Hi Discovery!
 
In the wake of iCare, I could not be more thankful for YOU!  I am so thankful for how you signed up and showed up to unite with the Church, glorify God and serve our city in Jesus' name.
 
Take a look at the words of my fellow pastor and friend Scott:
 
"Saturday was a great day for our churches, our communities, and for the Kingdom.  Thank you for stepping out in faith with me.  I sensed the Lord’s pleasure and hope you did as well.  Thirty projects, over 700 people, a night of unified and enthusiastic worship, and lots of great stories from iCare participants – it was a great experience. God was faithful, so faithful.  If you get a chance please let your iCare participants and project leaders know what a great job they did and that their service was truly significant for the kingdom.  There are lots of very happy community members this week because of what we were able to accomplish.  The stories coming back are cool."
 
Hope to share more with you, and we will certainly celebrate together on Sunday.  Thanks for serving our city through iCare!  
 
To the glory of His name,
 - John
 

As the churches in Davis come together, we are finding lots of opportunities to serve!  At the moment we have identified more than 25 projects where are people will be serving in the city.  Project sites include school, city parks, UCD campus, senior living homes and community organizations.  We are thankful to come alongside our city and neighbors in serving the welfare of all who live, work and play here!
 
Sometimes we may think a city like Davis - with so much going for it - has many physical needs.  But the more we look around and talk with those already serving, we are finding all kinds of needs.  The current economic climate has taken its toll of many organizations, so it is a great time for us to step in and serve.
 
What can you do TODAY?
    1. Check out the list of project sites below.
    2. Register this Sunday morning or email Samantha Klasing to get more information on         project details.
    3. Keep praying.  We are hoping to mobilize 1,000 people from our churches and                  neighborhoods to serve our city.             
 

See YOU there!
- John
         ♦ Putah Creek Council                ♦ Yolo Crisis Nursery
         ♦ Rancho Yolo Mobile Park         ♦ Da Vinci High School
         ♦ Harper Junior High                   ♦ Cedar Park
         ♦ City of Davis Parks                   ♦ Knights Landing
         ♦ Summer House                         ♦ Progress Ranch
         ♦ Douglass Middle School            ♦ Tremont Elementary
         ♦ Pioneer Elementary                  ♦ Davis High School
         ♦ Whitehead Elementary             ♦ U.C. Davis Arboritum
         ♦ Birch Lane Elementary              ♦ The Bridge        
         ♦ Korematsu Elementary             ♦ Families First        
         ♦ Yolo County Food Bank             ♦ Cache Creek Lodge
         ♦ Atria at Covell Gardens             ♦ Grace House
 

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." - Revelation 21:5
 
When we look at the future and eternal hope that we have in Christ, we realize God is making all things new.  That includes me, you, heavens, earth, ALL THINGS.  This teaches us that our God is not a destroyer, but a restorer.  Through Christ, he has removes the destruction.  He steps into the brokenness.  This is the God we serve.  
 
This is why, as believers and followers in Christ, we do not sit idlely by and let the world go to "hell in a handbasket."  This is why we step into the lives of the lost, seek to reconcile broken relationships, extend forgiveness, and why we step into the brokenness of the physical world around us.  iCare represents a great opportunity to recognize our God is making all things new, recognize the brokenness we see around us, step into some broken or decaying places and do some work of restoring.  
 
We know ultimately God is the one who will bring the new heavens and new earth.  But in the meantime, we get to be reminded we are God's co-workers and worship while we work.  
 
Why do iCare?  Because I serve the God who is making all things new, and He's invited me to be part of it.
 
Join us May 5 as we step into our city and serve.  Questions about iCare?  Email me at john@discoverychristianchurch.org.
 

When we were first sitting around as pastors discussing the plans of iCare, we were talking about how we could expect only a fraction of our churches to show up.  I am not sure if it was the Spirit or the extra cup of coffee talking, but I rather boldly said I expected Discovery would have 200-300 people show up.  Since we typically have that number attend a Sunday morning, I recognized what I was saying - we are all-in as a church.  
 
This doesn't come out of no where.  We've been talking about putting ourselves in the center of our city.  We've preached recently about the need to serve our city.  We've talked about being the light of the world.  So I do believe we are primed and ready as a church to step up.  I believe God has prepared us for an opportunity such as this.  And I believe in this church.  I have seen God's faithfulness.  I have seen God has a purpose for us here in this city.  I have seen God move in the lives of people in incredible ways.  And I believe we know that Jesus redeemed us for a purpose.  
 
As it says in Ephesians 2:10, " For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  
 
Why do i Care?  Because I believe God has a purpose for His Church here in Davis.  I believe He is calling us to do some good works here in our city.  I believe it is time for us to walk in them.
 
Questions about iCare?  Email me at john@discoverychristianchurch.org.
 

I came across an old Davis Enterprise with a headline talking about our city, "Do we have any volunteers? Yes!"  The article goes on to mention dozens of organizations where people can serve - no churches listed.  On the opposite page is the worship page, saying "Come Worship With Us."  What's the message?  If you want to worship, go to one of our churches.   But if you are looking to serve, you go to one of the other places.  The church is here, but it is not the place you go to serve and make a difference in the city.  
 

