It's Getting Exciting!

I am so looking forward to C3's future. What God has in store is just incredible. I went out and toured the theaters again today where we will be moving and the potential for doing worship in a very unique and meaningful way is exciting. The potential to reach people that would never think of stepping into a church is unbelievable. To think that 160,000 people live within a 5 mile radius of Regal Cinemas, Waterford Lakes is amazing. God is getting ready to blow us away with how He is going to move in East Orlando. There is a lot to do but I believe we are all up for the task at hand. It will be exciting to connect with people and in turn connect them with Christ. After all isn't that what C3 is about? Connecting the Community with Christ. It's definitely getting exciting!

Jury Duty 3 The Final Duty

This is the last jury duty post. No, I did not get to sit on a jury. I got to the courtroom and the stinkin criminal did a plea bargain so the jury was not needed. So it was a boring day and I did not see the astronaut. But I should feel good because I did my civic duty. I am covered now for a year, at least.

Jury Duty 2

I am sitting here waiting to be called for jury duty. I have brought 2 books with me to read. I have not opened them up because I was actually hoping to be called early so I could experience sitting on a jury. I have been called for jury duty 2 times before but I have never been seated on an actual jury. At least they have a cyber cafe where you can jump on a computer and surf the web. That's another reason why I haven't opened my books yet. I also haven't seen an astronaut in diapers yet. Although I am still holding out hope.:)

Jury Duty

I will be doing my civic duty tomorrow. I have been called for jury duty. I have been complaining somewhat about this but I know it is part of living in the greatest country in the world. And if good people don't get involved in the Justice system then what kind of justice will there be? God is in control in every aspect of our lives so there is a reason why I have been called for jury duty tomorrow. I just wish it could have been last week, then I might have had a chance to hear testimony from a jealous female astronaut that likes to wear diapers. Oh well you have to keep a sense of humor about things.

Monday Morning Thoughts

Monday,it's Monday. Mondays are kind of a let down. It is seems in my life everything builds toward Sunday. When Sunday is over it's like a deflated balloon. The good thing about Mondays is that you can look back at Sunday and smile. You can not help but smile when we had a Sunday like yesterday. I had the privilege to call about 10 new families yesterday who visited us for the first time. I got to personally talk to about half of them. Everyone had positive things to say and told me they would be coming back. It's unbelievable how God is moving. The many lives that have been changed is so worth it. I watched the videos of new people in the message and was blown away. As Pastor Byron asked yesterday, "Would you go back?", I can say with pride absolutely not. God is moving in a fresh way at C3 and I am just thankful that I can be a part. It is truly ONE life at a time and just like the Gnarles Barkly song, it is truly CRAZY!

Thank God For Our Pastor!

It is Saturday evening and I am looking forward to tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is Sunday of course and we have another chance to reach out to those that are walking into C3's doors. I was just thinking about how blessed that I am and the rest of C3 to have an awesome Senior Pastor like Byron Bledsoe. I am proud to call Byron my Pastor and my friend. I see his drive and devotion to reach the lost no matter what it takes. My friend and brother is not afraid to make the tough calls and take the hits for those calls because he knows that reaching people is worth it. Pastor Byron knows that we have no choice but to do everything in our power to reach the 86% of the Metro Orlando area that do not even go to church. That is why Sundays are so important. Pastor Byron looks at every Sunday as a Superbowl Sunday. I thank God for that kind of devotion and drive to reach people. So it's Saturday night and Sunday's on the way. I pray that tomorrow as we talk about the number ONE, that God will touch someONE and that He will change lives tomorrow. Pastor Byron, I thank you for your devotion to God and to the your Call. Your enthusiasm and drive are infectious. I think it might even be a little crazy! Remember to pray for and encourage our Pastor!

The "Way Forward"

I was just thinking this morning of what might be in C3's future. Our one goal at C3 is to reach the lost. With that being said I can see a day when we will be able to reach so many unsaved and un-churched people it will be hard to keep up with. There are hundreds of thousands of un-churched, unsaved people right here in Orlando. What a mission field. I can envision that one day C3 will be a ministry with ability not just to reach East Orlando but the entire Metro Orlando area. It will be awesome to support the community in many ways to make an impact, just like Pastor Byron was talking about on Sunday.

