God is sure moving at Community of Joy! And it is really neat to see it happen! We've been praying for it to happen and it is!
Yesterday we hosted our 7th Neighborhood Pork Roast and Fun Fest and had fabulous weather, delicious and plenty food, and a good response. Each year it has been interesting to see how the response is and each year it is different. Last year we had a tremendous response from our partnership with Pinehurst Elementary. This year it seems as if they didn't pass out our invites as we couldn't identify anyone from there. But this year it seemed that personal invites from our folks was the draw. And that is really exciting!
It is also really exciting to see so many people willingly jump in and help serve at this event. It takes lots of us to make it a success and there was no shortage of help! In fact one helper had such a great time, she already wanted to sign up for helping next year and this was a person who came to us first at a Pork Roast just a few years ago!
Cleanup is always the dreaded part, and it always seems that everyone thinks it is somebody else's task... but this year we had plenty of help cleaning up too! What a blessing!
Another neat thing about this year was the attendance at worship before the Pork Roast... we advertise this as a "no strings attached" event and we mean it! So, it was really cool to see so many folks come check out our worship gatherings too. In fact we had our second largest crowd in attendance in worship since we bought the building in 2007!
In addition to all that, and the thing that matters even more to me, is the number of folks who are finding value and meaning in being in a 5 Q Circle is growing. I pray that we will see the day when nearly 100% of the folks affiliated with Community of Joy will be in one of these 5Q Circles!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Love Serving King Jesus...
This morning I spent several hours being a blessing at Pinehurst Elementary School and I loved it. Our congregation - Community of Joy is the faith based partners for the school and every quarter they have a good behavior incentive reward for those students being well behaved through out the months. It is always fun to see the children and to get to work alongside the staff! Today, we haded out ice pops to the students and watched them play on the playground for an extra half hour. I love serving King Jesus in this way! Always is gratifying!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Stories Inspire Stories
Yesterday, I shared a story of an encounter I had at Walmart. I even told the clerk at the Service Desk that she wouldn't have many of these kinds of conversations. Boy was I wrong! I heard several stories yesterday of people who did similar things.
My learning from that is that stories inspire stories.
So, as followers of Jesus... when we share our stories of God encounters with others, it inspires them and they soon have some stories of their own to tell.
Kind of reminds me of the old hymn... I love to tell the story... of Jesus and his love.
Won't you share your stories with others so that it will provoke more stories!
My learning from that is that stories inspire stories.
So, as followers of Jesus... when we share our stories of God encounters with others, it inspires them and they soon have some stories of their own to tell.
Kind of reminds me of the old hymn... I love to tell the story... of Jesus and his love.
Won't you share your stories with others so that it will provoke more stories!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
What Would You Do?
This morning I had one of those moments where I made a choice to honor Christ but I could have easily made another choice.
I began not feeling well last night and needed some cold medicine to take during the day so that I wouldn't be drowsy. So, after walking for most of my normal time, I headed to Walmart to get some medicine and milk. I chose to use the self check out counters there and when I scanned my first cold medicine, it said that I needed authorization, so I asked the lady who oversees the registers to come help me. She did and then I asked her to stay because I was sure that the next medicine would have the same issue. She scanned it too and then went on her way. I scanned the milk and pushed the "finish and pay" button only to see that my total was about $15 less than what I expected it would be. I completed the transaction and looked at the receipt to see that it had charged me twice for the .88 medicine and had not charged me for the $14.47 medicine. So here is the place I had a choice.
I could walk out and know that I got a $14.47 med for .88. Or I could tell the lady and get her to correct it.
What would you do?
It wasn't a temptation to me at all! I knew what I was going to do as soon as I saw it....
I went up to the lady and explained what happened and she didn't believe me so, she asked for the $14.47 med and scanned it. Found that I was being honest. Thanked me for my honesty and then sent me to customer service to get it cared for there.
Here was another place I had a choice... I could have just kept going and had a $14.47 medicine for .88.
Again it was not a choice for me... I went to customer service and told the lady, "you probably won't get many transactions like this today, but here is what happened and I owe you some money." She rang in my credit of .88 and then the $14.47 medicine too. I paid her the money and went on my way.
I can sleep tonight knowing that I represented Jesus well! Even if the second lady didn't thank me for my honesty or not. Because I am not living for the applause of people... I am living for the applause of nail scarred hands!
