Just to keep you updated. John Maisel and I had a meeting with Joanna Coutu of the County Planning Office this morning. She is the Primary Planner and a member of Gulf To Lake Church. She advised us that we should have no problems in using the property we want to buy for a church building. In fact, she is helping us "FAST TRACK" the process when we are ready to go. She advised that we do not want to make application until we are at least six months from pulling the permits. She said we have about four other employees in that area who go to Gulf To Lake and they will all help us in anyway they can. What a blessing. We have about $28,000 already contributed toward the purchase and we will challenge our people to match it and pay cash for the property. We will keep you posted.

Valentine's Day Sunday was awesome. We had added 25 more chairs for the services and we were still running out of room, especially in that third service. The evening vow renewal ceremony and actual weddings were beautiful. Thank-you Mary Beth, Laura, Marla and Nancy; and all the others who worked so hard making it successful.

The Sport's Academy kicks off this Sunday. We will have about 50 soccer players on the first day and it will grow from there. I am pumped about this academy. I can see something that will impact this area like nothing else. I am almost through with my studies and I am throwing myself into making this academy a success. I will share my vision beyond what I have already told you in the months to come. All we care about is reaching these kids and their unchurched families for the Lord. It is already accomplishing that. Till next time.

Pastor Lloyd

Have you noticed and felt the excitement? The last two Sundays have been awesome. Where are all these people coming from? I think I know. So many of you have caught the vision we laid out a couple of months ago. You are loving, caring about, and inviting the unchurched. We have been absolutely packed in the second and third services. One lady told me she sat on the floor in the very back last Sunday in the third service. NO KIDDING!

Congratulations to Randy and Cindy Heron on winning that HUGE basket of gifts in our 15th Anniversary Web Site Scavenger Hunt. We plan on doing that more often. People loved it.

I hope to be announcing "real soon" our plans to go ahead and purchase the 3.7 acres next to us in the back and side. THE DREAM BEGINS.

I am so excited about Gulf To Lake Sport's Academy. If you have been here very long, you now that sports is a large part of my life and has been for fifty years. I started out in life teaching and coaching and a part of me is always attracted to that. I make no apologies for that. God has used it in my life in many ways. You talk about creating a stir. Just with the announcement this morning, people are volunteering. I didn't know we had so many qualified coaches and leaders. I have already had offers from professionals in tennis and soccer and basketball to help with this ministry. I can see it. The facility we are trusting God to build will be awesome and who knows where it will all lead. Just like the Community Center for the Arts has taken us to a new level in the Arts Ministry, The Sport's Academy will in the sports and recreation area. Thanks to Chris Hope and his vision with mine and a few others to see this happen. The soccer part of the academy starts in just three weeks. You can sign up in the Children's area and other places throughout the church.

Here's trusting for the next fifteen years to be more than we could think or dream. IT'S ON!!!

You knew this blog was coming a week early after yesterday's miracles. Humanly, we can only say, "Wow", and spiritually we say, "Praise The Lord". Our God IS an awesome God. First, what we had been praying for: When I gave the invitation and asked all the people who had just prayed to receive Christ as their Savior, to look up at me, I know over 70 people looked up. I did not want to pause too long so no doubt there were more; also, it was so hard to see everyone in the very back corners. We had 12 workers at the front with books to hand out to those who came forward and when I looked around, each one of them had multiple people lined up in front of them. I was so overwhelmed at that point I could not speak. One of our men had a great idea. He said we should have announced that the workers would stay at the front with the books and anyone who did not get to come forward, could do so after the service was over. Next time.

The workers, on Saturday, while they were cleaning all the chairs, prayed over each chair and asked the Lord to fill it with someone and to touch their heart during the service. Glen had 1,500 chairs on the floor and there were people standing in the back and I don't know how many were with kids on the grass. 1,540 people was our last count. Also, it was so refreshing to see over 500 of our people eating together in the pavilion and fellowshipping with one another. Mission accomplished.

Another miracle was the weather. Some may not think so, but the report was not good on Saturday night for Sunday. When we got to the canyon, the sun was out and the sky was blue. It did not rain until ten minutes after we finished and then only a sprinkle. When everyone had eaten and there was about five of us left, it came down in buckets. "Thank-you again Father".

