On The Move... Pt. 2

Happy 6th Birthday DCCC!
And what a ride it has been!
I first want to thank God for all that He has done in and through DCCC! All that is good, fruitful and lasting comes from our loving merciful Father because I know it cannot be me!!! LOL!

I secondly want to recognize my team here at DCCC. Our staff is truly a dream team and have handled this transition with the utmost excellence and professionalism. It's been so cool for me to feed off of the energy of my team. They have truly been my encouragers through a tough decision making process as we took this leap of faith to move to a larger venue. Our first weekend service went extremely smooth and I can't wait to see our team spread it's wings using the new tool that God has blessed us with in our facilities.

Finally, I want to thank the body of DCCC as a whole. As I said on Sunday morning, the greatest celebration of our church is the relationships that have been formed. Real people sharing real love..... Far beyond an hour on Sunday... It's knowing all of you that makes this journey so rewarding. Being encouraged when Paul tells the "Ironmen" lat night how much he loves the group.... Hearing Camille talking about walking across the room to share her faith and hearing the excitement as a kid on Christmas morning.... Seeing almost 80 people show up to watch the "Fireproof" movie together and laugh and cry.... Doing life together...

Authentic people....
Authentic relationships...
Real love....
From a real, living and DEEPLY loving God!

IN closing let me remind all of our DCCC family that change is always a challenge but we are still the church and we are ready to charge the hill for Jesus, our Leader!

Love you guys!

Steve

On The Move- Pt. 1

It's hard to belive that we are entering our 7th year of the ministry of Deep Creek Community church... Wow! All I can say is thank you Jesus! It is definitely His mercy, favor and grace that has sustained us and made us fruitful.

I'd like to just share some random thoughts that you might find interesting.

Mike, Em, Ann, Steve, Sarah, Kennny, Jewel, Sandy and Diane sitting in a living room, dreaming about a church... A place that was different... A place that is about real love... Not buildings nor traditions but real relationships that go beyond a "Sunday morning thing." A place where people from all religious or irreligious backgrounds could gather together in search for a Living God!

Over 6 years ago... Wow... A handful of people with not just a dream, but a hunger... A hunger to see true measurable change in our lives and the lives of our community!

And now.... 300+ people later. I'd like to think that we at DCCC have been an agent through which the gospel has been revealed.

But we are not satisfied! We press toward the mark! We look at CPAC (Center for Performing Arts) and see merely a tool to further our potential to reach people who desperately need the love of God!

Let's pray that year 7 will be a year of harvest as we do our best to turn unchurched and unplugged people into totally devoted followers of Jesus!

Let's GO!

Get Struck By Lighten-ing!

Are you as amazed by the power of humor as much as I am?

When Sandy cook our youth pastor let me watch the Tim Hawkins DVD a few months ago it was truly a medicine that I needed. I was amazed at the stress relief I felt after laughing so hard. And with no guilt on top of that! No crude jokes, sexual inuendo, prejudice, etc..... Just good, clean, wholesome fun!

I think Christ followers need a good dose of a merry heart! I believe God wants to strike us with "lighten-ing" not lightning.

Consider these points from the Word of God:

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (amplified)

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30

Don't get me wrong.... Following Jesus is not a promise of E-Z street. In fact we are told that we will suffer with Christ. But check out the promise from 2 Corinthians 1:

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

The pressure is off and the promise is on!

God promises for every thing we may suffer for Him there is more comfort available!

In conclusion, think about this question:

Would my life be better or worse if I lighten up a bit?

Relationships? Finances? Spiritual Walk? Life in General?

Think about this quote from E.E. Cummings:

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

So now I'm gonna go look in the mirror and laugh a little bit!

Love ya!