Sunday Highlights

Today was a long day for both Sarah and I. She had to wake up at 5am in order to make a 6am meeting at Staples. Her getting up of course affected my sleep as well so it's been a little bit of a tiring day.

In Sunday school I talked with the youth about Matthew 5:27-48. We're going through the Sermon on the Mount and this morning was a review for what we've covered in the last half of chapter 5. The highlights we talked about were:

1. How sin can take place before we commit the action.
2. Plucking things and situations from our life that will cause us to sin.
3. Being a person with integrity and a reputation of trustworthiness.
4. Consider the impact of your actions by examining if someone was about to do to you what you're about to do to them.
5. Don't repay evil with evil.
6. Love your enemies and pray for them.
7. What kind of reputation do you have among those you don't spend time with?

A little bit before the 11am worship gathering the World Changers group we're sponsoring arrived and I met them for the first time. It turned out to be locals. It's 9 youth and 2 adults who will be painting, doing repairs, and construction for this week. We provided lunch for them today, which turned into a church social (although it had to be brief because the team had a schedule to keep). As their sponsors, the church is providing lunch for them this week. I'm hoping those that are serving the lunches and the youth that come along will see what the other youth are doing and I'll here, "why aren't we doing this".

We have some great servants in our church. As I looked around today, in between running here and there, I saw many who were putting a lot of time and effort into making the lunch "just right" and it showed.

Today I led two songs during the worship gathering: Better is One Day and The Wonderful Cross. I really enjoy it. I saw a lot of people who were not singing on Better is One Day; I'm guessing it wasn't familiar to them. The same thing sort of happened during The Wonderful Cross. The verses, which are from The Wondrous Cross, they were with me, but I noticed a lot less people singing during the chorus. I've asked around and nearly everyone seems to really enjoy having newer music back in the church (which I've only been doing once every 2-3 weeks), but in all honesty most of the songs aren't really "new". They're about 10-20 years old.

I can't wait until we hire a full time worship leader. I want to be learning new songs and there to at least be more than one instrument playing at a time. Plus, I can carry a tune but I don't have a nice voice.

After the morning gathering and lunch, I led the World Changers team over to Fellsmere (about a 30 min. drive) to the site they will be working and introduced them to the lady they will be doing most of their work for. Sarah and I got home a little after 3pm.

Today has felt like a long day and a long week is ahead of us. Our first adult Bible study is starting this Thursday which we're really excited about. We're starting with the subject of evangelism and I'm going to do my best to make this a very outward thinking group. Sarah and I are both very excited!