Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday Mind Dump - August 28, 2011


Real good day.  Everything ran smooth from top to bottom.  It feels good to be doing church without having to struggle every step of the way, like in days past.  I was standing in the back this morning during music time just looking around and was amazaed at how many things are operational without my direct involvement.  We've come a long way.

Attendance was very strong too.  In fact, we had a new attendance record in the second service. 

A lot of new people are walking through the doors nowadays.

God is moving among our people, and He’s bringing new people to this church family.  I’m very encouraged by this.

Our church volunteers get a lot of credit for this.  They do such a great job of keeping PCC running in ship-shape and running most of our ministries and internal systems.  Without them none of this would be possible.

Ultimately, God gets all the glory.  Soli Deo gloria

The new ensemble/choir is very effective and enjoyable to watch.  I think the teen singers are really enjoying it too.  Perhaps we’ll open it up to adults soon.  I think that would be a lot of fun.

Don’t forget PCC University – Bible elective classes - which starts in a couple of weeks.

Don’t forget Financial Peace University -  Dave Ramsey’s financial coaching for debt free living – it also starts in a couple of weeks.

God showed up today and ministered to a lot of people in a variety of ways.  Some were rebuked, some encouraged, others challenged, still others were reassured.   His Word has a way of doing that.  It’s almost like someone has been reading our mail.

I really like Luke 14, especially when I came to understand the cultural context for banquets and what they meant to a first century Jew.

I am especially glad that God has pity on the downtrodden and includes marginalized people in His kingdom.  If not for this measure of grace, I would not have made it.

Luke 14 also vividly illustrates how God uses the poor to humble the proud.

The three excuses people made were not regarding sinful things.  They were the legitimate things in life:  their work, their investments, and their relationships.  Nothing wrong with any of these, but neither are they more important than our personal salvation.

The most astonishing thought to me from the parable was the fact that the house was FILLED even after those who were first invited refused to come.  In other words, God’s kingdom can go on with our without me.

Another thought is this:  God wants His House full even if it is filled with marginalized people.  Whow!

Right now I am having a piece of  land cleared that Renae and I hope to build our final home on one day.  The work started last Friday and will continue this week.  I’m very excited about this project.

I bought a new chain saw yesterday to do some tree trimming with.  In fact, I’ll be cranking it up later today and cutting down a few trees when it cools off a bit.

What a great church we have.


No comments: