I actually have learned a great deal about myself and about life from officiating.  In the past three seasons I have discovered an interesting thing... Lifesaver candies can solve almost any crisis.  They can make friends from enemies, they can quiet a storm and they have a unique ability to make people smile.  


WOW!  That is a lot of stuff for one piece of wintergreen candy, but here is how it works.  As I am dressing for the game I grab a handful of individually wrapped Wintergreen Lifesavers candies and place them in my right pocket.  When the situation arises, I simply produce a piece of the candy from that pocket and most times the situation changes.  Here are two examples:  
- A few nights ago, I was officiating Seventh Grade football.  The Coach was screaming like he was in the NFL all night as his players continued to make mistake after mistake.  At one point he wandered onto the field and I ran into him while doing my job - Flag.  He was furious and tried twice to take it out on me verbally.  I attempted to talk him down from the ledge but nothing was saving him from his intent to jump…. until I produced one little candy in my hand - down low so he would have to look at it!  Bam his face lit up with a smile as he grabbed the candy like a little kid. He was suddenly laughing and smiling and said that was the best thing anyone had done for him all day.  
- A few weeks ago I had the privilege to call a College Football Game in Louisiana.  One of the things that make officiating work is great Ball Boys.  At this particular game these kids were less than stellar.  So I was having to spend a great deal of energy managing their performance so I could do my job.  Somewhere in the second quarter I had an idea, when one of them got me a ball quickly - I handed him a Wintergreen Lifesaver…. He lit up.  I told him thanks for being so attentive.  By the time we got to halftime the Ball Boys on my sideline were competing to get me the ball as fast as possible and I kept rewarding them…… Needless to say I handed out a pocketful of the candies and my Ball Boys were almost wrestling to be the one that got me the ball.  
So my Life Lesson - It seems to be the small little gestures that show you really do care about others that makes the biggest difference in relationships…. After all, a Super Jumbo bag of Lifesavers is about $7 at Target.  A small price to pay to demonstrate love in a practical sense.  And it sure seems like people are just waiting for someone to show up and love them where they are…….  
​

I recently came across this thought in a book I'm reading: "despite a global trend toward loose talk, it is neither wise nor necessary to criticize others to make your messages more effective, more important, or more newsworthy. The degree to which you can be heard today is best thought of not as a burden or blessing but as a responsibility. Those who accept this responsibility with humility, compassion, and a turstworthy zeal are much quicker to rise because others remain willing to listen. The people most widely respected within industries, companies, families, and groups of friends are those who are clear in their own viewpoints while remaining comapssionate with those whose minds or behavior they would like to influence." There is truth in this quote. I often have to take a long break from Facebook and other social media because of the vitriol that is so prevalent. It is sad to see some of the vitriol from Christians, believers in the One who rose above all of the chaos, confusion, clamor and condemnation to show a different way.
One of my favorite places on the internet is a message board set aside to discuss Jayhawk sports. Every poster on the board posts anonymously, choosing a psuedonym thereby maintaining anonymity. I suppose there was a reason for this but I am often taken back by the anger, name calling and outright meanness that is expressed. And that's a place where everyone is supposed to share something in common: support for the Jayhawks!
This leads me to my reflection: how is it that we are to act, speak and interact with others whether or not they know who we are. As a believer in Jesus, I believe my conversion includes my character. Can I rise above all of the noise and the shouting down of others and show compassion and humility? Does it make a difference? The answer is yes and yes. It's not a call to do something you'd rather not do but an understanding that we are witnessing to the love of God everytime we interact with others. Even if they don't know who we are.

​Dear COTHA,
 

I am way behind, but better late than never.  
 

On Sep. 1 st we worshipped at St. George's church in Singapore.  We spent three days with our friends and former parishioners from Houston.  It was an Anglican Church. The church was packed with ex-pats and the president of the country was in attendance at the service.  They are heavily involved in world mission and learned a little bit of what they do.  There was a booth at the entrance (on the left) welcoming the newcomers.  There was no Eucharist but a great teaching on the Sunday Gospel with music.  They had a band like ours except they had a sax player (American) who had been there for thirty four years.
 

Sunday Sep. 8th I was invited to preach at a Baptist church (grey Church) in Moratuwa, which is very rare for an Anglican Priest.  The small church was packed and it was like a prayer and praise service.  
 

On Sep. 14th I had the privilege of solemnizing the marriage of my cousins daughter at Holy Emmanuel church, the church with the tall bell tower. I married her parents 30 years ago and now their child.  It was an awesome moment.  It was great meeting family and joining in some fun.
 

