TRAGEDY IN JAPAN

Like so many of you, my heart also breaks for the people of Japan. The catastrophe they've suffered with a 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed is too much to wrap our minds around. Now add to all of the carnage the impending threat of a nuclear meltdown. The suffering of those in Japan and the effects their suffering will have on people around the world (even in our backyard with Toyota's national headquarters located in NKY) is beyond words. Thankfully, God understands the cry of our hearts when words are insufficient.

Let's continue to pray throughout each day for the Japanese people, for the wisdom and courage of their leaders, for those grieving the loss of loved ones, for those displaced, for those who've yet to be rescued, for the relief workers, for those brave men fighting to regain control of nuclear reactors, and for the Presence of Jesus to be made real and powerful throughout the land.

This weekend at First Church you can participate in taking relief and hope to the people of Japan through giving. Special offering envelopes will be available for the next few weeks if you'd like to participate. We've partnered with Samaritan's Purse led by Franklin Graham and will be sending all funds recieved directly to this very effective relief organization. You can also find a link to their website at www.1stchurchofchrist.org.

God's Word gives us these words of hope for such a time as this: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress...be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:1-7, 10a, NIV).