Sunday Reflex: 9-16-09…

My Goodness! God has been at Mountain Lake the last two weeks!  I have felt His presence about as strongly as I ever have! He’s doing  a new work in our lives in every way! Here are a few reflex on the day yesterday.

• We still had pretty packed out house! Attendance was down a little  from Grand Opening. We expected that. However, no doubt God has given our church influence with hundreds of new people as the dust shakes out! That’s what we’ve been praying for and working for! Praise God!
• All of our issues are crowding issues right now.  Sunday we addressed checking in children more efficiently, parking people faster,  and seating people more rapidly.
• Thanks to the volunteers who served at our Children’s First Time Visitor Check-In tents! It has really helped!
• Thanks to our Parking Team! You guys have risked your lives the last two weeks! Literally! God is using you!
• A lot of our problem with parking now is getting OFF campus! We’ll almost certainly need to put a Sherriff at the red light of Hwy 369, & Hwy 9. Should allow the crowds not to back up on to our campus waiting to get out!
• Question: Had you rather go to church where NO ONE else is going, or wait in line a little while after church? Just a reminder.
• Amp’d, our new Middle School service rocked again: great crowd and we hopped them up on sugar! You’re welcome parents!
• MY KIDS love the new children’s ministry environments! WOW, we’ve stepped it up here in the new environments!
• Wow. God was just in the service. 
• We baptized for the first time in our new building! Everything went off with out a hitch! The stories were powerful! We’re experimenting with making baptism a standard part of our services almost every week! What do you think?
• The worship was powerful! the video bumper highlighting the stories of real people has left people with their jaws dropped open as I’ve stood up to speak each Sunday.  I’ll try to upload these bumpers here so you can share with your friends.
• The message: “If you really knew me, you’d know I’m hurting.” I talked about the woman in Mk 5 who had an “issue of blood”. I also read from Leviticus 15, and said the word “period” from the stage 5 times!
• Most of us may not be bleeding physically. But we ARE bleeding emotionally; relationally; financially; or spiritually!
• Jesus would NOT allow the woman to slip into the crowd get healed and slip away anonymously! That’s what so many of us try to do every Sunday.
• "Healing often requires stepping out of the shadows.” Revealing the whole truth about ourselves, not just to Jesus but to His fellow followers!
• This woman’s healing began when she simply reached out in the direction of Jesus.  So can ours!
• This message hit a nerve. Tears were everywhere. LOTS of people acknowledging their “bleeding issues.” Lots of healing taking place!
• The band closed with “everybody’s Broken” by Bon Jovi. First time I cried during a Bon Jovi song. It was perfect. Thanks, Jesus! The lyrics say it all:

"Everybody's Broken"
Welcome to the party
Come on in and disappear
You're feeling like a stranger
But all your friends are here
Little lines and cracks
Around your eyes and mouth
Something's trying to get in
Something's trying to get out
It's ok, to be a little broken
Everybody's broken, in this life
It's ok, to feel a little broken
Everybody's broken, your alright
It's just life
Step into the deep end
Make yourself at home
When you wonder why your breathing
Know your not alone
It's so hard to believe
It's easier to doubt
You're trying to hold in
But your dying to scream out
It's ok to be a little broken
Everybody's broken
In this life
It's ok to feel a little broken
Everybody's broken, your alright
It's alright, it's just life
[Solo]
Take a look around
Tell me what you see
Is who you think you are
Who you want to be
It's ok, to be a little broken
Everybody's broken, in this life
It's ok, to feel a little broken
Everybody's broken, your alright
Just keep on going
Eyes wide open
Everybody's broken

Comments

[Crystal]

Hey...Baptism every week? Who wouldn't LOVE that?! (Ok...maybe the poor baptism team). I say do it! I'll volunteer if we need it!

[Bill]

Baptizing every week is an Awesome Idea. What a great day yesterday was. God is at work in a big way in our midst. I feel it and know it in my life and the people I am around are telling me about it too. I have been saying this for 7 years now but I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in and through us next.

[Bill]

Yesterday was my first visit to the "North" campus. I did attend one service at West a few months back. The new building, the service, the message, the entire experience was AWESOME! I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one tearing up during the last song...and I was shocked to find out it was Bon Jovi when I googled it this morning. I can't wait for this Sunday!