The End Of The Tunnel…

by Liz Castillo 27. March 2010 10:55

Today I thought to myself of how precious life was and just how short of a time we are put on this earth. From the very moment of our first cry we are set up to ride a rollercoaster…for some the ride is long, for others it is short-lived, many just experiencing the thrill of a joy ride downwards.  This week I heard of three deaths, one was of a 42 year old man who dropped dead at the news that his father had passed away while on the operating table; the second was of that elderly man who obviously had lived his life long enough to produce a son, who then passed away the same day as he did. The third was of another man who lived a proud life serving God and probably lived a fulfilling life until his last breath. The news of death often makes us think of how short life really is. For some, it is just another obituary for others it is a wake up call. News that often gets put in the back of the newspapers, which ends up at the bottom of our bird cage at times. Often we take life for granted living every minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year…counting another grey hair on our head, or another one that bit the dust and was found at the bottom of the sink. Another wrinkle, another stress line another pound, another bill, another year later….we just live the life on a treadmill never looking behind but not sure what we are chasing just running, running as Forest Gump did because he was told, “run Forrest, run!” But what are we chasing? What are we running from? This is often the question that we are too busy to stop and ask ourselves…often because we already know the answer. The truth is what we seem to be running from and it is often when God takes us off that treadmill for a split second that these questions pass through our minds and the answer is very clear, but yet obstructed by our very selfish nature and disbelief. Call it living in denial but most of us live our lives this way…too busy to look in the mirror, too busy to take time to smell the roses, or to pick up the phone and call someone who we haven’t spoken to in the longest time, perhaps because we fear rejection. Too often words that have been rehearsed go unheard because of our coward, sinful nature which keeps us from confronting the truth and the ugly pride that keeps us in the darkness often shadows us from the light of forgiveness. If “the truth shall set you free” is the answer, than why do we live our lives in such disbelief? Why do we complicate our lives so often that we choose to live in denial and not in the truth?

Life is very complicated and I often think of the words that Forrest Gump said in his movie, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.”  How true, life can be sweet at times, and sometimes it can be sour. Life can have its ups and downs, its nuts and its raisins. Often we are not sure what to expect yet we grasp life by the horns and force ourselves to live it unprepared and unwilling to accept what comes our way. The mere truth is enough to keep us from moving forward yet it is that truth that keeps us from sinking under. For many this is not the case…the few of us that decide to face life as unpleasant as it can present itself to be often live it because the only other alternative to life is death and who wants that?

I choose life over death because I know that life can be fulfilling and that as long as I have a breath in my lungs I will grasp every second and millisecond of life with all my might. Death on the other hand is a dark and unknown journey that many of us fear to explore. However, it is by faith that we can accept death knowing that we have eternal life in our creator and that He and only he can give life and take it. It is that total trust that we must have in Him that will get us through the journey of life and then help us enter that dark path that leads into the journey of death. Eternal life lies on the other end of that path for many of us, for some it doesn’t however. It is that doubt that causes fear…the doubt of whether or not we can make it past that dark tunnel. Shall we find light at the end of that tunnel or will there be eternal darkness? This is a vital question that we must all ask ourselves. Have you asked yourself that question today? I hope so because if you were to close your eyes tonight and not wake up in the comfort of your bed what side of the tunnel do you think you’d be in, the light side or the dark? Think about it.

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Good News Clubs…in the Public Schools?

by Liz Castillo 21. January 2009 11:39

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I’m excited how God is moving throughout our city and community. God wants to reach every one of us, especially our children. A team of us here at New Life Jefferson Park are on a mission to do just that. We’ve partnered with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Last Summer, our team went through an intensive training with CEF. We approached several Chicago Public Schools on the Northwest side of Chicago about the possibility of starting an after school club, but every door that we knocked on was closed. Finally, God made a way for us, and this past November we started our first Good News Club at Jahn Elementary School located in the Lakeview community.

Having ventured out into the mission field here in our very own city, it has been exciting to see what God is doing and how he is touching the lives and hearts of the young students at Jahn. The children are excited about learning about Jesus. The parents and administrative staff have been very supportive and encouraging as well.

On the average, we have about 30 to 35 students who participate in a one-hour program, which includes singing Bible songs, hearing Bible stories, and learning about God’s grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. To date, we’ve had over 15 students accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Our team of 10 is looking forward to serving God in whatever capacity he may use us in the lives of these children.  Our prayer is that God will continue to open doors throughout our Public Schools, that he will touch the lives and hearts of children, and that he will raise up more and more people here at New Life and in other churches who are willing to go out into the our mission field.

Please pray for our team and the children in our club. Pray that God will bring us more helpers who would like to join our team. If you feel led to find out more about our club, please feel free to reply to this blog and I’ll be happy to give you more information. You can also check them out on the web here: Good News Clubs.

The Good News is being spread throughout our schools and it is through these children that families and communities will be transformed!

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Give thanks with a grateful heart…

by Liz Castillo 26. November 2008 09:06

Thanksgiving is a time when we gather together with our friends and family to give thanks, share a meal, and reminisce of times past. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I look back at all of the blessings that the Lord has provided for me and my family. It has been a tough year for us. Like many Americans, it has been a year of tests and trials for our nation, its citizens, and our economy.  It is through these tests and trials however, that we grow!  As believers in Christ, we must first and foremost stand on God’s Word.  I often remind myself of this on a daily basis, “He shall not leave me or forsake me in times of trials and tribulations, I will go forward!

It is with a grateful heart that I want to thank God for this ministry that he has placed me in. Over the past 15 months on staff here at New Life Jefferson Park, I’ve had the opportunity to see God in action! He has doubled our impact at New Life Jefferson Park as we have gone to two services and grown our location. This was a step of faith which was taken by our church leadership team and led by our beloved Pastor Asa as we trusted the Lord and launched our second service back in April, of 2008.  As this year comes to an end, I think about our growth and all that God has done to bless not only our location, but New Life as a whole.  New Life has launched four new locations throughout Chicago within one year, and has plans on launching more after the New Year. None of this could be done without the vision and heart that the New Life Pastoral team shares!

Here at New Life Jefferson Park, I’ve seen how our church has begun to impact the community God has planted us in! On a weekly basis I witness the new faces that light up our congregation during our morning worship. I hear the enthusiasm that people have as they laugh at one of Pastor Asa’s jokes or stories. J  I’ve shared in the excitement as people grow in faith and take a step of baptism.  I’ve seen the altar in our sanctuary filled with people responding to the message of God’s Word.  I’ve seen our “Seniors Ministry” flourish as our 50+ gather monthly to fellowship, share a meal, develop community, and the joy of our Lord!  I’ve watched our worship team, which I find a privilege to serve on, grow and multiply. Our Soul Purpose Ministry has impacted our young peoples lives, and our Children’s ministry continues to grow on a weekly basis.  Through our Soul Purpose Dramas and our monthly Renewals, prayer and worship times, we have grown as a community within a community.

Giving thanks with a grateful heart…this is something truly to be grateful for!

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