Finding Your Story In God's Story

If I were to write a book about my life, I am certain a few people might find it interesting.  The key word though is few.  I could fill it with a certain number of engaging or exciting stories.  I could fill it with obscure names like Okra, A.G., Paula or Dean.  It would chronicle my successes and failures on the gridiron or the hardwood.  The book would tell of my history growing up on a farm in south central Kentucky.

This would not be just any book; this would be a book about my family tree.  The stories would probably not be of any interest to you, but they are to me.  That’s what happens when you hear part of your story.  Something that seems lifeless comes to life.  Something that looks dull becomes dynamite, firing up your heart and igniting your imagination.  You are reminded that you are part of something bigger than you are, that began before you and will continue on after you.

That is why God wants you to know his story.  It’s found in another book. He wants to take you into his house where he has framed photos of your ancestors––folks you may not know––lining the walls of his house.

Stories of a family patriarch named Abraham whose faith was as great as any.  A matriarch named Ruth with courage that would make the most hardened warrior proud.  A stubborn Jonah and his improbable fish tale.  Impetuous Peter and his big mouth.  Persistent Paul and his adventures in preaching.

Yet who he wants most of all for you to meet in his story is his son. He desires for you to look long into the eyes of Jesus Christ and hear his claims that what he began in the first chapter of creation he will realize at the last chapter of the New Creation, where a perfect people can live in a perfect place with their perfect Lord.

The perfect place to do that is on the Storyboard.  The question is, “Are you?”  You can be there when you find your place in His Story and I guarantee you...there is a place for YOU in His Story.

Beginning February 2nd, Skyline Church will take a journey together through The Story.  The Story is a powerful book written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee.  They have taken the narrative of God's story directly from the pages of the NIV translation and put it into chronological order.  I have personally read the book from cover to cover and it did not disappoint.

Our The Story campaign will consist of 31 weeks broken up into 3 sections.  Each weekend, we will hear a message that coincides with the reading material for the week.  In addition to the weekly sermon, we will have Connection Groups studying a special small group curriculum designed for the book as well as provide curriculum for our children and students.  This will be a journey for every single person of Skyline to take together.

My prayer is that God will use The Story to make His Word come alive in your heart.  I pray that you will truly see that your story and God's are not different stories but one in the same.  The Bible is the key to understanding that important fact and The Story really does an incredible job of painting this picture in a beautiful light.

2012 Reflection - 2013 Preflection

I take a look back into 2012 and see what an incredible year it was for the Skyline Church family.  We speak a lot about Landmarks at our church and as we look back there were many landmarks that were planted in our journey...historical landmarks.

Our average attendance for the year was greater than at any other time in our history (192).  To put that in perspective, it was a 14% increase despite losing 47 incredible people due to USAF PSC's and Job transfers.  For the first time ever, we had over 300 in attendance during one service.

We saw more people serving in ministry than at any other time in our history (153).  We saw more people sign up for a Connection Group than ever before.  More people participated in community outreach than ever before.

More than ever before is a theme that could be echoed in so many different areas of Skyline Church.  As a pastor, there is nothing more exciting to see...that is with the exception of one thing...LIFE CHANGE.  Just as last year, we saw 88 people give their lives to Christ.

When a church is committed to a common vision, the results will always be better than ever.  As people are committed to growing as an individual and as a church....life change happens, people come to Christ, and people grow in their faith.

Want more Landmarks?  Here ya go....we were part of a team of churches that financially supported the launch of Generation Church in Portland, TN which in less than a year is averaging around 500 in attendance and saw 351 people give their lives to Christ.  We sent a team of 19 people to Honduras on a medical mission trip that served nearly 1200 Hondurans and saw 46 people give their lives to Christ.

And who can forget The Mission Central Project?  Through the generosity of the Skyline family, we raised enough capital to purchase 10 acres in Northwest O'fallon that will become the campus of a new chapter in the Skyline history book and will serve as Mission Central for our mission to the world.  Along with the cash necessary for the purchase, we received financial commitments above and beyond our normal tithes/offerings for a total of $375,291 to be given over a 3 year period that will enable us to pay off our debt in a timely fashion, expediting the process of breaking ground.

I don't know how all of this information effects your heart, but it fills mine with anticipation of what 2013 holds for Skyline Church.  WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Be at Skyline Church this Sunday (Jan. 6) as I share a little taste of what is in store for our church family.  It will be an even more incredible journey of life change.  I am challenging every person who calls Skyline home to be there.  If you have previous plans....change them.  If you know you will be too tired....go to bed early.  If you know you will have a headache.....take a tylenol before bed.  You do not want to miss this Sunday at Skyline Church!!!

The Little Things Make A Big Difference

This past weekend, we cast vision for an incredible opportunity for our church as we kicked off "The Little Things."  The Little Things is our Christmas sermon series at Skyline, but this Christmas season...it will mean so much more.  We are embarking on a journey to make a difference in the little things of life.

Often we get so focused on BIG gifts during the month of December that we miss out on the many blessings in store for us through the small things of life.  While this should be, in theory, the happiest time of year for people....it's not for many.  In fact, it is one of the most stressful times of the year for every one of us.

During the stress of the holidays, it's nice just to have a small blessing that will put a smile on our face.  Imagine how great it feels when someone else takes time to make that small difference.  Now imagine how great it feels when you make the difference.  That's what we are going to do through "The Little Things."

Here is our challenge for Skyline Church.  Between now and Christmas day, each person who calls Skyline home is given the mission to do a minimum of 25 random acts of kindness for someone that crosses your path in life.  It could be something done for a friend or a neighbor or even a complete stranger.  I challenge you to be creative in how you share the love of Christ through the little things.  

HOW?

1.) Do something nice for someone.

Here are a few ideas for you:

-Rake some leaves for your neighbors

-Offer to babysit for a couple down the street so they can have a much needed night out.

-Take a tasty dish to someone who needs a blessing

-Pay for a meal/drink for the person behind you at a fast food restaurant or in the drive through
-Leave a larger tip than normal for your waiter
-Secretly pay for a meal in a nicer restaurant for an unexpecting person/family

-Randomly leave a gift card lying in some obscure place that would surprise an unknowing blessee

-Leave a stack of quarters at the car wash

-Take some doughnuts to a local establishment

-Pay for a tank of gas for a stranger

-Make a small gift basket for a teacher or a co-worker

-Carry out groceries for someone at Wal-mart

These are just a few ways to make a difference in the little things.  Your only limitation is your imagination.  The key is to go out of your way to share the love of Christ in small practical ways.

2.) Give the person you are blessing a "Little Things" card.

If you personally hand the card to someone, challenge them to "pay-it-forward" to someone else in their life.

If you were not able to be at church this past Sunday, you can grab a stack next week at Skyline

3.) Share your story on Facebook and at www.skylinecc.com.

We have set up a special page on our website to share your stories of how you were able to bless someone else through "The Little Things".  This can give others ideas they can use to be a blessing to others and it can tell your story of how God blessed you by being a blessing.

4.) Pray for those you bless.

Even if you have no idea who you just blessed, your prayers can make an even greater impact.  We can never fully know what is going on in someone's life, but your small gift could have brightened the day of someone who is broken by the world or inspire someone else to be a blessing to others.

I am so excited to share this little campaign with our church.  It is at the heart of who we are and why we do what we do.  We exist for three things:  Love God, Love Others, and Make a Difference......even in THE LITTLE THINGS!!!!