Make it Stick

Today you had a worship experience as you attended church but keep in mind that a war is raging for your worship. A war with an enemy that seeks to rob you of the word that was planted in your heart and the encouragement that was brought to your life.
Remember that one of the great ways to overcome your enemy in this battle is to keep in sharp focus the fact that this worship experience was not the end of your spiritual journey for the week but the STARTING LINE. So Ready, Set, Go let the worship experience you had this morning inspire you to be the Follower of Christ you were destined to be this week.
Pastor Jason

Make it Stick

I will read my Bible this year
I will lose weight this year
I will spend more time with my family this year.
I will exercise regularly.
Sound familiar? Do your realize that 80% of New Years resolutions fail after only two weeks.
I believe you can make your resolutions and dreams for 2010 STICK. That means when 2011 rolls around you don't have to make the same resolutions that you have made and broken every year for the past 15 years but you can celebrate the fact that in 2010 you lived out your dreams.
In Phillippians 3:13-14, Paul gave this advice that will help usake It Stick.
- Forget the failures of the past
- Focus on the possibilites of the future
- Keep a healthy perspective
I pray 2010 is the year that you celebrate your dreams rather than mourn the fact that you missed the mark again. YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN MAKE IT STICK!

Pastor Jason

The King of Fruits

The durian, a tropical fruit, is often called The King of Fruits. Either you love it or you hate it. Those who love it will do almost anything to get it. Those who hate it won’t get near it because of its pungent smell. My wife loves it. Recently, a friend, who was grateful for what my wife had done for her, sent her a box of the finest quality durians. She took great pains to ensure that they were the best.

I asked myself, “If we can give the best to a friend, how can we do less for our Lord who gave His very life for us?”

The nobleman in Jesus’ parable in Luke 19 wanted the best from 10 servants to whom he gave money, saying, “Do business till I come” (v.13). When he returned and asked for an account, he gave the same commendation “Well done!” to all those who had done what they could with the money entrusted to them. But he called “wicked” (v.22) the one who did nothing with his money.

The primary meaning of this story is stewardship of what we’ve been given. To be faithful with what God has given to us is to give Him our best in return. As the master gave money to the servants in the parable, so God has given us gifts to serve Him. It is we who will lose out if we fail to give Him our best. —C. P. Hia

Give of your best to the Master,
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate every part. —Grose

We are at our best when we serve God by serving others.

Thankful for Community

Staci and I would like to thank everyone at MCAG for all the prayers, support and love shown to us over the last week. We never could have imagined that we would have Madelynn in the hospital twice in one week (Mon/Tues for VNS surgery and Fri - present for pneumonia). Plus, as I was taking Madelynn to the hospital late Friday night Staci calls to tell me our water heater had sprung a leak. And to top it off the Kids Fighting Aids Christmas Party that we had been planning for over a month was this past Saturday. Needless to say this was a bizarre week.

But now as I get a chance to reflect over the last few days I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a new appreciation for the community we have built (and are building). Many of you gladly stepped in and made Kids Fighting Aids a great event. I was able to take a warm shower Sunday morning (for which you are all grateful) before church thanks to Shane Gossage (and my mother in Texas who decided to give us another Christmas gift early) who came over late Saturday to install a new water heater.

These may not sound like huge events but this week had the potential to cause Staci and I a world of stress, anxiety and grief. But because of our MCAG community we were encouraged, blessed and able to focus on our family needs. We are so thankful for our friends for walking with us through this trial. We are thankful for all your prayers, calls and encouraging words.

You have shown us what the good news of Jesus looks like this week with your selfless love and we are grateful.

We love you all,

Chad and Staci Quarles

Outreach Coordinators

The Expensive Gift Of Friendship

I've been thinking about the up coming holiday season and the concept of the Advent Conspiracy (spending less and giving more). And I'm struck with the thought that the most expensive and valuable gift we can give costs nothing. That gift is the gift of friendship. It cost nothing to listen, it cost nothing to serve, it cost nothing to lend a shoulder to cry on, or a hand to help. This Christmas season look for ways to give the gift that will mend lives and won't break the bank.

Pastor Craig

Christmas at the Movies

Last week I did conducted a very unscientific poll to see what people thought was the best Christmas movie of all time. Thank you to the over 70 people who voted via the blog and Facebook. It's a Wonderful Life was the winner, with A Christmas Story, and Miracle on 34th Street coming in 2nd and 3rd. After those 3 there were 16 other movies that generated from 1-6 votes each.
Here is a great clip from one of the movies that just got 2 votes but is a classic to sit and watch with your kids. It is also ok to say you watched if you don't have kids!
Jason Whitehurst
Lead Pastor

Good News of Great Joy

I love the announcement of Christ’s birth given to us in the gospel of Luke. In Luke 2:9-10 it says, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Good news of great joy. In a world that is saturated with bad news, stress, anxiety and fear I think it is wondrous and encouraging to know that the introduction and the continuing foundation of our faith is centered on good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

As I think about how I want to celebrate and remember the birth of our Savior this Christmas season I find myself asking if my focus is on the good news of Jesus Christ or is it distracted by the stress and anxiety this season can often produce. My desire is to simply enjoy the good news this season. It is truly good news to know that I am loved and valued by the Creator of all things.

All the people. I am also challenged by this verse because my experience of the good news of Jesus compels me to share this good news with others. The good news is for ALL people. If we have experienced the good news of Jesus then it should translate into good news for our neighbors, our co-workers and anyone we interact with. We share the good news of Jesus by living like Him. We love. We give. We listen. We celebrate. We point the way.

What does the good news of Jesus mean to you this season?

Chad Quarles

Outreach Coordinator