The First Point - September 14, 2009

Last Thursday was our third concert in our four part Compassion Performing Arts Series. Gold Citywas inspiring (wow could that bass sing low!) and the Hoppers brought the house down. It was notonly a night of entertainment and inspiration, but I felt like we were in a worship service. I know I wasblessed and look forward to having another southern gospel night. The house was packed. I don’t thinkthere was another seat in the house. Our next concert will have a completely different flavor, but willbe just as inspirational. NewSong will be with us doing their Christmas Shoes tour; in addition, BigDaddy Weave and Francesca Battistelli will be here. The concert is on November 30. It will be a greatway to kick off the Christmas season. However, you’ll need to purchase tickets right away becausethey are already almost sold out!Sunday afternoon we had our annual all-church picnic. I think the change to City Lake Park inJamestown was a marked improvement. The facilities were first rate. It was a relaxing afternoon,talking with friends and eating good food. Once again, Tommy Smith won the watermelon seedspitting contest (can you believe we have one of those!). Someone asked me why I didn’t enter thecontest. I told them I didn’t have any hot air left after preaching that morning. Anyway, Tommy spit hisseed 37 feet!!! Impressive. The pastoral staff was put on the spot as contestants in the “Not-So-New-Newlywed Game”. I thought it was particularly funny, since I didn’t have to play (my wife was inCalifornia).Speaking of which, Marcia will be home Tuesday night! Yeah!!! I better get the house clean before shegets home.Right now we are in one of those seasons in the church where there are a lot of things cooking on theburners, but nothing that I can report just yet. I have a think tank that is working on some brandingitems; the LBA is reviewing some objectives to help strengthen our congregational health; the staff isworking on some worship items for the advent season—all things that are very exciting and importantin the life of the church. However, nothing is at a point yet where I can fill you in. Let just say, thereare some wonderful things developing as we are praying, thinking and discussing. Please be in prayerfor us that we correctly discern the Lord’s direction and that we only move according to His bidding.And throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sonsof Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when itwas taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day,and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel—Exodus 40:36-38Maranatha! Keep your eyes to the sky. Our Redemption draws near!Grace & Peace,Pastor Rick