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May 6th, 2012. There’s an App for That: The Investment App

May 6, 2012 By

The INVESTMENT App from TOCC Media on Vimeo.

05-06-12. There’s an App for That: The Investment App
 

 

Your life is short. Do good with it. (James 4:13-17; Proverbs 23:4; Luke 12:15)

Your wealth is corrosive. Be generous with it. (James 5:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)

  • Remember where it came from. (Deuteronomy 8:18; Chronicles 29:14)
  • Remember who it belongs to. (Psalm 24:1; Malachi 3:8)
  • Remember why you have it. (Luke 12:48; 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Your integrity will leave a legacy. Be careful with it. (James 4:15; 5:4-6)

 

Next Week’s Message: “The HEALING App”

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God in a Fortune Cookie

February 17, 2010 By

Sometimes God appears to us in the most unexpected places. It may be through a sunset, a card from a friend, the lyrics of a song, or even through a fortune cookie. I was eating lunch at Shong Hey’s in Trenton last Thursday with a couple of pastor buddies and when the waitress brought us our fortune cookies I opened mine, expecting to read something generic about great happiness coming my way. Instead, I found a line that would not have applied to anyone at the table but me:
"You will soon be crossing great ocean waters for an incredibly rewarding experience."

When I read it I laughed, picturing God with a big smile on His face, nudging an angel in heaven and saying “Watch this!” It was just another way that He has shown me that His hand is on the trip we will take next Monday. But it also reminded me that we have a God who is intimately involved in the lives of His children. And if we will open our eyes, we will see His reminders all around us. Even in a fortune cookie.

The members of our Cambodia team from Twin Oaks have had many “God Sightings” over the past several months as we worked toward next week’s journey. His fingerprints are all over our team as He has provided resources, vision, peace, and encouragement in so many ways. We’ve seen how He has assembled a strong team that will do good work in showing His love and bringing healing to hundreds of Cambodian children. Some of the confirmations of God’s blessing and presence have come through you as you donated cans and bottles, bought dolls or sewed dresses for them, or provided medicine for our guide’s children’s ministry. Thank you so much for being part of this mission, and for loving the girls of Rapha House through us. God appears to us in many ways, and He has made His presence clear through you. With your help we are looking forward to “…crossing great ocean waters for an incredibly rewarding experience."

Prayer team and blog – We know that many of you will go with us through your prayers next Monday. So that you may pray for us by name allow me to list the members of our Twin Oaks Cambodian team: Carolyn Atcheson, Sara Barr, Jack Catton, Jessica Chrisekos, Harvey Lucier, Tara McKee, Greg Paddock, Candi Pattison, John Perfetti, Heather Rice, Fred Vanhalla, Chris and Randy Wheeler. If you would be willing to commit to pray for us for the 10 days of our trip, please email me and I will send you a prayer request list and give you the link to our blog so you can hear about the work and get regular updates. Thank you again for all of your support.

DAVE RAMSEY – “Life. Money. Hope” – Beginning THIS SUNDAY we are excited to offer 3 messages from nationally known Christian financial expert Dave Ramsey. This week Dave will speak to us on “The Basics of Biblical Finance”. What a great time to invite a friend who could use a little good financial direction. And don’t let the fact that the messages are on video throw you. The rest of the service will be just like any other Sunday. And the Sunday before last, the most talked about part of my message was the 9 minute video clip that I used. So you’ll hear a great message from God’s Word by a powerful speaker (Just like a normal week at Twin Oaks :)

Ladies Chocolate Extravaganza – THIS FRIDAY – 6:30pm – Ladies, it’s not too late to sign up for one of the biggest women’s events of the year at Twin Oaks. Chocolate, soup, and fellowship galore. If you’d like to come contact Roxanne Thompson at roxanne_thompson01@yahoo.com or 313-292-4289.  

GEMS pancake Breakfast – THIS SATURDAY – 8:00am to 11:30.  Serving pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, toast and all the toppings!  We’ve moved the GEMS House of Pancakes into the worship center so there will be plenty of room. Please bring your friends and family to support the GEMS Girls Club in their 3rd annual fundraiser. Donations appreciated.

