July 2010 Archives

August 4 and 5

Each year in August the City of Scottsdale's Vista del Camino Back to School Program assists over 500 Scottsdale children in need. Vista del Camino is seeking financial assistance or donations of new clothing, jeans, socks, underwear, shoes, backpacks and school supplies so these children can go back to school with pride. To be eligible applicants must be Scottsdale residents, meet income guidelines, be new to the program or have less than 5 years of participation in the program.

Clothing is needed in all sizes for youth from kindergarten through high school. All sizes are needed from 4 or x-small/small youth sizes to 4XL
young adult sizes/styles. Monetary donations are also appreciated.

Donations will be accepted at Vista del Camino (7700 East Roosevelt) and Via Linda Senior Center (10440 E. Via Linda). Make monetary donations to "Concerned Citizens for Community Health" and mail them to Vista del Camino. Your contribution can help make a difference in the life of a child! Thank you for your support.

City of Scottsdale families wishing to enroll their children in this program can contact Vista del Camino at 480-312-2323 to schedule a screening appointment.

The Apostle Paul lived his life with passion; passion to know God better and passion for fulfilling God's purposes. His personal story shows that he was willing to go anywhere and face any hardship in order to know Christ better and to accomplish God's mission for him.

In Philippians, chapter 3, Paul gives us a key to how he was able to keep his passion and stay focused on what was important in his life. He says that there was one thing he did, one important way of thinking. His one thing was that he was always pressing forward. He would not ever stop his forward motion. His purpose was always clear and his goal was constantly before him. Here is how Paul put it in verse 13, "...forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead, I press toward the goal..."

Paul was convinced about the goal that God had laid out for him. He was not in pursuit of his own goals and ambitions but was after the "prize" for which God had called him.
It is interesting to note that while Paul was obviously both passionate and ambitious, he was committed to a goal that he believed God had laid out for him. Passion, ambition, and goal setting for Paul were simply necessary tools to help him reach his life-consuming missions, which were to know Christ and to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel.

As we search for direction and focus in our own lives we can learn from Paul these simple yet powerful tools for living life. First, stretch yourself forward to find the goal or goals that God has laid out for you. Be inspired by them and value them as prizes worth running for. Second, get past the past. Break off all the entanglements of past successes and failures; focus only on what lies ahead. Third, press hard toward the goals with intensity and with dedication. If your goal isn't worth the struggle or hardship, then you will lose heart or stop short of the finish line.

May we learn to stretch ourselves out to see the goal God has set before us and to go after it with all our strength. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart..." Colossians 3:23

Pastor Richard

Tyson Paoletti has helped run Tooth & Nail Records in Seattle for the better part of the last decade. He and songwriter, freelance designer, and friend Greg Lutze came up with the idea for an album of Scripture based, guitar-pop worship songs for kids. Both members of Mars Hill Church, they are artists and fathers trying to figure out ways to establish Scripture memory as a value in their families. What began as a series of jingles to help memorize Bible verses became a full-length album of music you can't get out of your head, joined to lyrics of straight Scripture.

Get more information and download free songs here.