a word from Greg Taylor

DRAMA TONIGHT FROM OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
A drama group from Oklahoma Christian University will perform in Phillips Hall, 7 pm tonight! Come for the Wednesday meal 5-7 pm and stay for this entertaining and thought-provoking group.

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY'S WON BY ONE
In two weeks, June 24, 7 pm Phillips Hall we'll have "Won by One," a singing group from Pepperdine University.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Did you hear what Loy Johnson said Sunday? Ice Cream July 5. Cool, in more ways than one. Mike Hornsby told me a story about an ice cream social he attended at Garnett years back when he ate some of the best ice cream he'd ever eaten. Peach Ice Cream in a homemade ice cream freezer. Well, Mike went looking for the maker and found her. He didn't tell me who she is--wondering if she'll fess up after this email! (Most importantly, will she make this ice cream again . . . Please?) Below is the secret recipe for the best ice cream Mike ever ate.

She said, "I got my ice cream freezer ready." Check. Then she said, "I got a couple cans of peaches and opened them up and poured them in." Check. Then she told the secret. She said, "I went down to Braums and got a few pints of vanilla ice cream and mixed it in with the peaches and put the container down in the ice." Viola. "Homemade" ice cream, and the best, according to Mike Hornsby.

So if you can make "homemade" ice cream, bring it on. If not, bring Braums! OK, we need some of you good folks to help organize the tables, bowls, signs on the ice cream, sign people up, etc.

Who wants to help the Shepherds get this done? We need people with the gifts of Church Social Planning! And really, this kind of hospitality is a true gift and some of you work hard at it, so if you can help with organizing the Ice Cream Social July 5, please contact Janet Collins - jcollins@garnettchurch.org. This will be a good "warm up" to our Garnett 40th Anniversary Family Reunion August 28-29. Mark your calendars for that!

This Sunday, June 14, I'll be continuing the Jesus series with the first of several sermons on the "I am" sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John. I'm looking forward to what we'll learn together about our Lord Jesus.

Loy Johnson will preach in my place Sunday, June 21. You won't want to miss Loy's unique and creative approach to pulling a lot of things together for us historically and in how the church ought to live our our mission in Christ today.






Greg Taylor

A word from Greg Taylor

Recently Robin and some Garnett students were at Wendy's on 31st West of 169, and the manager, Joy, said she'd like to host a Student Ministry Fundraiser for our student mission trips this summer. So tonight, before or after the Neighborhood Kitchens meal and classes, head over to Wendy's for a Frosty or burger and take the handout students have been passing out, and we'll receive part of tonight's profits for missions.

Joy, the Wendy's manager, said she has come to our Neighborhood Kitchens meals, and two other employees at Wendy's chimed in and told Robin how good the food was and how much they enjoyed it, and one employee even mentioned Clarence Davis and how he had helped with a ride.

"It was exciting to feel that immediate sense of connection with the community meal," Robin said.
These are the amazing connections and fun we're having in the community. Thanks, Robin! And speaking of Wednesday meals, this is (from left) Mark Rushmore and Martin Ramos. They are friends working together at our Wednesday night meal, called Neighborhood Kitchens. Each Wednesday 200 are served and most are guests from our community.

Mark is a Garnett partner who helps set up tables, chairs, takes nasty dripping trash to the dumpster, and smiles as he's doing here! Mark is one of the kindest, most Christ-like guys you'll meet, but he's not the type to just slap people on the back and introduce himself to strangers. Yet he's serving Wednesdays . . . and so can you. If you are the type who likes to meet new people, come and enjoy plenty of people to meet and serve (and the cool thing is we also learn and are served by our guests!).

Martin Ramos works with East Tulsa Prevention Coalition (ETPC) in gang prevention. He gets kids in East Central High School and our neighborhood enrolled in "Martin's gang." Martin is bilingual, speaking great Panama Spanish and mixes it up with the many Spanish speakers who come to our Wednesday meal. We're so glad to have Martin with us each week and so glad to have him as a friend.

Come tonight!

Want to engage in loving our church and community? Let our leadership team know! Email

Fireproof TONIGHT at Garnett!

7 pm Phillips Hall
Come for the Neighborhood Kitchens Meal 5-7 pm and stay for the free showing of the movie, Fireproof.




A word from Greg Taylor
Ethelene Davis and Arnetta Pollard had both recommended a great new movie, so Jill and I told the kids we were watching that movie just out on DVD: Fireproof. We said they could watch it with us if they wanted. The kids didn't seem very interested. You know, a movie has to be hyped in theaters months in advance and carry some kind of kid-cred for them to think it's legit sometimes. So we played it cool and just said, "Watch a few minutes with us if you want."

They did and they were hooked and watched the whole movie. We all benefited from the movie as a family and I believe you, your family, your spouse or loved ones will enjoy Fireproof and grow spiritually from watching the movie.

Student Ministry is popping popcorn, Spirit and Truth Church is coming over to join us for the movie, all are welcome from the community and many will stay after eating the free Neighborhood Kitchens meal.

