Here goes – my weekly ramblings about today and other random stuff from this week:
- I can’t wait to pick up my daughter on Tuesday! Yeah! Phone calls are great. Skype is pretty cool. But nothing compares to a hug!
- I already miss College Football! They wait way too long to play the bowl games! I think Auburn is going to spank Oregon. I’m tempted to drive up to Charlotte and try to see Clemson play.
- Speaking of Clemson, Caroline & Willie West gave me two tickets to see Clemson play C of C in basketball on Dec. 22nd. Sadly, Clemson might lose that game.
- Today was part two in our “Home for Christmas” series. I talked about what you’ll find when you come home. Many people expect to find judgement, condemnation, and punishment. Instead you find forgiveness, peace, and eternal life!
- It was rainy & cold today (for Charleston)! You hate to think that that affects attendance – but it does. We’re so spoiled. We still had over 300 people today.
- I haven’t gone through today’s Connect Cards yet, so not much to report there. I know we did have some 1st & 2nd time guests today. Who are you going to invite to Christmas Eve?
- Bri Roberts (Wes’s wife) has started a blog! If you follow her on Facebook, then you already know just how funny she is! Show her some blog love: http://fourifbysea.blogspot.com/
- For those of you who freak out about the “X” in Xmas read this article: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/x-christmas/ I must confess that when writing messages I actually write X for Christ and Xians! This article explains why I do that. Xians get their panties in a wad about the silliest things!
- We served homemade chili after the 3rd service tonight! People LOVE food! The chili was VERY good!
- I haven’t heard the updated Christmas Offering from today, but when I do, I’ll pass it along. I think people are just as excited about us possibly going over our goal so we can get moving on expanding our women’s bathroom.
- We stayed at church this afternoon between the 2nd and 3rd services. The new sofas in the Welcome Center are good for napping!
- Christopher and I saw the movie “127 Hours” on Saturday. It’s the movie based on the true story of that guy who got “stuck” while rock climbing and ended up cutting off his own arm to escape! If you have a weak stomach, do not see the movie. Moral of the story – always let someone know where you are going!
- We saw 26 different 3 year olds – kindergarteners today! WOW!
- All the Promiseland Volunteers were present and on time today! Way to go guys! Those little things are important.
- Edwin the drummer was AWESOME!
- My wife has been in the baking mood! I have a hard time not sampling her efforts! Most of it is for gifts for volunteers. As of right now she’s made 3 different kinds of fudge! I must get back on my healthy eating track and hit the gym this week! Lifestyle – right?
- We did our best to help the two homeless guys that were sleeping in a tent in the woods behind our property this week. It’s a blog post all on it’s own (kind of a crazy story), but suffice it to say that some people just don’t want help.
- Have you ever invited someone who didn’t have family or a place to go, home for Christmas with you? That’s what this Sunday’s message is all about. God wants to use all of us to invite people to come home. And yes, I’ve purposely planned this message before our Christmas Eve Service. Start praying and inviting people NOW. Remember, from today’s video, “What’s the worst that can happen?”
Have a great week! I’ll try to take some time this week and blog about the homeless guys. Good night.
Well, here we go again. Just a few very random thoughts from today and the weekend:
- Really appreciate all the volunteers who helped decorate the church for Christmas! Everything looked beautiful today! There’s just something about lights, poinsettias, wreaths, snow, and more lights! We came up with the theme, “Home for Christmas” a while ago, but it really came together this week. It was definitely a group effort, but Wes worked very hard on it and it showed.
- On Friday night I got to support River Church and their LoveGave Bikes effort by getting up in a lift in front of Wal-Mart to help promote their campaign. They were able to give away 371 bikes to needy children! (Coastal bought 5 bikes!) Way to go River Church! I’ve enjoyed getting to know their Pastor, Todd Magouyrk – great guy, great church. Looking forward to getting together with him later this week. He told me that they’re going to help us out with the Egg Drop this year! Pastors and churches have to do a better job of partnering together like this. We’re not the competition. We’re on the same team!
- We’re pretty consistently over 300 right now – kind of hovering around 320. Ready to bust through that next barrier. Use this month to pull out all the stops and invite people to church. People are very receptive to spiritual things this time of year. Lots of 1st time guests today!
- Absolutely loved our time of worship together today! Every song just seemed to fit with my message in some way. The lights, the decorations all seemed to add to the theme. And Heather CAN SING! But it’s not just her voice, it’s her heart that shines through as well. I’m telling you, it was just a powerful day!
- My message was about coming home. I used the different elements of a traditional Nativity scene as symbols that communicate a bigger truth all pointing toward God coming to earth, reaching out to us, so that we would come home to Him. I need to go back through the Connect Cards, but I think 3 people indicated that they gave their life to Christ and came home to God! That’s what it’s all about!
- Janet, our Children’s Ministry Director, bragged this afternoon about two of her Nursery Volunteers – Ronda and Diana! Way to go guys! Your dedication to Coastal and to the little ones in particular is inspiring! Thank you for all that you do!
- And speaking of Ronda, she gave me some homemake “buckeyes” today (creamy peanut butter goodness covered in chocolate). I’m definitely not a Ohio State fan, but I love me some “buckeyes!”
- Katielee, thanks for always staying to the end and making sure that everything is clean!
- We had a couple of homeless guys sleeping in a tent in the woods behind our church. They got some hot food today, met a few guys that might have some work, and we were able to provide a warm place to stay for at least a couple of days and get them out of the cold. Tomorrow we’ll be working on more permanent shelter. Again – way to go Coastal!
- Had multiple conversations today with new people who just love our church! One guy told me that he’s never felt so welcome. Another guy came to church for the first time in his life except for funerals – absolutely loved it!
- Just love it when people in our church get excited about bringing their friends!
- Went to a little girl’s two year birthday party today after church. Thanks for inviting us Charna! Happy Birthday Sophie!
- All of our Cafe volunteers did a great job today – really got into the whole Christmas theme. They made homemade hot apple cider and it was AWESOME! And then tonight we had bacon wrapped scallops and bacon wrapped beef tenderloin! Everything is better with bacon! And no we won’t be having the “Meat Manger Scene” that I showed during my sermon. No one will be eating baby Jesus!
- The Gamecocks probably don’t want me pulling for them anymore, although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my fault.
Well, that’s about it! Check out a few pictures from today on my Facebook page. I’ll let you know later this week where we stand with our Christmas Offering. Good night!