Discovery 101 Class – THIS SUNDAY – 3-5pm – If you are new to Twin Oaks and want to know more about our beliefs, history, vision, values, and ministries this is the class for you. We’ll also cover how to become a member of God’s family and what it means to be an “official” member of the Twin Oaks family. So this class is also for those who are interested in becoming members of Twin Oaks. Sign up at the Ministry Center Sunday or just email me.

Decisions for Christ – Last Sunday we celebrated as Stephanie Keffer accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized in the waters of His grace. Check out Stephanie’s photo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/46768627@N07/?saved=1 and keep her in your prayers as she begins her new walk with Christ.

Estate Planning Seminar – “THE LIVING TRUST: Leaving a legacy that makes a difference!”-Tuesday, March 16, 6-8pm. Presenter: Phil Beavers, VP of Institutional Advancement, Great Lakes Christian College. This free seminar will assist participants through the entire estate planning process from “start to signatures. Each estate plan will be done at no out of pocket cost to the individuals. In return for this service, valued in excess of $2,000, Financial Planning Ministry encourages individuals to leave a residual gift (after death) to their local church. To reserve your spot, sign up at the Ministry Center or reply to this email.

MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) – Begins next Thursday, Feb. 25th from 9-11Am and meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday through May 13th. MOPS is for mothers with children from birth to Kindergarten and exists to encourage, equip, and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ. Invite your friends to attend with you!  Childcare is provided along with light refreshments.  For more information, please contact Rhonda Dolunt at (313)383-4332 or rhdolunt@yahoo.com.

MOPS childcare volunteers needed – We still need a few more people to care for the pre-schoolers on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings of each month from 8:45 to 11:15AM while the moms have Bible study and fellowship. Are you retired? Working evenings? Not working right now? Have Thursdays off? Have you been looking for a way to serve God at Twin Oaks but don’t know where you fit? If you like pre-schoolers and have Thursday mornings off this could be your place to serve at Twin Oaks and help make our body stronger. Contact Rhonda Dolunt today to volunteer – (313)383-4332 or at rhdolunt@yahoo.com.

Missing Bible – If anyone found a brand new black and brown NIV Thinline Bible (or took it home by mistake) on January 31st please contact Linda Conner at 313-291-8570 or nana48180@att.net.

Ladies Dining Out – The next ladies dining out will be Wednesday March 3. They are going to La Dolce Vita on Fort Street in Riverview. They will meet there at 6:15. All ladies are invited for a relaxed evening of good food and great conversation. Sign up at the ministry center starting this Sunday. Questions? Contact Carol Horn. 764 675 4829 or chorn9351@hotmail.com .

New Online Directory – We have a new online church directory to make it easier to update and keep up with the growing family at Twin Oaks. This directory is only accessible with a password which I can give you when you request it. In requesting a password you are promising that you will not share the password or the information in the directory with anyone else or use the addresses for business purposes (solicitation, etc) Most of the photos were taken last Mother’s Day. If you are not yet in the directory (and most of you aren’t) and would like to be, or if you would like to change your photo, then email a photo to me along with your address and phone # (If you want those in there) If you want out of the directory please let me know that as well.

Joke of the week – A father noticed that his kids love going to the Web, and they keep track of their passwords by writing them on Post-it notes. He noticed their Disney password was "MickeyMinnieGoofyPluto," and so he asked why it was so long. "Because," his son explained, "they say it has to have at least four characters."

Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,

Randy

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Why the Conflict…Science and the Bible?

February 7, 2010 By

Today’s message investigates whether science and the Bible are really incompatible. In fact, you might conclude that the more you explore science the more convinced you are that God not only exists, but must exist for the miracles of science to occur. [Read more...]

 
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App Application

February 3, 2010 By

I got an IPod touch recently. I know some of you are thinking, “I thought Randy was too much of a tightwad to spend money on an IPod touch.” You’re right, but I won it in a drawing. And I have to tell you, now that I have one, if I lost it I’d be tempted to buy another one (or ask for one for Christmas :) My old IPod was fine for listening to music but this one has all these applications I can buy… for 99 cents! … or even free!!! I’ve got an app that is teaching me to speak Khmer (Cambodian) for our upcoming missions trip. There’s another one that can tell me the temperature in Phnom Penh with the touch on a button (it is currently 83 degrees) I can read USA Today without paying for it. My iPod touch will be my flashlight, my alarm clock, and my internet connection to send you blogs. This is a frequent traveler’s dream. Now I understand those commercials that say “Yeah, we’ve got an app for that.”

