Thoughts on the Weekend

Today was a great day.

• Jeremy and the worship team really blew the doors off.
• When Heather sang “Beautiful” it messed me up (that’s a good thing)
• The drama team did such an awesome job with set design and the skits through-out the Full Service Series. Really proud of Pastor Kim and her team.
• The closing message for the series today was “Trust”.
• The main questions were “Do you really Trust God?” and “Can God really trust you?”

I really strive to a person that God can trust with everything that He has given me. I’ve been blessed with a great family and beautiful daughters and granddaughter and an incredible wife. A great church family to serve with and all the people that are being added to that family. I have my health. A home. Food to eat and a job. But the trick for all of us is giving all that back to God. I think it’s a lot harder than just saying it or typing in a blog... Trusting and obeying God completely is a challenge for us all but one that brings more reward than you can imagine...
Well, that was my week-end. Now I’m off to the mountains for some hang-time with my staff. I’m looking forward to some great brain storming ideas.


The Grill-King

Positively Positive

Wow!  I’m a big believer in the power of positive thinking and positive speaking.   The other day Tawana was relating how, in the course of the day, almost every conversation that she had with other people was them informing her of how messed up their day was and how they were either stressed out, maxed out, under-appreciated or just plain sick.  Now I certainly realize that these are crazy times and we all have struggles that we will face and those feelings of frustration and despair or whatever you wanna call them are going to come our way, of course, but my deal is that we need to confront these feelings and learn to power through them with positive statements and positive thoughts.  I have learned that I need that safe place to “vent” my frustration but then to leave it there and remind myself of what the Word of God says... “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4  To remind myself that it’s not my strength that will carry me through (thank God!) but the strength of a God who never leaves me alone.  I remind myself that God knows exactly what’s going on and that He is bigger than my storm.... I am MORE than an overcomer through Christ who gives me strength!  
Oh yeah.... And then Tawana reminds me that it is she who reminds me of what I need to be reminded of! (lol)  Thank God for women who tell us the truth!  Positively!!!!!!!

Mikala's 12th Birthday

Just wanted to post this pic of the most beautiful 12 year old in the world..... We had a little party for Mikala this week and we took this shot. I look really old and she looks way too old as well :)

Naptime?

Have you ever been tired?  I mean just worn out.... Somehow this weekend really took it out of me.  I’m now sitting at a coffee shop waiting for a friend to meet me and I’ve just got to thinking about rest.  I’ve spoken with so many people, myself included, who have been doing some serious spiritual warfare.  Yes....yes... I know the battle is the Lord’s but that doesn’t seem to help me much in the worry department.  However I think that what I am learning (again:) is what we find in Psalm 91:1 ”He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  What was that word.... REST....  I’m finding that the more I dwell or hang out with God and trust Him to watch out for me I’m much more “Rested”.  I think that is a lesson for us all to learn repeatedly.... God really is in control..  Just trust Him.... And look for His shadow and take a nap :)

Hittin' the Ocoee

Tonight, myself and about 20 guys are heading down to Benton, TN to do some white water rafting. I’m really looking forward to getting to hang out around a campfire and just get to know some of the guys from LTG. You might say that I should already know them if they attend LTG but the reality is that spending a couple hours a week at a worship service doesn’t really give me the opportunity to just hang out and learn who they really are. Sitting around a campfire with a cup of coffee worshipping God and is something to really look forward to.

Also, this Sunday we start a brand new series called “Full Service”. Our creative arts pastor, Kim Wallace, has really outdone herself this time. The stage looks great... And the skits the team has put together are too funny. You don’t want to miss any of the next three Sunday services. Come expecting God to do something incredible.

Just a note

I just wanted everyone to know that I wouldn’t be updating the blog for a few days.  Kinda taking a break from tech...  But is will tell you this.... This last weekend with Kent Henry was uuuummmmmm..... Well, I’m not sure that I can put it into a short blog.  At LTG we have been having some incredible services and prayer times.... Kind of like the metaphor of the tipping point... We’ve been full and needed that push to move to spill-over  and this weekend was it.  Kent really brought it..... He really spoke INTO our church, not just AT our church.  I can’t wait to see what happens this weekend!