Joel Rocks!

It has been five months since I wasn't delivering a sermon on a Sunday morning.  To say it was a nice break is an understatement, especially in the midst of a long series.

First, let's talk about Joel Soumar for a moment.  He is our scooter riding, board game playing, car fixing, duct tape creating, youth minister.  The guy can hardly spell his name (much like myself) but he can deliver a sermon.  I personally know of the hard work he put into it.  Joel is an intelligent thinker with a tremendous amount of common sense and maturity.  He is constantly analyzing his work and looking for ways to improve.  Most importantly, Joel loves the Lord.  You can see it in how he treats our young people.  We are very fortunate to have Joel on staff.

Back to his preaching.  There is no greater thrill than to get a call from my wife saying, "If we had visitors, they would never know Joel wasn't the pulpit minister."  Someone sent a message through Melissa, "Tell Tracy he better hurry back or Joel may take his place."  This person was not being ugly, in fact, it is the kind of comments I like to hear when I'm gone.  I love this church, therefore, I want the best for her.  The last thing I want to hear is, "it was a down day without the preacher."  It's not about me, nor do I ever want it to be that way.  The work must go on despite who is in the pulpit.  Thank you Joel and Ann for all you bring to this church.

Back to my weekend.  Me and the boys traveled to Tuscaloosa to see our favorite team play in their annual Spring game.  We attended Alabama's softball game on Friday night, ate at Dreamland Bar-B-Q, put down some Krispy Kreme donuts, spent some time with my parents, grandmother, sister and uncle, and ate a feast prepared by my mother and grandmother (fried chicken and baked ham).  The boys enjoyed getting several autographs of players and getting their picture made with Katherine Webb (model and girlfriend of our QB).  For me, I just enjoyed spending time with my boys and creating great memories.  I also enjoyed being with my dad, who taught me all there is about Alabama football.  We haven't sat at an Alabama game together since I was a teenager.  We were also blessed to spend some time with the McGee's, fellow Alabama fans, with whom we watch every game with during the Fall.  They also love Mamaw's cooking.  My grandmother will be 88 in May.  She is frail but still wants to feed me every meal.  In my family, this is one of the ways you know someone loves you.  As you can see, I'm very loved!

Our Kids Program Tops

I learned something a long time ago in ministry...a top notch children's program results in adult conversions.  Over the years I have baptized many people because of the contact that had been made with their children.  Right now, Melissa and I are working on a family in our neighborhood with two kids.  We have invited them all to join us on a few occasions, but they always have other things going on and always talk about coming in the future.  We have gained enough trust they now allow their kids to attend.  Taking the youngest one to church last Wednesday I learned something...she had never heard the song "Jesus Loves Me".  We sang it to church and twice on the way back home.  She loved this timeless classic and wants to learn more.  Because of the top notch children's program we have, she is calling us to make sure we do not forget to pick her up.  Guess what, the parents are now bringing up the fact they want to attend.  They have started asking me Bible questions and have learned a few things from their 5 year old who is attending.  David and Christin Paladin have transformed a "schoolhouse" setting into a Bible wonderland.  How excited are the kids?  My 9 year old gets up early on Sunday morning so she can leave with me at 8 am so she can help out in "The Aquarium."  How do you compete with sleeping in, playing with toys, video games and watching Sunday morning cartoons?  David has found a way, but it has taken a lot of hard work.  He put in over 80 hours last week getting the newest addition to our children's ministry ready, along with his weekly duties.  In a couple of weeks the church will be invited to view it for themselves.  We are fortunate to have David on our ministry staff.

One of the things David does with our kids is to teach them to write letters of encouragement and thanks to many in this church.  If you have ever been a recipient of some of these you know how sweet they have been.  Here is what I would like for us to do this week: let's all send David letters of encouragement and thanks for the work he is doing with our children.  I am going to pull his email from this post so he won't know what hit him.  His address is:  610 16th Ave., Vero Beach, FL,  32962.

As far as yesterday goes, it was a very encouraging day for myself.  It's not easy preaching on submission, especially when it is something the world frowns upon.  Even Christians struggle with the issue, but always remember it all comes down to our submission to Christ, whether it is our submission to the elders, or to deacons over a certain area, or ministers in their given work, or the many other areas people have been asked to take a leading role.  Let us set the example for others to see that God always knows what is best.  Submit to the government, submit to your boss, submit to church leaders, and don't listen to those who try to undermine their God given appointment.  Let us live as if we are Not Of This World!

