Inhale/Exhale

Yesterday was week 1 of 2 of our 100% Sundays at Orlando North (www.OrlandoNorth.com).  The room was full of energy as we got together to hear a challenge to step up as a church.  We looked at Matthew 5 where Jesus calls us, not Himself, the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  It’s a baton He passed to His church after the resurrection.   We chewed on what that really meant.  To us it means the church was never intended to inhale without an equal amount of exhales.  Nor are we to eat without digesting.  God’s created a beautiful system where we give and we receive.  Balance.  Unfortunately, most of us do too much exhaling and very little, if any, exhaling.  Exhaling, of course, is the act of sharing Jesus with those we know need Him.

How can we BRING glory to God if we’re not doing anything?  Sitting and receiving isn’t bringing anything.

Jesus is specific in Matthew 5 about us not hiding our light under a basket when we’ve been strategically placed where the lost can see us in order that they may ultimately see Him.  We have what people need, yet our insecurities and fear have driven us to shelter our light from the very ones who need it.  We’ve turned our faith from being an active, two-way relationship to a trivial gorging of sermons, music, conversation, and very little change.  And the worst part is we’ve called that church.

The example I used yesterday brings clarity to this thought:  I’ve been running….a lot.  One of the biggest changes in my life has been my appetite.  I am hungry way more often than I was before I started working out and watching what I ate.  When I’m hungry I’m not terribly concerned about the taste of what I eat as long as I get to eat.  I’m enjoying food in an entirely different way than I was before I started running and wasn’t watching my diet at all.  Saturday evening was my ‘splurge night’ and the family and I went to Five Guys Burgers for dinner.  Let me tell you, it was amazing!  I’ve had Five Guys before but never in the middle of serious training.  It tasted so much better because of how much my body was spending during the week.

With that in mind…Is it possible that worship, prayer, relationships, etc. would all taste better if we were burning spiritual calories during the week by giving out?  What if worship and relationship have grown stale simply because we’ve gorged ourselves into a spiritual coma?  Remember, we were meant to inhale AND exhale.  Without giving there’s no room for receiving.

Our days of petty excuses must cease.  We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Both are titles Jesus intended us to wear courageously.

Orlando North is implementing two specific outreaches to equip you to do just that.

• Friend Day (Sunday, February 28^th) – On this particular Sunday we are calling everybody in our church to invite a friend to church who does not know Jesus or is not plugged into a church.  It’s a call, not a request.  We believe Jesus has called us to be the light and this day is simply a tool to help us do that.  So, join us that day.  Invite a friend.  Take them to lunch if that will help.  They will be presented with the Gospel in a healthy way that day.

• Serve Day (Saturday, March 6^th) – ONCC is heading out into the community to serve people who need our help.  Three times a year we’re going to call for a Serve Day and March 6^th is our first.  We have three serving opportunities for people to choose from where they will serve from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  We’re expecting 100% participation for this day.  Plus, you get a free t-shirt to wear to your serving location.  The three serving opportunities are:

1. Packing supplies for Haiti
2. Serving food to homeless people in a local park.
3. Hanging out and playing games with senior citizens.

If you haven’t signed up and would like to be a part, simply email me and let me know which project you want to be a part of (rob@orlandonorth.com).

Be a part!  Let’s see how it feels to exhale once in a while.

RD

100% Sundays @ Orlando North

Over the next three months you and I are going to see, as well as experience, a wave of intentional and exciting activity come to and through Orlando North.  It will be anything but the status quo and I believe it will be one of the most beautiful and fruitful seasons of our lives both individually and corporately.

I believe with all my heart God has given us a strategic game plan for us as a church to reach our communities, our friends and relatives, and our co-workers over the course of the next three months.  I’ve sought and received great counsel from our leadership, our creative team, and individuals both in and outside our church tribe.  The strategy has been birthed out of a desire for the Gospel (good news) of Jesus to be more deeply and passionately expressed through us as a congregation.  Out of this desire God has put the plans in place through the prayer and insight of people.

We are going to take two Sundays, February 7th and 14th, where I will share this exciting vision with you.  It’s the grand finale of our ‘Shine’ series as we take what we have learned about God’s glory and put it into practice.  I can honestly say I have never been so excited about anything I’ve ever been a part of in church than I am for these next three months.

