My First Post!!

Since I've had my blog up for 3 days now I guess it would be a good thing to get my first post up here. (Ed's already ahead of me by 2.) First of all, let me say thanks to all of you who have encouraged us through the "scandal" of our "Church For The Rest Of Us" card. I wish that you guys could sit with me and Ed one Sunday on the edge of the stage and hear person after person share their story about life coming undone or a personal struggle or being burned by a church or feeling God was irrelevant or thinking they were too far gone for grace......."and then I got this card." I love being a part of a community that is truly willing to take risks and sacrifice to communicate to those folks that there is a church where they are more than welcomed. But like Ed told us on Vision Day - "Every church wants to reach people. Not every church is willing to sacrifice to do it." Thanks for sacrificing and taking a little heat for the sake of people far from God.

Speaking of communities of people I love - I just have to say it. I love my small group!! Last night we met together and watched the interview I did with Ed about our Chapter 2 vision and how we're planning to reach the 60,000 people in our neighborhoods. The excitement all around the room about our new facility and our first multi-site campus was obvious. But what was even more exciting was how our conversation quickly turned to people who were being invited to CCC. Almost every person in the room told a story about one of "their 4" and how they'd extended an invitation this week to come and "hear about sex at my church." (How's that for an invitation??) I'll be giving an invitation to one of my friends on Saturday. Pray that he says yes!!!

Anyway, thanks guys for encouraging me with your enthusiasm and heart for lost people.