Weekend update

Yesterday went really well. It seemed like everything really clicked as the worship began. I taught about how all couples fight and how to deal with it in a Godly way.

This series has been tremendous help in my own marriage as well. I love my wife and am proud to say that we are constantly working on our marriage.

On a different note we have had 19 people give their heart to Jesus during the last 4 weeks of service.

Join us this weekend as we look at Just Do It! We will be examining how our actions and words really connect!

Church Metrics

Introducing ChurchMetrics from ChurchMetrics on Vimeo.


this is going to be awesome, and its free...

Challenging Thought

I am in a coaching group right now with a pastor in New York named Nelson Searcy. He is lead pastor at The Journey Church.

He left a post today that is really convicting for me. Here is the quote.

“We are judged by what we finish, not what we start.”
- Anonymous

Hmm, what are we completing?

Excellence

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" -Aristotle

We are streamlining things, and simplifying. I believe that excellence honors God with all my heart. Its not perfection, we cant be perfect every time of course, but the consistency needs to be there of our best.

I wrestle personally here, I believe that God is working in me, this thought of "excellence is a habit." If I dont watch myself, I can be lax in areas, and I dont want to be that way any more.

I want to honor God with what I do, what the church does, how we respond, how we deal with guests, how we help believers grow in faith, how we impact our community. (maybe grammatical sentence structure is an area I can work on as well)

handwriting cards

I am hand writing cards to every guest now. Trying to connect on a more personal level.

Today I wrote out like 9 cards. Doesnt sound like much to you maybe, but hand writing to me is huge. Well I got them all done and ready for Shanna to mail... a few minutes later she told me I wrote them all on the wrong side....

just my luck...

So I am writing them again, as I pray over each card, again...

Hmm, is God trying to get me to pray more?

weekend update

Another fine weekend at JCFC. The weather was great, and cooled off by the time service was over.

We jumped right into the second sermon in the series, www.mymarriageisdead.com called Perfect Seasoning.

There were at least 6 more people who gave their heart to Jesus this week, and I was able to connect with several families on Monday who are receiving some help in their marriage.

We are praying for 100 families to have major changes in their marriage due to this series. It is happening...

I got an email today from a couple in the church. Check this out (I changed the names...)

June and I have really connected with the current series and feel our marriage is already stronger just because we have focused on communication and each other. Without this series I don’t know that we would have taken the time to really talk about the things that we appreciate about each other. June and I have been married for eight years and together for 15 so there is a certain comfort that comes with that much time together. We both just assumed that there was a general understanding of love and appreciation. I know the assumption was correct but there is something far more powerful about taking the time to vocalize our feelings for each other. Like all marriages, we are not perfect, but we are better than we were two weeks ago. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for the rest!

Keep praying, I am getting emails and hearing lots of talk about marriages becoming more healthy each week.

500th post

My favorite thing to do is baptism. It just doesn't get any better than helping people make that step of getting in the water and symbolizing that their sins are being washed away.

I am moved every time I see a baptism, whether live or video. Tomorrow we show this clip to the whole church.

I cant wait for you all to see it.

New Uncle

We were up yesterday around 4.30 to head to STL to see my sisters new baby boy Titus aka Mr T.

He is doing really well, and adjusting to life outside the womb! We are heading back to good ol Des Moines in a few hours here. Burning up that highway.

weekend update

If you werent there, man you missed it.

I have to say to all our volunteers and team, you guys were outstanding! The day went off amazing. We had 196 in attendance, with at least 6 people giving their life to Christ.

I saw lots of tears during the sermon, as I spoke from Song of Solomon about marriage. We specifically dealt with the way we speak to each other and overcoming insecurities through love!

The band was awesome, Kevin brought us through announcements, I spoke and the band closed out with LifeHouse cover Whatever it Takes. Beautiful.

Thanks again, invite your friends, and pray!

Wide Awake

I am so pumped about tomorrows service. I cant wait to teach tomorrow. I know God is going to use this series to change lives.

Hope to see you all there in a few hours.

Dark Knight

Do I even need to say anything? WOW

Billboard Shot

I've spoken with several families who have seen the Billboards or got a mailer, and they have sparked all kinds of conversations.

Our goal is to see 100 marriages changed. Knowing that conversations are happening nightly thrills my soul. I am praying that trust is strengthened and relationships encouraged.

Pray with me.

My Marriage is Dead

Just wanted to remind everyone to check out www.mymarriageisdead.com this week. The series starts this Sunday. I am telling you that you wont want to miss it.

Invite everyone you know. I have no idea what to expect, I get emails everyday from people who cant wait to be there.

Get ready, get ready, get ready.

Our regular JCFC crew, we will need you to step up this weekend and serve. Come in early, smile and connect with EVERYONE. Make them feel welcome, as you always do.

BTW, we have had well over 5200 visits to the website.

My thoughts

1. My sister is about ready to deliver her first baby. :)

2. Cant wait for our next series. www.mymarriageisdead.com it is going to be amazing. We mailed out 26,152 full color 6x11 postcards today.

3. I was on a 2 hr conference call with Nelson Searcy today. It was great. I was really challenged.

4. Reading two great books right now, Simple Church by Thom Rainer, and Fusion by Nelson Searcy.

5. Praying for 100 marriages to be changed by this fall series. Invite your friends and family to be a part. Its a great series for broken marriages, good marriages, and great ones.

Bad oil change

Oh man, I am having issues. Had my oil changed at my mechanics garage today. He had a new guy in, and after I got down the road, the engine started grinding and no oil pressure.

I pulled over and saw this....

Talk about bummed. I called the mechanic and had it towed back to his shop. He is taking care of it tomorrow. Pray there isnt any damage.

Weekend Update

1. The band was amazing yesterday. I am so moved every time we sing Overcome and Revelation song. What a powerful time of worship.

2. 5 people recommitted their life to Christ yesterday. Amazing. I love to see people being moved on by the Holy Spirit.,

3. Thank you for inviting your friends. It is making a difference in peoples lives. You never know that one invitation could be the one that the Holy Spirit uses to help them cross the line of faith.

4. Signed off today to send our 26,500 mailers to go along with our www.mymarriageisdead.com series. Pray with us for 100 marriages to be changed.

5. Over 3000 hits to the website since we have had billboards up.

6. I am getting emails nearly everyday from spouses wanting to heal their marriage.

7. Invite everyone you can to this new life changing series. Lets fill that theater and change our city.

100 in 6 weeks

Pray with us everyday during this month and next for 100 marriages to be changed.

I know its a ridiculous prayer, but I believe God honors ridiculous faith.

It is God plan that all come to repentance. I also believe its His plan for people to have an abundant life.

Merge those things, and we have a stellar series that is designed to transform marriages as hearts are changed as Jesus touches them.

www.mymarriageisdead.com

Invite everyone you know.

Lets fill our theater for Gods glory.

My BIble Journey

Man I have reading through Romans again this week. I love this book.

Romans 3

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Bela and Capt Kangaroo

Anyone notice any resemblamce between Capt Kangaroo and Bela Karolyi?

I'm just sayin'.

Whata week

I have to say I love the Olympics. We have been sucked in all week. From the swimming to the gymnastics to the track and field. I even was intrigued by the fencing. Wow.

Am I ever inspired to get int he pool.

Today was great. We are right in the middle of the series Nuts and Bolts, and today I spoke about having great friends. David and Jonathan kind of friends.

Cant wait to continue into the fall with www.mymarriageisdead.com We have had almost 1300 hits on the site this week.

Pray with me that 100 marriages can be changed for God's glory.