How 'bout them Wednesdays?

Hey...what do you do on Wednesday night? I know, I know...."I am so tired when I get off work, I just want to go home, get something to eat and chill!"





Who don't? That would be the thing that all of us would like to do. But I'm asking you to consider shocking the socks off of your Pastor no matter what church you attend -- Get your family together......don't worry 'bout the clothes.....grab you something to eat at Mickey D's, Bojangles, or whateva' your quick stop is on the way to church and get connected at the house of all houses -- The Church!





I have been pastoring for more years that you got fingers and toes and I have never witnessed a Wednesday night of worship that was "off the chain" in attendance! I've seen some that were "off" balance when it comes to the comparing of Wednesday night attendance with the Sunday mornin' attendance. In fact, in most ministries, Wednesday night has become the night for the "chosen few". It's almost like we want to be called "The Twelve". LOL





Isn't it interesting that the same folks that call that church "my church" are the ones that will chase a sports ball here there and everywhere, but make no effort to get connected with the Christ-crowd on Wednesday nites. "Pastor...Pastor....ease up 'bro! Ease up!" you may say. I have discovered that connection is important. It's sooooo easy to forsake the spiritual connection that God has provided for you.



I know we live in a world of all kinds of connections, but no matter how much time you spend on Facebook, twitter, myspace, and all the other social media choices out there, nothing takes the place of personal participation. God created us to interact. We need each other!



I am so thankful for the opportunity to get with other believers on Wednesday evenings, be led in worship by a team of 1st Class musicians and singers taking us into a journey of connecting to God and then have the opportunity to hear something that will encourage me in the middle of a week of work, obligation, stress, challenge, and hardship. 'Cause you know what? If you work in the home, outside the home, or both, you are busy, busy, busy! But don't get toooo busy that you don't pop in to the "hope house" on Wednesday night and worship the Lord.



Most ministries have a menu filled with opportunity for all ages. Our ministry has a KIDZONE for the little ones to "play for awhile" and have some "power time" in the Word. Our youth have a state-of-the-art center called the YZONE. It's a great place for them to connect with other students in gaming, music, peer talk, and a time in the Word and worship on their level.



How 'bout them Wednesdays? What do ya' say? Can you join me in the challenge to take your Wednesday night to a new level -- in your life and in the life of your church? Why not start this week! Come on man.....grab that high-dollar cell phone you got in your pocket, ring the wife (after all...you are the one God is holding responsible) tell her to meet you at church. You guys grab the kidz, do a "Happy Meal" and get on down to the church house. There are others waiting there to get to know you, and you need them.

Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us "Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching" (from The Message).

The closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ, the more we should worship together and spur each other on! Let's do it....this Wednesday. Take the challenge....put it on Facebook, myspace, twitter, etc. Text a friend an tell them to meet you there. Shock the socks off your Pastor, and do it again, again, and again.....'cause you need it and it's the "God" thing to do.

Do Something Visible!

I saw an awesome ad the other day from a church. Big, bold letters stated the surprising line across a full page in the paper.....


I AM GOING TO QUIT GOING TO CHURCH!


Then, the next line at the very bottom of the page was the clincher -- It read, "I'm going to start being the church!" Wow! What a statement! I love it. It gave the church's name at the end of the ad.

Isn't it time that our society get the opportunity to come face to face with the church in reality? Isn't it time that we become the salt and the light that Jesus called for in the Sermon on the Mount passages? I think we should be the agency that seeks to be a blessing to our society by showing some love! Jesus said, "By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another" John 13:35

"Being the church" means that we are more than a building on the corner that hosts a service on the Lord's Day. Being the church immobilizes us to touch people with God's love on every occasion possible.


Carpenter's Shop Church is preparing to show some love to some families in our area of influence by taking a little financial burden off of parents as the kids prepare for "back to school". We are joining with musical artist, Mitchel Jon in his up and coming "Do Something Visible Tour". You can visit him on the web at http://www.mitcheljonmusic.com/ . His challenge to us was to do something visible in our community on that day.



What are we choosing to do?



The first 250 kids to grace our services on August 9th at Carpenter's Shop Church will receive a back to school bag in their choice of cool colors. The bag will have some of the back to school basics in it -- notebook filler paper, pencils, etc. Spread the word..."Carpenter's Shop Church is doing something visible on August 9th at the 9:30 AM service!" Attendees will enjoy an awesome time of praise and worship with Pastor Brandon Crawford and the CSC worship team as they back up Mitchel Jon. The Dance Ministry under the direction of Pastors Roland and Shirleen Garcia will engage the young people in some "full body worship".


Plan to be a part of our service on Sunday, August 9th at 9:30 AM. You'll love it. You'll feel the love of God....receive a little help with back to school items.....and experience a warm and loving body of believers who want to "do something visible" and BE the church.