This Sunday, March 14th, we get to check out a new location on 6th Street! Due to SXSW, we will not be meeting at the Hideout this Sunday morning, but that's cool because we like to experience the variety of our city anyway.

Instead, we will be meeting a few blocks over at the Old Pecan Street Cafe Banquet Hall on 6th Street, east of San Jacinto.  We should be back at our regular place, The Hideout, the following week.

Time Change! Spring Forward

We will be meeting at our normal time, 10:30am.  But don't forget to spring forward one hour!

Parking

OK, so we don't have a sweet parking deal at this location, but all the parking meters are FREE on weekends, so come early, grab a good spot and hang out.

Coffee

For those of you who need your coffee fix like we normally have at the Hideout, grab your caffiene on the way in.

Childcare

Childcare will be different this Sunday.  We will still have it officially, but we will all be in the same big room, with the kids in the back and off to the side.  As always, your kiddos can hang with you, or you can sign them in to childcare in the back.  If it gets a little loud, that's cool.

See you Sunday!

Address:
Old Pecan Street Cafe
310 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701

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The park we will be working on this year is Auditorium Shores at Town Lake.

The project starts at 9am and will end by no later than 3pm.

To learn more about the project and to register for the event, please visit the Austin Parks Foundation's website here. You must register online if you'd like to take part this year.

We'll see you Saturday!

Read the rest of our Lenten Season posts here.

In this article I would like to offer some simple ideas regarding prayer.  This is not an exhaustive list, and as you will see, that's kind of the point.

Pray Simply

As a Christian, our identity is that of an adopted child of God, reconciled to him through faith and trust in Jesus.  As a child we are able to talk directly and simply to God the Father.  We need no ancient language, no big theological words, no repeating mantra and no long monotonous conversation.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:7-8

As children of God, we can simply talk to God as a Father.  This doesn't mean that we do it irreverently, but rather with the deep trust and reverence that a child would have for a wonderful Father whose ways were higher than our ways and whose wisdom was deeper than our mind could comprehend.

Pray with Perseverance

Many of us, thinking God is not listening or doesn't care, say a pray once and don't go back, asking God again.  In Luke 18 Jesus calls on us to persevere in our prayers.

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:7-8

Notice the type of prayer that God loves to answer, the one that seeks justice and in faith.  During this Lenten season, as you encounter God, feel hunger and share in he suffering of those who lack food, water and experience oppression, we invite you to talk to the Father, begging Him with perseverance for God's merciful justice.  Be faithful, and be the answer to the prayer.

Pray Abidingly

Our deepest, most God glorifying and fruitful prayers come from our abiding in Christ.

7 If you abide in me (Christ), and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." John 15:7-9

More than just being a professing Christian, more than 'believing in' Jesus, but actually believing the words that He says and seeing that they abide in us is what leads us to prayers that are more effective and more glorifying to God the Father.

Pray Daily. With Rejoicing. With Thanks.

Everyone is always asking what the will of God is for their life.  What they almost always mean is what should I do for a living, who should I marry, where should we live, etc.  What if it's more simple than that.  What if the will of God is this simple:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What if rejoicing in all things, praying to the Father continuously, and giving thanks in all things was what God wanted for you because it showed your heart and trust in Him.  And what if through this intimate trusting relationship that is so continuous we found God's will for us in daily things of life and in it's twist and turns along our way.

Simply Pray

What stops most of us from praying is not that we don't know how to pray, but that we don't acknowledge our dependence on God the Father and simply talk to Him for guidance, wisdom and grace.  Just like a small, rebellious child who says, "Me do.", we can be a people, full grown adults who say "We got this." Just as a child would be foolish to think he can understand and navigate the fullness of this world without the guidance of his Father, we show ourselves also to be foolish in thinking our finite minds and experiences can understand and navigate the fullness of this world.  Just as a child doesn't fully comprehend his own mind and body, we also do not fully comprehend ourselves.  And just as a child doesn't fully comprehend the full capacity of a Fathers love and attributes, we also do not understand the fullness of God the Father.  Lay hold of this truth today and begin talking to the Father.

Summary

As a Christian, you can talk directly to God the Father as a child of God, doing so with perseverance, with faith, with awesome wonder, with trust, with humility, while abiding in Jesus Christ and His words being found in your heart.  Go ahead.  You can do it right now.

We as Christians are called to follow the Holy Spirit as He begins to change our hearts, in doing this we are not looking to impact others with our fasting, nor are we to make a political statement, we are to do it in private and focus on listening to God.  Jesus died to cleanse us of our sins, thereby setting us free; it is this freedom that makes our fasting all the more powerful.  No longer do we have to do fast,-the law no longer dictates it but rather now, we were purchased and should want to grow ever closer to God, some thing that God has shown us that fasting does.  Paul writes (in 1 Corinthians 6:12) that “all things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything”.  He speaks of our freedom in Christ, and the ability that we have to no longer be mastered by sin through the sacrifice that Christ made.  We are not required to fast, to follow a dietary regiment of any kind, because the age of the laws has ended.  We have been spoken for, by Christ, to the Father and should allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to a deep, personal relationship with God.  Fasting is one option that the Holy Spirit may choose to use in you bring you closer to the Father.

Ultimately, what dictates a Christian fast is not, the absence of food itself, but the focus on God while abstaining from food.  Your heart is what makes the difference between a fast with the intent of knowing God more deeply or a “cleanse”.  I pray that all of you, if you chose to fast during Lent, fast with the conviction that can only come from prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Read all of our Lenten Season FAST posts here.

Dependence

As created beings we depend on God for our life and our sustenance.  Food is our primary physical source for nutrition which gives us energy, strength and vitality.  It is critical for every part of our body that we partake of food and water to live.  If we are not careful we can begin to trust in the physical things of this world and forget who provides them.  In fasting to draw near to God we are remembering that what sustains us is not merely physical but spiritual as well.  Through our fast we are acknowledging our dependence on God as the real primary source that gives us energy, strength and vitality.  We can add to that purpose, meaning, joy and a family.

Jesus shows us this in John 4.  In this chapter, after a long night of healing and traveling, Jesus sends the disciples ahead for food while he rests at a well.  While there, a woman comes to draw water and in the subsequent conversation Jesus ministers to her deeply and reveals Himself as the Messiah, blessing her and offering renewal.  After the disciples come back and the woman leaves, the disciples offer Jesus the food they had brought back.  At that moment Jesus responds, "I have food to eat that you do not know about.  My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work."  Jesus makes it clear in this passage that He is being sustained in drawing near to the Father in doing the work the Father gave Him to do.  In His dependence Jesus is being sustained spiritually and being led to far more joy than a full stomach.  In this case Jesus skips a meal having drawn near to God and doing the work of the Father.

What about TV?

So why only fasting from food?  Why not fasting from video games, TV, chocolate, Oprah, etc.  Why can't I give up other things and focus on God while giving them up?  Because it is not just the drawing near to God in giving up physical things, but also the dependence on God for the spiritual provision of life as He is the source of it.  Let's be honest, while giving up TV can be hard for some of you, there is something fundamentally different in abstaining from that which gives nutrition and requires us to depend on God, and of abstaining from entertainment related items.  Not eating for a week has a very different effect than not watching TV for a week.  And if giving up TV is that hard, it isn't merely something to fast from, but more likely an idol that you need to examine in your life and possibly stop altogether.

