The Everett Herald did an article on the tax site we are hosting at our church (as well as the other three in the county).  Here is a link to the article. The picture is of Sherly who is the site manager at our location. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100222/NEWS01/702229904

143million kids are considered to be orphans in our world.  They are in need of loving families and strong support systems. As most of you know orphan kids are near to our heart as they are near to the heart of our Father. Our neighbors need our help.

 Why don’t you consider what you might be able to do to help just one kid?  It might be adoption or foster care. It might be that you are available as a safe family for parents to bring their kids for a time while they sort it all out. It might be going across town or across the Pacific. 

The Peterson family of North Carolina just got back from Haiti and wrote a great account of their adoption of two wonderful kids.

Beth writes….“Adoption isn’t about heroic people doing something amazing. To me adoption is about
followers of Christ answering a call to love like Christ does and in return they get to see Jesus in little eyes.”

Check out their full story at http://143million.posterous.com

Joseph Fehlen – State of the Church – February 21st, 2010

Here are the slides for this presentation.  2009 Partners Meeting

Do you ever feel when you are talking to someone they are not listening?  Or when you are trying to explain something to your kids they have that glazed eye look? I help a lot of kids out with homework. 

Many times I ask them a question and I swear my words go up to a satellite, get beamed down to their ears and bounce around in their head for a minute, until some answer (usually not right) comes out. Not sure people listen.
I felt that way last night.  I was in a Seattle radio studio doing ‘Live fromSeattle with Doug Bursch’ (AM820 KGNW). Doug is a friend that just started this program a little while ago and he asked me to come in to talk about small things we can do to make a difference. 

We talked about my 40 days of drinking water in substitution of other beverages, helping kids with homework, foster care, and our back pack event we do (www.startoutright.org).  As well as a little detour into the world of Sushi.

I got to experience a vantage point of the sun setting over the Seattle skyline that others pay for.  I got to dialog with a friend and talk sushi. I also got to be in a room with lots of buttons, which I love.  It was an overall delightful evening that I would do again.

Except I am not sure anyone was listening. They have no real good way to find out if people are actually on the other end. They allow for listeners to call in, and one did. But for the most part it was Doug and I. We had to imagine thousands tuned in to listen to our next words. Good thing I got the window seat so I could stare out onto the Seattle skyline and speak to the many that lived and worked within my eyesight.(hope they are good lip readers)

I wonder if that is what God feels like when He is trying to communicate with us.  He speaks. He offers to dialog and for us to call in. He has some good things to say.  He stares out over us and see us, but is not sure we are always listening.

What would it take to help us tune in a bit and be better listeners?

 

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This pretty cool stuff.  In just the first four weeks of us hosting a free tax site at South Everett Foursquare we have seen 214 families assisted.  Thanks to a tremendous group of well trained United Way volunteers our local community has received just over $174,000 in earned income credit and a few bucks more than a half a million back in refunds. These are all families that earn less than $48,000 per year.  Thank you United Way of Snohomish for all you are doing.  http://www.uwsc.org/4_7.php