Jeremy
Posted July 22, 2009
Next week Grace Church will be hosting its fifth anual GraceMart. This is a two day outreach where everyone in the Triangle area who has a need for furniture, appliances, clothing, home goods, toys, food, etc. are welcome to come and take from the items donated by Grace Church members and thier neighbors. Since the event began we have served nearly 5,000 people in our area.
It is a privilege to join the dozens of volunteers in helping with this ministry at Grace. I am always amazed at how much time, energy and resources our people are willing to give to serve others. It humbles me and inspires me to be more like Jesus, who Himself died for the spiritually poor and destitute. So to all the volunteers from Grace who will come out next week to help, THANK YOU.
If you have a need and would like to “shop” at GraceMart (where everything is free), then come visit us next Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 & 30, from 6-9pm. Registration begins at 4pm.
If you would like to donate items or volunteer some time to help GraceMart, please feel free to join us between the hours of 9am-8pm Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and 9am-10pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
I’m looking forward to a great week next week.
Blessings,
Jeremy
ps – you can follow the happenings on Twitter at #gracemart09
Posted July 15, 2009
So the last few weeks I’ve been apart of two major events at Grace Church. The first wat the 4th of July AOK outreach at Kennan Stadium in Chapel Hill, where we handed out 7,000 glow sticks and raised awareness for charity: water. The second was the yearly Grace Churches International youth camp, War Cry. Both were a lot of fun to be apart of and I can only hope that both will lead to changed lives in the future.
For more about the events, and some pictures as well, just visit my blog: jeremygwaltney.wordpress.com.
The next major event for me, and Grace Church, is GraceMart09, where we will open our worship center up for two evenings for hundreds of people who have need to come and get donated furniture, appliances, clothing, toys, homegoods, and food. I will be updating on that in the future. For those of you on Twitter, you can follow the events at #gracemart09.
Its fun changing the world together.
Blessings,
Jeremy
Posted June 17, 2009
I got the joy of spending last weekend with 14 junior high teens and 10 of their adult leaders in Atlanta, Ga. It was a reward to the teens for participating in the 2008/09 GraceQuest Cup Challenge – a weekend of fun (and of course the winning team got to go for free). On the doctet was the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coke Museum, the Varsity, the Stone Mountain Laser show and the Mall of Georgia. We had a blast and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of teens and leaders to spend the weekend with. If you are interested in seeing more, check out these photos.
Bless,
Jeremy
Posted June 10, 2009
So on Sunday we launched our Kingdom of God study through the book of Acts. I just want to encourage all of us to really dig in with the book of Acts. Below are just a few suggestions:
First — Keys to keeping up with the study.
As Kendrick likes to say, “pick a time and pick a place.” For the next few weeks, pick a specific time and pick a specific place to do your study. That way you have a routine. For me, I typically do my Bible study just after Hailey goes down for her morning nap and I do it while sitting in the blue easy chair in my living room while drinking a cup of coffee. Good times.
One other suggestions, do your study with someone. Do it with your wife, your children, your roommates, a friend, etc. This helps keep you accountable to doing it… and will make for some great discussion and interaction.
Second — Ways to make the most of the study.
First, take your time when reading through the study. Don’t rush… read, think, enjoy.
Second, really think about the questions that are asked and then, write down your answers.
Third, use a journal and when you go over your prayer points, write down your thoughts and prayers.
Third — go one step further.
This isn’t for everyone, but perhaps it might be good to buy a resource on Acts (we have several of them in our bookstore) or another book on the Kingdom of God and read it this summer as you do your study. This allows you to go just a step deeper in what you are thinking and doing.
This is what I’m doing. In addition to reading the devotional, I’ve bought a few commentaries and I’m reading portions of them while doing the study. I’m then journaling my notes so I have them the next time I read through Acts ( I’m also posting these notes on my Bible study blog delightintheword.wordpress.com). Its amazing some of what God has already been teaching me in this process.
So… go ahead, take some time and dig in deep!
Bless,
Jeremy
Posted June 3, 2009
Jeremy’s top 10 reasons to join us for the book of Acts…
Reason #10 — Because, as he said during announcements on Sunday, Jonathan Love’s week 4 is just that good!
Reason #9 — Speakers include: Kendrick Vinar, John Held, Jim Reklis, Jim McCraken, Jonathan Love, and Jeremy Gwaltney
Reason # 8 — Because many of you will go on vacation, have some extra time this summer, and its easy to get into the word of God with this study.
Reason # 7 — Because no tree should die in vain… and we used a few in publishing the devotional…
Reason # 6 — Devotional writers include: Kendrick Vinar, John Held, Jim Reklis, Jim McCraken, Jonathan Love, Nathan Fancher, DeWayne Watson, Adam Dawson and Jeremy Gwaltney.
Reason # 5 — Learn more about why God designed a “church” and a Kingdom and what its purpose is…
Reason # 4 — Because more than 40 people will be blogging about what they learned in reading the devotional and you can learn from them.
Reason # 3 — for 8 weeks you won’t have to ask, “what should I read in the Bible today?”
Reason # 2 — Emily Nisch, who edited the devotional, says its already changed her perspective on life and call in God… and that’s just at the editing stage… imagine what the application stage is like!
And the number one reason to join us in our study of the Book of Acts:
In the book of Acts the church had a cause worth living for and dying for… and that cause is ours today!
See in during the next two months.
