Extreme Makeover

(Getting the sign up!)

WHOA BABY! These guys work like crazy! I LOVE being around them...they got the women's bathroom done in a hurry! AMAZING! Great work!

I just received a text from Rusty, our project manager...our final inspection is for 1:30p.m. Thursday...PRAY! Then pray again...then pray a little more!! NOW WE GO! Pray for God's favor through the inspectors...pray for the rest of the work to get done...

This is a fun week...so many loose ends coming together...so many unknowns, that little by little become known...best part? It IS coming together! We have the best volunteers on the planet!!

Hey...check out Pastor Jim's blog: http://thebrownbytes.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-move.html (Click on the link!) Cool post about what is happening here!

The bathroom one day...

The bathroom the next day!

Biggest Loser

Quote of the night on The Biggest Loser...it went something like this:

"Instead of running away from it, run into it." The quote was about running from problems...one of the contestants said he always ran away from his struggles...never faced them...instead he ran to food...He is a football coach, so when he says "run into it" he REALLY means it!

What does this look like for you? What do you escape to...when life is pushing you down, do you run away or into it? Are you willing to tackle your problems or escape and not really deal with them?

I long for my kids to tell their children..."Grandpa NEVER gave up...he didn't run from his troubles, he didn't look for the easy way out...he ran into them and dealt with them through Christ's strength."

5 days

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12)

"God...my our thoughts and attitudes line up with you this week and into the future of Grace! It is you we want...you we long for...your will be done! Pierce us...convict us...pour courage into us. We love you."

Uncharted Sunday...

(Jaden helped me get the stack's of 5...these were the Hershey Bar's and invites that people took home to give to their friends, neighbors, co-workers...)

Our theme is Uncharted, so today we went to Uncharted ground...we didn't have a service...instead we showed up at the building, prayed and set out for a 2-part blitz...1st part: 7 teams of people went out and gave away close to 500 Hershey Bars and invites to our service next week on Valentine's Day. The 2nd part happens this week...the 5 stacks of bars and invites (the pic above) are for families to invite their friends, co-workers, neighbors this week to our service next week! (I have to go buy more Hershey Bars because we gave so many away today...I don't have any left!!!!)

Outreaches like this just fire me up! My team went out and gave away over 125 Hershey Bars in less than a 1/2 hour. We gave away close to 100 of them at the Pancake House right next to our building...I got to meet and invite the owner. VERY COOL! Then we crossed 5 lanes of traffic (with 8 children...7 of which were 9 and under!!) and headed to McDonalds. It was great to see the kids serving people and enjoying it.

I love to hear children pray...two kids from our group prayed (great job Shelby and Jaden!) about the blitz and the service next week...for another guy in our group it was the first he has prayed in public like that...VERY COOL! THAT is church! Just in time discipleship...things you can't teach in a classroom!!


Serving people like this just FIRES ME UP! I was ready to preach when we got back...Then something happened that I didn't expect...people hung out...for about another hour+...it was great to see people talking and hanging out! EXCITING!



(It's blurry, but it's the one I have of everyone praying for next week's service...we are praying that many come...we are praying that people will give their lives to Jesus next week!)

(Part of my team that passed out 125 Hershey Bars in less that 25 minutes...just missing 7 other kids that went with us!!)

Do what Jesus did

That is what we will be doing in the morning...Jesus had his guys hang out with him for a while...check out what he was doing...then he sent them out...sent them out in groups of 2...our groups might be a little bigger tomorrow, but we are going to be doing the same thing! Heading out and serving the community...we often say that church isn't about what you get, but what you give...PROVE IT! Tomorrow morning we will! I am sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to this...I am praying tonight that someone shows up that has never come before and then goes out and serves the community with us...How cool would that be?!?!?!

What did you say?

I'm teaching at a local public school every morning. I teach Life Skill Children (moderate to severe disabled students) art, music and gym. This morning I was walking down the hall and overheard 2 8th grade boys talking. (They aren't in my class.) All I heard was "you don't have to like her to go out with her!" NOW I know what is wrong with the people's relationships!! You don't even have to like 'em to "go out" with them...WOW!

Blitzin' Sunday!

How are we going to spend our first Sunday away from Movies 14?!?!?!?! We are NOT going to have a service! Instead we are going to meet at the new building...pray...and go BLITZ the community! OH BABY am I excited!!!! We are going to deliver Hershey Bars to people...just share a little love with people! The best part?!?!?! WE will be doing it while other churches are having their services...SO the people we will be serving won't be in church...PERFECT!! GUESS WHAT?!?!?! That is who we want to connect with anyway!! VERY COOL...VERY EXCITED...Cannot wait for Sunday!

I'm BURNING up!

Pastor Jim BROUGHT IT on Sunday...if someone is not stirred up to share their faith, SOMETHING IS WRONG! COME ON CHURCH...You have been given the GREATEST gift ever...what in the STINKIN' world are we waiting for...let's start sharing our faith...inviting our friends...RESCUING PEOPLE FROM HELL!! Why not us?! Why not right now!? WHY NOT!?!? God wants to use EACH AND EVERYONE OF US...so let's get going.

There is a discontent really getting stirred up in me...something that is longing for more...more of what God wants...more of what grabs his heart...

I was challenged several years ago to quit praying for God to give me opportunities to share my faith...INSTEAD start sharing my faith and ask the Spirit to STOP ME if the timing wasn't right! Notice the difference? Let's not just expect people to find Jesus by what they see in us...instead let's LIVE IT and SPEAK IT! (It=The good news of JESUS CHRIST!)

Reflections on Sunday

A LOT of emotions for me on Sunday...Chloe and Jaden came with me early to the theater...our last Sunday at the theater...so many memories...baptisms (including Chloe and Jaden!)...people saved...helicopter landing on Easter...Easter Egg Hunts...Dad Fest (I WON THIS YEAR!!!!)...Mama Mania (Kelsey won last year!!)...Prayer...Spiritual Battle...AMAZING PASSIONATE Worship...growth...life change...I'll confess that I had tears in my eyes...Great moment after the service for me too...everything was torn down...most everyone was heading to our new building to unload stuff and eat...I went back through each auditorium we use and thanked God for what he did there. I ask him for a lot...I want him to know how grateful I am for what he has done and how he has changed me and many others!

1st things 1st

I don't want to go through the motions...I don't want to just live...just make it through the day...week...month...year after year...I want to be IN the battle for lost souls...I want to dive in deep be all that God has made me to be. You know what? That process is painful...BUT it is worth it. Reading 1Timothy and Titus the past couple of days. Paul talks about what young men and older men need to be like...2 words for young men...self-control..."God continue to reveal the areas of my life that need refined and help me to walk through what it takes for change with COURAGE and DETERMINATION..."