How do you download a whole year’s worth?
You don’t. Not in one mind dump anyway. So here are just a few thoughts…
- One of my best friends, Pastor Rusty Hayes, spoke today and showed us that all churches have a choice to make between being a fortress church or an oasis church.
- Most church’s are fortress churches. They take care of their own, stay away from the big bad world, let evangelism take care of itself and sort of ‘hunker down’ and nervously await the Lord’s return from the safety of their fortress.
- An Oasis church is different. An Oasis church exists as a light on a hill—a beacon in the darkness, an Oasis in the desert. It’s there for the hurting, outcast, hopeless and downtrodden of this earth. All are welcome. All can find healing.
- So thankful Southbrook is an Oasis church and not a fortress church.
- Spending time with Rusty and Judi helped remind me that all church’s go through good times as well as difficult times. If you never do, you’re probably not bothering Satan enough for him to take interest.
- There’s nothing Satan loves more than a comfortable church. He’s as at home there as anyone!
- Second service was disproportionally large compared to the first. Just so you know, I didn’t want to set foot outside till the temp got above 20 degrees either!!!
- Looking forward to the start up of our midweek service THIS Wednesday. Start time is 6:30. Hope to see all of you there who desire to take your journey with Christ to the next level.
- Any late night dwellers reading this? Remember men, tomorrow morning at 6:30 am it’s time to man up at Southbrook Church. 6:15 for donuts and coffee. There will be a special guest as well. Hope to see a lot of you there! Can’t think of a better habit to get into for men who really want to be godly examples to the important people in their lives.
- Pray for Pastor Matt Chandler. He has been diagnosed with cancer. The tumor in his brain is malignant and he has a long battle ahead of him. He is (as far as I’m concerned) the greatest preacher alive today. And he is only 35.
- Things like this really remind me that of the sense of urgency God places within each one of us to live all out for Him with the relatively short time we have on this earth.
- Looking forward to 2010 and all that God has in store for Southbrook Church! A lot of things are getting on track for the first time ever and I really believe the best days are ahead for us!
- Love all of you! Keep serving Jesus with all you got!