Tebow is very outspoken about his faith. This along with his unorthodox play seems to make him a polarizing figure. But this we do know. He plays hard. He loves God and wants to acknowledge that. He wants to be a positive role model for kids and is building a hospital in the Philippines to help people heal. In light of all the negative stories of NBA lock outs, athletic programs with violations for cheating and alleged stories of abuse by coaches, it is refreshing to see a leader standing for something positive. Thinking that no matter what one thinks of Tebow, a few more leaders like him would make the world a better place. These are “Encounters with Hope.” For more visit encountergeneration.com

http://tinyurl.com/6anf4xd

A young woman might be searching for something or someone to tell her that she is absolutely beautiful, loveable and worth pursuing. A young man might be searching for respect, for something or someone to let him know that he has what it takes. These are often lifelong pursuits, and they are not fast and easy to find.

Everyone who searched for Jesus found something they had been looking for all along. An encounter with Jesus made women realize that they were uniquely beautiful and worthy of the deepest love. And they found someone whose presence made them that much more beautiful. And men finally found a Leader worth following, and someone who could form them into a man worthy of much respect. “Seek Him, and you will find Him,” God has said. When we put the real Jesus in our search engine and really seek Him, we will find what we’ve been searching for all along. These are “Encounters with Hope.”

As graduation season has come and the class of 2011 moves into a new season of life, what a time to remember this promise that God has given to us. “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Prov. 16:3) In other words, if we give our actions to the Lord, trusting Him, He will help us, and if the plans are best for us, we can be sure that they will succeed. God is committed to our success, but He waits on us to commit our lives and our actions to Him. If we give ourselves and our actions to Him, we can be sure that we will see success in our lives.

In response to the recent tornados that have taken lives and devastated many peoples’ homes and businesses, people from Bristol and Washington Co. and Smyth, Co. are gathering on Monday night, May 2 at 7:00PM in Chilhowie, Virginia to unite in prayer for those affected by the storms, to pray for our communities and to unite in love by bringing donations of items, especially gift cards to area department stores and grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and other places where people in need can get essentials over the coming days and weeks as they begin to rebuild their lives. Several churches across denominations are helping with the effort. Chilhowie First Church of God, on the hill above the post office, has graciously agreed to host the gathering at 7PM on Monday night. We will work with them to get donated items distributed to people in the Glade Spring/Chilhowie area who have needs. It is a night of hope. So we hope to see you there as we rebuild together!

Please message me for more information. Project Crossroads will be there, with Wal Mart and Food City cards if you want to get them to give. Thanks to Chilhowie First COG for hosting.

Dance

I love to watch sports. I enjoy watching a great movie or television show. Though my favorite show, 24, is now off the air. But though I enjoy watching it, I always think about how much more enjoyable it is to be in the middle of it. To be the one acting or directing the movie or coaching or playing in the game.

A song came out a few years ago which became a hit, sung by Lee Ann Womack and called “I Hope You Dance.” One of the pointed lines in the song was, “When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” To be the one painting the picture, playing in the game, acting the part. It makes life meaningful.

Recently, around 2,000 people, many of them youth, gathered in a park in Houston, TX and danced. They danced to celebrate Easter and Jesus’ resurrection. They danced as a witness to how passionate they are about what they believe in. And to prove it, they walked away barefooted because they left thousands of brand new shoes to be donated to people in need. They let their lives count for something bigger than themselves, and the joy on their faces was obvious. They played in the game. They danced. I hope you’ll dance! Above is the amazing “dance” by people from Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX.

This is the time of year in Virginia, when I am ready for Spring. Actually, I’m ready for a beach trip. The sound of the waves, the sand in my toes and the warm sun burning my shoulders….Okay, beach trips are not all perfect.

When I was a kid, I would build sand castles. And no matter how hard you worked, it was inevitable that the ocean’s tide would wash it away. Have you ever thought of our lives like that? The foundation that we build our life on and the materials we use to build our life all contribute to whether we get washed away when hard times come or whether we can stand strong through hard times.

Jesus once said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” The Rock is much stronger. These are “Encounters with Hope.”