You might ask, what our measuring stick or our success barometer is? Well let me tell you, it is CHANGED LIVES. Lives that are given to Christ. Lives that Christ alone can change. It is already happening. The people that pray to receive Christ on a weekly basis is just incredible. It is only going to get better. It is like a snowball rolling down hill. The life change that we see now will happen more and more as we continue to Connect the Community With Christ.

It is exciting to be part of a ministry that is totally living the Great Commission. I am thankful that God has placed me in C3 Church. I am so looking forward to future. Not to cheer a success but to know that C3 will make a difference in eternity to the many lives that come to know Christ and are saved from eternal destruction. To coin a much used phrase as of late, it is the "Way Forward", no turning back.

Glorious

There is nothing like a powerful worship service to get one in a great mood. It is awesome to see how God is moving at C3. God inhabits the praise of His people and He met with us this morning. God is truly Glorious! Over us, You shall reign glorious!

Innovation Or Death

OK, I know I have already blogged today but I ran across something that was truly amazing. Therefore I am blogging again. Let me share with you what church life was like back in Colonial America in 1622.

Sermons were regularly more than two hours long and people were FINED for falling asleep in church. It was a requirement that every single person in town attend church weekly. Musical instruments like the organ were considered "worldly" and not allowed in church. Steeples or outdoor crosses were considered inappropriate. If you were caught playing golf or doing some other recreational activity other than church on Sunday you could be thrown into the stockade. If you had differing views on many topics that the local church taught you could be kicked out of the colony.

How times have changed in almost 400 years. Organs are considered sacred, outdoor crosses or steeples are considered a prerequisite for even being called a church. Hymns that are now considered sacred as well were based on bar tunes back in those days. How things have changed.

Now as we try to innovate in ways such as moving Sunday School to home-teams, move church to a movie theater, use high energy lighting, dress in normal clothes, preach sermons that the common man can understand, blog about things we are learning, play rockin' music and become more relevant to the culture we live in to win souls to Christ we are criticized and are even accused of being cult like. The "traditional" church goers are having fits because we are not doing church like church should be done. Then at the same time the North American Continent is the ONLY continent in the world in which Christianity is not growing. The church in the US is dying and all the while the "church goers" are complaining because they got rid of the organ, or the choir members are not wearing robes, or the music is too contemporary, or the Pastor is not wearing a tie. What happened to people are dying and going to hell? Isn't it incumbent on us to do whatever it takes to reach the lost? If that means losing the organ, doing more culturally relevant music, losing the robes, taking church to a theater, etc., then I am all for it.

If I had to choose between innovation or death, I choose innovation. The church in the US needs to wake up and smell the coffee because those are the choices to made. Since Christianity is in decline here in the US it is clear which choice is being made by the majority of churches. C3 chooses innovation over death.

Honor Your Parents

Good morning y'all. Tampa was nice but it was too short. I think I could have used at least two weeks away but that's OK, Andrea and I will take what we can get. You know life seems to throw you some curves at times. While away in Tampa I got a call from my sister in law telling me that my mom was in an automobile accident. If you are close to me at all you know that my mom just moved in with Andrea and me two weeks ago. Praise God, my mom was not hurt, but her confidence is not real high right now in her abilities to drive. The accident was not her fault but now she has to deal with being nervous about driving. It is so hard when you get older and you feel your independence being taken away one step at a time. My mom is 75 years old and has seemed lost to a certain extent since my Dad passed away in 2000. I was raised as an only child so the responsibility is mine when it comes to taking care of my mom. Next week she has three doctors appointments in three days. This means I must take her to them and I even have a dentist appointment for myself so you can imagine what kind of a week I will have. I am not complaining and I am not writing about it to make anyone feel sorry for me. I am writing to say this. Even though it is not easy seeing your parents grow older and having the roles reversed it is a joy to know that I am honoring my mom as God commanded. I am thankful that God has made a way that I can take care of mom and given me an understanding and loving wife that supports me as we have had to take responsibility for mom. God did not say He would make our lives easier but that He would give us the strength to endure. Yes, dealing with an aging parent is a curve ball but I believe it can be knocked out of the park. So all of the stuff that we go through sometimes on a daily basis is nothing compared to the important stuff. God, family, church, friends, it is good to have the proper order. I am glad that I can honor my mom and care for her in the latter years of her life. I love my mom. Love your parents while you can and have no regrets when they are no longer here. God has loaned them to us for a certain period of time so make the most of that loan. Honor your father and mother.

