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Sunday Night Update

Posted on November 2, 2008 | Filed Under Sunday Night Updates, West Rome

Another amazing day! This morning, we had a couple of people give their lives to Christ. I don’t know exactly how many, but I know I’m fired up about it. God is doing some really cool things around that place. We started our new series on MissionsFest this morning. We’ll spend a few weeks looking at our responsibilities once we give our lives to Christ. It really is our job to go and make disciples of everyone we can.

Then, tonight, we had the coolest thing in the world at XL. We actually had a person get a tattoo on stage during the message. That was just way too cool!! Our friend Wes did the tattoo for Randy Todd. It was awesome! It was a lilttle distracting for some, especially when he couldn’t get power to the tattoo gun. I’m sure Randy appreciated those breaks. However, it was a great picture of what the message was about tonight. We are learning that everything that happens in our lives end up being a part of our story one day. All of us have a story and God wants to use all of them to help grow His Kingdom. We just have to allow His design to be the one we live by instead of ours.

One thing we have learned today: all we need to do is make sure other people hear our story. When people are looking for hope in this world, they need to hear the story of how Jesus has changed our lives. They don’t need to hear about the newest and latest system of “evangelism” that we have memorized. So, tomorrow, just tell your story, and leave the rest of it up to God.

Sunday Night Update

Posted on October 26, 2008 | Filed Under Sunday Night Updates, West Rome

SHUT-UP!!!!! This has been an amazing day!! We started this morning by baptizing 4 children and 1 adult at West Rome. Then, at the end of the service, we had 14 people make some decision about Christ. Five of these were giving their lives to Christ and starting a life changing relationship with Him!! How awesome is that??!!!! That is SO why we do what we do. I am excited to get to work tomorrow and see who all of them were and get started with discipleship for all of them. WOW, what a day.

Then, we get to XL tonight. We started a series called Tattoo. Basically, most people that get a tattoo do it because it means something about their life. It is part of “their story”. Well, tonight, Rachel Pennacchio told her story and it rocked. There was some part of her story that related to everyone in the room. It was magnificant! She told it like she has been speaking for years. God has truly developed this story in her and He is using it to change other peoples lives. All of the music was great and it as just a great night overall. Thanks Rach for allowing God to use you and your story.

I’m just looking forward to what God has in store for next week. Have a great one!

A Sunday Off

Posted on October 13, 2008 | Filed Under Sunday Night Updates, West Rome, XL

Wow, what a day I had on Sunday. It was so refreshing to be able to go to West Rome and XL and just be a part of what was going on. Here are some of the great things that I noticed from the back. First, at West Rome, Chris did a super job of bringing the message. God really spoke through him and he was totally comfortable on the stage. That just means that God is working through him and he did a superb job. And, Cliff, well he just always rocks. It was really great to get to sit in the back one week and watch our people get involved in the worship time. They truly do love the Lord and love to worship Him and Cliff just does a super job of leading them to His throne each week.

Then, at XL, man, Craig did an awesome job. I was so fired up for him. For one thing, it was just a great, high energy night all the way around. The band did great and they set Craig up perfectly. And, Craig just did great. Of course, he had to go and call me out on a couple of things but I’ll let him slide this time.

One of the coolest things I recognized about the day is that, if I was a guest at either West Rome or XL, I would come back. Everyone on staff and all of the greeters just did great work and I love being a part of these places. Tiffany and I did think about what we wanted to do since we were off for the day, but I just couldn’t think of anything better to do than go to church. And, not just any church, but our church. I really did not want to miss what was going to happen at WR or XL. That kind of fires me up.

One other thing I learned: When we build a new building one day, it probably won’t have a balcony. I sat under the balcony Sunday and it’s just hard to engage from back there. Of course, the big column in my way didn’t help, but for some reason, it’s just hard to get a real feel of what’s happening in the room from underneath there.

So, for both XL and West Rome, great job to everyone involved in making both of them happen. God is so using our staff and our volunteers to help people find and follow His plan for their lives. That is what it’s all about and I’m proud to be able to be your Pastor.

God bless you all!

Sunday in the Hat

Posted on June 2, 2008 | Filed Under West Rome, What I'm learning

So, after Pamela’s comment on my blog last night, I guess I shouldn’t make the whole thing about food. However, my eating today was not much better than yesterday. But, boy did we have a great day.

