Exciting Things Happening At StoneBridge

So far, So God! I believe Mark Batterson said that one time. So far, January has proven to be fruitful. God continues to bless us with people who are excited about following Jesus. The first Sunday in January, I preached a message on The Biblical Basis of Baptism. I felt like it was one of the best messages I had done in a long time. After the message, a young mother requested to be baptized. I was pumped! We had two baptisms the entire 2006 year.

Then, Russell called me to tell me that two (possibly three) college students wants to be baptized. Thank you, Lord. I have been so burdened about this need. I believe it is important for people who have professed Christ to make a public profession of their faith, by entering the waters of baptism. We have set a goal this year as a church to see 75 people saved and 24 baptized. Now, before I get hate mail (just kidding), I would love to see 75 people saved (if not more) and 75 people baptized, but the reality of this is not likely because each year we host a Sports Camp where several kids accept Christ. Most of these kids are either churched or have no church background. So, following up with these unchurched kids has not been productive even though we try to follow up with every person who accepts Christ as Savior.

The assimilation process of seeing people move from unchurched, saved, baptized, and a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ is difficult, and the reason I think it is difficult is because we make it difficult. We do not plan for growth. We do not remind people of what they are supposed to do. If we want to see people assimilated in our churches we must constantly remind people of what a disciple looks like. We must remind our people about the mission of the local church. It is to reach people, make more and better disciples who in turn will reach people and make more and better disciples.

My Story

Mark Batterson inspired me to print out my 2006 Blog entries. After about an hour's worth of printing, I had 144 pages of entries, compared to Mark's 400.

Back in the Spring of 2006, I became intrigued by the concept of blogging after reading a fellow pastor's blog. I loved his stories, authenticity, and love for Christ. So, I thought I would begin my journey in the blogosphere. I am thankful to be a part of the blog world. I feel so inadequate (when it comes to writing), because (as Napoleon Dynamite would say) "I don't have any skills." =)

Taking a look at these entries, I am reminded that my life is telling a story. In Acts 3:19 the Bible says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" I love this verse for several reasons, but the main reason I love this verse is because of the words "blotted out". In Bible days, ink did not have acid in it. So, when people wrote on the parchments, it could easily be wiped away so that they could start afresh.

Here's the application: When we repent of our sins, God gives us a new page. We have a fresh start on life. I am thankful for God's forgiveness in my life. I pray that as people read my story that somewhere they would get a glimpse of Christ. God Bless you all, and Happy New Year!

Four More Sundays

We have four more Sundays in 2006 to impact lives. What will we say to influence people to move from the stands to the playing field? How will God use His message to convict, convince, and encourage us to do more for Him in 2007?

What will God do through His churches in order for our communities to take notice? Mark Batterson said, "The Good news ought to make the news."

I talked with a friend of mine today who is a pastor in Arkansas. One of the things his church is doing to make the news is an Absolutely Free Gift Wrapping Service at the local Mall. I thought that was a great way for his church to serve their community and honor Christ. I truly believe that if our churches are going to make a difference we must show Christ through our actions, and then, we'll be blessed with opportunities to share Christ.

Happy Sharing!