Posted by Chris

Hey FUEL friends,

We're starting more FUEL Couples Small Groups! If you're Interested in joining or hosting one contact me at JayKranda@msn.com.

Life's better when lived in community!
Jay Kranda


Posted by Justin

Ben sent me a note to let all you know about a sweet Bonfire this weekend ...
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 1:00pm - 10:30pm
Location: Aliso Beach County Park, 31131 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92652

If you are in your 20/30s and single....Come hang out at the beach with the FUEL crowd on Saturday, June 27th! We'll be there at 1 pm, so bring your beach gear, lunch and favorite games. BRING YOUR OWN FIREWOOD & FOOD cause we'll start a Bonfire in the evening at 7pm (Grill will be provided). If you're interested in worshiping feel free to bring your guitar.

This is a great event to bring someone new to FUEL so they can see what we're all about. Don't miss this chance to meet some new FUEL friends while relaxing in the fantastic California sun!!

For more details contact : benh@saddleback.com

Here's a map if ya need it ...


View Larger Map


Posted by Justin



We were happy to have Rick and Kay come speak at FUEL last night about Orphans and what we as a Saddleback Community can do to help "the fatherless."

They mentioned ways you can help ... one of them being sponsorship of orphans or just helping out in Saddleback's general orphan care efforts.

To find out more, browse over here, and if you'd like to give read on ...

If you can help financially, here are four different ways you can give online ... all you need is a Saddleback website account so if you already have one you're half way there ... if not the pages below will guide through creating one.

Saddleback Sponsorship

The Saddleback Church Rwanda Orphan Care Initiative partners with local churches in Rwanda to provide holistic care and support for orphans and vulnerable children. The local church in Rwanda is positioned to identify needs and give support to families caring for orphans. By giving $30 a month to Saddleback Sponsorship, you are partnering with the church in Rwanda to care for orphans and vulnerable children. Thank you for choosing to give. We’re truly grateful for what God will do through you!
learn more

Adoption Assistance Fund

Saddleback Church carefully selects families for adoption. Give a child the gift of a family! Give a family the gift of a child. Thank you for choosing to give. We’re truly grateful for what God will do through you!
learn more

Ophan Care

The local church is the most influential source of care and support for orphans and vulnerable children. As the distribution center for hope in a community, the local church is best able to identify needs and support interventions for orphaned and vulnerable children in every community. Thank you for choosing to give. We’re truly grateful for what God will do through you!
learn more

Rwanda Orphan Care

The family is the answer to the orphan care crisis. Support a Rwandan family who is eager to adopt but needs financial assistance. Give a child the gift of a family! Give a family the gift of a child. The PEACE Plan, led by a partnership with Rwandan churches, has 6 strategic projects. Thank you for choosing to give to the orphan care orphan care initiative. We’re truly grateful for what God will do through you!
learn more




Posted by Chris

National HIV Testing Day is Saturday, June 27th, and Saddleback Church HIV/AIDS Initiative is hosting free HIV testing on our campus.  In order to raise awareness in the community, we’re planning a 3 hour promotion blitz the morning of the event.  We’ll be targeting various areas surrounding the Saddleback Church campus, and we could use your help!  We’ll be going to strategic areas in Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, RSM, Mission Viejo, and Irvine to hand out invite cards that encourage people to consider coming to Saddleback for a free HIV test.
FUEL hiv testing day
If you think you could join us to volunteer, please respond and let us know we can plan on you being there (michelled@saddleback.com).  We’ll meet at the Ministry Center 2 parking lot at 8:30 AM for a brief informational training and distribution of supplies.  Once you’ve gotten your supplies and connected with others who will be going to the same area as you, then we can head out into the community to distribute the invite cards.  We anticipate being finished no later than 11:30 AM. 

Our prayer for this event is that people in South Orange County will see Saddleback as a safe place to find out their HIV status, and that our efforts would begin to break down the stigma that surrounds HIV and AIDS.  We’re looking forward to serving with you on National HIV Testing Day, June 27th.



Posted by Chris

FUEL Volunteer Beach Bonfire
A well deserved Funday for our hard working FUEL volunteers! They owned Huntington Beach last weekend as they gathered together in droves for deep community. Games, competitions, tons of food, laughter, celebration of life...they play as hard as they serve. We are truly blessed to have them! Without our volunteers, our FUEL community wouldn't exist.

