Thankful

I just finished looking back at some of my posts from this time last year. I was struck by a couple of things.

First, as I read them I could hear myself saying those words and I could literally feel the excitement. That was an amazing time for Midtowne Church.

The other things I noticed was how focused I was on even the "small" things that were happening at that time. Things like a small traffic jam one Sunday morning as people were showing up for one of our preview services. And the excitement over stage lights being hung in the warehouse.

So here we are today, a year later and I am feeling a bit nostalgic as I look back. I know that seems weird since it has only been a year but so much has happened in a short period of time. I guess what has really hit me is that there is so much to be thankful for this year. I know a lot of us say that every year but this year it is different for me. A new church, a new "family", a new "job", a new staff, a new perspective on church and life in general, a new tire cover for my Jeep (sorry I got off a little...).

So What? It is important that we stop and truly give thanks this year so that we don't forget. Don't forget what God has done and what He is doing. Don't forget the people who have made these things possible. Don't forget the changes that He has brought in the lives of so many people. Don't forget that there is more to come, that there are still a ton of people out there who need to know about His love. Don't forget the little things.

Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you (even though I don't know who is reading this and who is not and even though I may not even really know you at all, I am thankful that you have the opportunity to getin on God's love.).

Two Are Better Than One

To borrow a line from Ecclesiastes 4:9 and apply it differently (no I am not teaching any heresy here), two services were way better than one this past Sunday.

Once again I have to confess my lack of faith. I really did not expect to see THAT many people in the 9am service. But when they all settled in my concern was that no one would come at 10:30. WRONG! The second service was bigger than the first! What an amazing day.

I am so proud of all our volunteers and the hard work they put in getting ready and then serving Sunday. I am so proud of our staff for all the hours and work they put in to getting ready for Sunday. I am so proud of everyone who attended and were a part of a record attendance. It's all about people. While it's true that numbers represent people, keep in mind that we do what we do for people not for numbers.

I feel like we just launched again. Like it's January 6, 2008, when we launched Midtowne Church. That's what it seems like we are doing by adding this service. The excitement, momentum, and presence of God is just overwhelming. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next.

So What? Get in. Jump on. Get involved in all that God is doing here. We are positioned to impact our world in an even bigger way now and we need your help. This is not about a single person or program. It is all about reaching more people with God's love so they can get in on His Best for their life. Come check us out this Sunday at 9 or 10:30. If you don't like it, that's cool. Just find somewhere to plug in and serve. That's what it's all about. Growing and serving.

Here We Go

This coming Sunday, November 16, 2008, will be the first Sunday that Midtowne Church has two Sunday morning Worship Services. As I have been preparing for this monumental event, I came across a remarkable story in Mark 14:12-16.

Here is the Doug Pruitt Paraphrase.

The disciples decided it would be a good idea to celebrate the Passover meal with Jesus and asked Him where he wanted to do it. He told them to go into town and there would be a guy with a water pitcher who would lead them to a room that would already be prepared for them. When the two disciples went to town, they found everything exactly like Jesus told them it would be. (Imagine that!?)

When I read this story in my time alone with God last week, God gave me an amazing reassurance. As we began praying through the idea of starting a second service, our one desire was to do what God wanted us to do. The more we prayed the more obvious it became that this is the time of day and the time of year to start this exciting new chapter in our church. The more steps we have taken to see this change take place the more we have seen God show up. From the number of volunteers who have stepped up to serve to all of the logistical things that have fallen into place, it just could not be more obvious that this is it.

So what? As you begin to pray for and seek God's plan for your life, know that He has already mapped it out for you. All we have to do is get moving. If you have been trying to figure out what God has for you, it could be that you already know the what and are just waiting on the how. Start taking steps toward Him and doing what you already know to do and don't be surprised to find that He has already prepared the way for you. That's when you really get in on God's Best.

The Big Mo

In his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell describes the "Law of the Big Mo." He describes how it is important to not only create momentum in a group or organization, but also keep it going in order to maximize its impact.

We are seeing the beginning of a huge wave of momentum right now. The excitement of starting a second Sunday morning service is welling up. The huge crowd this past week and the incredible response to the challenge to grow spiritually only increased the great swell that is coming. I have the sense that a major spiritual wave is about to break on us and I am getting ready.

Or staff has been working hard the past few weeks getting things in place for the big change. Our volunteers have stepped up in a big way. More and more people are committing to serve. And in the midst of it all, people are committing to Christ.

Yep, we will see at least two people baptized this coming Sunday (as I write this on Tuesday there is still follow up going on with others who have asked Jesus into their heart)! That's what is so exciting about it all. It's not about adding another service or seeing more bodies in a room. It's all about more and more people responding to God's love. That has always been the focus of Midtowne and it will always be.

So what? You and I have a choice when the Big Mo comes along. We can watch it or ride it. If we stand still it will pass us by and we will miss out on something amazing. If we choose to ride it, we will not only experience the thrill of all that God is doing, but we can help perpetuate it and see how far it goes.

I'm in. Are you?