ENGRAM!!!!

It's late summer again, and that can only mean one thing around here: ENGRAM!

Engram is the "scientific" word meaning "to remember" or "the physical trace of a memory". This event was started three years ago (or was it four?) by our youth pastor, and what was once a small gathering of about 15 people has now grown to over 100 this year. Several area churches are sending their youth to us (mostly other Vineyards) and we are very excited over what we expect to be a very fruitful time together.

Previous years have focused on outreach and serving people. Last year we gave away over 3,000 bottles of water and hundreds of other small tokens to let people know that God loves them. This year we have about 7,000 bottles of water and I am currently looking at $1500 in quarters that we are to give away! While we have spent a lot on giveaways, there is more that we hope to see happen this year.

The theme for this year comes from the Exodus event where God called Pharaoh to let his people go "so they may worship me." I think that it is more than possible for us as Christians to let other "things" take the place of God and distract us (and even put us in bondage) away from what's really important: our relationship with the One who made us. This year we are striving to break free of whatever has distracted us and pursue God. I believe that when people gather with open hearts ready to be changed by God, things happen...even supernatural things!

I personally am very excited to be here. As of two months ago I thought I wasn't going to be around for this huge event. But as of right now nothing is developing on the job front (I'm still waiting to hear on a confirmed flight to England) so I guess God has me here! I'm looking forward to this week (Okay, MOST aspects I'm looking forward to like outreaches, going to the beach, worship and teaching...but the lack of SLEEP we usually get is not really a happy time for me!) I think though that when all is said and done I'll feel like it was worth it.

I got a digital camera for a "graduation" gift! So now I can click and post pictures in a short amount of time. I'm hoping to snap a lot of pics this week, so watch for pics from Engram next week or so! Happy August everyone!