Fine Arts Update Two

Here's the skinny...

We had seven entries advance to the National Fine Arts Festival.
- 1 Human Video Solo
- 1 Keyboard Solo
- 2 Short Sermons
- 1 Large Human Video
- 1 Female Vocal Solo
- 1 Small Human Video

Our Puppetry Group won first place in the state competition, but they didn't advance to the nationals. Great job to them and their win. Congrats to all those who advanced to nationals. All of our students did an awesome job. Charlotte... here we come!

Prom 08

Tonight following Fine Arts, some of our kids had prom and we were able to capture a few pictures. Everyone looked amazing. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Fine Arts Update One

We had 12 of our entries perform tonight (three tomorrow). I am probably not the one you need to ask being bias and all, but they ALL did awesome. I look forward to the awards ceremony to see if they advance... time will tell. We won't find out until tomorrow and we won't receive the judge sheets until next week in the mail. I will post how everything went tomorrow evening... right now, I have a bed calling my name. We are pulling out of the church parking lot at 7:45 AM on Saturday. I have a feeling it's gonna come early. Good night!

It's Finally Here!

It's finally here. District Fine Arts is tonight and our students are pumped. They are nervous, but excited! We have 15 entries this weekend. This week has been filled with rehearsals every night. The students are fine tuning their entries and making sure every detail has been given attention. I am proud of them and what they have accomplished.

On Wednesday, they performed for the entire church. They did a great job and the church loved it. I've received e-mails, my space comments about how much they enjoyed the service. Our students truly have an anointing on their life. If you are in the neighborhood, Fine Arts is this weekend at Cornerstone Church.

Fine Arts Is Coming!

I spent the afternoon working with our students on their Fine Arts presentations. Our Large Human Video Ensemble, Puppetry Group, and Worship Team met today to shore up and ready themselves for this coming weekend. I am proud of our students and what they have accomplished over a short period of time. I believe they are going to do a fabulous job. My prayers are with them and their presentations.

The Tennessee Fine Arts Festival will be April 25 at 7:00 PM and April 26 beginning at 8:00 AM at Cornerstone Church in Madison, Tennessee. We anticipate a great year. Students from all across Tennessee will emerge on the campus of Cornerstone Church to demonstrate their talents and abilities that God has given them. I look forward to the ministry that will go forward. Keep them in your prayers and if you are in the neighborhood, come and see what God is really doing in the lives of students.

Tax Day!

Thank God for taxes... right? wrong! Who wants to give their hard-earned money away? Not me, but it's either that or go to jail. I choose the former.

You have till midnight to get it in. That's a deadline of all deadlines. As I write this post... my wife is on the way to the post office to mail in our returns. Needless to say, we have to pay in. Yeah! So, don't be late. You don't want Uncle Sam looking for you. Enjoy the day... it's only money.

Guns & Friends

We have a group of guys (some girls) at our church who love shooting firearms as a hobby. We planned a day of shooting and had over thirty people show up. Fun times! Everybody brought their guns and a bag full of ammunition. The fourth of July had nothing on this group of people. There is something about taking a shotgun or a handgun and eating the center of a target out. Call it therapeutic or crazy... we enjoyed ourselves. You would never dream an activity like this could bring so many people together. If you are reading this and you attended today... thanks for coming! It's nice to have friends with guns!




(Picture 1: Me, Picture 2: My Wife, Picture 3: Monica, Bill, & Me)

Today's Quote

"The words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through."
- Sydney J. Harris

FCA

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at Hawkins Middle School this morning in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Amy Knick, school sponsor, is doing a great job with the students. I have committed a year to work with them on Thursday morning. I get the privilege of door greeter to the library. It can be humorous watching students come into the meeting at 7:00 AM. Some are more awake than others, but all want to be there.

Thank God for a godly influence like FCA on a secular campus. It's been amazing to see what God is doing week after week. Pray for your school. If you are not involved in a school Bible club, get involved. If your school doesn't have a Bible club, start one. Remember, we as Christians are the ones called to be light in a dark world.

Word For Today!

Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!"
Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: "Thank you!"
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength.

When they hear what you have to say, God,
all earth's kings will say "Thank you."
They'll sing of what you've done:
"How great the glory of God!"
And here's why: God, high above, sees far below;
no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.

God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can't take it all in!

Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Psalm 138:1-6; Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24 (The Message)

Girls vs. Boys

I was recently asked the question, "Why do girls always win?" (This is in reference to the Lady Vols' win and the Memphis Tigers' loss.) This brings me to ask, "Are girls better than boys?" What do you think?

NCAA Women's Final

Congratulations to the Tennessee Lady Vols for winning tonight against Stanford. This makes back to back titles for Tennessee and Pat Summitt's (Lady Vols Coach) eighth crown. History in the making. Go VOLS!

National Championship

Congrats to all the Kansas Jayhawk fans. Memphis lost in regulation in my opinion. They were up by nine points with two minutes left and let it go. However, they did reduce the three pointer to only two... they would have won by one point. Maybe God wanted all the Jayhawk fans to feel good. Enjoy it while you have it. Go Memphis!

Two Service Update

We launched our second service this morning at First Assembly. We began the day with an 8:30 AM service followed by a 10:30 AM service with Sunday School between the two. I would consider the launch a success. We had 85 in the first service and 180 in the second service for a total of 265 for the day. I am pleased with our first attempt on two services. To God be the glory for today's victories. I look forward to what next week holds.

100

This is my 100th post!

New Service

Tomorrow we begin two services at First Assembly. We will have a 8:30 and a 10:30 service in the morning.

Starting something new is exciting. My philosophy has become... Everything is an experiment! Sometimes you have to get out of the boat. If you don't have faith to step out and try something new, you will never go where God says you can go. Faith involves risk. Taking a chance on God knowing He won't let you fall. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). So tomorrow, we take a step of faith. We are going somewhere First Assembly has never gone. That's exciting!

What's God Up To?

Have you ever wondered what God was up to?

It is an impossibility to know what tomorrow holds. We don't even know what will happen in the next hour. The uncertainty of the future causes us to ask questions from time to time. My questions take me to Jesus. Why? Because He is the only One who knows what the future holds. He is the Creator of all time and space and in His master plan, I have been wrote into the story. So... I wonder what He's up to and how does it apply to me.

There is a truth I have found... God knows what He's doing and He will see it to completion. What does that mean? That means God will perform His will in my life if I walk in humility and become obedient to His direction. Life is a journey. It's not meant to be feared but lived. Will we have questions? Sure. Will we always know what to do? Nope. Thankfully, we know Somebody who knows our questions (and the answers) and knows what to do at all times. Trust Him!

God is up to something good. I want to be found waiting to hear from Him on where I fit in. Don't you?

A Night at Home!

I get the privilege of hanging out with my three youngest daughters tonight. Jenny and Kimber went to the Girls' Sleepover hosted by our youth ministry. Right now, across town, there is a house full of teenage girls playing games, doing make-up, eating junk food, and talking about only God knows what. Good times.

We are kicking back on the couch watching Disney. It's nice to have a night at home with family even if it is watching TV. The best times.

Wow!

All I can say about District Council is "WOW". There were many things set in motion this week and I wonder what will become of them. Only time will tell what will be. May God have grace on us.