Day One

After failing to send out Email Updates on a regular basis to all of you on my email list, I decided there had to be a better way. Blogging. We'll see if I do any better with this than the email newsletters.

Thanks to those of you who have given feedback from last week's message on "The Language of Lust". This seems to have struck a chord with many. I believe that this is one area where so many people struggle in silence, unaware that there are others having very similar struggles. We could do so much to help each other if we could just let down our guard for a few moments. This week we host Dr. David and Debbie McFadden speaking on "Straight Talk for Men and Women." I have known the McFadden's for many years and they will bring some great insights to us.

Then we are tackling probably our toughest topic (or the most volatile) - PORNOGRAPHY! "Porn: What's the Big Deal ?" This is probably the area where we are losing most of the spiritual battles in our culture today. Porn promises to be a best friend, but turns on a person and seeks to totally destroy all normal relationships. I am praying that we are able to tear down some major walls and begin to see healing in the lives of many. Please pray about that with me.

The final week of the Pure Sex series will be another serious topic, but it should be a little fun, too. "What Happens in Vegas WON'T Stay in Vegas." Whether we like it or not there are ramifications and outcomes to every decision and action we make. It is not possible to draw a circle around certain activities and act like they did not happen. There are always two people who know your every action - you and God!. And one of those two is much more forgiving than the other (your conscience will not let you off the hook). I am expecting some people to be dealing with major junk in their lives. We need to pray that God shows these people what a great feeling it is to be healthy and whole as followers of Jesus.

Hey, you all have done great with inviting friends to join you in church and parking and sitting in spots that all0w room for others. Thanks for being flexible. We will need to remain flexible to allow our young church to grow beyond 400 and then 500 in the next year (we reached 451 adults and kids on Easter Sunday).

Sunday I encouraged us to think about what it will take to reach our communities for Jesus. Our challenge - are we the kind of church that could throw a birthday party for a prostitute? Or an addict? Can we learn to see beyond the outward junk to the hurting person inside? If not, we might as well hang up the idea of being the church that Grundy County needs. If so, God is going to be sending us a lot of hurting people. Are you ready? You need to think through what this means for you and your role in this church. We need more compassionate people stepping up and committing to serve. Where is God telling you to serve?

One last thing - I need to ask your help again. The last time I made this request I had only two people step up. As a church on the move, we need to set up and tear down and clean up after ourselves every Sunday. Our school is being used again this summer by the YMCA, so we will not get a break. Kevin Murphy and his crew (Keith, Adam, Jim, Mike, Rich, Linnelle, Bob, Nancy and I may have forgotten someone, sorry) are doing a great job of serving in this area. But they are too small of a group. I need people who will step up and be part of this team on a regular basis (weekly or bi-weekly) to set up the school on Saturday mornings around 8:30 and clean up following worship. When I have made this request in the past I have felt the silence of being ignored. We cannot have church without this crew. And I do not want to take advantage of these committed people. Please consider helping out. Email me and tell me that you will serve as part of this team. Together we can accomplish so much more for God.

Have a great week. I appreciate you and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.