Mile Markers

Having lived for 12 years in Maine, with family in PA and MD, we saw many mile markers during those years of travel. As you count them up (or down, as the direction may be), you knew you were growing closer to your destination.
Next Sunday, I will have been at the church in PA three years, and it has been an exciting journey. Sometimes we pastors look so much forward and see all that needs to be done, that we spend no time looking backward to see all that has been accomplished. Not that that gives us an excuse to rest on our laurels (if you are resting on your laurels, you have them in the wrong place anyway), but it does give us the power of momentum to continue to accomplish great things for God. While I see so much that needs to be done each day, I am encouraged by the progress.
You know that you are beginning to be effective when the people you are leading begin to pick up your heart, your vision, your God-sized Dream, and begin to run with it!

Really Giving It Over

My wife and I were discussing releasing things to God, trusting things to His care. I shared with her a challenge that I had faced in the past, often getting frustrated and sometimes depressed over something that I had no control over. Earlier this year I sat on my front porch and expressed all of my struggles and feelings to God. I finally felt on that day that I had let go, and since then, God's peace has carried that burden, and I know that the whole thing is in His capable hands.

This seems like an elementary lesson, but how often have you preached to people of how they should trust God, and then you encountered a mountain in your way that you weren't sure God knew about? Each time we encounter these things we grow. Oh God, help me to keep growing!

What a Night!

Wow, what an awesome night we had at church. As I said in my last post, we hosted a concert with Kathleen Carnali, and indepedant female artist. Her voice is incredible, and she has an anointing to match. We had three kids give their hearts to Christ and several who said that they are ready to quit playing games with God and start really living for Him. She has been approached by some record labels, but chose to stay indepedant because she wasn't willing to compromise her standards and faith for the sake of a label. I would heartily recommend her to minister anywhere. Check her out at www.kathleencarnali.com .

Awesome Night Ahead

About a year ago, I received an email asking about a female Christian artist that would like to come sing at the church. How many of those kind of emails do you get - about a zillion? Most of the time, they end up heading to the recycle bin. However, I do like to check out the artist's website, just to see if they are "all that" or not. So, I went to this artist's website, listened to her music, and short time later bought the CD. I was so impressed with her testimony, the quality and content of her music, and the anointing with which she ministers, that I had to try to have her come. So this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at Pitcairn Assembly of God, we are having Kathleen Carnali in concert. Hope you can come - I know you'll be blessed. She has caught the attention of our teens - and that is significant!

Praying In Victory

Wow, what a great trip to Indy we had! Our teens did good at Fine Arts and we are sure proud of them. And we so enjoyed both General Council and the Youth Convention. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, while we were gone, PA got some rain - church flooded out again as well as our basement at home, and someone broke into one of our church buildings and cut all the copper pipes out. When I got the news, I have to honestly say that I didn't get upset. More frustrated than anything, because it is one more thing added to my list of a million things to get done yesterday. Whew, it felt good to get that off my chest.
So as I was praying this morning, walking around the sanctuary all by myself, griping a little to God concerning my misfortune, I was reminded of something that I heard one time - rather than praying your problems, pray the victory - what I mean is - praying the Word out loud concerning your situation. Can I tell you that I came into the service ready this morning - ready to lead, ready to preach, ready for what God has ahead. I think I'll try this praying in victory more:-)

Aaaaargh!

Have you ever felt like everyone had the solution to church growth but you? Oodles of curriculum promising that your church will have explosive growth, seminars telling you if you follow their seven step plan, that you'll be building in six months, and internal pressure saying - what's wrong with me - why isn't my church growing exponentially? Aaaargh (as Charlie Brown was known to say)!

I have to admit that I had been caught in the whirlpool of church growth until the Lord impressed the scripture on my heart - Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, the builder will labor in vain. It's His house - I may be the foreman, but He is the architect, the owner, and the financier - so all my direction, I take from Him. And wow, does that take a load off of me! While some may see that as a naive idea, remember, it was simple faith that helped Peter walk on water!

Headed to Indy

You know how it is - trying to get everything ready and done ahead of time before you leave the office for a week. But what an exciting time - the top two new leaders in the AG will be chosen next week - and I'm praying that God will direct all that are voting. We can banter about who it should be over a cup of Starbucks, but in the end we should be led of the Holy Spirit as to who should be elected. And I'm so excited to have two different groups of our youth competing at the National Fine Arts competition!

On another note, the songs that the youth used to compete are from a great independent artist named Kathleen Carnali. She is the most anointed young Christian artist that I have ever come across. And the best part is - she's going to be at our church on August 15, 2007 at 7 p.m. Lots happening, but it's all part of the God-sized Dream!