When No One Was Looking

First, thank you to all who came to our Team Time Out! The pies were delicious and even more fun when they ended up on a few choice faces!

Now, check out this story about a pro-golfer who sacrificed his career to choose the high road!

"J.P. Hayes is as honest as we like to think we are"
By Jay Busbee

"The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching. John Wooden said that, or maybe it was Spider-Man. Whatever, it still holds true; being noble and upstanding is easy enough when you've got people watching, but when you're alone with yourself, when you could do the wrong thing (or avoid the right thing) and get away with it, well -- that's when you find out what kind of person you are.

By that standard, then, J.P. Hayes is among the best that sports has to offer. He played a nonconforming ball for a single hole of the second stage of Q School last weekend. He realized it more than a day after the "violation," called it on himself, and thus disqualified himself from Q School ... with some severe, career-altering effects down the line." Read the rest of the story.

I love hearing about inspiring, real-life heroes who choose to do the right thing. I know nothing about golf, but I can comprehend what he gave up in order to be honest and keep his integrity. And from what the article says, no one would have been the wiser about his mistake. I don’t know if J.P. Hayes is a Christian or not, but I imagine that God had a huge smile on His face when J.P. came clean...even when no one else was looking.

I hope that if I'm ever confronted with a similar choice, I follow J.P.'s lead!

"Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things." Hebrews 13:18

Announcements

• Have a preschooler who likes to sing? He or she can take part in our Kids Boost Christmas Performance, "The Best Christmas Present Ever!" Stop by the preschool this weekend to pick up a performance packet or email children@radiantchurch.com for details.
• We have three weeks left on our 20-quarter challenge! If we all bring in 20 quarters by December 6th and 7th, we can help feed 14,000 children who need a meal through Kids Against Hunger!
• Our HD Canned Food Drive is continuing through the end of November. These canned goods will provide local families with food to eat through Radiant's Economic Relief Center. Bring your cans in to Jungle or Elevate this weekend. This is a boys vs. girls contest with a fun prize the first weekend in December for the winner! You don't want to miss out!
• Family Fun Day tickets sold out last week, but are back by popular demand! Tickets are limited, so stop by the kiosk to pick up yours soon!
  
  

Cause for Celebration

This week my infant son reached a milestone. It was a simple achievement – only sitting on his own for the first time – but to me it was cause for great celebration. I actually cried tears of joy to see him accomplish a skill we’d been working on together for weeks!

It made me think about how God, our Father, celebrates over us.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Zepheniah 3:17. I love the different versions of it too--

Here’s the NIV translation:
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

And then the Contemporary English Version:
The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God delights in us just because we are His children? He actually rejoices over us with singing!

If that’s how He feels about us just as we are, how much more so does He celebrate when we reach milestones in our journeys of faith?

Just like I did with my son, I wonder if He jigs a little happy dance when we read our Bibles each day, choose to serve others, or decide to spend extra time with Him.

It makes me ask, what can I do today to give my Heavenly Father joy?

Announcements

• Our Team Time Out is this Sunday! We're looking forward to yummy pie, cider, hot chocolate and fun fellowship with you!!
• Casting Call! We’re filming a Children’s Ministry Video and need outgoing kids, 3-years– fifth grade, to be our stars. To take part, please accompany your child, dressed in a plain, logo-free black or white shirt and jeans to the Radiant Church Family Room on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 3:45 pm. For more information, please contact children@radiantchurch.com.
• Over the next three weeks, HD will partner with Kids Against Hunger to provide food to children all around the world through a quarter drive. If every child and HD volunteer brings in 20 quarters, that is four quarters a week, by December 6th and 7th, we can help feed 14,000 children who need a meal!
• Along with our focus on missions, we're asking everyone in HD to bring in canned goods to Jungle Heights or Elevate in November. These canned goods will provide local families with food to eat through Radiant's Economic Relief Center. This is a boys vs. girls contest with a fun prize the first weekend in December for the winner! You don't want to miss out!
• Want another way to help feed the hungry? Play Free Rice! Go to www.freerice.com and test your knowledge skills. It is fun, easy, and a free way to donate rice to the UN World Food Program.
• Family Fun Day tickets for ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo are still on sale this weekend! Tickets are limited, so stop by the kiosk to pick up yours soon!

Open Hands

This time of year always gives me pause to be grateful. Maybe it’s something about the cooler weather, the pending Thanksgiving feast, or Christmas on the horizon. So why, in this state of gratitude, can it sometimes be tough to share my blessings?

I never thought that when I hung out for a service in Jungle Heights this past weekend that the message would be for me! Up on stage, Carey read, “If there is a poor man among you in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.” Deuteronomy 15: 7-8 (NIV)

When I heard that verse, it was like God whispered in my ear, “I have blessed you, now open up your hands, and share!” I didn’t have to look far to find where I could start freely giving to those in need…we have the perfect outlet right here at Radiant!

Did you know that this past Tuesday alone, 1000 people received food from Radiant’s Economic Relief Center? Our community is hurting and hungry. And we can help! Check out the announcements below for three opportunities for all of us in HD to lend a hand!

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifice God is pleased.” Hebrew 13:16 (NIV)

Announcements

• Impact shirts are here! You can pick up your pre-ordered shirt or buy a shirt at HD Headquarters in the preschool during weekend services.
• Over the next four weeks, HD will partner with Kids Against Hunger to provide food to children all around the world through a quarter drive. If every child and HD volunteer brings in 20 quarters, that is four quarters a week, by December 6th and 7th, we can help feed 14,000 children who need a meal!
• Along with our focus on missions, we're asking everyone in HD to bring in canned goods to Jungle Heights or Elevate in November. These canned goods will provide local families with food to eat through Radiant's Economic Relief Center. This is a boys vs. girls contest with a fun prize the first weekend in December for the winner! You don't want to miss out!
• Want another way to help feed the hungry? Play Free Rice! Go to www.freerice.com and test your knowledge skills. It is fun, easy, and a free way to donate rice to the UN World Food Program.
• Be sure to check your emails for an evite for our Team Time Out and please remember to RSVP. We're hosting a Pie & Cider Night at Surprise Park on November 16, you don't want to miss out!
• Family Fun Day tickets for ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo are still on sale this weekend! Tickets are limited, so stop by the kiosk to pick up yours soon!