Greetings from ORL

So I'm in Orlando this week for convention meetings and youth pastors conference. We are staying in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Resort.

Yeah, that one...

This is the view from the VIP Suite...

Yes, I said VIP Suite... mad props to your Director of Youth ministry, Scott Simmons for letting us use his pass while he's in meetings...

This is Heath and I's room... lots of pillows and flat panel TV

Oh yeah, this a 3 panel fridge FULL of ice cream... wish you were here D

And yes, Jesus served us dinner... He was a servant!!!

All in all, being here makes me so excited about this convention, God is going to move BIG time!!!!

frustrated...

First of all, I was driving to work this morning and passed this...

What does this mean? I literally drove passed it read it and laughed as I usually do but then I got to thinking about it and got frustrated. I'm going to do my best and be optimistic about the reasoning behind this message but the way it reads sounds very "exclusive" to me. What about they people who "don't do" church? Aren't they the people who need church? Church and church people make no sense to me. I hate church signs, I feel like in most cases they confuse people about Jesus, or give people a reason to make fun of the church (I find myself doing the latter most of the time). But if I had one and had to put a message on it about our church, I would want it to say, "The church for people who are tired of church." or "The church for people who want to know who Jesus really is." But screw that (pardon me), I want to people of my church to be it's advertisement. I want they way that we live our lives to be a testament to the church I attend and even more that that the God that I serve. You know I think we are so quick to blame Satan, people's hard hearts, or unwillingness to give up a life of sin as reasons people "don't do" church, but I honestly believe that church people that are more willing to put a cheesy (ie. "Someone call 911 because this church is on fire for God." or "Walmart isn't the only saving place in town.") quotes on a sign than actually following Christ's example and getting out there and pouring into people and loving them with everything they have. I am interested in getting feedback on this issue.

And secondly, I was looking for some stuff on my old laptop and found this picture...

So I went to the doctor yesterday and he told I should lose a few... I used to be skinny, what happened? Ugh, this is depressing, I'm either going to be motivated to do something about it or I'm going to eat myself into a coma because I'm such an emotional eater... and as I read that last statement I realize that I am also a female for having said that.

Dare You To Move... 2nd Movement

2nd Movement, Relationships

Tension:

In a world of impersonality could it be possible that the methods that God uses to take us to the next level be through personal interaction?

Self-examination:

Do you have people in your life you can turn to?

• The desire to be in relationship is built within all of us.
• Who is in you sphere of influence?

What God has to say:

What if relationships were designed to point us to Christ instead of lead us astray?

Peter's Denial and Restoration

17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18: 17-18

25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked , “ You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
John 18: 25-27

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" “Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
John 21: 15-17

• Peter damaged his relationship with Christ by denying Him in His greatest hour of need.
• Have you damaged a relationship.
• Have you been damaged?
• Christ restored Peter completely for each offense
• As a result of that restoration and the continued relationship Peter changed the world, Peter moved.

Self-application

1. Spend time with people who point you toward Christ.

• Your (youth)pastor
• Other Godly mentors

2. Reevaluate relationship that may lead you away from Christ

• Its much easier to be lead away than to pull someone towards
• Example: If you are standing in a chair its much easier for someone to pull you out of that chair than for you to pull them up.

Challenge:

1. What would your life look like if you built Christ centered relationships?
2. Could you take it to the next level if you built relationship that pointed you to Christ instead of away?