As the Summertime is here, most churches go through a slow down process with all the people that go on vacation. But God has put it on my heart to not settle for the status quo this summer.
Insted He is saying just the opposite. I believe that if God's people are doing what He has called them to do, then no Church should have a drop off over the summer.
See, we are called to make disciples, which I believe means that even though we may not be in Church due to a vacation, we should still be inviting the unchurched.
Statistics show that 80% of people go to a church because they were personally invited. And 90% of those people will stay, even if you leave or are not there.
So I don't know about you, but I am going to be working my butt off this summer in inviting as many unchurched people as possible.
God has put it on my heart that even though I may take a little break from church on Sunday, there are still thousands and thousands of people that still need to hear the GREAT news of Jesus!!!
So how about you, will you join me this summer in helping as many unchurched people as possible hear the life changing message of Jesus?
Alright, I am back to blogging. I have spent the last couple of weeks getting ready for our Summer Camping trip. And I haven't spent that much time thinking about a blog.
I was able to spend last week with a bunch of students on our camping trip. Let me tell you, this had to be the most incredible trip yet!!!
I asked the students what the highlight of their trip was. They told me everything from the canoeing to hiking to the mud pit, the challange. All kinds of things that they took back from this trip.
But as I thought, what did I take back. Is a group of AMAZING students! Before this trip I talked to alot of students and parents who believed that they could not or would not be willing or able to participate in the events that we had planned for our trip.
I heard it all week. "I can't do that". And everytime I would hear that statement, I kept challanging and motivating them to remember, that "you can do ALL things through Jesus".
Let me say this. EVERY STUDENT DID EVERY EVENT WE HAD! GO GOD!!!!!
I think that the reason that students are so quick to give up is that fact that we have alot of adults always telling them, "you can't do that".
Let me tell you, there is nothing that makes me more angry than and adult telling a student or a child, they are not good enough!
I closed our trip out yesterday, by telling the students to never again let anyone tell them that they are not smart enough or physical enough or emotionally ready to do anything. I won't stand for that!
These students are amazing people and the smiles on their faces for some, I have never seen.
So what did I take from this trip?
I took back a group if students, that if people would will get behind them insted of pushing them away, they could change a community!
So let's stop telling them, "you can't do that" and start telling them they can do anything with Jesus!
It was a privilage and an honor to spend a week with some awesome students. I can't wait to do it again!
What another unforgetable service! Today was yet another example of how great God is. The new music blew me away. I can never say it enough. God has put together an incredible worship team at Lifebridge.
Today continued our One Prayer series with the message brought by, in my opinion, one of the great communicators of the Bible. Ed Young. Let me tell you, he brought the house down with a message entitled, "Make Us...Wake Up!"
He was right on target, by saying that there are far to many people that are sleeping in church. I pray that as you read this blog, you are reminded of something that was said today that will make a huge difference in your walk with Jesus. I know it will for me!
Today also being fathers day, was another opportunity for us as a church to honor them today. I think the two men selected really enjoyed their comfortable chairs as well as the fine pastries.
I had the opportunity today to perform a wedding at the Top of The Bay Club at the Aberdeen Proving grounds. And again God showed up in a huge way. What a true blessing it is to be apart of the start of a young couples marriage. "Go God"
I pray that as you listened to today's message, you were encouraged, upset, and challanged to not be the same Christ follower that you were when you came in. Remember God calls us to our uncomfortable zone! He doesn't want us to become comfortable in our service to Him.
So what do you say Church, it is time to "Wake Up"! and to do Great things for God!!!
I bet all of you 24 fans thought you were going to read something about the hit TV show, right!
Wrong! Just a reminder that tonight at 6:00PM we kick off our 24 hour prayer service here at lifeBridge. It is going to be an awesome time where hundreds of you have signed up to take part in this event.
We are in the second week of the One Prayer series. Along with hundres of thousands of people from all across the globe. So tonight we are praying for 24 hours straight. And I believe that God is going to show up in a huge way.
My prayer is that you have made it a highlight of your weekend to carve out some time to be a part of this historic event. It was once said, "that nothing of eternal importance happens apart from prayer".
I know that for alot of us our prayer lives, well, "suck"! So maybe we can use this event to jump start us to where God wants us to be in our dependance of Him.
This weekend is going to be, well, "Off the Chain" as this weekends speaker would say. Ed Young is going to be with us bringing a message entitled. "Make Us... Wake Up". To many of us are a sleep in Church and it is time that we Wake Up to what it is God is saying to us.
So make sure you are here this weekend. Oh, by the way, this weekend is Father's Day. We have some special things in store as well as some really awesome new music. So invite a dad, and I will see you on Sunday.
By the way, for those of you that actually read this blog. Drop me a comment and let me know how your prayer life is going.
When you hear the term, "Being more like Jesus" what comes to your mind?
I often think about things like this. I don't know why. I just do. I ask myself all the time. Self, are you being more like Jesus? And you know what. Alot of times I find that I really don't want to know the answer.
Now I know, as well as you that Jesus was alot of things. "He was perfect"! But, the one thing that keeps coming to my mind every time I ask my self that question is this...
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
And I realize that all I have to do at times to be more like Jesus is to serve. And you and I both know that our responsibility as a Christ follower is to be more like Jesus everyday. Which makes me ask the question, how are you being like Jesus? Do you serve? or do you wait to be served?
That is a tough question. But I am known for asking the tough ones. If Jesus himself came to serve, then how in the world as a Christ follower can we not do the same?
It blows my mind to know that there are people that go to their local church every week and do nothing! Then they wonder why their lives are in a mess.
I am so thankful that I have a Student Ministry Staff that love to serve. I had a conversation this past sunday with a mother who came to me with tears in her eyes. To say thank you for all that we have done for her son. I thought, ok, your welcome.
Then she said something that blew me away. She said that he has been going through a rough time in his life right now and she wanted to thank us for just accepting him into the student ministry. WOW! I was floored with humility.
See, that is what Jesus did with each and every Christ Follower. He accepted us. Just as we were. With no strings attached. And again that passage rang in my ears. To this young person, we were being like Jesus by simply serving in the Student ministry.
What a great privilage God has given us to be able to serve Him for what He has done for us. So what about you. How can you become more like Jesus today?
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May, 2008
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