+ Outstanding day today. Had a great time in church. Typically the Sunday after Easter is a low attendance day and this was no exception, but that’s okay because God was in the place as we started our Prison Break series by looking at Breaking Free From Guilt. Some serious stuff was going on in people’s lives and I’m expecting this next few weeks to be a time of radical transformation for a lot of people. I’m wired! I am just so glad to have had the privilege of being part fo what was going on in that place today.

+  Baseball’s back too – so life is good. The Mets get under way tomorrow!

+ Haven’t slept a lot this past couple of nights, so was tired by the time service was over and napped a bit this afternoon. Don’t worry, I’m not getting old.

+ Our missions team is home from South Africa. Most of them were still pretty fried with jetlag this morning, but it was good to hear their trip was good and there are some exciting things opening up for our future involvement over there.

+ I was very time conscious still today. Guess I’ll get used to it as doing the two services becomes more familiar.

+ By the way, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the flight home from Texas on Friday was delayed. Seems there was a spit of rain in LaGuardia that morning and that backed up all the incoming planes for the rest of the day. So we landed at 9.40pm instead of 7.30, which made it a late night.

+ Back to the gym tomorrow. I was headed there today, but tiredness got the better of me.

+ I did get a walk around a bike trail in the park late afternoon with my daughter and grandson, not much exercise – but some.

+ Have an endoscopy scheduled for Tuesday, which messes up the day and leaves me operating with a short week. Good job I’ve got my teaching pretty much plotted out – Breaking Free From God-Guilt. It’s going to be pretty blunt and may upset some, but Jesus hated religion so it’s okay if I do too.

+ Our breakdown guys did a phenomenal job again today. You would not believe how quickly they went from the end of the last song to closing down the back of the truck.

+ Saw some of our Easter guests back – that was good.

+ Switched to Dunkin Donuts in the cafe, without a major rebellion – shows the maturity of our folks!!!

+ Why the heck is George Bush in the commentary box on Sunday night baseball? Throw out the opening pitch by all means George, but then retire to a respectable box seat. The Mets’ season starts tomorrow.

+ Gill went to church with Jonathan and Donna today and loved it. She even sent me a photo on her cell phone, though I think Jonathan actually did it. It’s a good church – they used to worship in a movie theater too.

+ Watched a high school production of Urinetown last night. It was very funny and exceptional quality. One of our singers, Stephanie Walsh had a lead role.

+ Did I mention that the Mets’ first game is tomorrow afternoon?

+

Here’s the link – thanks Noe!

If you weren’t there, please listen to this and if you were, check it out again. If you’re not part of our church, but want to know what we’re about, this is a good place to start. This message helps set the scene for the coming weeks and months and it’s going to make sure we’re all on the same page!

Give_Me_This_Mountain.mp4

Arriving at DFW yesterday evening, my soon-to-be four year old granddaughter ran across the baggage claim area with her arms held wide to give me a huge welcoming hug.

This morning I walked by six year old grandson the eight hundred or so yards to his Elementary School and then returned later to eat lunch with him, or watch him eat lunch, in the cafeteria.

Children are so special!

Life is good!

Great weekend. Lot’s of new contacts.

So what now?

I’m going to Texas.

After the Superbowl the winners go to Disney.

The Democratic frontrunner, Obama has gone off to the Caribbean for a break from campaigning – albeit in what one political commentator calls an act of outrageous arrogance.

And I’m going to see my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Little Elm for a couple of days. I’m coming home again on Friday afternoon, but the short break and the family time will be good for me and hopefully for them too.

While I’m looking forward to 80 degrees, it’s the kids’ smiles that really draw me! So that’s what’s next. And beyond that? – Thankfully God knows.

It’s probably time I went to bed, but I still have a lot of things racing throught my mind. This has been a very good day. Church was great – an unbelievable buzz around the place, crowded hallways, new faces and a record crowd.

After lunch I got to compete with my grandson in an Easter egg hunt in our back yard – he won! And of course I handed over my share of the spoils to him too, with the exception  of two miniature Twix bars (2 Points!).

I napped a little this afternoon, caught up with a few friends, getting news of how Easter Sunday services had been for them and then headed to The Curry Club for dinner with Gill, Charlotte and Jace. They make great Indian food there and they know us, so it’s a very friendly environment. Ate more than I should have but less than I would have in a bygone era!

This evening we spent an hour with a friend of Gill’s whom she met at the gym. They invited us over for dessert and we had a good time with them and some of their family and friends. The lady has been to church with Gill a number of gtimes and we are praying for her and her husband to come into a real relationship with Jesus.

