Sunday Night Download...

It is actually Monday but since most of you are sleeping away, like normal people, I will still call this Sunday Night Download. It is 3:30 am and I am wide awake. We came home from a very long day at the church and all crashed at 9 pm. As such, I slept really hard and popped up at 3 am. I don't like when that happens, but it does give me some really nice quiet time. The house is so quiet and the world is sleeping - kind of nice! Here are a few left-over thoughts from Sunday at newhope.

• I can't believe we have baptized over 120 people in 90 days at the Southpoint Campus. I would say the new baptismal pool was/is well worth it! Baptims always wreck me, which is why I am probably up at 3 am.
  
• We hung the American flag in Worship today for the Fourth of July celebration. I enjoyed teaching from Galatians 5:1 and the freedom we have in Christ.
• The unplugged version of the Creed song, "In America," was cool.
• I kept hearing newhopes say today at the Party on the Patio Baptism Celebrations, "I don't know any of these people..." That is so AWESOME!! BTW - 99.9 of the newhopers are still among us - they are just harder to identify among a thousand or so others who have found newhope! How cool is that...
• Our racial diversity continues to grow. I know - I know - it is not about that, but I think it is so flip'in cool that we will one day stand before Almighty God fully representing the diversity of His created order.
• Loved having Pastor Steve Ellis in the house today, not to mention in the waters of Baptism with me. It was great to get him water logged on his first day at newhope. :>) Please pray for him as he leads our church in the area of Discipleship.
• One Prayer starts this Sunday - it is going to be GREAT so start inviting those friends.
• The video testimonies, from all of these believer baptisms, are going to be so encouraging and inspirational in the months ahead. It is a new approach and I can't wait to hear from all of these changed lives!
  
• Still thanking God for mom's salvation. Preciate all your prayers and support.
  
• I shared a lot this morning about the personal trials Amy Lynn and I have been going through. Again, thanks for your prayers and support.
• I am planning way out these days.
  
• The new web site launching in the fall or early 2010 is going to be AMAZING.
  
• I hope people aren't falling through the cracks. That keeps me up at night, as well.
  
• Gary is the bomb on the drums. The dude is too cool for school...
• I can't believe I get to do this...