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If you knew you only had 30 days left to live, how would your life be different? What would you change? What would you do? What would you stop doing? Leave a comment and join the discussion…

Remember back in January we read through the Gospel of John together? Let’s do it again! Starting today, and going through the month of June, we’ll read through 1 & 2 Corinthians.

You know the drill…read a chapter a day in any translation you like, make some notes about what God is saying to you as you read, and we’ll share our insights on Sunday evenings starting the last Sunday of the month. Cool? Cool!

In case you need it, here’s a copy (.pdf) of the reading schedule:

Summer Bible Adventure!

OK, let’s get started!

Just a quick update about the situation at The ‘Crest.

First, the power should be restored to the building by the middle of Saturday morning. That’s GREAT NEWS! However, the bad news – and the pretty obvious news – is that the Vacation Bible School Registration Event we had planned for Saturday will be postponed. Right now, we’re looking at Saturday, June 21 as a tentative date.

We will have services Sunday morning. Right now, I see no reason not to proceed with our regular Sunday schedule. But please be advised: You will need to park in the lower parking lot only. The upper side of the property is still not passable due to HUGE trees in the way.

In other storm-aftermath news, we have begun the process of dealing with a roofer and the insurance adjuster and all that entails. We are waiting for the Georgia Baptist Convention Disaster clean-up crew to come and cut up the large trees. Stay tuned for details about clean-up and stuff as we go along.

Thanks to Alan Jennings for spearheading the repair and restoration process. Thanks to Homer Hughes for his valuable wisdom as well.

I’ve changed Sunday’s message in response to this little blip. We’ll talk about What the Storm Brings and I think it’ll be good. See you there Sunday morning! Pass the word to those who may not have access to email. Thanks!

Check out the storm damage at The ‘Crest…

This good stuff from Bill Easum’s Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First…

In the absence of strong leadership, leaders leave and dysfunctional people take charge.

Leaders always take responsibility for whatever situation in which they find themselves. Leaders never blame the system for their own failures. If the system destroys them, they allowed it to happen.

Leaders set their own agenda and set out on the journey to make it happen. It is silly to think that a pastor should do whatever a congregation wants him or her to do. That would be a violation of a pastor’s call.

Leaders get what they look for.

We started a new series yesterday at The ‘Crest. We’re calling it ONE THING, and we’re looking at a few Scriptures that have the phrase “one thing” in them. There are several times that phrase occurs in the Bible, but three or so of those have been on my mind over the last couple of weeks.

Yesterday’s message from Psalm 27 talked about the one prayer I would pray if I only had one shot at talking to God.

Next Sunday, we’ll honor our graduates, and our message will focus on the one thing I lack.

Then, on May 25, we’ll wind up the series by pointing to the one thing I’ll do in my walk with Jesus.

I’m stoked about it, and I pray you’ll be challenged and encouraged as we journey through this series together.

Are you keeping up with the Quest? How’s it working out for you? What are you seeing in John? What are you hearing? How are you being challenged and stretched?

Here’s a couple of my thoughts from John 11 tonight…

• Sometimes Jesus comes immediately in response to our need. Sometimes, like John 11:5-6, He delays His response, and that delay is a direct result of His love for us. I don’t understand that, but I want to learn to understand it.
• John 11:11-15: Am I the only one who thinks that the disciples sometimes had a terminal case of “Duh?!?!?!” Jesus had to go back and explain His teachings and His words over and over again.  And sometimes they still didn’t get it. But aren’t we the same way today?
• John 11:16: We give Thomas a bad rap, calling him the Doubter and all that! Here he’s leading the charge, ready to give his life in devotion to the Lord!
• John 11:21: Martha came to Jesus to get on His case about His delay. He doesn’t rebuke her, but patiently uses her peevishness to tell the truth about Himself and His purposes. Lesson for us?
• John 11:23-26: Martha is concerned with time and events. Jesus wants us to focus on Him, who He is.
• John 11:35: Shortest verse in the English Bible , favorite of Bible Drill boys everywhere! Powerful picture of the compassion of Jesus!
• John 11:38-44: I guess it’s a good thing Jesus called Lazarus by name, or all the dead guys in the cemetery would have come back to life!
• John 11:45ff.: Even when confronted with the life-changing power of Jesus, many religious folks refuse to believe Him, because of the threat He poses to their certainty and superiority.

Dropping temps…icy roads…bad news! No activities at Stonecrest tomorrow!

But you can follow along in John 11 – that’s where we’re scheduled to be in our 21-Day Bible Quest!

Be safe if you have to travel, and we’ll see you next Sunday at The ‘Crest!

Looking for a way to kick off your Bible reading for 2008? Let’s read the Gospel of John together, starting Thursday, January 10!

Here’s the plan: Get a Bible, any translation you like. Get a small journal or notebook. Read one chapter in John each day, and make some notes about what God is saying to you, to our church, to our world. Then on Sunday evening, February 3, bring your thoughts and notes and “share and compare!” Sounds like a pretty neat adventure! You in?

Here’s the reading schedule…

• Thursday, January 10: John 1
• Friday, January 11: John 2
• Saturday, January 12: John 3
• Sunday, January 13: John 4
• Monday, January 14: John 5
• Tuesday, January 15: John 6
• Wednesday, January 16, John 7
• Thursday, January 17: John 8
• Friday, January 18: John 9
• Saturday, January 19: John 10
• Sunday, January 20: John 11
• Monday, January 21: John 12
• Tuesday, January 22: John 13
• Wednesday, January 23: John 14
• Thursday, January 24: John 15
• Friday, January 25: John 16
• Saturday, January 26: John 17
• Sunday, January 27: John 18
• Monday, January 28: John 19
• Tuesday, January 29: John 20
• Wednesday, January 30: John 21

Printer-friendly version (.pdf)

Sunday, December 23, 6:00 p.m.

Featuring…

• Alison Holmes Adams, Soprano
• Nicholas Sean Rollins, Piano
• The Stonecrest Singers, The Gift Goes On by Russell Mauldin

Invite your friends and family? Download an invitation (.pdf)!

December 23 Invitation