Crazy awesome week!

What a great week! My niece Mindy got married on Friday here at the church it was an awesome ceremony other than the fact that it was so hot because one of the air conditioners went out. Then we had the reception at my sisters home down the street. It was so incredibly beautiful! Saturday we spent the day tearing down from the wedding and setting back up for Worship, then we went to an Akron Aeros baseball game with a group from from Church. Yesterday I was up at 5:30 and back in here to get ready for the main event. And again, what a great day. The worship was inspiring and the people were all so full of energy and anticipation for what God was going to do, but again..it was HOT! Following the service we held our annual business meeting, it is so exciting to see what God has done just in the last 6 months!

Well, here I am its Monday morning and a new week has begun.

I'm pumped up about what God will do this week!

The Best is Yet to Come!

I recently read a quote from Howard Hendricks who is a professor at the Dallas Theological Seminary. It has really stuck with me. He said: "When your memories are more exciting than your dreams, you've begun to die."

When I look out at all of you First Baptist Churchers each weekend I know that you are dreamers! I can see it in your eyes. You have caught the vision of what God can do in this generation.

There is no doubt that God is doing awesome things at First Baptist Church. There is an excitment that I have never experienced before. The music is soul stirring. People are worshipping in freedom, and I can see evidence of God's Spirit as people clap, smile and even weep. Every week there are new people, and every week there has been someone who has made a decision to follow Christ. Our attendace is higher than it has been in years, and Summer is statistically our lowest attended services.

We are not a dying church because our dreams are bigger and more exciting than our past! We are going to be a place where people far from God will Discover Christ, Development in their relationship with Him, and in turn Impact their world. Never stop dreaming!

Hold on to your seats, the best is yet to come!

Weekend Reflections

I keep thinking that the weekends cant get any better and then, they do. This past weekend was nothing short of Awesome! We had the Church campout at Swiger's lake on Friday and Saturday. We went swimming and fishing at both the Swiger's and the Whittaker's. In the evening we had a huge fire pit with a large grate over top. We cooked corn on the cob, potatoes, hamburgers, sausage, hotdogs, barbecued chicken, shishcabobs, fried fish (that we caught and cleaned ourself) and french fries, baked beans and even macaroni and cheese!! Not to mention the chips and salads and watermelon. It was a great time of fun and fellowship. Saturday night after we ate, we had a Bonn fire and hayrides. There were over 60 people there and it was great fun! (If you missed it, we are planning another camp out over labor day).
Then Sunday was the perfect ending. We had a great crowd, even for a holiday weekend, The worship was uplifting and energizing! We had a great time in God's word and we had a awesome response at the end as we all committed to "FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT" and stand with our students and teens to defend their rights from God in their generation.

The best part of all was that two more people raised their hands that they accepted Christ into their heart for the very first time!

I have to say to all you First Baptist Churchers. I have never been more excited about a community of believers than I am about you! You have caught the Vision that Jesus has, and with God on our side I know that nothing can stop us now!

Brace Yourself

If there is anything that I have learned in my 15 years of ministry it is that if there is no oposition to you, or if there is nobody who dislikes you, you are probably not doing anything for the forces of evil to worry about. It is only when you decide to stand up and be counted. To be a catalyst for change in your generation, that Satan takes notice. It is then that you will begin to face various oposition and threats and accusations in an attempt to silence you and keep you from staying on course. You can never use personal attacks as an excuse to sound a retreat. As Dwight D. Eisenhower said "there are no victories at bargain prices"
So if you are determined to be victorious in your life and your calling, brace yourself, a battle is coming.

Thanks

I was just sitting in my office looking through the connection cards from our services over the past month. God has been doing some great things here at First Baptist! There are lives that are being changed and people who are finding God for the first time. Of cousre I am thankful to God for what he is doing here, but I dont want to forget all of the people who help make it all happen. There are so many people that volunteer and make First Baptist a place where people can Discover God and Develop in their relationship with him. From the nursery to Student ministries, and ushers and greeters, decorators who make everything esthetically pleasing and interesting. Musicians and sound crews that help bring us into the presence of God each week. People who pray and give and even volunteer in the church office. This is a place run by volunteers who love God and love people. I am so fortunate to be a part of a team of individuals who choose to serve God in such a powerful way. Thanks.

MY GENERATION

Can't wait until Sunday for the first week in our new series MY GENERATION! The set on the platform is almost finished, the band rehersed last night and they sound great! And I am pumped up about the talk that I have to give. It's going to be awesome!! There is still time to invite your friends and I'll see you on sunday!!!