New Hope @ Worship 24 August 2008

Well, the tropical storm missed us and we enjoyed an awesomely beautiful morning. Our Soles4Souls collection overflowed the collection box as we left our shoes as an offering for those in need. I never realized just how white some of our deacon's feet are. :) The sight of seeing Evelyn Brown, one of our most senior saints, walking out in her stocking feet, was awesome.

Several visitors, two people checked the box to join New Hope and two others to go through New Hope 101. It was a good morning. Emily Shermer sang an old song from the beginning of Contemporary Music, an old Imperials' song - "Praise the Lord" and it was an offering. Jamie Roberts played the offertory and it was too.

What touched me about today was that it was the whole church involved through the Soles4Souls. I love what the young people on the praise team do and they are giving their best to God through praise, but to have people in the congregation leave feeling that they played their part in God's Big Story - that's special.

The Music we used today.

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Thank You Lord
The Heart of Worship
Your Name
Praise the Lord - solo
Come Just As You Are



We look at the Olympic athletes and see them as above us. No way we could ever do what they do. I think most of us look at Abraham the same way. And yet it is possible to have that mountaintop faith by beginning a relationship with Jesus and giving Him everything - going All In.

Many of us have been sold a bill of goods when it comes to the Christian faith. If we place nice, show up on time and try to live a good life, everything will be fine. Yet over and over again in the Scriptures we see the examples we are given to follow as living dangerous, risky lives of adventure. They lived as if they had nothing to lose. As if they knew... God.

Why can't we live like that? Because we hold back. We play safe. We never give God all we have to give.

Personally, at this point in my life that is exactly what I believe God is calling me to do. To follow Him no matter where he leads and to place on the altar whatever it is He asks for.

Maybe you hear the same call.

Audio is here