Some well meaning people have said that there weren't video games, TV, etc in the first century, and since those are things that distract us from God now, they are suitable alternatives to a food fast.  This is called a 'trajectory hermeneutic', meaning that we find the underlying ethic that God was teaching at the time and adjust that ethic for our times.  First off, that type of hermeneutic is incredibly dangerous because it sets the current culture as the arbiter of what God intends.  Secondly, the underlying purpose/ethic of the fast was always to abstain from food, a physical source of life, and to show dependence on God, the spiritual/ultimate source of life.  Video games, TV, etc are hardly physical sources of life.

Suffering

I would propose that one reason for the adjustments in acceptable types of fast is that as a Christian people, we have grown uncomfortable in our own suffering and calling people to suffer.  We don't like to talk about it, and we lower the bar for others to avoid it.  But sharing in suffering is often the best way for us to understand what it is to suffer.  Please learn what it is like to have a hungry belly so that you can share in the suffering of those who do.  Besides, will they be impressed when you tell the hungry that you know what it's like to suffer because you gave up your TV for a whole week?

A True Fast

Is there anywhere in scripture where God calls us to a different type of fast?  I am glad you asked because there is another type of fast that God calls us to, and in this passage the underlying ethic is more fully revealed by the scriptures.

Isaiah 58

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

In Isaiah 58 God is calling a people to not fast from food so as to be seen by others, but to a fast that gives up their food in order to give it to others, to open their homes for the use of others, to use their freedom and abundance to bless others.  God is calling them to a true fast that draws them near to God's heart, a fast that reminds them of the hunger in their own bellies, a fast that reminds them that God is their provider and sustainer.  From that true fast, drawing near to God and remembering what it is like to go without physical provision, they turn to those without it and seek to provide it.  People aren't dying around the world because they can't watch TV, they are dying because they don't have food and clean water.  How do we really relate to that level of poverty and oppression by not watching TV?

True Fast in Jesus Christ

The true fast is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who was rich, but became poor, hungry and dependent on the Father's spiritual sustenance in order that we might experience both physical and spiritual sustenance from the Father, and in turn bless others.  In His life, Jesus shows us the fulness of the true fast. If our fasting does not turn into blesssing for others, then we have not drawn near to God's heart for the nations.

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During this Lenten season, Soma Austin is inviting our members and friends to join us in fasting from food, in order to draw near to God and to draw near to His heart for those who are hungry, thirsty, harassed and oppressed.  We are inviting you to skip a single meal each week, to feel the hunger, to be reminded of God as provider, to draw near to Him in prayer, to share in the sufferings of others, and to ask what you might be able to do to relieve hungry, thirst and oppresson in the nations.  You can find some practical steps for fasting, including a longer fast here.

My personal favorite, probably due at least in part to my Mars Hill Church background, is a recent blog post on The Resurgence website, entitled 6 Practical Steps for Fasting by Acts 29 Pastor, Winfield Bevins.  Winfield’s final step (spoiler alert!), is to “just do it!” which I think is possibly one of the best tips that I read.  Personally, the whole thing has seemed quite daunting to me, and after much prayer, I won’t be attempting a long fast to start with, but that is entirely up to each individual, their health, and most importantly, where the Spirit leads them.

For something a little more, in-depth, than the link above, I also recommend Dr. Bill Bright’s Guide to Fasting & Prayer—a fantastic guide that takes far more than I have room for here into account.  FYI, Bill Bright is NOT a doctor of medicine.  In addition, if anyone can tell me which actress that girl on the link above looks like, I will be grateful…it has been bugging me for a few days now. 

Please keep in mind throughout all of this, that it is ultimately through the Spirit that you should decide to fast, and remember it is all for the glory of the Father & the Son.  If you do chose to fast, I would like to ask that you remember Matthew 6:16-18:

16"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Please RSVP on our Facebook Event or with Emily so she knows who's coming and how much to make. Her email is emilybryant@somaaustin.org

Her Address:

Ridgeview Apartments
8600 Brodie Lane
Building 5, #534
Austin, TX 78749

We also have two members of Soma who will be running in the marathon this weekend. So come out and join us cheer-on and support Sherry Birk and Christie Vanhorn! Sign making is welcome.

Over the last few days, I have been pondering, “Why should I fast?”, or, when I am being completely honest, “What is in this for me?”—a question I am ashamed to admit that I ask in my heart far too often.  After praying that I would be more motivated in fasting and not just for this project, I came across a passage in John Piper’s A Hunger for God (pp.178):

Well, if God does not reward fasting because we create it and offer it to him to get a recompense, why does he reward it? If, in fact, God himself is the Creator and Sustainer of fasting, why is it that he has appointed this act as an occasion of his reward? The answer is that God is committed to rewarding those acts of the human heart that signify human helplessness and hope in God.  Over and over again in Scripture God promises to come to the aid of those who stop depending on themselves and seek God as their treasure and help.

Piper unpacks, what has been something I have found much difficulty in remembering, fasting should be a physical manifestation of our dependence on God, it is to be done not as a sign of our own righteousness (because without Christ we have none), but to be done for the honor and glory of the Father.  Our reward is his glory.  On that note, I leave you with this quote,

“Spiritual delight in God arises chiefly from his beauty and perfection, not from the blessings that he gives us.” – Jonathan Edwards

In researching this post, I stumbled upon a brief article written by Pastor John Piper in 1981…humbling in and of itself given that the majority of Soma Austin, myself included, was not yet born.  In Piper’s article, entitled A Call to Fast for Humility and Power, he reminds us of the story of Ezra. 

Ezra, being charged with the protection of 50,000 Israelites—a group larger, I would dare say, than any of us has come close to leading, became nervous.  As Piper says:

Ezra sets an example for us. He takes the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and applies it to his situation and trusts God. The promise said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven…” God makes his forgiving, healing and protecting work contingent upon our humbling ourselves, turning from sin and seeking him in prayer. So Ezra and his troops humbled themselves (8:21) and sought God earnestly (8:23) and God heard.

Ezra had commanded his troops to fast in that they would seek God’s wisdom.  An example from the New Testament, in Matthew 17:19-21 (NIV), illustrates what happens when we do not possess enough faith in the Father, I will write out the whole passage as many modern translations exclude Matthew 17:21:

 19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

 20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 21But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

Charles Spurgeon preached on this passage near the end of one of his sermons, “A Desperate Case – How to Meet it”.  Spurgeon saw the whole of Christendom as a matter of faith, following the mustard seed analogy, and believed that while preaching if someone were not saved that it was because the preacher did not have enough faith that they would be.  Spurgeon’s take on fasting was this:

And what is fasting for? That seems to be the difficult point. It is evidently accessory to the peculiar continuance in prayer, practised oftentimes by our Lord, and advised by him to his disciples. Not a kind of religious observance, in itself meritorious, but a habit, when associated with the exercise of prayer, unquestionably helpful.

In keeping this post brief, I will end on that note, asking that you take into consideration that fasting with prayer is a powerful tool that God uses to remind us that he is Lord.

