Believe it or not, we're only 10 days from our first service!  The excitement is building and I am looking forward to getting things rolling.

Out worship team is shaping up (we have Cleave leading, Alea and Jenny on vocals and Josh on bass.  I'll sit at the drum kit when I can!) and I'm excited to hear them play together.  They held a practice on Tuesday night and Jen said it went real well.

The paperwork is filed with the state and I should know tomorrow whether or not there was anything missing! :-)  I should have a UBI (Unique Business Identifier) on Friday or Monday, and can get the bank account open. 

And - Our logo has been designed!!!  Thanks to Teri Comroe for her assistance.  Let me know what you think!

Still a lot of little things to wrap up in the next 10 days:

Bulletins
Bank Account
Order of Service
Getting a key to the building
Setup
Building cleaning
Etc..

God is good - it will ALL get done!

Stay tuned - more to come...

One of the areas that many of us struggle with (myself included) is consistency.  We often times start out with the best of intentions and get sidetracked.  Our lives are so busy and so full that we just don't seem to have the time to do the things that we set out to do.

A perfect example of this is with physical fitness.  How many of us joined a gym with the intention of going every day?  How long did it take before the daily workout became three times a week?  Then twice?  Then we missed a week - and went back to daily.  Then twice a week.  Then we missed two weeks.  Before we know it, we've been paying for the gym monthly, but haven't been inside for months.

The problem is that without consistency, we lose the benefit of all of the previous workouts.  We may have done quite well for a season, but after a very short period of time, we're not only back where we started, but often times we are worse condition than we were to begin with!

I've been a member of the YMCA for the last two years - and have been to the facilities once in the last six months.  Every time I go, I think "this is it - I'm going to get serious this time".  Unfortunately, it never seems to be the case.  I let other things take a higher priority in my life (some rightfully so, others, well - they just do).  The bottom line is that I haven't changed my life to ensure that I allow time for my daily workout - and my body shows the signs...

The same thing happens with our Christian life.  If we fail to consistently allow time in our life for God, we will have a spiritual life that shows to be lacking.  How many times have we set aside a daily time for bible study, only to find that other activities have begun to interfere?  Many times, despite the best intentions, that time just starts slipping through our fingers.  We start allowing other things to take that place.  An extra half hour of sleep...A phone call to a distant friend...A quick trip to the store... These things are all important - but they begin to erode our consistency.

How easy is it then to allow for other things that are quite necessary to invade that same space?  A favorite television show...A night out with friends...Nothing at all... Just like the workout time, we begin to find more excuses for NOT doing what we should than excuses to DO what we should.

In the physical realm we see changes start to happen.  Our weight may increase, our health may decrease, we lose stamina, we sleep less.  Sometimes these things can just be a bit of an inconvenience - other times they can lead to death.

On the spiritual side, we see a similar decline.  We skip a day of bible reading...we forget to pray that morning...we skip saying grace at a meal...we miss writing out one tithe check...we let that one little word back into our vocabulary.  Though none of these things will in itself lead to death, it starts us down a road of compromise.  We begin to accept less than what our Father has intended for us.  Continue down this road and it can and WILL lead to death.

I would challenge each of you to evaluate the consistency that you have in your life.  Are you being obedient to what God is calling you to?  Here's a quick list of things to watch your consistency in (and this is not an exhaustive list - just what the Lord has put on my heart):

• Prayer time - set aside time to spend praying to God.  Make sure you leave time to listen - not just talk!
• Bible time - set aside time to read the Word on a daily basis.  This doesn't have to be a three hour study, but can't you afford 15 minutes?  30?  One hour?  It isn't how fast we get through the bible, it's how thorough we allow the bible to get through us!
• Church attendance - Commit to a church.  Become a member.  Church membership is more than putting your name on a list.  It's a commitment and a submission to the authority of the leadership.
• Tithe - Make the FIRST check you right your tithe check.  Allow God to bless you in this area - you will NOT be disappointed!
• Fellowship with believers - Not just for Sunday!  Call a brother or sister on the phone.  Meet together for a meal or even just a cup of coffee.  Just get together and hang out!

Being a Christian doesn't mean we serve God only when it's convenient - but consistently.  Are you consistent?

Stay tuned - more to come...

Some days it feels like it was only last week that God said "It's Time..." - and other days it feels like it was centuries ago.  I realized today that in one month we will be holding our first service at Faith Chapel!  I supposed the realization didn't hit me until I finished working on my sermon for that service today.

While I am excited at what the Lord is going to do, a bit of fear and trembling is setting in again! :-)  I continue to feel like this is something I'm not capable of doing - and I'm right.  This MUST be done by God.  My total reliance on Him is the only way this will ever be effective for His kingdom.

Four weeks...Seems like tomorrow - or an eternity.  I am excited about the way the Lord has orchestrated this whole effort and I want to express my gratitude towards Him and the things He has done.  He has brought together a team of prayer warriors to continually lift up this humble church and it's future congregation.  He has given vision and direction to me and the board as we start out.  He has provided for the needs of His church.  He has provided a unity to the team.  He is opening doors that I don't even know about yet!  But still - I'm nervous...

Why am I nervous?  A God that can do all of this can surely help me through what He has called me to do.  God is able to help me remain focused on what He has called me to do.  He will guide and direct my steps - I need only be open to His will and keep my eyes on Him.

Why am I nervous?  I am a fallen creature - and live in a fallen society.  It is WAY too easy for me to insert myself and my own will into God's perfect plan.  I can easily get ahead of God, or lag behind.  I easily lose focus - and wander in the wilderness.

Despite my own shortcomings, I know that God has this under control.  God has ordained it and will allow it to come to pass.  I really have nothing to do - but to continue to seek after Him and obey.  How much easier can it be?

Please continue to pray with me that God shows His will and direction to me and the team as we continue to walk this out.  Please pray that I am able to faithfully walk out what He has ordained for me.  Please continue to pray for His mercy and grace to pour out upon us.  Please pray that He will continue to stir the hearts of those who He wishes to be a part of this body.

God is faithful.  His will be done...

Stay tuned - more to come...