The Bridge

06/16/2016

Some years ago, Dr. Karl Menninger, noted doctor and psychologist, was seeking the cause of many of his patients' ills. One day he called in his clinical staff and proceeded to unfold a plan for developing, in his clinic, an atmosphere of creative love. All patients were to be given large quantities of love; no unloving attitudes were to be displayed in the presence of the patients, and all nurses and doctors were to go about their work in and out of the various rooms with a loving attitude. At the end of six months, the time spent by patients in the institution was cut in half.

The common underlying value at the Bridge is: God is Love. When we give and receive love, we are in God. This Sunday, we will reflect on God as Love and look at some particular ways each of us individually can increase God/Love in our lives this Summer.

And, don't forget, this is our last Sunday until September 11th as we look for a new space on the east side. So, see you this Sunday at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street!

06/13/2016

Summer Update from The Bridge

The Bridge Planning Team met and has decided that we need to change our location from the Brewery District to a more definable neighborhood on the east side of Columbus. We will take the months of July and August to look for a new place and therefore we will not be gathering on Sunday mornings until our new home is ready, Sunday, September 11th.

Consequently, our last Sunday until then is this Sunday, June 19th! We hope you can make it before the Summer break. We are planning to gather for a cook-out in July and possibly August to keep in touch and stay updated on our progress.

It is an exciting time as we look to grow from our strong core to an ever-expanding circle!

Hope to see you this Sunday!

06/10/2016

Do you respond or react when things don't go as planned? Anger, fear, frustration, confusion, acceptance with flexibility?

This past week very little went as planned at the Bridge as many of you know! :)

However, it just gave us more anticipation and excitement for this Sunday as we will discuss what happens when things don't go as planned.

We will be there!!

See you then at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street.

06/04/2016

During WWII General McArthur asked an engineer how long it would take to build a bridge across a certain river. "About three days." The engineer was told to go ahead and draw up the plans.

Three days later McArthur asked for the plans. The engineer seemed surprised. "Oh, the bridge is ready. You can cross it now. If you want plans, you'll have to wait a little longer, we haven't finished those yet."

Join us this Sunday, June 5th as we reflect on making plans, having a plan and what happens when things don't go as planned.

See you then at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street!

06/01/2016

Hey Bridge community,

This June, we get to play a part in the fight against poverty by providing shoes for people around the world.

Every 10 Facebook check-ins at The Bridge will provide 1 pair of shoes for someone in need through Soles4Souls.

Soles4Souls is committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. Their goal is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2050. Their shoes are distributed in places like the US, Honduras, Haiti, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

To learn more about Soles4Souls, check out their site at: https://soles4souls.org

When you check in on Facebook, make sure to add to your posts. It’s a great way to remind your friends of why you’re checking in!

Thanks for being involved with our outreach efforts. Remember, your Facebook check-ins not only provide shoes for people in need, they also gently invite your friends to participate in our church community.

All the best,

Cary

Our Impact Get Involved About Us Give Shoes Donate Our Impact Get Involved Give Shoes Give Money Travel Join The Conversation About Us Store Resources News Blog FAQ Financials Contact Us

05/26/2016

Sometime ago in the "Peanuts" comic strip as Lucy, Linus, and Charlie Brown looked up to the sky, Lucy said, "You can see lots of things in the clouds." Then turning to her friends, she asked "What do you see, Linus?"

"Well," he said, "those clouds up there look to me like the map of Belize, the little nation in the Caribbean." Glancing in a different direction, "That cloud looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor. And that cloud formation over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Steven, from the New Testament."

"Uh huh," gasped Lucy, "That's good."

"And, what do you see Charlie Brown?" Clearing his throat, Charlie timidly replies, "Oh, I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsie, but I've changed my mind."

Hope you see lots of wonderful things this holiday weekend!

Remember, we are NOT gathering this Sunday.

We will see you the next Sunday - June 5th at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street in the Brewery District!

