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Coming down from Sunday, these observations:

• Many people responded by coming forward to pray in the 9:45 and 11:00 services.  I know the subject was intense, but that’s the way the God is - He is not afraid to go to deepest part of our lives and talk about our families and our imperfections.
• Jock and team did a great job meeting the technological challenges of the day - the drum’s “brain” caught laryngitis.  It was alive, but couldn’t make a sound.
• Eddie Hobbs is doing great with the Hosea skits.
• I was asked tonight at Starting Point if all three services were the same.  My answer was:  The first is traditional and the second two are contemporary.  What I wish I would have said:  Our great God and the great people of ADBC are in all three!
• Also got asked about my vision:  To help as many of the 230,000 people within a 30 mile radius of ADBC take their next step!
• Students Download (discipleship) launched tonight.  Great start.  Yeah Nathan!
• Ladies Night Out SOLD OUT!!!!!!!   Can’t fit anymore women in the Worship Center.  Great job for that team!
• Don’t miss Michael Smalley coming Oct. 7 - wrestling with gorillas.

I’m getting my hair cut and a lady tells me she has seen the commerical.  She told me she needs hear a message about Families that aren’t perfect, because her family isn’t.  I told her I would be talking about Why God Gives your Family hard times.  She said she would be there.

I hope she comes.  I hope some others come too.  I am amazed at much Hosea has to say to our families.

When Michael Smalley comes October 7, we will be giving out a booklet that enhances the Family Imperfect messages. 

Our Building Team has been working on options to meet our space needs for Build on the Rock.  Next Wednesday, September 19, after Trulife, we will have a town hall meeting to discuss the possibilities.

We feel we can be wise stewards of the resources that have been given and will be given by considering the following:

1.  Do some renovations to the Student Building (Studio 4.3) to create more small group space and to create more large group seating.  This renovation plus upgrades in equipment, chairs, etc. would be approximately $65,000.

2.  Construct 60+ new paved parking spaces on the east side of the building. This would provide closer access to the building plus it would open up more spaces up front.  Approximate cost - $140,000.

3.  Construct a covered drop off on the east side of the building, to tie into the new parking area.  Approximate cost:  $105,000.

The remainder of the funds being received through Build on the Rock would be saved for the future Preschool/Adult Space wing.

Pray about God’s direction.  Let me know what you hear.

I walked past a woman in the hospital today.  I was moving on to the next place I had to be.  She was pacing a small circle in the hall, looking thoughtful.  I said excuse me, turned the corner and heard the Holy Spirit.

“Wait,” God said.  “Two weeks ago, didn’t you preach about the Good Samaritan?  Didn’t you talk about talking time to care?  Didn’t you use an example from this very hospital about walking past a family that needed care?  Go back and offer to help.”

My first instinct, maybe like yours, was to blow this off.  “I take things too seriously,” I thought.  The woman didn’t really look in distress.  If she had been weeping I would have stopped.  After all, if I stop and offer help to every person I walk past, how will I get anything done?

By this time, I had walked through another door, but the Holy Spirit was still speaking to me.  The message that was hammering my heart was “Go back.”  I am ashamed to say that I actually asked myself, “Can I live with the guilt if I just go on?”  In that moment, I knew I could, but I decided I didn’t want to.  I turned around.

I went back, approached the woman, and said, “Excuse me, do you need any help?”  She looked surprised. 

“No,” she said.  “I am waiting for the Bootmans to come out and see how Grandma Bootman is doing.  She isn’t doing well and I wanted an update.”

Okay, now I feel odd.  I was sure there was a crisis I was supposed to respond to.  But apparently, there was a woman in a hall, just waiting.  I told her I hoped Grandma Bootman would be better, and I turned away.

I admit I was halfway waiting for her to cry out, “Wait!  I’ve seen you TV!  On the commercial!  My family is imperfect!  Tell me how to find Jesus!”  But the only sound was the gentle swish of the closing door.

“What was that all about?” I prayed. 

God whispered back, “You will never know all of what it was about.  But at least a part of it is about you obeying me when it feels odd.  Think of it as practice.”

God will ask you to do some things that feel odd.  Do them.  Maybe it’s a practice opportunity.  Maybe you are the messenger God intends for just that moment.  Who knows? 

Faith is obeying even when it feels odd. 

Thanks for the input for Trulife.  The overwhelming vote as to talk about Our Beliefs vs. Their Beliefs.  So… we will do this first and then we will do Too Busy Not to Pray.  Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts!!!

Cool things from Sunday:

• At 11 we had a young lady make her profession of faith!  Yeah!
• Thanks to all who parking in the back!
• Several folks told me the message was just for them.  It never fails to amaze me how God takes His word and molds it to right shape to fit the needs of our hearts.  Keep praying for families - there is a lot of pain out there.
• Eddie Hobbs did a great job role playing Hosea.  He will be intro-ing the sermons all through this series. 
• First Sunday touched my heart.  I know there is no way you can understand the meaning behind the staff signing the values, but it is a really significant step.  It says our ministers will be accountable to live by Godly values.  Hold us to it.
• I meant what I said at the end of First Sunday:  I believe God wants to change part of the world through ADBC.  Our Vision needs to get a lot bigger.  I believe over the next five years, we need to think in terms of hundreds, not dozens, going to Africa.  I believe there is a corner of Africa that God wants us to invest in and help transform while we ourselves are transformed.  And I believe God will call some of our students to give their lives to Africa.  I don’t know how we will do all this - But with God’s help - everything is possible!

Check out this post from Dave Foster:

Hello, I’m High Expectation Guy, And I’m Coming to Your Church Tomorrow

Today I had the honor of officiating at Ed Lewis’ funeral.  Ed was a fine man, a true Christian gentleman.

I shared this story at his funeral - ten years ago, when we were in the old church building on Miller Road, Ed passed out during my sermon.  This was the first time this had ever happened to me - but I stopped the sermon, asked people to pray for Ed, and then waited with him as the ambulance was called.  When they loaded Ed on the gurney, I leaned down to tell him that I would be praying for him.  He told me couldn’t leave yet.  I was puzzled and asked why.  Then he told me that he couldn’t leave until he gave his offering.  I told him I would put it in the offering plate for him.

What an incredible life legacy!  When most of us would have worried about ourselves, Ed was still focused on giving. 

Just finished the first draft of this message for Sunday and my own soul is moved.  I think there are many hurting people who need this message. SO -

Invite some people you know to ADBC Sunday, ask them to stay for your Bible Community group and lunch Sunday.  And remember, please park in the back!

I am praying - really - for God to speak to hurting hearts this Sunday like never before.  Pray for me to be clear.

As I said at Trulife tonight, I want to give you a choice of where we go next:
Their Beliefs vs. Our Beliefs - comparing what different religions believe OR

Too Busy not to pray - based on the Bill Hybels book. 

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