God knew what He was doing when He sent my wife and I to Brazil, Indiana in 2000. Greg Comp was the minister there at that time. He not only became a partner in ministry and a mentor but even more so, A FRIEND! I would not be where I am in ministry today without his words, support and love. One day is not enough to spend time with this humble man of God, but I will take what I can get. I am thankful for the conference we both attended at CCU today. I appreciate talking with Greg, sharing his life and spending time in worship together. May God richly bless your ministry in Pennsylvania my brother! I love and appreciate you with all my heart. Keep living for Him! B. OUT! One great mentor!
God knew what He was doing when He sent my wife and I to Brazil, Indiana in 2000. Greg Comp was the minister there at that time. He not only became a partner in ministry and a mentor but even more so, A FRIEND! I would not be where I am in ministry today without his words, support and love. One day is not enough to spend time with this humble man of God, but I will take what I can get. I am thankful for the conference we both attended at CCU today. I appreciate talking with Greg, sharing his life and spending time in worship together. May God richly bless your ministry in Pennsylvania my brother! I love and appreciate you with all my heart. Keep living for Him! B. OUT! Back to School
In case you don't really believe me, I hope these pics will prove that I am back at CCU (it was Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary when I attended there in the late 80's). I am taking a class with Dr. Bill Bravard on Developing Leadership. I have enjoyed every moment of the class. We end on Saturday by attending the Energizing the Small Church Conference. Thanks LCC Elders for allowing me and providing for me to attend this class. Thanks to Holly Kern and Calvin Turner for going with me. Thanks to Dr. B for your hard work and great leadership. 
Going to school, being a husband, being a dad, leading a growing church and all that comes with those things is hard work, but someone has to do it... LOL!!! Sleep well Brian, sleep well!
View Beyond The Pew
Sunday was awesome. WOW! God is sooo cool. The worship was fantastic, the spirit was active, people were excited to be there, attendance was good, God brought brand new friends to share with us, prayers were answered, burdens were released and the entire service was particularly relevant. This N That is a great series because it allows me to speak into the very heart of where we all are here and now. If you missed it, please CLICK HERE and spend a half hour or so listening to the message. Do me a favor, if you are a Christian, please listen to this message before you vote in November. Long story short: We are disciples of Christ first, We are American's second, then and only then, do we show our "political party" colors. Don't forget, we are Ambassadors of Jesus Christ not any human, even a candidate for President of the United States of America. Live for Him. Love for Him. BE HIM to this world.
The morning was complete when Nina Cadigan came forward with her family to confess her faith in Christ and to be baptized for the forgiveness of her sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was a moving moment! Congratulations Nina, I am so proud of you!!
B. OUT!!
The morning was complete when Nina Cadigan came forward with her family to confess her faith in Christ and to be baptized for the forgiveness of her sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was a moving moment! Congratulations Nina, I am so proud of you!!
REVIVAL AT LCC? Could be? Don't miss this Sunday as we look at FEAR in a sermon entitled "Fear Factor". This is a must before Halloween weekend arrives.
B. OUT!!
VIEW BEYOND THE PEW
"I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed."
I was asked to place that poem which I read on Sunday on this blog, so there you go! I also included the "endless fascination" picture. Hope you take time to just "rest" and "listen" some this week.
What a great Sunday at LCC. What a great conclusion to a really relevant and powerful series of messages. Church, make sure that you are wearing the clothes that God has called you to dress with - Colossians 3:12!
Just some things I noticed on Sunday...
- The praise choir sounded great, love it when they help lead!!
- The band is really something special (even with a broken bass drum)
- The songs really set up the sermon perfectly (GO GOD)!
- A lot of interaction during the message, thanks to everyone willing to share your struggle with patience.
- More laughter than any Sunday I can recently remember.
- Nice attendance considering it was a holiday weekend.
- Offering was down below budget once again.
- A sort-of Revival feel after sharing about the 3 baptisms from last Wednesday night.
- Lots of tears and prayer!
- Great testimony by Colleen Fantini following third service.
- NO MORE ROOM in the foyer!!
- New first time faces and new returning faces
- Kurt's Care team was ON! Way to go!!
This Sunday already promises to be "over-the-top". Here are just a few reasons: a new series begins (watch this blog or the church website for details), trusting and praying that the baptismal waters to be stirring once again, the holiday weekend will be a thing of the past so we should be packed in like sardines, new faces will be lead here by God, familiar faces will return and most importantly, CHRIST WILL BE IN THIS PLACE! See you on Sunday at LCC!
B. Out!!I am Back
To Dan Carter and the other folks who read my blog, I am sorry. I never intended to stay away so long, but it is what it is.
It began with the windstorm Ike that tore through our area and left my neighborhood in the dark for some 120+hours. Once we recovered from that, it was catch up time for the week we lost. Then the Richard family stomach virus took hold off and on for another week. Finally, this week we seem to be back to some sense of normality.
