It’s been a non-stop weekend.  We met with our elders and their wives Friday night for a Christmas fellowship.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship.  I am so grateful for these men and their commitment to Christ and His church.   Our first Santa Surprise was a great success.  We had an awesome team of workers helping Steve and Santa with breakfast, photos, and family ministry challenges.  It was priceless seeing the kids have a great time with their families.   I knew we were in for something special this morning when we made that rockin’ transition from “Silent Night” to “Joy to the World.”  Awesome work, guys.   And wow!  What a great spirit (and crowd!) in both worship services.    Praise the Lord for the two who were baptized this morning.   And again let me say how proud I was of everybody who led out or helped with the Angel Tree project.  We had a... (read more)

If you haven’t read Mary Ann’s insightful post on The Cost of Christmas, click here and do it now.  It’s rich, and may well be intended for you.   Did Chad ring the bell today or what?  We had lunch with my in-laws today, and my father-in-law said, “I’ll never look at a box at Christmas the same again.”   I’ve heard Todd do the complete Luke Christmas story three times, now, and it’s as rich as ever.  He did a great job of bringing the simple message of the birth of Jesus to life.   Every week I’m blessed by the amazing worship team we have.  All the vocalists, instrumentalists and, of course, our esteemed worship leader faithfully bring us to the throne of God each week, and I am grateful.   This afternoon our elders had their last regular meeting of the year.  It was a long one, but very good, as we discussed plans for 2009,... (read more)

(The following was written by Mary Ann Thomson...)   How much does Christmas cost? I was looking at the ads in the Sunday paper. I saw that some game systems are well over $200. And if you add in the necessary attachments it takes it well over $300. And then  there are the games.....wow. And there are cars that ride up walls and on ceilings. And TV's that cost much more than my first car!!! I could go on and on, but I am sure you have seen the ads and know what I am talking about. There are IPods, DVD players, Blueray movies, HD TV's, DS's and if you have not heard of Hanna Montana or The Jonas Brothers or  HSM !,2 or 3 you are out of the loop!!! ChaChing!!! And of course there are Christmas parties. The food costs, the invitations cost, the paper goods with pretty Christmas themes on them are needed, and of course you will... (read more)

If worship is supposed to be something like “heaven practice,” then yesterday was certainly that.  I felt so alive, so “toward Him,” if that makes sense!  Thanks Allen, Lorna, and worship band/team  members for so beautifully leading us to the Lord’s presence.   I keep going back to the lessons the Lord has been teaching me over the weekend that God has a love that redeems.  We usually take that to mean redeems us from the guilt of our sins, and that is true.  But God can also redeem time!  Relationships!  Wasted decisions.  Dreams.  And so much more.  Our waiting seasons, longing seasons, or “system breakdowns” don’t cost God anything.  He is fully capable of buying that back as we wait on Him and trust Him.   Okay, gotta say something about those Red Raiders!  Ten and oh, baby!  OK, and… wait for it… wait for it… OK, take it – Roll Tide!  Who’d have ever thought that we’d... (read more)

If you happened to be in the first service, let me add an insight from Fred, one of our regular attenders.  After going through the random list of David’s stress-producers (fear, verbal opposition, physical weakness, etc.), Fred made the great point that any one of these things is tough enough, but it multiplies the stress when you’re dealing with them all at once.  Can you relate?  Yet “To added affliction he adds his mercies, to multiplied sorrows, His multiplied peace.”   Somebody came up after the second service and said, “I asked the Lord to speak to me during worship today, and this was exactly what I needed.”  “And that,” I replied, “was exactly what I needed.”   Our KidsPoint ministry just had their “Roundup Sunday” and it was a great success.  Thanks, Moms and Dads, for checking out what’s happening.   Did you see the army of students in the second service?  What a group!  You guys are... (read more)

If you happened to be in the first service, let me add an insight from Fred, one of our regular attenders.  After going through the random list of David’s stress-producers (fear, verbal opposition, physical weakness, etc.), Fred made the great point that any one of these things is tough enough, but it multiplies the stress when you’re dealing with them all at once.  Can you relate?  Yet “To added affliction he adds his mercies, to multiplied sorrows, His multiplied peace.”   Somebody came up after the second service and said, “I asked the Lord to speak to me during worship today, and this was exactly what I needed.”  “And that,” I replied, “was exactly what I needed.”   Our KidsPoint ministry just had their “Roundup Sunday” and it was a great success.  Thanks, Moms and Dads, for checking out what’s happening.   Did you see the army of students in the second service?  What a group!  You guys are... (read more)

“How beautiful You are, How merciful You are, How glorious you are…”  Wow!  What worship!  Thanks Allen and team for a great day of encountering God in worship.   It’s encouraging to hear of the testimonies of people who are drawing near to a more intimate experience with Christ.  Remember, all your longings are longings for HIM!   Let me give a shout out to our preschool and children’s workers.  We were a little short-handed due to illness, but you guys got all the bases covered.  I’m so proud of you.  I’m also proud of those of you who are thinking/praying about giving some help in our kids and preschool ministry.  You’ll be a great addition to the team.   I was so blessed by Scott Womack and his leadership in communion today.  In case you didn’t know, Scott is one of our elders.  We’ll be having more elder-led communion in the future.  And I absolutely LOVED the “August... (read more)

OK, first, as advertised, here’s what Dave Ramsey said at the Catalyst conference we attended last week about what he’s doing with his personal 401k:  the same thing he did last month.  And he will do the same thing next month (all, he hinted, in the stock market).  He also said that companies like Walmart, IBM, etc., hadn’t declined in value by one half over the last year, even though their stock price had.  Proceed, he said.   During the first service, I announced that we’re going back to Thailand, Lord willing, in 2009.  Now you know as much as I do!  But we’re starting to pray into that.  More news to come.   Yesterday was weird for me, physically and mentally, because we’d gone to an incredible conference during the week.  So we were spiritually stoked and excited, but physically I was wiped out.  It sure seemed as though the Lord was doing some cool things, however!  ... (read more)

