Weekend Highlights

Here are some highlights form this past weekend:

• Despite the first snow storm in the Northeast, we had great services. It affected our attendance somewhat but not the spirit of those that made it to our worship experiences.
• The worship was off the chain. Love that new song "You are Good" by Ricardo Sanchez. The worship team simply rocked this weekend. So proud of them!
• Spoke on anger and used the Angry Birds app as the metaphor. Had a lot of fun for my message opener by launching angry bird plush dolls into the audience with a two man slingshot launcher. What a good time!
• Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry, do not sin and don't let the sun go down on your anger so you don't give opportunity to the devil."
• It's not a sin to be angry. Jesus was angry. It was a righteous anger (Mt.21) as opposed to the anger of man that doesn't lead to the righteousness of God (James 1:20).
• Anger is a choice. No one makes me mad. I make me mad.
• Whatever is on the inside eventually shows up on the outside.
• We need to open our hearts to the infilling of the Holy Spirit so he will exchange my hatred with his love, my depression with his joy, my turmoil with his peace ... Galatians 5:22.
• Going into the weekend we had 121 people signed up to HOST a community group this Spring for our new series, 40 Days in the Word. What great spiritual momentum.
• Really close to meeting our goal of 200 groups!
• I have a HUGE announcement for the kickoff weekend of our 40 Days In the Word weekend February 18/19. Unreal!!!
• Had a college girl ask me if she could lead a group in her dorm back in IUP. That's huge. She's already got her dorm friends and suite mates signed up to be part of her group. We will send her the material and she will host the group.
• Had another girl tell me God set her free from unresolved anger and bitterness today. She spent her entire childhood being physically abused by her father. She forgive him today and is getting right with Christ. That's awesome!
• Had another guy tell me he's tired of blowing up in his anger. He showed me his bruised and bloodied knuckles form punching things. He said he doesn't want to live that way anymore. We prayed together for God to set him free!
• Another brand new believer signed up to HOST a community group but she can't make it to the training this Saturday from 9-11. So her unsaved friend from work who agreed to come to her group is actually coming to the training! That's unreal. Unsaved people who haven't ever been to church are coming to a 2 hour training to lead a group about studying the Bible. God is moving!
• Don't miss this Tuesday Night Prayer meeting where we will break the 21 day season of prayer and fasting with "Breakfast" (literally means to break the fast) at 6pm (it's free and childcare is available) and then at 7pm we will move into the auditorium for a night of Blessing!
• We have a special presentation this Tuesday for a family in the church. We are going to give honor to whom honor is due. Don't miss it.