It all kicks off with a call.  A call I am asking you to take personally.  It’s a call I’ve entitled, ‘100% Sundays’.  Here is the call:

A call is being made to Orlando North for a two-week commitment in attendance to our worship services on February 7th and February 14th.  The specific call is that 100% of those involved in Orlando North in ANY capacity will be in attendance for these two important Sundays.
Vision will be cast.  You will be connected.  All will receive a free gift.

I’m asking all who are reading this to make this two-week commitment with me.  I believe it is important enough that I am asking you to prioritize the worship services at the top of your list these two weeks.  I personally believe the moments we share together on a weekly basis are important enough that they should always be at the top of our priority list, but I want to put extra emphasis on these two weeks.  Please commit to being a part of these two special Sundays.

Rob

Haiti

It seems like the true nature of the human soul is revealed during times of tragedy.  As a nation, America experienced this firsthand when we rallied together in unison following the events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.  It’s as though seeing people in distress somehow peels back the selfish layers of our being and we have genuine empathy for those suffering.

In a matter of seven days our world has been introduced to the most impoverished nation in the world, Haiti.  Haiti has gone from being an overlooked nation to a people who are headlining every major news network and website.  Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of CNN, but I feel like their coverage of this tragedy has been tremendous.  Anderson Cooper, and his 48 inch biceps, is sharing the stories of the people of Haiti not as an anchorman, but as a human being with a heart that is being torn apart.  Just the other day he watched as a dump truck full of bodies (all children from a collapsed school) were emptied into a hole in the ground with no fanfare, no processional, and no bagpipes.  Just wretched death.

People of all beliefs are rallying together to provide support and aid.  Doctors are giving their own time to help.  Businesses are cutting costs to get supplies to Haiti.  Christians are waking up to the needs of their brothers and sisters.

My prayer is that we will rise up even further.  My hope is that the Christian community will be the most generous during this time.  May ‘Christian’ leaders bite their tongues and not say stupid stuff in the media that is heartless and cold.  May we have the compassion that Jesus had towards those who are poor and desperate.

The events in Haiti have gripped my heart as I’m sure they have yours.  Orlando North wants to do something for these people.  We have a dear missionary friend, Ed Lockett, who is in the epicenter of all that is going on in Port-au-Prince.  He’s been a missionary to the Haitian people for over fifteen years and we just love this man.  He shared at Orlando North about two years ago.  He’s a great guy with a passionate heart for these people.  Here are several things I am asking everybody reading this to consider, which includes church members, family, friends, and the reader I’ve never met:

1. Follow Ed Lockett’s updates at http://www.mvi.org/earthquake
2. Give financially.  I know we’re all stretched in this economic recession, but relatively speaking, all of our scenarios pale in comparison to what is happening in Haiti.  There are a number of great organizations collecting funds.  I can vouch for Missionary Ventures who is a ministry partner of ours.  Every penny of your donation will make it down to Ed Lockett and Candy Rieger in Haiti to purchase supplies and food for the people.  Ed has been running the ‘Happy House’ in Haiti for years, which provides education and clothing for the poorest children.  Help us help him reach these people.  To make a donation of any size go to http://www.mvi.org/donations
3. The next two Sundays at Orlando North we are going to take up special offerings specifically designated to helping the people of Haiti.  Please note, we are asking you to go above and beyond your normal tithes and offerings.  We feel it is important to emphasize this, as we want people to stretch in their generosity. We feel it is vital to offer the opportunity to individuals to be a part of the relief to these people.  Please pray and ask God what He would like you to give and then bravely respond.
4. Orlando North is organizing a trip to Haiti.  We are working closely with Missionary Ventures (www.mvi.org) as they assess the needs and timeframe to get teams down to help Ed as they help rebuild the nation.  As soon as we get dates we will make them known.  Consider being a part of one of these rebuilding teams.

Be the church.  Remember, the church was never intended to be a building.  It’s a people.  A people created in God’s image and held together by His grace.  Let’s together demonstrate that grace by doing our part in helping our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Rob

My 26.2 Mile Journey

Sports have always been an important part of my life.  Let me rephrase that….Sports that have a ball instituted into their game have always been an important part of my life.  All throughout school I was constantly playing sports.  Baseball, basketball, and tennis were my favorites, but I would play pretty much anything that had a ball.  I was super skinny because I had a high metabolism rate and I would play some sport at any given free moment.

