the encounter

you may have heard the news reports this past week about the student who suffered a spinal cord injury during football practice at DeSoto High School. you may not know that Scott Galloway, encounter’s worship leader, is the head athletic trainer for DeSoto. Stuart Dunn, encounter sound guy is assistant athletic trainer for the school.

the training staffand coaches are burdened with the student’s injury, as is the entirestudent body.our prayers are with Scott, the training staff, the coaches, students, the injured student and his family during this time.

click on the picture link above for the complete channel 11 news story and video footage.

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Dong Yun Yoon [English name is Don Yoon], 37, was at work at his cafe when he discovered the horrible news of a F/A-18 jet crashing into a residential home – his home. His wife, two young babies, and his mother-in-law who had recently arrived from Korea to help take care of the babies [a Korean custom] all were killed in this tragedy.

Eugene C Cho shares Yoon’s story on his blog. And you can watch video on CNN.

And I’ll be honest, had it not been for Cho, I’d have no idea this even happened.

Yoon married his wife, Young Mi Yoon [a nurse], four years ago and had two children: Grace [15 months] and Rachel [2 months]. They had just moved into this house one month ago.

“My wife — it was God’s blessing that I met her about four years ago, and we got married,” he said quietly. “She’s just such a lovely wife and mother, who always loves me, and (the) babies. I just miss her so much.”

So, your entire family has been taken from you. The pilot of the F-18 that crashed into your house walked away — he ejected just before the crash.

How would you respond?

Yoon responds with grace that can only come from an almighty God.

“…I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God,” he said. “And I know God is taking care of them.”

as for the pilot…

“Please pray for him not to suffer from this accident,” Yoon said. “I know he’s one of our treasures, for the country, and I … don’t blame him. I don’t have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could.”

This is the Gospel.

Sure makes my petty issues with others seem even more so.

God may we love like you love. May we treasures others like you treasure them. May we see your image in them all. May we conspire to live differently this season and live our lives differently from this point forward.

“Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all our sins.”

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Sunday many of us shared some of our dreams for encounter and what things could be. I loved hearing so many suggest that we should be looking outside of ourselves.

I’ve recently been reading more and more articles from The Ooze and today an article by Keith Giles caught my attention as we continue the discussion of what we are and who we are as a tribe/church/family.

When Jesus announced his ministry and proclaimed his Gospel of the Kingom it was like setting off a bomb in the heart of the city. People got excited. The religious leaders of the day got nervous. The political leaders took notice….

When Jesus established the Church he did not build something with a physical temple or a daily animal sacrifice or a special group of elite clergy. The Church that Jesus built was out of the ordinary. It was radical. It was unlike anything that had ever come before it.

I almost hate to give away the ending… but its so good!

You and I are this same Church. We are the people of God. We are part of something more unique and fabulous than any of us could have ever imagined.

Who are you in Christ? You are a new creation. You are the Temple of God. You are the Priests of God. You are the daily, living sacrifice to God.

We are a people unlike any the world has ever seen or imagined before.

We are the Church.

Wish the author would have thrown in some exclamation points there. Think about those statements for a second. They’re worth repeating.

We are a people unlike any the world has ever seen or imagined before!

We are the Church!

Amen!

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Many of you have been praying for my friend Lanessa Allman. Thank you!

She’s out of ICU and has begun rehabilitation after battling encephalitis for several weeks. There’s still a ways to go but she’s making tremendous strides. I thought I’d share a letter Lanessa’s husband Jay shared via his brother’s blog.

It just goes to show how good and pleasing it is to encourage one another towards (and in) love and good deeds and how the body of Christ can join together to comfort and support one another in times of need.

WOW, were do I even begin. Right now I really wish I had my brothers talent for writing because I would love to be able to tell all of you how I have been feeling the last month, but I still just don’t have the words to describe it all.

What I can say is Thank You.

Thank you for every card that was written

Thank you for every note that was sent or left for us

Thank you for every gift card for food or gas

Thank you for every piece of clothing or gift given

Thank you for all of the dinners brought to us

Thank you for all the formula and diapers

Thank you for each comment left on the blog

Thank you for every dollar given to me or my family (I promise that what has not been used directly for this situation will be tithed to our church in all of your names)

Thank you for all the beautiful flowers (we put them all by her bed so she could at least smell them even if not see them)

Thank you for your time spent with Lanessa, Me or our families

Thank you for every encouraging word

Thank you for your churches and their hearts for us

Thank you for all your concern for us

and especially….

Thank you for your prayers. Your prayers brought back a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. That is power for which I cannot comprehend.

You can read the rest of the letter on Chris’ blog.

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Craig & Ami Stracener are having quite a week. Craig’s grandfather entered the splendor of heaven Monday morning after a fall and some time in the hospital. The funeral will be scheduled for later this week at Laurel Land in Dallas.

Ami’s mother, Belinda Mahone,went to the doctor last week with what appeared to be a sinus headache. Problem was that nothing seemed to help. A CT scan revealed that it was not a sinus issue, but a tumor the size of a small apple on her brain. She was transported from Waxahachie to Baylor in Plano. Monday afternoon they removed the non-cancerous tumor. As of this morning she is awake, recovering,and doing well. She most likely be back home by the weekend. What an amazing day of medical technology and expertise. What an answer to prayer for the family.

Belinda is a teacher in the nursing program at Duncanville High School and has been nominated for teacher of the year. After a few minutes around her, you will quickly see why she would be nominated. Her laughter, personality, quick-wit, and ability to make you feel like a long-time friend,make her a joy to be around.

Ami and Craig both have very close and loving families. Pray that the grace of God would continue to surround them, support them, and comfort them during this time.

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