5 reasons that this weekend is a biggie...
1. We're beginning our first missional community on Sunday night! I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it! People who don't believe in God, people who love and follow Jesus with all their heart, and people who are somewhere in between will share a meal together, share in the Word together, and share prayer, stories, questions, and encouragement together. This is the first step in the big picture of what God has called us to do here in Columbia...WOW!
2. I'm preaching for the third week in a row at Lake Murray. We started a three week journey through Luke 9:23-26 last week...this week, we'll talk about obedience in taking up YOUR cross to follow Jesus. Last week, we talked about idolatry and denying yourself...it was THICK in there! Can't wait to see what God does this week.
3. Lara Beth, the girls, and I are hanging out with some friends we grew up with and haven't seen in forever. One of the coolest aspects of being back home is renewing friendships with people we haven't seen in over 10 years. So many of the people we re-connect with still can't believe I'm a pastor...:-)
4. My brother in-law is officially launching a new church here in Northeast Columbia on Sunday. His story is a pretty remarkable one...he didn't go looking to plant a church - it found him! He's done a great job developing and leading his core team and I am confident God is going to use this church to do big things. How crazy is it that my father in-law, my brother in-law, and I are pastors on the same side of the same city?
5. And finally, this weekend is my last weekend in my 20's. Yep...the big 30 rolls in on Thursday the 5th. Not sure how I feel about that yet...it's a big deal when that first number changes...
Have a great weekend! Throw up a prayer for us this weekend if you think about it!
Praying for your meeting man! Please let me know how it goes old man! :-)
Posted by: Chris Reeder | May 30, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Praying for you! all over Phil 2:5 today, "in my life I must think and act like Christ." Blessings this weekend! and early Happy B'day! oh to be 30 again....
Posted by: steve harrison | May 30, 2008 at 04:27 PM
I'm fired up for you guys Jay. God is about to hit it out of the park!
Happy early Birthday...My first number changes in a couple years...to a 4! Believe me...30 isn't so bad :)
Posted by: Jim Henry | May 30, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Hey Jay,
Being 30 isn't so bad.
My best memory of being 30? Hair!
Enjoy!
Rob
Posted by: Rob | May 30, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Take the 30s like a man! Besides, I paved the way for ya. I turned 30 on December Uno.
Posted by: Terrace Crawford | June 01, 2008 at 03:08 PM
chris :: you guys are awesome! thanks for praying!
steve :: GREAT word, brother! thanks for sharing and praying!
jim :: love that enthusiasm...i need it because i feel so in over my head it's not even funny! thanks for the encouragement.
rob :: at the rate we're going, hair might be my best memory of 29! :-)
terrace :: the 30's don't start until 31 at least...at 30 you're not IN your 30's, you're just 30. :-)
Posted by: Jay Hardwick | June 02, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Jay,
I had hoped to hear one or more of your messages at Lake Murray Bptst. However, I am having difficulties finding a link to one of your sermons. Do you keep them online somewhere? If so, where?
Posted by: Tim | June 02, 2008 at 04:52 PM
tim :: unfortunately, i don't think lmbc puts their sermons online. if i find out differently, i'll let you know. thanks!
Posted by: jay hardwick | June 02, 2008 at 05:58 PM