I began not feeling well last night and needed some cold medicine to take during the day so that I wouldn't be drowsy. So, after walking for most of my normal time, I headed to Walmart to get some medicine and milk. I chose to use the self check out counters there and when I scanned my first cold medicine, it said that I needed authorization, so I asked the lady who oversees the registers to come help me. She did and then I asked her to stay because I was sure that the next medicine would have the same issue. She scanned it too and then went on her way. I scanned the milk and pushed the "finish and pay" button only to see that my total was about $15 less than what I expected it would be. I completed the transaction and looked at the receipt to see that it had charged me twice for the .88 medicine and had not charged me for the $14.47 medicine. So here is the place I had a choice.
I could walk out and know that I got a $14.47 med for .88. Or I could tell the lady and get her to correct it.
What would you do?
It wasn't a temptation to me at all! I knew what I was going to do as soon as I saw it....
I went up to the lady and explained what happened and she didn't believe me so, she asked for the $14.47 med and scanned it. Found that I was being honest. Thanked me for my honesty and then sent me to customer service to get it cared for there.
Here was another place I had a choice... I could have just kept going and had a $14.47 medicine for .88.
Again it was not a choice for me... I went to customer service and told the lady, "you probably won't get many transactions like this today, but here is what happened and I owe you some money." She rang in my credit of .88 and then the $14.47 medicine too. I paid her the money and went on my way.
I can sleep tonight knowing that I represented Jesus well! Even if the second lady didn't thank me for my honesty or not. Because I am not living for the applause of people... I am living for the applause of nail scarred hands!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
The Downside is Up....
We continue to have good responses to our launching of 3 new 5 Q circles this week. Yesterday's two circles had a total of 9 people between them and both had persons who want to come but were unable to come last night. Leaders from both circles feel great about what they experienced last night and that makes me pumped!
The Tuesday circle that I lead, was cut in half by sending out 7 people to birth the new circles and when a couple of the regulars came in it was evident that the smaller size was a downer for them. But the upside of that is that we made room in our circle and in a couple other circles for more people to experience the powerful transformation that we are experiencing. In fact that very person who was visibly down shared in the sharing time that she had 3 other friends that were talking with her about joining her in the circle soon. Those friends would not have found it as transforming if it were still so large.
It was also cool to have another person in the circle share in response to that concern that a smaller circle allows for more intimacy and opportunity to connect with each other in greater ways. The downside of birthing new circles really is UP!
Excited to see what tonight's men's circle brings!
So thrilled that I headed the Holy Spirit's nudge to use the 5Q Circle idea as a way to disciple more people in the way of Jesus!
The Tuesday circle that I lead, was cut in half by sending out 7 people to birth the new circles and when a couple of the regulars came in it was evident that the smaller size was a downer for them. But the upside of that is that we made room in our circle and in a couple other circles for more people to experience the powerful transformation that we are experiencing. In fact that very person who was visibly down shared in the sharing time that she had 3 other friends that were talking with her about joining her in the circle soon. Those friends would not have found it as transforming if it were still so large.
It was also cool to have another person in the circle share in response to that concern that a smaller circle allows for more intimacy and opportunity to connect with each other in greater ways. The downside of birthing new circles really is UP!
Excited to see what tonight's men's circle brings!
So thrilled that I headed the Holy Spirit's nudge to use the 5Q Circle idea as a way to disciple more people in the way of Jesus!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Still Flying High Today....
We launched our first of 3 new 5 Q Circles last night in a home in Quantico. It had 9 participants, 4 who were new to the 5 Q Circle Process and 1 who was not previously known to Community of Joy! The leaders shared great reports this morning and expect a couple others to join the circle soon.
Tonight is the Tuesday 7 p.m. Circle at Community of Joy's Ministry Center. Wednesday night we have two new ones launching a 6:30 circle for women only at Community of Joy's Ministry Center and a 7 p.m. at a home in Salisbury. Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Community of Joy's Ministry Center is a circle for men. All are welcome to join the process.
It is exciting to see these leaders who have experienced the power of 5Q Circles for the past couple years now stretch their wings and lead new groups! And it is exciting to see new folks checking out the transforming process of 5 Q Circles. Whenever the people of God, gather around the word of God and invite the Spirit of God to guide them... powerful things happen. Transformation really does happen best in circles.
There is still time to get in one. No better time than today.
Check this link out for more information...
Tonight is the Tuesday 7 p.m. Circle at Community of Joy's Ministry Center. Wednesday night we have two new ones launching a 6:30 circle for women only at Community of Joy's Ministry Center and a 7 p.m. at a home in Salisbury. Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Community of Joy's Ministry Center is a circle for men. All are welcome to join the process.
