Eight posts that have messed me up!

As you may know I read a lot of blogs everyday, but I have a few who seem to speak directly into my life and ministry (can life and ministry truly be separated...that is a post for another day). I wanted to share five blog posts from the last week or so that have really spoken to me:

You need to read this one and this one and then one more from Craig Groeschel. It is written to pastors, but it applies to all of us.

You need to read this post from Mark Batterson. He is speaking such a profound Word of truth here.

Then there are these posts from Perry Noble. Read this post and this one, this one and finally this one.

Search your heart. Do any of these posts speak to you this morning? What is God trying to tell you about your life and relationship, or lack there of, with Him?

Land Purchase Vote

The membership gathered today and voted on the purchase of the land on the north-end of Kirksville. The vote needed to a two-thirds majority to pass. There were 29 members present and the vote was 16 in favor and 13 against. The vote needed 20 members to say yes, so as a result of this vote the church WILL NOT be pursuing the purchase of land at this time.

Patriot Day

No one will ever forget where they were or what they were doing seven years ago today. My prayers go out to all the families who lost loved ones that day. We remember the brave men and women of the New York Fire Department and Police Department. The men and women of the New York Transit Authority who acted so bravely in the darkness and chaos of such tragedy. The acts of heroism of a few men on Flight 93 that ended in a Pennsylvania cornfield. The men and women at the Pentagon who so bravely rescued others from the wreckage and fire. We will always remember the members of our military who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Take a few moments and remember the freedoms we so quickly take for granted that have come to us through the blood and sacrifice of so many. Have a blessed Patriot Day!

Update

I need to do some serious catching up here. It has been a very busy August and looks to be an even busier September.

The website went down briefly, but it is back up and running. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I am going to start doing a series book reviews on what I have been reading lately. I also need to update my reading list.

All three of my fantasy football teams won this week! I love football season...oh yeah, it is September and my Dodgers are in first place in the National League West division. Now if they can just hold on.

I had one of those silly prayer moments...I found myself praying that the UCLA football team would score a touchdown late in the game against their game against Tennessee...does God answer football prayers?

We are working very hard on quarterly planning. I am excited about 2009. It looks like it will be another awesome year for TRCC.

We are taking a vote on October 5th as to whether to buy some land on the north end of Kirksville. If it is approved this will be the future site of our permanent campus. Please be in prayer for God's leading on this vote.

Catching up

I enjoyed a brief break last week. We took the family to St. Louis to see some family and take in a Dodger game...yes I know it was at Busch Stadium and the home of the Cardinals, but it was a Dodger game...they just happened to be playing in St. Louis. It was the first Major League game for Colin and Christina and it was really fun to see them enjoying themselves in their own little ways.

I finally gave in and took the kids to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Wow that is a neat place. The kids came home with new friends.

Now this is interesting...

I was going through the various blogs I read and I stumbled onto an entry by Kent Schaffer. Check this out. If the results of that survey are to be believed...and I think they should be...then we have some work to get done.

What will get the unchurched to grace the doors of TRCC? Our friendliness! Are we doing all we can to extend the hand of friendship each and every day? If not, are we doing all we can to extend the hand of friendship on Sunday morning?

The exciting thing here is that we don't have to invent new programs to reach people. We simply need to extend the hand of friendship in love. That is simple. That is the easy stuff. So let's start showing love and friendship to people around us everyday. Who can you extend the hand of friendship today? Who can you show love and kindness to today?

I am heading out to lunch right now! I am going to make a new friend. Come join me!

Mountains and Valleys

We all have those times in life where we are standing on the mountain top of life. Everything looks great and feels wonderful. We also all have those moments when we are in the valley of life and it seems dark and forbodding. Nothing seems to be going right and we wonder if we will ever be able to climb out of the darkness.

The interesting thing about a valley is that it is situated between two mountains. That is the good news. There are mountain top experiences awaiting you on both sides of the valley.

I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."