Wake-Up Call

• Have you ever wondered what it would take for someone to learn something that you thought that they needed to learn?
• Have you ever been in a position where God was trying to teach you something and you didn't want to listen?

Well, I can hear God loud and clear now. Last week, I was playing basketball and felt my knee pop. I had a M.R.I. and was informed yesterday that I am going to undergo surgery next Thursday. Right in the middle of two projects that are starting that I am leading and I am unable to walk without crutches and am dependent upon others for help. My Boss and Friend asked me what God was trying to teach me. I had no idea at the time but now I understand. Here are a few of the things that I believe God wants me to learn:

• Learn to Delegate
• Learn to Slow Down
• Learn to Think before I Speak
• Learn to Trust Others
• Learn to Make Time for God
• Realize that I am not Superman or Super pastor
• Realize that I need to be more Humble and less Prideful

If you feel that God is trying to teach you something, listen. Don't learn the hard way!

2nd Saturday

I have heard it said from several employees of Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California that he wants them to "Fail Faster." When I first heard this saying, I did not quite understand it. First, why would anyone want to fail? And second, why would they want to fail at an accelartaed pace?

As I have been working at Grace for over a year now, I now understand that I have to fail and fail fast in order to grow. We as leaders can not be afraid to try something new and fail. In fact, if we are not failing, then we are not having large enough dreams. We have to dream dreams that are so big that only God could accomplish them. If we do this, God gets the glory.

I say all of this to say that we are going to be trying new things, bringing in new ministries, and changing some things up a little bit. One new minsitry that we started was 2nd Saturday. We started this last week and had around 30 people split up doing two different types of service. One group took trash bags and cleaned up the neighborhood that our church is located in and the other group cleaned up and mowed a Historic Cemetery that is located just behind our property.

We hope that this is a ministry that continues to grow each month. Next month we are going to help spread the Christmas Cheer by teaming up with Columbia Housing Authority and have a Christmas Party for the residents.

Can't wait to see you Next Month!