Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Bill McKee. Hope your day is a great one!

SPOTmail!!!

"Crazy Love" Study - Chapter 3

I grew up singing the old hymn "Love Is The Theme". 

Well, love is the theme of this week's study coming from  Chapter 3.  (Ironically, that's also the theme of this week's sermon.)  Are you familiar with the 10cc song entitled "The Things We Do for Love"?  Like walking in the rain and the snow, when there's no place to go and you're feeling like a part of you is dyin'. . . .  The point is, there are things we do to prove our love and there are things we do because of our love.  Sometimes the line of distinction becomes blurry, at best.

Have you stopped recently to consider who you love?  Why do we choose to love some and not others?  Then there is the whole issue of falling out of love.  What is love, anyway?  Well, I guess you get the idea.  This week we will spend a lot of time discussing love.  After all, "Love Is The Theme".

See you Sunday,
Don

SPOTbowl

We'll be bowling at 5 p.m. this Sunday at Brunswick Lakeside Lanes in Valley Park.  Kevin Hurt has lots of discount coupons that get families (up to six) two hours bowling, shoe rental and a pitcher of soda.  This IS a family event.  There may even be a Crazy Bowl game!  Wouldn't that be crazy!

Famine News

Congratulations to our CSM kids who raised more then $12,000 (and the final tally may not yet be in) during the 30-Hour Famine.  In the process, they also got Concord a lot of free publicity on Channel 2.

Mother's Day Video

Thought I would post this as it is getting close!!! Click on "Watch Preview!....and enjoy!

I'm Sorry Mom « Videos « The Skit Guys

Happy Anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary to Rich and Linda Conrad! Hope your day is filled with God's blessings!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Happy anniversary to Keith and Lisa Cole! Congrats!

SPOTmail!!!

SPOTmail

"Crazy Love" Study - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 in our study of "Crazy Love" starts out sort of crazy.

Author Francis Chan reminds us that just because we begin reading the chapter is no assurance that we'll finish it!  Now why would he say that? 

Could it be because it is so long?  The table of contents does not indicate that it's abnormally long.  Perhaps it's very boring.  We'll just yawn and put it aside before finishing.  Well, if you have not yet read Chapter 2, perhaps this teaser will inspire you to do so!

In keeping with the topic this week -- can you solve this riddle?  What do funeral homes and heaven have in common?  Will take your responses Sunday.

See you then,
Don

SPOTlunch

Lion's Choice is the destination of SPOTlunch this Sunday.  There are actually three possible destinations, one on South Lindbergh near I-55, one on Watson Road in Sunset Hills, and there's even a location in Fenton (though not recommended, unless you also want gas and a car wash).

South Lindbergh would seemingly be the most equi-distant location for everyone, but we'll let the diners attending the event this Sunday decide.

(S)POTTYtales

There have been numerous reports of PURPLE POTTY sitings on SPOTclass members' lawns over the last week or two.  The "attractive" lawn ornament is designed to extort -- er -- flush out additional funds for this weekend's 30-Hour Famine -- a CSM-led fast, raising awareness and money to combat world hunger.  The national event is sponsored by World Vision.

A not-so-well publicized aspect of this "promotion" was the availability of Potty Insurance, which protected potential victims from the mysterious Purple Potty pranksters.  Insurance was $15, or you could pay CSM $15 for removal and relocation when the wandering water closet appeared in your front yard.

In other words, you could pay 'em in advance or pay 'em after the fact, but save the embarrassment.  Either way, you had to pay!

Should the Purple Potty return next year, SPOTmail predicts that potty protection policies will be a popular investment.

Seriously, please pray for our CSM students as they focus on helping the truly needy in our world.  For more details, contact the church office, 314-843-3500. 

SPOTbowl

We'll be bowling at 5 p.m. next Sunday, May 2, at Brunswick Lakeside Lanes in Valley Park.  It will be two hours of noisy fun at a cost of roughly $5 per person (with coupons).  That also includes shoe rental and a pitcher of soda for every six folks in attendance.  So strike all the conflicts from your calendar and make sure you have time to spare for this special SPOT event!

