Jesse Caro’s Blog
ENCOUNTER ~ REAL. RELEVANT. CHURCH

I am unusually home this morning (Friday). The weather here in Greensboro is so cold and the wintery mix so thick, I am unable to get out. Record colds and snow this winter already.

Ironically, I just read an article this morning about the Prius, the car that is supposed to lead the way in saving our planet from global warming. As it turns out, the Prius has such a complicated electronic system that parts of the electrical system fail inexplicably and without warning. That would not be a big problem for small things like the radio…. but when you are driving your fuel efficient vehicle on the interstate at night and your headlights go out, that’s a different matter. Several serious crashes later and Toyota is taking notice.

The really sad note is that people feel like they are saving, or contributing to saving, the planet by driving the Prius. That’s great, Toyota, but no one wants to die trying. I mean, if you are going to design a green car make sure it can save the driver first and foremost…. then worry about saving the planet. Listen, Toyota, try making a nice safe car that is inexpensive and I’m in. I want to get to my destination safely and enjoy the record winter wonderland along the way…. alive if possible.

In Greensboro this weekend we got a snow event that was as bad as the event in 2004 (I was not here, but so goes the story). 9 good inches rest on my property, and in some areas drifts have caused major accumulation. I certainly am used to the snow from my tenure in the great state of West Virginia. This, in many respects, is an amateur event in WV where part of the culture involves tackling snow with ease. My timidity in driving here is more born out of concern for other, less experienced drivers around me.

Regardless, I cancelled church services for today back on Friday…. when news reports were calling for a big snow. I thought about that decision, knowing that while driving might be difficult, it certainly would not be unmanageable. But in the end, we cancelled… like responsible stewards of our church.  I have been involved in  churches where church was never cancelled…. ever. And, as many believed, if the doors were opened “we will be there”. That was the mentality. As if God would somehow think less of you for being concerned for your safety. Indeed, I a sure some would at times feel guilty if they did not come. So, like faithful soldiers, off they would go.

But, our church did meet…. in their own homes, with their own families, the Lord still very much present.  Maybe worship this morning looked slightly different. Possibly no Christian music could be heard… instead just the loud voices of children enjoying the wonderful gift of snow. Perhaps thankful hearts blessed the Lord for children and the good health of youth. I can imagine much needed rest occurred, preparing the way for a godly work week ahead lived out as good, rested, vibrant and joyful testimonies before a lost world. Maybe the lesson of God’s grace was declared louder today than by way of a pulpit. Just maybe. Either way, we are tasked to blessing the Lord in this day, be it at home or gathered elsewhere. May we remember that we, our family, are the church and with the Lord ever present, we worship.

The lowest unemployment rate in an age, government takeover of the banks and auto industry, a deficit so great that every family giving the government 200k plus will be the only way to pay it off, swiss cheese security in airports, a border so porous that at night the border looks like the Boston Marathon in ponchos, consumer confidence index at a low while the home foreclosures are soaring. If the President says anything other than “the state of the union is poor”, he is as blatantly dishonest or blind as he is egotistical. He might do well to reverse every course he has taken or risk a large number of Scott Browns being added to the GOP in November.

This week marks Encounter Church’s one year mark in Summerfield, NC. I’ll never forget the decision to move. It was made after a trial of many people leaving our side as co-laborers. A few stuck it out, despite the difficulty of the decision (to whom we remain grateful). It was neither easy nor expedient. It was not a fun decision, nor was it hopeful. But, in the sovereignty of God, it was a good decision.

Many people judge a church’s success on numbers and growth. I, of course, think these are important dynamics to good health. But, looking at our first year, we have not grown too, too much. But we have grown. And in the process I have had the life’s privilege of connecting with some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Godly people. I have worshiped with them, fellowshipped with them, learned from and with them, struggled, failed and succeeded with them. Those things make, as much as anything else, a healthy church. That is church.

On our website one can read these words: “we don’t have all the bells and whistles“. And we don’t. But, we have people…. good people. It’s a body of people who love one another, bound by a love for Jesus, and a vision to reach other’s for Him.  With that, who needs bells and whistles? To be sure, people have come and not found what they were looking for: programs, band, fill in the blank. Ahh, but if community is what they sought, and a place to Encounter Jesus, then they needed not look any further.

Summerfield does not know what is in their back yard but 2010 is a year to let them find out. We are unique followers of Jesus on a simple campaign of living for Him and reaching others. And, we are not quitting on the task. We are, in fact, doubling our efforts. We will, in His name, impact our community for Him. One year is behind us. Year two is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The record shattering cold weather around the country is causing global warming arguments to fall on deaf and cold ears. Media advocates of the man caused warming position have hardly mentioned the cold snap. When, on the other hand, the temperatures rise a little higher than normal, it is always mentioned as an indication of “man caused warming”. The news never misses a beat. Go figure.

Here in Greensboro  there has been an unintended consequence of legislation to “cool” the planet by curbing global warming. In our most recent snow episode the traffic lights did not melt the snow off of the glass lens. You see, the bulbs are newly installed eco-friendly bulbs that don’t get hot enough to cause any melting. Normally in the worst of snow conditions traffic lights are clear for all to see. They were too hot to collect snow. No longer. Dangerously, a few weeks ago snow completely covered our cities bulbs… causing disaster in some areas.

