Written by *We started a new series today called DIRTY JOBS
*My goal for this series is not to give more information. My goal is to inspire everyone @ Radiant Life to get involved in multiple areas of service. The WIN would be for people to say “Yeah, I would love to try serving in that area around our church.” That’s exactly what happened today.
*We will have more volunteers for Movies in the Park than ever before.
*Last week, we distributed close to 8000 postcard fliers advertising Movies in the Park through 7 local elementary schools.
*Where were lots of our regular Radiant Lifers today?
*Josh, Brittany and Ally started leading worship with a handful of people @ 10am…Awkward!
*We had several guests today — win
*Our worship team went “unplugged” today and still did a great job
*Mark, our Mission Liaison from the Next Level Team, brought another guest from the community who represented the Solomon House to share with us. Our church was able to send this local ministry $500 to help support the work they are doing to help those on the fringe of our community with food, health care and furniture.
*Our Radiant Life basketball team made it through the first round of the tournament before their season ended today.
*Got to watch some of the NBA games today.
*I took Cole and Noah to Abernathy Park to play bball with Michael Davenport, Aaron Nichols, Koby, David and Davon Woodard, Ron Staskel, myself and a few bystanders. I felt pretty good about my play, being the old guy on the court.
*We got to meet 20+ kids who were hanging out at the park. Several of them remembered the Egg Hunt we did in the park a few weeks ago. They also had been to one of our Movies in the Park too.
*The only way to make some substantial progress, for the sake of Jesus, in that community is to be a consistent visible presence. That’s the first step. We also need to pray for a move of the Holy Spirit.
*Called and talked to my dad today. My mom had surgery on Friday. She is home and recovering well.
*I’ve got 2 papers to write this week for school.
*Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. What to do? What to do?
Posts in category Sunday Mind Dump
Sunday Mind Dump (05.01.11)
Sunday Mind Dump (3.20.11)
Today rocked!!! I was so excited to see so many people at church today. The more people you and I get to church, the better I will preach. Just saying.
I took an opportunity, before I launched into the sermon, to coach our church a bit. I painted a picture of our mission and our strategy for reaching the people of Huntersville. I invited everyone to get in the game. Everyone can contribute something (referring to Brandon Knight)
I tried adding a visual today (four brown boxes made to create a Cross) to help us grasp some more critical aspects of FORGIVENESS. I think it proved effective. At the end of the sermon, people lined up to stick their “Name” and “pain” on to the make-shift cross.
I really hope today was a break-through for lots of people who want to experience a Prison Break from bitterness, anger and the need to get revenge.
Many of you have been asking about when we will update the iTunes podcast with the first three sermons in this Prison Break series. I hope we get it up by tomorrow.
I love Spring. This weekend’s weather was superb. After church I took my kids (and some neighborhood kids…felt like a bus driver) to the Alexander Middle School track. We ran and had races. Lots of fun for all of us.
Jenny spent Sunday afternoon at a wedding shower for a couple that I am officiating their wedding at the end of May.
After my ‘track time’ with the kiddos, Today, I took them to watch and cheer on the Radiant Life Basketball game (which we do most Sundays). Today’s game (@ the Lake Norman YMCA) was a blow out. I still enjoy watching the team play. It looks like they are having fun.
I felt a lot of great energy at church today. We had tons of guests show up today and I think they felt welcomed and at home among friends.
Radiant Lifers continue to be the friendliest and most engaging people I know. You all make our guests feel so welcomed and at ease. That’s so important because people come to church with all sorts of assumptions and baggage. You’re confident-friendliness and sensitive-compassion helps to break down barriers and soften hearts.
The worship team was phenomenal. They continue to keep things fresh and creative. I love the new songs they recently introduced. Including THIS song…
and this
and this too
Sunday Mind Dump 3.13.11
Boo-Yah!!! Daylight Savings Time. Not too sure what we’re saving by losing an hour, but I love this time of year. I wish it was this way all year long. The only challenge for us is getting our kids convinced that it really is bed-time when the sun is still out.
The time change always jacks-up people on Sunday. Some people need any excuse not to be at church. Why don’t we change our clocks on Friday @, say, lunch? Just saying.
Once I got to church, This morning, it was so good to see all our Radiant Life peeps. It was great catching up with Debbie P, Henry T, and Brian as they were getting their areas ready for church. Debbie puts so much love and care into the Cafe area. She makes our church experience so warm and inviting.
I felt off today. I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I wasn’t on my “A” game. I’m grateful it’s not all up to me. If God can use a jackass, He can choose to use me even when I don’t feel up to par. I would love to hear what this series is stirring up in you.
The series we are in “Prison Break” is kind of heavy. I really try to do my best to make it engaging for everyone. Today I used a couple illustrations I observed from my kids. They seem to consistently give me sermon illustrations. They also remind me that God is near. Another thing my kids do for me (probably designed by God) is they keep me humble.
It’s evident that this series is tapping into some unresolved issues in people’s hearts. Sometimes it takes bringing those issues to the surface, naming the issues and the hurt and talking with others about how it feels. Revealing your feelings is the beginning of healing.
We looked @ the story of the Unforgiving Debtor in Matthew 18
Today I said “If there’s NOT forgiveness of sins available to you by faith through Jesus, then by all means GET EVEN with everybody who wrongs you.. If you get hurt, do your best to hurt them back so that they will never hurt you again. But (and that’s a big but) If it is true that God paid a debt that He did not owe because I owed a debt that I could not pay then there is NO LIMIT to the Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness we get to offer those who offend us.”
The Gospel is Ridiculous, isn’t it!
Forgiveness is a one-player game. Reconciliation takes two people and is contingent on repentance and other factors.
I think I caught everyone off guard today when, in the middle of the sermon, I pulled out some paper Prison Break Keys I had made. I walked up and stood in front of individuals (starting with Ron, who had a ‘say what’ look in his eyes) and offered a key to forgiveness. I looked each person in the eyes, as a representative of God, and told them they were completely forgiven. I gave them some extra keys to offer the same freedom to those around them…immediately. I hope the illustration helped.
Josh and the worship team continue to keep things fresh. I love the new songs they introduce each month. I find myself singing those songs throughout the week and they encourage, give hope and remind me of God’s goodness. Be sure and show some appreciation to all of them: Josh, Brittney, chris, Stacy, Eden, Caleb, Thomas, at, Ally, Marshall and Stephen
Also we have the best tech-peeps around. Week after week, they amaze me. Show some love to: Mike, Brian, Tom, Randy and Marshall. You guys rock!!! Thank you.
I hear John Aviles is coming home from Japan today. He’s been stationed about 40 miles from the earthquake for the last year and he survived. I’ve been able to talk with him over facebook. Continue to pray for the people and the responders as they sort through this tragedy.
Thankful for a great church, a great family, great people to serve with and a great place to do it. God is great!
