e-news for week of 11/2 - 11/8

We continue in the I.C. series this week talking about “I.C. moved earth.” Thanks for the outstanding comments and action that you’ve been sharing with me during this series.

Forum, I’m going to be very forthright and candid. The next couple of weeks are in many ways days of destiny for us as a church. I don’t want to exaggerate but I also don’t want to underplay the significance of these couple of weeks.

First, we’ll worship together all at once under one roof at one moment for the first time since 1974. I have a bunch of thoughts about this that I’ll share next week. Please arrive at Columbia Performing Arts Centre around 10. There is a very good chance that we can pack the place. There is children’s ministry for children grades three and under. From a space scenario, we need you to utilize this opportunity. Katelyn and Jessie have worked hard to have us staffed and good to go. Just to give you a heads up – communion will be served in individual packets that we’ll all take together at once (you’ll understand it when you see it Sunday). You’ll receive that when you are coming in. We’ve got a great time of worship and time engaging in God’s word mapped out.

Then on November 16th, we’ll take up the offering and commitments for the multi-site. As I said in the letter sent to the body, the more you can give up front – the better it helps us toward the launch of the second campus. I would encourage you, as I have the entire time to not tap into your regular giving and to give in a sacrificial manner. If you are not moved toward giving sacrificially, don’t feel guilty about that. God knows what the needs are and He provides. We had a Pizza with the Pastors event Sunday night and one of the people attending it made this great observation, “God has no unfunded mandates.” I thought, “So true.”

Melody and I believe this is where God has led us as a church and we have personally bit some bullets in order to help give another 3% above and beyond our tithes and offerings. I know, by faith, that God is going to use this to reach people for Christ. I know, by faith, that if you choose to dive in and get involved in prayer, in maybe teaching with our children or a life group, in service in our community, or in some new way – that you are going to grow.

Justin Keith, Jody Riley, and I were talking in Justin’s office today – talking about dreams and vision for Forum and possibilities. As we talked, we realized it is easy to allow fear to deter us and Justin remembered a great scripture from Hebrews which says, “We are not those who shrink back…” Faith moves forward. Faith leaps. Faith trusts.

If we choose to live by sight – let me be clear – then we will reap in the same way. Anybody can count the seeds in the apple, only God can count the apples in a seed. Friends, it’s time for a faith walk. In way too many ways, we’ve been doing a lot of stepping and seeing and walking by sight– it’s time to leap out – it’s time to trust – it’s only in the leap that living and active faith is learned.

I’m really looking forward to Sunday. Plan for a full house at CPAC – and plan for a great encounter as we worship the Lord. -- Scott