Day 2: For the second day in a row we had a transformer blow up in the parking lot, this time in the middle of worship. Our initial reaction as adults was figuring out how we safely move over three hundred students out of this dark room across the street to the one room with power. Our studnets reaction was to keep singing. I will never forget the sound of three hundred students packed into a small room with no power singing, “Here I am to Worship.” 

Day 3: We had several Middle School students present the gospel at VBS Mega Sports Camp and we saw 14 kids from the community surrender their lives to Christ! I was really proud of one of my Stuart students, Andrew Fowler, who shared the gospel on Wednesday and got to share the story with our campus on Sunday! Wow!

Day 4: On Thursday we held a Back to School Bash for the community. We had almost 1,000 people from the community come for the event which included free BBQ Chicken, bounce houses, a slip n slide, free school supplies, and a concert / gospel presentation from Rawsrvnt. As we began to run low on school supplies (we still had a very long line) we started praying that God would multiply our supplies. As we kept handing out supplies, the pile never seemed to get lower. We gave the final pack of supplies to the last person in line! It was like Jesus multiplying the bread and fish. He made sure we had enough for everyone! It was AMAZING!

These are just a few highlights from an amazing week! For a full recap including picture and video, check out our blog at http://cfbelleglade.com. Check out the WPTV news report as well as the cbs12.com news report on our students. You can also view last weekend’s video message from Pastor Todd and Pastor Shaun by clicking here.

Seven questions I am asking myself:

#1 – Am I fully connected to Christ… or am I letting the connection become loose?  (John 15:5)

#2 – Am I allowing anything to distract me, thus causing me to become less effective for Christ?  (Nehemiah 6:1-4)

#3 – Does Jesus have my whole heart… or am I knowingly holding out on Him?  (Matthew 22:36-40, Isaiah 29:13)

#4 – Am I more concerned with what Jesus wants or what others want?  (Galatians 1:10)

#5 – What is possible when the church actually becomes obsessed with Jesus and HIS mission and begins to impact the world?  (Matthew 16:18, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:41)

#6 – Am I dreaming big dreams…or am I obsessed with maintaining the status quo?  (Ephesians 3:20)

#7 – What’s next?  (Psalm 119:105)

Every year churches from all over the world share messages together, serve together, and give together. I believe it is an incredible way for the church to unite and to see what happens when we actually work together. Every church that participates in One Prayer has the opportunity to show messages from other churches, they are encourages to serve together with other churches in their community, and they all collect an offering that goes to planting churches all over the world!

This years theme for One Prayer is “God is.” I have already watched some great messages including God is NOT (Steven Furtick), God is HERE (Perry Noble), and God is STRONG (Francis Chan). Next up on the list for me to watch is this past weekend’s message God is FATHER (Craig Groeschel).

Check out the website at http://2009.oneprayer.com/ and see what God is doing through the church uniting. Maybe I can convince Pastor Tom to be part of this next year. What do you think?

I have read / heard this verse hundreds of times in many contexts but I saw it in a completely new way this week during a message by Steven Furtick. Often times we use this verse in reference to money or responsibility (example: if we are’nt faithful with a little money why would God give us more to handle). But this week God showed me how much of His word He has given me. So many of us have been fattend on God’s word. We read it daily and hear it several times a week and have unlimited access to it, but the question is, “what are we doing with it?”

One day we are all going to be held accountable to we’ve done with God’s word, no matter how much or how little of it we have consumed. Every week we read God’s word or listen to messages or podcasts, but too many times that serves as the end for us rather than the beginning. Too often our education outweighs our obedience. We have been given God’s word and we have responsiblity that comes with it. When God’s word exposes sin we must deal with sin. When it calls us to love we must love. When it calls us to rest we must rest. Maybe the last thing we need right now is more of God’s word; maybe what we need is to put what we already have into action.

Remember: To whom much is given, much will be required. How much of God’s word have you been given and what is He asking you to do?

1. Connection to the BIG PICTURE – We need to help our volunteers see the big picture. We need to share the same vision and same dream. We have to connect everything someone does to the bigger picture.

2. Defined boundaries and clear direction – Every volunteer should have an up to date, clear ministry position description. They need to know what we expect from them and what their boundaries are.

3. Authentic Relationships – We need to be relational with our volunteers, connect them relationally with other volunteers, and make sure they are relational with the people we are serving. Build relationships.

4. Real work do to – Volunteers want to do something that matters. If they are giving up there time they want to make the most of it. Make sure every volunteer has the chance to contribute to something that matters.

Which one of these four do you think is most important? What would you add to this list or take away? Comment and share your thoughts…