 

Today I was thinking: Wouldn’t it be great if there was an app that would buzz you when you were about to cross a line morally or spiritually? When you were about to take a step down a road that would lead you farther than you ever meant to go and cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay, wouldn’t it be helpful to have an app that would warn you before you take that first step? Then I realized – We DO have such an early warning system. Every Christian does. We get it when we give our lives to Jesus. He is called the Holy Spirit. He’s that voice in your head that says “Don’t do it.” He is that knot in the pit of your stomach that tells you that you are about to make a big mistake. He is that feeling you are having that you should pick up the phone and ask a Christian friend for help. You’re hearing that app sometimes aren’t you?

 

If this app doesn’t seem to be working in your life maybe you need to check the volume and make sure it’s not on “mute”. Turn it up. How? Stay in God’s Word. Stay away from the places where you know the alarm will go off. Stay connected to other who share the app. Stay sensitive to it by obeying it when it goes off the first time. Don’t ignore it. Because each time you do, it will get easier and easier to tune it out. The Holy Spirit app only works if we listen to it – to Him. So please listen, and do what He says.

 

THIS SUNDAY we will continue our “WHY>” series with the question: “Why the Conflict… Science and the Bible?” Is it possible to be a person of reason and a person of faith at the same time? Come find out Sunday. Last Sunday was our best attendance of the year (and wouldn’t you have hated to miss it? God’s Spirit was really moving) Let’s build on that and have every member here this Sunday – and bring a friend.

Decisions for Christ – Last Sunday we celebrated with heaven as 3 more people gave their lives to Jesus and were baptized in His grace. Check out the photos of Krysten Wrobbel, Rodney Stevens, and John Hamric at http://www.flickr.com/photos/46768627@N07/sets/72157623127133239/ Keep them in your prayers this week and welcome them when you see them Sunday.

Men’s breakfast – THIS SATURDAY – 8 – 9AM – All men are invited for a hot breakfast, good fellowship, and a timely message from Randy.

Detroit Outreach – THIS SATURDAY – 10AM – 4PM – If you can help make sandwiches and pass them out at Cass Park in Detroit please contact Harvey at 734-740-1452 orharveylinda@hotmail.com. We are also hoping to give out lots of boots to the homeless (Especially men’s boots in larger sizes 10 and up) so if you have any please drop them off at the church by Saturday.

New adult class – Sundays at 9AM – “WHY?” – In this 6 week class Scott Puckett will expound on the themes from the current “WHY>” sermon series but keep it basic enough that anyone can follow along. It is meant to provide a deeper understanding of why faith in the Christian belief system is the most philosophically sound, rational, and coherent worldview.

Cans for Cambodia – This is the last Sunday we will be accepting cans and bottles for the Cambodia trip. Please place your cans and bottles in the trailer in the north lot this Sunday. Thank you so much for your generous support.

Dolls for Cambodia – Big thanks to all of you who purchased dolls for the girls of Rapha House. We have

raised enough money to cover all 144 dolls (now we just need to finish sewing all of the clothes). We still have a few paper dolls at the café and are still accepting donations to buy infant medicine for the Phnom Penh ministry.

ChristNet thanks – With the leadership of Cass Simpson, John Perfetti, and Harvey Lucier, and an army of volunteer who registered, cooked, served, did laundry, supervised, cut hair, cleaned, and much more, we were able to welcome 30 homeless souls for a week or pampering at Twin Oaks. Thank you. You all are the greatest!!!

New Online Directory – We have a new online church directory to make it easier to update and keep up with the growing family at Twin Oaks. This directory is only accessible with a password which I can give you when you request it. In requesting a password you are promising that you will not share the password or the information in the directory with anyone else or use the addresses for business purposes (solicitation, etc) Most of the photos were taken last Mother’s Day. If you are not yet in the directory (and most of you aren’t) and would like to be, or if you would like to change your photo, then email a photo to me along with your address and phone # (If you want those in there) If you want out of the directory please let me know that as well.