One thing you would not catch me doing was recreationally running.  In basketball our punishment for doing something wrong was running laps.  Conditioning for our sports involved running miles.  I despised running.  If there was not a ball involved it was pointless.

Well, fast forward twenty years and the kid who could eat candy bars downed with Coke for lunch and still not gain a pound suddenly finds himself in a whole new reality.  The metabolism isn’t there.  The hours of play aren’t there.  But the desire to be athletic is still there.

So, what do I do?  I determine that it’s time to get into shape by running.  It seems like my only option.  A group of friends and I have decided that we’re going to run the Space Coast marathon in November as a target to keep us motivated.  26.2 stinkin’ miles!  The longest I had run going into this madness was 2.0 miles and that was on a treadmill.  Again, no ball, no go for Robbie-D.

But, one thing that trumps the need for a ball is my craving for competition.  And the challenge of a 26.2 run got me going.  I bought new shoes.  I bought a Nike+ chip to put in my new shoes that would calculate my run.  I spent some Christmas money on new running clothes.  I created a spreadsheet to help track my runs (not needed now because of the Nike chip).  I was ready.

And for the first time in my life, my attempt at running has been amazing.  I began on November 30th, with a 2.0 mile run on a treadmill.  I slowly developed a higher endurance and a passion for my morning runs.  On the days where I didn’t feel motivated to run I forced myself to go do it.  I have not missed a scheduled run yet and feel great.  During this past week where it’s been consistently freezing I’ve been running at 6:00 am.  In six weeks I have run 76.34 miles.  This morning I completed a 5-mile run with my best time yet of 41:54.

I’m not trying to brag.  I’m just shocked.  And I’m hoping if I journal my running escapades it will keep me accountable to you, the reader.  Then, in November, I can achieve something that mentally has always been beyond me.  I’m excited.  I’m always hungry, literally.  I’m going to somehow find a way to beat Jay.  I like running.  Who knew?

RD

Shine

There are certain topics that are foundational to our soul.  Many topics are simply derivatives of these primary topics and, although important, are not as vital as those of primary nature.

I consider the topic of God’s glory to be paramount.

Topics such as sin, family values, morality, etc. all have incredible teaching value.  But none are primary.  God’s glory is a primary topic.

This Sunday, we’re beginning a talk series called ‘Shine’ where we’re going to take an in-depth look at God’s glory.  The word is more than a catchphrase that football players ignorantly use at the end of an ‘important’ game to credit God with their victory.  It’s more than a word filler that people in agreement with the pastor will shout from the pews.  The glory of God is the very reason you and I have breath.

God has created me…and you…and them…for one purpose – His glory

Isaiah 43.6,7 – Bring My sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, AND WHOM I HAVE CREATED FOR MY GLORY, whom I have formed, even whom I have made…

Romans 11.36 – For from Him and through Him and TO Him are all things.  TO Him be the glory forever.

For more check out Colossians 1.16 and 1 Corinthians 8.6…

God’s glory is core value #1 at Orlando North and I am over the top pumped to begin teaching on it this Sunday.  Why?  Because the message of God’s glory absolutely changed my life.  I sat in a conference where Louie Giglio, of Passion, taught on this subject for my heart to hear for the first time.  When I heard that God’s intention behind creation was that creation would bring Him glory things began to make sense.  The universe was a piece of art designed by an artist who used words to create His masterpiece.  The planets were made for His glory.  I WAS MADE FOR HIS GLORY.  My purpose here on earth is not identified by what I have, but rather, to whom I am pointing to.  My life has purpose because I was created to reflect Him.

I wasn’t created because God was lonely….If that were the case then God was in lack, and therefore not perfect, and would thus disqualify Himself as God.  I am willing to only worship a perfect God.

I was created to reflect Him.  Period.  End of story.  Actually, beginning of story.

Want to hear your purpose?  Come Sunday and join us in this journey called ‘Shine’ at Orlando North (www.OrlandoNorth.com).

Rob

New Year’s Resolution

As I begin 2010 my heart is wrapped around the theme of making God bigger in my mind this year.   I am not in an empty pursuit of making Him bigger.  After all, that task is impossible.  I am, however, in pursuit of making my mind begin to gravitate towards His vastness.  I truly believe my lack of worship is directly related to my lack of awe in the hugeness of God.