I encourage you all to keep this in mind daily, and specifically as you prepare for the season of Lent.  All happiness we experience is from God, and as we grow closer to Him, we learn more about what happiness actually means.  As I have been hearing second-hand highlights from the Verge conference this past weekend, one struck me more than the others, “Do not give up what you want the most, for what you want this moment." - Scott P. Smith.  Before I became a Christian this would have made sense perhaps in a small term: do I need this gadget if I am saving for a new car, et cetera; as I have grown in my faith in Christ, this has taken on a completely new, and far truer, meaning. 

Fasting, as one of the oldest spiritual disciplines, is perhaps one of the least practiced in our culture.  As a culture we have grown in consumerism, we have lowered the value of fasting, forsaking it for a full belly, a night out with friends and ultimately staying further away from the Father.  Now, before I begin to sound as if I am putting too much emphasis on fasting, I would like to remind you that Jesus was led into the desert for a forty day fast during which time, he was led by the Spirit and ministered to by Angels, and then tempted by Satan.  All of this is to say that fasting is a number of things, many of which are summarized by Richard Wagner in Christianity for Dummies (which I confess, I have gone to more than once):

Fasting fosters concentration on God and his will.
Oswald Chambers once said that fasting means "concentration," because when you're fasting, you have a heightened sense of attentiveness. Food or any physical sensation can satisfy, fill you up, and dull your senses and spiritual ears. In contrast, a hungry stomach makes you more aware and alert to what God is trying to say to you.

Fasting provides a real-life illustration of dependency.
Although modern man thrives on the idea of being independent, beholden to no one, fasting helps you put the facts in the proper perspective. It's easy to believe in your independence with a full stomach, but when you start to feel hunger pains in your belly after missing a meal or two, you awaken to your body's dependency on food to survive. Fasting reveals a physical reliance on food that points to the ultimate dependency – the fact that you're dependent on God for things far more important than food.

The focus of fasting should not be on the lack of food.
Fasting from food can be done for a variety of purposes, either physical or spiritual. So abstaining from food alone doesn't constitute a Christian fast. Instead, a Christian fast is accompanied by a special focus on prayer during the fast, often substituting the time you'd spend eating with prayer.

When Jesus fasted for forty days, he left the distractions of life and went to be by himself.  Knowing that it is too easy to get caught up in the day, Jesus takes himself away from others so that he might walk with God through the path that the Spirit leads him down, all the while abstaining from food, so that again his focus would not be on the temporal, but rather The Father.  This is a hugely important lesson to keep in mind while following Christ and growing ever closer to the Father.  Fasting, when boiled down, is an exercise to bring us closer to The Father—it is not a solitaire journey, we are to focus on him instead of our hunger.  We demote ourselves in pursuit of Christ.

We are excited to celebrate a new Soma Group starting tonight off South Congress!  We are excited because it brings more opportunities for deeper relationships with God and one another, more renewal, stronger families & marriages and growth in mission.

Soma Groups are our primary places of community, where we learn from one another, serve one another, grow together and join together in renewing people we know and the local communities we live in.  With this new group starting we are able to expand the renewal those groups bring to a new part of our city.  And one of the primary questions we will ask ourselves as a group as we grow is, "Who do you wanna be?"  Do we want to be people who let life just happen to us, or are we people who are intentional about our lives and who we are becoming?

If you are not part of a Soma Group, we invite you to join us off S. Congress tonight at 7pm at the Vanhorn home.  We will have some drinks and lights snacks available.  The Vanhorn home is located at 5206 Hedgewood Drive, Austin, TX 78745.  Feel free to call Jacob at 512.565.9363 if you get lost or have any questions.

Learn more about Soma Groups.

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The current tragedy in Haiti compels us all to stand up and ask how we can help.  As the Body of Christ we are compelled to suffer with those who suffer and to mourn with those who mourn.  To clothe the naked, to feed the hungry and to bring freedom to the oppressed.  And while the nations of the world can come to help Haiti, it is the Body of Christ spread among the nations who is called by God to do so.  With that in mind, I invite the people and friends of Soma Austin to respond.  What can you do?

Learn: Please take the time to learn about what is happening in Haiti.  Not just by watching a horrible series of images across your screen in the half hour newscycle.  Many of you will either change the channel because it is too much to watch repeatedly or you will stop watching when the national news moves on to something else within two weeks.  Watch and read what is going on today and then learn what has gone on for decades.

Mourn with those who mourn, grieve with those who grieve: Cultivate in your heart a compassion for the people of Haiti, ask the Lord for His heart for the people of Haiti.  Don't be desensitized by all the news coverage and do not turn away because you do not know what to do.

Pray: Pray for all those involved.  For families who have lost loved ones, for those who have been injured, for those who are able bodied and helping, for the government of Haiti, for the churches in Haiti, for missionaries in Haiti and pray for those who are supposed to respond and help, including yourself.

Give: Open your wallet and give. There are countless organizations collecting and distributing aid for Haiti at this time.  At Soma Austin we have an existing relationship with several organizations that we will continue supporting:

• Living Water International already has teams on the ground in Haiti and is working to provide relief.  When speaking of the lack of clean water in Haiti, one missionary in Haiti said, "Water is the new currency" meaning that water had become more valuable than money in the aftermath of this tragedy.  Living Water will begin immediatly working to restore 500 wells and handpumps in Haiti to restore water access to over 250,000 people.
  
  This Sunday at Soma Austin ALL tithes and contributions will be donated to Living Water International to support their efforts to restore access to clean water.  And through a generous donor, all of that money will be matched, effectively doubling the donation.
• Buy a Help Haiti T-Shirt at Real Hope for Haiti.  This is a ministry in Haiti working on the ground to love and renew the country.  These are friends of our good friends over at Help End Local Poverty (HELP).

Go!: Yep, go.  I will be working with Living Water to see if we can join them on a trip to Haiti to help restore existing water wells.  In addition to that connection our friends at HELP will be going within the next 30-60 days to help with relief work.  Contact Chris Marlow directly.

Go & Give Locally: Participate in the Hope for Haiti benefit concert that our friends at Music for the City are hosting on Monday night (1/18) at 7pm at The Parish in downtown Austin.  100% of proceeds will be used to support Real Hope for Haiti.  $10 at the door.  Go to Music for the City and click on Hope for Haiti for more info.

Pray for Haiti's Future: I am deeply grieved that the body of Christ has not had more of a long term impact in Haiti.  I am deeply grieved that a 7.0 earthquake in San Francisco in 1989 killed around 60 people while a 7.0 in Haiti kills tens of thousands.  The abject poverty in Haiti, corruption and poor living conditions are unacceptable and contributed to such a high toll of death and devastation.  I am convinced that the Body of Christ in the United States has the resources to solve much of the world's physical problems.  If only we would have the courage and obedience to do it.  Please join me in prayer for what Soma Austin's long term relationship with Haiti could look like.

The State of Texas has issued a Winter Weather Alert.  In addition to those without homes being exposed to the cold, there is a high likelihood of power outages and broken water pipes for some of Austin's most vulnerable citizens.

They are in need of blankets, coats, heaters and/or shelter for those that need it.

