Sunday Blessing

My friend Chanel turned me onto this idea of blogging about a blessing each week and so what better day to blog about your blessings than on Sunday. I will try and update my blog with a Sunday blessing every week, but we will see how long that lasts once Lyla arrives.

The first blessing I would like to blog about is our church, Community Bible Church. Scott and I have been so blessed in finding an amazing church since basically week one of being out here. I grew up in a pretty traditional Presbyterian church so CBC was quite a shock to me in the beginning. I remember after the first time I visited CBC I was sad when church was over. Growing up I couldn't get out of church fast enough but our Pastor, Barry Minkow, has an amazing gift. This is Barry's testimony in a nutshell...
At the age of 16, Barry Minkow started a carpet cleaning company in the family garage. By age 20, he had a 240 million-dollar company and was referred to as the "whiz-kid" of Wall Street. After milking highly educated investors out of millions of dollars, Barry's scam came to a sudden halt when he was arrested in 1987 at the age of 23 and sentenced to 25 years in the federal prison. Against all odds, and with a 26 million dollar court awarded restitution nailed over his head, Barry decided it was time to make a change. During his time in prison, Barry felt the calling of God in his life. With a call to the ministry and an unquenchable fire burning in his heart, he headed his life full speed ahead in that direction. After serving 8 years of his sentence with an unblemished record and with the recommendation of the sentencing judge, Barry was released into society. In the judge's own words, "Barry can do more for his victims out of prison than he can in prison."

There are so many Christians who judge people based on tattoos, piercings, clothing, etc. CBC does an amazing job of making anyone from any background feel welcome. We have ex cons, ex drug addicts, ex porn addicts worshiping together in an environment that is accepting of their past. It is easy for us as Christians to judge and point our fingers at these people but we are all sinners and are all in need of Jesus. When we first got to CBC I sent Barry an email about Scott playing for the Chargers and that if he ever wanted Scott to speak to the kids at the church we would love to help out. Barry took us up on the offer and Scott spoke with the junior high, high school and I shared my testimony with the junior high girls. It wasn't long before we started getting involved in the church. We fell in love with the kids from Ampt (the junior high church) and continue to spend our Sundays with these kids. I have met so many awesome people at CBC in small groups, bible studies, and at Ampt. I couldn't imagine living out here so far from my family without this church family. They have welcomed Scott and I with open arms and have really made us feel like we were part of this church community. CBC has been such a blessing to both of us and this week I wanted to share with all of you just how much we appreciate our church.