Friday, November 21, 2008

Friday Morning Upload, 11/21/08

Thoughts over this past week...

1. Last night at the YMCA was a lot of fun. It's always fun serving. I was dreaming with Don Handyside that it will be neat on the one day when we'll have our own building feeding the homeless and such ourselves. What a neat vision.

2. I was reminded of Isaiah 58 this week about the heart of God. In this passage God is criticizing the Israelites for how they are worshipping him through fasting. In it God says he wishes the worship of him would motivate his people to honor the sabbath as holy, help loose the chains of injustice, set the oppressed fee, provide for the poor, and clothing for the naked. Isaiah says that when we are motivated to do these things fromt he heart of God then he will hear out prayers and say, Here I am.

3. I have learned that in all the talk about the end times we fail to do with it what God intended. He intended the teaching to encourage us. We are to encourage each other about our Lord's return, not argue about it.

4. I appreciate the Men's Life group. That is a bunch of fun. We learn from God's word but we have a lot of fun. I've really learned to appreciate those guys and their thirst for God's word.

5. I also want to give a compliment to our elders. They are really elders. They do the work of thier post with a lot of sincerity, hard work, and faith. I've seen other churches where the minister does the work of the elders and all the leders do is make decisoions. Our elders are not like that. They really care for people. I truly look forward to growing with them.

6. I also came away very excited about Max as the Equipping Minister and the MTR meeting on Sunday. It is so exciting to see people owning their ministries and having the desire to work together. I'm lookig forward to great things taking place in the coming year!

It's been a good week. Looking forward to turkey day!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sunday Night Mind Dump, 11.16

Here are some things that I've observed on this Sunday...

1. Have you heard of EGR's? EGR stands fr "Extra grace Required." we all have people that fit that category. What's amazing is we get to learn how the grace of Christ really gets lived out among us.

2. It was neat to see all kinds of people sign up for a Life Group today. I'm excited about the new groups that we are starrting.

3. Please be praying for my Uncle Feed. he is 88 years old and broke his hip this weekend. He is in for a tough recovery period. Also please in prayer for Mac, my step grandfather, he is suffering from a severe stroke.

4. I am so stoked about Max Pino being the Equipping Minister. he did a wonderful job at his first meeting of the MTR's. It was really exciting to see. if you don't know what an MTR is then I'll tell you. MTR stands for "Ministry Team Represenative." They are the people who get ministry accomplished in our church. I'mreally excited about what was accomplished today.

5. I hope a lot of people in our church consider the percentage giving for next year. I know God will bless them.

6. Went and saw the Norman Rockwell exhibit this past Saturday in Norfolk. It was amazing. I find it incredible that God gave us the idea that we can take his stuff and mold it and create with it. It's amazing!

I'll be writing next Sunday night if not before.

Kirk

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Sunday Evening Night Dump

Hi! What a weekend. I got bit with the stomach flu, Lisa is sick, and Dietrich won a soccer championship this afternoon. Whew! it was something else! here are some thoughts I took away from today's experience at church.

1. There were a lot of people either sick or out of town this week. I wasn't the only one who was sick! Pray for them.
2. Christy said the copy machines at the Y didn't work again. It's tough when you depend on something and it doesn't come through. Such are the hazards of new church work.
3. I enjoyed worship, but I missed having Lisa at my side. She was at home sick.
4. It was GREAT to preach today. I haven't preached the last couple weeks and it was awesome to share God's word again. When you study, pray, and meditate over a message it really is a fire in your bones to get it out. It was great to get it out today!
5. At the budget meeting it was really neat to hear how the elders came up with the final number for next year. It is great to be serving with men of faith and vision for our church!

That's it for this week...

Friday, November 7, 2008

Friday Morning Upload

This week has been another great week...

> Monday was spent doing a lot of administrative tasks and studying for upcoming messages
> Tuesday was my day off, election day. After I waited three hours to vote I took miriam out to lunch at Golden Corral. Election day wasn't all that eventful. We knew who won by 10-11 PM.
> Wednesday I was at the Virginia Vision meeting in Rochmond. It is always exciting to hear about how other church plants are growing and how they are reaching out in Jesus name. Our church plants are doing really well. I did hear news of another brother in arms who fell to moral failure. Satan has a big gun there and he's firing at will. Pray for me and our staff for protection from the evil one. I also had our Life Group Leader meeting at night. We are going to be starting several new small groups. It was exciting to have all the new leaders there!
> Thursday was spent in in message writing. I call Thursday my Holy Day becasue it's just me, God, his word, and a blank sheet of paper.
> And today is Friday... today will be spent preparing for the delivey of the message, powerpoints, praying about the budget meeting, a wedding rehersal, and small group in the eveining. I'm covering for a preacher in a wedding on Saturday. pray all goes well...!

> What have I learned this week... I learned God is in control... and always will be incontrol... no matter how much O want to be in control. I can fool myself and thinkk I'm in control, but I'm not. I must learn to lean on God all the more.




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Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Here are some thoughts and musings about services today...

* It was great to see Sid and Chris playing on the praise team today. That was awesome.
*I wish I could have seen the video in color. I know the guys worked really hard to fix the problem. Even so, it was good to see it.
* DePAula came up to me today and said they have designs for a rockin' new website. I'm anxious to see it.
* I am thankful for Rick and his leadership of the Missions Team. He is really helping our church not only reach beyond our roles, but beyond the borders of our country to reach in the name of Christ.
* I am thankful for people like the Coopers who are dedicating their lives to get the Word of God to people who do not have it. God is so good!
* We are definitly on the up curve in attendance! More chairs anyone? Keep inviting people to come Celebrate!
* Lisa came home and said youth group tonight was off the chain! That's exciting.
* The ladies who went to Women of Faith had a great time too.
* Lastly, I am really excited about preaching this Sunday. I've had a couple Sunday's off and I'm anxious to share God's word again.

Peace, Kirk