Cooperland

Since yesterday was Labor Day and, more importantly, since I was busy working at my church’s new building to get ready for our grand opening I didn’t get a chance to post my thoughts over last week.  So, here we are and here they are.

• God is awesome! Can I start by saying that?  Yes?  Okay, so we’re cool.
• 14 kids in Kids Zone.
• 6 students in the Beyond Youth.
• Have you seen the sneak peek pics of the new LGM building?
• We’ve been working really hard to get the building ready for this coming Sunday, and I think we’ll be right on time.  Everything is looking good.  Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.
• Quick reminder.  A building doesn’t make a church.  People make up a church, and THE Church.  I don’t recall Jesus dying for a building.  He died for people.  You, me, and everyone.
• Frustrations can come from the most unlikely places.  Keep your head up, and keep moving forward.
• The Crossover Drama Team is back!  Our first practice was Sunday.  The performers were awesome.  I am so proud of each of you.
• Let me end by saying that my wife is the greatest woman alive.  I’m still trying to determine how she puts up with me.

Enjoy your short work week.

Last week was a really rough week so I’ll try my best an organize my thoughts.

• Let me start by saying a special thank you to my God for allowing me to serve him.  He’s such an awesome God.
• God is the God of freedom.  Freedom from religion & Pharisaical rules.  Being a Christian is about following God.  Not a man-made to-do list.
• 20 kids in Kids Zone.  Awesome!
• 6 students in the Beyond Youth.  Excellent!
• The Beyond Youth had their first prayer walk focusing on a back-to-school theme.  We prayed for fellow students, administrators, teachers, and parents.  It was a good walk, and I’m expecting great things this school year.
• The prayer walk couldn’t have come at a better time.  A Berkeley High student lost his life on Saturday, and our prayers to the hurting students and families will go a long way.  Now to figure out how we can physically help.  If you have an idea, then please hit me up.
• Parents are a huge part of Life-Givers, Beyond Youth, and Kids Zone.  Thank you for all of your hard work in raising your children, and supporting your church.
• Thanks to Restoration Ministries for hosting the awesome concert on Saturday.  It was a great time of worship.

God bless.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts for this past week.

• 2 Timothy 3:16 is a huge verse to comprehend.  The phrase “inspired by God” comes from the Greek word theopneustos meaning “divinely breathed in.”  The Holy Spirit spoke these words to the writers of the Bible making it not just a book, but the Word of God.
• 61 bags of school supplies were given away at this weekend’s Back to School Outreach.  And many prizes were raffled away!  People were loved, and God was glorified.  I love being a pastor.
• 18 kids in Kids Zone yesterday.  More importantly, they’re loving the new format.
• 6 students in the Beyond Youth.  I love you guys and girls.
• That makes 24 students at Life-Givers yesterday.  With at least 60 in attendance (I’m unsure of the exact number) that’s a percentage of 40%.  Don’t tell me that student ministry isn’t a huge part of the Church.
• The new building is a huge stepping stone for LGM, and I’m excited for it’s future.
• The new school year is underway, and I’m hearing a lot of growns from a lot of students.  Enjoy your time while you can.  It won’t be long until you’re an adult with adult responsibilities, and you’ll be wishing for time off.

I love you all.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts for this past week.

• Three people answered God’s call to salvation yesterday.  Awesome!
• It’s amazing how something as costly as our freedom from sin can be given away free of charge.
• For the first time in the history of Life-Givers Ministries a sermon wasn’t delivered.  The presence of God was so thick and real in the service that it would have been futile and moronic to add to what God was already doing.
• Sometimes I need to learn when to simply close my mouth.  In other words, follow James 1:19, “quick to listen, slow to speak.”
• Remember last week when I said that good things were a coming?  Yeah.  So, the announcement was made that Life-Givers will be moving from the school we’ve been renting to our first permanent building.  Not only that, but from my point-of-view the people accepted the call to action.  For a sneak peek of the new building, check it out using Google Street View.
• Creativity is great as long as it doesn’t become the priority over actually delivering the Word of God.  I came to this conclusion when I noticed that I was falling into this trap.  This past week I decided and implemented the plan to get alone with God, allow God to give me the message from his word, and then to resolve to deliver it.
• Hearing two people speak their love to one another is touching.  Witnessing their wedding is breathtaking.  Watching them live their love is life-changing.
• I love my church.  Can’t say that enough.
• I also love my students.
• Speaking of students, it was nice seeing a couple of them that haven’t been to church in a while.  Also, Dylan got his license and a new truck.  You go boy!
• Can I get a hollar from all of the parents whose kids are going back to school this week?

I love you all.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts for this past week.

• Being different isn’t so bad.  Praise God for who he made you to be instead of wanting him to change you to who you want to be.
• It’s awesome seeing some of the Beyond Youth participate on Sunday mornings.  Alexis and Tiffany on the praise team and Cullen, Kameron, and Morgan in Kids Zone.  Thank you so much.  You make me proud.
• Bridgett and I celebrated her parents’ anniversary yesterday.  It wasn’t a big ordeal, but a date worth celebrating.
• Keep your expectations high.  Good things are’a comin’.
• The first day of the LGM apparel sale was a great success.  Twenty-five (25) pieces were ordered, and we will have 3 weeks left.  Can we make it to 100?  That’s my goal!
• By-the-way, there were 17 students in Kids Zone yesterday.  Yep!  We’re growing.  I’m expecting at least 20 next Sunday.
• Thank you to my pastors, Jason and Audrey, for opening your home to us yesterday.  We had a great time just having a great time.
• If you haven’t been at Life-Givers lately, we’ve been missing you.
• Ryder is an awesome little boy.  Thank you, Amy, for letting Bridgett babysit him.  He’s a blast.
• Just before I posted this Rewind post I read a tweet by my mentor that resonated with me.  He said, “It’s ok if people don’t often understand you. Admit it, you probably don’t often understand yourself. LOL“  How did he know?  I live this out everyday.

