Connecting Point – March 31, 2023

Everyone who has pets believes their pets, really care about them - but that's not always or necessarily true. Susan Mattice was a woman who lived in Utah who believed that her two dogs really loved her and cared about her. She heard that someone can tell how much their pets care about them by seeing how they react to helping them when they (the human being) are in some kind of trouble. So one day she decided to put her dogs to a test. She was eating pizza in her living room when all of a sudden she clutched her chest and fell over, acting like she was having a heart attack. Through her half-closed eyes, she watched her dogs to see how they would respond. They looked at her, then looked at one another; and then they both made a dash for the pizza. Hopefully your pets (if you have pets) care more about you than Susan Mattice's dogs cared about her.

The point of the above illustration is to remind us that if dogs or human beings really care about others - they will do what they can to help them. And if we really care about the emotional and spiritual needs and eternal destiny of our Friends, Relatives, Associates and Neighbors, we will do everything we can to get them to come with us to our Easter Weekend services. Because in our Good Friday and Easter Weekend services at Celebration the people we bring with us will be welcomed and encouraged, and they will receive the opportunity to connect with Jesus - the One who can transform their lives, circumstances and relationships.

We all have Friends, Relatives, Associates and Neighbors who need to experience the help, hope and healing power of Jesus in their lives. So, please care about them enough to go out of your way to invite them to come with you to our Good Friday or Easter Saturday or Sunday services next weekend. You may want to send them a text or social media message that says:

• Hey, I really would love for you to come with me to our Good Friday, Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday services at Celebration __________. I always learn something when I attend at Celebration, and leave feeling encouraged, equipped and empowered to overcome life's challenges. I believe that you will have the same experience. So would you be willing to come with me? After all, it is Easter. 

For people you invite to attend our Easter services but are unable to do so because of health concerns or other commitments, they will be able to watch our Easter service online at www.celebrationchurch.org, or on local television stations WGNO Channel 26 at 11:00 am on Easter Saturday and WNOL 38 at 9:00 and 10:30 am Easter Sunday. Be sure to tell your friends and family members about these opportunities.

On Palm Sunday in our services we will also be receiving our 52 CHALLENGE Commitments and Gifts. We began the 52 CHALLENGE initiative back in February, reminding our people that the same God who enabled Nehemiah and his people to accomplish their big project in just 52 days is available to help us rebuild our Campuses that were damaged by Hurricane Ida. So, we're asking every Celebration attendee to consider giving generously above their regular Church offerings to help us fund the rebuild of our Campuses that were damaged back in 2021. You can do so by giving a large one time gift, or you can do so by giving weekly or by committing to give weekly for the next 52 weeks. You may also have stocks, bonds, jewelry, property or other items that you would like to give towards this effort, so that we can complete the rebuilding of our Campuses. When Nehemiah presented the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and gates, the people responded, "Let us arise and build." May we have a similar faith and determination as we make our commitments this Sunday to the 52 CHALLENGE.