Ways to Give

• You can drop them off tonight from 7pm - 9pm at 2011 Alguno Rd #A, Austin, TX 78757.  Please do not drop them off later than 9pm.
• You can bring them to services on Sunday morning between 10am - 12:30pm at The Hideout Coffeehouse & Theatre located at 617 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 (SE corner of 7th & Congress)
• If you are unable to drop them off at these times, please email Bryan Ford and he will try to make other arrangements.
• Financially: If you would like to give financially you may do so via PayPal.  Please follow up with an email to info@somaaustin.org so we assign the funds appropriately.

Thank you for helping to Keep Austin Warm!!

Can't wait to see you all there! Gobble Gobble!

We are so blessed at Soma, in the fact that most of us call Jacob a close friend. I bet he's had tacos or coffee with almost every single person in our congregation at least once. He participates in life with us, shares the gospel with us, and loves us deeply.

So we rallied together to put together a few thoughts and words we wanted to share with him and with the world, on the great leader (more like servant) that King Jesus has so richly and graciously given.

Happy Pastor Appreciation, Jacob!

Thanks to all who contributed to the renewal project this past Sunday!!

This week we pick back up in the Gospel of John with a new series titled "Jesus Changes Everything"  We will look at the cost of that change, the effects of it historically and how it leads to life.

Join us each Sunday at 10:30am at The Hideout Theatre and Coffeehouse.  Learn more about our Sunday gatherings here.

Hey friends, this Sunday (9/27) we will NOT have worship services at the Hideout, but we will be having a Renewal Service!

All Soma Austin regulars and guests are invited to join us in bringing renewal to an East Austin neighborhood of fourplexes that is experiencing the cyclical oppression of poverty and instability.  Specifically we will be helping a family of missionaries who intentionally moved to East Austin to serve that community and bring the hope of Jesus to them.  We want to come alongside this family and serve their neighborhood by helping to clean it up, and make some safety and beautification improvements.

What type of projects will we be doing?

• Painting over graffiti
• Yard clean-up/trash removal (lots of it)
• Landscaping (trimming trees and shrubs, maybe some planting)
• Play Area for kids
• Patching some potholes
• Yard Sale (really a Yard Free)

What can I bring?

Really all we need you to bring is #1, but the rest is all helpful too!

Please RSVP via Facebook

To help us properly prepare for the work and food please RSVP via Facebook, which will help us be good stewards of our time and monies.  RSVP here by Friday.  (You can still come, but we would love it if you RSVP by then.)

Got Kids?

This is a kid friendly event! We will have a playground and a space inside of the Spenrath home for them to rest. We will rotate people keeping an eye on the kiddos.

Time & Location

• Day/Time: Sunday 9/27 at 9am - 1pm
• Address: 3300 Vintage Hills Cove #A, Austin, TX 78723 (Google Map)

Questions?

If you've got questions, you can email Mike Burke, Project Coordinator, at mburke43@gmail.com or (206) 229-7319.

Soma Austin has registered a team for the Austin walk, and invites you to be a part of this cause.

If you would like to sign up for the Stop Child Trafficking Now! Soma Austin Team, please go to the Soma Austin Team page, scroll to the bottom and click 'Join This Team'.  You will then be required to register online.  By the way, it is a goofy website.  Because even though you already clicked 'Join this Team', after you register you will likely have to search for 'Soma Austin' in the box on the left side of the screen that says Search.  Once you get back to the Soma Austin Team page, make sure to sign up as a walker and join the Soma Austin team.

• Date: Saturday 9/26/09
• Check in: 8:00am
• Pre-Walk Activity: 8:30am
• Walk begins: 9:00am
• Start/Finish: The Austin SCTNow Walk will begin and end in the park at The Triangle. 4616 Triangle Avenue.
• Distance: 3.5 Miles

To view a map of the route, click here.

• Raise $100 or more and receive your official SCTNow Walk T-shirt at the Walk!
• Raise $250 or more and receive your official SCTNow Walk Tote Bag at the Walk!

We invite you to watch a video made by SCT Now. It is both haunting and real. For more information about this organization, and how you can further be a part of stopping child trafficking, visit: www.sctnow.org.

__________________

Dear Elder Brother Jacob Vanhorn,

Greetings in Jesus Name,

I hope you and your family members and your all church members are fine by Jesus Grace. I am very happy to let you know that we distributed food to 100 Families in Christian Colony Gojra and Sixty Families in village Korian.

Christian Colony Gojra Food Distribution to 100 Families

There are 315 families in Christian Colony Gojra. We distributed food and small gift of cash to 100 families of Christian Colony Gojra. We distributed Food (20kg Flour bag ($9), 2kg Rice, 2kg Oil, 1kg Sugar, 1kg Pulse, 1/2kg Tea ($7) second plastic bag and with food we gave them cash Rs. 500 ($6) to each family in white envelop. You can see all three items in pictures. One family expense was $22.  (Total aid in Gojra was $2200)

Village Korian Food Distribution to 60 Families

There are 114 families in Village Korian which were effected by Muslim Mob just 2 days before Christian Colony Gojra Attack. We distributed 30 bags of 20kg ($9) Flour to 30 families and also we distributed 2kg Rice, 2kg Oil, 1kg Sugar, 1kg Pulse, 1/2kg Tea ($7) to separate 30 families in village Korian. We distributed some plastic bags door to door in Village Korian. Village Korian totally demolish and people are living in tents and under open sky. (Total aid in Korian was $480)

Brother We received Rs. 185,000 ($2250) from you and the rest of the amount we received from our local congregation. Our local congregation collect small donation for our brothers and sisters in Gojra and they gave that donation to us for the help of our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Brother pictures are attached with the email. Kindly let me know that you have received all pictures.

God bless you richly,

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Rashid Emmanuel

____________________________

Giving

As you read and will see below the need is still great in Christian Colony Gojra and in Korian Village.  Out of 315 families left homeless in Gojra, they were able to assist 100.  Out of the 114 families in Korian Village, they were able to help 30.  Helping 130 families total is crazy awesome to be part of, and there are many more in need.

If you would like to give financially to support Christian brothers and sisters in these towns, please go here for giving via Paypal.  Please put 'Pakistan' in the space for memos/notes.  Soma Austin will be absorbing the transaction fees associated with giving through Paypal.

If you have a large donation, please email Jacob Vanhorn to arrange pick up and avoid those fees.

Photos

Here are some photos of Pastor Emmanuel distributing aid.  Look closely and you will see burned out buildings with no roofs, piles of bricks reclaimed from walls that fell and burned furniture.  Many of the families are now sleeping under 'tents', which are really giant pieces of cloth held up by poles to block the sun.  Please take a moment and pray for those in Christian Colony Gojra and in Korian Village.

It's very simple and here's how Soma Austin can help reach this goal:

Our garage sale will be on Saturday, September 12th and all we need is for you to donate some items! No need to tag or mark with prices, just give us your stuff!

Check out the Campaign to End Poverty website for more info on the campaign.

For questions and to arrange giving us your stuff to sell, please email Sherry Birk.

