The Sweet Spot

In baseball, a player spends a lot of time working on his swing so that he can hit the ball in the “sweet spot.”  When you hit a ball just right, you've hit it on the sweet spot of the bat. You can hit the ball in basically three places - closer to your hands, on the end of the bat, or right in the sweet spot.  Anyone can tell if they missed the sweet spot because of the vibration of the bat. Whenever the ball is struck, the bat vibrates in response. These vibrations travel in waves up and down the length of the bat. At one point, called "the node," the waves always cancel each other out. If you hit the ball on the bat's node, the vibrations from the impact will cancel out, and you won't feel any stinging or shaking in your hand. You could get really scientific about it, but this node is a 3 to 6 inch place on the bat. Since little of the bat's energy is lost to vibrations when this spot is hit, more can go to the ball, which obviously makes the ball travel farther. And that is truly sweet!

I think we have this deep need to connect with Jesus and to be effective in our service and participation in the grand plan. I'm also absolutely convinced that we cannot always hit the ball from the sweet spot in life. But, if we could spend more of our time working from our spiritual sweet spot we would be more effective…in our lives, in our places of work, in our ministry…in following Christ.

If you’re spending more than half of your time doing things you’re not passionate about than I’m looking around and saying, why? Why would you spend more than half your time doing something you don’t give a rip about?

What I've found from my own experience is that if I work from my sweet spot good things happen, and life is more satisfying and complete. When I don't, life seems more difficult and unfulfilling. When I work from my spiritual sweet spot I can't help but honor and glorify God, bless other people, and in turn bring joy, contentment, peace, and hope to everyone I encounter.

Now your sweet spot is probably different than mine. This is why we need each other; this is why the Apostle Paul speaks so much about the Church and how we fit together. Not one of us has all of the gifts God created. We need one another to truly be whole.  God wants to use your swing and he has a place for you in the line-up.

If there is one thing I know about Church, people and more specifically Vail Christian Church, it’s this: the “sweet spot” is found in Community Groups and Service Teams. We would love to help you find one. We would love to help you work on your swing.

Ben Pitney
Lead Pastor

Your Time-Starved Marriage: Are you feeling overscheduled and underconnected? This study shows how to identify and maximize your time and offers the tools you need to stay connected as a couple. 6 week class.  For more information, contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com.

Register online at www.vailchristian.com/
classreg.html or contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com for more information.

Community Groups: If you are interested in starting or joining a Community Group, or if you just want some more information, contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com or Trent Schlecht at tanks@cox.net. You can also visit the Community Group page on our website at
www.vailchristian.com.

Strategic Service Teams: SST’s are volunteers gathered together to serve within and outside the church. Volunteers are vital to Vail Christian and we look to them to facilitate environments and potentially lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Contact tim@vailchristian.com for more information. View our list of service teams and contact information at www.vailchristian.com/
serviceteams.html.

The VCC Women's Book Club meets the last Monday evening of every month. We have a great time eating, getting to know one another, and of course discussing great Christian books (usually novels).  If you are interested in finding out more, contact Cynthia Dusek at cjdusek@cox.net.
 
Upcoming books:
 
June: Ezekiel Option by Joel Rosenberg
July: All the Way Home by Ann Tatlock

Project 168 is a challenge for the VCC community to pray. There are one hundred and sixty-eight hours in every week – Project 168 calls the members of the VCC community to pray during one of those one hundred and sixty-eight hours every week.

Prayers for The Limpopo Community Partnership Project in Zimbabwe:

• Pray for team leaders as they facilitate a community car coalition.
• Pray that team leaders would meet their goals in HIV prevention and life skills, tackling the causes of home-based care, and child rights.
• Pray for the nutritional status of the orphans and vulnerable children. Ask the Lord to reduce malnutrition in this area.
• Pray for sustainable improvement in the health, productive capacity, and coverage of appropriate water and sanitation facilities.
• Pray that all orphans and vulnerable children might attend primary and secondary schools

Student Summer Camps:

Upper Room: Middle School Day Camp
June 30 - July 3
9 - 3 p.m. 6th - 8th grades

Register online at www.vailchristian.com/
studentevents.html or contact Julie Biagi at julie@vailchristian.com for more information.

Golf Tournament - June 14 - Join us for VCC's 3rd Annual Golf Tournament at Del Lago Golf Club. Registration starts at 6:30 am with a shotgun start at 7:30 am. Entry fee: $65.00, due by June 8th. For more information, contact tim@vailchristian.com or ron.andler@gmail.com.

Father's Day - June 15 - Help us celebrate Father's Day by wearing your favorite sports jersey to church!

Weekend to Remember Conference - June 20-22 - Weekend to Remember is a weekend marriage conference that teaches God's design for marriage and family. It's a wonderful time for couples to refresh good marriages or heal troubled ones. For more information or to join the VCC group, contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com or Susan Rodriguez at sm566az@cox.net.

Prayer Event: Join us on Monday, June 30 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. for an evening of prayer. Childcare will be available. Please RSVP by contacting meghan@vailchristian.com.

Trailhead...Begin the Journey July 27 during the 10:45 service (BBQ August 3). This class will walk you through our core values, our vision, our mission, and perhaps most importantly: opportunities for you to join the journey. Visit the kiosk in the courtyard or email tim@vailchristian.com for more information.

4 x 4 Trip

I want to tell you about last Saturday. It was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time. I went four-wheeling with 15 other men from Vail Christian Church. We took 7 vehicles from Oracle (Northwest of the Santa Catalina Mountains) and, after making it through a somewhat treacherous river and up into a mountain pass, we continued 4x4’ing down Charlou Gap.

The weather was almost perfect. It was partly cloudy and the high was in the upper 70’s. It’s not every day that you get to enjoy rolling hills secluded from most civilization and eat an all-you-can eat lunch under huge oak trees near a rushing stream. When I talk about it, it almost sounds too good to be true.

If you happen to be one of the few hundred men at Vail Christian Church other than the 16 of us who went wheeling last Saturday, all I can say is, “You really missed out!” This trip was full of heart-pounding adrenaline, dangerous boulders and cliffs, and “suspenseful” moments. Next time we plan a VCC Men’s 4x4 trip, you are going to want to be there!

Tim Sheaffer :: connection pastor 

World Vision: Remember to communicate with your sponsored child through letters! Your sponsorship shows your child that he is loved and cared for by God, and God's love gives all children great worth. Your letters are an important way to reinforce that message of hope. If you would like more information on VCC's partnership with World Vision in Limpopo, or if you would like to sponsor a child, please contact meghan@vailchristian.com.

VCC Community Rewards: Coordinator: Donita Vogt ­ 731-0734 or donitavogt@aol.com.

Many grocery stores offer fundraising programs to churches, schools, and other youth organizations. When using gift cards or "club cards" stores will contribute a percentage of your purchases to your organization.  VCC has registered to participate in these programs. Funds raised will be allocated for use by the children and student ministries.  Please visit the table in the courtyard or contact Donita Vogt for more information.

Summer Children's Events - CIA:

Operation 28:19: Elementary Day Camp
July 7 - 11, 9 - 3 p.m.
Kinder - 5th grade

Register online at www.vailchristian.com/
childrenevent.html or contact Julie Biagi at julie@vailchristian.com for more information.