Q: Cheerleading...sport or not a sport?

A: Depends on who you ask.

Q: Cheerleading...a necessity or a waste of time?

A: Depends on who you ask.

Q: Cheerleading...should you do it at church?

A: What do you mean?

This Sunday, January 23rd, we are having our annual congregational meeting.  Not only are we affirming new Leadership Team Members, but we are also hearing reports from Ministry Leaders, Staff and Leadership Team as they share not only what happened in 2010, but what we hope to accomplish for 2011.  My job, as the Sr. Pastor, is to coordinate the morning and to "cheerlead" the presentations.  The struggle is...I have never been a very good cheerleader (I just cannot get the tights to fit correctly - - HA!  I would much rather play than stand on the sideline.) 

But here is the truth - I am genuinely excited about what is going on at the church.  I am eagerly anticipating what God is going to do through the ministries at PCC in the coming days, weeks, months and years to come.  I truly believe that we have an opportunity to grow - not necessarily in numbers, but in our impact for the Kingdom.  I strongly desire for people to catch the vision for the role they play in "Helping People Discover and Experience the Life-Changing Love of Christ" as they GO - LOVE - TEACH.  Those words are not merely a Mission and Vision statement...they have become a part of me - what I desire to do...who I desire to be.  I want people (not only on this Sunday...but on every day of my life) to not see it as me simply "cheerleading" the ministry efforts of the church, but that I am all in!  That I want to be Salt...I want to be Light...I want to consider it all a loss as compared to knowing Christ.  And I believe that if everyone who worships at PCC would not just sit on the sideline but completely commit to Christ, the impact we can make would be amazing!  Amazing...not for our church or our own "self worth"...but for the Kingdom of God!  It is my prayer that I get out of the way and let God work in me and through me.

Q: So...what do you think?  Should we cheerlead at church?

A: ...................................

I went for a run yesterday morning.  It began in the "lightly" falling snow.  It ended with big flakes and my entire front-side covered in snow!  As I did my "cool down" I noticed my tracks in the snow and it made me think...it is so easy to know where you have been...but often so hard to know where you are going!  And then...as I stood there watching my tracks be filled by the snow...I had another thought - how quickly what we do vanishes and is no more!  No record...no result...no longstanding impact.  And yet...when we impact someone for Christ - it can last for all eternity.  In a very simple way God was reminding me why I do what I do.

To the two people who actually read this blog - Thank You for your service to the Kingdom.  Even though we may be miles apart...I consider it an honor to be serving with you!