Find out more about Help End Local Poverty, the Campaign to End Poverty and Help One Now, check out this video below:

To get an idea of the orphanage problem, watch this video from the San Damiano Foundation:

Over 2000 Christian families live in Christian Colony, a fifty-year old colony in Gojra, Pakistan.  Pakistan is an Islamic state which is seeing greater influence by the Taliban.  On Saturday, Aug. 1, an angry Muslim mob shot residents of Christian Colony and torched houses there, killing men, women, and children. Thousands of Christians, without homes, are now living in hiding in Gojra and nearby villages. Literally everything they owned was either looted or burnt by the mob.  Saturday's violence was the third attack in the past few weeks.

Atiq Masih, 22, is a resident of Christian Colony. He was shot in the right knee by the masked mob. After the attack he told the Washington Post, “I know one thing. They want to destroy Christians. They were attacking everything.”

What We Are Doing

Soma Austin is part of the Acts 29 Network, a multi-denominational, international network of churches that are planting churches. Through the network, Soma Austin has a partnership with Acts 29 Pastor Rashid Emmanuel of United Ministries Pakistan. Pastor Emmanuel is on the ground in Gojra ministering to those affected. (Pastor Emmanuel is in the blue button down shirt in the photos)

Soma Austin is raising money to send to Pastor Emmanuel to help the families in Christian Colony. For $150, Pastor Emmanuel can secure beds, supplies, food, and clothing for one family. There are 315 families in need.  Soma Austin has already sent $2250 to bring aid to 15 families.

How You Can Help

• Pray: Please pray for those affected by the violence, those who have been killed, who have been burned, who have had their homes burned.  Pray also for those who commit such crimes, that they would see the light of the gospel and repent.  Pray for the Pakistani government to respond to the violence and protect it's citizens and freedoms of religion.
• Give: All money received will be sent directly to United Ministries Pakistan. All administrative costs will be covered by Soma Austin. Donations to the church are tax deductible, as allowable by law. For more information on giving, please go to our giving page to learn more.  For this giving campaign all of your donation will go to aid Pakistani Christians as Soma Austin will absorb the transaction fees.  So feel free to use the Paypal giving option.  If you have a large check (over $750) please contact jacobvanhorn@gmail.com to arrange a pick up.

More Photos

Soma Austin Community Church is partnering with the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) to help build a network in Greater Austin to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those affected by disaster.

Volunteer Drive

We will have a volunteer drive on Sunday, August 2nd to better organize to serve our city for when, not if, disaster strikes. There are multiple volunteer opportunities, including shelter staff, call center volunteer, food preparation, child care, family sponsorships, pet care, etc.  More information about the Austin Disaster Relief Network and volunteering can be found on our ADRN webpage.

Our goal is to get trained and to be ready for the beginning of hurricane season - the end of August. After you've checked out the ADRN webpage, email Bryan Ford (Soma's Disaster Relief Coordinator) to volunteer or ask any questions.

Through ADRN, area churches will be sponsoring and volunteering at disaster shelters across the Austin area as first responders and in extended service to those affected by disaster.  Over the next few months, our Disaster Relief Coordinator (Bryan Ford) will be trained and resourced to lead Soma Austin in this effort.  In the coming weeks we will have opportunities for training to prepare us to serve.

Looking forward to serving those affected by disaster alongside you and other churches in our city.

So here's the deal, they need 1,000 backpacks/supplies and Soma has committed to providing 100 of them.  Your part, click one of the links below and sponsor some backpacks and supplies.  You can sponsor one or 20, whatever you like.

One thing, to make sure we get an accurate count, please put 'Soma Austin' in the organization field.

Primary Kit: Grades PK-2 (30 items) $13

Elementary Kit: Grades 3-5 (30 items) $13

Junior/High School Kit: Grades 6-12 (30 items) $13

Junior/High School Bundle: Grades 6-12 (30 items plus backpack) $18

Some of you will notice that the first three items items listed do not included backpacks, and that is because of a generous donor who has already paid for the first 500 backpacks.

So go ahead, click one of the links above and sponsor some backpacks so a child can have school supplies and a head start on school.  And remember to put 'Soma Austin' in the organization field.  Thanks for joining us in renewing our city.

If you would like to join us for renewal or learn more about Soma Austin, please visit our 'New to Soma' page or email Jacob to get some coffee or tacos.

Details

• Orchestra begins at 8:30pm on the City Terrace at the north end of the Long Center
• Fireworks 9:30pm - 10:00pm
• Concessions will be available on site. (No alcohol and glass containers permitted.)
• Learn more at the ASO website.

Getting There

• Bike racks will be available at the north end of the round about on Riverside Drive.
• Capital Metro is offering additional regular and late night routes to accommodate the event.
• Check out the ASO website for a comprehensive list of parking/transportation options.  There best tip is to park near downtown and take a bus to Auditorium Shores.

We will be heading down there with our family, so please drop me a line if you want to celebrate together. Email: jacobvanhorn@gmail.com or phone 512 565-9363

Beginning July 5th, we will start gathering items for the Capital Area Food Bank to relieve hunger in the Austin area.  As you're preparing your donations, there might be a couple of questions on your mind.

What can I bring?

You can bring any healthy, non-perishable food items that have not expired. Items must be intact, unopened and contained within non-breakable packaging (no glass, please). A list of more specific and most requested food items is distributed at Soma, and can also be found here.

What happens to my donation?

After First Sunday Food Bank collections, all of our food is taken to the Capital Area Food Bank of Central Texas. Here, it undergoes a handful of inspections before being sent out to over 250 distribution centers, like soup kitchens, pantries and shelters. The Capital Area Food Bank has a cool little documentary you should check out called "Follow the Can." It takes you through the life and times of a donation, start to finish. Pretty cool!

Hope this helps you all in preparation for this new rhythm! If you have any questions about this project or any other of our renewal projects, please check out our service page or email Emily Bryant.

One of the HACA clients at Meadowbrook experienced an apartment fire recently and lost everything.  They have been placed in a new apartment but need some items.  Please see below and email Jami Herrera with CIS if you can help.

Family: Single mother with three high school children, two boys, one girl.

Items needed:

• Toiletries and household items.
• 2 Boys: Large shirts, Large (30/32) shorts/pants.
• 1 Girl: Small shirts, Small (3) shorts/pants.
• Mom: Large/XL Shirts, Size 14 pants

If you can help this family recover from the fire, please contact Jami Herrera at CIS via email (jami.herrera@cisaustin.org) or cell phone 254-534-0656.

Discipleship often gets stripped down to a Christian form of life-coaching – an inward-facing pursuit that sometimes even competes with outward expressions of the gospel. Rather than competing with evangelism, discipleship should begin with it and continue after salvation, towards Christ-likeness, as those who have heard go and tell others.

JR Vassar, Todd Ahrend, and Matt Carter will walk through Biblical discipleship in the context of the church, the city, and the world.

WHEN: June 12-13, 2009
WHERE: Austin, TX at Hope in the City Church, 4407 Monterey Oaks Blvd, Austin, 78749
COST: $40/person
REGISTER: Click here to register. (For scholarship info, email <!-- var u1276783839='lydia.whitelock'; var h997166860='austinstone.org';var linktext='Lydia Whitelock';h997166860='austinstone.org';document.write('<a href=" + " mce_href="Blogpost/add/ + "mail' + 'to:' + u1276783839 + '@' + h997166860 + '>' + linktext + '</a>'); // --> Lydia Whitelock before registering.)
VOLUNTEER: Sign up here to volunteer. (Volunteers will be able to register at a discounted rate.)

