This included a 3 member worship team with keyboard and guitar. And Janice and I worry worried for months about how we would do worship.

We should have our phone installed on Wednesday and I have placed the order for our sound system. Saturday we will pick up our new chairs.

 When God told us to get ready to run, He was not kidding.

- Pastor Jon

 Below is the message I shared.

 Ah Christmas, the sound of children laughing, favorite songs, the smell of sugar cookies and pumpkin bread, long lists of “I want…,” “Black” Friday, and one day only sales. And the past several years I have been the ultimate Scrooge. Bah Humbug had become my motto. I allowed myself to be sucked into the financial trap of trying to make everyone happy with stuff. Isn’t that what a good dad is supposed to do?

As this season began to approach, I prayed to God that I would not be a Scrooge this year. I wanted this year to be different. The reply came back, you will have to search for Christmas.  

So tonight come with me on a journey as I search for Christmas.

Showed video from www.adventconspiracy.org – for illustration purposes only, not for advertisement

We all know the events of the birth of our savior. But let’s dig a little deeper. In the beginning God created Adam and then from his rib He created Eve. He longed for relationship. However, not all was well in the garden. Lucifer had fallen and he deceived Eve, and sin entered the human race. The plan of God had been torn apart. Humankind could no longer walk with God in the cool of the day. But God had another plan. He had a plan of redemption, a plan to restore His creation to the right relationship with Him. Months passed and months turned into years and years turned into decades and decades into centuries. One day the timing was right and God summoned an Angel, and he sent him with a message to a young Virgin named Mary. The plan of restoration began. This in itself is a wonderful event. But there is more. Think for a moment, around the same time, perhaps a few years before, or a few years after there was born a young boy named John (not the Baptist). He had a brother James. Then there was Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. Next Judas and Matthew and all the rest of the disciples were probably born close (plus or minus ten years I suspect) to the same year as Jesus. Then there was also Luke, Paul and Timothy. The list could go on and on. At first glance they might seem individual events, but they all fit into God’s plan of restoration. They were born at the right time, and their life circumstances and the choices they made all lead them to Christ. This was a start, the beginning of a plan that would end at the cross. You too were born at the right time and place. Your circumstances and choices have led you to where you are tonight. Now we are part of that plan to help others find the cross.

Birth’s are always celebrated. So here we are to celebrate the birth of Jesus our redeemer.

But how do we celebrate? Why do we celebrate by giving gifts? Why is that Christmas? Is it really because the wise men brought gifts? I am not trying to say we should not give, but why do we do it? Why is that we have allowed the culture to take over and control this time of celebration.

Last weekend we were able to bless five children. But why do we only do this at Christmas? But let me throw a wrinkle in your brain. We gave presents to a needy mom who will give them to her children there by continuing the legacy of “Christmas is all about the gifts”

The challenge for us is to create a church that is always giving, always blessing. How do we give that will create an environment that will lead people to Christ and a life with him? That is the task that is before us. We must be a church that creates and drives the culture around us.

We will probably always do the Christmas outreach, but let’s be careful that it does not become a simple token event that we check off some outreach task list. All that we do needs to lead to relationship, and relationship that then allows us to lead them to Christ.

So how do we celebrate Christmas? Start by taking stock of the traditions you have adopted as you own. Do they truly honor Christ or are they just good things to do?

Take time to thank God for sending His son that we might be redeemed. That we might be restored, so that once again we can walk with God in the cool of the day. Celebrate Christmas by finding that cool place with God.

I may have not found Christmas just yet, but I am still looking. I am closer this year than I was last.

Matthew 4:14-17 = to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah; Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people living in darkness
      have seen a great light;
   on those living in the land of the shadow of death
      a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

So where are you tonight? Do you need to take this time to renew your walk with God? If so, there is no better time than now.

Celebrate tonight the birth of our Lord our redeemer. Celebrate tonight a loving and faithful God that desires nothing more than to be with us. Celebrate tonight that a great light has shown up the earth, has shown upon our heart. And now celebrate that we now of the task to take that light, the life of Christ and shine it before all.

It was good to share about our expectations. What do you expect from God, what do you expect our church to become and do? The team is fired up and ready to take the community by storm. That afternoon I got a call from a good friend. He and his family have heard from God and they are to come with us.

