We had an awesome Sunday!

• First, the band was absolutely rockin' on Sunday. They were incredible. It was loud, great songs and they looked good. I appreciate the way Bob approaches the music and how seriously he takes this responsibility. He is not a paid minister but a volunteer. He is more concerned about worship than performance but the performance is good too.
• Second, I love the simple stage design that Joe Stag created for this series! The interogation table with the single light bulb has been effective. We have been opening the teaching time by sitting at this table and reading a few stories from the IJM website of rescued women and children who had fallen prey to evil men with criminal minds. I hope it is stirring everyone's hearts to give generously toward these ministries.
• Third, I have been loving this Criminal Minds series! Sunday we looked at the crime of resisting arrest that led Caiaphas, the High Priest, to plot the murder of Jesus. Caiaphas resisted believing in Jesus as Messiah even though he was faced with many undeniable signs that Jesus was the one. We shared 3 reasons people resist God's authority over their lives: 1) Fear - we fear that God will mess up our lives and our own plans, dreams, desires will go unfulfilled. 2) Anger - like Judas, we get mad at God for not playing our game so we refuse to play His. He didn't do A so I'm not doing B. 3) Caiaphas' problem was the arrogance to claim ownership and control over that which he didn't own or was able to control. We are stewards not owners. When we think like owners, Christ becomes a threat to everything we think we own. But when we act like stewards, we can easily surrender all things to the rightful owner, Jesus Christ.
• Fourth, at least two young men, 21 and 24, received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior! What a great thing to see! God at work in the lives of our people.
• Fifth, offering was great! Thank you all for your generous giving.
• Sixth, it's always a great Sunday because Christ is alive and because of that, we live also!