Find out more information about the topic, speakers, breakout sessions and schedule at the Summer Conference webpage.

In addition to registering per the instructions above, please email Jacob Vanhorn and let him know you plan to attend so we can carpool and plan for some fellowship and discussion around our time together.

Location: Hope in the City, 4407 Monterey Oaks Blvd Austin, TX US 78749

Cost: $40.00

Website: http://austinstone.org/what/summer_conference

• Coordinated a makeover of the counseling center at Dawson Elementary
• Continues to mentor several students through the Middle School Mentoring Matters program with Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
• We also work with their Smart Kids program sending mentors/tutors to two housing authority communities in South Austin.
• Have been able to help a family of six who is struggling.
• Have helped on various projects with CIS.

We really love what CIS is doing.  Recently we were honored to receive word that we had been nominated as the Volunteer Organization of the Year.  This is a pretty exciting thing for us, not because of the recognition, but because we were able to touch someones life enough that they nominated us.  Katherine Houck at Dawson Elementary has been working tirelessly for the children at Dawson for years, and it is way cool to be able to partner with her in the work that they have done.  We salute Katherine for her contributions to the lives of Austin's children.

If you would like to participate with us in serving with CIS please drop us a line and we can hook you up.

At the fall of man, several relationships were severed or distorted.  Internally man was filled with guilt and shame.  Relationally discord developed between husband and wife, and then with others.  The creation around us also suffers and we feel that tension.  And our access to God was broken off when man was banished from the garden.  And lastly, death came.

All of those things are renewed through Jesus and we now get to participate with Jesus in progressively renewing those things in our hearts and lives and in the hearts and lives of others.

Over the next several weeks we will discuss the Soma Austin community as it experiences renewal and in growing as communities of renewal.  We will start off with our own personal renewal and move on from there into our community, and the world around us.

We would love to have you join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30am at The Hideout Coffeehouse and Theatre in downtown Austin at 7th and Congress Avenue.  Click here for more information on our Sunday morning gatherings.

The next several weeks will hopefully be a time of personal and community renewal.  We hope you can join us.

Read more about our new service here.

Each month ChristianAudio.com offers a free audio download of some of the best Christian authors, both modern authors and some from the past.  Check out this months free audiobook of the month from ChristianAudio.com

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney

from their website:

“It’s not uncommon for an accomplished musician to be able to sit down in front of a new piece of music and play it through without a hitch. To make it seem easy, as if it required no effort. Yet the “freedom” to play with such skill comes only after years of disciplined practice. In the same way, the freedom to grow in godliness - to naturally express Christ’s character through your own personality - is in large part dependent on a deliberate cultivation of the spiritual disciplines.”

Learn more about the book here or if you are ready to download it, click here, and add the download format of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life to your cart and then enter the coupon code MAR2009 when prompted during checkout.

Our Price: $0.00
List Price: $14.98
Coupon: MAR2009

lent is a liturgical time (or time of worship) of fasting and praying, for the forty days that precede easter (well actually it’s more than 40 days, because technically, you don’t count sundays). traditionally, there are three practices, or ‘justices’ taken up: justice towards God (prayer), justice towards self (fasting), and justice towards neighbor (this is referred to as ‘almsgiving’, which is like charitable giving).

now, my thought on this is…shouldn’t we be praying, fasting and charitably giving ALL the time?

i’ve been learning a lot about liturgy and the tradition behind ash wednesday, clean monday, passion sunday, spy wednesday…etc., and it continues to amaze me at the things people “give up” for lent.

coca-cola. alcohol. tv. certain websites (facebook anyone?). as the great jacob vanhorn once said, “bro, if you need to give that up for forty days because it’s an idol in your life, maybe you need to think about giving it up all together.” and as the even greater christie vanhorn once said, “maybe you should do something for someone else that requires a sacrifice on your part, and not make it about you.”

i think those are both such good points (and…reason 23423 that team vanhorn continues to rock my face off.) with this idea of incorporating justice towards God, self, and your neighbor. and maybe lent is a good time of year to refocus on these things, ultimately incorporating them into our daily rhythms.

it’s crazy to think that back in the day…people would fast from all any all animal products and only eat a small meal at sundown, containing no meat (obviously) and no alcohol. there were some variations on this, for example, some places allowed fish and others ended the daily fast at 3pm, but you get the idea. i wonder how many of us could do this today?? i don’t want to. i’m just being honest. maybe this makes food an idol? WOW!

ok. let me hear your thoughts now, and what, if anything, you are doing to celebrate lent.

thanks for reading.

Starting this Sunday evening (January 4th @ 6pm) we are going through the gospel of John together to find out who John says Jesus is.  This week we will go through John 1:1-18 together.

Soma Austin does life together during the week through missional communities and we gather on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm for worship, study, fellowship and communion.

Click here for times and directions for our Sunday gathering.

What is Wine for Jesus?

Wine for Jesus is a dialogue conducted in peace, humility and love.  A place where people from all walks of life can come and participate in a dialogue of who God is.  Wine for Jesus is a community event hosted by Emily Bryant, who is a member of Soma Austin.

More Info

• You can read more about her hope for Wine for Jesus on the blog.
• For directions to the Dog & Duck, check out our events page which has directions.
• Wine for Jesus on Facebook

Stay up to date on other Soma Austin related activities.

Advent at Soma starts this Sunday evening at 6:00pm.  Directions and info.

• 80% of all sickness and disease worldwide is attributed to unsafe drinking water
• A child dies every 15 seconds because of the lack of clean water
• Six times more people die from water-related diseases than from armed violence every year
• Over 1 billion people lack access to safe, clean water
• Lack of access to clean water perpetuates cycles of disadvantage which affect millions of people with illness and lost educational opportunities that contribute to cyclical poverty
• 98 cents = cost for Living Water International to provide clean, safe water to one person for one year
• $450 billion = amount US spent on Christmas last year

This Advent season we will be partnering with Living Water International to help build water wells to provide safe, clean water. In partnership with LWI, 20% of our December offerings and 100% of your LWI directed giving will go to provide fresh, clean drinking water through building and rehabilitating water wells. Our hope is that, by celebrating Christ in a new way at Christmas, the church can serve as the leading movement behind ending the water crisis once and for all.

Check out this video if you have a 3 minutes to hear some stories of hope.

We invite you to worship more fully, give more and love all with us.

• Give directly to Living Water through Facebook
• Join us for our Sunday evening services
• Check out a missional community nearest you
• Learn more about Living Water International
• Learn more about the Advent Conspiracy movement
• Need help on Rethinking Christmas?

How about you, what kind of Jesus are you looking for?

Sunday night (10/26) we will be looking at who Jesus is as revealed in the scriptures.  Click here for more info and directions.

"We all want to live in a better world, but to understand how to get there, we need to consider how we got here. Not only how we got here, but what is ultimately wrong in the world, and who is going to fix it.