My resolution this year is not tangible as a typical year would be.  This year, my resolution is to pursue Him in a much more intentional way.  I want to think about Him constantly.  I want to be overwhelmed by His mercy and grace.  I want to experience Him and not just know about Him.

On a total side note – I have begun reading ‘The Attributes of God’, by A.W. Tozer, and the thoughts of this incredible man of God have helped in this resolution.  I highly recommend getting your hands on anything he has written.

I read an article recently by John Piper who quoted one of his college professors, Clyde Kilby, with ‘10 Resolutions to Mental Health’.  I’m posting these 10 resolutions below as I think they correspond with what I believe God wants me/us to pursue in 2010.  Read and enjoy:

1. At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.

2. Instead of the accustomed idea of a mindless and endless evolutionary change to which we can neither add nor subtract, I shall suppose the universe guided by an Intelligence which, as Aristotle said of Greek drama, requires a beginning, a middle, and an end.

I think this will save me from the cynicism expressed by Bertrand Russell before his death when he said: “There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment, and then nothing.”

3. I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambiguous and plodding twenty-four hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialities.

I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.

4. I shall not turn my life into a thin, straight line which prefers abstractions to reality. I shall know what I am doing when I abstract, which of course I shall often have to do.

5. I shall not demean my own uniqueness by envy of others. I shall stop boring into myself to discover what psychological or social categories I might belong to. Mostly I shall simply forget about myself and do my work.

6. I shall open my eyes and ears. Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their “divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic” existence.

7. I shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision I had in childhood and try, at least for a little while, to be, in the words of Lewis Carroll, the “child of the pure unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder.”

8. I shall follow Darwin’s advice and turn frequently to imaginative things such as good literature and good music, preferably, as Lewis suggests, an old book and timeless music.

9. I shall not allow the devilish onrush of this century to usurp all my energies but will instead, as Charles Williams suggested, “fulfill the moment as the moment.” I shall try to live well just now because the only time that exists is now.

10. Even if I turn out to be wrong, I shall bet my life on the assumption that this world is not idiotic, neither run by an absentee landlord, but that today, this very day, some stroke is being added to the cosmic canvas that in due course I shall understand with joy as a stroke made by the architect who calls himself Alpha and Omega.

A Great Way to Help Orlando North

There’s a website that several of our church members have been using called iGive.com.  It’s a website that allows you to do all your online shopping from over 730 online stores directly through their site.  If you register (for free) and simply do searches, even without any purchases, Orlando North receives a contribution from iGive.com.  This is where we need your help.  Over the next 24 hours they are running a HUGE promotion.  If you click on the link below and register for an account, iGive.com will donate $1 to Orlando North.  Plus, for every search you do, even without purchasing anything, they will donate 2 cents on top of what they already give us.  This is only a 24 hour offer though that ends at noon on Thursday and they will go all the way up to $5,000 if we can get that many people to sign up.

Here’s the link:
http://www.igive.com/welcome/warm_reg_promo.cfm?c=51739

I promise, this is not a hoax.  We’ve been using it as a church for several months now and have received monthly contribution checks from them.  The cost is nothing to you or to us, but it’s a huge benefit to the church.  Once you’ve registered go to their site and you can shop at all your favorite online stores, but you must make sure you go to your favorites by going through the iGive.com website and being logged in.  For example, if I wanted to buy a book off of Amazon.com, I would first begin by going to iGive.com.  I would then login with my username and password.  Then I would click on the button on the left hand side that says “Stores A-Z” and simply select Amazon.com.  I’d be taken to Amazon.com and shop as I normally would.  Just by doing that a contribution is made to the church, even if you don’t purchase anything.  It’s a no lose situation.

So….PLEASE sign up yourself.  Also, please forward this to your entire address book and ask them to help out.  If you have Twitter or Facebook please put something on your status to bring people to this.  Blog about it.  We have 24 hours to raise as much money as we can.

Thanks for your help!!

Advent & Orlando North

I just sent the following information out to those on our church’s email list.  I felt it was important enough to make available to any of you reading who may not be a part of our church.  We’d love to have you involved in any of these outreaches we’re making available.  Also, come check out one of our Advent services and maybe even plan on attending our special candlelight Christmas Eve service.  Here’s the info I gave the church:

Good morning to you all!!  Advent has kicked into full gear and I’m so excited about all that God has planned for us during this season.  We want to do several things during Advent as a tribe that will really foster the purpose of the entire season.  Advent is so beautiful because hidden in the celebration is a constant theme of God coming to rescue those who were down and out.  In the Christmas story He continually worked through those who were considered unimportant by the world.  He worked through a simple young virgin, a group of outcasts in the shepherds, and a town of little significance in Bethlehem.  That’s just the way God roles.  He has a heart to love and to serve those who are outcast.  That’s simply His nature.