First of all, you just have to hear that I love the people of the Hat. As we said our goodbyes tonight, I was simply reminded AGAIN of the friendships that we have built here. We litterally see these people about once a year and they are life long friends. I know without a doubt that Don and Sheila Chartrand would do anything in the world for me if they knew I needed it done. I feel the same way about the Stadolka family. They have the Bed and Breakfast where we stay and we are simply family with them. Tonight we had a great time around the campfire and it was just awesome!

So, for the days activities. We went to the Nazarene church this morning. It is always a blessing to worship with them. Pastor Dave has a HUGE heart for starting new churches and is always very supportive of us and what we are trying to do. He let me lead the prayer to start the service and that was a huge honor. I know he would do whatever he could to see us be successful with a church in the Hat. Then, I got to spend a few more minutes with Josh, the mini-donut man. We seriously speak once a year and are truly great friends. I have been so blessed with these relationships.

We had many more great conversations today in the process of building even more relationships. Jason is starting his Bible Study in his home this Wed night. He has people already planning to be there and that is huge.

Then, around four we started the tear down. It took about an hour and a half. Much quicker than I imagined it would happen. We moved tables, stacked chairs, and cleaned up all the other junk that had to be taken care of. Then we came back to the house and had the cookout.(see above)

So, tomorrow, we are going to leave town pretty early and head up to Banff for the day. This is not really a trip I want to make since I have seen the hotel up there about 4 times now. It has not changed yet. However, I am into eating at a place called Wild Bills which I love. There, I got the food back into the mix.

Then on Tuesday, the group will be headed to Georgia and I will be headed to Texas to see all my girls. I am just rediculously fired up about that. I miss them like crazy and am ready to be back with them.

That’s pretty much the wrap on the Canada trip. I’m sure tomorrow will be crazy and we’ll probably eat too much. I hope you all have as much fun as us.

Peace,

Saturday in the Hat

Posted on June 1, 2008 | Filed Under Pointless Rambling, West Rome, What I'm learning

Wow, I’m tired. We had a great day today. I think this is the most people I’ve ever seen come to the Spectrum Festival. I was reminded today of the great friends I have made over the last 5 years of coming to the Hat. Don and Sheila just get better and better everyday. Don works at Nutters and they are renovating the whole place. I’m hoping for a bigger candy section but I don’t know for sure. I truly love these guys and God has really blessed me with their friendship. The plus is that, for this trip, we’re getting to spend a lot of time with their kids, Lindsey and Jeremy, and Lindsey’s husband. The whole family just rocks and I love them all more and more as I spend more time with them. Josh, the Mini-donut man. He rocks. We had some great conversations today and we just have a real friendship. He’s not even from here. He drives in for the festival too and we have really become good friends. Then you have the people like Jamie, who is in charge of the whole thing, Jason (Jelly roll) who is on the committee and is just freakin’ hilarious, Bob, Danny, and Garth who set up the electrical and can make anything happen at any time, Peter and Duncan who just run their own booths out here but I have really gotten to know them each year, and all the other people that are so important and I STILL can’t remember all of them tonight. And, of course, the Stadolka family. All of their children are home for this trip and it has been great. They are just a real blessing to all of us and we love being around them. Along with all of them, it is good to get to know Jason and Leigh better too. They have a real heart for the Hat and I look forward to seeing all that God has planned for them.

Now, let’s talk about the day: We started with Debi’s famous French Toast and went from there. It was AWESOME!! Then, I followed that up with a donut when we got downtown. Followed that up with a Smore, which I didn’t even know they sold until Don brought me one. Followed that up with some mini-donuts, just because Josh and I are such good friends. Followed that up with two hot dogs, followed by a “steak on a stick” thing with which I was not so impressed. Washed that down with some kind of hung pow u thing that Chris Holland suggested. It was great! Had to move to a different area after that and I’m not real sure if this move included mini-donuts or not. Chances are…
Actually, now I remember, it did! Then, we had to close down the night by purchasing almost all of the donuts that he had left (which is the requirement of a good friend) and then, just as you thought we were ending up the night, had to stop on the way home and have some hot wings and fries. What else could you possibly need to know about this very spectacular day. We had some great talks with some people and just had a blast over all. We did spend too much time discussing bowel movements, but that’s another blog for another time!!!

We’ll go to the Nazerene church in the morning and then be back at the festival by about 12:30. Bring on the donuts, oh and all that other stuff we’re supposed to be doing.

Peace,

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