Englewood is currently searching for a full-time pastor to our Middle School students.  This is a wonderful position designed to impact young people in a season of their lives when they are soft and pliable and wide open to God’s greater purpose!  If you or someone you know is interested, please email dtaylor@ebcjackson.org.

We are so excited to see who God will raise up for this critical role!

DNOW 2012: Surrender from 180 Student Ministries on Vimeo.

Last week, after discussing the issue of death, that Christians should not fear that appointment–a church member sent me the following email concerning her experience with her carefully-listening granddaughter.  I was so encouraged by this.

(Names have been omitted)

Hi Pastor,

I thought I might encourage you and brag on my granddaughter at the same time.  I noticed nine-and-a-half-year-old ______ taking detailed notes of your sermon on Sunday.  When the service ended she handed me her notes to read.  I was proud of the way she followed your points, grasping more of the message than I anticipated…..  Then she handed me a second page which caught me off guard and to be honest, humbled me. As you spoke about the appointment with death all humans will one day face, you asked us to list ways we did NOT want to die.  My mind immediately went to death by fire, drowning, suffocation, etc. When I read my granddaughter’s list, though, I realized why Jesus said “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” I hope you enjoy her list as much as I did.

Blessings,

A Church Member

Today was the annual Staff Christmas party.  In addition to the good conversation and excellent food, a gift exchange was included.  Of course, the gifts had to be taken from the bottom of one’s closet or the corner of one’s attic.  I love these people I work with!

Here’s just a sample of the gifting…

Last Saturday, the Mandrell’s joined many others at the Warehouse to build our Christmas Advent wreath.  As you can see…this is consistent with what we had planned for.  Lynley and I are busy building the wreath. Max and Ava drank hot chocolate. Ha!  Actually, the kids had a great time and the event was a huge hit.

Thanks to Mr. Joe Moore for making this possible.  This is going to be a great Christmas.

So we wrap up our second week of churchwide Scripture reading and prayer.  I have really enjoyed the unity of this experience and I hope you have too.

My favorite verse today is this:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  Gal. 6:10

Church is about serving one another.  That’s what I love about Englewood.  Never have I been associated with a more loving congregation than this one.  Folks at EBC are constantly demonstrating a heart to serve and it inspires me to be even more sacrificial toward those around me.

As we continue to pray about Nov. 14th Commitment Sunday, I am asking the Lord to bring us the resources to reach new families with Christ-like love and service. May we continue to share the love in this community.

To read today’s devo, click here.

FulFill.  It’s heating up.

Round Two.

Smaller program this year.  More personal.  Deeper equipping.

If you are a college student, sophomore and older, with a passion for Christ and a desire to grow as a leader, then this program is for you.

Fill out an application today!  Applications are due by Sunday.

Email Andy Seaton at seatonandy@yahoo.com to get an application or pick one up from Jared Schuler.

As a pastor, sometimes I see disturbing things.  One of the saddest things I encounter from time to time is a funeral void of friends.  This happens.  A man is laid to rest and his wife stands in the room, virtually alone.  Sometimes there is a smattering of people, sparsely placed around the corners of the room, but it is obvious that these folks are more acquaintances than lifelong friends.

Today’s devotion hits home for me, and for all of us.  It’s a gut check.  It speaks to the true depth of friendship as Ecclesiastes declares, “But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

Do you have people in your life to help you grow?  Small groups at Englewood provide the greenhouse for relational growth.  As we learned this past Sunday, Jesus made it clear that a mark of discipleship is the love we display for our brothers and sisters.  What can you do this week to tighten your circle of friends?  How can you bless your small group?  DO YOU HAVE a small group?

I missed my devotional time yesterday. I thought I’d share that for all of you who wonder if I’m as consistent as I appear to be. I’m not. I have to work at it.

Mondays are heavy meeting days and I did pray at length with several staff members. In addition to that, my wife and I prayed together last night for a while before going to bed. What the devotional teaches today is so true: prayer brings people closer together. The presence of the Lord is invoked when we pause to “carry one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.”

For me, it’s so much easier to whine than it is to pray. I can get together with a few close friends and complain for an hour or two. That’s a piece of cake. Too bad it produces no fruit and only serves to make me bitter or more frustrated. This is what Peter meant when he said that we should “cast all our cares upon Him.” We can’t carry these things that we murmur about. HE can.

Pray today for your friends who you know are struggling. Ask the Lord to lift their burden, ease their worry, dissolve their stress. Write out a prayer and email it to them. Prayer makes a big difference.

To view today’s churchwide devotional, click here.