Backflash

Today was the first Sunday after the summer rush, so our attendance was down about 100 or more from the height of the summer. We reconfigured our seating, setting up 170 or so compared to 210 we've had. I have to confess, though, I miss the fuller full house! I still get asked if we're going back to one service. Although I don't verbalize it, my mental thought is "Why would we?" unless it was for our own convenience. Then we do have a problem.

This morning I finished up a series, "Urgency: Live Like There's No Tomorrow" with a message on "The Urgency of Preparing" (for the coming Kingdom) from the parable of the ten virgins. Next week the new series "Get It? Got it? Good!" will give me the chance to do and say some poignant things differently about the mission and vision of our church.

The first gathering this morning didn't seem to flow/click/connect like the second one. Maybe it was the rainy weather(?) as the first gathering was coming in. Maybe it was simply the personality of the congregation. I don't know. But the second gathering seemed to be more "into" what was going on. We did make one adjustment in the order, moving a video about 9-11 from the end to the front. Good idea, Nate. Maybe that was it.

One of my favorite worship moments is when the band drops out and we fill the house with the voices of God's people in praise, like with Tomlin's tag on "Jesus Paid It All". The greatest musical instrument on earth is the human voice.

Great new song today about the coming kingdom. I can't remember it. Don't know who wrote it. But it rocked and the message was awesome. Also, the new song the band intro'd to us last Sunday night about the cross was excellent. God is so good to us in His leadership as we assemble these services.

For the second straight service our elementary kids have had to suffer through with the adults as construction continues in their space. I'm hoping that next week they can get back to normal (for their sakes!!).

A couple "mature" ladies drove up this morning looking for another church. Since it was 10:55 and there was no way (at the speed they were driving) they could get there in time, they came in and joined us. They stayed the whole time, and I even saw them smiling at one point!

Way too many doughnuts for us to consume today! Talk about overflowing blessings!