Looking back at yesterday with great appreciation and wonder...   I figure I must have had around one and a half hours of sleep Saturday night. Never have I encountered a night of spiritual warfare like that one.  I won't bore you with the details, except to say when the Holy Spirit is at work in specific areas, so is the enemy. I am so greatful to God for spiritual leaders and friends.  Two partners in ministry prayed with me Sunday morning prior to the first service, along with some regular Sunday morning prayer partners.  The result was incredible.  I felt absolutely NO physical symptoms or fatigue.  And I think we saw some significant breakthroughs on a spiritual level in both services. THE WEDNESDAY MESSAGE FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO that I mentioned Sunday, simply titled "Seventy," is now available from our podcasting link here on the web site.  I would encourage you to download it, or listen to... (read more)

Last night we talked about dealing with rejection in the adult Bible Study at church.  Here's a little encouragement from that:   All of us experience rejection.  But don't take rejection, painful as it is, as the last word! It was after he was rejected by his own people that Moses returned to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. It was after he was rejected numerous times that Joseph was made second in command in all of Egypt. It was after he and his mother were rejected by Sarah that Ishmael became the father of a vast nation. It was after he was rejected by virtually the entire human race that Noah was delivered by God through the flood. It was after he was rejected by Saul that David became king over all of Egypt. It was after David's rejection and exposure by Nathan the prophet because of his double-sin of adultery and murder that God gave him... (read more)

Boy, am I wasted!  But it's the good kind of tired.  It's been a wonderfully blessed and full weekend.   The men's retreat was incredible!  Fun, convicting, and life-changing for many.  Thanks to the Men's Ministry leadership team for your hard work.  And a special thanks to Chad and Allen for your minitry leadership.  Your labor in the Lord was priceless. Ed Comey told me the Nfusion Coffee House had its best day ever today.  We also have some great new workers to go with the team we already had in place.  Thanks for your participation, involvement, and engagement of the coffee shop.  And on behalf of the missionaries the shop supports, again I say "Thank you." David Putman told me today that his two Financial Peace University classes totalled up their debts today.  The total class debt, not counting houses:  one MILLION dollars.  Whoa!  I'm already seeing incredible possibilities for freedom in the days ahead for some people. And... (read more)

Last year we had about 18 men on the men's retreat.  I heard yesterday we had more than 55 signed up for this year.  Wow!  Great job, guys!  I'm looking forward to what the Lord does. Yesterday I invited you to join me for a 40-day season of prayer and fasting as we seek the Lord's direction and power.  Today I'm putting it in writing.  Jesus made it clear that there is a source of power and victory in prayer and fasting that is not found in any other source. Thanks for listening to my heart yesterday.  I'm always tired after Sunday mornings, but yesterday, I was exhausted.  I just SO believe the Lord is up to something really profound and good, I want us to be in on it! I started Friday (click here), and through this week and next, I'll be sharing what I'm learning from Scripture as the Lord is applying Israel's experience to ours at... (read more)

I can’t tell you how excited I am about the sense of the Lord’s moving and presence in our fellowship.  It’s not just numerical growth, which is exciting.  It’s the sense that the Holy Spirit is truly up to something special, and we get to be participants in it. As of today, both our children’s and youth ministries have doubled in 11 weeks.  We had 99 children here today!  Praise the Lord, and let’s make some room. Our worship team is amazing.  I’m so proud of the hard work they put in, and how each member contributes his/her talent and offers it to the Lord and to us.  Thanks, guys.  You sure make it easy to preach. How ‘bout that “Pastor Vedo?”  I may invite him back.  Meanwhile, I’m staying up until 2:00 next Saturday night to try to catch him on the satellite. Wasn’t it exciting to be in the 10:30 service and see the army of people... (read more)

Another really sweet day today!  Four people publicly declaring their commitment and identification with Jesus through baptism.  Praise the Lord. So we’re in the second service, and had already baptized Mike, when Chad walks over and says that Travis is ready to be baptized.  Like now.  Does he have a change of clothes, I ask.  Yep.  So let’s do it!  And we did!  That was awesome. I love it when Chad does the welcome/offering/etc.! I’m really excited by your response to the four Adult Ed classes.  Not in one yet?  Start next Sunday. Today was a reminder to me that God promises us incredible security in the midst of the battle.  But in reminding me of that, the Lord has also reminded me that we ARE in a battle!  I’m more aware tonight than I have been in a long time that we’re in a spiritual fight. I normally snooze on Sunday afternoons, but today I crashed! Finance Committee... (read more)

WHAT A TEAM!  Sunday morning we got back from our trip to Minneapolis at about 9:30.  Rich was already doing the ukelele song.  Everything flowed like clockwork because of the amazing team we have in place.  Rich and Allen had the worship thing down cold, Brent had a great intercessors team in place, Steve managed an ONSLAUGHT of kids yesterday with grace, and Chad preached it.  June, Mary, Matt, Natalea, Karen, April, Eric, Heaven, Connie and Deann, the Nfusion team - that's just for starters.  Boy, are we blessed. OH, and we had our fourth-highest attendance ever (533)! People are still getting saved!  We had another adult pray to receive Christ last week.  I'm telling you, this is one of those seasons.  Pray for your family members or friends who don't know the Lord, and invite them, if they live in this area. We had a great "What's the Point" class Sunday evening.  Good discussion, and good questions.  We'll... (read more)