The weekend of March 23-25 is going to be huge. As a result it is almost all I have been able to think about. That Friday is the Spring Bash (which by the way you really need to get you and your friends registrations forms into me soon) and it is going to be awesome. So much fun packed into one night and a glimpse at what God amongst your generation to reach this city. How cool is that? Which is all the more reason why you really need to be reaching out to your friends and getting them to go to this event. Open yourself up to God using you to connect your friends to Him. There is nothing cooler. Not even a night full of craziness like this one. But if you can throw the two together then that just gets ridiculous. Man that night is going to be great.
Also, I have school that Friday night. Yeah. My class begins at 6 and goes to 9. Looks like I will be skipping a part of that class for the sake of good times. Come on, a man has to have priorities. But Saturday when you all go home and go to bed I will be going to class from 8 to 4. Ouch. I might have to keep a running blog of that entire weekend because I am sure it is going to be insane . I wonder how many times I will fall asleep in class. I'm thinking it will be between 8 and 12 times. Good times.
Then on Sunday we kick off our new series, Before You Say, "I Do." I really looking forward to that. The series I will be doing is actually an adaptation of a series my youth pastor, Bobby, did when I was in high school. That series really helped define and shape a lot about who I would date, when I would date and what I would do on a date. Even more it helped me prepare for marriage. Sure at the time I was not even thinking about getting married, but that was the point. It helped me see that I needed to prepare for a great marriage now if I wanted one later. Thankfully by God's grace He helped me do that. As a result I am incredibly happily married to the most amazing woman I know. My prayer is that this series will help y'all start making decisions now that will impact your future marriage. My prayer is that all of you will marry incredible spouses and have awesome marriages. That is why we are doing this series. That is also why you should invite your friends to come on March 25th to join us for this series.
This is a really important topic in every one's life. It amazes me how in our world today we are taught so many things. You are taught how to tie your shoes. You are taught how to spell (some of you at least). You are taught how to drive. You are taught how to play sports or how to play instruments. You are taught how to get into college. You will be taught the skills you need to do your future job. But when are you taught how to have a great marriage? Seriously. Maybe that is why over 50% of all marriages, Christian or non-christian, end in divorce. Over 50%. Is that what you hope for one day? Is that what your friends are hoping? Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I can't wait to fall in love, get married, have a few kids and then get divorced." No, no one does. Yet over 50% of marriages end up that way. That is why this series is a big deal. That is why I really am excited about it for you and for your friends. So come and hear what God has to say and bring your friends so they can hear it too. Because God is good and He wants what is best for you and He knows the way that leads to a great marriage. So come and get your friends to come so you can all hear what the best way is.
So that is what I have been thinking about. I can't wait for that weekend. I hope you are excited about it too and I hope you are getting your friends excited about it as well.
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Gathering: March 11th
I feel like there are three things worth mentioning from this Sunday.
1. Stan did a great job. The talk was definitely memorable and the point was important. We must obey even when it doesn't make sense. I loved the examples of what that looks like in our life that he gave at the end of his talk. Having to love people who seem unlovable (like your little brother or that one kid in your class...), having to serve people even when we would rather be served and being commanded to share the gospel even when it is not easy or what you feel like doing. If we could obey God in just those three areas we would really be doing something for His kingdom. I look forward to hearing from y'all about how that plays out in your life.
2. I miss Jason. To me it seems like it has been a year since Jason has lead worship for The Gathering. Getting to hear him in big church this Sunday was bittersweet. He did a great job and it was a great time of worship, but since he was doing it down there we didn't have him with us. Well maybe one of these days soon he will grace us with his presence again. In fact maybe if everyone who reads this just decides to post a plea to Jason to come back to us he might show up again. Join with me in proclaiming: " Jason and Beth don't go to that wedding next week, come back to us!!!"
3. No discussion groups. Yeah, sorry about that. I missed judged the time because we weren't having worship and yet I did announcements upfront. Sorry that I made us miss the discussion groups. I am a doofus. We will have an extended time in discussion next week though and I am looking forward to hearing from y'all about what God has been teaching you lately and how that has been affecting your lives.
So those are my three observations. Now it is your turn. Let me know what you think.
1. Stan did a great job. The talk was definitely memorable and the point was important. We must obey even when it doesn't make sense. I loved the examples of what that looks like in our life that he gave at the end of his talk. Having to love people who seem unlovable (like your little brother or that one kid in your class...), having to serve people even when we would rather be served and being commanded to share the gospel even when it is not easy or what you feel like doing. If we could obey God in just those three areas we would really be doing something for His kingdom. I look forward to hearing from y'all about how that plays out in your life.
2. I miss Jason. To me it seems like it has been a year since Jason has lead worship for The Gathering. Getting to hear him in big church this Sunday was bittersweet. He did a great job and it was a great time of worship, but since he was doing it down there we didn't have him with us. Well maybe one of these days soon he will grace us with his presence again. In fact maybe if everyone who reads this just decides to post a plea to Jason to come back to us he might show up again. Join with me in proclaiming: " Jason and Beth don't go to that wedding next week, come back to us!!!"
3. No discussion groups. Yeah, sorry about that. I missed judged the time because we weren't having worship and yet I did announcements upfront. Sorry that I made us miss the discussion groups. I am a doofus. We will have an extended time in discussion next week though and I am looking forward to hearing from y'all about what God has been teaching you lately and how that has been affecting your lives.
So those are my three observations. Now it is your turn. Let me know what you think.
A Little Seminary Reading...
Well, I finished Velvet Elvis this weekend and so it is time to do a little school reading. Right now I am taking a class that covers the books: Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, Romans, Ephesians and Philippians. It is definitely a hodge-podge class but so far it has been pretty good. My prof is really smart and knows his stuff, so that is nice. The book I have to read this week is actually by him. It is called And I will Praise Him: A Guide to Worship in the Psalms. I think after reading this maybe I will be ready to lead worship on Sundays until we get Jason back. Okay, maybe not. But the book should be cool. I love the book of Psalms and my prof has really devoted himself to studying it (hence the book) and so I am looking forward to it. I will let you know what I thought of it when I finish.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
