Wanna Be In A Movie?

I got a call yesterday from a hollywood casting agency who are giving us a unique opportunity. On February 28th and March 1st the movie, “Get Low” is being shot in Dallas, GA. The movie stars, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Tim McGraw (no idea he could act) and Bill Murray. 

We have been invited to advertise for extras in our church. Our church will be given a small kickback for everyone who attends, but this will just be a fun experience. Saturday, February 28th will for sure be a long day. You will start early in the morning around 7 AM ‘ish’ and it will be a 10-12 hour day. You are a volunteer (the kickback is not that great) so you can leave anytime, but that is what they need. The movie is set in the Depression Era and you will will be given instructions for how to dress and prepare.

If you would like to be a part, please send an e-mail to extrascastingatlanta@gmail.com. Include your name, the church’s name, and your phone number. You will be sent further instruction.

We have no real idea as to the further content of the movie. West Ridge is not responsible for it, or endorsing it. Just go have fun!

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul

Ham or Condoms?

Inside every church and community are everyday heroes. The people that give their lives away to others just because they are fleshing out what it looks like to ‘love your neighbor’ as Jesus commanded.

We have tons of those at West Ridge. One couple is Jake and Natalie. Jake and Natalie have adopted a community near their home. They have collaborated with other families to meet needs and build relationships, and God has blessed their efforts in tremendous ways. If you attend West Ridge and drive in from 92 North, (Bentwater, Seven Hills, Parts of Brookstone, etc.) you have to pass this community to get to our campus. It’s a community filled with tremendous need. Broken down homes filled with people who have to make difficult choices that most folks in suburbia are not faced with.

Natalie had a conversation with a gal in this community recently. A young woman stamped with the image of God from the moment of creation. Finances are very difficult. There are days when this family is not able to have even one meal. Natalie attempted to celebrate the news of the pending addition to this family only to get this response (I’m paraphrasing), “Some times you have to choose, whether to buy food or other things you need. You know, you get to the check out counter at the grocery store, and it’s like, Ham? or Condoms?”

Quick question; How would Jesus answer that question? He probably would answer it with a question himself, or maybe a series of them.

As followers of Jesus we can help answer the question and see what it would look like for the kingdom of God to incarnate in the places it is needed most. It takes sacrifice. It takes time…lots of it, but isn’t that what we are here for. We are here to play our part in redeeming the earth for the return of the King.

Where are you doing that? Where will you do that?

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul

You could just tell (People matter)

In a church of 4,000 people, only God knows the number of hurts that walk in the door. It’s easy to be anonymous in a big church. Most believers treat Sunday morning like a vacation. It doesn’t matter what time we get there, and when we do, it’s all for us. That tends to create a problem for the person who walks in off the street and has a felt need right that moment. Who reaches out? Who breaks from the fellowship long enough to pray with someone? At least the Pastors and staff are there, and surely none of them have arrived just to make sure they are in the right social graces.

Wait a minute! People just walk in off the street! Is our church designed for this?

4,000 people, and every week I ask for just one. A few weeks back now; he came in. He was picking up literature from our new ‘firedog’ information center (long story). He was about 6ft. 3in, African American, and the look on his face said, ‘Help’. How many people passed him? Who is supposed to talk to him? Don’t we have a host team for this?

Looking through the information we had available (I think it involved women’s Bible studies) I approached. A couple words of greeting, and scales came off his face. Someone was speaking to him. In this moment, I’m not a Pastor, He’s not in the ‘in-crowd’, I’m just one anglo 6 inches too short for face to face conversation. I’m a Christ-follower. I’m the hands and feet. I’m a priest.

He had been living in his car. He hadn’t eaten in two days. He’s not from around here. He just thought here, someone would talk to him, help him, listen to him.

His story takes a different form every single week. More examples to come.

(I had set several post to come up automatically, and must have done something wrong. Working on getting this going again)

EVERYONE Belongs,

Paul