05/19/2016

A few years ago in the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, a float stalled. Frustrations increased quickly because other floats couldn't move, and the event was televised around the world. Mechanics quickly descended upon the stalled float, searching all over for the problem. Finally, someone had the presence of mind to check on the fuel level of the vehicle. It was empty, out of gas. This became even more embarrassing when the crowd realized that the float’s sponsor was one of the major oil companies.

What fuel is to a car, God's Spirit is to all of us. God energizes us to stay the course; motivates us in spite of obstacles; keeps us going when the road gets tough. God is our spiritual fuel.

Join us this Sunday at 10 am and fill up your tank! See you then.

05/13/2016

The shark and the whale were swimming in the sea when the shark swam up to the whale to engage in conversation. As they swam along, the shark said to the whale, “You are so much older than I, and wiser too. Could you tell me where the ocean is?” The whale responded, “The ocean is what you are in now.” The shark would not believe it. “Come on, tell me where the ocean is so I may find it!” The whale repeated, “The ocean is here, now; you are in it.” Unbelieving, the shark swam away searching for the ocean.

There's no need to look for God somewhere because the Spirit of God is here in the now of your life, dwelling within you, within me, within this community.

This Sunday we will consider why and how sometimes we are like sharks and other times like whales. See you at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street!

05/06/2016

Top Ten things my mother taught me........

1. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

2. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why."

3. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

4. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

5. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

6. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

7. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

8. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

9. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

10. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

We love our mothers at the Bridge! They are certainly a bridge of God's love, and not just to their children, but to all of us.

See you this Mother's Day, May 8th at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street!

04/28/2016

When Dante knocked at the door of the Franciscan monastery at Lunigiana he was asked, "What do you want?" He replied, "Peace!"

Do you have peace......peace of mind? What is preventing you from being at peace - anxiety, worry, anger, jealousy......?

This Sunday we will discover how to be at peace even in the midst of conflict or some negative emotion. You will find yourself smiling more. :)

See you this Sunday, May 1st, at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street!

04/26/2016

Hey there Bridge community,

This May, in celebration of mothers all over the world, the Bridge will provide food for mothers and their new babies in need!

Every 5 Facebook check-ins at the Bridge will provide 1 day of food for a mother and her new baby through Compassion International.

Compassion International is the world’s leading authority in holistic child development through sponsorship. Through their ‘Child Survival Program’, Compassion was able to help 30,659 mothers and babies so far. The program is run in places like Haiti, El Salvador, Kenya, and Indonesia - where mothers and babies need the most help.

The first priority in promoting effective child development is to ensure that children survive the early years when they are most vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. All of their child development programs provide opportunities that encourage healthy development in four areas — spiritual, physical, social and economic.

To learn more about Compassion International, check out their site at:
http://www.compassion.com

When you check in on Facebook, make sure to add to your posts. It’s a great way to remind your friends of why you’re checking in!

Thanks for being involved with our outreach efforts. Remember, your Facebook check-ins not only provide food for mothers and their babies, they also gently invite your friends to be a part of what we're doing at the Bridge.

Thanks!

Cary

P.S. If this is the first time you’ve heard of our Facebook check-in program, here's how it works... we make a donation to a non-profit cause every time our community checks in on Facebook. It’s a great way to tell your friends about the Bridge and do some good in the process. If you need some help checking in on Facebook, just ask any of us and we'll help you figure it out.

Sponsor a child today through Compassion's Christian child sponsorship ministry. Search for a child by birthday, age, gender, country, special needs and more. View photos of children who are waiting for a sponsor. Learn how to sponsor a child in need.

04/21/2016

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.” Noelle - age 7.

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Timmy - age 6.

At the Bridge, we are all about love - no judgement, no fear, no attitude, just you.....the way you are.

The essence of who you are is Love - God. It's the only "you" that's eternal.

Come and discover your essence this Sunday at 10 am at 95 Liberty Street in the Brewery District.

See you then!