Top Reads of 2012

No certain order, but all must reads


1. Jesus- A Theography by Len Sweet and Frank Viola
2. A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards
3. Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas
4. Sifted by Rick Lawrence
5. Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker
6. Platform by Michael Hyatt
7. Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (1of a 3 book rotation I read semi-annually)
8. The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine
9. The Cloud and the Line by Paul Gibbs (PAIS Project)

No Church, No pews, No Problem

During a huge building project and remodel of our church's main worship facility we were holding services in our Fellowship Hall. That was until this past Sunday night when a fire caused extensive damage to our facility and all but eliminated any way to use our campus for corporate gathering. It was already somewhat unsettling for so many to not have our Christmas plays and musicals in our worship center, but a strange unifying communion had taken place in that fellowship hall! Our church had pulled together in so much during this building project and displacement, honestly, it's been a sweet time of worship and fellowship.

I think it would be so easy to be discouraged now. A major set back, another displacement, another 'new" place for families to gather for these special times of celebrating the Lords birth. However, what an amazing time for our faith family to tighten up again. We've gone from 3 services to 2 in the fellowship hall, to now just 1 in our temporary location. Maybe I'm crazy, but I believe this could be the best Christmas celebration our church has ever experienced. Maybe we needed to strip down all the stuff (as much as we enjoy it), maybe its not about the decorations, even about the styles of music and instruments that will be played! Perhaps, the Lord is "doing a new thing" among us that will put front and center the Lord Jesus in all his splendor; that this season, FBC Midland would put every thought, every effort, and every praise toward he alone who is worthy of such... No Church, No Pews, No Problem for the Lord!

 Merry Christmas!!!