LADIES’ ANNUAL CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA – February 19th, 6:30 PM – All ladies are invited to one of the biggest women’s events of the year at Twin Oaks. If you can, join the patriotic theme by wearing red, white, and blue. They’ll also be sending goodwill packages to our military so if please send the names and addresses of any of your family who are in the military to roxanne_thompson01@yahoo.com. We need donations of chocolate, soup, and crackers so please sign-up are at the Ministry Center Sunday. Also, bring your used books for the book sale.

MOPS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – We are in urgent need of 10 volunteers to care for pre-school children on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings of each month for the new MOPS program. By offering your time you’ll provide these mothers who attend MOPS a chance to grow as mothers and in Christ.  For more information, please contact Rhonda Dolunt at (313)383-4332 or rhdolunt@yahoo.com

MI Statewide Teen Convention – March 12-14 – A weekend event for all high school students at Causeway Bay Hotel in Lansing.  Speakers, bands, inflatables, and 63 metric tons of fun (they measure). Cost is $85, and anyone who is in high school is welcome to come. You can pick up registration packets at the Ministry Center. Get them in to Nathan ASAP. For more info contact nathanzimm@hotmail.com or check out www.mistatewide.org.

Joke of the week – Artist Pablo Picasso surprised a burglar at work in his new chateau. The intruder got away, but Picasso told the police he could do a rough sketch of what he looked like. On the basis of his drawing, the police arrested a mother superior, the minister of finance, a washing machine, and the Eiffel tower.

 

Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,

Randy

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Why Should I Trust the Bible?

January 24, 2010 By

Today’s message takes us through a Biblical argument for trusting the “God breathed Word.” Using a simple acrostic memory device CHRIST, you will be able to tell others why the Bible is trustworthy. [Read more...]

 
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Rags to Riches

January 20, 2010 By

I read this week an interesting report of an incident which happened recently:

“Flat broke and homeless, brothers Geza and Zslot Peladi literally lived in a cave near Budapest for years. They left their dank home only to scrape together whatever money they could through selling scrap metal and candy. Theirs was a hopeless situation.

But then everything changed.

One day, out of the blue, charity workers informed the brothers that they had inherited a substantial portion of their late maternal grandmother’s $6.6 billion fortune. And just like that, two destitute brothers, should they want to, could call a castle their home when all they had ever known was a cave.” Mike Krumboltz, “From Cave to Castle,” www.buzz.yahoo.com.

Do you see yourself in that story? We were all at one time spiritually poor – separated from God by our sins. It would have been a hopeless situation… except for one thing. God loved us, enough to send His Son to die on a cross so that we have the opportunity to be adopted into His family through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6) and through Him to enjoy a rich inheritance of faith. As Paul wrote: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:18)

We were poor, and hopeless. Then someone introduced us to Jesus, and everything changed. We continue our “WHY>” series this week with the message “Why Should I Trust the Bible?” Do you know someone who could benefit from this message? Do you know someone who needs to know about the hope that Jesus offers? Invite them this Sunday. It could change everything.

Decisions for Christ – Last week we were happy to welcome David and Sonya Lewis and Sharon Sturgis as official members of the Twin Oaks family. Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/24147812@N05/sets/72157603995712040/ to put some faces with the names and welcome them to the family the next time you see them.

WOMEN”S MID-WINTER BLAST UPDATE- THIS FRIDAY - Ladies, the hotel has extended reservations ’til Wednesday, January20th! The cost for the room is $18/pp IF there are 4 to a room, and that includes breakfast Saturday morning! The room cost is $72, but you divide the cost with how many are in your room. So ladies, do yourself a favor..Start the new year out having a blast! This is for you! Any questions, contact Carol Larson at epoxyn@aol.com and/or 734-675-5650. Remember, when calling the Best Western, call 1-866-671-3199. Reserve your room under TWIN OAKS CHRISTIAN CHURCH WOMEN’S MINISTRY, USING CODE CGTWIN.

