monday afternoon

This was a huge weekend for most of us. Valentine's Day is one of those times when you just hope that you do enough (and I think I did ok...you will have to ask my lovely wife). But it was also a busy time at church. So let me give you a run down and just unload or unpack some of my thoughts for ya.

began the Warrior series and had some tremendous conversations with people who are seeing God do great work in their lives.
Sunday evening was our 2nd time feeding the homeless with Metro Ministries in Roanoke. We took 29 of our people, and our folks are flat excited about this ministry (bringing it back here before long). See this post from one of our people.
met several new friends at The Community and had a great experience with them this weekend.
for sometime our leaders have been watching the trends and noticed that when we have big crowds that we have low offerings and vice verse. Not yesterday. Excellent crowd and a good offering.
Saturday was our monthly clothes closet that ministered to 55 families of which 29 were first time visitors. We partnered with another organization to have a health screening and they too had an excellent crowd.
Satan worked this weekend. What else do I expect? God is doing awesome things. Satan isn't happy. By the way, God won and keeps winning!!!
I work with some great people. They go far beyond what I expect almost all of them time. Our volunteers this weekend left me in awe of their giftedness and their giving. Even several folks who have never served before.
Thinking about ways we can engage folks who are only attending and not serving (some cool stuff coming).
Planning for a big event with Joe Sangl in April. This guy is the guru of teaching ya how to stick to a budget and to live the way God intends for us to live and give what God intends for us to give. Check him out at www.joesangl.com.
Looks like our back to school event in August will be bigger than we first thought (and that is good). Listen for details and get ready to praise God.
the sale of the church building in Martinsville will be complete soon. This is a praise report of major proportions.
Our teens went last Wednesday night to the Henry County food pantry to pack food boxes. Great job to our students who, as per the gentleman over that work, packed more boxes in a shorter period of time than most.
Last thing, have talked to some people in the last day who are ready to start living as God intended ... serving and with hope. Makes ministry sweeter and worth it.

I love what I get to do and this is going to be an excellent week.YES!!!

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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