REARVIEW & WINDSHIELD - February 5, 2012

A quick look at last week, and a glance at what's ahead at Grace.

THE WALL IS FINISHED
Last week we finished our series on NEHEMIAH, and saw a lot of people respond to the challenge to change their world. I BEG you not to let the conversation end there.

Check out the online "CHALLENGE TO CHANGE" form HERE, and let us provide you with resources and accountability to take the NEXT STEP!


THE GIANTS WON
A game I really didn't care about turned out to be pretty fun to watch, as the underdog rose up and beat a very capable Patriots team that just wasn't playing well. Before the game, the hype was all Tom Brady and the Patriots. Today, the hype means nothing.

What a great tie-in to our message on the importance of Finishing Strong. To steal from Billy Beane - If you don't win the last game of the season, nobody cares!  A good life, a thriving ministry, a high-power job, a healthy and dynamic family: They all fall by the wayside if you don't stay focused, committed, and morally straight.

So, what do you need to do in order to FINISH STRONG? Is there something holding you back? Money, Pride, Fear? Is there some moral deficiency that Satan is using to render you useless for the kingdom? Is there some unconfessed sin that's holding you back? It's time to do business with God and get on track. Your future and your family are on the line.... you need to FINISH STRONG!


SHOUT OUTS
We had a great time at the youth Super Bowl party Friday Night in Grace Too! Extra Special thanks to our volunteers who kept us full of pizza & hot wings, set-up the satellite feed and projector, and watched & cared for the young ones as we enjoyed the game.

I cannot express my deep gratitude for the awesome amount of work our volunteers put into making our youth ministry happen each week!


HOW TO BE RICH
This week we start a new series on How To Be Rich! We are going to discover through God's Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit how life is much more than the cash in our wallet, the car in the drive, and the crib in the 'burb. This would be a great series to invite your friends to. Let's pack the house!


DISCOVER GRACE
We have had a lot of new faces showing up every week at Grace, and several have indicated they are interested in taking the Next Step towards joining our fellowship.  If you would like to know more about what Grace is all about, who this nut-job of a pastor is (and where he came from), and what it means to be a member of our church, or you just want a free lunch, then hang out after services THIS SUNDAY for our Discover Grace Luncheon.

There will be a light lunch served, drinks, and everything you wanted to know about Grace but were afraid to ask!


HERE & NOW
We have a FANTASTIC problem at Grace right now. We have more people wanting to be a part of a Sunday School Class or Small Group than we have leaders for!

If you think you have what it takes to be a small group leader - or, you're not sure your ready to take the lead, but are interested in moving that direction, we want to here from you... HERE AND NOW!

Click HERE to submit an application online.


**URGENT!!!** YOUTH & YOUTH PARENTS
I'm a little late getting the info out, but we are taking the youth to the Dare2Share Conference in St. Louis on March 16th - 17th. This is an AMAZING conference for students, and will passionately engage them and train them to LIVE their FAITH with intensity, and SHARE their FAITH with their friends.

The cost is $75, which covers conference and hotel. However, I want every student that can to BE AT THIS CONFERENCE, because I know the potential impact it will have on their faith. So, we have made scholarships available to all students: Just contact me, and we'll make sure they have what they need to get to this conference!