A Church on the Move

This weekend we were definitely a church on the move.  We will begin in Gatlinburg with our youth.  The reports have been uplifting about their trip to Winterfest.  The greatest news were two baptisms!  Marley Soop and Troy Wiley both grew in their faith and made a commitment to Christ.  Jesus is Lord!  They have placed their lives and souls into the hands of the Messiah.  Praise God!  So many have helped build their faith.  Now we have a responsibility to encourage them in their walk as new babes in Christ.  Here are a couple of pictures I stole from Facebook.

 

I added this one of Troy and Faith embracing.  As a preacher I must say that is a great metaphor of this night - Troy embracing faith.

 



Now, moving from Gatlinburg to Vero (which is about 50 degrees warmer).  We had a great day of worship.  We finished up our sermon series on gods at war.  Thanks to everyone for the kind comments about the study.  I had some good material to use.  It has been challenging but important.  As Christians we should always be ready for a new challenge from Christ.  We know we can never be perfect, but He wants to help us in our journey to perfection.  It is a journey filled with ups and downs, lots of forgiveness, and ultimately a closer relationship with the One who saved us.

Next Sunday I am beginning a two part series on Building Bridges which is a proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus.  This is exactly the kind of series you need to invite your non-Christian friends to attend.  Take them out to eat afterwards, demonstrate a genuine love for them, and help them understand the greatest bridge ever constructed for mankind.

This week we will release the Bible classes for this next quarter, which begins Sunday morning.  I believe we have a great lineup.  I'm excited about teaching Wednesday nights in the Coffee Shop on the books of I & II Timothy and Titus.  It is about the work of the preacher, the leadership of the church, what needs to be important and what isn't.  It talks about sound doctrine and false teaching.  It was specifically written to young preachers and their call to be Warriors of Christ.

It is also time for us to start thinking seriously about our Missions Sunday.  This year it will be one March 15th.  This is the day we raise all the money for our missions for the year.  Last year was amazing, as we raised $75,000!  You will be hearing more about this in the days ahead.  But let us start thinking how we can sacrificially give to the cause of Christ throughout our world.

Moving on from Vero, we head to Sabastian.  Some of us had the privilege of hearing Melvin Otey this weekend at the Sabastian Church of Christ.  He preaches as well as teaches law at the Jones School of Law (Faulkner University in Montgomery). Ironically, he also helped to start the congregation I did the marriage retreat for last weekend. Here are a couple of folks I ran into while there Sunday afternoon.

This is a picture of me with Brother Otey.  He said it was his first selfie. :)  You will notice there is a lot of shine coming off those heads.

 

 

Speaking of the marriage retreat I did last weekend. People have asked me if I made a snowman.  I did and some wanted me to share the picture.  In my defense, the preacher told me the snow was too light for it to stick and make a good snowman (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).  Missy added the stick arms of a tyrannosaurus rex, although she doesn't want to take claim for any part of this beautiful creature.  I know, sad, but it was fun.

 

 

Ok, I'll stop now.  We have many who need your prayers this week.  They also need your love.  Send a card, prepare a meal, give an encouraging email or text, or anything that would brighten someone's day.  Live your life so when others see you, they are seeing Jesus.  Pick up your Bible and read.  Pray that the Spirit would guide you in those studies.  Be a better person this week than you were last week.  Wear a smile on your face.  Open a door for someone.  Stop and help someone in need.  Whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord.

Coming Home (hopefully)

This morning we finished up our marriage retreat in Williamsburg with a great group of people from the Georgia Avenue Church of Christ in Washington, D.C.  The trip was a success: we made some new friends and I did my first marriage retreat using the personalities model.

In this room is several former military, one who worked in the pentagon, a former model, a man who is from Ireland (awesome accent), a guy who works for the Smithsonian (Natural History), two people originally from Alabama (I know one of them), a lawyer, a physical trainer, a couple who are both over 6'2", etc.

Missy and I fought over this little guy - Joshua.

 

 

Here is just a brief glimpse of the historic Williamsburg Colony

 

 

And of course what little time we had in Washington D.C.

 

We are packed up and ready to head back.  We are supposed to fly out at 9 PM but there is a winter advisory in effect.  Yes, that means snow and lots of it.  I'm excited but also want to get home.  Prayers are appreciated.  We did have plenty of cold weather.  Most days it was either in the single digits or teens.  Wind chill brought about whole different element.  I loved it.  Missy hated it.  Everyone on the retreat wanted to come back with us to Florida.  By the way, we attended Sunday morning services with the Williamsburg Church of Christ.  I saw something that was foreign to me.  A coat rack in the foyer.

Well, I have to get on the road.  Looking forward to being back with my church family this week.  A big thanks to David Paladin for filling the pulpit for me while I was gone.

Grace and Peace.
Tracy

 



Around the World Weekend

Wow!  Where do you begin after a weekend like the one we just had as a church?  Let's begin with SATURDAY NIGHT.  Our young people provided a meal and a show that will be talked about for some time.  There is a lot of work that goes into something like this.  Here are a few pictures of the behind the scenes volunteers.  And this isn't even close to everyone involved.

Carolyn Walker putting cyanide in the tea.

 The unsung heroes.

 Christopher Leon making sure no preservatives were added :)

 The assembly line.

