Thoughts on the year and month ahead...

As the calender rolls over to 2011 we are faced with seemingly endless opportunities.  Our jobs, our families, and even our sports teams (GO GATORS!) offer us new hopes, chances to build upon last year's successes, and possibilities to correct last years mistakes.  I can see no greater example of this than right here at Airline.
As we go into 2011 we can see the exciting path God is leading us down to expand our outreach and influence as a church.  Although the road to opening up a new campus seems a long ways away, and there are many questions that have yet to be answered, we can be sure that the safest place for us to be is in the center of God's will, even if we may feel uncomfortable there.  We can also look to build upon the great finish to 2010 that we saw in our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  It still blows my mind to think how God can bless us when we are obedient to follow Him in faith.  I look forward to expanding Airline's commitment to mission's giving in 2011, and pray that you will join with me in making sure that last year's Lottie Moon was only the start.  Finally, 2011 affords us the chance to set right things that where left undone in 2010.  I have heard from many people that they felt (as I feel) that last year was a year of complacency for many in our church.  While I cannot make your choices for you, I can promise you that during 2011 you will be given every opportunity to set out of your comfort zone, follow God in a radical way.  Whether it be going on a missions trip across the world, across the state, or across the river; whether it be serving inside the four walls of the church, or outside the walls in the community; whether it be leading an existing ministry, or starting a new one through our new "Local Missions" initiative...you will have opportunities to be anything but complacent.
My prayer for this year is that it would start this month.  That may sound silly, but it is nonetheless true.  Instead of putting any of this off, my prayer is that it begins now.  As we set aside January to RE:focus, I pray God will grip our hearts in a fresh and new way.  We saw a great start to this last Sunday, but I'm trusting God that that was only the beginning.  Would you begin to pray with me that God would use this month to change our church, starting with you, and that in turn this year would change our community and even the communities around us.