Let us continue to be mindful of those who came forward yesterday with concerns for their health (Trudy Teague and David Ward).  Let us also pray for our nation and how they handle the North Korea situation.  Maury and Terry Swinford have a son in the military that has been deployed somewhere unknown.  Chris Dean has a brother in South Korea.  If you were apart of a 2:42 Group last night you know the importance of prayer.  By the way, it was my groups favorite lesson so far.  Have a great week.

Submission Sunday

Someone came out Sunday morning and said, "Thank you, I needed that."  I replied, "Thank you!", of which she asked why I was thanking her.  I said, "You don't always get positive remarks after a lesson on submission, but then to learn it helped someone is the greatest compliment you could give."  So "thank you" to everyone who accepted the message from I Peter 2 on being subject to the government and it's officials.  Politics seems to separate Christians more and more with every election.  Our society seems to be more at odds with one another than ever before (maybe it's just me).  As Christians we are Not of This World so we handle these situations on a divine level.  Everyone wants what is best for this country and their families and it is that passion that drives us.  It is alright for each of us to have our personal views on economics, foreign policies, gun control and, of course, taxes.  But we must never allow those views to separate fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are to be united, though, on moral issues we are facing in this country, such as gay marriage, abortion, cohabitation, etc.  Yesterday I felt that unity.  Some people need more teaching on the moral issues facing our day because the world has fed them lies.  When we talk with others about these things make sure you do it with love, patience, and much prayer.  Just because someone is a Christian doesn't mean they are mature in their understanding of what God desires for His people.  Also, when you talk to those who are not believers, don't expect they will understand and do not become judgmental.  Read I Corinthians 5:9-13 to hear it from the Holy Spirit.  Most importantly, live godly lives before others.  Teach others the Good News of Jesus Christ as we change our world one soul at a time.

If you want to get involved in politics today pray for Chris Dean's brother who is stationed in South Korea.

We had one visitor in our Coffee Connection.  She is a direct result of our kids program.  David Paladin has been teaching our children to Love God, Love God's People, and to Love to Serve.  They have been focusing on serving by taking several field trips to places and doing acts of kindness.  This past week they went to a place that helps homeless families and passed out little bottles of shampoo, soap, etc. with a card that said it was from our "little fishes" program.  A mother brought her 3 year old daughter to church because of that and joined us for Coffee Connection while her little girl attended The Aquarium.  I'm excited about the future of these kids as well as the church.

Continue to check on those who were not with us Sunday and let the elders know if there is someone who needs special attention.  Have a great week.

April Fools

In recognition of the day let me begin with the words of God: Psalm 14:1, The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."  They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.  (ESV)  From the words of Mr. T: "I pity the fool."  (It's not everyday you can quote from Mr. T).  Saying that, let us be dedicated to making our world, our community, wise.  Reach out to others with the message of Christ.

Easter Sunday is always a great day.  People just seem to be in a good mood.  Whether it is the resurrection of Jesus or the sugar high from chocolate bunnies, it's always a blessing to see smiling faces.  If we could just understand that the Messiah is still risen today as much as he was yesterday, our world would be filled with joy 365 days.

Coffee Connection had 3 guests - 2 first time visitors and another for his second week in a row.  Every one of these were invited by people of this church (fellow worker, neighbor, and sister).  Let us continue to reach out to others and keep praying for our Coffee Connection.  I was getting ready to shut the whole thing down and suddenly God began sending great prospects the last couple of weeks.  The same thing goes for our Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights.  It is more than a place to deal with issues, it is also a place for others to meet the Lord.  Use this program as a tool to bring others to Christ.  I can tell you from experience, it is when people are broken they are the most likely to seek God.

I cannot give an Easter report without talking about the kids program.  David and Christin Paladin, as well as Jim and Lisa Soop, did a good job with our Easter egg hunt Saturday.  They used the hurricane shutters to black out the Lynn Center so the kids could hunt eggs with flashlights.  It's pretty cool.  They had several kids who had never been to this church and some who had never been in a church.  In fact, I know of one lady who recently let it be known she would never darken the door of a church, but there she was and she also let me know she would like to visit sometime because of her experience.  We want all of our events to be more than "an event."

Of course, I can't leave out the youth program.  Joel has been busy this week with several events for our teenagers, since they were out for Spring Break.  These are great actives to help our young people get closer as well as provide a means to invite their friends.  Joel has several volunteers, among our young adults, who give much of their time to help out with our teens.

By the way, it's good to be back at Panera blogging and researching this week's sermon.  Although, I do enjoy getting away with my favorite church members - Missy and the kids.