I want to call us to emulate our Messiah this Advent season as He pursued serving those who were in need.  We are starting three simple, yet very effective projects that I would like to ask you to consider being a part of.

1. Supplies for the homeless – Our children’s director, Kailey Wingerter, is working with the children on getting together care packages for homeless people in Orlando.  This coming Sunday we are going to have a large bin near the stage in the Loft that we can bring supplies in to give to the homeless.  The supplies that are needed are general toiletries (soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, razors, etc.), twin bed sheets (even used ones), blankets, and towels.  Orlando North will also be collecting any Bibles you may have laying around your house that you could donate to this cause.  We’ll be collecting these items all the way through Christmas and then taking them to the Homeless Coalition in Orlando near the beginning of January.

2. Shoes2Share – Orlando North is partnering with Shoes2Share.com to collect shoes for people who otherwise would not have any. Shoes2Share provides shoes to children and families in orphanages, shelters, rehab facilities, third world countries, people in need with emergency response teams, and children who have lost their parents while serving in the line of duty for our country.  Just like the supplies for the homeless, we will be collecting used and new shoes during our upcoming services that we will box up and send to these various places.  So, start going through your closets and bring some shoes with you this Sunday that will find much better use for these people in need.  We’ll have these boxes available all throughout our services in December.

3. Christmas Caroling – One of the highlights of last year’s Advent season was the joy of visiting several local nursing homes and singing Christmas carols to and with these special people.  This is such a great thing that will light up these beautiful senior’s lives and will also bring incredible joy to your heart.  It’s wonderful for individuals, families, and friends.  I want to encourage you to be a part of one of the three chances we are making available for caroling.  Help us serve those who are often forgotten and extremely lonely.  There are three dates we will be going: December 12th at 1:30, December 19th at 1:30, and December 20th at 1:00.  To sign up or get more information please email Louise Hutchinson at bernadette.hutchinson@flhosp.org.

Make this Advent season a special one for yourself and your families.  I encourage you to be a part of everything going on through Orlando North this season.  Be at all the worship services on Sundays as we celebrate Advent together.  Be sure to come to our Christmas Party/Progressive Dinner on December 12th.  The party will consist of three stages of delicious food.  Stage 1 is at 6:00 at Priscilla Carreno’s house (604 Prairie Ln, Altamonte) for appetizers.  Stage 2 is at 7:00 at the Hall’s house (243 Timberland Ave, Longwood) for dinner and the celebration of three of our own getting water baptized.  Stage 3 is at 8:30 at the Moore’s house (4224 Rocky Ridge Place, Sanford) for dessert and time around a bonfire.

And…don’t forget our first ever Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.  That will be at 5:30 on Christmas Eve and will only last for an hour.  I encourage you to bring your family and friends out with you who you are celebrating Christmas Eve with and make this a part of your annual tradition.  It will be beautiful and well worth your time.

Rob

Scouting the Divine

By: Margaret Feinberg
ISBN: 9780310291220

Yesterday, I had lunch with my friend, Glenn.  He made an observation about me that I think is entirely false.  I began telling him about an opportunity we have as a church and he just smiled, abruptly cut me off mid-sentence, and laughed.  He proceeded to tell me that I would make such a great salesman because everything I present is presented as the best thing I’ve ever seen, read, or heard.  He mentioned that every book I ever read is better than anything I’ve ever read and it’s just a continual progression of ‘best’ reads.

He’s wrong, of course.  I told him that the last book I read, Forgotten God, by Francis Chan, was actually not even close to one of my favorites.  I thought it had valuable truths, but I still think Francis is a better oral communicator than he is author.

I had just finished Margaret Feinberg’s book, Scouting the Divine, the night before Glenn cordially blasted me for my perpetual optimism.  How would I now present my review of this book?

I have to be true to form.

Margaret and her husband Leif have become friends of ours over the past couple years.  I’ve spoken at and been to conferences where Margaret has spoken.  Orlando North even had the honor of having Margaret come and speak to us at one of our services last year.  Her love for God and the beauty of His Word is SO contagious.

