God Loves You and Has a Difficult Plan for Your Life

It has been said that life is a contact sport. Whether you are a jock or not, everyone gets the metaphor. How many times have we been taken to our knees due to a marital, financial, sexual, or relational crisis that reveals just how wrecked we are?

Part of our culture in recent decades has been the softening of life’s challenges and the idea that if one is really “working” life correctly, a lot of the conflicts and adversities will melt away and disappear. It is a romantic view of life that tells us struggle and pain are not only needless but a sign of moving in the wrong direction. Some of this comes from therapeutic circles, while much of it comes from new age spirituality. There are even some segments of evangelicalism that tell us that all problems are a by-product of sin or a misunderstanding of how to interpret scripture. This is the message - you should not be broken.

This is not just false. It is a lie. The challenges in life come because of the struggle between the nature of life and our deepest nature (which are fallen), the adversary who wars against our very souls, and the power and redemption made available through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Yes, we are flawed. Yes, life is often harsh and unjust. This is not about us. The fall is something we inherit. But we have a Savior.

Through the power of the atonement, a powerful release of God’s generosity has been hurled towards you. Know this. All the contact in life is actually an opportunity for God’s restorative power to be manifest in you through Christ. Engage with us! Obey, stand in this time and space and call out to the Father. You are empowered to redeem these challenges and actually make them become things that bring God glory. The glory of God is a man fully alive.

Ben Pitney
Lead Pastor

BILD - Passing On Your Beliefs – This course examines the breakdown of family life and ensures that our families are following the framework of God's design. It also explores the challenge of passing on our faith to our children. For more information, please contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com.

Biblical Financial Study - The small group study is a 10 week in-depth study of what scripture teaches about money and possessions. For more information, please contact Thom Dusek at thom1@cox.net.

iMarriage - “Until Expectations Do Us Part” by Andy Stanley. Marriage results in expectations that we unload on our spouse. The weight of these expectations can rob you of joy. 6 sessions with DVD. For more information, please contact Tim Sheaffer at tim@vailchristian.com.

Parenting: The Early Years - by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott. This team took their cameras into the homes of 20 families and captured real-life parenting moments. The study looks at what parenting is like for married, single and blended families. For more information, please 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.

Dinner for Six - Would you like to meet others and get to know them better? The purpose of Dinner for Six is to connect people...around food, of course! Sign up and you will be placed in a group of 6 people (singles welcome) for 3 months. Each couple (or two singles) will be responsible for getting the group together for a meal during their month. Contact Holly Crosley at 663-0190 or booknerd@cox.net 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:
 
March: Arena by Karen Hancock (local Christian author)
April: Heaven (nonfiction) by Randy Alcorn
May: Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann

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.

• Thank God for His wonders. Praise Him for His wisdom. Tell Him of His faithfulness.
  
  
• Ask the Lord to make you worthy of His calling, fulfilling every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power. ( II Thessalonians 1:11)
  
  
• Pray that the gospel would speed ahead and be honored. ( II Thessalonians 3:1)
  
  
• Pray for the leaders of VCC - the Pastors, Elders, Team Leaders, and Community Group Leaders.
  
  
• Pray for power to comprehend the love of Christ. (Ephesians 3:14, 18-19)

Men's Project @ Rocky Point

On February 15, 2008. sixteen men from Vail Christian Church headed down to Puerto Penasco, Mexico (Rocky Point). In one weekend, the men built a home from the ground-up and forever changed the lives of a needy family.

At Vail Christian Church, we are intentional about providing opportunities like this one that allow men to ”change the world” through hard work and sacrifice. When we head down to Rocky Point each February, this goal comes alive. I have personally participated in the trip the past two years and both times I am charged up by what I experience. One thing I particularly noticed this last trip is that men are ready to go all out and do whatever it takes as long as there is a big impact. The cause needs to be worthy of every drop of sweat, every smashed finger, and every sore back (and there are plenty of each by the end of the trip!).

Pastor Armando Ponce who leads a church in Mexico says, “In my experience, 80-90 percent of the families that Amor builds homes for have had their lives radically changed. Many begin to come to church; nearly all come to see what the church is about.”

The men who ventured to Rocky Point this year had the opportunity to sweat, to get really sore muscles, to make new friends, to be part of a team, and to eat some tasty fish tacos. More importantly, they had the opportunity to change lives, to gain perspective, and to actively model leadership. That's what VCC is all about.

Tim Sheaffer
Connection Pastor

Students @ VCC Winter Camp

Extreme – that’s how I would describe this Winter Camp!  Forty-three of us headed to California to experience Six Flags, Hollywood and the Santa Monica Pier and from fantastic roller coasters to crazy van rides to wacky weather, the weekend was one to remember!  Whether we were conquering the drop on the Goliath ride, imitating the figures in the wax museum, playing on the beach next to the Santa Monica boardwalk or trying to get some sleep as we camped in the rain, we were always laughing.  It was a great weekend just getting to hang out together as a youth group!

We call our youth group The Movement because we long to see our students unite with such character and passion that others are constantly sucked into our community.  We also long to see our youth group be known in the Vail community as full of integrity, servants and leaders.  At Winter Camp this year we discussed how to return home and fulfill the vision of being a movement and I can’t wait to see what God does in and through our students as they surrender to Him.

Julie Biagi
Director of Students & Children

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.

SoundWave Performance:  May 4 ­ Join us at 4:30 p.m. as our SoundWave crew performs "I Witness News: Live from Jericho" ­ a story that reminds us of God's provision and faithfulness.  Refreshments will be offered after the show.

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.

Student Summer Camps:

Underground: HS Day Camp
June 5 - 7, all day
9th - 12th grades

CIY: High School
June 15 - 21
Students entering 9th grade in the fall -
graduated seniors

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

UCYC: Middle School
June 8 - 13
Students entering 6th - 8th grade in the fall

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

Kid's Night Out - Parents, enjoy a night out while your children do the same! Children ages 3-12 are welcome on Friday, April 11 from 5-10 p.m. at Empire High School to join us for games, crafts, movies and pizza! Contact Julie Biagi for more information at julie@vailchristian.com.

Summer Children's Events - CIA:

God Squad: Preschool Day Camp
May 28-30, 9 - 12 p.m.
Ages 3 - 6

Code Breakers: Elementary Vacation Bible School
June 1 - 4, 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Kinder - 5th grade

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

Children's Sleep-away Camps:

Kids Camp - June 11 - 14
Children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall

Junior Camp - June 22 - 27
Children entering 4th or 5th grade in the fall

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