Brad Wilkerson // COC Metro

Can't Wait Until Next Week

As you read this week's blog, I need to let you know that it will be May 13th before you hear from me again.  That's right, next week I will be out of commission as far as internet and cell phone contact goes.  Sarah and I are going on a much needed 5 day vacation to the Bahamas next week.  We are so excited to be boarding the Music Boat Cruise out of Florida next Monday heading for the Bahamas.  This is a unique cruise as it is focused on connecting and reconnecting with God through praise and worship music.  There will be some great bands and worship leaders on this cruise leading us into the very presence of the Lord while at sea.  Now the cool thing about this cruise is that it was given to us as a gift from one of our awesome families at COC.  We are so fortunate to be surrounded by such great, generous people at COC.  Of course as you notice we will be only gone for 5 days so we won't miss a Sunday at COC.  There are a lot of great things going on right now at COC and we are pleased that we will not have to miss a Sunday.  With us getting back on May 8th and Sunday the 10th being Mother's Day, let me remind you now to not forget our moms. 
 
Have a great rest of the week and we'll talk to you soon.
 
Bon  Voyage

Estate Sale

Well this week has already been a long one as Sarah and I have been working hard trying to get Sarah’s deceased Father’s Estate ready for the big sale this coming Saturday.  Sarah’s dad was a good man but he had one crazy trait, he never threw anything away.  Since he passed just short of two years ago we have filled up a twenty yard commercial dumpster not once but three times and yesterday Randy Rich and myself took two loads of trash to the landfill that weighed in at roughly 2,700 pounds.  Wow, this man had quite a collection.  Anyway, it is all cleaned up now and all the items that are worth putting up for sale are pretty much in their place.  So while I was sweeping up the shop and the shed last night I was looking for the spiritual application to all of this and you know it was right there.  So here it is, “Given enough time….someone will trash all your stuff!”  It is true, you can’t take it with you when you go so why not send it on ahead.  That’s right, why not invest in the best recession proof investment of all…ETERNITY! 

Each and every week we get the opportunity to do so at COC through giving of our Time, Talent and Treasures.  I love to give and it warms my heart to see lives changed because of my giving.

As you continue on your life’s journey I challenge you to not get caught up in the things of this world.  Yea, stuff is nice to have but that is all it really is…stuff.  And given enough time someone else will come along and trash your stuff.

Have a great week and make an impact on your world for ETERNITY!

What's Next?

Love Lives and it was evident at COC Metro on Easter Sunday morning. We had an incredible day with the highest attendance in our young church’s history. 290 people gathered to worship and exalt our risen Savior. We celebrate the victory of two individuals giving their life to Christ! One of our first time guests stated, “I just wanted to say that I was a first time worshiper yesterday and I will definitely be back every Sunday. I have finally found my church!” God rocks and this is one incredible ride we are on!

When you see God move and work in such an incredible way it makes all the hard work worth it!  It is such a joy and privilege to be used by God! 

At the end of the weekend I was so encouraged to hear our leadership and wonderful servant ministers say, “What’s next?”! 

That is the kind of attitude God can expand His work in.  The Whatever it Takes….Lose My Life spirit is what makes COC great.  Don’t ever forget or take for granted what we GET to do for God.  It is awesome to be His ambassador to the 380 Corridor. 

Again…great job COC!  I look forward to this Sunday as we worship and celebrate together again.

Love Lives

Love Lives from Dane Blankenship on Vimeo.

Does your life feel futile?  It doesn’t have to.  Do some of your failures seem fatal?  They really aren’t.  And your death…does that appear to be your final stop?  According to God, your death is just the beginning of something spectacular! 

Of the many world religions, only one claims that its central figure (Jesus Christ) physically rose from the grave.  You might actually say that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very essence of what many people know as Christianity.  There really are some pretty radical things to comprehend when you contemplate a dead man coming back to life.  The resurrection of Jesus is the defining moment of human history!  If Jesus really rose from the dead, then His claim to be the Son of God can’t be ignored or denied.  But…if He didn’t rise from the dead than Christianity as we know it, is a fraud. It takes a significant amount of ridiculous faith to believe in Jesus.  Think about it one more time…God comes to earth in the form of man.  Lives a ‘sinless life’ at that, and willingly dies on a Cross for you and me.  Not only does Christ die on a cross but the Scriptures say three days later He raises Himself from death!  You know…in all honesty…one might really consider you a fool to believe such a story?

This world we live in teaches us something that goes like this… “If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.”  So many of us have been taken in by empty promises that we are leery of anything or anyone that tells us we can have something for nothing.  The world just doesn’t work that way.  If you second guess me, just turn on your TV and watch what the world has to say about getting rich, sexy, or famous.  Usually it all comes from the simple purchase of a “product” that’s being offered.  God is different.  Instead of ‘Promises Full of Emptiness’, because of Easter (Resurrection Day), He gave us ‘Emptiness that’s Full of Promise’! Now that’s kind of confusing, isn’t it?  But actually, in the emptiness of His tomb, we discover these very promises to be true!

So this Easter, come close and listen to His story, about a love more faithful than the morning.  The Father gave, His only Son just to save us.  Through His death and resurrection walls we think cannot move come crashing down.  Yes, True Love died but now is alive.  Love lives…and so can you!