Growth Steps in 2009

This Wednesday night (1/14) we are going to start a new step of growth that will last for the next 7 weeks. One of the following is a class we are going to be teaching.

1. Making Paper Mache Ants.

This class will teach you about the God given role of ants and how to make a life size replica of this majestic creature.

2. Periodic Table Songs.

There are sixteen different tunes that we are going to learn to sing through the periodic table. We will learn the songs in 4 different languages: English, Swahili, Canadian, and German.

3. Life's Most Embarrassing Moment.

All class members will publically share their most embarrassing moment publically. We will then vote on the Most Embarrassing of them all. The winner gets a trophy and the joy of everyone else not making eye contact with them for at least a year.

4. MFMC

Who should we be? This class will lay a great foundation of a relationship with our church. We'll cover where we came from, what we believe, and where we are going.

Note: #4 is the only one we will be really doing.

Disclaimer: We have never, and will never offer classes 1 through 3.

Call: If you would like to learn more about this church, be reminded about what we are about, learn about the journey we are on, meet people who you haven't met, or build a relationship within the body. We'd love to have you join us.

Thought: For me 2009 is to include at least a couple adjustments in my ministry. One of those adjustments is to purposefully invest in spiritual growth. I would hope that we've been doing that, but I need to be deliberate about it. Other than a sermon on Sunday and class on Wednesday – how can I foster an atmosphere of growth steps with God? We're working on putting growth tools in people's hands and giving more opportunity for taking faith steps.

The "E" world is going to be a place of growth for us. Watch for new avenues of kingdom advancement through technology. For too long we have demanded growth through our tools and traditions, we will be looking at the possibility of using new avenues of growth.

The process is going to be clear. Where are you in your spiritual journey? By the end of the first quarter of the year I trust that a clear process will grow from our ministry that will help people not only identify honestly where they are, but call them to grow beyond that.

May 2009 Find You Closer to Christ,

Pastor Dave

2009 Fears

2009 Fears.

Pastors aren't supposed to be afraid. We have a direct line to God that renders all human emotions void… the negative ones anyway. It's one of the perks of being "super-spiritual." By the way, pastors are always happy and chipper too. Yep, no fear and always happy, makes you want to check out the profession doesn't it? Before you make any drastic moves, let me be honest with you this first Friday of 2009.

There are a few things I am afraid of –

1. I'm afraid there are a dozen hungry Ninjas living in my attic. When they get too hungry they are going to bust down the door, hit me repeatedly with nun chucks, kidnap my wife, take all my food, and steal my lawnmower.

2. I'm afraid people who have ADHD are all going to band together and take over the United States shipping the rest of us to a refugee camp in Iowa so they can rule the world.

3. I'm afraid some day they will discover that pie and pizza really aren't good for you.

4. I'm afraid one week someone will forward Friday Thoughts to my Bishop and he'll fire me and put non-removable duct tape on my hands and over my mouth.

5. I'm afraid the Bible is really true and we are really supposed to live like Christ.

6. I'm afraid we will have church 52 times in 2009 and not allow the God we worship to be the God we worship.

7. I'm afraid God has already blessed us according to our faith and He won't go beyond that until our faith in Him grows.

8. I'm afraid we'll settle for good enough, when it's not really anywhere near good enough.

9. I'm afraid that the best we can do for the culture is boycott or pass laws forcing them to agree with us. And if they don't we won't have anything to do with them.

10. I'm afraid of really crying out for a heavenly anointing because it won't fit in our expectations and if I was really what God wants me to be, if I said what we really need to hear, and if I lived what I'm really hungry for, too many people would get mad. I'm afraid people don't really want what God has for them. I'm afraid to not be in a growing church. I'm afraid 2009 and 2008 will be much of the same. I'm afraid that I'm most fearful about the wrong things, and I'm not fearful enough about squandering God's power.

So, I have fears. What are your fears for the New Year? Maybe if we are honest about them… Maybe if we prayed about them… Maybe if we…

Not Understanding What a Multi-Million Dollar Glass Ball In New York Has To Do With Anything, and Looking Forward to Us Being Touched By God This Sunday,

Pastor Dave