Steven Gibbs

Invite with iTunes

On September 7th we’re going to start a churchwide journey of Grace. I see so many people that need to understand why following Christ is unique. They need Grace. Our hope is that as we understand more about grace, God’s grace will capture our lives and our community.

As one way to invite people, we are providing Invite with iTunes. Music plays a large part in our culture because music has the ability to move our lives in a way that simple words cannot accomplish. Music has a way of evoking emotions in us that can transport us to a different place and a different time.

Invite with iTunes utilizes an iTunes invite card that we have created for a free song download to be used to invite others to Stonecreek. Simply pick up a card in our lobby on Sunday morning and give to a friend as an invitation to Stonecreek. The card contains all of the information about our series, as well as a download code and instructions for a free song.

The free download that we are going to use to invite people to experience grace is a song by U2, Grace. This song helps puts into music what mere words cannot communicate.

While U2 wrote a song called Grace, we know U2 didn’t create Grace. It is a gift of God. Invite those you know to not just hear about grace, not just sing about grace, but to experience transforming grace.

The Devil Made Me Do It, Part 2

Here you go.

The Devil Made Me Do It

As promised. Rumor has it there may be more where this came from...

Wild Goose Chase

I attended a conference a few months ago led by Mark Batterson and Jud Wilhite. They are pastors and authors. Jud has actually written one of my favorite books, Stripped. Mark has recently written a book called Wild Goose Chase. I've read the first couple of chapters, and it is hitting me where I live!

I have always been intrigued by the fact that the Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit - ‘the Wild Goose.’ This can seem to describe our life with God at times.

"Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” --from the introduction, Wild Goose Chase.

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church. NCC at times is recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. Ken Murphy and I were able to visit the coffee house this summer, and it is pretty tight.

More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com).

I'll let you know when I'm complete.

Check out Mark’s 10 Steps to Setting Life Goals at www.chasethegoose.com.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Sunday we're starting a new series entitled "The Devil Made Me Do It." Check out the promo video.

Mythbusters

Currently our Kidzu environment (grades 1-5) is learning through a series entitled Mythbusters. Their video bumper made it onto the Mythbusters fan page! Check it out by clicking the link and scrolling to Are You A Super Fan?.

Your Place

Lunch

If you were in the services today, this makes perfect sense! This was my lunch today. Notice the water cup.

Financial Analysis

With the price of gas going up, as well as food, etc., I’ve decided to go through and analyze our personal spending plan. This is a principle that Debby and I learned as we took Crown, so we are tracking our spending for the month. Sure, we could get by without it, fudge here and there to make things work out right. But it’s probably the wise thing to go through and analyze our change in spending based on current economic conditions.

Crown Financial Ministries has many great resources. Also, I’ve included a link to a blog that I read that gives some great encouragement during these financial times.

What about you? What are you seeing in your own personal financial situations during these times?

Dental Work

Nothing like dental work to make your day. John has been waiting for his new tooth all summer. Debby has been waiting to get braces since she stopped wearing her retainer in 8th grade...