Monday From Tampa

It's Monday and we are still here in Tampa. I am still blogging from my iPhone so this will be short. Andrea and I are having a great time. Yesterday we went to Crossover Church in the inner city of Tampa. Crossover is a smaller church but they are busting at the seams. They have three services on Sunday and they are really reaching Tampa's inner city youth. Crossover is reaching out to the hip hop culture and are innovative and relevant. They have been rated as one of the most innovative churches in the country by several magazines. In fact there was a huge article in the St. Petersburg Times just this last Sunday about them. They had a DJ spinning tunes while a youth group led worship. It is awesome to see a church break out of the "churchy" traditional mold to reach the lost. Crossover is not ashamed to buck the traditions to reach people just like C3. I missed being at C3 over the weekend but it is great to get away especially with my beautiful wife for some needed time with each other. Well that's it for now from Tampa. See you on Sunday.

Tampa Here We Come

This will be a short post since I am still functioning without a computer at home. Andrea and I are getting ready to leave for the weekend to go to beautiful Tampa FL. One of the things that we are looking forward to is Crossover Church. Crossover Church is a church in Tampa that reaches out to the Hip Hop culture. I hear they are making a difference in Tampa. We'll let you know how it is. Well that is it for now, we are off to Tampa.

Happy Anniversary Andrea

Today is Andrea and my four year anniversary. I have to say that this has been the best four years of my life. I could not have a more beautiful, loving, caring, selfless, understanding, hot, adorable, supportive, godly, unbelievable woman as my wife, Andrea. God was more than gracious too me when He gave me Andrea. I can not remember life without Andrea. I love everything about Andrea and I look forward to growing older with her and more in love with her at the same time. Happy anniversary "Honey"! I love you so very much!

WE WON'T COME DOWN

Good Monday morning. What a weekend. This weekend was filled with a lot of stuff to get accomplished. Like taking my mom to the doctor to have a procedure done (getting older is pretty scary). I took the computer in to have it repaired (again). I took Andrea's car to get an oil change and tire rotation. I then took her car to get detailed (You would not believe all the make up on the seats and floor, but I love her anyway). Lots and lots of errands to run but I got it all done and now I get to tell you what the highlight of the weekend was. My highlight was one moment in the message that Pastor Byron preached in the first message in the Two-A-Day series. This was the moment he asked everyone that had been coming to C3 within the last 2 years to raise their hands. Literally it had to have been 80% to 85% raised their hands. What a blessing.

I know that I called six families yesterday who were first time guests (That's in the summertime when people traditionally don't go to church). I know that our detractors are numerous in East Orlando but God is really doing a work at C3. People are praying to receive Christ every week. So go ahead and criticize, vilify, poke fun at, accuse, lie and whatever else you have to say about C3 or it's staff. It does not matter, God is at work and it is His church and it is getting exciting. God is blessing and drawing people to Himself. Life change it is what it is all about so I'll proudly raise my hand and acknowledge, "I am a member of C3 Church". Just like Nehemiah, we are doing the work on the wall and WE WON'T COME DOWN. WE WON'T COME DOWN. WE WON'T COME DOWN.

No Computer Pt. 2

Well the computer is back in the shop for the same problem in less than three weeks. So I am blogging from my iPhone. I'll just say this, when technology works, it's great. But when it doesn't, it stinks! At least my iPhone is working (for now). Here's to portable blogging. So long from the technology challenged.