Retreat or Rally?
Theme of the Week: God's Love Demonstrated
Todd Wendorff
Friday, January 12, 2007
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other, let us really show it by our actions (1 John 3:18). Bonus Reading: 1 John 4:7-12, 16-17
In the fall of 2003, four independent fires raged through the Los Angeles area, with nearly 3,000 acres burning. One fire reached Valley Center, devastating scores of families and homes. Two families lost loved ones. Those who lost their homes had no fallback position.
On the Saturday following "containment" of the fire, the men of Ridgeview Church decided to help out. Instead of heading to the mountains for their annual men's retreat, they stayed in Valley Center and spent the day cleaning scorched homes. The ensuing rains brought flooding, with erosion and mudslides. The men stayed to help with that, too. More than 100 men gave this desperate community about 1,000 man-hours and thousands of dollars' worth of supplies, equipment, and skill.
The people of Valley Center responded with profound gratitude for the help they received from the men of Ridgeview Church that Saturday. But Sunday morning said it all. Ridgeview Church was packed and filled with excitement. And over the coming weeks, many in the community kept coming back to learn more about Christ's awesome love for them.
We make the greatest impact for Christ when words come packaged with deeds.
—Todd Wendorff in Being God's Man … by Claiming Your Freedom
My Response: Was canceling the men's retreat a godly decision? Why?
Thought to Apply: Christianity demands a level of caring that transcends human inclinations.—ERWIN LUTZER
Adapted from Being God's Man … by Claiming Your Freedom (WaterBrook, 2004) by permission.
Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Lord, please motivate me to reflect Your compassionate heart to hurting people around me.
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