Category: God

1.  Anne J. was back in business on this glorious Sunday morning. All of us on the Setup and Hospitality crew welcomed her back with open arms, and she proceeded to slide right back into her urgent role as our leader. We love to serve each other and the Lord with Anne in charge !

2.  It was also great to welcome back Mark and Terry after an extended hiatus. Mark brought about 25 servings of Cuban Colada and his muscular strength, and Terry brought her mad Information & Sales Desk skills and her smiles.

3.  Pastor Paul‘s laptop was back in action at the Information Booth, and ‘the small screen’ was rockin’ hard – so hard that it was too loud for Anne to concentrate. After arguing discussing with Anne that it was not loud enough he tried to show me how to turn the volume down slightly. I reminded Paul that I know how to use a computer, but that I was scared to touch his for fear that it would explode. He told me that it was fine for me to touch it. Paul turned down the volume a little bit, and then after he walked away I turned it down a little bit more. That made Anne happy.

4.  The main lobby was as packed as I’ve ever seen it in-between the two services this morning. I think that Flagship Cinemas would dream of a crowd like ours during the week when they are in the business of selling movie tickets, popcorn, candy, and sodas.

5.  The 10:30 AM service was as jam-packed-full as it could possibly be. I think that we may have exceeded the 300 mark again in attendees for the two services combined. The state of our church is strong and healthy ! 

6.  Pastor Travis did his teaching on Fear, Risk, Love, Loving God, and Loving Man. How does it all fit together ?  The biggest risk that we face is the fear of loving people. Love requires risk, and we are called to the Greatest Commandment – to love God and our neighbor.

Mark 12:28-31 (New Living Translation – 2ND Edition):

28  One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29  Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD.
30  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
31  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

1.  Setup and Hospitality in the main lobby of the movie theatre went rather smooth this morning despite a few obstacles along the way. There were people missing from key positions and items missing from usual locations, but it all worked out in the end.

2.  I believe that we had from 20 to 25 new visitors to our church on this glorious Sunday morning for the two services combined. We even ran out of the new Life Pointe Church coffee mugs in-between the two services. Hopefully it will not be ‘one-and-out’ for our new visitors, and that they return next Sunday morning to claim their gifts and become regular attenders and eventually loyal and faithful members of our growing and loving church family.

3.  Pastor Paul was back in action after a week off up north, and it didn’t take long for the top of his face to glisten with sweat. His Information Booth was also back in action – minus the video on ‘the small screen’. (His laptop was ailing again.)

4.  Brother Jesse was also back in action, and back where he belongs – up on stage leading us in ‘Praise & Worship’ to kick-off each of the services. He was also proudly showing off one of his apparent Christmas presents from Chicagoland – a spiffy new sweater vest complete with a tie !

5.  Pastor Travis kicked-off a fresh new 5-week message series for 2008 and the new political year entitled ‘State Of The Church’. It’s all about what Jesus says about the Church and how we fit within it. Today’s theme – ‘A City On A Hill’. Hope is alive and well within our church !

Matthew 5:13-16 (New Living Translation – 2ND Edition):

Teaching About Salt And Light
13  You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor ?  Can you make it salty again ?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14  You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.