Friday, September 5, 2008

Question of the Day???

Here is the question of the day: How much does location really matter when it comes to "the church?"  We're off the beaten path.  We're hidden.  I consider us the county's "best kept secret."  Of course, I'm a little partial.  But, if we were on the main highway, would more people notice us; talk about us; visit us???  Do people NOT go to church, because they don't know of a good place to go or do they NOT go to church "just because?"  Hmm...

Monday, September 1, 2008

My Heart was Breaking!

On Sunday morning I flipped on the television as I often do for a few minutes during breakfast.  The local television stations were flooded with locally and nationally televised church services.  One service in particular caught my attention.  I watched as a praise band, made up primarily of teenagers, sought to lead its congregation in worship.  I watched as the worship leader poured out his heart and read from God's Word.  I watched as the congregation sat/stood unresponsive; several of them hunched over on the pew in front of them.  I watched as the congregation checked their watches, put their hands in their pockets, and kept their mouths shut!  As I watched this display of "worship" my heart was breaking!  Is this what God desires?  Is this our best?  Is this what it means to worship in "spirit" and in "truth"?  What would an unchurched person think if they saw this pathetic display?  If I was the camera man filming this service I would have pulled the chord, replaced the lens cap, ejected the tape, and destroyed the evidence.  AHHH!  God deserves better than this!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Monday, August 25, 2008

Where there's a WILL (God's Will) there's a way

God reminded me today of the fact that His good, pleasing, and perfect will, WILL succeed in the life of the believer (the one who trusts in Him). When life seems to take you in a hundred directions at once and even when life seems to be going nowhere, God is still in control. He knows and that's good enough for me. Have an AWESOME week!

Pastor Matt

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning. Where are you? What are you doing? Why are you there? Why are you doing that? You need the "body" and the "body" needs YOU! Our services start at 10:45 am. There's still time. Go on. Get out of bed...off the couch...up from the table. Throw on some blue jeans and a t-shirt. Pull your hair back (if you have hair?). Get in your car...on the bike...into your shoes and JOIN US! We want to love on you. We want to offer you real experiences, authentic community, and hope. It WON'T be the same without YOU! See ya soon!

Pastor Matt

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Dog Days of Summer

It looks as if we are headed for another hot, hazy, mid-August day.  My family and I, as well as a few friends from church, spent the night out under the stars last night and while lying awake (I had to share an air mattress with my two-year old so there were a lot of moments spent lying awake) I was once again reminded of God's majesty.  It really is an AWESOME thing that such a majestic God, the God who created the universe, also loves us and desires to know us.  Praise God!

2 Samuel 22:47 (NIV)

"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

Pastor Matt

Friday, August 22, 2008

New Strategy!

Living Stones Fellowship has a simple strategy for the coming months. We are to R.E.A.C.H. In and R.E.A.C.H. Out. By R.E.A.C.H. we mean that we will provide: Real Experiences, Authentic Community, and Hope to people in our church and our community. Simply put, THIS is what we are about!