  

Snacks

• 4/25 -- Karen & Rusty Phillips
• 5/2 --  This information was unavailable at press time.  (Check the SPOTblog.)

Apparently, everyone took author Francis Chan's admonition to heart last week and stopped praying.  There were no prayer requests. 

Concert Announcement!!!

Here is a cool opportunity to attend a benefit concert for the Proemseys begin their family through IVF.  There will also be a silent auction!  Check it out....

Happy Birthday!!!

Birthday wishes today go out to Connie Maloy!!  Hope your day is a special, blessed one!

Sunday Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Today we learned about the material in chapter one of Crazy Love.  The title of today's chapter is "Stop Praying".  To stop praying sounds a bit odd.  We need, however, to learn to be in awe of God when we come in his presence.   Our God is amazing, and has created everything around us.  He deserves our awe and adoration...much like the elders and the creatures found in Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6!

We also learned that God is:

1) Holy

2) Eternal 

3) All-Knowing

4) All-Powerful

5) Fair and Just

What an amazing God we have!  We just need to stand in awe of him...and stop praying...and worship.

Bowling Evening

On May 2nd at 5PM we will add new meaning to the word pinSPOTting!  We will be having a family bowling night that evening at the Brunswick Zone in Valley Park.  The sign-up sheet is in the folder or you can email us at spotspot@gmx.com to let us know you are attending.  We have plenty of coupons to help lower the cost, too!

SPOT Lunch

The SPOT lunch next week will be Lion's Choice.  Those of you in class next week can determine which location.  A number of us will not be present next week, so those in attendance can choose the best one for them!

SPOT Camping Trip

This event will be upon us before you know it.  The cost of the canoes is now known.  It will be $35 per canoe for a 5 hour tour (a bit longer than Gilligan!).  We will each pay for our own canoes at the location.  There will be no need for a deposit either for lodging or canoes!  We will be having a burger and hot-dog bar-b-que on that Saturday, so we will be collecting around $4 per person to cover the meat.  Everyone can bring their own sides or chip to share, as well as their own drinks.  Once we get a bit closer we will have the actual collection for the meat!

30 Hour Famine

The 30 hour famine will be this upcoming weekend.  There are two important ways to help support the students participating in this important event.  You can support one of our youth with a donation, or as a prayer partner.  Please consider helping as the need is truly mind boggling.

Muny Poll

The Muny poll made it's final pass through class today and the winner is "Footloose"!  Keep watching the blog or the class folder for the actual date and time that our class will attend!

    

Happy Anniversary!!!

God's blessings today to Jeff and Connie Maloy on their anniversary! Hope your day is special!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Our best wishes go out to Brooks and Ginger LaRowe on their anniversary today!!

SPOTmail

Don't be concerned -- reading SPOTmail does not create a taxable event.

April 15 represents more than just the tax deadline in the SPOTclass.

It's director KEVIN HURT'S birthday!  Gotcha, Kevin!

"Crazy Love" Chapter Studies Begin

Hopefully, by now you've picked up "Crazy Love," the little red book from which we'll be studying for the next 10 weeks.

This is not the Bible, so you can't claim you have it memorized. Try to actually read a chapter in the book each week so you'll be prepared to discuss the content.  Not only is there material to read, but you'll be prompted each week to go to the www.crazylovebook.com site to listen to author Pastor Francis Chan's personal perspective on each chapter, as well as some of his eye-opening illustrations.

This week, Chan tries to help us get a handle on how BIG God really is and abandon our tendency to minimize his significance in our lives.

This is a great class to invite friends to come to, as well as a good opportunity for Parents of Teenagers attending CSM to receive the same message each week that their teenager receives!

SPOTfun Polling Results

SPOTclass members voted to bowl, visit Fairmount Park, and see a show at the Muny this summer in the recently concluded SPOT Activities Referendum.

We'll start off at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, bowling at Lakeside Lanes in Valley Park.  It will be two hours of noisy fun at a cost of roughly $5 per person (with coupons).  That also includes shoe rental and a pitcher of soda for every six folks in attendance.  So strike all the conflicts from your calendar and make sure you have time to spare for this special SPOT event!

