Today was a marvelous day at hyde park...
...Last week = No Band, No iServe team, No multi-media, No lights (well, special lighting - we didn't worship in the dark) - if you don't know what that was all about you need to check this out. Today everyone was back (PRAISE JESUS!) and it was "ON"!!! Here's what's in my mind on this Sunday Nite:
- Can you believe that today is November 1st?
- Pastor's Message, his 4th in his "Be Free" series was excellent as he tackled some pretty theological stuff in the easy-to-understand way that has become his trademark. I am SO THANKFUL for a man who understands that high on his list of priorities is helping people actually understand God's word that they might apply it to their lives.
- Remember: You are God's child by GRACE ALONE through FAITH ALONE in CHRIST ALONE.
- I love me some "fall-back" Sunday's! Can I order an extra hour of sleep for next week as well.
- SO EXCITED to see the iServe team back in full-force this morning! I LOVE those smiling faces who demonstrate what it means to "make Sunday the Best Day of the week". Our iServe team understands the passion behind that statement.
- I wonder what the church in general (big "C") would be like if all those who call Jesus "Lord" would take on the attitude of servant rather than spectator to the Christian life?
- I was so ready to lead worship this morning! I took a day Thursday for the purpose of prayer, refocus and quiet... it worked!
- Found myself a little distracted during the 10:30 service - by what, you ask? CHRISTMAS! I was thinking about the amazing series we are planning for Christmas and the outreach opportunity that will go with it - God might blow the doors off this place!!!!
- By the way, it was Pastor's fault I was distracted: he was the one who mentioned Christmas being 8 weeks away.
- We opened with the Gospel, pure and simple: You lived, You died, You said in 3 days You would rise, You did - Your alive - You rule, You reign, You said You're coming back again, I know You will and all the earth will sing Your praises!
- DANG!!! Christmas is 8 weeks away?!?!?
- That previous statement is SO TRUE: some will sing madly, some gladly but I believe ALL will declare Him Lord (once again, because HE said it to be true!!)
- Only one thing can make the 10:30 service any better: the people who attend 10:30 take ownership of the service and begin utilizing the service as a tool, inviting their friends, family, neighbors and work associates and begin seeing them SAVED. That's the only thing that would make 10:30 better.
- In other words, 10:30 is generally pretty amazing.
- Wondering how many took advantage of the half-off specialty drinks in the ROC Cafe' this morning? If you haven't tried it the Chocolate Espresso is my favorite!
- Today's Music: All the Earth Will Sing (Paul Baloche), O Praise Him w/Doxology (Crowder / Cottrell arrangement), God of the City (Tomlin / Passion). Powerful stuff.
- By the way, last night's Trunk-A-Treat/Fall Festival was so successful. I'm continuously blown-away by what happens every October 31st - by far the biggest community event we do each year. This year I intentionally did NO OUTSIDE ADVERTISEMENT (we didn't even put it on the marquee sign out front) - I wanted to see if it would matter; it didn't. We registered 2,000 people - no telling how many more got by us without registering. We will utilize that information over the next 2 months to reach out to our community.
- I drove the "hyde park railroad" for an hour and forty-five minutes... literally ran it until the tires started going flat!!!
- Lots of fun - we couldn't have done it without the hundred plus people who served - without YOU there is no fall festival. THANKS TO YOU ALL!
- Oh... and thank You Jesus for holding off the rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning. It threatened rain all morning - we had none. That was a prayer of mine today.
- I had all intentions to say this at the close of both services (and forgot) so I'll say it now: I know that for many of you who attend hyde park the music is a BIG PART of your worship experience - we are currently receiving new choir members - Anyone who is interested in being part of the worship choir at either 9am or 10:30am services please join us this Wednesday Nite at 8pm in the auditorium. Look forward to meeting some new friends and adding some members. (And pass it on to your friends as well).
I close by saying that it was so good to see so many filled with the love of Jesus... some laughing, some crying. People catching up with someone they haven't seen lately, people meeting for the 1st time. Hyde Park is a special place - if you missed the joy it's because YOU missed it...
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
... maybe you have your eyes "fixed" on the wrong thing. My love to you all.
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