It was an interesting weekend of the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11 falling on a Sunday. We took the time out to honor those lost so many years ago. Here are my highlights:

I love our country! I am proud to be an American and live in our country. I think we are often guilty of complaining about all the things wrong rather than strengthening who we are by focusing on all of the things right. That’s true in church as well!

As I’ve written about before, we have 22 children on our staff in the age range of 1-17. Only 2 of our kids are actually teenagers yet, so that makes a lot of young kids to accomodate throughout the weekend services. It is my joy and privilege to literally watch our kids grow up together as family. I laughed audibly when I walked into our staff kid’s lounge on Sunday after our kid’s had already attended their class and saw a dozen of them all piled up on the same couch watching a cartoon. Here’s the picture:

Sometimes in life it’s good to remember that the most spiritual things are often just being around people who are growing in a relationship with Jesus. Depth, wisdom, and growth occurs in the everyday experiences.

Small groups signups are in ONE week. This is a HOT lineup coming your way with great options, diverse styles, and some amazing leaders!

We painted most of the church on Sunday night. I literally cried when the color first went on the walls! After years of decorating I should know that the paint will dry much different than it goes on…especially with the speed at which the paint sprayers lays on an entire coat. Twenty-four hours later, I can now say that this building is going to be a SHOW STOPPER! It’s bold, it’s risky, it’s different, and it’s COOL…the paint and the church…HA HA! Just to warn you…it’s yellow, green, brown, white, sheet metal, reclaimed wood, and brick. It’s nothing like you’ve ever seen in a church and that’s exactly how we want it!

The floors are getting stained in the morning. Rain City Construction…you are my heroes! Please make the raw concrete go away now.

We are part of a long heritage of Godly people who have passed the torch to us. We did not light a torch in ministry because we are NOTHING without the great men and women who have served God before us. May we walk in humility with that knowledge realizing that our exuberence in youth (yes, I’m still a youth…) is not a higher commodity in the eyes of God than the faith and perseverance of generations older than us. Just a thought…

Ok, on that note, we are having a work party on Saturday for painting, cleaning, and yard work from 1-5:00 pm on Saturday. If you are free, we’d love some help whether you attend our church or not!

Blessings!

In the midst of many exciting things going on at our church, we are taking this Sunday out to commemorate a very important day in our nation’s history. Please join us as we honor the memory of those lost and our first responders who gave it all to help others. We look upon this day with both sadness and the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. We live in a great nation and we serve a GREAT God! It is by His power and presence in our lives that we can be victorious through the most difficult of circumstances. Join us this weekend and invite someone you love!

Also, we are continuing the process of renovating our main auditorium. It is currently still in a state of construction, although you’ll appreciate the improvements we’ve made this week! Our grand opening and 5 Year Anniversary Celebration will be on Sept. 25. EVERYONE is invited!

Oh my goodness! What a weekend!

First of all, our people are remarkable. Seven days ago we ripped our auditorium from end to end. The flooring guys from Rain City Construction worked painstakingly ALL week to get those floors up for church on Sunday. On Friday night we came in to a wet, raw concrete floor with dust EVERYWHERE. We had teams of people mopping, cleaning, painting, setting up sound, chairs, and coffee. There was a couple of times when I doubted we could make it. But we did! Church on Sunday was in a semi-construction zone, but the floor was clean, the ceiling was painted, and the kids classes were fully functioning. Coffee was brewing on a couple of folding tables and we had a GREAT service. All is well at the Coffee Church.

Speaking of our service…wow! We often take weeks out just to thank God for what He is doing in the hearts and lives of people. Labor Day weekend has become a traditional one to look back over the summer and remember summer camps, missions trips, baptisms, small groups, and the journey of faith for our building. LOTS of tears were shed yesterday at God’s goodness.

Kylie Gray and Lexi Torres, both junior high girls, shared five minutes sermons that they preached on the missions trips…yikes, what amazing young women! I’ve known Kylie since she was still in diapers (sorry, Kylie!), so to see her up there preaching a strong, eloquent message sent me to tears with a quivering lip. Rachael Yonko was equally messed up!

Most amusing part of yesterday: Chris came to tell me how excited he was that he adjusted the door on the toddler room so it didn’t shut so hard. Literally 10 minutes later Faith, a two year old in our class, came busting through that door with the loudest squeal of excitement I’ve ever heard right into our main auditorium! She had never been able to open that door before and was delighted by her new-found freedom! Needless to say, we now get to figure out how to re-adjust the door so that it shuts well, but doesn’t allow our young ones the opportunity to escape.

Speaking of Chris…He and Matt deserve a medal for painting the ceiling. Now there is a back breaking, awful job! But it’s done, it’s a nice chocolate color, and we can move on to more exciting things. Thanks for your sacrifice!t

Speaking of Matt…he was faced with the difficult task of reassembling the worship stuff, having a set ready, and being prepared for the issues we were sure to have. I was slightly worried, with good reason, but it was a BEAUTIFUL time with Jesus. I found out later that they played through crackling ear buds from some wrong connection and a broken string on a guitar. I didn’t know how crazy it was up there until after they got off the stage!

On the way to church on Sunday morning, I was thinking about how tired I was from all the work, but then I thought, “I WANT to be tired if I’m working for Jesus. I want to give it all I have knowing that people are going to hear about HIM today.” So, for all of you tired volunteers…at least you’re tired for Christ!

Kim, our Kid’s Pastor, taught the Fruits of the Spirit by making fruit smoothies…LOVE THAT! I really want my kids to LOVE church and creativity is a win!

So many happy tears in my eyes this weekend! Great God, great friends, great church…

All throughout our ministry we’ve had these “seasons” where interesting things seem to happen to us at times that are too perfect to be just coincidence. Honestly these seasons confirm in my heart that we are doing what we need to be doing when we are doing it. It’s a bit spooky for me, but nonetheless, I appreciate God using these strange things to keep us focused.

Yesterday’s blog about the Scriptures written on the ground was one of those portals into the past that showed us a glimpse of God’s purpose. But the story doesn’t stop there…in fact, this story seems to be getting stranger by the moment.

The morning after I saw those precious words on the floor, I was thinking about the people who wrote them, what the church was thinking, feeling, and doing at the time, and where these people are now. As I was brushing my teeth, I said, “God, would you bring someone who knows the story to us? It’s been three years and we’ve never met anyone who ever attended church in our building years ago. I would love to share with them what we found.”

Hours later two men walked into our building. No, I’m not kidding…these two men grew up going to church in this old place, are now on staff at the same church together, and they remember when the writing was put on the floor. They told stories of their pastor pouring blood, sweat, and tears into this place to get it ready for a church. They pointed out where the nursing mom’s room used to be and how it was all laid out years ago. They remember when the stage was built. They were a part of the families that prayed over this property. And there they were…standing in our freshly demolished auditorium speaking to the latest pastor who was pouring blood, sweat, and tears into this place.

It was yet another portal into God’s purpose! How is it possible that 24 hours after the Scripture is uncovered that the people who were there when it was written suddenly show up? My blog wasn’t even written before they came! It was one of those God-ordained “coincidences” that stops you in your tracks.

I’m not even going to try and guess what God is trying to tell us other than, “Aren’t I so awesome?” And you know what, that’s enough for me!

I wonder who is going to walk through the doors next?