Sunday Sep. 15th we worshipped at St. Peter's Church, in Moratuwa to celebrate our 42 nd wedding anniversary. The priest took us to the altar, said a prayer and blessed us. This is where my spiritual journey began as a choir boy, and as an altar server (acolyte). Ewena and I attended this church and Sunday school as kids, and we got married on Sep. 11th, 1971. It was awesome worshipping together with my wife after a long time and to celebrate our wedding anniversary. 
 

Sep. 21st we had an ecumenical small group meeting and went and ministered to a cancer patient with some of the group.  
 

Today, Sep 22nd we were at St. Paul's Kandy, where I was celebrant and preacher.  Tomorrow morning we are going to Hill Wood College, a leading Christian girl's school in Kandy.  I'll be doing chapel at 7.30 am. 
 

People are hungry to know the LORD, His WORD, and they have questions. God has been so good and merciful in using us frail human beings for HIS glory!  He is opening door after door for ministry which we never dreamed or imagined, and we just follow HIS lead.
 

It is not easy to be away from home. Ewena and I miss our children and our grand children.  We miss COTHA our church family.  Sometimes we feel home sick, lonely, and want to return home.  But Jesus keeps reminding us that, Disciples of Jesus follow HIM, and go where he leads you to go. HE leads you to places where you have never been before, and HE gives you the strength, the grace and the power to do things you have never done before. 
 

We ask for your prayers for health, for safety on the roads, for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do HIS work.
 

God bless you!
With love & prayers,
Desmond & Ewena

This
is one of my favorite poems of all times. I often look to this when I am in need
of encouragement. 
 
"One night I had a dream...
I dreamed I was walking along the beach
with the Lord, and Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I
noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonged to me, and the other
to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at
the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my
life, there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in my life This really bothered me, and I
questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to
follow you, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during
the most troublesome times in my life, There is only one set of footprints. I
don't understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, "My precious,
precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your
times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was
then that I carried you."


It
doesn’t matter if God is walking beside me or if he is carrying me, I know my God
is always with me.

I love summer Lemonade stands in the south.  Those little kids so full of hope to make their fortunes as they set up a stand in the morning.  I remember Shania, at about five years old, cajoling her friends to set up a stand one hot summer day.  She gathered three or four friends and got them all working (mostly mom) and out the door they went to the front yard.  


Now the friends hung around for about thirty minutes and then my other daughter and them left to play across the street.  Shania hung in for a whole day and really didn't move from her seat.  She was enthusiastic and energetic when her limited number of clients stopped to purchase her custom cup of powdered lemonade with a smile.  And at the end of the whole process when she (and her mom sans friends) cleaned the mess, she sat and tallied the money….. 
Then she did something completely surprising - She divided it equally amongst her sister and the friends that had contributed an almost insignificant amount of support and help.  I was amazed at this demonstration of kindness and grace.  Kind of reminds me of a parable that Jesus told one time to his friends.
At the end of the parable in Matthew 20, Jesus says, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
I have so much to learn about life :) 









©2013 KBE Creative

As I am sure you all know, this weekend is being called "Homecoming" at COTHA. We've asked people to prayerfully invite friends, family and neighbors to worship with us. Why? Is it to boost attendance? No, it's much more than that.
Too many people think that the Church has nothing to offer to them. Despite the loneliness and hurt of the world, they look at the Church as something that offers them nothing. Too many people think of Church as a building at best, and irrelevant at worse. At COTHA we know that what we experience week after week is something greater than we can even explain. That's why we invite. Stepping into the building where the Church meets brings together heaven and earth. That's why sometimes we want to dance and at other times we want to weep with joy. God inhabits the praises of His people and we are witnesses to the truth of that experience.
It's not too late to invite someone to come with you this weekend. When it's all said and done, we all want to have as many of these people with us singing God's praises for all eternity. Let's practice that this weekend. See you when the Church gathers this weekend!

“Remember, whatever you focus upon, increases…When you focus on the things you need, you’ll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on what you don’t have, you will soon be concentrating on other things that you had forgotten you don’t have-and feel worse! If you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose…But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life.”       -Andy Andrews


A few months I noticed that one of my friends was always wearing a strange device on his wrist.  I was curious about the interesting non-fashionable item that adorned him in a manner that was not congruent with his usual high fashion sense.  So I asked as politely and directly and I could, 


"What is that thing!?"  


His response was one word, one that really made absolutely zero sense and confounded more than enlightened - "UP!"  And he walked away….. 
So I turned to my other less sensitive friend for answers - Google.  Google whirled and responded with a device that tracks all kinds of stuff for you.  Up is apparently a personal Big Brother for your habits and exercise and life skills.  I was intrigued.  So after a little research I purchased a competing product and placed the equally unflattering device on my wrist.  Holy cow - I sleep a whole lot less than I ever thought I did!  I eat a ton of food and I am somewhat less than sedentary, I think a slug is significantly more athletic than I thought I was…. And I discovered something that did not make my day - I was classified as obese….. This can be defined as grossly overweight or simply put FAT!  


