EdYoungBlog

Setting Things Straight and Moving On

This was an awesome weekend at Fellowship Church! I am humbled by the outpouring of love, encouragement and support from so many people. Before I spoke, I took the opportunity to thank the church and address some recent news coverage. And now, we will continue to move forward and follow God in the work He is doing here.

Falling Asleep to the Sermon

It's All About the Details

Do You Ever Have the Itch to Baptize?

This past Sunday we had an amazing number of people make the decision to follow Christ. I watched as hundreds of people flooded the altar areas of our different campuses. And as they were standing down front, I suddenly got an itch to baptize. I hadn’t planned it. We didn’t know it was going to happen. But it did. And it was amazing.

Quickly, our team got everything together for that spontaneous baptism (our staff motto is: I’m always ready to do anything, everything or nothing!) And after preaching, I ran up to my office, threw on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, and bolted to the baptismal area.

While running out of the building (out of excitement), I cut through one of our flower beds (ignoring signs), bounded down the hill and began to baptize. What an incredible experience! Tears of joy, laughter and applause cut through the crisp fall air as so many young people at the zenith of their lives went public with their decision to follow Christ and do a 180 in their lives.

However, several days later, I began to have a horrendous itch on the back of my legs that looked strangely like poison ivy. I thought, “Where did I come in contact with this demonic plant?”

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was in the flower bed (that I shouldn’t have cut through)! I walked away from this ordeal with itchy legs and two powerful reminders.

First: always follow the itch to baptize!

So many of the church numbers lists are focused on attendance. But really, we should follow the number of baptisms. This is what it is all about. It’s great to know who’s showing up. But the bigger question is: who are you reaching?

The second moral: stay out of the flower beds!

In other words, God has a path set for you and he's posted signs along the way. Walk where you are supposed to walk. If we walk on HIS grass and stay out of HIS beds, we won’t have to deal with the poison ivy that may be there, the poison ivy we were never intended to deal with in the first place!

The Next Generation

For the past three weeks I've had the chance to speak to the students of Fellowship Church - something I would challenge every lead pastor to do every now and then. It gives you an opportunity to connect with the next generation. It helps you get a read on the pulse of your students. And you will definitely catch some seriously contagious energy! Check out what I'm talking about:


 

 

 

 

 




 

Waiting on God

It all started with a smiley face. And now, my close friend and fellow pastor, John Cross, is getting married.

                                        

Over the last several years, my family has grown extremely close to John. And as our friendship has strengthened, I've prayed that God would provide him with someone who would be more than a friend, a confidant, a helper in ministry. Lisa and I have prayed for him to find a wife. We even went as far as setting him up on a few blind dates!

But, as with everything else in life, God's timing is what really matters. And, as John says, God has provided "more than I would have prayed for." And, "It's worth it when you wait on God."

Congratulations, John and Dawn!

Workout with Shaun Kelley

Recently, my brother Ben and I had the opportunity to work out with Shaun Kelley. Check it out...

The Golden Fly

I've been fishing in the Golden Fly Tarpon tournament in Islamorada, Florida over the past few days. Here are a few shots...

 

 

 

 

Happy Muzzards Day!

The 3rd Winner of the Golden Crab

Congratulations to Tammy Bunting - this month's winner of the Golden Crab Award! (and no, I'm not spilling the details of this coveted prize... yet.)