Why Not Us?

I just want everyone to know that I think I got all the whipped cream out of my hair and ears. I can imagine people who don't go to our church saying, "What is he talking about? What kind of church is this?" Hope that was fun for everyone. For our next goal I know now to specifically say what we're going to do...haha.
I'm having a great time doing ministry with you guys and with what God is doing through us! So with all my excitement I am always looking around at other churches and seeing what God is doing in other places with other Christians and it's pretty exciting. It's great to see how much God is moving all over the world and how we should be rooting for all God's churches to have huge impacts. And so when I see some churches that are being used by God and are absolutely exploding with growth, it brings me to a thought--why not us? I'm not going to say that the way to define a successful ministry for God is by the numbers. But I do know that the mission we've been called on is bigger than ourselves. And the mission is to praise God in everything we do and to reach as many people as possible. So we need to be thinking BIG! That's where I am right now. My mind is through the roof on all the possibilities that God can do through us. He is putting ideas in me that I pray about daily and I ask you guys to pray for it too. Pray for me as your pastor to faithfully follow and for you to understand where you are a part of this and where everyone fits in. We definitely need to be praying for each other.
God is starting something here that is going to be huge. I really believe that. I just want us all to be ready so that we can run with it. I think it's only going to be a short while before we start doubling and tripling in size and then who knows how far from there. Why not us? God is the one who ultimately does the saving and the changing of lives, but he chooses to work through you and I.
So my prayer is that everyone will understand from 2 Cor. 5:17 that when we have Christ we are a new creation. Let's live that way. We are called to a very important, exciting, and life-changing mission to lead people to Jesus and to be fully devoted to Him. So I'm asking you to take on this bold mission with me and pray for each of us to be ready for what God is going to do here. Why not us?

good times!

I'm not talking about the old show. No I mean that it's good times around here at the church. I don't know any other way to say it. I've told some of ya'll that when you see me kind of swaying back and forth to some song (maybe mighty to save, which is one of my favorites), that that means that I am really excited. I'm pretty cheesy and never been one to show a lot of emotion. However, I'm really pumped to be a part of this ministry. Remember everyone out there that we set our goal next week if we have over 50 people! It's been really great to see us do that and just how I can see us getting a lot of momentum and so many people getting involved. There are some who have gotten saved, baptized, and some feeling called into the ministry. That's what it's all about. Let's get some more people here and improve the chances for more and more people to get saved and feel called into ministry. So I want to encourage you guys to invite people and actually bring at least one person (or as many as you can)with you this Sunday. Then after this Sunday you guys can do to me whatever, because of us meeting our goal (*Remember that I would give my life for you all). Then we're going to shoot for an even bigger number. I knew we would hit this number this year, I just didn't know it would happen so early in the year. So our new number might be hit by next year, but I think we can hit it by summer. Let's shoot high!
I was also thinking about our study through Ecclesiastes and had a thought. I am in a high point in my life now, because of what God is doing in my life and the church. I know that our lives are not just high points through out though. There are times when things happen. I want to encourage you to live your life fully to God. That's the choice that we have. If you want to live this world all on your own, then you will have tough times just like everyone else. But on top of that you'll be miserable trying to find happiness and purpose in everything that Solomon tried. And you'll come up with the same answer: everything is meaningless. So don't try and jump from one high to the next. But live every moment fully devoted to Jesus and your life will be dramatically changed for the better.