Outreach Center Network News Letter
April 2020
In this issue:
The Heart of the Matter – Devotion
What Outreach Centers Are Doing
WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Final thoughts
Each article will begin with ###. You may move to the next article by searching for this.
### The Heart of the Matter
My wife and I like walks. Its good exercise and now in the sheltered at place regulation, it’s one of our primary forms of entertainment. I don’t know about you but when we walk, we also talk. We talk about the events of the day but also about plans and dreams. And that is what makes the “sheltered in place” and the whole corona virus situation so difficult. We don’t know what the future holds. Will we be free to travel and go places? Will sporting events, local or national, this summer or fall take place? When we don’t know the future we cannot plan and when we cannot plan or look forward to something we get a bit discouraged. Discouragement is the pathway to hopelessness.
In Luke 24:13-35, two disciples of Jesus were walking back home from Jerusalem. They were talking about the Passover celebration, Jesus’ entry into the city, his teachings at the temple, and his sudden senseless death. They were discouraged and hopeless.
They thought Jesus was going to throw out the Romans and establish an independent kingdom like King David had. Instead the Jewish officials arm twisted the Romans to crucify Jesus. Now he was dead. Now their hope was dead. The future held only great uncertainty and fear.
They saw events only one way. Their eyes were closed to anything else at this point. The death of Jesus was the death of hope. So when Jesus started to walked with them they did not recognize him.
Their world was shattered. Our world is shattered too. If we have no hope, we have no future. I think this is what people struggle with most, no hope no future.
As they walked Jesus used the Old Testament to show how the messiah must suffer and die and then rise after three days. These two disciples then said, “Did not our hearts burn as he opened the scriptures to us?” So what changed for them?
I learned Braille when I lost my sight at age 11 years old. After two months I knew the alphabet and contractions. It took years however, to really learn Braille. It took practice and so I read and read and read.
Just like learning Braille takes time and constant practice, Knowing god also is like that too. The disciples on the road did not know it was Jesus. As Jesus shared the word with them they began to see God was present in their world and they began again to have hope. As you practice reading Braille it gets easier to read. As you spend time with god you begin to see him more clearly.
The heart of the matter is viewing things differently. This only happens as Jesus helps us to see, helps us to have hope. When we do, our hearts have hope, a future. We have a future in heaven. We have that hope. We also have the hope, the certainty that what we say and do has meaning and purpose for today. We don’t live for ourselves, we live for Jesus.
We all are on a journey, a walk. We don’t know where the road will always lead. We do know who walks with us.
When read his word, listen to his word, we begin to see him beside us.
The Heart of the matter is will we walk life alone or walk with him to open our eyes and open our hearts. We need to be connected to him. That’s why we come to an outreach center. That’s why we read his word.
### What Outreach Centers Are Doing
During the past few months gatherings of people have been stopped. This impacted churches and outreach centers too. So what have the outreach centers been doing?
Many centers have set up a phone chain. Members call each other and make sure everyone is o.k. and has basic supplies.
The outreach center in Austin Texas had a gathering using zoom, an internet based programs. People could join in via the internet or call in by phone. It wasn’t the same as being together but it connected the members for laughter, encouragement and friendship.
If you at your center have done other things, please let me know and post it to this interactive email list.
### WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Below are answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Think about it, it was the best way to get more people.
3. Mostly to clean the house.
4. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
How did your mom meet your dad?
1. Mom was working in a store and dad was shoplifting.
What did Mom need to know about Dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but Moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. 4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What's the difference between moms and grandmas?
1. About 30 years.
2. You can always count on grandmothers for candy. Sometimes moms don't even have bread on them!
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
Describe the world's greatest mom?
1. She would make broccoli taste like ice cream!
2. The greatest mom in the world wouldn't make me kiss my fat aunts!
3. She'd always be smiling and keep her opinions to herself.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
### Final Thoughts
In upcoming issues we can and will look at many of the same topics as well as others. If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions, please send them to me or post them on the blind ministry email list.
Pastor Dave