Each week we will seek to discuss 1) what the bible teaches concerning those questions, 2) what are the alternative answers to some of these questions, 3) why does this really matter to me, and 4) how do we participate in renewing people and communities around us in bringing about The World We All Want."

We would love to have you join us this Sunday evening at 6:00pm.  Click here for directions.

Previous posts can be found here:
A Theology As Big As Austin (part 1)
A Theology As Bis As Austin (part 2)

Bakke’s Reflections on Individuality and Community
“We work to value the biblical contributions of both Greek and Hebrews (or Catholics and Protestants) at a time when rampant individualism threatens the West and an exaggerated view of cultural rights sustains oppression in much of Asia.”

My Reflections on Individuality and Community
Individualism says ‘me first’, or even ‘me only’. The rampant individualism in the West that Bakke spoke of only grew stronger after the publication of his book. Commercials use it to sell their products, self-help books have taken over the bookshelves as we seek to improve ourselves without submitting ourselves personally to others critique, everyone feels victimized by someone else, the suburbs continue to grow rapidly and we pick up and discard employers, churches and relationships based on their usefulness to our happiness. And no one is allowed to tell you that you are wrong. But yet, we can tell everyone else that they are wrong. Even where I see ‘community’ being built, it is often built and strengthened around maintaining everyones right to believe, do and pursue what they like. As long as you can find a community that agrees with you on many things, then you wont’ have conflict and you can join together without fear. While this certainly does not describe everyone, everywhere, these things are certainly spread to varying degrees across the US.

One of the things this shows us is the pride of men and women. The need to be independent, to be self-determinant, and to place blame on others when they fail or are challenged. These are all effects of the fall of man and the sin nature that still dwells within us. This continual pursuit to make oneself happy is like a hamster spinning on the wheel constantly.

The gospel of Christ calls us to community. Community with God, with one another and to be in community with those outside the faith. This community is grounded in the triune nature of God, where God eternally coexists in three distinct persons with distinct roles, but yet equal in essence and glory. Our being created in the image of God teaches us of our own distinctness with distinct roles, while also being equal in essence and coexistence.

For those who are in Christ, we are the body of Christ, meant to live interdependently with one another. Sharing our resources, talents and lives, while also sharing our burdens. One of my favorite passages in scripture is Proverbs 27:6 “faithful are the wounds of a friend”. This is beautiful because it means that when a friend rebukes/corrects me with humility, that it is a faithful cut that is for my good, for my growth and maturity. Ultimately it is for the greater worship of God and it is for my good. One of the rich descriptions we are given in the scriptures is one of family, that we are a new family with one another, that we are in a new blood relationship that works on an entirely different relationship economy than many other friendships. We are continually to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works, to encourage one another, and to participate together on the mission that God has called us to.

We are also in community with those outside of the faith. The City of Austin is a wonderful city that on first look doesn’t look like such an individualistic community, but when you study it, you see many examples. For instance, the ‘we live in Austin, now close the doors’ mentality. The ‘we need services for homeless, just not in my backyard’. The burgeoning suburbs and their giant homes that promote isolation. The celebration of relativism and pluralism is probably the largest indicator of individualism. Whatever ‘you’ believe is ok. As long as it doesn’t disagree with me that is. Self-determination is as strong here as anywhere. We have an opportunity to be changed by the gospel, to understand our new identity as family and to embrace it.

We can invite others into our homes and our lives. We can welcome the stranger, the hungry, the naked and the oppressed. We can share our lives with them, our resources, our stories and we can share our God with them in hopes that they will see the gospel more clearly, and turn to Christ.

It is when we find ourselves choosing ourselves that we miss the gospel and show our sinful tendency toward self-determination and our trust in this world to satisfy. And it leaves others battered along the road. Community is hard. People are messy and they will fail you, they will gossip at times and they will sometimes rebuke/correct you while themselves in sin or without merit. But it is far better than the individualism that we have a tendency to slide toward. If you are not in a community of Christians that care for one another, submitting themselves to God and to one another, we invite you to join us at Soma Austin. We don’t have it all down yet, but we are seeking to humbly submit ourselves to the journey.

This passage from Robert Putnam's Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life sums up beautifully the tension I have been feeling in my soul lately and the substance of it has been trying to get out for some time now.  You see, my soul does not merely desire to not be in pain, or heartache, but it desires joy and purpose.  And I feel strongly that God's purpose for me and all Christ's followers is to participate in the redeeming/renewing work of God which is enabled and encouraged through the Holy Spirit.

Shalom means peace.  And before we can bring peace to those around us, we must have this peace in our hearts.  We don't work for this peace.  This peace comes from resting in the loving provision and sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ.  That the acceptance and approval we seek comes not from work, but from rest is counter-intuitive.

Bringing shalom (peace) to those around us requires intentionality.  Intentionality might be the hardest part for many because we still often seek to serve ourselves.  We first need to intentionally repent and be transformed by the grace offered us anew.

Bringing shalom (peace) to those around us requires work.  But not the kind that works for approval or acceptance, but rather the kind that says that I am accepted in Christ and I have been transformed by His grace toward me.  Because we have been given peace with God we long to see that peace taking root throughout the hearts of others, and we long to see peace and life and joy brought to our communities.

So you see the tension here, don't you?  It's humbling.  And it's work.  But it is also filled with so much rest and joy and celebration.  I pray that I choose to rest in the Cross, have my desires transformed and work through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, all while resting in Christ for the results of the work.

The Communities in Schools program is a great program that seeks to help kids stay in school. You can read more about our Communities in Schools partnership here. Today, we got to hear about CIS's work at Dawson Elementary and their vision for the makeover of their space. The space has not been touched much in 18 years and is in need of repairs, updates and a more nurturing, comforting environment. They serve 100 kids each year in their space and have 5-8 staff using the space on a regular basis. They have been great stewards of their space and the finances they have, and now is a great opportunity for us to bless them and the children of Dawson Elementary. Sherry and I were received VERY warmly by the staff and we look forward to working with Katherine, Rachel, Ethan and Kris, among others.

I can already see encouraged staffers in their restored spaces, kids with big eyes while they check out the new space and new students who walk into the new rooms in the fall. I am excited and I pray that you are also!!

Here is a picture of one of the rooms:

The second space is used for 3 Americorp staff, two full time staff and a therapeutic playroom. The space is pretty large and will take a lot of labor, donations and some of our own cash money to make it happen. This is a great opportunity to bless our city, our children and a non-profit that is working to improve the lives of our children.

Community Colloboration

Our hope in this project is to invite participation from multiple people, organizations and businesses. We will be inviting some other churches to help out, the Dawson neighborhood association and some businesses. In you are interested in donating or serving in this project, please email us at info@somaaustin.org.

We will be posting updates to this project as we have them. This is going to be cool, so keep an eye out and pray how you might be able to assist.

It is my hearts hope to serve the great city of Austin. I share it here and pray that it is a sweet song for you as well.

