Sunday Night Reflections October 7, 2007

What an amazing week…spent Wednesday through Friday at Catalyst in Atlanta (will blog about that another time–overall it was a GREAT experience.)  Yesterday just chilled around the house…and today, all I can say is WOW…here are my thoughts…

• I honestly feel like a wet noodle…I cried so much today that I feel like I am nearly dehydrated…God moved me in all four services.
• I felt like today was one of those days when the energy and excitement was present from the minute the counter began.
• The total amount pledged in the Gametime campaign is (drum roll)…actually, you will have to wait until this coming Sunday to find out!  :-)  Why?  Two reasons, they are still counting the pledge cards and there are still some pledges that haven’t came in yet.
• Don’t miss this coming Sunday…we are ending the campaign with…well…I can’t tell you–just be there.
• Moving services times has been incredible.  We have seen our evening attendance go up BIG TIME…the number of kids at 5:00 has been outstanding…and the worship experience at 6:45 in absolutely awesome.
• AND…as a result of people going to Sunday night…there is now more room for those coming on Sunday morning to invite their friends and family to come to church!!!
• We are starting a new series of messages on October 20th (two weeks).  I will be blogging more about it later on this week…BUT…I can say it is a subject we have never tackled before–EVER…AND…uh, if you live in Anderson you might want to pay attention to the billboards over the next month!
• We had a crew of guys from Lifechurch today…love what is going on out there in Oklahoma.  It was a pleasure to host these guys and to just ask them questions.  (And Bobby…you HAVE to post a picture of you in a red suit!!!)
• My wife and daughter are awesome!
• Clemson did lose and I was sad…and, I HATE to say this–BUT…I think the Gamecocks may be for real.  Props to USC…they are playing great football.  (And once again…I HATE SAYING THAT!)
• Going back to today…I think we are going to see a MAJOR shift in the culture here in the upstate regarding our youth and children…what is going to happen as a result of the church stepping up today over the next 20 years is going to be amazing.
• For those who pray for me…you can pray for me to SLEEP!  :-)  Seriously!  With an evangelism campaign, then a capital campaign…AND a newborn…need I say more?
• For those who want to read the post I referenced “Superficial Sunday in the South,” here it is.
• I’m hungry.  (Hey–it’s my blog and that thought did just go through my mind!!!)
• Lucretia found a new recipe this week and made it yesterday…some sort of blackberry cobbler upside down cake.  I think I may actually go dive into it right now!!!
• I had the privilege of having lunch with Rick Warren at Catalyst on Friday with about 12 other pastors and, after the meeting, I felt like my brain was on fire.  Rick said things that REALLY stretched me…and the Lord used him to ignite some ideas that I think could take what God is leading our church to do for the upstate and the world to the next level.
• One thing he said that made me smile AND made me sad at the same time is, “The mainline churches have now become sideline churches.”
• Several pastors and leaders have called and e-mailed me throughout the day encouraging me and to tell me that they are praying for our church…it’s nice to have friendships with people who realize we are all on the same team.

That’s about it–BED TIME!!!