Yesterday 2 things happened that initiated some serious joy in my heart this morning.
1) Yesterday we handed out a list of ministries that we at WJACC are involved in. We invited everyone to prayerfully consider what areas of ministry they would like to be involved in. At the end of the service we offered a time where individuals could place these forms they filled out on the altar as an act of worship. The response was awesome!
Today we have been pouring through the sheets and I am pumped about what God may be doing next. Please pray for us as leaders that we attempt to help people plug into where they may be used to build the Kingdom of God.
2)The second thing that happened...well...you can read about it on Allison's blog here...http://www.sidestreet-allison.blogspot.com/
Read the event of a lifetime...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Monday morning thoughts
We saw God do some cool things yesterday in the worship service. At first we were curious how it was all going to work out. Our music coordinator was sick, our coordinator of technology was out of town. Things were not going as planned before the service. However, as He is in the custom of doing, God showed up in a very real way.
People were submitting to God and what He wanted to do in their lives. Even though things didn't go exactly as WE planned everything went just as GOD planned and it was good.
Next Sunday we are attempting something that I personally have never tried. Logan and I are going to tag team the message next week. That's right...two preachers...one message...one Jesus. It should be very cool. We'll see what God does next Sunday. I'm pumped to think of the possibilities.
People were submitting to God and what He wanted to do in their lives. Even though things didn't go exactly as WE planned everything went just as GOD planned and it was good.
Next Sunday we are attempting something that I personally have never tried. Logan and I are going to tag team the message next week. That's right...two preachers...one message...one Jesus. It should be very cool. We'll see what God does next Sunday. I'm pumped to think of the possibilities.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Children of the World
I just wanted to remind everyone that we are not having dinner or service tonight (Wed.) at WJACC. However, we are hosting the children's choir "Children of the World" tomorrow night at 7pm. This is going to be a great evening for everyone. We will be serving dinner at 6pm so everone come out and enjoy this exciting performance.
Monday, January 14, 2008
re-post
Here is a post I actually wrote in December but left in draft form and never published. Sorry about the delay but here it is...
The past is a funny thing. It is a beast that can be tamed but when let loose to run wild can be a crippling force in our lives.
Case in point...a few years ago my Granny passed away on Christmas day. She had been sick for quite a while. She was in her 90's. Her death did not catch any of us by surprise but it was still very difficult when it happened. We had a beautiful funeral service for her and celebrated her life with friends and family. However, the next year the thought was how will we celebrate Christmas knowing this is the day the enemy of death had the chance to show its face again. We made the decision that yesterday's sadness will not stop today's celebration. Afterall, this is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Without Jesus my granny's life would have been a waste. However, she knew Jesus. Jesus knew her and she lived a full and purposeful life. Sometimes we just need to make up our minds and ask ourselves how long are we going to allow something in the past to impede the present or the future.
I can't change the past. The future isn't here yet. Today is the only oppotunity I have to make any decisions.
The past is a funny thing. It is a beast that can be tamed but when let loose to run wild can be a crippling force in our lives.
Case in point...a few years ago my Granny passed away on Christmas day. She had been sick for quite a while. She was in her 90's. Her death did not catch any of us by surprise but it was still very difficult when it happened. We had a beautiful funeral service for her and celebrated her life with friends and family. However, the next year the thought was how will we celebrate Christmas knowing this is the day the enemy of death had the chance to show its face again. We made the decision that yesterday's sadness will not stop today's celebration. Afterall, this is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Without Jesus my granny's life would have been a waste. However, she knew Jesus. Jesus knew her and she lived a full and purposeful life. Sometimes we just need to make up our minds and ask ourselves how long are we going to allow something in the past to impede the present or the future.
I can't change the past. The future isn't here yet. Today is the only oppotunity I have to make any decisions.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The Kingdom
It's all about THE Kingdom!!!! Tuesday I had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of one of my mentors/disciplers. This is one guy who has always been so dead on with his teaching. It's not just me either. Others make statements all the time about this man and use terms like "forward-thinking", "progressive", "real", "with it", "permission giving". Taking all of this into consideration what did he remind me of yesterday?...it's all about THE Kingdom!!!!
The more we focus on the Kingdom of God the smaller a lot of our worries and concerns seem to be. When we begin to love the lost more than our personal preferences we are better able to see God more clearly. Who is it that God is putting in your path today that does not know Him? Let's be intentional about the Kingdom and see what God is doing.
