johnlaeger.com

U2 Christmas is Coming

Last Sunday we revealed a glimpse of "U2 Christmas: When Love Comes to Town" which will start on December 2.  This coming Sunday, we will give another glimpse of what we are expecting to be the most dynamic and powerful month all year at Meadow.

A key element to seeing this work is prayer.  We are formulating a "U2 Christmas Prayer Initiative" which will involved regular emails from me with prayer requests, updates, and specific names of friends and family we are inviting to come.  If you are interested in being part of the prayer initiative, I am asking you to make a daily commitment to pray for Meadow and U2 Christmas.  The power and influence of this series will not be due to what happens up front but will be due to the prayer that is brought before God from our knees.

So...

1. If you are interested in being part of this prayer initiative - contact me.  I will then send you more details.
2. Be here this Sunday for another glimpse of what U2 Christmas is all about.  (If you are wondering why U2 at Christmas - you just have to come this Sunday and see for yourself.)
3. Start inviting your friends and family.  And we want to pray for you and for the friends and family you want to invite.  Send me their names (first name only) and we will pray for you and for them EVERYDAY asking God to give you the courage and opportunity to invite them and for them to say "yes".

One more thing...Tim Armstrong has entered the blog world.  Check out his blog here.

What a party

I can't remember a Sunday where the energy and celebration was as high as it was today.  I think we came as close as we possibly could to having the kind of party angels have in heaven when people turn to Christ!  Tim and the band totally engaged the full theater with music that you could not NOT move to, clap to, and smile with.  It was amazing!

The baptisms were so refreshing.  First time we did baptisms in the movie theater on a Sunday morning and I think we found a new way to celebrate the change Jesus brings into the lives of people.  Four of the men baptized, not too long ago, basically said church and a relationship with Christ was not something they were interested in!  One of the men told me after church, "I am looking forward to a great future."

Here's an email I got from one of the women baptized... "This was an awesome profession of what I believe.  Being obedient has its rewards, I am not sure I have ever known that so clearly before today.  The Lord smiled on me today.  'This is my daughter whom I love and am well pleased!'"

We tried "IMAG" for the first time and it worked!  It was totally cool, especially for people in the upper rows, to be able to see the baptisms projected live up on the screen as they were happening!  I think we have discovered something that has a lot of potential.

$2,000 has already come in toward the $10,000 goal for our Christmas Food Drop!  That's enough already for about 100 families in our community to have food this Christmas.  I am totally overwhelmed by the people of Meadow and the heart and compassion for this community.  Hundreds more, who wouldn't have food, are going to have food this Christmas becuase of the generosity of Meadow.

This coming Sunday (Nov. 11) we are kicking off the new series "God's Will 4 Me", plus we are starting the collection of Haiti Christmas Shoe Boxes.  Here is a link to the flyer and instructions.  Haiti Christmas Shoe Box Flyer   PLEASE follow instructions carefully.

AND - we will be showing a preview glimpse of what is just around the corner in December.  This preview will only be shown on Sunday.  It will not be on the internet.  You have to be here to see it.  The series coming in December may very well be the most powerful series ever at Meadow.  Don't miss this Sunday to see for yourself.