The youth did a great job with their performances.  They made it look easy, but believe me it was several hours of rehearsal.  Really proud of these guys.  Here are a few pictures of the night.

The show is about to begin.

Such grace and beauty...

 There are some things you just have to see for yourselves

 There are some things you cannot unsee!

 Once again the lions make an appearance (only this time as crocodiles)

Garret Dean and his mini me 

 I wanted to go to Taco Bell after this skit

 Joel found a way to keep Trevor still

 Ole'

But none of this would have been possible without each of you coming and out and supporting our youth.  You helped them raise over $3,000 to go to Winterfest!  It is great being at a church that supports their youth.

SUNDAY MORNING was great.  My Church 101 class talked about corporate worship and its importance.  There are things that we can only get when we come together as a body of believers.  The auditorium was filled with our people and guests from out of town and our community.  Everyone seemed top be good spirits and the singing reflected that attitude.  Which was a good thing before I have to get up and preach on the sensitive topic of making money and possessions our god.  Once again many positive comments about the series afterwards.  It was just a great day of worship.

SUNDAY NIGHT was uplifting!  The Hebrews Coffee Shop was packed out!  If you missed our singing with Hartman Road you missed a truly spirit filled opportunity.  I was blessed to participate in leading with the three song leaders from that congregation.  So many of you commented to myself and the elders how much you enjoyed it and the desire to do this again.  We hear you.  It was also great to have the brothers and sisters from Hartman Road join us.  It is encouraging to see so many new Christian friendships beginning.  We also celebrated with those who had birthdays in February.  I was so busy I didn't have time to get any pictures.  If any of you did get a few good pictures I would love for you to send them to me email (tracylmoore@msn.com) or via text (772-696-3752).

Also, Joel and some of the teens were in Holly Hill for the Christian Youth Forum Sunday afternoon.  Joel was the keynote speaker (as if he didn't have enough to do with the banquet).  They were able to see Danny and Jessica Hall and the kids!  Give Joel an extra pat on the back this week.  He has been working a lot of overtime the past two weeks.  We are fortunate to have he and Ann with us.

Well, I need to get back to my Monday morning routine.  Just feeling very blessed this morning after an uplifting weekend with my church family.  Now let's share the love.  Be an encouragement to someone you know is having a difficult time lately.  Do something completely random, in the name of Christ Jesus, for someone you don't know.  Take a neighbor some soup that has been sick.  Be Jesus to our community.  Call someone in the church who has been out lately.  Send a card to one of our shut-ins.  Speak words of kindness to someone who may not have been so kind lately.  Put a smile on your face.  Study God's Word and pray daily.  Take some quiet time to reflect on what Christ wants to do through you.  Praying everyone has a blessed week!

A Super Sunday

I appreciate what Adam Chrzan said before the Lord's Supper, "This is our Super Bowl."  There is no greater victory, in the history of mankind, than the Good News of Jesus Christ.  When the Messiah died on the cross it seemed to be a terrible defeat, at least in the eyes of the world.  It was all part of the predestined plan of God.  Three days later sealed the win for the ages.  Talk about your come back victory... Jesus came back from the grave!  Praise God today for our victory in Christ!

YESTERDAY was a great Sunday.  We continue to see more and more visitors attending.  The gods at war series seems to resonate with many.  The Church 101 class, for new Christians, is one of the most encouraging times of my week.  The overall attitude of the church continues to rise.  Yes, Sundays are super.

WEDNESDAY is Oasis.  On the menu this month are casseroles.  The blood mobile will be here to siphon anyone who wants to give to a good cause.  Our gods at war video/discussion classes continue.  It all begins at 5:30 PM.

SATURDAY night is the annual Teen Banquet.  This is always a special night for our youth.  They put in many hours to make this happen.  The purpose: to raise money for our teens to go to Winterfest.  This is not a night where we encourage you to invite others for a free meal.  If you invite someone to come they need to know it is a fund raiser.  We stress this because of the expense to rent a bus to Tennessee, stay in a hotel, and registration costs.  Without this fund raiser some would have no way of going.  It should also be stressed this is not a ski trip but the biggest spiritual event they attend all year.  So please, think about that this week as you think about what you can contribute.

SUNDAY NIGHT is our Circle-Up Singing... Hartman road style.  We have invited the brethren from the Hartman Road Church of Christ, in Fort Pierce, to join us.  I will be joining with three of their GREAT singers for an uplifting period of time.  It is one of those nights if you want to sing, sing, if you want to sit back and listen, sit back and listen.  There will be some different songs.  There will be songs you know that will be sung differently.  There will be others that may be exactly as you know them.  One thing is for certain, it should be uplifting time filled with passion and soul.  We will also honor our February birthdays that night and we are including those from Hartman Road.  Super Bowl Sunday is nothing compared to the time we are going to have that night.

As you can see, it will be a big week.  Continue to remember others who sit around you who may have been absent this week.  Give them a quick call.  Send a card to someone you know is struggling.  Take someone for coffee or a meal that you want to know better.  Invite your non-Christian friends to worship with us Sunday.  Do something good for others.  Go outside, on one of these beautiful days we will have this week, and read some Psalms; go through the life of Christ in the Book of John, and take some time to meditate on a couple of key thoughts.  Live for Jesus every moment.  Pray to the Father often.  Take comfort in the Holy Spirit and rely on Him for direction.  It is going to be a great week!