AtlantaFest

As you may know, The Point is going to AtlantaFest as part of its Adventure Thursdays summer outings.

Here's the main point: You must let us know if you are attending by April 30. If you commit, we are buying you a ticket, and YOU will have to purchase that ticket. If you commit, then decide you can't go, it's up to you to decide what to do with your ticket. We need a minimum of 15 people to make sure we can get the group discount.

Enough with the boring stuff, here's the details (more at www.atlantafest.com):

Featuring some of the top names in contemporary Christian music, more than 40 artists will perform on AtlantaFest’s three music stages over the course of the three day event. The Point will be attending on Thursday, June 15.

Atlanta Fest is more than roller coasters and Christian rock music.  It is the perfect opportunity for our youth group to experience God in a real-world setting.  Mixed in with the 11 roller coasters (including the new “Goliath” - the largest and tallest roller coaster in the Southeast), three water rides and non-stop music stages, are seminars for Christian living, Bible studies, a multimedia “Prayer Labyrinth”, a talent search and even Christian karaoke!”

Highlights:

Concerts include Relient K, Kutless, Hawk Nelson, and Falling Up Ride all of the Six Flags coasters and rides! Prayer Labyrinth Karaoke Christian Living Seminars

More info as we get closer to the day.

The main thing to remember: We need your commitment by April 30.

Ninjas are people too!

This was too funny not to post:

http://www.randb.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/12/443c71ed40b94

Quoted from the story:

"ATF agents are always on alert for anything suspicious — including ninjas.

Jeremiah Ransom, a sophomore from Macon, was leaving a Wesley Foundation pirate vs. ninja event when he was detained.

After being held in investigative detention, he was found to have violated no criminal laws and was not arrested.

“It was surreal,” Ransom said. “I was jogging from Wesley to Snelling when I heard someone yell ‘freeze.’”

Ransom said he thought a friend was playing a joke before he realized officers had guns drawn and pointed at him.

ATF agents had noticed Ransom’s suspicious behavior and clothing and gave chase, apprehending him, Williamson said.

“Agents noticed someone wearing a bandanna across the face and acting in a somewhat suspicious manner, peeping around the corner,” said ATF special agent in charge Vanessa McLemore."

So for all you budding ninjas out there, be sure to watch out for the ATF!

By His bruises we are healed

On Sunday, the church celebrated. We celebrated five years of worship. We celebrated Palm Sunday, the day Christ entered Jerusalem as the crowds waved palm branches, cheered and waved him in as their future king.

On this day, They expected Jesus to lead a revolution that will overthrow the Roman government and reestablish the kingdom of Israel. But only one week later, Christ would be nailed to a cross, executed for his claims to be the son of God. How could a man go from exalted to reviled in such a short time?

For one, the religious leaders of the time were jealous of the attention Jesus received. They plotted to have him tried as a traitor and heretic. But, even though the religious leaders thought they were getting rid of a "problem," Christ's death was part of God's great plan to save all of mankind.

The Bible tells us the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). To atone for sin, the ancient Israelites would sacrifice (give up) the things most valuable to them: their prized animals and grains from the field. As you've probably noticed, we don't sacrifice animals at church anymore! Christ's death served as the final sacrifice for all of our sins for all time.

There are some special days associated with Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Thursday is Maundy Thursday, where Christ has his final dinner with his best friends. Here he introduced the first communion, a ritual where we drink wine (ok ... grape juice) and eat bread to remember the sacrifice of Christ's body and blood. Friday is Good Friday. The day Christ was crucified. If you've seen The Passion of the Christ, you have an idea of the humiliation and pain he went through. This was no humane, quick execution. This was the Romans way of torturing and humiliating a prisoner.

Thankfully, the death of Christ is not the end of the story. The best part comes on Sunday ...