Dolls for Cambodia – Would you like to help us bring comfort and healing to young victims of sex-trafficking? The director of Rapha House told us that just having a doll to hold would be a healing tool in the lives of the girls at Rapha House. Beginning THIS SUNDAY we will give you the opportunity to purchase a doll for a Rapha House girl for only $5 at our Connections Café. We plan to take almost 150 dolls with your help when we go next month (any excess money raised will be used to buy medicine and other ministry items for Rapha House and Kids’ Club in Cambodia).

Infant medicine for Cambodia – While the Twin Oaks team is in Cambodia we will be working with a ministry that does a lot of work with mothers and infants from their community. They are asking us to bring infant Tylenol, infant vitamins, cold and flu medicine,etc. If you work for a doctor’s office or somewhere else that might have infant medicine samples to donate please let us know.

3on3 Basketball - Thursday nights at Southgate Anderson High School. Teams of 3-6 players can sign up at the ministry desk. Cost is $5 per person for the season and starts Feb. 11th. You can sign up with a team of people or solo and you’ll be put on a team. Contact Jim Watkins with questions at jimmer_w@hotmail.com.

New website – This week we are launching our new website at www.twinoakschristian.com. (You will soon be able to access it at either .org or .com) The advantage of the new site, besides looking more modern, is that you can watch videos of the past week’s message and you can also tithe online through PayPal if you missed church the past week. The new site also will feature videos that we use in our Sunday morning messages (so you don’t have to email me for the link when you like one) More advantages to the new site will be evident in the coming months. Huge thanks to Bill Rice for developing this new site for us.

Online giving – As you just read you are now able to give to Twin Oaks online at www.twinoakschristian.com. We’ve had several requests for this from people who do all of their finances online. One person told us the only time they use a checkbook is for their tithe. This also allows you to give if you are snowed in or out of town or working or for some other reason can’t be in church. If you want to tithe online but still want to put something in the offering plate it allows you to print out a receipt and put that in your tithing envelope. This has the same privacy and record keeping as using a check as PayPal will email a notice of your gift to our financial secretary. If you don’t have a PayPal account and need help setting it up just call us.

LADIES’ ANNUAL CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA – February 19th, 6:30 PM.- We are having a patriotic theme this year are wanting to have a room filled with beautiful ladies all decked out in their red/white and blue….This coming Sunday there will be a sign-up sheet at the Ministry Center for attending (just so we can plan) and some soups and of course, CHOCOLATE! Robin Beck will be performing a musical program with the love songs of our First Ladies. If you have a family member deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere in the world, would you please e-mail roxanne_thompson01@yahoo.com with their names and addresses? We are wanting to send some boxes from you to our special men and women, let them know we care and are praying for them….Also, bring your used books! We will once again have our book sale.

MI Statewide Teen Convention – March 12-14 - A weekend event for all high school students at Causeway Bay Hotel in Lansing. Speakers, bands, inflatables, and 63 metric tons of fun (they measure). Cost is $85, and anyone who is in high school is welcome to come. You can pick up registration packets at the Ministry Center. Get them in to Nathan ASAP. For more info contact nathanzimm@hotmail.com or check out www.mistatewide.org.

Super Bowl event? – Due to financial constraints we are not having a big blowout Super Bowl party this year. But if any group in the church wants to plan a smaller party that would be open to anyone who wanted to come, just let us know and we will promote it. We can have the big game on February 7th on the Fireplace area TV and give you that and the café area for fun and fellowship.

Free ladies business suits - Diane Petri has several (size 6) ladies’ business suits (skirts/jackets) and pantsuits from her Executive Assistant days at Ford Motor Company that she would love to give to someone who could use them. You can contact Diane at (734) 552-5951 or (734) 675-1681 or at
jpdpp@peoplepc.com.

Joke of the week - This guy was watching TV as his wife was out cutting the grass during the hot summer. He finally worked up the energy to go out and ask his wife what was for supper.

Well, his missus was quite irritated about him sitting in the air-conditioned house all day while she did all the work, so she scolded him. “I can’t believe you’re asking me about supper right now! Imagine I’m out of town. Go inside and figure dinner out yourself.”

So he went back into the house and fixed himself a big steak with potatoes, garlic bread, and a tall glass of iced tea.

