Allen