Real Love Series Q/A

LAST CHANCE TO ASK:

Love is in the air this February at FHCC! Throughout the month of February, we'll be tackling one of the world’s biggest desires: Love. Society has messed this one up BIG TIME, and God wants to set the record straight in a very special way.

Rather than just have me give the Biblical definition of Love, Sex, and Marriage each Sunday and risk missing your specific question, we're making this series interactive. Please post your question "anonymously" in the comments portion of this blog, and we will answer it during a special Q/A session following the service on Feb. 17 and 24. No question is "off limits," so fire away!

Who Needs a Sign?

Church this past Sunday was FANTASTIC. Yes, we went 10-min over, but it was worth it. We had a great turnout, despite the 10-degree wind chill, a great debut to the new FHCC worship team, a dynamic response to the message, and a great "Membership Q/A" session following the service. It was really, really wonderful. PLUS, three more people gave their hearts to Jesus, so what more could you ask for?

FHCC is really being blessed by some incredible individuals. Rather than have a congregation full of self-seeking deadbeats, the FHCC crew is constantly pursuing others. This past Saturday, Eddy and I committed ourselves to handing out FREE Bibles and hot chocolate on 71st and Austin. Yet, when the time came to begin, it was not just Eddy and myself, but Lisa, Nita, Anthony and Jacob had come out too! We handed out over 400 invitations to church, 10 bibles, and I don't know how many cups of hot chocolate. (The cool news is that the people we met on the streets on Saturday, came to church on Sunday and made a decision for Jesus! (So, who needs a sign, really?))

So now our FHCC crew is not only committing to weekly reaching out to our community, but they are also spearheading their own get-togethers. Whether it's a not of bowling, dinner on the town, or whatever, our people are doing it. (For a list of these events, visit out website.) I am blessed to be their pastor. I know that they are not doing out of "moral obligation," loneliness, or pride. They simply are driven by the genuine love that comes from knowing Jesus.

So cool to know Jesus...

Simplicity

Quite an amazing 48hours and counting. So much to say, so much has happened....

Tuesday started off with some bad news, as someone had runoff with the FHCC sandwich board. As a result, no one has any way of knowing that a church operates every week inside the Movie Theater. It is quite infuriating and very disheartening to know that there are people who would want to: 1 - steal from a church 2 - hate another because of religion 3 - steal something that they cannot even use, sell, or hide. Nevertheless, we love 'em.

And if this person were to ever return to FHCC, either for a service or to just punch me in the face, I'd have no other response but to love them some more. So, go ahead take our sign, our building, our permits, whatever; we still have Jesus, and He is the one drawing people in and building a church.

All we need is Jesus.

Chilling with the Hommies

Not sure how you spell, "Hommies," so I hope I got it right. Nevertheless, it was a great day today. Started off with a miracle...I got to sleep in! went to bed Sunday night at 8:45am and my wife and I slept until 8:00am. A sleep like that was long overdue and I was extremely grateful.

The day then progressed with the opportunity to play with my boys before work. Yes, I work from home, but that can be both a blessing and a curse. Too often, because the computer is right in front of me in the house, I am drawn to it to complete a "work assignment" at any and every moment of the day. A Home Office just doesn't allow a disconnect too often. Today, however, I fought the power and played with my boys until 10am. Time well spent and very productive!

Later in the morning I was able to meet up with Eddy and we mixed a new podcast for the church. It not only was a lot of FUN, but it probably is our best podcast ever. YES, there is a small technical glitch about half way through, but it still is light, engaging, and deep in the truths of God's word. you can check it out here. Afterwards, it was back home to help put the kids down for a nap (a job I request and make room for everyday), and give Eddy a chance to help me find Air Jordan VI in the original black for under $200. (No luck with that one yet...)

Now, this afternoon got really crazy as Eddy and I hooked up with Niters for lunch at Corfu. Corfu is a phenomenal little Greek joint in Forest Hills, and is located right next to Omar's Concrete Jungle supply store. Speaking of Concrete Jungle: that place rocks!! If you are into Hip/Hop attire, urban art, or just cool people, then you have to check out Concrete Jungle. All the workers there are great, but the owner, Omar, takes the cake. Tell him I sent you whenever you visit. (You won't get a discount, but you will make me look good! :))

Now, during our meal at Corfu today, we were also joined by our friend, Norm. Norm brought his usual humor and insights into the conversation. It was great all being together and talking, that the party became a "crawl" without the alcohol. We spent all afternoon bouncing around the restaurants of Forest Hills. It was cool, and very enjoyable. I am blessed to be the pastor of such a great group of people who really do LOVE Jesus!!! As if this day wasn't already action-packed enough, turns out more great things were still to be had.

