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To Sum It Up

• Cynthia, Debbie & Daniel Cort and the rest of the production/band team did an amazing job leading worship.  It was one of my all-time favorite Sundays!
• The only think that I like better is when Debbie & Daniel happen to sit behind me in the service and sing in our congregation.  God has gifted us with a multitude of talented vocalists and musicians!
• My takeaway from yesterday is that Jesus is truly the ONLY way to everlasting salvation.
• I love Palm Sunday.  I love the fact that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, an indication that He was coming in peace.  But the people of Jerusalem responded by laying down their robes and palm branches in His path, an indication of royalty!  He came to this earth to bring peace and those who followed Him made Him King of their lives.  I LOVE THAT!
• We can do that same thing in our own personal lives.  He comes to being peace and we should respond by making Him King of our personal lives.

I've been praying specifically for people to make lasting commitments to Christ at HHICC.  These past few weeks, during our message series I AM, I've been offering an invitation for first time salvations, recommitments, and assurance of salvation commitments.  Two weeks ago, we had two people make first time commitments, last week another two and yesterday at least seven.  God is moving in the life of HHICC and our Island!  He is hearing our prayers.! Would you join me in praying for our Easter services this coming Sunday?

• Pray for good weather for Saturday set-up and  for Sunday worship services.
• Pray that many people come prepared to have Jesus radically changes their lives.
• Pray that there are many brand new lives who answer "YES" to the question, "Do you believe?"

I hope you can join me on Thursday for our Maundy Thursday service as we reflect on Christ's death for us through communion, prayer, and worship. If you are a Christ follower, this service will be an amazing opportunity for you to express your love and gratitude toward Christ and his sacrifice for you.

So...it's Easter Week! I look forward to seeing you Thursday and then Sunday, 9:30 or 11:00 AM under the "covered environment." (it's a tent, Cynthia...)

I dream of a church...

This past Sunday, I preached a message entitled "I dream of a church."  If you are a part of the Hilton Head Island Community Church family and did not have the opportunity to hear it, I encourage you to take a listen this week.  On our four year anniversary and  the dawn of this new chapter now called Hilton Head Island Community Church,  I wanted to define what kind of church we are to be. We'll get to what we'll do as a church in the days, weeks and months to come, but I thought it was important to describe who we should be right out of the gate.

I dream of a church...

• ...that tells people that they can belong before they must believe or behave.
• ...that offers people the opportunity to deal with their habits, hurts and hang-ups without the embarassment of being judged.
• ...that is a spiritual urgent care center open for people to receive healing in a time of crisis.
• ...that demonstrates the love of Christ to those who are suffering.
• ...that allows broken people who have been redeemed to passionately worship God.

It may not always be easy or pretty. In fact, sometimes it'll be downright difficult and messy.  God's love is so strong that there is NOTHING that can seperate us from it (Romans 8:38-39). In light of this, we should be compelled to create an environment for people to be drawn toward that love regardless of where they are coming from.  The world needs the answer we have.  Let's not be afraid to share it!

no more gongysmos!

I was listening to a podcast from one of my favorite pastor's - Rob Bell from Mars Hill Church - while on one of my morning jogs earlier this week.  Rob is going through the book of Philippians and talked about Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."  I never knew this but, but the Greek word for grumbling that is used here is the Greek word gongysomas.  Now, that mean's nothing to you and me, but seriously, don't you love that word?  Here is what it means: arguing-foolish disputatious reasoning - reasoning that have ulterior and malicious desires.

As I was running and listening, I realized two things: 1 - Paul's audience was the Philippians.  They were fairly mature Christians and his writings are one's of encouragement.  I think that even the most mature Christians needs to be reminded often to not grumble and argue. 2 - Recently, I've been the biggest gongysmos"er" that I know!  My life sometimes is boiled down to how much I just gongysmos all the time!  I get my eye off the ball and get very petty and trite.  I must correct that and be, as Paul says just like a few verses later "shine like stars in the universe" So, who wants to join me?  Let's shine like stars and....no more gongysmos!