Praying and Struggling at the Same Time

“I’m praying but I’m struggling. Praying and struggling all at the same time, but I’m still praying” -Bishop T.D. Jakes
A friend of mine last week lost his daughter to a 3 week rare struggle with Leukemia. They barely had time to understand what happened. Later that night after 14 year old Taylor past he and his wife went to her bedroom and with momma curled up in the bed and daddy standing hands raised in the middle of the room they worshiped the Lord. They declared their love, and dedication to God in spite of all they faced. Raising their voices they proclaimed “I will worship you Lord, you are high and lifted up”. “You are faithful and you are good”. They came out of this past weekend with a deepening passion to minister in the area of healing through the power of Jesus. May God continue to comfort and raise up Charlie & Courtney Simonds to do great and mighty acts for the Lord.

Remember we all go through some stuff, but let’s never let the stuff keep us from going through it with Jesus. I’m struggling, but I’m still praying!

Sunday Remix 2-12-12

-I was so excited to announce Sunday the changes to our Lead Team. We welcome Brantley Johnson to the team as he helps us in the area of communications and media. Pastor Mike will be focusing in on the areas of Pastoral Care/Discipleship (Journey Groups)/Facilities), Stephanie Graves’ responsibilities, beyond being my admin assistant, have been expanded to include Connection/Guest Services/Volunteers.  Rounding out the team is Barbara Graves, Cory Blair, and myself. Our roles have remained the same.

-In addition to our Lead Team we have also added to the church leadership structure of Momentum an Executive Advisory Team. Those who were nominated by our Lead Team and our Next Level Leaders are: Christine Batten, Bryan Choate, Scott Gold, and Mitch Wells. These four along with myself as chairman of the E.A.T. will serve our Lead Team and our church helping with oversight, support, and care of the leaders, partners, and vision of Momentum Church. We are blessed to have these leaders along with our lead team watching over the needs of Momentum Church.

Qualifications for these roles included: #1 Passionate Christ Follower.  #2 Exhibits faithfulness to God in their lifestyle . #3 Faithful to the vision and core values of Momentum Church. And #4 Use their resources of time, talent, and treasure faithfully at Momentum Church.

-We had another great Sunday as many of our guests from our “each one reach one” weekend came back. Also some of these first time guests brought friends as well. I love it when that happens!

-Over the past 4 weeks we have averaged the highest attendance for regular services in the history of Momentum Church. I love that we are growing and that we now have the leadership structure established to handle the wave of growth that we are experiencing.

-I want to encourage you to continue to pray deeply, serve faithfully, and give generously. You are making a difference and we are just seeing a small glimpse into what God desires to do through all of us together.

-Begin even now to pray for Easter as we make our preparations for that day. We are planning to have three services that day and an Easter egg hunt between the first and second services. We are expecting over 500 people to be in our services that day so plan now to attend one service and serve during another service.

-These are exciting days around Momentum. I am blessed to serve and to serve with some of the greatest people on the planet!

With you on the Journey!

-Pastor Ross

I Almost Went to Jail Tonight

Well, I almost went to jail tonight. I got pulled over, went to give my license to the officer and dropped a few cards out of my wallet. I explained why my van tag is out of date.  I just picked it up tonight after 4 months of it not running. I showed him the emissions test from today but since it was after 5 when I picked up the van I have to wait until tomorrow to get the sticker. He handed me back what I thought was my license and told me too that I had dropped one card that was under the van and to pick it up.  I got out picked it up, got back in and drove off slowly.

I thought he had understood my story and had handed me back my license which I put in my wallet. Well apparently not. See, I am totally deaf in my left ear and missed hearing him say “I’ll be back”. Those were some really important words to have picked up on. Oops. Also It was a different card he had handed me. I thought it was my license and off I went.

30 minutes later Amie calls to tell me the sheriffs are at my house looking for me. She puts the officer on the phone and he asks me why I fled and that he had my driver’s license. I tried to explain that I didn’t hear him, but I could tell he wasn’t so sure about me being deaf in my left ear. He said for me to get back to my house immediately and that police were all over the area looking for me. I told him I was on my way and that if another officer pulled me over before I got home would he come to us. He said “yes I would in order to arrest you.” “Well sir please stay there I’m on my way this is really just a misunderstanding”.

I get to the house and he explained to me just how serious all the charges he could lay on me. I explained my case and he reluctantly believed me and told me I needed to get a hearing restriction put on my license and wear an aid. Well an aid won’t help, but maybe the restriction will clear up any misunderstanding in the future. He made it very clear that he had every right to haul me to jail. I told him how I drove off slowly and went to the gas station, but he said often people will take off so that they can dispose of illegal things in the vehicle. That never dawned on me, but made complete sense why he was worked up.

Well thank God I didn’t go to jail tonight. Other than almost stepping off a curb into the path of a milk truck this is the most trouble my ear has gotten me in to. I will chalk this up to yet another reason why to someday have the $30,000.00 fix that will let me hear things coming from the left side of my head. For now I think I will check into that hearing restriction so cops won’t think I’m a complete dufus.

Leadership Team Structure of Momentum Church

 The four Executive Advisory Team Members names will be posted soon.

Sunday Remix 2-5-12

-I love seeing the amount of momentum generated as we come out of January. God used a three week fast and our series called “Doors” to open an access point into His best for our lives and for our church in 2012. I want us be a people hungry to obey God and quick to believe Him for greater things this year for His name sake.

-If you missed any week of “Doors”click here to check out the podcasts.

-During the second week of the Doors series I challenged everyone to reach one person in 2012 for Christ. If we have found through grace an access into a relationship with Jesus then we need to be “holding the door open” for someone  making it possible for them to come to Christ. I want each one to reach one this year at Momentum Church.

-I believe every week is a good week to bring a friend to Momentum Church, but also I know people often wait to invite friends for specific occasions. We want to provide you this year with plenty of opportunities to invite friends. Our first each one reach one Sunday was this past week. We had dozens of guests, several whom family members have been praying for, for years. I know a few of these and I personally can’t wait to see all God is going to do in their lives and homes. You know who you are and I am confidant God is up to something big in your lives!

-This past Sunday we launched our new series called “Tribes: Finding Connection in a Disconnected World”. If you have a friend who is unchurched or just doesn’t feel like they are “church” type  (whatever that means), send them the link to the podcast and get them to church with you next Sunday.

-I loved being with our leaders at our “All Leaders Meeting” on Sunday. What a great group of people. Each of us are committed this year more than ever to each other and to God as we purpose to help people journey forward through life becoming fully devoted followers of Christ.

-On Sunday our Lead Team members and Next Level Leaders nominated 4 people to serve Momentum as our Executive Advisory Team. This new leadership team will serve myself, the lead team, and our body as they help with oversight, support, and care of the leaders, partners, and vision of Momentum Church. I will announce the names of those on this team soon, but will say now I look forward to working with each of them.

-During the All Leaders Meeting we also announced some shifts and an addition to our Lead Team. Stephanie Graves will still be serving as my assistant, but has also taken upon leading our Connections Ministry. She will be over Guest Services, Volunteers, and New Convert/New Comer follow up. Pastor Mike will be leading in the areas of Pastoral care, discipleship (Journey Groups, Partnership, etc…) and facilities. As for the addition, we have invited Brantley Johnson to serve on our lead team. He will be over communications and media. Many of you know Brantley and Hannah. Take some time this week to welcome them to our lead team.

-With the start of the year, the sense of God’s leading and blessing, and the changes to our team structure, I am more excited about Momentum Church today than ever before. Jesus use us to make your name known and to help many gain momentum in 2012!