Bless,
Jeremy
Posted May 27, 2009
It has been an honor to spend much of the last two weeks with my grandfather – Paw Paw – as we call him. He’s 89 years old, was married 62 years, help to plant a Methodist church in Valdosta, Ga. decades ago, loves his children, grandchildren and great, grandchildren and loves his Lord Jesus. For years he’s been the model of a loving husband, good dad, model family man, hard worker, and someone who sincerely loves life.
One thing I have noticed though is how much Paw Paw, a WWII and Korean War vet, talks about his times in the military. What I find most fascinating about it is that he never saw action on the field – so to some degree never gets the glory of being on the battlefield. He was a airplane radio operations and communications trainer State-side for the army air core during both wars, and trained many of the men who would see action overseas. Yet, he talks about the War as if he were there. Memories as vivid, times as difficult, but, most often, good memories as prevalent. Whenever he talks about the challenges of that time he always does it with a fondness, almost longing to return, in his voice. It is clear to me that in his mind some of the darkest days in our countries history – with little luxury, little convenience, and marked by tremendous danger and sacrifice – are what he considers the “good ol’ days.”
I think there is a lesson here in the Kingdom of God. The battle often is the “good times.” While I know that my grandfather would never wish WWII or Korea on the U.S., I also know he’d never trade those years of his life for anything. As Jerry Daley once said, “we should never waste a trial.” Although its tough and we would never wish it upon ourselves or others, if we pass it will be somehting we probably would never trade away. So next time we face a trial, let’s relax, take a deep breath, and realize… “these are the good ol’ days.”
Posted May 20, 2009
While I in no way endorse praying to relics – there is something profound in the way Anselm, the bishop of Canterbury in the 12th century, puts the work of Jesus on the cross. This is a protion of his “Prayer to the Holy Cross.” Enjoy!
Prayer to the Holy Cross – second section
We do not acknowledge you [ the cross] because of your cruelty
that godless men and foolish men prepared you to effect
upon the most gentle Lord,
but because of the wisdom and goodness of him
who of his own free will took you up.
For they could not have done anything
Unless his wisdom had permitted it,
And he could not suffer except that in his mercy he willed it.
They chose you
That they might carry out their evil deeds;
He chose you
That he might fulfill the work of goodness.
They that by you
They might hand over the righteous to death;
He that through you he might save sinners from death.
They that they might kill life;
He that he might destroy death.
They that they might condemn the Savior;
He that he might save the condemned.
They that they might bring death to the living;
He to bring life to the dead.
They acted foolishly and cruelly; he wisely and mercifully.
Therefore, O Cross to be wondered at,
We do not value you
Because of the intention of their cruel folly,
But according to the work of mercy and wisdom. - Anselm
Posted May 6, 2009
On Monday, about 32 of us gathered at the Preserve at Jordan Lake to golf for a good cause – missions – at the inaugural Grace Church Foundation Golf Tournament. Golfing for Jesus, it doesn’t get much better than that. I blogged about the story of my team’s amazing 85 at the link below (pictures from the event are also there).
http://jeremygwaltney.wordpress.com/
Thanks to all that helped make this great event happen!
Blessings,
Jeremy
Posted April 29, 2009
So last night I’m watching the Carolina Hurricanes play the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of their opening round series. Winner goes on, loser goes home. Late in the final period, Canes are down 3-2 and I’m simply watching out of loyalty to my team with no real hope of winning – maybe overtime is still possible. Meanwhile the arena in Jersey is going crazy… two minutes to go and game is over.
Forty seconds later, Canes had scored two goals and are up 4-3 with 30 seconds left, I’m dancing around the living room trying not to wake my wife on the couch and little girl in her crib, and the arena in Jersey is the picture you see when you look up “shock” in the Dictionary. Cam Ward, the Canes golie, fended off a few last second destperation shots by the Devils, the horn sounded and the Canes are off to Boston for round 2. I’m still pumped!
There is simply no sport like hockey, where you can go from utter “season-over-ness” to winning in simply 40 seconds! Gotta Love it… and go Canes.
Want to see the highlights, see the link below.
Carolina Hurricanes homepage
Bless,
Jeremy
Posted April 22, 2009
So today is Administrative Professionals Day, a day that we set aside time to thank those wonderful people who make the “big wigs’” wigs stay on straight. At Grace Church we are blessed with three outstanding people who help make the church run smoothly. If thanks were measured by time, Admin. Professional Day would be Admin Professional’s Years.
So, Arielle, Aska and Emily, we greatly appreciate all that you do for Grace Church. From scheduling the building, to putting together publications and email communications, to counting the money, to adding a great bit of humor to our day, the pastors really appreciate all of you and I greatly enjoy my every visit to the office. Thank you for all your input, help, sacrifice, the hours we all don’t see, and for helping us come through, often just in time. You all are awesome.
Blessings,
Jeremy
Posted April 15, 2009
Chick Fil A song
So… for those of you who love Chick Fil A… this is worth your 2 min.
Jeremy
Posted April 8, 2009
In light of UNC’s dominate national championship run, and Physcho T’s stellar career I thought I would bring up the following two topics.
Better team – 1992 Duke National Champions vs. 2009 UNC National Champions.
Think about it… Lawson vs. Hurley, Phycho T vs. Laettner, and Wayne Ellington vs. Grant Hill! Wow!
The better college career — Chirstian Laettner vs. Tyler Hansbrough
Laettner – national player of the year, three National Championship games, two National Championships, all time leading NCAA Tournament points leader.
Hansbrough – national player of the year, two (or three) time all American team, four time all ACC Team, two final fours, one National Championship, and fourth on the all time NCAA Tournament points leader, all time leading scorer in the ACC.
I would love to hear your feedback.
Jeremy
