DIE HARDS @ Southland... Please accept my sincere gratitude for all of you who week in and week out attend every gathering possible... serve anywhere youre needed... worship with passion... give generously and sacrificially ... listen attentively... and invite others out regularly. Allow me to be honest, transparent, and raw. After I announced my divorce and the EXPECTED mass exodus occurred, I didnt give Southland a 5% chance wed survive. As a result, the two years following that announcement, I stayed out of obligation to my kids, my mom, my family, Pastor Ed and Trish, and handful of others ONLY because you didnt run like the rest. I didnt stay because my heart was in it. And I no longer cared if His Last Words were going to be Our First Concern because I didnt believe anyone truly owned the mission statement. For nearly 3 years I treaded water. Almost 40 years ago my youth pastor/soccer coach made me cut the words CANT and QUIT out of my dictionary. Little did I know how significantly that command would impact my life decades later. Even though my heart was not in Southland, I WAS. And because I WAS where God wanted me to be, He was able to continue the work He started in me AND here at Southland once I stopped pouting and started praying again. And since then, nearly every week, we have seen men and women, boys and girls of all ages, receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Baptisms have doubled and attendance nearly tripled. GOD IS ON THE MOVE here loved-ones because a handful of DIE-HARDS refused to quit or let me quit. Thinking of quitting on your marriage? DONT! Thinking of quitting your sobriety? DONT! Thinking of quitting going to church? DONT! Thinking of quitting on life? DONT! That blessing...that job...that relationship...that raise...that purpose may be yours TOMORROW if you dont quit TODAY! We have SO MUCH planned for the fall that it makes my head hurt (In a good way). Dont miss out! COMING SOON 1) B.I.B.L.E. (B-basic I-instructions B-before L-leaving E-earth). I will be teaching the 9:00 class in October and November and going over the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES. What are those Pastor? These are the spiritual habits that the Bible mentions over and over again that SHOULD be a part of EVERYONE who calls themselves a CHRISTIAN. I will do my best to define each one and explain how you can make them a VITAL part of your life. Get in that class now as Pastor Ed teaches through the book of Hebrews. 2) Words Of Wisdom From A Divorced Guy (relationship small group). Almost two years ago, I taught an 8 week class on how to have strong relationships or fix the weak one youre in now. The material is mine and its personal. It stems from my failed marriage and why it did so and what you can do to prevent the same painful experience. This small group is great for ANYONE in any kind of relationship. From 7:30-8:30 on Wednesday nights starting OCTOBER 1st, this 8 week class and brand new HOME GROUP will be gathering in the beautiful home of Jim and Sherry Houchins: 134 Alpine Lane, Crete, IL 60417 3) THIRD ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC: From now on...this annual event will have a BIG purpose beyond just getting Southlanders together for a day of fun. We are now using the yearly picnic as a means to honor ALL of the DOOR HOLDERS (SERVANTS) in Southland. The food and fun that the Battistonis have planned is ALWAYS top shelf and brings us together as a church like no other event. And now we are going to use this gathering to CELEBRATE those of you who serve at Southland. 4) JUICY FRUIT part 4: PATIENCE. By now all of you have this one down to a science watching me SLOWLY sludge our way through this passage. 5) MEN...mark down October 24/25. I am trying to get every available Southland man, 16 and up, to join me for an Act Like Men @ Southland overnight retreat. ONE NIGHT/ONE PURPOSE. The total cost, for what I am praying is going to be ANOTHER watershed time for our men, is only $35. This price includes one night of lodging and all the food you can eat. That evening is designed SPECIFICALLY for Southland men. In the weeks ahead there will be a maned table and a sign-up sheet. It will be VERY DISAPPOINTING for me if every eligible man @ Southland isnt there. Love you all... Pastor j
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 00:12:34 +0000
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