Praying...

Prayer is powerful!  I pray daily for the folks who make up Community of Joy and for our effectiveness in mission for Jesus!  I also pray specifically for those who are in need of prayer for healing, guidance, wisdom discernment.   In addition, I make it a habit to pray for the leaders and the effective mission of christian churches that I drive by wherever I am.  They are not our competition!  They are on our team!  And all that we do is done to help people take their next step toward Jesus!  There is no more important thing to do than to pray for God's help in fulfilling that mission!

Here is the place where I prayed last night!

Something to look forward to...

This photo was taken by my friend, Bryan Bilger from McVeytown, PA this morning.  What beauty!

I am off this week and looking forward to seeing some new sights... some of God's beauty.  I am looking forward to having some renewing times... for myself and with Sharon!

Incredible Things Happening....

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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...

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!

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

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...

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

 

 

There is so much excitement in the air of the existing Tuesday circle out of which the four leaders are coming to birth these new circles!  It was electrifying to commission these new leaders last night! 

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!

Really, I Am...

I made good on a promise to one of our folks at CoJ, who was unable to fulfill his commitment to clean our ministry center for a couple months.  When I learned that, I told him that I would gladly take his next two turns.  So, yesterday before my Thursday night men's 5 Q Circle I went over early and began the process of cleaning.  (Didn't finish before, so I finished mopping floors afterward) 

I was busy working at cleaning the bathrooms when one of our 5 Q guys came in a bit early for our circle gathering and when I explained what I was doing he said, "you are doing what?"  I said, "I am taking my turn cleaning our ministry center."  And he was astounded.  You see the church he was part of paid someone to do the cleaning.  I am glad that we don't pay someone to do the cleaning and am glad that we have folks who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work.  While I was cleaning inside, a volunteer was mowing the lawn!

I think it was also astounding to my friend that the pastor was doing the cleaning.  Sorry it seems odd.  Because to me, it is not odd at all.  I don't consider myself any more important than anybody else that is part of our church family!  And really, I don't mind one bit rolling up my sleeves and working hard in physical ways!

Cleaning is not my gift nor is it a gift that others have.  It is necessary to clean and it is necessary that all of us do things like cleaning that are outside of our gift areas because those things need to be done.

Soon Time for 7th

That's right it is soon time for our 7^th Neighborhood Pork Roast and Fun Fest September 29 at the Ministry Center 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.  All the food and activities are FREE.  The day will include free food, special music, big bounce, corn hole, face painting, yard games and time to relax and visit.   This is Community of Joy’s biggest outreach and is designed just to bless our neighbors and create positive feelings in our neighborhood.  Hope you can come!

If you are part of Community of Joy, please look for ways that you can help. This event takes ALL of us doing what we can and giving generously of our time to pull it off.  It is an event for our neighbors and friends not for us.  In coming weeks, we will have sign-up sheets out for help and food donations at the Ministry Center. 

Since we are the faith based Partners of Pinehurst Elementary School, we will also be inviting the students, staff, and families to join us again this year.  (We had great participation from them last year!) 

Excitement builds....

Excitement builds for the birthing of more 5 Q Circles at Community of Joy!

I think the Holy Spirit has nudged a second female leader to make 2 women and 2 men who are willing to give birth to 2 new groups.  Another person has come forward feeling a nudge to be part too!  Been praying to get a college student circle started and have a place to meet and a co-leader, just waiting on the Spirit to nudge a leader for this circle, then we will birth 3 new circles!  Have some college students that are excited about being in a circle of peers!

And if that isn't enough excitement... one of the new circle leader team wants to go door to door with informational brochures to introduce themselves to their neighbors and invite them to join this circle in the leader's home. Another of the new circle leaders told me yesterday of a prayer that they are already praying for a couple of co-workers that they think would join the circle and take a next step toward Jesus and this leader is eager to begin that part of the circle!

 I have two homes that folks would love to welcome a 5 Q circle in as soon as I get new leaders for them we will make that move too!

And there's more... yesterday, my daughter who is headed out of state for her senior year of college shared with me an email she sent to her VA Church pastor (who is new to that church) sharing the 5Q Circle model and suggesting she would lead a group that was targeted at reaching out to other college students in the area.  The pastor was elated and invited her to lunch when she gets back to VA!

WOW!  In the words of my new favorite song... "ARISE, church ARISE!

Many Hands DO Make Light Work...

Yesterday we had a clean up work day at Community of Joy.  We gathered at 9 and most were done by 1 but a few stayed around all day some leaving at 6 with a couple still there working a bit longer.  It was so nice to get so many things done yesterday.  The furnace room is cleaned out totally!  And the shed is cleaned out and organized, as are many of the cabinets, and storage areas.  Crock pot alley can once again be used because all the supplies that were sitting on the counters are now stored.  The nursery toys were all washed and disinfected.  Windows washed, window wells cleaned out and stones installed.  Shrubs trimmed, grass edged, weeds pulled.  The emergency light in the rear was replaced, a hole in the facia fixed.  The ramp rails were sturdied up with new cement at the base. Sticks in the yard picked up and hauled away.  And a baby changing station was added!

What an incredible day!  And even more incredible than all that got done was the fact that we had great help and eager workers who jumped right in and checked items off the list!  It is an awesome thing to see people set free with tasks accomplish those tasks!  THANKS to all who came out and gave their time and muscles!