Tonight (September 19) Paul and Deborah Jackson will finish their teaching on the Motivational Gifts.   Bring the results of the Motivational Gifts Profile that they gave out last week.  If you didn’t finish the test, or weren’t here last week, you can take the test during tonight’s service.

Discovering our “motivational gifts” is step #2 in the “Growth Process” we call CIL Forward.   I want every participant in our church to know their motivational gift so we can move forward together!

Please move forward with us, and join me tonight at 6:30 p.m.

After great services on Sunday, I went with the staff and pastors to a 24-hour retreat in we called the “Planning Retreat.”  We met at a beautiful cabin between Monteagle and Sewanee, one of my favorite areas in Tennessee.  After discussing the vision of the church, and spending some times in prayer, we planned out all the dates for 2013.

Now, for some this sounds like a laborious chore.  For me, its one of my favorite things I do each year.  The calendar exercise is like mapping out a route for a vacation.  Anticipation for all God is going to do come in the midst of discussion and sometimes debate.   All in all, it was a fun and a productive time!

The team left late Monday afternoon, and Beth and I enjoyed an extra night in the cabin for some rest and relaxation.  What a blessing!

On September 30, 2012, we will have an ordination service for Jay Edgerton.

Jay has faithfully served our church as an intern, and has completed the requirements set forth by our leadership.   You’ve probably noticed his servant’s heart throughout the building each time we have a gathering.  Jay leads several ministries at the church, and he is always available to pray with people or take care of any task the congregation needs.

The church pastors will now recognize publicly the call of God on his life, and set him in place as a pastor at CIL.

You are invited to join us for this service and celebration at 5:00 p.m. on September 30, with a reception following.

Everyone needs to hear this Sunday’s message.  As we continue the introspective series called My Life, we will look at “My Family” on Sunday, September 16.

Our greatest tests in our Christian walk comes through interactions with our family.   God invented the family, and he wants you to thrive regardless of your current family situation.  God is for you!  God is for the family!

Come at either 9:00 or 10:45 a.m. ready to grow.   God has a word for you!

The year is not over, but here are the best 10 books I’ve read so far in 2012:

1. The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Posner

2. The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller

3. Axiom by Bill Hybels

4. Life Together by Dietrich Boenhoeffer

5. Humilitus by John Dickson

6. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent

7.  In My Time by Dick Cheney

8.  The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage

9.  The Real Romney by Michael Kranish & Scott Helman

10. Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

God has designed each of us with a “motivational gift” that is described in Romans 12:6-8.   Starting Wednesday, September 12, 2012, we will be discovering our “motivational gifts” during our Wednesday night service (starts at 6:30 p.m.).

Paul and Deborah Jackson have been teaching this material for many years, so you will enjoy the experience and passion they bring to this 3-week series of messages.   We our identifying this at step #2 in our process called CIL Forward.   The three lessons on “Discovering Your Motivational Gift” is a seminar we’re calling Forward 102.

I know that discovering your motivational gift will benefit every area of your life!   Let’s be better leaders, spouses, parents and friends.

Let’s move forward together!

This Wednesday (September 5) we have our First Wednesday Worship – my favorite service of the month.   You will have time to reflect, sing, meditate, take communion and center on the Word.   Please join me at 6:30 p.m.

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods. – Psalm 95:1-3 (ESV)

Labor Day weekend can be a tough Sunday for churches, but we bucked that trend today.  Attendance was stronger than anticipated, and the enthusiasm of the service was even higher!  It was so good to seek Jesus together!

The loudest cheer we’ve had in some time, was when Pastor Greg asked during the announcements, “How many of you are glad I’m not wearing skinny jeans?”   Even though Pastor David was on vacation , he was remembered – :).

It is good to laugh together, and it is good to grow together.  The challenge of the Scripture makes us stronger people.   I’ve enjoyed this series on “Habits.”   We all have some destructive habits to break, but we have a powerful God who is on our side!

Remember to replace your habit with the presence of God.  Our stronghold is not a place, its a person!

 

Psalm 27:1 (ESV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
 whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Our next series is called “My Life.”   More to come on that!