I’ve read several of Margaret’s books, including The Sacred Echo, The Organic God, Twentysomething, and of course, Dear God, It’s Me Margaret (just kidding, that’s Judy Blume’s work).  Scouting the Divine was not just a terrific read; it was a book that moved me.

The book is based on Margaret’s desire to research certain literary examples, techniques, and occupations found in the Bible with their contemporary cohorts.  Margaret breaks the book into four sections.  Each section tells the adventure of how Margaret visited a certain person with expertise in a field that she is reading Scriptures about.

In section one, Margaret visits a shepherd who unveils truths about the numerous Biblical references to sheep and shepherding.  Section two is Margaret visiting a friend and his uncle who are farmers and they discuss the passages of Scripture dedicated to farming, and particularly the harvest.  Section three is with a professional bee keeper who discusses the value of the hive which have thousands of bees with their own jobs, working together to make the treasure we know as honey.  In the final section, Margaret visits Napa Valley to catch an understanding of working the vineyards.

I have to admit, I had two sections that were my favorite.  The first section on shepherding and sheep spoke deeply to me.  I was reading the book at a public place and read a section about Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the power of Margaret’s thoughts literally made me tear up.  I had to begin coughing to make people think I was choking over something.  I didn’t want anyone to think I was that sensitive.  Margaret gives incredible insight into the depth of love a good shepherd has for his/her sheep.  The sheep are much more than a commodity to them.  It brings to life how David must have felt about his sheep prior to becoming the king.  It also brings to life how Jesus feels about us.  The lowliness of shepherds and the depth of love God has for them is simply remarkable.

Also, the section on beekeeping was just really cool.  Did you know a single beehive can have up to 75,000 bees all working together for one purpose?  It takes two million flowers to make one pound of honey.  The bees, with their own jobs, all work together to accomplish their one purpose – to make honey.  It was a beautiful picture of the church.

I loved this book.  I highly recommend it.  One, because Margaret is the real deal.  Two, because the book has depth that will speak to your soul.  Three, because I think it will make Glenn laugh.

RD

ONCC This Sunday

Before the weekend arrived I wanted to get a quick update to you regarding this Sunday’s service.

As we finish out 2009 we have a lot to look back on and be thankful for as a church.  A lot of great things have happened both individually and corporately this past year.  At the same time, we’ve had some tough times to go through together as well.  Many have lost jobs, and finances have been incredibly tight.  The McEachern/LaRosa family lost a beautiful member of their family and are approaching their first holiday season without him.  But the beauty of all of it is that this tribe has continually amazed me with their demonstration of Christ’s love and commitment for one another.  I know during both the good times and bad there is something very special about sharing these moments with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  This upcoming Thanksgiving week is a week where I will be thankful for all of you and what corporately we have become.

This coming Sunday is going to be such a fun and unique Sunday.  There’s no sermon series that we’re in the middle of as we finished ‘Whispers’ last week and begin ‘Advent ‘09: The Awe of Christmas’ on November 29th.  That gives me one week to share something with you that’s been on my heart that simply does not fit in the confines of a series.  This week I’m going to share some thoughts with you regarding our church as a strategic tool in the community we are planted in.  I want to give specifics about where our church is heading and what we together can accomplish.  I really think it will be of use to you as you further your walk with Christ and serve alongside us in this tribe.

Also, two other great things are occurring Sunday.  This past May Orlando North sent out our very first foreign missionary, Eric D’Errico, to work with church plants in Ireland.  He’s been there for approximately six months now and this Sunday we’re going to have him broadcasted live into our service from his home in Ireland with his wife, Lyndsey.  We’re going to get to see them via computer and hear all that’s going on with the work in Ireland.

Secondly, our elementary aged children are going to give us a brief Thanksgiving presentation near the end of service.  Kailey has been working diligently on hats for all of the children as well as their verse they will be quoting to us.  If you are a parent of an elementary aged child, please be sure to be at service this Sunday, along with your child, for a very special treat.  If your child has missed the previous practices don’t sweat it…Kailey’s going to bring them all up to speed Sunday prior to their presentation.  So bring your kid, yourself, a few family guests and a camera for what promises to be inspiring and cute!

I hope you enjoy the beginning to your weekend.  The weather is beautiful.  The holiday season upon us.  And you are loved.

RD