Big God little god

As many of you know I have been preaching a message series Big God, little god. Although many of us know God is bigger, we can't really comprehend just how Big He is.

In the last couple of weeks God has shown Himself in the everyday life at the church. He has shown Himself as a Great Big God.

It all began last week when the worship team visited Lee Arrendale State Prison for a Saturday night worship time. When we arrived I knew something would be different about this visit. I visit the prison usually several times a month and during these visits I hang out in the Transition Center, there the ladies have more freedom than the general population. On this night the general population would be worshiping to with a new band and it would prove to be out of this world. As the worship team practiced and got the sound adjusted, the LASP choir was included in two songs. As they sang I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with adoration for a loving God that would give me privilege of hanging out with these special ladies. I sobbed as I listen to them sing How Great is Our God and How Great Thou Art. Wow! When the general pop began to enter the room, it was on. The band started worship and it was crazy wild, most of the ladies there knew how to worship. Then I began to speak and they preached me to death, but God was faithful. It was a night I will long remember.

Then Sunday came and we had another amazing crowd and God visited with us as we worshiped Him and studied His word. Then came Sunday night, we were hosting our Joy Class (Membership Class) and we had 29 attend. As the class started I could tell God was on the moment. We completed the first two sessions and then had dinner (Thanks Shawn and Laura Weldy, great meal). Following the meal we continued the session and came to the Salvation presentation. I have been doing membership classes for 10+ years and every time this is the most special time of all. Out of the many classes I have done, I think only one didn't have someone come to Jesus and this night would be no different. I presented the truth of God's word concerning His son, Jesus Christ. At the end I led in a prayer and then challenged those in attendance to let me know if they had prayed to receive Christ. Four people acknowledged a decision. What followed for me was overwhelming. In the class was a close friend whom I have grown to love over the last year, we are motorcycle riding friends and friends who have experienced a very difficult situation this past you with his son being arrested, convicted and sent to prison for a pretty long while. Last fall we took a motor ride and had breakfast, at that time I began to pray for him to come to Christ. Even though I believe in a Big God, I had no idea what God would do on this Joy Class night, but my friend became a follower of Jesus.

Wow, God is good and today I can see ever more that He is a Big God.

The Weekend....

For the praise team "IT" was started on Saturday night. Wow, who'd thunk we could have had a party at the prison. God continues to breakdown barriers for us to be able to minister. Thanks to Warden Howerton and the staff to help us have an unbelievable experience. Things got even better as we rehearsed with the ladies choir and then God showed out as we joined with a great group of sisters to praise the Father. We'll be going again in March and would like for you to go with us.
Sunday night we had a membership class of about 20+. I look forward to these as we hear your story how God brought you to Fellowship Church. Many times I set there thanking God for how you have welcomed, invited and brought his people to worship. Also at the classes we have been blessed to see life change. Last night was no exception. We have new bothers and sisters in Christ! Yahoo, be praying for these new folks as they will need our encouragement cause the devil is upset to see his kingdom shrink and God's continue to grow.
This is a BIG week as we kick off Fellowship Connection. Sign up on line today.

REMEMBER Sunday bring all you unchurched friends to the service as Pastor Craig will be making a special presentation of the gospel.

Saturday Night Prison Celebration Jan. 24

I was not sure what to call it, but maybe the title is clear. On Saturday night we will be sharing Jesus with the ladies of Lee Arrendale State Prison. If you would like to attend please call Amanda Friday 706.894.1500 to get a release form that must be filled out before you can enter the prison. If you would like to attend as a guest to pray and encourage the ladies arrive at the prison at 5:30 p.m., park in the lot across from the Main Entrance, Go to the Entrance the tell them you are with Fellowship Church. You should only bring your keys and drivers license, you will exchange them for a visitor's badge and be escorted to the Gym. We will finish about 8:00-8:30. Hope to see you there, it's gonna be a great time!

Sunday WOW!

BIG GOD little god

This series has been getting us ready. Ready for what? Ready for change. We at Fellowship Church are anything but ordinary. Sunday night I went to New Spring Church in Anderson, SC. Perry Noble reminded the church if they were comfortable with things now they wouldn't be because we are in a changing world and the church needs to change to reach those with the never changing message of Christ.
The changes made generally mean we are growing. I find it very exciting that Fellowship Church is growing. That means you are sharing how God is changing you with others. Continue to share how you are following and allowing Christ to shape and lead your life.

