Sunday reflex 7-4-10...

I never thought I would say this about a Sunday that fell ON JULY 4TH, but yesterday was one of the best Sundays EVER at Mountain Lake. Here's why:

• Knowing that any time July 4 falls NEAR a weekend that our attendance plummets because of vacations (and that's OK, people deserve a vacation now and then), we made a strategic decision to pack everyone into one service yesterday. That alone made the environment so much better for a holiday weekend!  It felt awesome!
• We turned what could have been a DIFFICULT Sunday (July 4 weekends are typically our lowest attended of the year) into a BIG WIN simply by by coming together to worship!  Awesome! 
• Austin Sisk, our Worship Leader did a great job leading us to God yesterday! Austin, you've grown so much as a worship leader these last two years! Awesome!
• Blake Stanley, our Student & Teaching Pastor,  taught for the first time at Mountain Lake yesterday. You may or may not know it, but Blake was on the teaching team of a church of 10,000 before coming to Mountain Lake. However, he had never taught HERE before, so I think we BOTH were a little nervous. For no reason. Blake knocked it out of the park yesterday!  Yesterday's msg was one of the best messages I've ever heard on being salt & light in out world! Awesome!
• God is going to use Blake mightily here at Mountain Lake. As a matter of fact, He already is! Did you know that our Student Ministry Attendance is already up 63% on average (in the middle of the Summer) since he took over our Student Ministry? This number may double this Fall when school gets back in! Awesome!
• "Jesus was not from this world; He was different from the people of this world. But He didn't separate Himself from people in this world! And we are supposed to follow His example!"
• Every family brought BBQ potluck stuff to church yesterday, and after the service, we shared a meal together! Awesome! 
• Mountain Lake people eat a lot. just sayin'. Twelve food lines! Awesome!
• Mitch & Jennie Corn, Courtney Templeton, and the Children's Ministry team NAILED the FAMILY events yesterday!  Obstacle, courses. Moon walks, Tye-Dye's, Face painting, Bean Bag Toss, QB Challenge; Volleyball; and a DJ! AWESOME! 
• Best Family Event we've ever had at Mountain Lake. Period. Awesome!
• The best part: I didn't have to lift a finger to organize this day! I was out of town last week with my family! I simply envisioned the event under the Lord's leadership, and watched our team make it happen! Awesome!
• It was SO GREAT to be able to just watch everything work together yesterday and watch a GREAT TEAM do GREAT MINISTRY! Awesome!
• Mountain Lake Ministry Team: Thx for laying it on the line for our families yesterday, and thanks Mountain Lake family for an awesome day of worship and community! Awesome!
• Can't wait to get back to teaching this Sunday. Be here. I have some things close to my heart to share with you this Sunday! It's going to be ...AWESOME!