How about iCare begins to change that image of the church in Davis?  How about we follow our Lord who said and showed, "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." 
 
Why do i care?  Because my Lord was a servant, and I am a follower of him.
 
Questions about iCare?  Email me at john@discoverychristianchurch.org.

What is iCare?  iCare is an initiative by seven Christian churches in Davis to mobilize our people to get out of our buildings and serve our cities.  We aim to demonstrate God’s love by meeting real needs of the city.
When is iCare?  May 5 is the specified day of serving, but we hope that iCare will be an on-going effort where we see needs around us and meet needs.
What can you do today?

1.     If absolutely possible, put May 5 on your calendar.
2.     If you go home and there is something big on your calendar (a wedding, a retreat, an event that has been there since the beginning of the year), don’t give up.  Ask yourself – how can I be a part of iCare, and we’ll be discussing some alternative ways to do that.

 
If you have any questions about iCare or how you can be a part of it emailjohn@discoverychristianchurch.org 
 
 
 

Drifting men are a major reason for the brokenness in our world.  Statistics show that 60% of men will commit adultery in their marriage.  90% of murders and 88% of robberies are committed by men.  One out of three children will grow up without their biological father in their home.  In fact, our government claims "there is a father factor in nearly all of the social issues facing America today" and has its own initiative to do something about it (www.fatherhood.org).  Does the church realize this?  Will the men of the the church take our place as wall-builders in our world?
 
Ezekiel 22:30 is one of the saddest verses in the Bible.  God says, "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one."  God looked for one good man to build up the brokenness, and He does not find him.  
 
I am thankful that in Discovery we have some good men.  Not perfect me, but me being moved to action.  Consider...
    - the man visiting teens in juvenile hall on a weekly basis.
    - the man praying for an ministering to boys in the Honduras ghetto.                                                                                                (www.micahcentral.org)
    - the man engaging the church to keep the shelves of the Yolo Crisis Nursery stocked       as they minister to single moms and children.
    - the men who recognize that our teenage boys need male mentors and stepping               forward.
    - the men leading teams to serve our city through our May 5 iCare initiative.
 
These are a few of the men on the move.  Tomorrow at our Men's Breakfast you will hear from a few of these men and have an opportunity to join in on the action.  As we study through Nehemiah as a church, we believe God has a special call on men in restoring brokenness in our world, our cities, our families, and our church.  Time to step up to be the man God has called you to be.  
 
 
See YOU there!
 
- John

I am getting very excited for our upcoming series "MOVED"!  I truly believe there is going to be some major transformation in some of our lives... maybe even yours!  We are going to discover God's kingdom purpose, and how to live a life of focus and determination in the Gospel.  While right now you may be wondering why we are going to study an Old Testament book (Nehemiah) with a name we have never heard (Knee-High-My-A), I trust as we get into this study you are going to find a new passion for God's Kingdom work.  He wants to work through ordinary men and women like us to change the world!  
 
If you feel rather ordinary, stuck in your circumstances, facing opposition at every turn, or perhaps even in a city you don't want to be, there is good news for you.  Join us as we dig into Nehemiah... your life may never be the same!
 
I also want to really encourage you to check out a Community Group as we continue the discussion mid-week.  This series is loaded with practical material to help you step forward and be who God has created you to be, and you need others around you to spur you on (Hebrews 10:24-25).  So if you have not been a part of a Discovery Community Group, I hope you will make some time during this 7-week study.  
 
Also, this Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and that means... Family Worship!  Worried that your kids make noise and are a distraction?  Please don't worry.  God loves your kids and so do we.  Let's show up Sunday and make some joyful noise as the family of God.  
 
See you Sunday!
 
- John
 

“It has been my observation that just one out of ten who start out in full-time service to the Lord at 21 are still on track by age 65. They’re shot down morally, with discouragement, with liberal theology, they get obsessed with making money... The man who finishes strong is the exception. The odds are against you. Finishing strong is not impossible. It is, however, improbable. It’s going to take some tough choices and an experience or two of personal brokenness in order to have a strong finishing kick when you reach age 65, 75, 85, or whenever it is God calls you home.”  - Steve Farrar, Finishing Strong
 
I have heard multiple people recount similar percentages and experiences, and the thought has been humbling and transformative in my own life and ministry.  I pray that all young, passionate followers of Christ would heed these words of warning, surrender daily to the Gospel, and engage in authentic accountability.  By God's grace, may we finish strong!
 
 
 

 "See you Sunday"... those have been a few of my favorite words to hear this week.  Sweet music to my ears.  It has been a wonderful Christmas season at Discovery.  This time of year is always a bit more "comfy, cozy" for our worship, and I enjoy the special, more intimate times of worship we have.  But the truth is I miss you!  
 
There is something so special that happens when the Church gathers together with one heart and voice to worship God.  So when I see people during the week and the statement "we'll be traveling this weekend" is replaced with "See you Sunday,"  my heart gets a bit warm.  And it causes me to say with exclamation "See you Sunday!"
 
This Sunday we've got the exciting start of our January message series, "UNDENIABLE: Letting the World See Christ In Us."  Jesus said we are the light of the world.  Are we living in such a way together that people can't help but see something different in Christ's church.  And as they look to see what that something is... they find Jesus.
 
I will see YOU Sunday!  
 
- John