Hey everyone. We had a great finish to the Mosaic message series at C3 Church. We had over thirty more people sign up for Community Groups and more people signed up for our “behind the scenes” look at C3 Church called Discovering C3 or DC3 for short. We are literally busting out of the seams as a majority of our members are plugging into Community Groups this spring.
It is such a privilege and honor to be part of such a great movement of God here in East Orlando. It is incredible to lead the church as the Small Groups Pastor as we expand our small groups ministry. What will be even more exciting is to see how God is going to change peoples’ lives as they allow those “next level influencers” to impact their lives. Thank you C3 for listening to God and applying what we have learned in the Mosaic series. It is incredible to be a part of a true mosaic of lives at C3 Church!
Filed under: Personal, Pop Culture | Tags: Facebook, Moving On, MySpace, Seasons of Life
When does looking back at the past become stuck in a rut? When does being nostalgic become an unhealthy obsession? When does longing for the “good ole’ days” become romanticizing situations that at the time were not necessarily good or good for you?
It’s funny how we have a tendency to look back at things and imagine they were better than what they were. I am finding that with all of the new social networks such as MySpace and Facebook and others like it lend themselves to people getting caught up in “the way things were” while hindering people from living in the present and moving forward.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to be negative and down on being nostalgic and looking back at where you’ve been in light of where you are going. I love Facebook and being able to catch up with old friends and reconnect and relive some moments in time. In fact I found an old friend from high school who had a video of me in marching band while I was a drum-major and he posted it on Facebook then I in turn posted on my blog. It was fun to look back and reminisce a little. I think the danger is when you spend a lot of time looking back and longing for what you think were the “good ole’ days” when God is trying to move you forward in to today. Wanting what you “had” and not focusing on what you “have” is the danger of looking back too much.
Some of you might totally disagree but I have really learned the lesson about seasons of life. I believe that God gives us seasons in our lives and even puts people in our lives during those seasons to encourage, challenge and teach us many things. I believe most of the time, yes most, not all of the time, those people in that particular season are just a part of our lives for that season. That doesn’t mean that they become your enemy or stop becoming your friend. It just means that their season of influence in your life, whether good or bad, is over and it’s time to move forward into another season. It’s because of this concept I believe that a person can only have a few life-long friends that transcend the seasons of life. That is a whole other blog, but if you have a few of those kinds of friends that God has blessed you with then you really have a treasure.
Anyway, to get back on task I believe that looking back on where you’ve been and what you have come through is vital and healthy. After all how can one know where they are going if they don’t know where they have come from? Although, I believe it is detrimental to look back with an unhealthy preoccupation of what was, instead of what’s now. God is always moving you forward in to a new area of your life where He is teaching you new things and molding you into the person you are to be. I don’t think that process is ever done and many times it isn’t an easy one. What makes that process harder is for us to keep looking backwards while Christ is moving us forward.
So in conclusion, look back and be nostalgic but don’t camp there. Just take brief glances always with the mindset of remembering what God taught you back then in situations and through people in order to get you where you are now. Moving forward is always easiest when you are actually facing that way.
I was blown away by the overwhelming response yesterday by the C3 Church members who signed up to participate in Community Groups. As the Small Groups Pastor it is my goal to get as close to 100 percent participation as possible. Yesterday was the first sign up day that we had for small groups for the spring semester and we more than doubled our active participants in one day! After talking with some great small groups pastors from around the country I have found that if a church has at least 20 percent of their attendees participating in small groups then they are considered successful. What is normally seen as successful is not the goal or expectation that the staff or myself envision for C3 Church. I view 100 percent as success at C3 Church. Obviously some people or experts in the field will say that is not possible but to tell you the truth I don’t care what they say and C3 is not a typical church.
As I have led our Connections team the past year I have seen the percentages of our people that are members that are serving are higher than an average church and I think that Community Groups will also buck the trend and be above average as well. When you have at least 70 to 80 percent of your membership plugged in and serving in some capacity it speaks volumes of a church’s health as “others” are a focus and not themselves. I believe the people of C3 Church are stepping up to the plate once more and hitting the ball out of the park. Having great relationships and the kind of next level influencers that Pastor Byron has been talking about is so very important for people to grow and connect with Christ and others. I believe people at C3 are primed and ready for their next step as they plug into Community Groups. I also believe that C3 Church is not just an average church but is so much above average it’s crazy. Nothing is going to stop us, 80%, 90% maybe even 100% participation unbelievable and possible! Thank you C3’ers and praise God for what He is doing in this movement called C3 Church!
Filed under: Family, LOVE, Personal, Pop Culture | Tags: Circus, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey
What a great family night at the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. The most fun was watching Hayden (my nephew) and his reactions.
