Sunday Night Mind Dump on Monday Morning

Yesterday was the day we made history. I can't believe what God has begun to do in our hearts regarding prayer. So much happened today, so here it goes in bullet form.

• Craig Groeschel did a great job with kicking off the ONE Prayer series.
• It was great to be back and see everyone.
• One of our great families are moving, Mark and Kristen Burdette.  The Burdette's are moving to Arkansas.  They will be greatly missed but I am glad we have had three years to serve together and they can take the vision to Arkansas!
• Helped my neighbor do some work around his house, normally I am exhausted on Sunday but having two weeks off from preaching, really has reenergized me spiritually, physically and emotionally.
• We had our first launch team meeting with LifeQuest Northland - Campus Pastor Dan Blankenship led them in a time of worship and vision casting and I hear it went great.
• The best time of the whole day for me was our Baptism Bash.
• 21 people follow Jesus' command in baptism.  WOW, seeing those folks share the fact that they have surrendered their lives to Christ!!!
• Here's some pictures of what God did.

Personal Impact

Sunday when I few people got together and had the idea of bringing in the guy who led me to Christ, I was shocked, overwhelmed, it was one of the greatest moments.  Since Sunday I have spent some time thinking about the lessons that I learned from Ron Taylor (then man who led me to Christ in 1984).  Nothing fancy but here it goes.

1.  God uses Ordinary people - Ron Taylor is an ordinary person.  He was a firefighter and loved God with all his heart.  When I talked with Ron on Sunday and said "thank you for taking me to camp".  His reply was, "I believe in camp and just take as many kids as I can to camp to see their lives changed.

2.  Small investment= a HUGE IMPACT - I was thinking about all of the people God has allowed me to invest in, disciple, mentor and coach.  A ton of people have been changed because of the ministry I have been involved in.  NOW, think about Ron, he is really part of that process.  On Sunday person after person came up to Ron and Carol to thank them for helping me find my way to Christ.  You just never know what will happen with a thirty minute conversation that might lead someone to Christ or helping a kid go to camp, he or she just might end up producing a huge harvest that you would get to enjoy.

3.  A Commitment to Invest into someone's life - Carol, Ron's wife was telling me about all the times she came and pick up me and my brother's to go to church.  Think about that, she took time to come get some rowdy boys because her and Ron believed in seeing lives changed by the POWER of Jesus Christ!!!

Think about it, today you could be investing, helping, coaching, mentoring someone that will go on to see hundreds and thousands of lives changed for eternity.  Go and Invest today!

In Most Churches I would get Fired

I went to a party today.  Yes, a party and no it wasn't with a bunch of Christians.  It was with a bunch of guys who you would not find in church.  I loved just getting to know some of these guys.  I told my buddies to not tell anyone that I was a pastor or they would start interacting with me different.  I enjoyed to hangin and chatting about life.  Now there was a lot of beer and I know in most churches I would get fired!

So, let me ask you a question:  When was the last time you took the opportunity to hang with some totally unchurched, smokin, drinkin people who are far from God?  I know, for many of us that "christians" we stay away from those kind of people.  I just happen to believe that if Jesus were walking around in the 21st Century, He would be hangin at the bars and parties far more than at the churches.  I think, I mean I KNOW if most Christ Followers would start investing in the lives of people that are far from a Holy God, we could have opportunities to be a LIGHT to a dark and hopeless world.

Matthew 5 says that we are to be the LIGHT of the world and salt of the earth.  My challenge to all of us is to live among those that are hopeless with the HOPE of the Gospel.  

If we don't then I'm afraid a ton of people will end up in hell instead of Heaven!

Less than 14 hours til Easter Service

We are only 14 hours away from Easter Service at LifeQuest Church. I am sitting in my living room reflecting on all that Jesus Christ has done for me. When I think about what Easter really means it blows my mind. Tomorrow there will be a ton of people that will come to church for one of two times out of the year. BUT I can't help but think about the impact that is going to be made on people's lives as a direct result of the preaching of God's Word.

As I have said all week, pray for your 3 and then make sure you invite them. I just invited another neighbor of mine and she said "YES" whoooohooooooo!!!!!! I am praying for my now 4 families to accept Christ. They all need HIM! I am praying for you too. If you want me to pray for your 3 e-mail me tonight at cpinion@lifequest.tv before midnight.

See you tomorrow morning. Make sure you get there early and if you are a regular, please help us fill up the seats first before sitting in bleachers.

Can't wait til tomorrow to see what God has in store for LifeQuest Church.