Keep Pointing in Waterloo

Big Questions: God, why do Catholic Bibles have more books?

This was one of the questions I received this week via email. I love that we have folks who just want to take steps toward God and have legitimate questions as they explore their faith! I realize that we are not going to be able to answer every question this Sunday. There are just so many! So, we will get to as many as possible and post some Q&A on the blog as well.

We will be putting your questions up on the screen this weekend via texting software. If you want to get the number in your phone now so that you can get your question in quickly then here it is: 62953.  (You'll type "PLCW" and then your question.)

Example: text “How much gel does Ron use to keep his hair so tall? –Jack P Waterloo” to 62953

See you this weekend!

Big Questions: God, are there such things as ghosts?

Do you remember sitting under the stars with a flashlight up to your chin telling stories as a kid? Me either, but I see it on T.V. so it must be true. (That was a joke!) Anyway, there ARE a ton of shows on television claiming to contact spirits and ghosts. Is that stuff true? Maybe you have a question about the spirit world? Come this weekend to Hoover Middle School at 11am as we explore a variety of BIG QUESTIONS like this one!

Big Questions: God, why do I have these feelings?

 
How many of you know someone who has a homosexual lifestyle? I have family and friends who openly live this way. How do I answer their question: Why do I have these feelings? That conversation ended tragically for a friend of mine who died of AIDS years ago. What does God have to say about this stuff? Invite a friend and be at PLC Waterloo this weekend as we answer some of those BIG QUESTIONS!

Big Questions: God, where did you get your super powers?

I have had some of the deepest and hardest conversations around 8:30 pm when my six year old and I are going through the night routines. He comes up with some of the most innocent yet profound questions. A couple of months ago Jack asked where God gets His super powers. Do you have these kinds of thoughts? Invite a friend, come this weekend and I will tell you how that one ended!

Oh, if you have ever wondered if I am a superhero to my sons, just look at this picture above. Apparently that is me with hairy armpits. I was hoping for better super powers, but instead I have the ability to grow massive amounts of green hair under my pits!

Big Questions: God, Why did this happen to me?

This weekend was all about the tension; the tension between a God who is love and a world that sometimes feels devoid of it. We found perspective through the story of a child named Eliot and his parent’s faith. Their story exposed our personal wounds of the soul and gave us space to encounter and respond to God. And respond we did…

This weekend we are going to have a LIVE panel to answer some BIG questions. Maybe you have a few? I would love to get a head start on questions you or your friends may have, so feel free to comment or post one and we will get ready for the weekend! P.S. This is an easy opportunity to invite your friends who have legitimate, yet difficult questions to answer.

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

I had dinner with my friend Brandon last night. During the conversation I found out he had stepped over the faith-line this Easter. After years of being “religious and self-sufficient,” Brandon finally took a dangerous step of obedience and found spiritual sight. Brandon was invited by his coworker Matt.

After months of prayer and encouragement Matt and Diana Richardson watched as Brandon moved out of the crowd, walked to the center of God’s will and stepped over the faith-line. Because of a simple invitation and continued encouragement Brandon’s life will be forever changed.

Did I mention Brandon brought a friend this past week?

Did I mention he is bringing his girlfriend this week!

Way to go Brandon! Way to go Matt and Diana! Keep Pointing in Waterloo!

"we're considering leaving the church"

That was the heading of an email I got this weekend after service. Even worse, it came from an Elder of Prairie Lakes. After reading it I smiled and decided if they want to leave, then so be it! Here was the whole email...

"that's right..... after visiting another church in Waterloo, we are thinking of leaving the church. I hate to compare churches, however when we first drove into the parking lot of this other church I knew they had a mission. It was like being on a battleship instead of a pleasure cruiser. The people were very friendly, my children were checked in seamlessly, worship was BIG JESUS with gifted musicians, the teaching was hard core obedience to JESUS. I left feeling like I had just been with Jesus, they even had next steps for me in my walk with Jesus......it was amazing! Now get this, you won't even believe it...they meet in a middle school I'll have to give some time in prayer, however really have to think through this one.....it was great! PLC Waterloo rocks!"

Life is short

Last night around 9 pm I got a text from a friend. His grandfather had a massive heart attack and my friend asked for prayer. Jack, my six year old, and I were going through our regular night-time routines when this came in and both of us instinctively knew we needed to pray right then and there.

This morning, as I was taking Jack to school, I got another text saying my friend’s grandpa had died. Don’t ask me why, but I felt this was an important moment for Jack and I. I pulled over to the side of the road and explained what had happened. I know life and death are kind of heavy for a six year old, but I knew this was significant.

 Jack’s face was so sad. He loves his grandparents very much, so this became very real to him. Now, it wasn’t the first question he asked, but somewhere in that three minutes Jack asked, “Is he going to heaven? Does he know Jesus?” Wow. I was overwhelmed by his Kingdom-pointed response.

I followed up by “Life is short Jack.” He responded, “Is it really Dad or are you just kidding?” That question has haunted me all day. It seems some never move past that mentality, that there is all the time in the world. I understand that thinking if you are six, but for the rest of us: Life is short.

Jack started smiling after I told him that our friend’s grandpa had stepped over the faith-line and was with Jesus. I didn’t expect to learn so much this morning about life, but my question is:

If I really believe life is short then what other 3 minute conversations do I need to have?

Is Prairie Lakes Friendly?

I had a visit this morning with two ladies, Lavonne and Sharon (these are their real names, I got permission), that have never been to our church, but through personal invitations from two Prairielakians and a mailer they decided to contact me to ask some questions. Since I couldn’t reach them by phone I decided to drop by and say hello.

They had a ton of great questions:

Are you a boring speaker?

What kind of music do you play?

Are you friendly?

What about fellowship?

The first one caught me off guard, but I suppose that is a legitimate question. They said they have been to some places that were dead. I promised them we were very much ALIVE! I played a song from my iPhone from the past weekend to clear up any confusion about music then assured them that although some places claim they are friendly, they should have no problems finding a bunch of authentic and friendly people this weekend. After we finished praying they said they would be at Hoover this weekend!

Driving back I thought, “Did I over commit? Who will they meet first? Will it be a guy on the parking team or someone at the connection desk? Will our guests feel like there is something different here?”

And so I wait five more days to find out what Lavonne and Sharon think…

No Longer Blind

I cannot begin to tell you all the amazing stories that are coming out of this powerful Easter weekend, but I want to share a few:

One. Church-wide we had at least 20 people receive spiritual sight and step over the faith-line. Of those, I personally met 6 from the Waterloo Campus!

Two. We saw an influx of 122 people our first official weekend in Waterloo! Many brand new folks said they got something in the mail or a door-hanger and thought they would check it out. Way to be invitational!

Three. With eyes wide open 70+ volunteers made personal sacrifices so others could encounter and respond to God. THAT is what it is all about…loving God enough to love people so their world is influenced for the King!

I am overwhelmed by what God is doing through you and can’t wait to hear more of the story!