Sunday, August 31, 2008

Exodus 12.1-14

I am going to try something new for the next few weeks and see how it goes. But, what this is going to take is some work on your part if this is going to work. We can still make WikiWorship, WikiWorship if you all help me. What I would like to do is show you the scripture that I am thinking about preaching from this coming up Sunday and we can open up a discussion about it. So here it is: Exodus 12.1-14. In this section of Exodus God implements the Passover Feast. Here the Israelites have a roasted lamb supper before the death angel comes over Egypt wiping out all the first born animals and humans. I love this verse: "This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly." (Exodus 12.11) How about this, read over the verses and tell me what you think by commeting below. What I will do is comment throughout the week as I read it over and over again. Let's see what we come up with.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thank You

I wanted to write a message to all of you that have been following WikiWorship and who attended the worship services. It was so touching to me to see all of you participating in this huge project. We ended up having over 60 people [some of them were children] stay for lunch with around 50 people that participated in a small group discussion. You all should be so proud of yourselves and thank you for letting us go really deep in our discussions. I know for a fact that many people got a lot out of WikiWorship, while at the same time it was very different for many of us. Thank you for being a Church that allows people to ask the hard questions. Thank you for being a Church that is a safe place to ask the hard questions. It is my sincere honor to be a part of this wonderful ministry at Warren's Grove.
As a result of this project I have noticed that many people like following the blog on a daily basis. I am going to try to continue the blog ---- and what I will do is bring up different aspects of the Warren's Grove ministry and tell details about what goes on in my daily life as the Pastor at Warren's Grove. I hope someday to be able to bring up a discussion on the blog about what I will be preaching on the next Sunday. But, I am not quite ready to put that in motion. Please be praying for me and again thank you for all that you do to make Warren's Grove a community where hearts are touched, families can grow and the world is changed.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

First Day of new semester

I wanted to let all of you know that the Fall Semester at Duke has started back up and is in full swing. Today we had opening convocation with all the bells and whistles ---- while at the same time there was a dedication of a new organ at Goodson Chapel (this is the Divinity School Chapel). This picture above is me in the Duke Chapel (which is the big chapel on campus) and below is a picture of the front stain glass window in the chapel. I have to say ---- if any of you have never seen the chapel make a point to come and check it out. And if you tell me in advance we can get together and have lunch on campus when you come.
Below is the picture of the Convocation continuing in Goodson Chapel. You can see the picture of the organ in the top right hand corner.
Please be praying for me as school starts back. I love school ---- while at the same time it can be a trying time of balancing a lot of different things.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Raise the Roof

I wanted you all to be FULLY aware of our Raise the Roof Gospel Sing that will be happening this weekend. On Saturday, August 23rd at 6:30pm at the Kirby Theatre we will be having a fund raiser for our building campaign that is called Raise the Roof. Tickets are now $10 but they will be $12 at the door. You can call me for tickets at 336-592-3400 or you can call 336-597-3498. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

God's Plan

This is the video introducing our theme for Sunday, August 24th at 11am. If for some reason you cannot see this video you can email me and I can burn a DVD for you. Also, if you are new to WikiWorship, then check out this blog post from a couple weeks ago called: What is the Wiki in WikiWorship? I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday as we discuss God's Plan.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Stuff-A-Bus

 
I wanted to share with you all what we brought in for the Stuff-A-Bus campaign. During this campaign numerous people have been bringing school supplies to Warren's Grove to help children that need help with their school supplies. Above you will see a picture of what we brought in. Also, we raised close to $150 that we then went and got more supplies for the Stuff-A-Bus campaign. I wanted to say thank you, on behalf of the Outreach Committee, for helping with this wonderful mission project.
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Prayer

I have to tell all of you about Thursday this week. I volunteer at the Christian Help Center on Thursdays and this week they had a list for me when I walked in the door. The biggest thing is that they wanted me to move a desk from one office to another office. Well there was just me and some other people who could not lift heavy objects. Well the problem was that we had to lift a desk up to our shoulders to get it out. Well that was going to be impossible without assistance. So I told the ladies we had to pray for God to send us someone. So we all grabbed each other's hand and prayed for God to send someone with a strong back to help us lift up the desk. So after we prayed in walked a guy making a donation. We asked if he could help and he said sure. We did it in no time flat and then he asked if they needed help weekly. We all started grinning because I am just about to stop volunteering because I am going back to school ---- so we said, yeah, Thursdays we need help from 9am till 11am for just odds and ends help. He jumped at the opportunity. Isn't God good! In the Bible it says we have not because we ask not. Let us go before the throne of grace boldly as we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ ---- whether that be lifting desks or sharing your faith.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Prayer as Communication with God

This is the video introducing our theme for Sunday, August 17th at 11am. If for some reason you cannot see this video you can email me and I can burn a DVD for you. Also, if you are new to WikiWorship, then check out this blog post from a couple weeks ago called: What is the Wiki in WikiWorship? I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday as we discuss Prayer as Communication with God.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Christian Help Center

 
I wanted to share with you all the donations that the United Methodist Women brought in this week for the Christian Help Center. Keep up the good work for the Christian Help Center is truly a place where hearts are touched with the good news of God's great love.
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Responses

Hello to all of you out there. I would like to have you help me with the last two worship services. I have too many themes in order to fit into just two worship services so I am going to give you a list of choices and you need to pick two. Please let me know what two you pick by hitting the comments button below and leaving a comment or email me. Here are your choices:

Church - Body of Christ
Demons - Satan
Discipleship
God's Plan
Power and Greed
Prayer - Communication with the Triune God
Social Applications
Works Righteousness

Thank you all for your participation. I have truly enjoyed writing this blog and I so much want to continue it after WikiWorship is completed. Blessings.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Religions and Denominations

This is the video introducing our theme for Sunday, August 10th. If for some reason you cannot see this video you can email me and I can burn a DVD for you. Also, if you are new to WikiWorship, then check out this blog post from a couple weeks ago called: What is the Wiki in WikiWorship? I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday as we discuss Marriage and Family.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Dead Sea Scrolls

I wanted to let you all in on something going on in Raleigh. At the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences they have some of the Dead Sea Scrolls displayed. I went yesterday and it was phenomenal. I learned a great deal and I was pleasantly surprised how awesome it was. I thought that I had already known most of what was to be known about the Dead Sea Scrolls but there was a lot more information that I had never known about. Check it out at this website by clicking on the blue letters.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Made it....

We made it back. It was a wonderful trip and I think we are all excited about being back home so that we can share the love of Jesus with all the people that we come in contact with. Thank you all so much for your prayers. This was an awesome mission where we were given the opportunity to live lives of self-less sacrifice.