Tonight is the Night

Alright. So, I know I've been obsessed with the Christmas tree lighting, but it is a hue undertaking to make something like this happen. One day I will share all the details with you. But for now, let me just say last night was our dress rehearsal. It was "fabulous".

The kids choir is so cute, the middle school choir is "throwin' down" and the high school choir is "off the chain". At least that's what they said.

The hot chocolate and cookies will be marvelous. So, start a new family tradition with us and be there tonight @ 6:30 for Immanual Lights.

Creating Friday

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your families and friends today. We had an amazing worship service last night and today was pretty amazing, too. Here was our menu:
Fried Turkey
Ham
Green Bean Casserole
Rice 'n Broccoli
Dressing (Jody's is the most amazing I've ever had)
Sweet Potato something
Mashed Potatoes
Mac 'n Cheese
Peanut Butter 'n Chocolate- Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookies

We got together with several other families for this heavenly feast. It was so good, but I must go purge now.

Aggrevation

When I was a kid, I spent the night pretty often @ my grandparents. My "mawmaw" love to play cards and boardgames with us. One of her favorites was a marble game called "aggrevation". It was the perfect name for the game. Just when you felt like you were getting the upper hand, your marble would be captured and you'd have to start over.

I've just experienced that same aggrevation with my blog. I haven't been able to log in. Anyone else have that trouble? So, I missed creating Friday with you last week. Sorry. I will try to make up for it in the days ahead.

The Church Office Final Episode

Sorry For the Lapse

I have had much going on lately, and to be honest, have just not thought much about blogging the past few days. So, I return today with some news. I just got home from a GREAT worship service with Johnny Hunt and the Immanuel Choir and Orchestra. It was an awesome night. Growing up in Georgia, I had the opportunity to hear Johnny Hunt preach A LOT. So, hearing him tonight reminded me of home. Go Dawgs!

And, here is a little tidbit that I bet most of you don't know. We have decorated our house for Christmas already. I know. I know. It's not even Thanksgiving, you say. But, my wife is hosting a Christmas party for all of the ministers' wives at Immanuel, so we had to have the house decorated for Christmas early. And I must admit. I kinda like it. Since we go to Georgia at Christmas, we never get to enjoy the tree and stockings for very long. So, this year, we'll get a couple of extra weeks of the twinkling lights and ornaments.

We had between 700 and 750 visitors this past Sunday. If you were there, then you know how amazing it was. A great day of worship. A great day of meeting new people. And a great day of investing in people's lives. Our friends that came with us are unchurched and lost. They have told me that they're coming back this week, and that next week they are bringing each of their parents. How awesome is that? Further evidence that what it takes to make a difference in people's lives is to invite. Invite everyone you come into contact with and your percentage of positive responses is bound to improve!

Fun-nay

This video is so funny. I haven't seen anything quite this funny in a long time. I was up late reading blogs, when I found the following video on my friend TODD LOLLIS' blog. I just had to share it. You have got to watch this thing. And, when you're done, check out Episode 4 of "The Church Office" in the previous blog.

Creating Friday

Looking Ahead

While the end of 2008 is shaping up to be a very busy one, I have been in the process of planning some things for 2009 in recent days. There are many things on the horizon for the Immanuel Choir, and I am so excited about the possibilities. I can't share details with you just yet, but as things begin to take shape, I will post them here.

There are some exciting days ahead at Immanuel!

A New Day

For better or for worse, we are entering into a new day as a country. No matter what you think of Barack Obama or his policies, he is our President Elect. Whether you voted for or against him, he will hold the most powerful office in the world. We, as a country, will have a new leader in January. It is what it is.

So, where do we go from here? Well, we press on knowing that our God is on the throne. We face the future with hope and assurance that victory is our's. We trust and obey, confident that God's Word is efficient. We are told in scripture that God holds even the king's heart in His hand, and He turns it any which way He chooses. Our Lord reigns. And, ultimately His plan and purpose will be worked out.

In local news, as I type this, Yes on Prop 8 is leading 54% - 46%. That is a good sign. Prop 4, which is also very important and would mean notification to parents or guardians in the event of an underage pregnancy before an abortion can take place, is still split 50-50. I hope to awake in the morning and find that both of these propositions have passed.

It has been a crazy and wild night. The election in 2000 was similar, but as a whole, tonight has been unlike anything I've ever seen before. How did you spend the evening and what are some of your thoughts?