Come eat 5-7 pm and then grab some popcorn and we'll get the movie started around 7:20. We'll need help breaking down tables and setting up chairs after the meal. We'll also ask people if they want to attend a class on marriage and relationships offered later in the year and facilitated by Walt and Kathy Erwin.

Be not afraid

Fear paralyzes so many today. From Swine Flu to terrorism to dying a painful death to loneliness, people are afraid.

Those here Sunday were asked to write on an index card one thing they most fear. I spoke about fearing for the lives of my children, and how this can become paralyzing and even idolatrous. More people feared losing loved ones than anything else--that stack of index cards was tallest with several dozen expressing that fear.

About the same number expressed fear of being alone, dying alone, or having a painful or prolonged illness. Many, however, expressed spiritual fears, such as going to hell. Many expressed fear of displeasing God or failure, or simply that they fear God.

Of course a few wrote that they fear spiders, snakes, tornadoes, the unknown. A few fear losing job or the ability to support their families. Some fear the violence in our world, from extremist violence to break-ins to government intervention in our lives.

There's no doubt about it, fear is a strong tool for good. We run or protect when fear strikes, but fear can also be used as a tool of Satan. Our task is to look our fears squarely and discern whether or not these fears have led us to worship something other than God. We worship what we fear, or respect. To fear rightly is to respect, honor, and worship God.

Jesus said in Luke 12, which we looked at Sunday, "do not be afraid of those who can kill the body and after that can do no more." Then he says, "Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

Jesus follows by saying God cares about us so much he has our hairs numbered. He hasn't even forgotten the sparrows, so how could he forget you?

Then he draws a connection to ownership. If you own God, by acknowledging him before people you may fear, he'll own you. Disown Christ, he says, and you will be disowned before the angels of heaven. This chapter is full of hard sayings of Jesus, and it's followed by the infamous "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit. This is a kind of rebellion against the prophets and very presence of God in Christ, a hardened heart that God allows people to have but with consequences of punishment and no forgiveness (Luke 12:10).

Later in the chapter, Jesus tells about a man who is rich in things for himself but poor toward God. So don't worry, he says, your father knows what you need so you don't have to worry about it. He has given us the kingdom, so he says we can sell our possessions and give to the poor.

We're so afraid of losing what we have that we forget it was God who gave it to us in the first place. When we begin to see everything as God's, we can begin to give more freely, looking for people who are poor among our church body and sharing all things with them, then widening the circle to the poor in our community, and sharing all things with them.

So many of us trip over Jesus plain command, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor" (Luke 12:33). But can we live with that statement a while, rather than explaining it away? Can this be something we pray for the strength to do, whether gradually, slowly or suddenly?

To take steps toward emptying ourselves of fear and dread of loss and filling ourselves with words of Christ takes prayer, faith, practice, and listening. Jesus emptied himself of everything. And that's the call of Christ in this difficult chapter 12 of Luke's gospel. Let's start by giving up fear to God in prayer this week. Would you pray today, "God, I give you my fears"? Tomorrow and the next day, would you speak those fears out loud to God? Read Luke 12 and see what God is saying to you.

Some people of prayer have come to Garnett today to pray over each card that was written expressing fears. Thank you to those who prayed.

What is justice?

What does the word justice bring to mind? What did justice mean to Jesus?

I think of the words "fairness" and "equity" and "dignity" among others.

Today we're hosting Paul Kent from Habitat for Humanity Tulsa at the Green Country Event Center. We'll get his input on how our land or resources can be used to bring justice to those without adequate or affordable housing in Tulsa.

We're also hosting Linda Williamson, Chairman of the Board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Tulsa. She is bringing her team and we'll also get their input on how we can participate in justice for Hispanic people in Tulsa.

Sunday, May 10

Sunday is Mother's Day and Baby Dedication @ Garnett Church of Christ

Lundy Morrison and Janet Collins have put together an excellent dedication and time to honor mothers. Kathy Erwin and children's chorus will be singing, and Amy Victory plans to give a testimony that goes along with Greg Taylor's sermon. There are a few pieces of good news and surprises you won't want to miss, but you'll have to come to find out!

IMPORTANT NOTE: After Bible classes this Sunday, May 10, all children and babies of all ages will be coming into worship for the entire worship time. Nursery will still be open if mothers need it but it will not be staffed for leaving babies, since all ages of children will be with us for whole worship.

JAMES AND NELDA LAWRENCE: Nelda Lawrence's dad, Byron Stewart, passed away suddenly Wednesday May 6 in Longview, TX. James and Nelda are traveling there for the funeral which will be Satruday at 2 p.m. Please pray for Nelda's family. Related to this, Greg Taylor will teach a combined class in James Lawrence's place, 9 am Sunday, May 10 in Building 6.

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All welcome to pray Thursday May 7

You're invited to Garnett Church of Christ May 7 Thursday 7 am - 7 pm for National Day of Prayer. Come at time best for you. We'll have a place for personal prayer, a place where groups can gather to pray, and a cafe where you can drink coffee with old friends and make new friends. All welcome, saints and sinners, backsliders, people of all faith traditions. Pray for city, state, nation, and ALL nations.

Tulsa World story