I will simply "forget what is behind and press on to what is ahead..."
This whole day was totally amazing. I started two new Discipleship Bible Studies for men. One meets at the Fields Ertel Cracker Barrel at 6 am and then another one at Kidd Coffee at Twenty Mile Stand at 10:30. Same study, two different groups of men. IT ROCKED! I am really excited about what God is going to do through each of these men. Leadership? Biblical Growth? Restoration? Commitment? Only God knows and I can't wait to discover it over the next weeks and months. We studied John 1:1-4. WOW! Powerful stuff. Do you know that Jesus was with God from the beginning? Did you know that Jesus was God. Did you realize that Jesus was speaking the worlds into existence in Genesis? Do you realize that Jesus is THE WORD! That Word is the light of men and true Life! We also discovered that each of us will someday be judged by God, but according to the standard of THAT WORD!
Tonight was my weekly D-group. Man, our small group (LOL) has really swelled into a middle sized group. We had a house full tonight. I think we run between 20-25 now. I know, I know, that is not right. We need to split. Actually, we all know that and "feel" that. It is cool how God is going to make that happen so easily right before our eyes. Anyway, our group experienced a EARLY ACTS CHURCH MOMENT tonight. Three individual from our group (all 3 having gone through a discipleship and baptism study) humbled themselves and was immersed into Christ tonight. We left our study at my house, picked up kids at childcare, went into the worship center, was joined by our Student Ministry (who happened to be in the building) and experienced spiritual death and new life! It was sweet. When all was said and done there must have been 50 people in the worship center. We raised the roof in celebration, it was awesome. Revival? maybe? The Church through the power of the Spirit, OH YEAH!
Congrats to Colleen Fantini, Gene Hatmaker and Larry Charles! The angels in heaven are still rejoicing!
Who is next? I know many folks have studied and just simply need to walk in faith and "take the plunge". Comment, e-mail, facebook, myspace, call me, stop by the office, ANYTHING!!!
We then gathered in the foyer for a good ole fashion afterglow complete with snacks, hugs and fellowship. It simply rocked. God must be pleased!
I LOVE MY D GROUP! I LOVE MY CHURCH! I LOVE MY LORD! I LOVE BEING A PASTOR! I LOVE BLOGGING ONCE AGAIN!
B. OUT!!
Brian
It began with the windstorm Ike that tore through our area and left my neighborhood in the dark for some 120+hours. Once we recovered from that, it was catch up time for the week we lost. Then the Richard family stomach virus took hold off and on for another week. Finally, this week we seem to be back to some sense of normality.
I will simply "forget what is behind and press on to what is ahead..."
This whole day was totally amazing. I started two new Discipleship Bible Studies for men. One meets at the Fields Ertel Cracker Barrel at 6 am and then another one at Kidd Coffee at Twenty Mile Stand at 10:30. Same study, two different groups of men. IT ROCKED! I am really excited about what God is going to do through each of these men. Leadership? Biblical Growth? Restoration? Commitment? Only God knows and I can't wait to discover it over the next weeks and months. We studied John 1:1-4. WOW! Powerful stuff. Do you know that Jesus was with God from the beginning? Did you know that Jesus was God. Did you realize that Jesus was speaking the worlds into existence in Genesis? Do you realize that Jesus is THE WORD! That Word is the light of men and true Life! We also discovered that each of us will someday be judged by God, but according to the standard of THAT WORD!
Tonight was my weekly D-group. Man, our small group (LOL) has really swelled into a middle sized group. We had a house full tonight. I think we run between 20-25 now. I know, I know, that is not right. We need to split. Actually, we all know that and "feel" that. It is cool how God is going to make that happen so easily right before our eyes. Anyway, our group experienced a EARLY ACTS CHURCH MOMENT tonight. Three individual from our group (all 3 having gone through a discipleship and baptism study) humbled themselves and was immersed into Christ tonight. We left our study at my house, picked up kids at childcare, went into the worship center, was joined by our Student Ministry (who happened to be in the building) and experienced spiritual death and new life! It was sweet. When all was said and done there must have been 50 people in the worship center. We raised the roof in celebration, it was awesome. Revival? maybe? The Church through the power of the Spirit, OH YEAH!
Congrats to Colleen Fantini, Gene Hatmaker and Larry Charles! The angels in heaven are still rejoicing!
Who is next? I know many folks have studied and just simply need to walk in faith and "take the plunge". Comment, e-mail, facebook, myspace, call me, stop by the office, ANYTHING!!!
We then gathered in the foyer for a good ole fashion afterglow complete with snacks, hugs and fellowship. It simply rocked. God must be pleased!
I LOVE MY D GROUP! I LOVE MY CHURCH! I LOVE MY LORD! I LOVE BEING A PASTOR! I LOVE BLOGGING ONCE AGAIN!
B. OUT!!
Brian
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