It’s the hope. I love New Year’s because of the natural hope that surrounds it. It’s the closest we get to having a slate wiped clean. Many folks feel like their life gets out of control, one bad decision piling on another like a snowball until you’re hurtling down a cliff, unable to grab anything to stop yourself. New Year’s is that handhold. It’s an opportunity to stop the slide, reorient yourself, and set out in a new direction. Over... Read more
Looking back on 2012, did you accomplish everything you wanted to accomplish? Were you intentional about your year, or did you allow another year to slip through your fingers? Did you spend more time watching CSI than reading a worthwhile book? Did you spend more time playing Angry Birds than working on your personal growth? If so, don’t let 2013 be the same as 2012. Be intentional. Here are four simple steps to make 2013 better than 2012: 1. Set... Read more
Have a Merry Christmas! See you next week. Read more
It’s the eyes. Do you want to know the secret of spotting the new family the first time they come to your church? Watch the eyes. New eyes are always timid, unsure, hesitant. Their steps don’t have the purposed gait of someone who knows where they’re going. If you spot a nervous, deer-in-the-headlights look, then you’ve probably got a first-time guest. To those who seek to make a good first impression, to those who are practiced and intentional about welcoming... Read more
In yesterday’s post about Tomas, I briefly mentioned Shawn and Jen Rhineholt, an amazing American couple who transplanted their lives (along with their five kids) from the East Coast to the Dominican Republic to see the gospel come to life there. They are the unsung heroes of Christianity. They’re the ones with the vision for Tomas and so many others to receive an education. This video below captures a bit of their story. You can find them online here: Read more
This is Tomas. He is five years old. He is Haitian by nationality, living with his grandmother in a slum in Baharona, Dominican Republic. His family escaped the poverty and chaos of Haiti only to be trapped in the Dominican Republic. Tomas doesn’t have legal papers, so he is in the Dominican Republic illegally. The DR government is therefore under no obligation to provide Tomas with clean drinking water, electricity, or an education. Since he has no papers, he can’t... Read more
At a recent church function, a new church family came up and gave me a nice compliment. They were impressed that I knew their names and their children’s names. They know that Mt Vernon isn’t a small church. There were several hundred that called Mt Vernon home when I got here, and in 2012, several hundred more have visited. This couple had visited and gotten plugged in within the last few months. They haven’t gotten plugged into a Life Group... Read more
At a recent church function, a new church family came up and gave me a nice compliment. They were impressed that I knew their names and their children’s names. They know that Mt Vernon isn’t a small church. There were several hundred that called Mt Vernon home when I got here, and in 2012, several hundred more have visited. This couple had visited and gotten plugged in within the last few months. They haven’t gotten plugged into a Life Group... Read more
Here’s part of an email our church recently received, “Thank you for making us feel so welcomed, we have been enjoying the church services and my heart is so happy that my children are also enjoying it too!” This is from a family who’s recently attended and has decided to make Mt Vernon their church home. What helped make the difference? We knew their names. This family came late to our 10:30 service, dropping their kids off and slipping in... Read more
Here are some great links that will get you to think. Enjoy! The Danger of Calling Behavior ‘Biblical’ – Great article by Rachel Evans. Read slowly through this one. The Business Case for Reading Novels – Why I’ve read every book by John Grisham and Tom Clancy (among many others), and why it’s not a waste of time. Create a Great Experience – Incredible insight by Brad Lomenick. Why we work so hard to make the Mt Vernon Church experience... Read more
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