Here's the link for Perry's message look for week three of No Perfect People Allowed.

http://www.newspring.cc/

Sunday Set List

Here is Jan 4 list:

Open Up the Sky
Alabaster Jar
Glory to God

Jan 11 List

Take It All
Glorious God
From the Inside Out
Savior of the World

Check out the video tab at the top....

The Shack

I don't usually read fiction books, just not enough time in the day. My reading is mostly focused on learning from others. I like anything that teaches me more about my Lord and I love leadership (mostly because I wish to be a great leader). However on Monday I picked up a fiction book that I have heard much about. In fact it has become somewhat of a controversy among theologians. Amanda (admin assist) had read "The Shack" and asked would I like to borrow it, sure I said and off I went. The reading started at 7:30 pm Monday night, I read until 12:00 midnight, picked it back up at the office Tuesday morning and finished it by 11:00 am. WOW!

What drew me to those pages I am not sure, but what I read really impacted me in many ways. Taking into account the book is completely fiction one must be careful not to take what is written as completely theologically correct, however I must say it helped me deal with some issues of religion I have battled for a long time.

Without spoiling the book for you, allow me to give you a brief storyline: Mack (lead character) looses a daughter while camping with his family to a kidnapping killer. He receives a note inviting him back to the last known location of his daughters being alive four years latter. Upon his visit to "The Shack" he encounters God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The book depict a story of redemption and forgiveness like nothing I have ever read.

So what value did I get from "The Shack"? The best way to describe it for you is to tell you how it opened up a fresh eye for God that I had been struggling with for so long. Many of us were raised into religion, a view that structured our lives as Christ follower. A life filled with rules, regulations and standards. But as I have grown in the faith and studied the Bible I find that the God I read about is not so worried about religion, but He longs for relationship. He knows that once we fall in love with Him, the rules will become natural and we will be different. "The Shack" also helped me deal with some of the images I had of God. Although I think some of the transcript became a little to free, it made me think about how I can only see Jesus as the pictures we all have seen in most churches. Jesus must have had been a white man with long hair, long beard, a gentle look, wearing a cream colored robe. But really is that who Jesus is? Could it be that Jesus was black (remember he was Jewish, dark skinned) and can the image we have be wrong. Could our image of God be wrong, you know a Grandfatherly figured white man with long white hair, a mean look, perfect white robe, looking over the top of small framed glasses, just waiting for you to mess up so He can mess you up? What about the Holy Spirit, is He like the boogie man, always watching to see if you keep the rules? Or is He all in our stuff hoping to help us create a life of beauty and grace?

"The Shack" certainly goes to the very edge of a line I am not sure I can travel. I can say that I hope all I read is more real that we know. The writer(William P. Young) took some liberties that caused me to think. Some have been very critical of his book and called it irresponsible, I remind them it is only fiction. Some have even attacked him personally. A word to Mr. Young, they have been doing this for years, treat it like I do idiots, let it run off you back like water on a duck. It ain't worth your time (since I read you book I think you probably know that better than I). I encourage you to consider reading it, with one caution:
Read this book like any fiction book, read it as a story. When you do you will find it to be more of a love story than anything else.

Sunday Night Thoughts

Wow what a week! It all started with a very difficult day, like I said today we all will have days where things seem to just go all wrong. I am glad that God orders our steps because He knew how to make a great week.

Today was a great day at Fellowship, we had 325 and I couldn't believe it. Get this a foggy, rainy, vacation day and our attendance soared. Yeah God! People just keep coming and for that I am grateful.

I encourage you all to continue to invite you friends and family. I believe we will see our greatest days in 2009. If you have someone in your life who does not know Jesus get them to come with you and watch as God does his incredible work of grace. How about this, you and I are the audience in God's redemptive work, I love that.

The message today really worked and I was so glad to share Matt's letter with you all. I sincerely mean that I love Matt like my own child. Some churches would hesitate to bring this to the forefront however I believe God wants to use his story to encourage our church and cause us to keep focused on God.

I look forward to seeing you all soon and have a great week.