100712: Starting a New Week \ “My little secret”

Hello to all my fellow PEPpers and far flung friends!

For those of you that are part of the FMCOG family, you know that I have been challenging us to take up a special mission for doing our part in obeying the Great Commission.

I have challenged us to move from being a church that “does” missions, baptisms and has fellowship to “being” missionaries who baptize people into true Christian community. 

In light of that, let me let you in on a little secret about this…my secret is that I’m not sure how to do this!  That’s right, I do not have a detailed master plan that maps out all the contingencies and details; my strategy is to just “Go.”  That’s what Jesus said to do.  He said go into all the world baptizing and making disciples and if we’d do that He promised that He would go with us.  That’s the strategy – Jesus being with us. 

My purpose in writing this today is to remind you that the same is true in every area of life.  In this sophisticated, high-tech world that tries to plan down to the nth degree, I want to remind you that you’re never get it all planned out right, but if Jesus is with you it is going to be just fine.  Now if you’re going to be all “grown up” on me then this will be hard to shallow, but if you will come to Jesus as a trusting child then you will find that He will be there for you, bringing peace, comfort and strength. 

So what to do about this week?  Let’s just get going…

Excellent resource for parents, grandparents and those that care about youth:

Each year I ask my staff to give me their number one recommendation of a book that best represents their ministry.  Pastor Glenn, our Student Pastor, recommended the book: “Let Me Tell You What Your Teens Are Telling Me” by Blaine Bartel.

I recently finished reading this book and found it very informative.  I just wish that Blaine Bartel had been around when my children were still at home, but it will help me be a better grandfather and pastor and I believe it will help you.  If there are young people in your life in any capacity I join with Pastor Glenn in recommending this excellent book.   

Church family updates:

Pray for Mike/Rhonda Kane today.  As many of you know, Rhonda’s father died a few days ago and it was a very trying and exhausting ordeal for Rhonda.  They are on their way home today and looking forward to being back in the caring arms of the FMCOG family.

Also, please pray for Jewell Ball, heart cath today

I had a good meeting with my “E-team” today (Pastors Larry, Glenn, Jonathan and Lee).  We had a good prayer together and confirmed that we’re “going” and believing that Jesus is going with us. 

Let’s tighten our seatbelts…it’s about to get interesting! 

david l. kemp