The brilliant solution is that the city must now manually clean off each lens and/or install separate heating units to attach to each light. Never mind that vehicles polluting the air will have to transport people to clean the bulbs, or that the heating systems will offset the ecological savings the new bulbs were supposed to create. Truly that is neither here nor there. The most important thing is that we are trying to save the planet from the certain doom of global warming.

Forecast for tomorrow: record lows.

A few days ago I came across www.thepizzaturnaround.com to see what was up with Domino’s. I have not ordered a Domino’s pizza for years, though I have liked it above many other pizzas. It turns out they are launching a major campaign in an effort to revamp their image. Apparently their pizza was practically universally despised for it’s taste. They took their harshest critic’s criticism (“crust tastes like cardboard”, “pizza void of flavor”) and set out to make a better pizza “from the crust up”. New crust, with garlic butter, new sauce, better cheese!!!!

So today, out of complete curiosity, we ordered one…. and it delivered on taste. I thought it was really good, but I thought it was good before. For sure, it was better than what we always get (when we get delivery)… Papa John’s. If Domino’s crust tasted like cardboard, then Papa John’s crust tastes like thrown up card board. How America was criticizing Domino’s, while at the same time making the worst tasting pizza chain (Papa John’s) the number one chain in the land… is beyond me.

I think there are learning lessons here. 1) You may think you have a better product than the guy across the street (and you may be right), but if the consumer does not think so then you have to change/tweak. 2) Humility and honesty go a long way (even if it is false humility and, ironically, something you might not believe) . 3) Comparing and contrasting are valuable and powerful tools (in my mind the ad campaign would be stronger if they took a shot at the hockey puck of a crust Papa John’s serves).

For now, Domino’s has done what is necessary to remind me of what I liked from the beginning (and what I dislike about the competition).

Watched Princess and the Frog a few days ago…. and hope to see it again soon. It is simply the best old school cartoon/animated film in a decade (maybe since Beauty and the Beast). Great music, story, setting and characters. Far better than even Lion King, for example. If you have yet to see it, it will be worth seeing at the theatre, believe me.

On a side note, my next schedule film to see is Avatar. Should be good.

Last night we went to a wonderful dinner party… featuring chili. Every family brought their chili and all were excellent. Some with several beans, some without beans altogther. Some spicy, some not. Some chunky, others less.

Important Note: I have been, inexplicably, dealing with acid reflux lately. I struggle with it here and there, but not like it has been of late. I suppose the holidays have stirred up an acidic giant in my chest.

Back to the story. My last bowl of chili was a hot one. Yummy, but hot. I enjoyed it immensely, giving no consideration to the price to be paid later. At 3:00 this morning, my burning chest woke me up like a bad dream of being a fire fighter in California. The five-alarm chili caught up with me and I thought I was having a small, but significant, relapse into heart troubles. I run downstairs and start popping antacids like they were Andes mints. I chase those down with some inappropriate amount of Zantac. My stomach revolts against this assault of medications and threatens to teach me a second lesson.

After an hour of discomfort I pray myself back to sleep, asking the Almighty to quench my soul. While there is no moral to this story, I offer a guiding principle: if offered, eat less of Don’s 5 alarm chili then you think you can handle.

The sound of the family playing one of the kid’s Christmas gifts, “American Idol” on the Wii… the sound going happily as I sit here. Today I am glad to have my family. There are people far too thankless, and far too blessed. We take for granted the gifts that God has given us: good health, our beloved faith, our country, and, indeed, our families. Some people have lost their families, treasuring them only as faint memories. Lost to illness and tragedy. Some wish for family, but have had it torn from them by no fault of their own. Family.

Today has been a day of peaceful reflection and thanksgiving for the gift of my wife and kids (and parents and brothers). Sure, it was loud and sometimes obnoxious… but this is the fabric upon which we build life. I would not give this up willingly, not for anyone. It’s a gift from God, and one that we must not trample on by the foot of convenience.

Today was a Merry Christmas for two reasons alone: 1) Jesus (to whom we sang “Happy Birthday” with tender hearts) and 2) family (with whom we enjoyed God-given company… flaws and all).

In Jesus’ name, let us give thanks for our families! May we reaffirm our love to them, and with this,  our treasured family enjoy, with pure heart, the Christmas season to it’s very fullest.

God’s richest blessings on you and yours!

I have in the last month come upon two stories validating God’s Word. Scholars have long doubted the credibility of the Old Testament account of David and Goliath. Of course, up until recently they doubted that King David actually existed (until they found tablets with his name). As to Goliath, scholars said that there was no record of a place called Gath, from which Goliath was reported to have come. Well, a few months ago they discovered the city of Gath in an excavation, along with a clay vessel with the name “Goliath” inscribed. No evidence that this Goliath was the same, but proof positive of a place called Gath, with at least one person whose name was “Goliath”! Score one for team Bible!

Today I read an article that they have found a shroud in Old Jerusalem in which a body was encased. It is the first shroud that they are absolutely certain dates from the time of Jesus. The person was apparently a person with some wealth and affluence as evidenced by the tomb and burial treatment. Now, it has been long supposed by scholars against the Biblical record, that many of Jesus’ miracles could not have been true… namely those involving leprosy. They objected based on the fact that there was no evidence that leprosy was in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus, but came later. As the argument goes, the writers of the New Testament (who did not actually live in the time of Jesus, and so were not eye witnesses) embellished the account of Jesus with stories that were not historically accurate. Back to the shroud… this particular man of affluence actually (according to DNA tests)  had a disease called leprosy. Score 2 for team Bible!