When I returned home for dinner, I was finally able to do what I've always wanted to do: take the kids off my wife. My wife is so great and loves our kids more than any other, but I know that even she could use a breather during the day. Today I was finally able to give her one before dinner. I love my wife.

After dinner, another church member hooked up with us, Sista Torey. Torey and the family were able to hang out and work on our Facebook account. I still think Facebook is too hard, but with Torey's help I think we can use it to reach a lot of people for Jesus. You can check our church GROUP page the next time you log in. We'd love your feedback.

So, in closing: it was a good day. Great people. Great family. Great God.

We Resolve: to Pray More!

Praise God for what took place yesterday at FHCC! We kicked our "We Resolve..." series with "Pray More;" and boy, did the people respond. People prayed and sought God yesterday at church and it was amazing to see Him work.

To start off the service was packed yesterday. We typically run around 50 each week, but yesterday we hit over just 60. Not a HUGE jump in numbers, but given it was the first weekend in January, we did very little promotion of this series, and the weather has been "iffy" at best; to be above normal in attendance was a MIRACLE. Second, we seriously prayed before the service.

Yes, we always pray before a service, but for the past two weeks the Leadership of FHCC has been getting together, setting aside more than 30-seconds, and really digging in and seeking God in prayer. The results of these efforts are obvious and they are not only blessing our services, but our leaders are getting blessed at the same time. This past Sunday was no exception, but what made this week more unique than the previous was that EVERYTHING/CIRCUMSTANCES/ETC. was trying to keep us from praying. Set-up took twice as long, worship practice was having sound issues, the sound system was acting up, etc. But, we knew we had to pray so we said forget setup/practice; let's pray, and we did!

Thirdly, God has given FHCC a vision of the future and the people are responding to that vision. What I mean is this: because we have laid out a vision of what FHCC is called to be, given evidence that we are serious about the vision, and because it IS God's vision, people are accepting the challenge and eager to prepare for it and carry it out. If the FHCC vision was just a pipe-dream of Jeremy's, then people might smile or give a dollar, but they are NOT going to sacrifice or become uncomfortable to fulfill it. FHCC has a mandate from God to be HIS real, relevant, and empowered church.

Again, the proof of this is that when we concluded the service at 11am yesterday, I also dismissed the crowd, but invited those who wanted to stay and pray with us at the front. Over 75% of the church stayed to pray, with 40% coming down front to pray corporately. It was AMAZING, powerful and humbling. Let's never forget that FHCC is made up largely of new Christians and non-charismatics; staying to pray is not normal for most of us, but yesterday we all did it and God moved.

There are so many other signs and wonders that took place yesterday, but they are too numerous and personal to share. All I can say is that I am proud to be the pastor of FHCC, and humbled that God could work so mightily though such a lowly guy. I mean it. What happened in church yesterday and over the past 4-months is not because of me or any of us; it's because of Jesus and His love.

So to all of us: let's keep making room for Jesus in our lives, keep trying to live right, and keep being utterly desperate for Him and His glory. If we pray, seek, ask and knock; He will answer.

Best is yet to come!

Oh yeah, I blog!

Sorry, my blogging community, I've ignored you for too long!

Well, the holidays are over and life is beginning to get back to normal. Which does not mean it is any less hectic, it simply means that I have some SWEET new editions to my wardrobe, extra toys in my house to trip over, and about 600 more miles on our Honda. Speaking of which, "God bless that little ride!" She has over 160k on her, and still purrs and is in great condition. However, because of a growing kid there is so denting taking place on the back of the drivers seat.

I am really excited about 2008, and I love January. It is a great month, not JUST because I have a birthday (1/11), but because it just oozes expectations. Maybe it is just me, but there is a lot of anticipation around January. It's "kick-off week" in football. The season has begun, and it is time to see how it will all play out. And '08 has come GREAT potential!!!!

Forest Hills Community Church (FHCC) is in a great position as we head into our first full-year of ministry. Lots of people have made a commitment to following Jesus these past few months and they are serious about living it out. Acts 2:41-47 is our focus and calling, and these guys get it!!! So get ready for some AMAZING days in Queens. I mean it.