The Greatest Gift

Every year at the church we present a Christmas Cantata on Christmas Eve. There are always lots of guests and old friends that come. This year we presented the musical "Hope Has Come" put out by Integrity Music. Our youth were involved in the drama, and my son who is 12 sang in the choir - I was bursting with pride!

The greatest gift that I received tonight was during the brief intermission where I shared the gospel message, five people gave their lives to Christ - is that awesome or what? I don't know about you, but as a pastor what jacks me up is seeing people step out of darkness into God's marvelous light!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Leadership

One of the greatest struggles of leadership is addressing your weaknesses. All of us as leaders excel at some areas and continually fall on our face in others. Some may be great organizers, and yet be lousy with people. Some are indecisive, yet love people and thrive there. Others may be great motivators, and yet fight with self-discipline. As I am growing into the leader God would have me to be, I am having to look at myself through clear lenses in a well-polished mirror in order to be real with myself over what areas of my leadership are going well, and those that need some work.

Soooo . . . , as God reveals me to me, I am praying that He will help develop and hone those areas that I'm growing into, and that He would shape me the way He desires. I'm just the clay, after all!

How about you?

Teen Challenge

I was just reading on Nick Poole's blog about his opportunity to teach at the local Teen Challenge. What some don't know is that David Wilkerson (the founder) was from the Turtle Creek area in Pittsburgh (pronounced Pittsburgh style - Turtle "Crick"). Tonight at church we had the guys come down from the local TC and were able to bless them with a home cooked dinner, some gifts, and some encouragement from the Word of God. I shared a message with them called - "It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish That Matters!" Lots of people can have a messed up start to their lives, but the God Factor can change their tomorrow and help them to finish life strong - strong in the Lord and in His power - can I have an AMEN?!