Wednesday, April 29, 2009

May's Bible Reading Plan

Here is May's Bible Reading Plan.

Positive News Among the Younger Unchurched

I had the privilege of hearing Ed Stetzer speak at the Acts 29 Midwest Quarterly in St. Louis, MO. Ed Stetzer is the co-author of "LOST AND FOUND: The Young Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them" and he also does some amazing cultural research that I find very helpful as a pastor. In his talk, he gave some encouraging news about the receptivity among the younger unchurched to the gospel. I thought I would share some of his research included in a pdf you can download by clicking here.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Men: Don't Miss It

Well guys, it's time for another men's retreat created by men and for men, which means it may be a bit unorganized, but it will be a blast.

It's just a week away (May 1 & 2). Here are the details:

MISSION
To get back in touch with our masculine side, build team, and camaraderie amongst us men.

SCHEDULE
TBA

*You will need to bring your own food, tent, and sleeping bag.

TO REGISTER
Sign-up through your Communication Card on Sunday morning, then designate a $5 payment to "Men's Retreat" and drop in an offering basket.

DIRECTIONS
1. Take I-64 E toward ILLINOIS / US-40, go 4.5 miles
2. Continue on I-55 N, go 2.8 miles
3. Take RIGHT fork onto I-64 E toward LOUISVILLE / IL-3 N / ST CLAIRE AVE, go 71.2 miles
4. MERGE onto I-57 S, go 0.9 miles
5. EXIT #95 / MT. VERNON / ASHLEY, go 0.3 miles
6. Turn LEFT on BROADWAY ST (IL-15 E), go 3.7 miles
7. Continue to follow IL-15 E, go 5.3 miles
8. Turn LEFT on N HARMONY LN (CR-3), go 5.0 miles
9. Turn RIGHT on E SILENCE RD, go 0.8 miles
10. Bear RIGHT on DUNER RD, go 0.2 miles
11. Turn LEFT on E PINECONE RD, go 0.4 miles
12. Arrive at 20124 E Pinecone Bluford II, on the LEFT

*Do NOT mapquest / google. Directions are incorrect.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Easter Pics

If you were at Jubilee Church St. Louis City on Easter, you probably had your picture taken. To see those pics, you can go to the city's main page and look under "resources" > "photos" or follow this link.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Great Easter Sunday!

My heart was full yesterday. I saw passion at Jubilee for Jesus and people. It's always been there, but it surfaced in a new way. I'm so proud of how well everyone invited. We had 275 in the city location yesterday and 361 total in both Jubilee locations. Both were a big answer to prayer.

People served in an excellent way...the childrens workers took on an increased number of kids, the greeters and ushers were also kept on their toes by all the new people, the worship band lead us in a excellent time of worship, the hospitality crew, the communion set up team, the photographers, prayer team, the offering team, the sound men and women and the list goes on and on. What hearts for service!

Jubilee also did a great job in being hospitable to new people. There was a buzz in a the room of conversation. The most common positive comment we get about Jubilee from our guests is the friendliness and the love that is expressed by Jubilee peeps taking the time to talk to them.

Jubilee Church St. Louis is just that...a church. It's not a one-man show. It's not centered around the gifting of a few. It's a growing group of men and women who are living stones, presenting themselves as living sacrifices out of worship of their God and great Champion...the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. I love being a member of this church and feel privileged to have a leadership role.

This Sunday, I will start a new series titled, "Sent to the City" where I will discuss the following three reasons why were are here: To Serve, To Love, To Build community. See you then! Watch this short promo video.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Looking fwd to Easter

So far my vacation has involved lots of driving, lots of sleep, lots of food, lots of Wii (a gaming system), lots of family time and a little sun. It's cooler than normal down in Florida (not as cold as STL, however), but it's still be very sunny and mid to upper 70s. Today my wife and I even hit the tennis courts...it's been about a year. We are having a great time with Rachel's family, celebrating her father's 60th B-day (Wynn Douglass). I also must mention her brother, Josh Douglass, so my blog will come up next time he does a google search on his name...a complaint of his. He's a great guy and a lawyer for the Kansas City School District.

I'm really looking forward to this Sunday (Easter). First of all, it is the anniversary of Jesus Christ's defeat of Satan, sin and death. Secondly, I'm really looking forward to hosting the friends, co-workers, relatives and neighbors we have all invited to Easter service. It's been a prayer of mine this past week that we would have great success. On the drive down here, I had some time to think quite a bit what I might say and what God would give me that would be the right words at the right moment. I really feel strongly to particularly address those who have a negative opinion of the church (and Jesus) based on a past experience or how they were raised. So if you know people how are familiar with church, but have grown sour, I want to encourage you to particularly invite those people.

See you soon!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

On Vacation

Tomorrow morning, I will be taking the fam down to Florida for eight days to help celebrate Rachel's father's 60th birthday. I'm looking forward to a little down time.

This Sunday, John Lanferman will continue our series "Finding Jesus in the Old Testament" by looking at Jesus as our Jubilee.

See you on Easter!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April's Bible Reading Plan

I hope you are finding your days enriched by the reading of Scripture.

Here is April's plan.