Random ramblings

I am working up my next series. I am preaching on the subject of refueling our spiritual gas tanks. I think this may be a very timely series. I have asked Promise Land folks to take a break for the remainder of summer so that they can refuel for ministry.

We are beginning the preliminary plans for a worship facility. We have been doing church in a box for over ten years. It is time for TRCC to have their own church building. I am working on the Master Plan and also the immediate future. I am hoping to appoint a Building Team by fall so that we can start a capital campaign by spring of 2008. This is an exciting time at TRCC!

I am really enjoying Mark Batterson's book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day". He has really help me to face some of fears and doubts as we transition at church and at home.

Sunday Scoreboard

Here is now Sunday the 24th of June played out:

Worship: The worship team brought a new song called "Maybe" during our prayer time. It was a fantastic song about how we all doubt and search for God. It raised up the reality that in the end we all come to the assurance that he is there.

Message: We finished up the series on "Making Your Life Count for the Kingdom" by looking at the anointing of David. He lived a life of greatness for the Kingdom because he was a man after God's own heart.

Personal: I arrived at church in a real funk. I was not in a good place mentally or emotionally. I really did not know how I was going to bring the message that morning. I think my funk had to do more with my inability to control circumstances in my life. I have a real control-freak streak in me. I have to thank the Holy Spirit and the praise band for playing "Jesus Lifted High". As I sung that song I realized that what I am doing all of this for is to see Jesus lifted high like banner across this land.

Attendance: 205 (-8.9 percent change from same Sunday last year)

Sunday's Scorecard

Here is how Sunday went:

Message: I brought a message about succeeding despite your circumstances. We looked at the life of Joseph and how God used his faithfulness for His glory. Not sure how I would react to seeing someone who wronged me as bad as his brothers wronged him. He not only forgave them, he was in a position to feed them during a time of great famine. Our God is a great God!

Music: Despite missing our bassist and acoustic guitarist the band sounded great. I think Rachel was playing some bass cords on the keyboard. I love how these folks pull it together and deliver a quality product on Sunday. Truly the music at TRCC is a blessing to all of us.

Drama: Jerry and Shaun brought a tough Father's Day drama. Men, how many of us unfortunately resonated at some level with that message? I know I have and sometimes still do put other things, selfish things, ahead of my wife and children.

Attendance: 185 (-9.5 % change from same Sunday last year)

Leader's Meeting

I put away my meteorologists hat and we finally had that Leader's Meeting on Thursday night. See I had canceled the meeting the week before because I heard we were getting some violent storms. Well as any Midwesterner knows, the weather is fickle. It not only did not storm, but the sun came out.

We had a wonderful meeting. My intention was to be there for no more than an hour. We reluctantly called the meeting after two hours as it was getting late and people had to work in the morning. I have not been in a meeting with such energy and passion in all my years as a pastor. The leader's at TRCC are a cut above. They not only care about the life and mission of TRCC, they are passionate and invested in our future. They are excited about what God is doing at TRCC and want to be out front being used by Christ for the fulfillment of his purpose.

We talked about narrowing our focus and identifying the win in each ministry area. When I mentioned these things I could see the fire in their eyes. I am so blessed to be at a church where the people are on fire for God. TRCC will be doing some awesome things for the Kingdom in the years ahead.

Great Day

I did something yesterday that I don't do enough of, I played baseball with my boys. We went out back of the complex and took turns hitting a tennis ball we found. Alex really got around on a few of them and showed the power I know is deep inside him. Colin is going to be a very good athlete. He is well coordinated for a five year old and really loves sports. I am looking forward to the years of little league, basketball and soccer ahead of us. I wonder if Christina will be an athlete?

Lisa and I sat on the couch and watched Star Wars II. We wanted to watch Star Wars III, but it seems to have been misplaced in the move. I need to take better care of my wife and spend more time with her.

All in all it was an awesome Father's Day.

Making Ripples

I just finished Mike Breaux's book Making Ripples. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike when he was the pastor of Southland Christian Church in Kentucky. He is a wonderful speaker and writer. You really can sense his heart in this book.

Are you making ripples in the lives of those around you?

We close on the house on the 22nd and we have not packed a thing. I think Lisa and I are suffering from a little bit of 'I'll believe it when I see it" in regards to the house. The wonderful people of TRCC have said they will help move us again, this time just a short distance and no stairs.

The Pursuit of Happiness

I finally got around to watching The Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith. I can finally tell all those people who have recommended this movie to me that I have actually watched the movie.

The central theme of the movie is one man's pursuit of his dream and how much he is willing to sacrifice to make it a reality. This is an important message for our society today. We rarely see people willing to sacrifice anything to attain the purpose God has for their life.

The movie hit me in a profound way and I am still trying to work out what God is doing in my heart through this movie. There have been dreams in my life that I have not been willing to pursue because the cost would be too high or the risk too great. Now some of those dreams are probably selfish desires, but some of them have been God-given dreams. What do I do with those dreams?

Are there dreams you have inside of you that seem to risky or would require some significant measure of sacrifice? How much are we willing to risk in the pursuit of happiness?

Monday Morning Musings

Another fantastic weekend in the books.

I thought I would share with all of your a few of my favorite blog sites. I hope these will enrich you as much as they enrich me.

Dr. John Jackson is the pastor of Carson Valley Christian Center. He is also the author of Pastorprenuer.

Mark Batterson of Evotional.com. He is the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

Tony Morgan is the pastor of New Spring Church in Anderson, S.C.

Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C.

These are just four guys who I read everyday. They enlighten me on leadership and how to be a pastor. I truly love the down to earth style they bring to ministry. These are some guys you could sit down at Starbucks and share coffee with and talk about life.

I hope you will join us for our new series "How to Make Your Life Count" as we look at four men of the old testament and how they made their lives count for the Kingdom of God.

Getting Started

Welcome friends!

This is a place that I will share my walk with Christ with you. I will share with you my dreams, goals and vision for Timber Ridge Community Church. I will seek to help you on your walk with Christ by equipping you with books and internet resources. I hope you will check back often and as we walk daily with our Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Sam