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Not unlike the ancient god, Janus, we look at the past to what we have experienced and ahead to what is in our future. The past we know, the future we don't. But trek on, we must. I mean, what's the alternative? I once tried total seclusion, but it didn't work for me. Even with all the economic bad news out there, there are still some exciting things in which we can look forward.
Which brings me to The Bridge, our church's new multi-site ministry. It's not my intention to keep anyone out of the loop or uninformed about The Bridge, so I've been busy keeping everyone informed via E-letter, church newsletter, bulletins, MyChurch, our website www.thebridgeofhavelock.com, word of mouth, etc.
In the last two Core Group meetings we finally set a definite launch date for the weekend of 21 February. We decided that it would be great to have an open house on the 21st and the worship time on Sunday, the next day. A couple of weeks ago we completed a short community survey. Renovations are being completed at the meeting site and we now have a promise for at least 100 chairs and a few tables. So we are moving along. After Christmas break, we are prepared to "hit the ground running" as our pastor says.
Please help us pray for a Campus Pastor. Securing this position will mean that we can request additional funds from our associations. Also, pray that our city's planning board will approve this whole idea and allow us to use the facility for what we need to use it for.
Let me take this opportunity to thank my MyChurch friends for their interest in our ministry project. To everyone I say...HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR IN CHRIST!
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My Favorite Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin pie, ask anyone. In fact, when my brother-in-law came to visit one day, I very reluctantly (emphasis mine) offered him a slice. Offering him a slice would mean that I would get one less! Well, I'm a better Christian now (I think), but the lesson learned here is to share what God has given. Luke (12:48b) says it stronger: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." I don't think I'm taking this out of context when I say that it goes beyond a slice of pumpkin pie.
We have been given a connection to God through his son, Jesus. It's a lifelong relationship that provides us with better values, a greater purpose and a generous heart. This relationship also comes with a responsibility to let others know about this spiritual connection with God. This is what our new multi-site ministry, The Bridge, is all about. It is a different way to reach those who seek answers to questions about life and spiritual things without feeling uncomfortable, pressured or judged.
As we approach Thanksgiving and then jettison the holiday as we move to another, be sure to give thanks to God for what he has given you, but also think about a special thing you can do for someone else to actually show your thanksgiving. After all...much is given, much is required...
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With the North American traditional Thanksgiving Holiday just around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to look at a few things; like where the first Thanksgiving feast was held. Actually, no one knows but there are a couple of competing locations: St. Augustine, Florida on September 8, 1565 or, if you prefer, at the Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts in 1621. The event was held at the end of the harvest season and celebrated with, you guessed it, harvest products!
Nowadays the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. We gather our friends and family, usually in the evening for a dinner and a time for giving thanks and expressing our wishes. We often think of the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day as the "Holiday Season". This was a slack time of the year for the early settlers as far as tending to the crops, but also a harrowing time of survival during the harsh winter months. Which causes me to re-think the earliest Thanksgiving celebrations: don't you think the folks who celebrated in Florida had more to look forward to than those who anticipated a harsh winter in Massachusetts?
How fortunate I am to live in North Carolina where the growing season is long and the winters are mild. Family and friends are only a short car drive away or a short flight from another state. Life is too short to do anything other than to enjoy the blessings of God. We've come a long way. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my MyChurch friends!
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Last night at our annual church's Fall Festival, I was talked into participating in a pie eating contest. All my efforts to excuse myself was depleted and then dismissed by a chanting and boisterous crowd cheering me on. So there I was, donning my barrel-size plastic bag in preparation for what I surely knew would be a messy event (I sport a mustache and full beard).
Before the mess began I glanced over at my pastor (friend?) who, by the way was part of the boisterous and cheering crowd, and gave one last sneer that said, "I'll get you for this!"
Now, don't forget...I love pie. Almost any kind of pie. I just don't like the mess of eating a pie with no hands. You can understand my reluctance, right? Alas, the contest began. As expected I made a mess of myself during the ranting of the crowd. Of course I was not alone, there were five other suckers who volunteered to make a mess of themselves. I could hear my grandson, Nicholas saying to himself, "I can't watch, my poor PaPa!" And there I was, hunched low over the children's table, licking and slurping vanilla pudding and cream pie until I was down to the crust. I was done and I was first to be done. Then Angie, the organizer of this humiliating event, shouted out more rules, "You need to eat the whole thing...crust and all!" Maaaaaaaannnnnnn, it's all I could do to eat the filling; so I quit.
Besides, my stomach was full, folded over the small table, and I didn't know if I was going to keep it all in there. "I'm done," I said to myself and sat up and watched the others eat until a winner was announced. Do I have a spiritual moral to this story? If I stretch it a bit, maybe I could say that gluttony is a sin, or indulging one's desire (remember: I love pie) only leads to bad feelings, or put your own moral to it...I just wanted to share.
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I haven't blogged lately, especially about our new multi-site ministry called The Bridge. It's because I'm really busy and don't have time for much else besides my church responsibilities and now The Bridge. So...
Things are progressing right along with The Bridge. The big news it that it's looking pretty good for a worship location. Actually, we have two options we are looking at (a third option just became known this past weekend). The Core Group has visited the most likely one last Tuesday night and we are reviewing the lease as of this writing.
Another development is the submission of a job description for a lead pastor to a local University Divinity School. We hope to have some interested individuals contact us soon. After the worship location and lead pastor issues are solved, we can then submit a request for financial assistance to the local church association and the state denominational offices.
The Bridge has a new website, too. It's still under construction, but I'll share it's address soon, when we get something on it!
I appreciate the prayers and support that happens through the MyChurch family. I've shared some of your comments and encouragements to the Core Group. We are committed to our vision statement which says we are to "To witness the complete transformation of our city as people become fully devoted followers of Christ."
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