I am so thankful for what God is doing! This last weekend at C3 Church was just incredible. Attendance was unbelievable and it is awesome to see so many people beginning their relationship with Christ. So many of our families that we were able to touch during our “Feed the Families” Christmas initiative have been coming back to C3 and God is doing amazing things in their lives. The atmosphere was electric for our “Mosaic” message series and the artwork from all of our artists was just an added bonus. I can not wait to see what God is going to teach us through the “Mosaic” series and see the growth that is going to take place in C3 Church.
I am also thankful for how God worked in our Community Group last night. For the third straight time we had first time guests in our Community Group. We were able to really connect with each other and encourage each other to make a difference in “our” world in which we live in a relevant way. We have such diversity in our CG. From a critical care nurse, teachers, bank tellers, IT guys, Child Services workers, Make up artists, Hotel Marketing Managment, Jail/Correctional/Inmate Services worker, Activities director, Musicians, World Champion Track Athlete, Servers, Nursing Home Renovation Specialist, College/Pharmacy School students, Pastor (me) and Firefighter, we have been blessed to touch many different worlds. God has given us such opportunity to reach out to others.
To sum it all up, I am just so thankful. God is blessing C3 Church as we continue to Connect the Community with Christ. Just so thankful.
Usually I do not blog on Sundays for several reasons. One, I am usually very tired and two, I am usually trying to process many things in this little head of mine. Today is different because, well, I just feel like blogging tonight. Tonight is our Community Group night and I am just really pumped with anticipation tonight. I am expecting some new people which has happened each Sunday we have met in the last three times. Our group is getting big and I am so excited to see God working in so many young adult’s lives.
Secondly we are coming off of another excellent morning at C3. The message and music were kickin’ as usual and attendance looked great. I haven’t seen the numbers but it looked strong. I am so fortunate to be a part of a movement that is making a difference in people’s lives. God is really blessing C3 with changed lives and it is incredible to see it happen right before my eyes.
So that is it for a Sunday evening blog. Short and sweet and to the point. I hope everyone has had a great weekend and will have a great week. Remember love always wins!
As I am waiting in line I am blogging and miserable. So here’s my top 10 list on why not to be at Wal-Mart on a Monday night.
10. Where did all these people come from?
9. Why are there not more lines open?
8. How can there be so many screaming kids in the same place?
7. How come every aisle is impassable?
6. How come Wal-Mart had the light bulbs I wanted and Lowes didn’t?
5. Why does the cashier insist on slowing down the line with useless small talk with every customer?
4. Why does the scanner not work?
3. Why have self check out lines if an assosciate has to help every customer anyway?
2. Why must the guy right behind me use an explicative every other word in his conversation on his cell phone?
1. WHY DOES MY STUPID CART HAVE A BAD WHEEL THAT GOES “CLUMP, CLUMP” AS I PUSH IT?
Please get me home? I guess I should not be entirely negative. Wal-Mart does have low prices. Does that cancel everything else? I don’t know. You’ll have to make that judgement call for yourself. What do I think? Well, I’m sure you can guess.
I can’t believe how fast 2008 flew by. Most people were grateful that 08 is gone because most people have classified 08 as a bad year but it is all it depends on your perspective on how you would define 08. Don’t get me wrong, 08 has seen it’s share of challenges. The major challenge being our recessionary economy. When we have a recession (which the US has had many) it seems to taint all other views in our realities. So in turn everyone pretty much rates 08 as a horrible year.
The Lopers just like everyone, are feeling the pinch of economic pressures and are making adjustments to deal with them just like everyone else but we have a very different view of 08. The last two years 07 & 06 were terribly painful for us. We walked through hurts and pains that people inflicted upon us that we never expected but were willing to endure because of a vision to stand with a ministry that God burned in our hearts. That ministry is C3 Church and the vision is to reach out to others with the message of Christ. The “others” was the dividing line with many people that chose to tear down the vision of C3 and it’s staff. Others being defined as people who are un-churched or un-Christian. People who have no knowledge of Christ or the “church”. Many were not willing to reach out to others and in turned tried everything to stop the vision and movement known as C3 Church. I said all of that to say this. This last year is the first year that the vision and purpose of C3 Church has really started to shine and God is blessing our commitment to His call.
In 2008 we have been able to see a unified church with a unified purpose impacting the community for Christ. Everyone just walking forward in purpose and determination to see a changed East Orlando. So from my perspective 2008 has been a great year. Yes, we have our challenges but I believe God is going to bless the movement we call C3 Church like never before in this new year. So good bye to 2008 you have been a good year and a big hello to 2009. I look forward to what God is going to do in this community through C3 Church. Happy New Year!
loveworshiplovelife 