Oh my!


So I started to focus my energies on this ever increasing spare tire I had been carrying for the better part of two decades and started paying attention to the little device on my wrist.  I walk with it - run with it - officiate with it - sleep with and occasionally even charge it…. And this created a mountain of data.  From that data I started making changes.  I work on my sleep more than I used to.  I have cut my food intake to accommodate for weight loss.  I have changed my activity to be active for at least 30 minutes a day…. and the results are staggering.  In less than 60 days my whole wardrobe is needing a makeover.  I just bought pants that were four inches smaller in the waist than I wore on June 1st!  


So then I start thinking about my spiritual life.  Do I need a little personal Big Brother to evaluate where I am with God?  What would it tell me?  Am I where I should be?  Could I do better?  What would be so different in 30, 60 or 90 days if I changed my focus?  I don't know but I'm gonna find out, wanna join me?  






Here is a funny video from the author I quoted up front - enjoy :)  













©2013 KBE Creative

An Update from Desmond Goonesekera, Pastor of Evangelism

This picture was taken at the clergy spouse conference in Kadalana, Moratuwa which was held from August 21 - 23rd. The retreat was called "God's Little Acre."  
It was well organized, well received and they were very grateful for the opportunity to meet as a group.  They call themselves The Mary & Martha guild.  
A Methodist lay worker did one session on "Balancing family life" and I did the two main sessions on "The calling of a clergy spouse" and "How to build  lasting relationships."  We had a panel discussion and it was very productive with many participating with very interesting questions.  This is a first in the history of the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka.  
On Sunday Aug. 25 th, I was back at St. James Egodauyana at the request of the Rector.  It was a very uplifting worship experience.  If you just put hand out you could have touched Jesus who was walking amidst the congregation during worship time.  It was so simple yet so profound and powerful.  All glory to God!
Right now Ewena and I are taking a break.  Ewena developed a cough and we have been to the doctor twice already.  They say it's a bacterial infection due to dust.  It's still lingering and we are very concerned.  Please pray for God's healing hand upon us both.  We luv u and miss u.
God Bless!
Desmond & Ewena ​

On Monday night the Texans played San Diego,
and if you recall they didn’t do so well in the first half. Down 21-7, the
commentators couldn’t stop pontificating about how good Philip Rivers was
looking, that this could be San Diego’s year, an elite quarterback who finally
has all the right players around him. At the same time they were jumping off
the Texans’ bandwagon as fast as they could. Matt Schaub, ordinary not elite,
not enough offensive weapons, too predictable, what happened to the defense, on
paper they look good but in reality the defense doesn’t know how to stop elite
quarterbacks. Coupled with how tired I was, I went to bed thinking how nice it
would be to pull out a win in the second half, after all, we do have one of the
best defensive coordinators in the league. 
 Much to my enjoyment I woke up on Tuesday to
see that the Texans had won. God decided to use this to teach me a valuable
lesson. Monday night’s game is a lot like COTHA 2.0 or when Moses sent 12 spies
into the land of Canaan to see what God was giving them. Two spies, Joshua and
Caleb, came back and reported the land was good, flowing with milk and honey
and everything they would need to settle down and make a home for themselves.
Unfortunately, ten spies returned and all they focused on were the people
already living in Canaan, they were like giants and their cities were well
fortified. Just like one bad half for the Texans does not ruin a season, so too
did giants and fortified cities not ruin God’s sovereign plans.
 Here at COTHA, we are waiting for the second
half of our game to begin. We are standing on the banks of the Jordan, and
despite a raging river, fortified cities, and men who look like giants, God has
given us an incredible task. Be a Biblically functioning church in Katy that
violates the status quo with Biblical truth and connects the disconnected. Just
like the Israelites and the Texans who had to make necessary changes to be victorious,
so too do we as a church need to embrace the necessary changes to move forward.
 Sunday school is now COTHA U, the youth are
now called students, the youth area is now the HUB, the Kids of the King
theater is now the Playhouse, the nursery is now the LiL’ kids Crossing, Faith
quest is now City Center, and Spirit Quest is now Route 56. Names like, the
HUB, Grand Central, City Centre, DG’s, COTHA Kids, and COTHA Curriculum are now
part of our vernacular. Service times are changing, job descriptions are
changing, policies and procedures are changing. The only thing that isn’t
changing is God and our resolve to follow Him.
 Join me this Sunday, September 15, at 9 a.m.,
in your favorite sports jersey for our Homecoming, the day we as a church
decide to cross our Jordan River into our promise land.