Great moments require great prayer
We have noticed that every great moment in our history has been met with at least one spiritual major struggle in our church family. As if the great spiritual breakthru exposes a fault line in someone's faith foundation. Often, it is revealed in the life of someone who is least involved, although by outward appearance, may seem right with us. I am heartbroken about this.. And shaken to consider that I am made of the same material, and heaven is still far away. As Heartcry's recent article stated, I'm living in the middle of "already...not yet" (http://www.lifeaction.org/ publishes this journal, article I'm referring to is not posted). I'm not safe from spiritual defeat until heaven. None of us are.

If moving forward to the next level as a church means spiritual warfare, then, my human side says never mind. Yet, when we do experience resistance, I'm grateful we must be headed in the right direction. Why would the enemy pick on a church who isn't making an impact for Christ? And, what else is worth living for? If I'm not in the war for souls, then what for eternity am I doing? I know no other life, I don't even want to try it. Not that I'm perfected at it. Someone recently said to me that staying home from Sunday worship seemed too easy. Oh God, may I never find sin "so easy" or palatable!

Dr. Davis (http://www.scbi.org/ exec. direct.) once said "If you wake up in the morning and meet the devil on your way to work, you must be going in the right direction" (Hope I quoted him right.)

This post is meant to simply and unashamedly ask readers to stop and pray for our church, my ministry and family integrity, and to warn Christ followers to "take heed, lest you too fall into temptation"

First Sunday at Carmike

We finally arrived at Carmike for worship! Everyone gathered in one theater to celebrate. David Martin, of www.ontrackministries.org , was our guest speaker, in keeping with our current series, The Amazing Race.

Next week we start kids connection classes in their own theaters.

This is also a great time to evaluate and recalibrate all we are doing. This isn't just a location and equipment upgrade. We are all revisiting the vision and purposes God gave us for St Joe. I look forward to a summer of growth, both within those we have already reached, and in attendance as new people discover St Joe, now worshipping in an easy to find worship location.

What a humbling opportunity...