Monday Mind Dump

Well, I guess this is technically Tuesday but you get the point.

Let me start off by saying that Sunday was great! Praise and worship started off with a bang! Our new drummer was there! Everyone's energy level was up. There just seemed to be a really good momentum going on.

We to a look back and The Braided Believer and made a fresh commitment to becoming one.

We set a goal of breaking the 100 barrier by the end of November. And then we broke it in the same day! Yes, we had 102 people at church on Sunday!

Now, I told everyone that if we could consistently run over 100 on Sundays by the end of November that we would have some kind of church reward. I mentioned shaving my head, which my wife and most of the congregation disagreed with. (Thank the Lord!)

So, I'm looking for ideas. If you have any, comment me. Let's get creative! And let's keep the momentum up.

I love you guys!

Bold as Lions

In my devotional time this morning I read Proverbs 28:1 that states

"The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions."

I thought about it for a few minutes and had to ask myself this question...

Which side better describes me?

Many times in life we are faced with chances to be bold in our beliefs or to be timid about being a Christ-follower. I have to admit, when I am asked what I do for a living by new people I meet, I find myself on the more timid nature. See, I can't stand it when people act normal around me until the find out that I'm a pastor. It seems that then they turn on this "religious" facade.

It's not that I'm embarrassed about what I do. It's not that I'm insecure in my gifting. I just HATE fake people. I have a hard time with ministers who talk in their "preacher voice" at the dinner table with their kids. I struggle with pastors that cut their grass in a suit and tie. That isn't REAL!

On the flip side, I can't stand it when someone is using profanity until they learn of my pastoral position and then starts throwing out "Hallelujah" and "Praise the Lord." In the same respect, that isn't REAL!

I can allow the boldness of the Holy Spirit to flow through my life without making others feel like the scum of the earth. I should be secure enough in who God is and who He created me to be that I don't have to prove my position by demanding others to stop being themselves.

Boldness: there have been a lot of weird and crazy things that have gone on in the name of boldness. Tell me your stories. Let's have a laugh together.

Also, how can we still be bold without becoming a flake? What are your thoughts?

Monday Mind Dump

Yesterday at Restoration Ministries blew me away! I so enjoy our worship experiences! Here are a few highlights:

*Our Praise Team ROCKS!!! Many times I think we take it for granted. We shouldn't. They are awesome!
*God said yesterday would be a day of breakthrough for some people! If you felt like you received a breakthrough, please email or comment me so I can hear your testimony! I WANT to know what God is doing in and through your lives.
* We, once again, joined forces with His Image Ministry for our series on Servolution. (Yes, we jacked the name from Dino Rizzo with his permission!) I absolutely LOVE the people from HIM!!! They are just great.
*God challenged us to be a fig tree in a vineyard. We must make sure that the figs we are bearing tastes different from the grapes we are growing sick of eating. (If you want to know more you'll have to buy the CD!)

In all, I am SO glad to be back home and going strong. We haven't lost vision or passion. We are ready to see what God is up to at RM! And I believe He is up to something BIG!

I'm Back!

Wow, it seems like forever since I've blogged. I guess that's because it has been quite a while. Well, I'm back from all the camps and our mini-vacation and I am ready to get back in the swing of things.

What's been going on lately? I'm glad you asked...

1. We started a five week series called Servolution (Thanks Pastor Dino Rizzo for letting us use the name!). In this series we have joined forces with Pastors Josh and Lori Muckelvaney and His Image Ministry for each of the services. That's right... We have combined our SUNDAY services for five weeks for the good of the Kingdom!!! That's unheard of!

This past week Pastor Josh preached a POWERFUL word! All I know is that obedience is better than sacrifice...

We are concluding the series with a joint 7 Days of Servolution! I'm excited!

2. Our three weeks of camp were great but very tiring! All I can say is I am glad that I am home and sleeping in my bed. Oh, and I didn't have hot water in my camper all three weeks! Have you ever had an ice cold shower and three in the morning after cleaning in a camper that is about 63 degrees? Yeah, thank God for hot water!!! However, those weeks at camp were great for some relationships. We made some new ones, rekindled some old ones and strengthened some existing ones. And we all know that the Kingdom is about relationship!

3. During this time away I have found the Lord speaking some things to me and redirecting my prayers on some issues. I found myself sitting out on the dock while the kids were in worship service one morning seeking the Lord on some issues. I am VERY excited with what I feel the Lord is about to do at RM! You definitely don't want to miss out on this.

Lastly, let me encourage you once again to raise your level of expectation. God has spoken this to our church three times in the last two months. Let's continually make sure we aren't allowing the enemy to discourage us and drain us of any expectation we have. Raise the level!!!

Now, it's after midnight and we have just started Madea Goes to Jail. I'll see you all tomorrow at Midweek Momentum. We are going to be taking a spiritual gifts test. Make sure you're there! Goodnight.

Camp Robinson

On the first tuesday night in June 15 years ago I heard a young minister by the name of Scott Smith preach a message on the cross that impacted me on an eternal level. That night I began my journey of faith. And it all happened at Camp Robinson in the middle of nowhere, South Carolina.

I haven't missed a summer at Camp Robinson since then. Once I was to old to be a camper, I joined the staff.

Once again, I am serving for three weeks at this place of my spiritual birth in prayerful anticipation of yet another move of God in the lives of children and teens.

This year I am honored to be in the line up of speakers. With people like Brock Spivey, Javin Proctor and even Brandon Gardner, I'm not sure why I was picked but I am honored nonetheless.

So this Thursday night I am going to be speaking to about 130 teens about passion. Pray that God shows homself strong on behalf of these teens. Pray that some will be saved. Pray that I will be used of God to say what He, Himself, would like to say to them. Pray that I would in some small way be able to give back into this camp that has sown SO much into me.

Internet Service @ Camp

Hey everyone! I'm SO excited because I realized that my Blackberry gets internet access!!! So I'll be blogging a little later. Stay tuned...

Monday Mind Dump

Yesterday was definitely different but REALLY good. We had our first Sunday with video teaching, which I thought went really well.

Praise and Worship was very good. Seemed like some of the energy in the congregation was back. I always love P&W. We have the greatest team on the planet!

Steven Furtick spoke on God's greatness and goodness and did a marvelous job. (Though I thought it was hilarious that he said his son was acting like a wuss over the bug!)

Then there are some of the "out-of-the-box" things that are coming up at RM!

We are in the middle of One Prayer 2009. We will be hearing from Perry Noble this Sunday and Greg Surratt on Father's Day.

The last Sunday of the month, Dr. Paul Gaehring, president of Redemption Ministerial Fellowship International, will be with us and speaking. This is going to be a great day.

Starting in July we will be combining services with His Image Ministry for 5 weeks for a series called Servolution! I am super excited about this! God is up to something!

I came home yesterday after lunch and slept until after 9PM!!! I haven't done that in a LONG time. Thanks for giving me the rest of the day off. It was some much needed rest.

Well, that's it for now. I hope to be posting more this week. Last week was slammed!