I love you all.

Not posting many thoughts, but here’s what I’ve got.

• Lesson to the Beyond Youth: You are valuable.  You are valuable to your family, to your friends, to your church, & especially to God.  So valuable that things aren’t the same when you’re not around.  Also, you have a place in this world just like each puzzle piece has a specific place in a puzzle.  Read Romans 12:4-6.
• Awesome to see all of the help with Kids Zone yesterday.  Thanks specifically to Lisa, Robbie, Tasi, and Ashley.
• Note to leaders: When at your church’s service, it’s not about who’s missing.  Focus on the people who are there.  Make them feel important.  They are the most important people to lead at that time.  Read this post by Tim Schmoyer that explains this.  It focus is on youth, but it’s just as important to kids and adults.
• Present your everyday life an offering to God.  Read Romans 12:1.
• Excited to be starting a group project with the Beyond Youth.  We’re putting together a puzzle.  Yeah!  It doesn’t seem like much, but it’s called spending quality time with each other.
• CALLING ALL PARENTS! Look out for some better communication coming your way.
• I like the Royal Caribbean motto: Why not?
• Got a great fundraiser coming starting next week.  We’re going to be taking orders for t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies.  Stay tuned for more information.  (By-the-way, all of the money will be going for the Beyond Youth trip to Accelerant 2011.)

Enjoy!

Getting this post out early while I can.  Here are my thoughts.

• There is a constant tug-of-war in every person between the sinful nature and God.  Sin is pulling you away from God while God is wanting you to be near him.
• We are creatures of habit and routine.  Imagine breaking your routine for one day, and the chaos that would ensue.  That still amazes me.  As my mentor would say, “Blessed are the flexible.”
• Congrats to Macey, Kinsey, and Lauren for a great softball season which ended this past week.
• Also glad to have Bridgett back from Youth Quest.  After her being away for three weeks in the past two months it’s good to have her home.
• From what I hear, Youth Quest was great.  Ashley did great performing her talent, and Alexis had the time of her life.  That’s awesome.
• Finally, to the students of Life-Givers, enjoy the rest of your summer.  The new school year is almost here.  It’s less than a month away.

Have a great day.

Because I was a victim of the Internet nightmare in North Charleston today I wasn’t able to post my Rewind post this morning.  So, here it is.

• I could be a pastor anywhere.  Even getting paid to hold the position at a church, but I chose Life-Givers because that’s where God wants me.  And I love it every day.
• This sending Bridgett off for a week to have fun is getting old.  She’s now gone to Youth Quest in Florida, and I’m jealous.  I want to be there, too.
• Learning to lose gracefully is just as important as learning to win humbly.
• It was good being able to lead the offering yesterday morning, and to introduce Robbie to give his testimony.
• Speaking of Robbie, I was waiting on him to preach.  And I mean preach!
• I found this dry erase board, and I want it.
• I have a new-found respect for the men and women who work overtime every day/week.  I did it for two weeks straight.  It takes a lot of resolve to keep going.

Have a great day.

Here are my thoughts over the past week.

• I love being a pastor.  It is the greatest “job” in the world.
• We took a huge step forward yesterday with Kids Zone.  A huge thank you to Stephanie and Susan for their hard work.  It is greatly appreciated.
• I love my wife, Bridgett.  Just saying.
• Don’t let your problems hold you back from completing God’s assignment for you.  Push forward.  Move ahead.  GET IT DONE!
• Pastor = Coach. I’m learning this very quickly.
• Who said that homework can’t be assigned to a youth group?  I did it yesterday.  So far, one student has turned her’s in.  Awesome!
• There were approximately 20 students at Life-Givers yesterday: 13 in Kids Zone & 7 in the Beyond Youth.  And that’s during vacation season.  Don’t mind me.  I’m just bragging a little bit.
• I worked way too much last week.  More than I wanted to, but I guess sometimes stuff’s just gotta get done.  At least, I enjoy working with my co-workers.
• New Kids Zone logo.  Check it out.
• Lastly, I love everyone at Life-Givers Ministries.  Thank you for giving Bridgett and me the liberty to serve.

Have a great day.

It’s great to finally have a holiday from work. Not sure what I’m going to do, but it won’t be much.

Anyway, here is my list of thoughts over the past week.

• Once again, the best service ever at Life-Givers was last Sunday.
• I’ve been excited about the future before (in fact, I am most of the time), but God has been more excited than ever.  It almost makes me restless.  God’s up to something BIG.  Get ready!  It’s coming.
• Sometimes when we ask God for a harvest he gives us a handful of seeds. Stop expecting a handout, and do some work.
• Independence Day is a great holiday, but my true freedom comes from God not a piece of paper.
• Camp Meeting couldn’t have been better this year.  The change in SCIPHC leadership has brought a new atmosphere.  Be sure to watch Bishop Greg Amos’ vision session.
• Thanks to Dylan, Lauren, and Macey for going with Bridgett and me to the youth night at Camp Meeting.  I enjoyed having you with us.
• Just when I thought that Bridgett and my camp season was over Bridgett was called to substitute a counselor that couldn’t serve.  I guess we’re still going.
• Finally, I mentioned on Facebook about wanting to share something about the new ministry year for the Life-Givers’ student ministries.  I can’t go into detail, but I can give you a phrase to memorize: Student Takeover.

Enjoy.