The more we focus on the Kingdom of God the smaller a lot of our worries and concerns seem to be. When we begin to love the lost more than our personal preferences we are better able to see God more clearly. Who is it that God is putting in your path today that does not know Him? Let's be intentional about the Kingdom and see what God is doing.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Britney Spears?
Seriously???!!!! The other night the lead story on the news was the breakdown of Britney Spears. We saw video of her being placed in an ambulance. We received a step by step breakdown of how she got to this point. We heard how her family is reacting to this situation. We also heard how this will effect her children. If I had paid attention I would have learned more about Britney Spears' mental health than I could ever use to help improve my life over the next million years or so.
This was the lead story. Surely there wasn't anything going on in the world this week. Surely nothing of any significance was happening in our nation or world.
I did hear something about a bunch of people getting all dressed up and debating different ideas concerning the future of our country. Someone said something about donkeys and elephants. I think they were in New Hampshire maybe? But that couldn't be real important compared to a self-destructing pop star. Could it?
This was the lead story. Surely there wasn't anything going on in the world this week. Surely nothing of any significance was happening in our nation or world.
I did hear something about a bunch of people getting all dressed up and debating different ideas concerning the future of our country. Someone said something about donkeys and elephants. I think they were in New Hampshire maybe? But that couldn't be real important compared to a self-destructing pop star. Could it?
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Holidays and 2008
In the past 2 weeks we have celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We've had Christmas parties. We've opened gifts. We flew to Iowa. We participated in the wedding of two friends. We worshiped Sunday morning with friends we haven't seen for a while. We had two baby dedications. One of the babies stuck his pacifier in my mouth as I was praying. We celebrated New Year's. Bemoaned the fact that West Virginia is not in the championship game. We flew back to Florida...celebrating the warmth the closer we got. Finally we are home and I am back in the office.
Here are some of my goals for 2008...
Here are some of my goals for 2008...
- Continuing to improve as a blogger. This is still all fairly new to me but I'm excited to think of the possibilities here.
- Study more of the Holy Spirit. It dawned on me recently how little we talk about the Holy Spirit despite the fact that the HS is a powerful force that will not be stopped.
- Read at least one book in each of the following areas. Marriage/relationships. Parenting. Leadership. Discipleship. Evangelism. Church health/growth. Personal growth. Business. Preaching.
- Lose the weight I promised my wife I would lose if we moved to Florida.
- Work on my relationship with Allison.
- Work on my relationship with Natalie.
- Write more letters.
I know a lot of people make resolutions this time each year but these are some personal goals that I have set for myself. After all, without goals then what am I reaching for?
I pray that above all else we will see God a little more clearly in 2008!
Christmas Gold
Christmas Gold
Psalm 45:13All glorious is the princess within her chamber ; her gown is interwoven with gold.
Matthew 2:11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Gold is the color of royalty. In a split second gold can make the common into something regal…something to be noticed and appreciated. The moment we see the color gold we recognize a certain value or worth. Gold will not be ignored. It stands on its own and tells the world, “I am valuable.”
When God created the world He looked at what He had done and called it good. Through man’s rebellion the dark stain of sin made creation somewhat plain and ordinary at best. God refused to leave what He had called good to be left helpless. He sent His son Jesus to provide the sacrificial blood that would make His loved ones royalty.
It was not a foolish man who brought the baby Jesus a gift of gold. It was a wise man who by his gift recognized a baby born to an unwed mother as king.
Many people search for treasures of gold and never find them. This Christmas let the color gold remind you of the treasure of life that is found in our savior Jesus Christ.
Psalm 45:13All glorious is the princess within her chamber ; her gown is interwoven with gold.
Matthew 2:11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Gold is the color of royalty. In a split second gold can make the common into something regal…something to be noticed and appreciated. The moment we see the color gold we recognize a certain value or worth. Gold will not be ignored. It stands on its own and tells the world, “I am valuable.”
When God created the world He looked at what He had done and called it good. Through man’s rebellion the dark stain of sin made creation somewhat plain and ordinary at best. God refused to leave what He had called good to be left helpless. He sent His son Jesus to provide the sacrificial blood that would make His loved ones royalty.
It was not a foolish man who brought the baby Jesus a gift of gold. It was a wise man who by his gift recognized a baby born to an unwed mother as king.
Many people search for treasures of gold and never find them. This Christmas let the color gold remind you of the treasure of life that is found in our savior Jesus Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)