The wife finally walked in about the time he was finishing up and asked him, “You fixed something to eat? So where’s mine”

He said, “ I thought you were out of town.”

Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,

Randy

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Why Should I Believe in God in the First Place?

January 17, 2010 By

One of the first questions most non-believers ask is, “Why believe in God anyway?” Most people are curious about the meaning of life. So, why wouldn’t they want to know the what a relationship with God would mean for them. To help us answer this question Randy Wheeler takes us to Ecclesiastes 1:1-4. [Read more...]

 
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Haiti Update

January 14, 2010 By

I’m sure by now you have heard the news about the large earthquake that hit Haiti. Already one of the poorest nations in the world, the destruction there has been overwhelming.

The Christian Church has many people working in Haiti. One of the ministries that Twin Oaks supports through our offerings is IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services). They will be taking a team to help in Haiti. This is a Christian Church ministry that serves around the world when disaster strikes, provising help throuhg the local churches so that Christ is exalted and the church is able to make a connection which could lead to even great ministry to those in need. You can find out more about IDES at their web site: www.ides.org

Lifeline Christian Mission is another one of our Christian Church organizations in Haiti. They have had thousands of people coming onto their campus looking for help, shelter, safety, medical attention. You can learn more about lifeline at their site: www.lifeline.org

I wanted to make you aware of these two ministries in case you wanted to help but weren’t sure how to do it. I believe you can make a donation at either website.

This morning when I woke up in a warm house – sat down to eat breakfast with cold milk – had all the hot, clean water I wanted – and put on clean clothes, got in my car and drove to work — I was reminded of how much God has blessed each one of us. Now we have an opportunity to help some people who have never known the comforts we have on a daily basis. Now they are in need for just the basics to live another day. You can help.

I John 3:16-18 says:
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Be praying for the people of Haiti. Pray for the many missionaries and Christian workers who are there to help bring the love of Christ. Pray for the workers from all the nations that are sending people to help with this cause. Pray that there would be unity in Christ. Pray that even in disaster, the hope of Jesus Christ spreads throughout the world.

God bless,

Randy

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Why Am I Here? (Luke 19:1-4)

January 10, 2010 By

Randy Wheeler opens up a new series of messages on the great “Why?” questions. Today’s message is on “Why Am I Here?” This message draws from the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-4.

Why Am I Here? from TOCC Media on Vimeo.

Look beyond yourself – Luke 19:1-4

Make some DTR (Define The Relationship) time with God – Luke 19:4-6

Learn from others in community – Luke 19:7

Seek as you are sought – Luke 19:10

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Resolution Update

January 7, 2010 By

I love a new year. It offers us an opportunity to put the past in the past and have a fresh start, a blank slate to write a new story on, and an open calendar to fill with new priorities. It is for many a time of new resolutions. I’m curious what your resolutions are for the New Year. I’d like to challenge you to add one more (if it isn’t on your list already). Make it your goal to bring one person to Jesus in 2010. If you want to save the world that’s great too. But start with one person. There are over 1,000 of you who receive these emails. Imagine the impact if EACH ONE- REACHED ONE in 2010. And the honest truth is: You can. You can make an eternity-changing difference in someone’s life this year. God can use YOU to draw someone to Him. Here’s the plan: PRAY that God would put someone on your heart who needs Jesus. Then begin praying every day for their salvation. Pray for God to give you opportunities to tell them about the difference Jesus has made in your life. Then LOOK for those opportunities. Look for ways to show them Jesus’ love. LISTEN for expressions of longing or need (What is it they hint that they are missing in their lives that you know Jesus can fill?) TELL them how a relationship with Christ can meet that need. INVITE them to Twin Oaks where we can become your partner in helping them experience and understand God’s love. You don’t have to be Billy Graham. Just be you – open and available to God, willing to be used by Him in someone’s life. Make yourself available, and God will do the rest – through you. Will you make that commitment to God as you begin this new year? EACH ONE – REACH ONE, and what a celebration we will have!

