We Made It

Well, we made it through our first week without Bea! At least I almost have. We have new office hours [Monday - Friday from 10:00 to 3:00]. Miriam will now be working on Wed, Thursday and Friday and my days off remain the same [thank you Jesus] I am off on Thursday and Friday.

We also have a new voice-mail system so that when the phone is not answered you can choose the voice mail box of the person you are calling and leave a private message for them. I think you will like it once you get used to it.

And last but not least, thank you for a great offering on Sunday. I said I didn't want to have to worry about money this week and you came through! I am grateful. To those of you out-of-towners who keep up with our church, if you have thought about sending an offering to the church this would be a great time to do so. Like most other churches in the USA, money is tight right now and it's usually tighter in the summer when the utilities are at the highest. So, if you love my ministry and/or the ministry of Holy Cross MCC, pray about giving an offering to the church.

Thanks for the many prayers you offer up for me and Holy Cross. There are days I feel those prayers helping to sustain me. There is nothing like the Body of Christ and the people of God. Thank you for being a part of our church.

Milestones

Well last Sunday I celebrated surviving 10 Memorial Day Weekends on Pensacola Beach. And what a great time we had.

Yesterday I survived my son's first date! I wonder how many people in our city have had that first date at the same place....the Silver Screen?

Yes, Ryan is growing up and I am growing older and life is good. Praise be to God!!!

Memorial Day - Wed Update

A picture is worth a thousand words..........these were taken this afternoon....the beach is beautiful....no oil has reached our beaches and we are going to have a great time this weekend. We will be in the same place as usual and we could use some help Friday and Saturday if you are out there and can spare an hour or two.

Bring lots of sunscreen and be sure to stop by and say hello. For you out-of-towner's, we will be having a special service Sunday at 10:00 at the MCC campus [3130 W Fairfield Drive] followed by a cook-out and some games. Please join us before you head out to the beach on Sunday.

Okay folks, I am about to be busy, busy, busy so if I do not post you will know why. Have a safe and fun weekend.

Pentecost Sunday!

Wow! It was a powerful day at Holy Cross, especially in the first service. God bless the Praise Team as they played and sang for almost three hours. Dozens of people were anointed with the laying on of hands. I can't wait to hear some of the testimonies on Sunday.

Remember, we are having one big blended service at 10:00 this Sunday followed by a cook-out after the service. Maybe we can even set-up the volley ball net and the horse shoes. Just bring a side item to go with hamburgers and hot dogs or a dessert.

Thanks to those who fasted and prayed for last week's service, those who came to the special time of prayer on Saturday and every one who welcomed the Holy Spirit to abide within us and rest upon us! May this be the beginning of a revival in our midst.

Code Red

In celebration of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, consider wearing something red on Sunday. We are praying for a fresh anointing as we worship together. As with all celebrations, there is a time of preparation. Sunday I asked that we examine ourselves in the following areas:

1. Devotion to Jesus and to His church. For a quick check of where you are on this just look at your calendar for last month and your expenditures. There you will find your priorities. If they are in not line with devotion to Jesus and to His church then consider changing that and making Jesus number one in your life.

2. Unity in the church. Nothing will invite a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit than a church in one accord. That's not to say we all have to be the same - but that we are willing to lay down our way and take on the way the Lord leads the church as expressed in the will of the body. If you are at odds with anyone, especially anyone in our church, make a list of all of their shortcomings, failures, mistakes and things you just don't like about them and begin to pray for them. God will change them and/or you and open the door to reconciliation.

3. Keep the main thing the main thing.....remember the purpose of the church. While there are thousands of good things the church could be doing, the purpose of the church is to teach how to love God and others, and to take the good news of the gospel to all people. It is so easy to become distracted and loose focus. It's all about Jesus and making him known to others.

As the disciples obeyed Jesus and went back to that upper room to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit they devoted themselves to pray and they took care of business. As we wait for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, let us devote ourselves to those same two things. If there is anyone you need to forgive, or anyone you need to ask for forgiveness this would be a great time to take that step and make right that wrong.

You've heard me say, "Be careful what you ask for." I have been reminded of that yesterday and today as people are coming to me to take care of out hurts, wounds and misunderstandings. While I found it to be somewhat draining - it has been more of a blessing than I could expected. So, I am extending an open invitation to anyone who I have offended to contact me and let's sit down and talk and pray and work through it. I want to come ready to receive a blessing Sunday and I want you to be ready too.

Pray, pray, and pray some more. Come expecting a move of the Holy Spirit Sunday....and wear red if you can. Have a blessed week.

Memorial Day Plan

The question of the last two weeks has been, "What's happening for Memorial Day?"

I wish I knew the answer to that question but someone borrowed my crystal ball!

Our plan is to have a presence on the beach Friday and Saturday to pass out water and oranges as usual. Prior to the oil spill we had already decided to have a special service on Fairfield this year instead of one on the beach. The reason for this was the same as last year, just not enough beach for our big tent. The plan is to have one service at 10:00am followed by a pot-luck cookout and maybe some games and music. The church will provide the hamburgers and hot dogs and people can bring side items to go with that. Also the grill will be hot and ready to go if anyone does not want hot dogs and burgers and they want to bring something else to grill.

This plan is based on the beach being open for the weekend. If something happens and the beach is not an option, we will have festivities here on Saturday as well as Sunday. At this point in time it appears we will be able to be at the beach on Friday and Saturday.

So, keep checking our website and we will post what's happening closer to that weekend. In the meantime why not order a nice MDW towel for you and a friend? Details are on our website.

I look forward to seeing you either at the beach near Parking Lot 11-B or right here at Holy Cross MCC on Fairfield.

Thank Bart and Thanks God

I appreciate the reminder that I have not blogged in a long time! But not for the reasons you suggested in your comment that I will not publish.

I remember when I was a pastor in Texas and a member of the church gave me this cute sign with a mother bird feeding her babies; the sign read, "Lord, give me strength to endure your many blessings!" That's how I have felt lately. This is such an exciting time and I apologize for not taking the time to give God thanks and praise.

• We had record attendance (post Ivan) on Easter Sunday.
• We have more children and youth in the church than ever before.
• We have a new Church Strategy Team and what an exciting group of people.
• We recently completed small group training for our new Circles of Grace Ministry that begins in a few weeks.
• We were able to apply over $4,000.00 (20%)in an additional principle payment from gifts to The Next Step.
• Not only that, but the member who gave $10,000.00 as an extra principle payment in 2009 did it again in 2010.
• Better than all of that is the baptisms and new members we have been blessed to receive already this year.

So thank you for the reminder to give God praise and glory!

Am I saying our church is without trouble? Not at all. I'll close with one of my favorite passages from the Bible.

John 16:33 (New International Version)

³³"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."