It is exciting to see these leaders who have experienced the power of 5Q Circles for the past couple years now stretch their wings and lead new groups! And it is exciting to see new folks checking out the transforming process of 5 Q Circles. Whenever the people of God, gather around the word of God and invite the Spirit of God to guide them... powerful things happen. Transformation really does happen best in circles.
There is still time to get in one. No better time than today.
Check this link out for more information...
Monday, September 9, 2013
AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING...
I am on cloud nine right now... been a long time since I was on cloud nine!
We have been praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us into new territory as a congregation at Community of Joy and that is exactly what is happening. And I am pumped!
This week, we launch 3 new 5 Q Circles (actually one is using a different course of study) and that will give us a total of 5 5 Q Circles at Community of Joy. Enthusiasm seems high for these transformative experiences! The Tuesday Circle is birthing 2 of the 3 new circles and sending 4 leaders out of that circle to do it. One will be in Quantico and one in Salisbury... both in homes.
In addition to that, yesterday at our 10:30 we added a bass player to the mix and it was AWESOME! Last night that player told me that he intended to play on a regular basis. The praise team is going to new heights and it is so neat to see. Now if we could just get our 9 a.m. worship to the same level that would be awesome.
Yesterday in worship we had our third highest attendance in worship since moving into our new facility in 2007. It is neat to see such energy and so many new faces joining the journey! I pray that God will continue to ignite us and help us take the next step toward Jesus!
We have been praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us into new territory as a congregation at Community of Joy and that is exactly what is happening. And I am pumped!
This week, we launch 3 new 5 Q Circles (actually one is using a different course of study) and that will give us a total of 5 5 Q Circles at Community of Joy. Enthusiasm seems high for these transformative experiences! The Tuesday Circle is birthing 2 of the 3 new circles and sending 4 leaders out of that circle to do it. One will be in Quantico and one in Salisbury... both in homes.
In addition to that, yesterday at our 10:30 we added a bass player to the mix and it was AWESOME! Last night that player told me that he intended to play on a regular basis. The praise team is going to new heights and it is so neat to see. Now if we could just get our 9 a.m. worship to the same level that would be awesome.
Yesterday in worship we had our third highest attendance in worship since moving into our new facility in 2007. It is neat to see such energy and so many new faces joining the journey! I pray that God will continue to ignite us and help us take the next step toward Jesus!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Something to think about for Christians...
Found this in a church newsletter...
You’ll
Never Miss a Tithe
The
faithful church treasurer resigned because there
was
never enough income to cover expenses.
Another
member - the owner of the local grain
elevator
- volunteered to take the
position.
He had one stipulation -
for
a period of one year, the
church
would require no report
from
him.
The
board members were puzzled at this strange request, but
knowing
him to be an honest man
who
processed most of their
grain,
they granted it.
At
the end of the year, the new
treasurer
gave a glowing report.
The
church's indebtedness on the
building
had been paid in full!
The
pastor's salary had been
increased
by 15 percent! There
were
no outstanding bills! In fact, he showed a cash balance of nearly $7,000! The
shocked,
but delighted, congregation asked for an
explanation.
'Most
of you bring your grain to my elevator,' the treasurer replied. 'When I paid
you, I simply withheld 10 percent on your behalf and gave it to
the
church in your name. You never missed it. Do
you
see now what we could do for the Lord if we
were
to willingly return the first tenth to God, who
really
owns it?'
-Cumberland Baptist
Church
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Birthing Circles....
I am so excited to announce that NEXT week, we give birth to our 5Q Circles here at Community of Joy! And really cool how they are available 4 different days a week.
Here is the line-up...
It does bring some sadness but that is tempered by the reality that we are making something that has been transformational in our lives available to more people and are excited to see transformation happen in their lives. We really do believe transformation happens best in circle rather than rows. Hope you will consider moving into a circle!
Here is the line-up...
Monday 7 p.m. @ Gary Betters’ Home Quantico, MD 443.358.4986
Tuesday 7 p.m. @ Ministry Center - 302 South Blvd Salisbury, MD
Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Women Only @ Ministry Center - 302 South Blvd Salisbury, MD
Using “The Story” as the material not the 5 Q’s
Wednesday 7 p.m. @ Donna Kelly’s Home Salisbury,
MD 443.397.4708
Thursday 5:30 p.m. Men Only @ Ministry Center 302 South Blvd Salisbury, MD
It does bring some sadness but that is tempered by the reality that we are making something that has been transformational in our lives available to more people and are excited to see transformation happen in their lives. We really do believe transformation happens best in circle rather than rows. Hope you will consider moving into a circle!
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