We continue to grow, and we only have six more weeks before we do our full launch.

The rest of the week has been spent going through sound equipment quotes and trying to get in the rhythm to prepare weekly sermons and lessons. (Of course I work a fulltime job in the business world). Sunday I will continue from the book by Richard Blackaby, Unlimiting God.  I am also working on (at least in my head) a message for Christmas Eve, “The Search for Christmas” I will use a video intro I found today from www.adventconspiracy.org I am excited about our first candle light service.

It is full steam ahead from here.

Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9)

God has given us 3 stages that all relate to the crossing of the Jordan by the Children of Israel. The 1^st was the beginning which was “On the eastside of the Jordan” Phase two which began several months ago “Crossing the Jordan.” This phase is rapidly coming to close and the 3^rd phase will begin “Possessing the Land”

Things are beginning to move very fast, and God continues to amaze us. Just this week three new people have joined our team. Two of them will be our first Worship Leaders.

On a practical side, we have had a donation of wood flooring. This will be enough to do our front foyer and the office. We also have a deal on church chairs (only used for a couple of months) for $20 each, and the seller will store them for free until we need them. We also have a friend that will donate his labor for installing the carpet.

Next Sunday we will start a Sunday morning Bible Study. These will be open beyond our team, to include our friends and family (and really anyone who would like to come). We are sponsoring 5 needy children for this Christmas season, and we will hold our first Christmas Eve service in just a few weeks.

We still have a lot of work to do on the building, but we have paint on the wall and things are starting to come together. Each week we get closer and closer.

God is faithful and I can see the vision He has for us clearer each day.

Be Blessed

Pastor Jon

God told me about a month ago to get ready to run. Well it is full tilt to get ready for our 2/08/09 launch.

The real work has begun, and Janice and I are loving every minute of it.

More to come soon.

Shortly I will be meeting with the owner of a church building in Jenkinsburg Georgia. (Just 4 miles south of the Locust Grove city hall). Hopefully we will be in the building with in about a month.

It is small and will need a little TLC, but it is in great location on Hwy 42. The future for Redeemer’s Way and call of God will get off to a great start here.

 More updates to follow.

 I then took a few minutes to share.   

Psalms 48 vs. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Selah 

I had been praying for clear direction on the church plant. I keep hearing “get ready to run.” I felt that we have a strong word; we have just not seen the fruit of it as yet. God then led me to the above verse. As we have heard, so have we seen. It was God confirming once again that not only will we hear His word, but we will see the fruit.  

We must continue to be faithful and know that God is doing a work in all of our lives during this time of waiting.  

I also keep hearing “Set a Part”  So this week Janice and I are fasting TV. I know that may sound strange since when most people think of fasting they think of food. But for me I need to make sure my mind is clear to hear God’s voice and direction. I am asking that all of our team consider joining with us this week in this fast. If you already rarely watch TV, perhaps there is something else you can give up for the week.

Let us set ourselves apart to hear God’s voice. Let’s press in and take our relationship with Christ to the next level. God has called us to a hard task and it is time for us to step up and press in to launch Redeemer’s Way.

Remember be storng and courageous (Joshua 1:9)

Pastor Jon 

I remember I was sitting at my desk that morning. One of my co-workers said that a plane had crashed into the first tower. We quickly pulled up the live videos on our computers, and we were stunned as we watched the second plane crash. I was safe, hundreds of miles away in Atlanta Georgia. I did not then, nor do I now have the capability to relate to the those that were there. I just remember how numb I felt. It was hard to believe. About an hour later we were sent home. We all packed up our things and left the building. Not a word was spoken.

May we never forget, never forget the firemen, police and ordinary people that risked and sacrificed their own lives to save others.

May we never forget the men and women who were just trying to go about their normal everyday lives.

May we never forget those who thought they were flying to a vacation of a lifetime, or trying to get home to a loved one only to find it a nightmare.

May we never forget those who sacrificed their lives so that flight 93 would never find the terrorists target.

May we never forget the men and women of the Pentagon who lost their lives that day.

May we never forget those who survived but still live daily with the scars, both seen and unseen.

May we never forget the men and women who serve and sacrifice in the Armed Services to make sure it does not happen again.

May we never forget 9/11/2001