There are too many things for which I am thankful to even begin to try to list them.. so.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Love that turkey and dressing... bring it!
Don't miss your $19.99 piece of history.... I remember a "Church Anniversary" commemorative plate like this floating around the white elephant Christmas parties at a former church. Every year it would get re-gifted. Ummmm I'm thinking our logo would look good on china.... one man's trash is another man's treasure.... "Change has come"
*Record attendance. Second only to Easter. Talk about energy!
*We baptized SIXTEEN! It was awesome. Life-change with and exclamation point! I'll be posting the other photos but here are a couple that tell a beautiful story.
*Life is messy. I love being in a church that works to defend grace. Nowhere near perfect... messy in fact, clumsy at best, but earnest in the effort to extend the grace God has so graciously poured out on us.
*The economy is in the crapper. I love being in a church that in the face of economic uncertainty extends love through giving. Where the focus of consumerism is fading and a heart for others is growing. Many in our church this year will spend less on Santa gifts and more on "the least of these". We will work to help these people give anonymously so that their reward will be in heaven and not short lived recognition by man.
*One-Hour. Jake and the One-Hour team made a trip to LifeChurch.tv this weekend. I'll let them tell you the whole story but... they got the back-room tour, met Craig, shook his hand, and rode Cloud NINE all the way back to Fayetteville. Jake texted me the report... they had FIFTY-THREE show up for One-Hour tonight! Let me pause to let my eyes quit leaking... God is good. He has big plans for this team of crazy college kids that think anything is possible with God on their side...
*Mark Beeson, Granger Community Church, recently addressed the election results. For those in a tail-spin over the fact that Obama won I would suggest you watch the message. Pasted below. Our hope is in God and His sovereign will. All is not lost unless you are placing your hope in the wrong things. The message is 21 minutes long but better time spent than watching Boston Legal.
* We are the church. I love being in a church that is for everyone. I was told that one of our high school juniors shared with a friend who was struggling.... KALEO... you are called by God. He has a plan for you. Young, old, and everywhere in between.. God has a place YOU can be ON MISSION! Kids, Teens, Parents, GrandParents, Singles, Red, Yellow, Black or White... we are the church. NOW, not in some distant future... we are the church now. God has called us together to be...
*Leaky eyes again... We will baptize 18 this Sunday. It will be an amazing day. I cannot wait to see what God does with week two of PRACTICAL ATHEIST in the lives of the BODers. See you there.
Maybe you have to be a church junky to find this funny... but this video cracks me up. A good reminder of just how important it is to be real. Gimmicks don't get it done. People are looking for real people.