September 27, 2013

I know you are enjoying your Life Groups!  We are hearing such great reports of your experiences.  Thank you to all of the hosts and facilitators.  You really have helped to make this a very special season for our church.

This last week we spent time speaking to the calling we all have of BELONGING to Christ and His family the church.  This one stretched some of us as we were challenged to move away from the idea that church is not so much an event we attend, but a family we are part of.  Don't get me wrong . . . gathering weekly is important, but not just to be there. Rather we gather weekly to be with family.  Don't resist the stretching . . . it’s good for us to open up our lives to others in this way.

I received my date for surgery, which is October 8.  This means I will be with you this coming weekend as we look to our next purpose.  I am excited to share this with you.  God is doing something very special through this series and I am so glad I have been able to enjoy it with the whole church.

Great things are ahead for all of us as we live purpose driven lives.  Remember - joy is a choice we all can make (James 1:1-2). I can choose joy because I am LOVED by God and I BELONG to Him as well as His family.

See you very soon!

 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

September 19, 2013

EphESIANS 1:4-5 “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure.” (NLT)

Week 2 of our new series “What on Earth Am I Here For” was captivating as we looked at our first and foremost purpose for life - to be loved by God.  Let that sink in. Before we do anything for God or give anything to His mission, we are to be rooted in the purpose of being loved by Him. Be reminded this day - just as my wife and I sought to create a little girl named Hannah and a little boy named Seth so we could love them - so your father in Heaven created you to be loved by Him. Receive that love today.  Let your roots grow down deep in the soil of your first purpose...to be loved by God. This purpose is meant to change who you are. Living life loved by God is a very different life than being left alone by God. Which does your life look more like? 

In light of my announcement this last week regarding my cancer diagnosis, I wanted to let you know that I will be speaking this coming Sunday on our second purpose.  I am so looking forward to being with you as we marvel together at the purposes God has uniquely created each of us for.  It will be my joy to experience the goodness of our God and celebrate His greatness with you this weekend. 

I wanted to keep you in the loop regarding my health.  First, the outpouring of love from you has been so encouraging...we cannot thank you enough.  Second, your prayers are powerful and eagerly accepted.  Third, after meeting with my team of doctors, we are encouraged by what we are hearing and expecting from my upcoming surgery.  Fourth, I so appreciate the competence and willingness to shoulder with me the load of this great church of our Leadership team made up of our Board and staff.  These are people who know and follow the heart of Christ.  Fifth, we choose joy every day and God meets us in it profoundly. 

We love you and look forward to seeing you this coming weekend! 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog.

September 11, 2013

WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?  The answer to this question is a great equalizer for all of us.  No matter who we are, great or small, the answers are the same.  No matter what we bring or are unable to bring to the table, God calls each of us to definite purposes.  The answers are sought by every one of us and no one, even those with money or prestige, is looking for a different answer.  The truth is God created us for His purposes and they are of eternal value.  When we live our lives deeply rooted in them . . . the things of God become true through us and in us.  This is why this series is so important for us.

We kicked off the new series this week with an introduction and are looking forward to diving into the first of five purposes this coming weekend.  Our Life Groups filled with over 500 people have already begun meeting all over the city.  The conversations have been rich and inspiring.  I thank God for what we are already seeing. 

The potential impact of studying this topic together was reaffirmed to me Sunday after one of the worship experiences.  A young man waited to see me after I had finished speaking to people.  He stated that he had already left the campus but felt the need to come back to tell me something.  I asked what that was and he said, “I don't attend church, but I came today.  I don't know why I came . . . but I did.  I also don't know why I’m telling you this, but I just feel like I am supposed to.  I will be back next week.  I want to hear what you have to say.”  He feels drawn to come back because he is hungry to experience a people and a God who genuinely care for him.  He can’t put his finger on it yet, but with God’s help and our friendship, he will.  Church, thank you for being so authentically real and creating an environment where he and many others are able to experience God.

I can hardly wait to be with you this Sunday as we gather to experience the presence of God together.  We will also introduce you to our new Children’s Pastor, Brent Peak.

We love you.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

September 6, 2013

"What on Earth Am I Here For?" starts this Sunday.  This new message series is one all of us need.  The answers are life-changing and will inspire each of us.  I can hardly wait to begin.   I'm also very excited to begin our Life Groups that are going along with this series so we can talk with each other about what we are learning.

 

You will have an opportunity to join a Life Group this Sunday if you have not connected to one already.  We have over 50 to choose from.  For some of us, committing to being present each week in a weekend experience is our next step.  Whatever your next step is . . . take it!  Don't wait, don't hold back-take your next step.

 

Regarding our Student Ministries, Pastor Bobby and parents are telling me how good it has been since we have been able to separate our Jr. and Sr. High students with their own services.  We appreciate all the leaders who are making this possible and for the parents and teens who are adjusting to the new times.

 

Our new Children's Pastor Brent Peak will be with us starting next week, and our new season in Children's Ministry begins!  Thanks to all of the Children's Ministry Team for making this transition so easy and smooth.

 

We love you and look forward to being with you this coming weekend as we celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends and experience what it is to be the church.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

 

P.S.:  Parking on our Creekside property is encouraged so that you may find parking quickly.