Is Sending Flowers Evangelistic?

It could be if you purchase your Valentines Day flowers here. Thanks to the good folks at In Bloom Flowers and Gifts (click here for more info), 10% of every dozen roses ordered / delivered on Valentines Day 2012 will be donated to the recipient of our Valentines for Toledo benefit concert - SAIL (School for Autistically Impaired Learners). BIG thanks and WTG for pleasing your sweet heart AND helping autistic kids in Toledo continue to receive the personalized education they need. Here's In Bloom's address: 203 Conant Street, Maumee OH 43537

Valentines for Toledo?

On Saturday evening February 18, 2012 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, YOU and a guest (or guests!!!) are cordially invited to attend the Valentines for Toledo benefit concert featuring local Toledo singer Sheri LaFontaine.

Admission is free but 100% of the LOVE offering collected during intermission will be given to SAIL (School for Autistically Impaired Learners. Click here to learn more about them). David Putano, music therapist who works at SAIL, will introduce us to some students from SAIL in addition to Dr. Marion Boss the Executive Director.

Save 90 minutes to warm your heart and touch some one else's in Jesus' name this Valentines Day weekend. It just might be the sweetest thing you do!!! Reception to follow. You do NOT have to be a member of Toledo First Church to participate. Click here for map and directions.

Love HIV Orphans Like Crazy?

"Michou, a fragile-looking 17 year old girl found our makeshift clinic in Fond Paul village, several miles away from Eden Garden. She presented herself for treatment to nurse Elizabeth who sadly determined that there was not much we could do for Michou except make her more comfortable, ease her pain and rehydrate her. Unfortunately, Michou was suffering from end-stage H.I.V., and told Elizabeth that her parents and family had abandoned her. From the unmistakable look of pain and desperation in her face and eyes, it was clear to us that Michou was enduring the last days of her disease alone and in the worst environment."

"Elizabeth began an IV line of re-hydration fluids, and a mattress was laid on the floor for her where she was cared for. She was given water, and when she could eat, some nuts and a granola bar." "At the end of the day, Elizabeth determined that she did not want Michou to go home by herself because she was so weak. So Charles, nurse Erin, interpreter TiTi, and Arden volunteered to walk her to her village up the mountain a mile or so away. And although Charles and Arden walked on each side of her, Michou stumbled and fell hard on the ground, scratching her elbows and knees. She sobbed quietly on the ground, tears flowing, as she could not get up." "Charles and Arden helped her up and took turns carrying Michou home. Sensing that she was a burden on Charles and Arden (whose huffing and puffing indicated that they were struggling with the uphill walk), Michou whispered that she would try to walk. They got to her village, found her two room home, and placed her on a mat. After praying with her, they left her bottles of water and protein bars, and later sent some supplies for her wounds and skin with another person. Michou was silent, and could not even wave goodbye. Her eyes were full of sadness."

"On Saturday afternoon, a group led by Elizabeth, and including Glenn, Sean, Kurt, Stacey, Ron and Arden decided to visit Michou at her home to give her more supplies and food. Unfortunately, Michou was not there, so they left the supplies with her family, who we couldn't even be sure that they would give them to Michou. Shortly after our group got back to Eden Garden, they were surprised to see Michou and her sister who walked at least three miles in the hot sun to Eden Garden to see us. They heard that we had visited Michou’s home. Michou told her sister that she knew “the Americans would never leave her.” After some refreshments, we were able to put take her home with a bag of medicines, clothes, towels, water, food and some money. When we said goodbye, Michou hugged and kissed Arden on the cheek, as did her sister. We saw a smile on her face for the first time. And this time, she was able to wave goodbye." The following true story took place in Haiti January 2012. Click here for more info or go to Eden Garden Orphanage's new website) and reminded me that God loves HIV orphans like crazy!!! Do we?

Joe Gibbs Second?

Joe Gibbs was the coach of the Washington Redskins. His autobiography Fourth And One is great.

Wanna Throw A Souper Bowl Party?

Here's how to throw a Souper Bowl Party that helps your church tackle hunger in the community.

1. Build or buy a small Souper Bowl trophy to give to your child / grandchild / student who collects the most cans between now and the big game FEB 5, 2012 @ 6pm
2. Encourage people to fast from fast food or from going out to eat for a month and donate the cost of what they would have spent instead
3. Create a Souper Bowl of Caring cheer or song or rap to share in church or post online
4. Pass giant soup bowls or real football helmets during church to collect additional offerings
5. Write, perform, and upload a skit about hunger or the least of these
6. Collect hunger stats from www.feedingamerica.org and post them in bulletins and newsletters with links and invites to your Souper Bowl party
7. Invite and bring homeless people or the elderly to your Souper Bowl of Caring party
8. Wear your fave team's jersey
9. Watch the game together and celebrate your Souper Bowl of Caring results @ Halftime
10.  For more ideas, to register your group and get free stuff to advertise go to www.souperbowl.org

Souper Caring?

Did you know 207,700 Ohioans go to bed hungry and 35% of them are children under 18? Did you know 1 out of 10 of them are under 5? And that 8% of them are seniors 65 years or older that must often choose between eating and paying their rent or mortgage? (for more info, see www.feedingamerica.org) Obviously, hunger does not age discriminate.

After the holidays, the generous donations of the season have been used for those who needed help during that time. But, the need for nutritious food is a continuing struggle. So this new year we are partnering with the Toledo Northwest Ohio Food Bank by collecting canned goods (especially the urgently needed items below). You can bring them each week to church where we will again be hosting the live Super Bowl football game FEB 5, 2012 @ 6pm. Free pizza, drinks, and snacks provided with donated dollars or items below.

Let's continue to be Souper Caring in 2012 since Jesus said, "Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40. Here are the Urgently Needed Food Items: Peanut Butter Cereal Saltine Crackers 100% Juices Apple Sauce, Peaches, Pears, Fruit Cocktail Macaroni and Cheese, Ramen Noodles and Other Dry Pasta Dried Beans Spaghetti Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Ravioli Canned Beef or Chicken, Tuna Fish Stews and Soups, Green Beans, Corn, Peas and Other Canned Vegetables. Please no perishables, frozen foods, glass jars or baby food.

Power of Music?

Generations of people in the church fight about it. It's nice to see in this video music that stops the fighting. Literally. Enjoy!!!
The Power of Music from Life File Videos on Vimeo.

A New Year Beginning?

I like this new year's vid. Enjoy!!!