Jesus, You are
Jesus, You were
Jesus, You will always be
a perfect servant to us
a perfect servant to death
even death on a cross

give us the picture of Your face
show us the measure of Your grace
reveal the love of the Father
put within us tenderness
release from us all selfishness
we'll consider them better
we are Yours
give us hearts of servants

What todays market forces, politics and pride drive apart in our culture, the gospel brings together. Scripture tells us that the gospel brought together both Jew and Gentile; two groups the couldn’t have been much more different, but they were united under Christ through the gospel. Through the gospel our identity is found in Christ, and we enter into a larger, historical community of faith that comes together to worship God, love one another, love our neighbors and to seek the peace of those in our spheres of influence.

In this community of faith, people still belong to different political parties, have different skin tones, they still drive different cars, wear different things and they have very different interests. But we are not to be defined by these differences and segmented into different spaces in the church, are we? The richness of the gospel and of the church is that we are different but that we are drawn together by the gospel. Our testimony of reconciliation through Jesus is made more credible by our reconciliation with one another. Additionally, we miss so much cultural/socioeconomic richness in the church when we segment ourselves from one another. The gospel is bigger than our differences.

I am not saying we all have to have the same music, and the same styles. But as a church planter, I want to be aware of how we contribute to the segmentation of people groups and how we present the gospel as reconciliation. I want to be based in reality also. The truth is that the church exist within this segmented society. But I really hope and pray that the segmentation can stop (or be redeemed) when people interact with the church. Lord, help us to be examples and agents of your reconciliation. Help us to be agents who bring peace.

_____________________________________________________________________

Bakke's Reflection on Truth and Love
"We work to balance the prophetic and judgmental with grace and forgiveness. With sadness I acknowledge that these two truths have come unglued in our time. God's people need to hear the truth that the angry prophet Amos delivered. They also need the pastoral message of weeping Jeremiah. As I've tried to show, Paul and Barnabas need each other on the urban mission team."

My Reflections on Truth and Love for Austin
In his 1st letter to the Corinthians, Paul states,

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Truth without love is a mess folks. We have all seen it, probably done it and we hate it as much as the next guy. Our approach to those that God has called us to is crucial!! It is not emptying the cross of its power when we bring the gospel to people with love and understanding. The gospel is not just shouted from the rooftops, it is also whispered to people in our loving service to them.

Think about it. Who are the people that we allow into our lives? Who mosts influences us? People who belittle us with their intellect? They may even be right, but who wants to hear them? Who even wants to be around them?

The people we invite into our lives are the ones who love us. The ones who care for us. The ones who seek to share whatever they have learned, whether it is a little or a lot. We listen to them because we trust them. They are for us.

But it isn't one or the other is it? Love OR truth? If truth without love is like a noisy gong which sends people running away, then love without truth can be like a melody that pleases our ears while giving us nothing more than false hope.

What is beautiful is that as followers of Jesus Christ, we follow the Truth. We don't just know ‘the truth' but we know the "Truth". Truth is not just an abstract concept, but rather it is a person. It is Christ that we have to offer to people. So, love them and introduce them to Truth.

Bakke’s Reflections on Creation and Redemption
“We work to balance the Celtic creation theology with Augustine’s salvation by grace and the faith of the Reformers. Ecologists and evangelists need not be enemies if we find a way to affirm both. When we were creating the organization I now direct, International Urban Associates, we included in the value statement: “We… commit IUA to an ecological theology that is both creative and redemptive for persons and places. And so we seek both the spiritual transformation of persons and the social transformation of places until our Lord comes or calls for us.”

Reflections on Creation and Redemption for Austin
Since mankind was created in the image of God we all share his desire creative desires. Which one of us doesn’t in some way contain this attribute of God. From Pablo Picasso and Michelangelo to young boys and girls drawing in the sand at the beach and making sand castles we all have this creative drive within us. For some that creativity gets nurtured, while for others it gets squashed or put aside for ‘maturity’s’ sake. But whether we be architects or plumbers it is there. Both of them in their work likely see new or better ways to achieve a result. We are creative people!!

And the church should be at the forefront of creativity!! As Matt Chandler, has said, “We worship the God who created blue.” This means that Christians, who have been reconciled with God, have direct and intimate access to the Creator of all things! When we see the color blue, we can thank God for it’s creation and we are motivated and freed to use that color in remarkable ways. And that is just the color blue. God has called us and gifted us to perform all types of work.

Exodus 35:30-35

“Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer“

Did you catch that? Bezalel is the first person recorded in the scriptures as being ‘filled with the Spirit’. And he is filled with the Spirit of God to be creative, to do excellent, creative work for the glory of God and to be a witness for all those who see it that God is worthy of worship. The tabernacle/sanctuary that Bezalel was working on was to be a place where men could be reconciled with God.

As Christians, because we have been reconciled to God and the Spirit of God now dwells within us, we are continually being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. As such, we increasingly see the world as God sees it and we enter into the lives of those who are in pain, sorrow, grief, brokenness and oppression and we seek to be healing agents.

So how does this play itself out for us in Austin?

It means that as believers in Christ we are to be woven into the community and contributing as the most creative people in the city. ‘Christian art’ should not be a cheesy joke. It also shouldn’t be a subculture. Our posture is incarnational, not monastic. We should embrace creativity in the arts, in education, in technology, etc. We should be advancing creative solutions to problems in our city. We should always be asking, “What is God’s heart for the city in this area?” And how do we creatively engage every sphere of the city with restoration/redemption in view?

The good old story of the gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we be creative in faithfully declaring and demonstrating it while engaged where people live, eat, work and play.

It's My Park! Day is on April 12th from 9:00am - 1:00pm.
We will be working on one of two Barton Creek Greenbelt locations, either at the Gus Fruh entrance or the Homedale entrance.  Work projects can include invasive species removal, trail repairs and general improvement.

From AustinParks.org
"It’s My Park! Day is an annual community service day focused on improvements to Austin’s park system. Individuals and community groups lead projects ranging from simple cleaning and repair to trail building and playground installation."

Registration is Required
If you are interested in joining us, you will need to register ahead of time.  Please email Matt Gieringer at var u104810899='mgieringer'; var h1978253834='yahoo.com';var linktext=u104810899+'@'+h1978253834;h1978253834='yahoo.com';document.write('' + linktext + ''); mgieringer@yahoo.com and provide your full name, email address, phone number, the zip code where you live and your t-shirt size. (This data was requested by the Austin Parks Foundation)  Registration deadline is April 8th.

FAQs from Austin Parks Foundation

Can I bring my dog?
If the park is a designated off-leash area, you can bring your dog. Keep in mind that it may be hard to supervise your dog while doing work, and that there will be a lot of people present.

Can I bring my child?
Children under 15 should be accompanied by an adult. Some projects may not be appropriate for children. If the project leader has not specified a minimum age, you may want to email them directly.

What should I bring with me?
Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sturdy shoes. Bring a refillable water bottle, if you have one. Bring work gloves if you have them. Your project leader may request you bring tools - be sure to read their emails as the event day approaches.

Through our blog we will post regular updates and convey our heart for the city as it unfolds.

Through the articles section, we will invite contributors from the members of our church community to submit articles concerning culture, the city, the world, God, families, arts, media, and whatever else adds value to our community.  Think of it as an ongoing series of magazine and news articles.

We encourage you to take some time and learn about who we are through the website.  Afterwards, please check us out in person and participate in our online community through the blog and through submitting articles that will educate and enrich our community.