Thanks Gang! We love you all!

btw- if you'd like to get in on the crazy fun of volunteering at FUEL, email chrisr@saddleback.com


Posted by Chris

FUEL Mexico 1
EXHAUSTED—BUT IN A GOOD WAY
I was impressed by how hard-working everyone was. We worked really well together and manually assembled approx. 50 chairs (including screwing in 8 screws per chair BY HAND and washing them without water), swept/mopped the whole upstairs, and painted the whole downstairs. Throughout all this, we were working side-by-side with La Roca, the local church in Tijuana. By the end of the day we were exhausted, but in a good way!

Carly Huhn
FUEL PEACE Intern


Posted by Chris

Love God. Even though He’ll always love you more than you could ever love Him back, love God. Love God with everything in you. Do things that grow this love. Pray about it what that might be.

No matter how great a person you try to be, you’re useless without love for God. Focusing on loving God is what God calls you to do and that calling trumps your role in all areas of life
.
Who you are should determine what you do not the other way around. Look at your life—is it a reflection of your love for God? Is it a growing love that runs deep?

Take time to rest in the Lord. It’s okay to choose rest over busyness sometimes. Be with God. Focus on your relationship with Him. It’s not selfish. It’s healthy. It will fill you up to go out and live life how God has intended it to be lived.

Lamentations 3:22-24 "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'”



Posted by Chris


The place to be this past Memorial Day was at the FUEL Community Picnic! 200+ people participated in a crazy fun event designed to connect the unconnected and create genuine community within our FUEL family.

The food was delicious as people brought all types of meat (fat steaks, ribs, carne asada, hamburgers, sausages, hot dogs, chicken) to be bbq'd on a 6' grill. There was also 5 long tables jammed with many varying side dishes and desserts.

The competition was fierce as contestants battled it out for coveted Boneheads gift cards!  Games included wheel barrel races  (championship pic above...sorry Krandas, the Sartis spanked you), team relay races  (which included a pie-in-the-face finish), 3-legged race  (there were many injuries), water balloon toss  (just above freezing water used), and a hot dog eating contest  (congratulations Jorge...11 in 5 minutes...actually 12 counting the one you had to re-eat)!

The conversations were authentic as people were hangin all over the park sharing their lives. I observed people moving from group to group, sitting, standing, laying, laughing, smiling, crying, praying...it was really something to see!

As I reflect on our time together, I can't help but think of Acts 2:46-47:
"They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

Thrilled to be your pastor,
Chirs



Posted by Chris

FUEL community picnic
Come join us for an OLD SCHOOL community picnic!

Monday, May 25
11:00am - 2:00pm
Borrego Park, 26982 Cabriole, Foothill Ranch, CA
http://tinyurl.com/BorregoPark

THE PARK IS ALL OURS! Burlapsack race, 3 legged race, wheel barrel race, watermelon seed spitting contest, hot dog eating contest, water balloon toss, basketball courts, kids kickball, huge grassy area, much more!

Bring: drinks, food (MEAT for you and your family AND side dishes and desserts for our Buffet Table to share with others), plates, napkins, plastic ware, chairs, blanket, sports equipment

Questions? Email: sheilar@saddleback.com



Posted by Chris

Prepare 30 seconds of whatever you want to play. We will give you a chart and teach you a song for you to play or sing.
Vocal Auditions- May 19th  9pm- Refinery Upstairs Classroom
Band Auditions- May 26th  9pm- Refinery Theater
Email Stephanie with questions: Sbuckman@saddleback.com

Thank you!
Stephanie Buckman





 
What is Fuse?
Fuse is our newest venue for young adults ages 20s and 30s. Join us on Sunday evenings in the Refinery main auditorium for live teaching, worship, food, and relationship building. All of this and more, packed into a shorter service.

Fuse has live teaching with Doug Fields speaking, he re-teachs Pastor Rick's weekend message. The Refinery has food service available before and after the service ... So come early, eat dinner and develop and deepen some relationships!

Give it a try with your friends, co-workers, small group, and anyone else who you think would enjoy something different. It’s also a perfect opportunity to bring someone who's never been to church!

Join The Experiment

The Refinery Sunday
4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm

I Want to Help!

Debrief Podcast
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FUSE Blog & TXT
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Refuel Series Blog

In this three-week teaching series, based on his new book, REFUEL, Pastor Doug Fields offers an uncomplicated, realistic and sustainable plan to consistently draw closer to God. All you have to do is: Stop, Be Quiet, Make a Connection.

Friday May 29 2009
In preparing for the Refuel series, during the series, and all the way up to Easter, Pastor Doug Fields shared his heart, thoughts, and random...
Sunday April 12 2009
He is risen...

If you didn't get to hear Pastor Rick's message... watch it on-line... get the CD. Such a strong, clear presentation of...
Thursday April 09 2009
I've honestly been a little surprised at how much people are enjoying getting the text and/or Twitter reminders to make a refueling connection with...

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