Devotional Post

All post for the FORWARD In Love Devotional will be posted the evening before the day to be read. Blogger is not allowing pre-post at this time so they will be done manually the evening before. If you have received any already via email, please disregard them until the appropriate day. We would also like to encourage you to send an email to your friends and family asking them to subscribe to the blog. After subscribing it is important that they verify their email or they will not receive it in their inbox. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts on the blog as we move together through the next 21 days. God Bless You!!!

"Tired"

Last week was crazy, and we only have a week and a half left before we visit the family for Christmas. There is so much to get done, but more than that thinking about 2008 is crucially important as well. I had the privelage of spending time with the Boyd and Oneal family last week, and I was simply refreshed at the Joy and Peace that God can bring in times of chaos. In Sundays message we talked about giving "compassion for Christmas." I am thinking daily about ways I can make it happen in my life and my family. What I am learning is the more I think about it the more I realize how bad I am at it. I just thought I would take a minute and share with you my own struggles.

New Release

As you know this Friday a new movie is being released that is directed towards children in which the main character is a child who takes a journey in an amazing fantasy world. The movie, The Golden Compass, is due out this Friday, December 7th. Although this movie looks like another innocent portrayal of a fantasy world where great adventures take place, things become very deceiving. What is disturbing to me is that the movie is actually based on the first of a trilogy of books for children called His Dark Materials written by Philip Pullman of England.
Pullman is a proclaimed atheist who is bent on killing God in the minds of children. His materials and books are very anti-christian or anti-religion. British Columnist Peter Hitchens in 2002 labeled him “the most dangerous author in Britain”. He uses his stories to twist and distort familiar biblical accounts of creation, fall, and redemption, making heroes of those who rebel against religion, and having one of his "good" characters even say, "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake."
At first glance, you or your children may have seen this preview and thought “Oh, here is another good looking movie” or "Oh man, that looks like an awesome flick". (At least thats what I say when I see a neat preview!) I write all of this to say think twice. Most things in the realm of media and literature have an underlying meaning or theme. Although the Hollywood version of this movie is very watered down, the attempt is to not only get you to see the movie, but to buy the books as well.

For some articles from a Christian perspective regarding this movie visit:
http://www.breakpoint.org/search.asp?keywords=the+golden+compass

For a quick overview of the book series through plot summaries visit:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/summary.html

Sharon Boyd Funeral Arrangements

As most of you know, Sharon Boyd past away Monday afternoon following an extensive bout with cancer. Our prayers are with her family and we wanted to inform you of the upcoming arrangements. The viewing will be held from 6-9PM Thursday December 6th at Reiman's Funeral Home on Commission Road in Long Beach. There will also be a viewing at Gulf Coast Worship Center from 10AM-noon Friday December 7th. The funeral will be held at Gulf Coast Worship Center at noon on Friday. If you would like to assist with meals for the family, please contact Pastor Eddie at 228-868-9500.

A Moment Can Make A Difference

As a boy my grandfather was playing by the side of the road, when a couple drove by and invited him to an event at their church. He decided to attend because of the warm and genuine invitation he had received. When he arrived he felt love and acceptance. That day he decided to become a Christ follower. He went on to share this with his ten brothers and sisters, and eventually his parents. Today, generations later, there are countless lives that know who God is because of one invitation.
It only takes a moment to make a difference. Whether you bring friends, serve food, give candy out from the trunk of your car, or make people feel welcome, every part can make a difference at our first ever Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat. On October 31st at Gulf Coast Worship Center, we have the opportunity to show God's love to our community and to let them know we care about their children and families. We have had a wonderful response to our volunteer sign-up, however, we still need you! There are still opportunities to get involved. Picture this, hundreds of people coming to our church with all hands on deck. We are looking to serve, share God's love, and have a great time. Sign-up today and be a part in making the difference!

It was a Blitz

Wow, what an exciting day we had last Sunday......all the colors from the teams, the brunch between services, candy for the Fall Festival, sign up sheets and free shirts, for all practical terms the day was a roaring success. From the moment the doors opened, momentum started to build that culminated in twenty six people signing up to be on a serve team. We believe that God is looking for servants and Gulf Coast Worship Center is built around serving. We serve God by serving His people. Our goal is to have 70 to 80% of our people serving and serve teams are helping us achieve that goal. When people serve, they become joined to each other, friendships are formed, goals are realized, and lives are changed. You can make a difference, you can be the difference, get involved today.

Eddie

Heart Patients Choose Death

Change is a very difficult thing for most people. I was reminded of this twice over the last couple of days when I heard 2 quotes from 2 different sources. First of all 90% of all heart patients when faced with a choice of a change of lifestyle or death, choose death over lifestyle change. Secondly I was listening to an audio teaching when I heard the story of a woman who had an addiction to cigarettes and said that she had read so much about the damages of cigarettes and lung cancer that she decided to stop reading.
These thoughts seem so silly and immature, yet many of us have the same struggles. I don't really like change and if you are honest, you probably don't either. I would much rather keep the waters calm, and not disturb life as we know it, but sometimes God expects more from us. As a community of Christ Followers, what Jesus called the church, it is our responsiblity to always be one step ahead of our ever-changing culture. We cannot always do things the way we have always done them. We cannot expect younger generations and older generations to have the same heart language. Because of this we must learn to share God's love with everyone in a manner in which they will understand. We must be creative enough, and yet sensitive enough to change when change is necessary.
As we move forward with God's plan for Gulf Coast Worship Center, we must be willing to embrace change. Story after story continues to flood our office about the work that God is doing in people's lives, and how he is doing it. I am amazed how much God is doing, and the channels he is chosing to do it through. So my prayer is "God whatever it is that I need to change, the way I view my neighbor, the way I do ministry, the traditions I grew up with, let me be open and sensitive to do so."
Carl