3 services

Feb 1st, C3 Church will grow to 3 Sunday morning services! Our team will have to shoulder the jump. We have a great team and talked about today what each one needs in order to pull it off. Our services times will be 9am, 10:30, and noon. I'll tell you how it goes in few weeks. Also, we kicked off a Sunday night prayer service tonight. We had no clue what to expect, but we had over 40 adults who showed up to pray. I love our church.

Tim Tebow

Last night the Florida Gators won the NCAA Football National Championship game against Oklahoma. The quarterback of the winning team is a "class act" named Tim Tebow. Tim is an outspoken follower of Christ whose parents are missionaries. I thought it was awesome that the whole game and even after at the press conferences, when the camera was on his face you could read John 3:16. Where most players put the black paint under their eyes....his was painted very clearly, John 3:16. I heard of a preacher once who preached his entire message, standing behind a big cross. I think that is how we should live our lives. That when people look "at" or "to" us, they have to look at Jesus first. What do people see when they look at you?

critics

I heard a great quote that isn't mine, but here it is; "They've never raised a monument to a critic, only to those who were criticized." Which side are you on?

the loss

Last nights Buckeyes loss to Texas was devastating to all OSU fans. So close, yet so far away. Here is my take:
- Tressel coached as well as he could have.
He had a young QB that couldn't throw an accurate pass to save his life and receivers that (except for 1 catch) are less than stellar. AND our best running back got hurt and did not come back in. I know coach Jim Tressel will get all the heat, but I give him props for taking a less talented team (this year) and almost winning against the team that should've been in the National Championship Game.
- It all hinged on 1 play.
I hate when a big game comes down to a judgement call. I know Tressel challenged the play and in order to reverse any play, there has to be irrefutable evidence going the other way. I watched the replay and it was so close, I don't think it could have been changed whichever way the original call went. So had the referee marked the ball back 6 inches, the replay could not have changed the call on the field.
- It was the best game of all the big bowl games so far, that is for sure.
ADD moment...there is a little girl here in the coffee shop with her dad...and her pants are on backwards...way to go DAD! (I've been there too)

open hand

Planting a church comes with it's ups and downs. I heard one pastor say; "How do you grow a church to a 1,000? By letting 2,000 go." Another statistic of church planting says that HALF of those who started with you will move on in the first couple years. This is a tough part of church planting. We have tried to operate from the paradigm of an "open hand." Meaning that when people want to leave, we bless them and help them plug in elsewhere. Many times the conversations are because of the travel distance, but regardless it still is a bummer. I have learned that trying to convince people to stay is never beneficial and usually delays the inevitable. Besides, it's not about building "A" church, it's about building "THE" CHURCH!

ManUp

We had a great time last night at ManUp! We watched some football and had some serious tournaments with cornhole, rock/paper/scissors, Wii bowling and Euchre. Then we gave the challenge for men to step up and be better Men and husbands. We had 24 sign up and will have several more sign up Sunday. We are believing God to bring health to our marriages through this challenge. I'll let you know in 5 weeks!

change

What kind of year will 2009 be? When you boil it all down.....it is really our choice. I can choose to live a life that is based totally on reaction. Which basically says, what happens to me and inside of me is determined by outside factors. In this case, I am at the mercy of things I can't control. Or, I can choose to live my life intentionally. I can do this by setting goals and steps to reach them. Also, by deciding how I will react when things don't go my way. What are things that need to change inside of me, in order for God to grow me to the next level? Basically, what needs to change? How will I change it? When will I change it?
What will you change in 2009? Or will you be in the exact same place next year at this time?