Today was our 1st full day of working and it was a great day. It is amazing to see how God is using our youth to serve the community here in South Texas. Please continue to pray for our student teams this week. Here is a short video of worship from tonight.

This shows just a small example of one of the most impoverished places on earth. I have never seen anything like it! Over 700,000 people live in this slum in Nairobi. There are 4 other slums like this in Kenya of a similar size. This is poverty beyond description. There is no possible way to accurately describe the sights, the smells, and the dark oppression of the slum. These are conditions that no one should have to endure and yet for so many this is their life. It is hard to describe the emotions of spending time in a slum like this. And yet because of the ministry of Compassion I experienced something in this dark, hopeless place that I never thought I would find….HOPE! In the midst of poverty that is beyone imagination there is Hope because of Jesus Christ! Children are being rescued from poverty and are believing that there is a hope for the future because of the truth of the Gospel.
This video shows the home of a Compassion child, Edwin, that we had the honor of visiting. When asked about his favorite part of the Compassion project, Edwin said his favorite part of being a Compassion child is experiencing the love of Jesus!
As you look at these conditions reflect on the hope of Jesus. The light of Christ can shine in the darkest places on earth!
I am blown away by the hope that I experienced in a hopeless situation because the Gospel is alive and well!

This week is the beginning of our 30 day Gospel reading emphasis. As we read through the Gospels together I am going to share a few brief thoughts on some of our daily reading. I hope this will be an encouragement to you as you dive into God’s word and are reminded of the love of God revealed in Christ.

I am praying for you as we look together at God’s “Crazy Love” for us!

For a copy of the reading plan click on this link to our website:

http://cedarcrestchurch.com/

This week is the beginning of our new series “Crazy Love” at Cedarcrest. I am so excited about the next 9 weeks as we dive into the incredible love God has for us all and focus on our response to His love.

There are so many ways for you to be involved in this series.

- Attend worship. Each week will be a memorable worship experience as we look at God’s relentless pursuit of us with his love.

- Get in a Group. We are launching new community groups that meet during the week as well as new adult bible study classes that meet on Sunday mornings @ Cedarcrest. If you are not currently in a group click this link to get plugged in! http://cedarcrestchurch.com/crazy-love

- Read the book. Francis Chan’s book “Crazy Love” will serve as the foundation for this series. Make sure you pick up a copy of the book to read during this series.

- Read the Gospels. Beginning September 13th we will be reading through the 4 Gospels in 30 days. Click this link to follow the daily bible reading. http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/the-gospels

I cannot wait to see how God uses this series in the life of our Church. This is a great time to bring someone with you to get connected to the love of God. I am looking forward to seeing you for “Crazy Love”!

No I am not talking about cigarettes! Today on our way back to Jerusalem from the Dead Sea we stopped at a gas station where there where a couple of camels just waiting to be ridden by crazy tourists. Here is my exciting camel ride with Megan through the parking lot of a gas station in the desert of Israel.

Untitled from Cedarcrest Church on Vimeo.

On of the great things about this Israel trip is the people I am traveling with. Not only do we have a great group from Cedarcrest but there is also some of my family here as well. Anytime the Wright’s get together we have a great time. So this brief little video is especially for my cousins; Jobeth & Tombo, Sally & Taylor, Handley & Blake, & Land. Wish you guys were here!

Wright Family on Mt. of Olives from Cedarcrest Church on Vimeo.

While my heart is alway at Cedarcrest anytime I am away on a Sunday I had an incredible privilege today to worship on the Mount of Olives with our group overlooking the city of Jerusalem. It was truly an amazing experience to sit on the place where Christ ascended into heaven and the place where He will “touchdown” at the 2nd coming and worship. The Gospels tell us over and over that Jesus would often retreat to the Mount of Olives with His disciples to rest and to pray. This is such a special place as you can look out at the city while standing in a place that scripture tells us Christ frequently spent time. What a joy and an honor to be in this Holy Land knowing that so much of the world’s past and present center around this land! My passion for the Gospel continues to grow as we see the past of scripture and the prophecy of scripture laid out right in front of our eyes in Israel!

Today we had the honor of being in Jerusalem, the Holy City, on the Sabbath. It is fascinating to see an entire city shut down for the day to honor the Sabbath. This morning was a very moving and emotional time for me as we visited the garden tomb that marks the traditional spot where Jesus body was buried after the cross. It was in the garden tomb that the angel of God rolled away the stone and declared that Christ had risen (Luke 24). We observed the Lord’s Supper and had a time of worship at the place where the resurrection took place….AMAZING!!!

After seeing the garden tomb we walked the Via Dolorosa through the city of Jerusalem which marks the road Christ walked as he carried his cross to the resurrection. Carrying the cross was part of the humilation of death by crucifixtion. As if the physical agony was not enough, the Romans often made people carry their own crosses so that they would be on display and humiliated for the crimes. Seeing the path Jesus walked and getting a fuller picture of the humiliation he endured gives a whole new meaning to what Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus lived this verse for us. Are we willing to live this call for Him?

The Road to the Cross from Cedarcrest Church on Vimeo.