Where do we go from here?

I've spent the last two days praying through and trying to process what God did on Sunday. His spirit moved in a powerful way and many people were able to let go and nail their hurts, habits and hang ups to the cross. Several people have told me that it was the greatest worship service that they have ever experienced. Well, that is AWESOME, but I do not want last Sunday to be a one-time experience. I want us to be sensitive to what God is doing in our lives, families, church, and community.

I spent some time today reading and praying through every card that was nailed to the cross. Of course, all of the cards are anonymous, so I do not know whose card is whose. But it appears to me that many of us are dealing with a lot of the same struggles: fear, pride, lust, jealousy, addictions, bitterness, hurt, worry, anger, lies, etc. Admitting our faults and turning them over the God is the first step. But where do we go from here? How do we break free from the bondage?

Because of God's leading, our staff team has decided to change our message series plan for September. You guys may not believe this, but we have the message series planned out for the rest of 2008. Well, sometimes, God moves and you have to change your plans. We were planning a series called "Jesus Loves the 90's" on relationships. We will now be leading a series that has to do with "breaking free" from the things that hold us captive. I believe that Sunday was the first step in our journey of dealing with guilt, shame and bondage. And hopefully, over September, we will learn to break free from our sins (and the things that entangles us) and learn to daily experience God's love, grace and forgiveness.

So, we will have two more incredible weeks of "The Man Series". BTW, this Sunday is going to be HUGE. Then, we will discover how to truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind. I hope you are ready to take your relationship with God to a HNL (Hole Nuttha Level).