This Sunday, we'll be wrapping up another poll to determine which Muny show we'll attend.  There are seven again this summer, from late June through early August.  Look for the Muny poll in the SPOTfolder this week.

Beauty and the Beast - Titanic - Darned Yankees - Cats - Sound of Music - Footloose - Showboat

Snacks

• 4/18 -- Zenobia Perry
• 4/25 -- Karen & Rusty Phillips

SPOTlunch Drawing

This Sunday, we'll draw the location of the next SPOTlunch on Sunday, April 25.

Special Days!!!

We have a couple of special days today!! First, Happy Anniversary to Mark and Dani Cotter!! Second, it is the blogmeisters (that's me) birthday!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Here's wishing a blessed birthday to Emily Stubbs today. Hope your day is a special one!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday wishes today to Jeff Maloy!! Hope your day is a blessed one!

SPOTmail Update!

CRAZY SPOTmail

After a glorious Easter Sunday off from Bible Study, we'll be back in our usual SPOT this Sunday.

Let the "Crazy" Lovin' Begin

"Man, that's crazy!"  Have you ever had that said about you?  Have you ever said that yourself refering to someone or something else?  What is it that makes us conclude that something someone does or says is "crazy"? 

This Sunday, I will introduce our new study.  It is titled Crazy Love, based on the book by that title written by Pastor Francis Chan.  Our teens will be studying this material as well.  They will have sessions on Wednesdays before we cover the same material on Sundays.  Now, that's not  a crazy idea at all!  (It's actually a pretty good one!)

So, I hope to see you this Sunday.  If you have not purchased your book, you will have that opportunity then.  The cost is $5.  As a reminder -- this week is an introduction. 

"Man, it's going to be crazy!"
 

Don   

SPOTfun Polling Results

SPOT class members voted to bowl, watch the ponies run, and go to the Muny in the recently concluded SPOT Activities Referendum.

May 2, we'll be bowling at Lakeside Lanes in Valley Park, so clear your calendar and be prepared to knock down some pins!  Who knows, someone from our class may prove to be a real turkey!

This Sunday, we'll be conducting another poll to determine which Muny show we'll attend.  There are seven again this summer, beginning in late June, continuing throughout July, and wrapping up in early August.  Look for the Muny poll in the SPOTfolder this week.

Beauty and the Beast - Titanic - Darned Yankees - Cats - Sound of Music - Footloose - Showboat

Snacks

• 4/11 -- Allen Decker -- we can't wait!
• 4/18 -- Zenobia Perry

Reminder!!

Don't forget to get to the church office to pick up your copy of the "Crazy Love" book that will be the subject of the next bible study.  We will be doing this study at the same time as our youth, so this should be a great family experience in the Word.  The subsidized cost of this book is only $5 (normally $14.99!). 

Find out a little more about this amazing study here.

Blessed Easter!!!

1 CROSS

+3 NAILS   

______________ 

=4 GIVEN 

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO OUR RISEN SAVIOR!!!

 

30 Hour Famine is on the way....!

As you know, students have already been collecting money for the Famine and the excitement is spreading! We are trying to spread the word on the details of the actual Famine to the parents as much as possible. The fasting begins at 1:00pm on Friday, April 23rd. It is recommended that participants eat complex carbohydrates like oatmeal or pasta before the fasting begins, because these types of foods stay with you the longest. All of the participants will meet up at church at 7:00pm that evening for a lock-in in order for us to experience the Famine together. Students should bring a pillow, sleeping bag, toiletries, and a change of clothes (there will be no opportunities for us to take showers). A journal and pen may also be helpful for them to record their experience. The fasting will continue through Saturday and end at 7:00pm when we will “break-the-fast” together in a meaningful way. Parents can pick up their teens at the church by 8:30pm Saturday night. It is also not too late for a student to sign up! They can just sign up, pick up a packet from the Rafters, and start raising money.

Happy Birthday!!!

Birthday blessings today to Lisa Cole!  Hope your day is a great one!