The icing on the cake today was an email I just read from a lady in our church. She was saying how different Easter is for her now since she has come to know the Lord. It is what she said at the end that got to me – Keep doing what you do … you’re good at it.

My guess is that she has little idea of how inadequate I often feel and of how self-doubt is something I constantly battle – even at the end of a great day.

Her kind words did me good! This has been a happy Easter!

Our first morning of two services went off virtually flawlessly and it all comes down to the team of dozens of different people who pulled together and put in extra effort so we could pull it off!

From Mario who got up extra early to make sure there was no problem with the truck – and arrived at the theater half an hour before anyone else even got there – to John who was wandering through the hallways sweeping up when most of the Easter crowd had already left for a family meal, today was a tremendous team effort that showed our church at its very best.

Some of our visitors were there as an amazing answer to prayer and a lot of new friends got their first taste of Church At The Movies. The second service was around the size that our one service has been over the past several months, which means that over 200 people who were in first service were all more than we usually see worshiping with us.

Great day – great theme – great team!

I like the way Easter Sunday was described to me a few days ago – the church’s Superbowl Sunday. It certainly is the big day of the year, but to be honest, I approach every weekend with the mentality that we will have just one chance to make a first impression on some people who need to know Jesus, so every detail is important.

That’s why I’m anal that every table cloth needs to be straight, every sign must hang square, each person coming through the doors has to be warmly greeted, the coffee should never run out and nor should the bagels and donuts for that matter. The sound system needs to be sharp every Sunday, transitions must be smooth and the message has to be perfectly clear.

There’s too much at stake any given Sunday to give way to an anything-will-do attitude, but Easter Sunday the stakes are even higher. That’s why I’m wired this evening, but I’m very tired too, so hopefully I’ll sleep well and not like a five year old excitedly waiting for the Easter Bunny!

Is it morning yet?

Have been approached for some details about my weight loss for an article being prepared for that literary masterpiece People Magazine. Could be interesting. Then again nothing may come of it.

Had an interesting call today asking if I could meet with the probable Republican candidate who may be going after Tim Bishop’s congressional seat in the November elections. Seems it’s thought my nod carries some weight! Changed days indeed.

Saw our new ushers’ shirts – they’re sharp. The guys and gals will be rolling them out for Sunday.

Heard today that there’s a buzz in the local Christian subculture that our church is going under and hardly anyone even comes. Sad souls – nothing better to do than make up garbage I guess. In case you wondered, we are definitely alive and very well, thanks!

A friend tells me the church I pastored in England in the early 70’s is looking for a new pastor. Wanted to know if I am interested (tongue-in-cheek of course). That would be as emphatic a “no” as any human being could ever muster. Having way too much fun here.

At the risk of sounding the relic from a bygone era that I undoubtedly am, whatever else you call it, this was not Good Friday. The calendar may have designated this date as Good Friday, but don’t let whoever organises that kind of thing deceive you. Just so you don’t get fooled, let me tell you what happens on the real Good Friday -

1. The stores all close.

2. It’s a holiday so everyone can go to church.

3. We have church services.

4. It’s warm and daffodils are coming into flower in the garden.

5. We eat fish or whatever, but definitely no meat.

6. We eat hot cross buns.

7. It’s the start of a four day holiday.

Or maybe that was just in another country, in another time long before retail became God and church became an irrelevance.

But Sunday’s coming!

+ I’m starting to get really pumped about Sunday now – especially as I’m hearing more and more reports of who’s going to be there. Lots of visiting family and friends whose names have been on our Prayer Wall.

+ Went back to the podiatrist – she says my toes are doing well. Figured you were wanting to know how they were!

+ Listened to a new Buddy Holly CD while I was out driving today. If you don’t know who he is, don’t worry about it.

+ Had lunch with Jerry Halpen from North Shore Community Church in Riverhead – www.nscchurch.org – two years on, he’s doing really well out there. They just moved into a building they’re leasing and they’ve made a good job of fixing the place up. Didn’t give me any sense of urgency over a building for us.

+ I’m pumped about Easter, but maybe I said that already. Finished my message for Sunday this afternoon – DAY III – THE DAWN OF HOPE.

+ Took my grandson out for dinner and then to a movie – College Road Trip – it stunk. He enjoyed it, but then he’s only seven and maybe if I was in elementary School I’d have appreciated it more.

+ I think the first service will be packed on Sunday, but there may be a bit of space in the second. I’m glad we’re getting to do two services every week now – it makes all the work involved in set-up more worthwhile!