The Fireworks are coming!! The Fireworks are coming!!
The Fireworks are coming!! However, things are going to be different this year. The city has decided that instead of shooting fireworks from the Island, they will be launching them from Piccadilly Point. If you are in Rotary Park by the skate park, Piccadilly Point is just down the shore near Body Beach.
This will necessitate a change in how and where we set up for Fireworks viewing in our parking lot. If we set up as we always have, we’ll see nothing. So, instead, we’ll be setting up near the first entrance to the parking lot. (as you come up the hill.) We’ll be blocking that entrance, and that’s where our viewing area will be. Hopefully, we’ll have a pretty clear view and it will actually be better than it has been in previous years.
Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to meet, and be kind to, a lot of people who are just looking for a place to watch the fireworks. Please come with the intention of being friendly and make them feel welcome!
As Christians, we are given a daily opportunity. “Will I reach out to those strange, weird, pagan people around me, or will I ignore them because helping them stay out of Hell isn’t worth my trouble?”
It isn’t always easy to reach out to people. Not everyone “appeals” to me. There are people who don’t “appeal” to you. (Also, you and I don’t appeal to everyone else either!) But, whether they “appeal” to us or not, people still need Jesus! So what do we do? We reach out to people, whether they are similar to us, or very different from us. We reach out, regardless of how they look or talk. We reach out in spite of cultural differences. We reach out even when we don’t think there is even a remote possibility that we have anything in common. When you think about it, we have something in common with everyone we meet. We are sinners. Some of us have been saved by the grace of Jesus, some have not. We have the best news imaginable… Why wouldn’t we share it?
The hardest part of reaching out to people is to be willing to do it. That can be an intimidating challenge. After all, they might not want what we are offering, and besides, we have busy lives and we’re doing things that need to be done. But if we can get over our reluctance, when we are truly willing, God will give you opportunities. Not every one of those encounters will wind up with you baptizing someone in the lake. Yours may be one of many encounters that lead someone to Jesus!
Don’t be afraid!
John
