Here’s a note regarding giving to help those in Haiti:

1. If you write a check or give cash, just write Haiti and the money will go to a missionary in Haiti to use on the scene.

2. Tim Phillips learned that if you would like to give specific medical supplies, Cross Timbers Church is making a collection and will take the items to Haiti. A link to a list of items and the details is at:http://dnn.crosstimberschurch.org/CTHome/HaitiRelief/tabid/561/Default.aspx

3. Keep praying for the people of Haiti and those giving aid.

Your brother,

brad

Our Finance Team pays close attention to our spending and helps us use the money given to Live Oak wisely. I thought to make sure everyone knows how we are doing, I’ll start keeping a regular update here in my blog. As you can imagine, I sure pay attention to the finances of the church. When Live Oak sold the old property, there was a profit. We decided to invest/commit a large portion of that profit in the move to Surrey Ranch. Why, to increase our effectiveness in reaching our vision of touching lives and families in our communities. So, we began at Surrey Ranch knowing that we would have higher expenses than present giving. We would use our savings. Well, Live Oak has been and continues to touch lives and families. However, giving has not risen as we hoped. A good projection is that at the present rate, our cash reserves and cash flow will run out in about mid-August, 2011. Most of our expenses are pretty much fixed and we already run a lean operation. So the ole’ cut expenses approach is not the answer. The answer is to increase our giving. The vision is clear, the need is great, now is the time to invest. Prayerfully consider giving and increasing your giving at this critical time in what God is doing through Live Oak.

Well it’s a new year and I’ve been asking God where I should focus my study for preaching. Here’s where I’m feeling led . . . to the Gospel of Mark. Mark was the first written record of the life of Jesus. Mark was a man of action. Reading Mark’s book is like walking alongside the disciples as they walked with Jesus. The word Gospel means Good News and God led Mark to jump right into the life changing teaching, healing and ministry of Jesus. The high point of Mark is dead-center and dead-on when he records Jesus asking Peter, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Then, the second half of Mark deals entirely with the final period of Jesus’ ministry while headed to the cross and resurrection. I encourage you to start reading and studying the Gospel Mark as we walk alongside our Savior and Lord during his ministry.

Oh yeah, God has also laid several other messages on my heart that I’ll work in along the way. See you Sunday