NEW SERIES begins THIS SUNDAY – “WHY> Pursuing Answers to Life’s Biggest Questions” is the perfect way to begin your new “EACH ONE – REACH ONE” resolution. Do you know someone who is newly starting to think about God? Maybe they are asking you questions like : “Why should I believe in God?” “Why should I trust what the Bible Says?” “Why is the world such a mess if God exists?” “Why is Jesus the Only Way?” Why not invite to come to Twin Oaks beginning this Sunday to find the answers to life’s biggest questions? Not only will this series answer their questions, it will strengthen your faith as well. This Sunday we begin with the age-old question: “WHY AM I HERE?” Invite someone today.

“Why” Small Groups - It is not too late to join a WHY, small group. These groups discuss the topics that go along with the new sermon series. They will meet once a week for 6 weeks. If you want to get more out of this series so that you will be better equipped to reach the people in your world with the message of Jesus Christ, this is your opportunity. Or invite your searching friend to join a group with you. We have groups that meet on Sunday nights, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you are interested contact Emery at worshipminister@hotmail.com or sign up in the foyer this Sunday.

Rare Saturday 101 Class – THIS SATURDAY from 10-Noon. If you are new to Twin Oaks and want to know more about our beliefs, history, vision, values, and ministries this is the class for you. We’ll also cover how to become a member of God’s family and what it means to be an “official” member of the Twin Oaks family. So this class is also for those who are interested in becoming a member of Twin Oaks. If you haven’t already registered just email me and I’ll have a place for you.

Children’s Ministry volunteers needed - The Children’s ministry is in need of four people to serve our preschoolers on Sunday mornings. This is a fun, energetic group that loves to learn Bible lessons, do simple crafts and play with playdough! The schedule is two weeks on and six weeks off. Any questions please contact Rhonda Dolunt at (313)383-4332 or at rhdolunt@yahoo.com.

MOPS volunteers needed - Our new MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) program is in need of 10 volunteers to provide childcare two Thursday mornings a month from 8:45 to 11:30. Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) exists to encourage, equip, and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother, and leader in the name of Jesus Christ. By offering your time and providing childcare, you’ll afford these mothers a chance to grow as mothers and in Christ. Any questions please contact Rhonda Dolunt at (313)383-4332 or at rhdolunt@yahoo.com.

Christian Cadets Fundraiser - Saturday, January 16 – 1-4pm – The second annual Christian Cadets fundraising spaghetti dinner is coming up here at Twin Oaks. Bring a healthy appetite and be prepared for a time of great fellowship. Donations will be accepted to help fund this great ministry to our grade school age boys.

WOMEN’S MID-WINTER BLAST! JANUARY 22ND at the best Western Gateway Hotel, 9191 Wickham Road, Romulus, 48174….Cost will be $72, including tax and complimentary breakfast. Reservations must be made using your own credit no later than January 12th, 5 PM. When calling 1-866-671-3199, reserve under Twin oaks Christian Church Women’s Ministry, using code CGTWIN and ask for GRAAME. Rooms are 4 to a room for the $72 price. Cancellation MUST BE MADE 72 hours prior to 1/22. Check in is 3 PM and check Out is noon on Saturday. For more information, please check at the Ministry Center. For any questions, contact Carol Larson at 734-675-5650 or epoxyn@aol.com.

Blood Drive results – Thanks to all who helped or gave blood Tuesday. 28 donors presented to give blood. 25 was our projected goal. 26 pints of life-saving blood were collected. And the most important number of all-78 patient’s lives will be touched by this drive! Way to go Twin Oaks!

Offering envelopes – This is the last Sunday to pick up your 2010 offering envelopes so if you haven’t gotten yours please do so Sunday.

Be an Encourager – Two of our Twin Oaks members are battling cancer right now and I wondered if you’d like to flood their mailboxes with cards and letters of encouragement. You can write to George Puckett at 22408 Provincial, Woodhaven, 48183 and you can write to Barb Bradshaw at Angela Hospice Center, 14100 Newburgh Road, Room 105, Livonia, 48154-5010. Barb told me last week that your cards have meant the world to her.

Joke of the week – Mother: “Why are you home from school so early?”

Son: “I was the only one who could answer a question.”

Mother: “Oh, really? What was the question?”

Son: “Who threw the eraser at the principal?”

Have a great week and I’ll see you (and your guests) Sunday,

Randy

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