What a start to our "We Are Family" theme. This Sunday's message will be a "Where do we go from here" message. I am going to show you on the screens the property we want to buy for our next phase. Thank-you so much for inviting the lost and un-churched. As I told you in a sermon, 93% of all church growth is just people moving from one church to another. We have started the vision of reaching out in a dynamic way to the un-churched and lost. Thank you. We intend to keep this before us as our vision.

The only "down side", if it really was one, is the time it took to get through the Sonny's line and the Quiznos' line. We will definitely do it differently next time. Thank-you for your patience and understanding. You were so kind while in line.

In closing, thanks to all of you who worked, prepared, cleaned, set-up, tore down, invited, brought, helped with parking, greeted, ushered, and more.

Pastor Lloyd

It is T minus 2 weeks. On the 22^nd of November we will meet at Rock Crusher Canyon for one big "We Are Family" service at 10:00 AM. I am so looking forward to this day. I pray that you are also and you will not let anything keep you from being with us that day. Just a reminder - the food is just a convenience for you if you want it. We do not want anyone not to come because of purchasing food. Most people, in fact, are going to bring something or just go home or out to their favorite restaurant like they normally do. As I told you Sunday, I am going to "mooch" off of other people's food. If you are going to bring guests and you want them to eat at the canyon also, let us know and we will buy their food for them and you won't have that expense. If you want to eat there but the price is a problem, all you need to do is call or e-mail me (795-8077 or lloyd.bertine@gultolake.com) and I will take care of it.

Trunk Or Treat was in a word, "unbelievable". That is what I kept hearing. The crowd was huge, well over 1,000. We kept going back to the store for food, candy, and it seems everything else. The music was fantastic from the Eadlers and the creativeness in the cars was superb. We know how to plan now for next year. Thanks to all of you who worked so hard.

In the last sermon series, "Your Worldview", I told you that there are three things that I pray we can change in our world.  (1) Restore the credibility of the church. Where people, families, once again see the church as the center of their life and not an addition. (2) Restore individual responsibility and not expect the government or anyone else to take care of us. (3) Restore civility in our culture where people are just not so rude. It starts with me. It starts with you.

Well, God bless you all and keep praying about the property we are looking at buying and the "Family Life Center" we want to build.

Pastor Lloyd

I just came back to the office after going to the Life Center and the Children's area to check out Mother's Touch. Last month they had the single largest number of mother's attend - 68. There may be more than that today. Aimee and her helpers; and Gwen and her helpers are doing an awesome job. If you see them, let them know how much you appreciate all they do.

The momentum for November 22nd, "WE ARE FAMILY", Sunday is building. I have commitments from Quiznos and Sonny's Barbeque to supply food for that day. We are considering selling food tickets ahead of time so that they will know how to prepare and all our people will have to do is just give them the ticket and get their food. Also, I should know in a couple of weeks if Bob Tebow will be able to be with us that Sunday. If not, we will tell you when he can come. He is in the Philippines right now because the Gators do not play this week.

The series we are now in on Sundays (Your Worldview) is becoming one of my favorites. I am learning so much in preparing these messages and I hope you are too from the sermons.

What else? Snowbirds are starting to come back. WELCOME! We are glad to have you back with us. We will try to have a special luncheon like we did a couple of years ago just for you. Probably after the first of the year when everyone is back.

Stay positive, keep believing, and keep your eyes on the Eastern sky - He is coming again.


Pastor Lloyd

Hello church family and friends. Summer is over. When football starts, summer is over. We have kicked into high gear again around the church with a lot of "stuff" happening in every ministry. Did you hear about CCA (Community Center for the Arts)? If you were not here last Sunday, I shared that we were hoping for about 12 to 15 students for the first semester. The churches Nancy and Stacy visited in Texas as models for this ministry said that would be a good start and would grow from there and give them a chance to see how it all works. As of today, there are over 30 students taking individual lessons. You also missed 41 people walking forward to receive Christ as their Savior. (4 in the first service; 18 in the second; and 19 in the third) Yea God! This two sermon series on Heaven and hell would be worth getting on DVD and sending to someone you care about who has not crossed the line.

We are scheduling baptisms on a regular basis now and will share with you those dates. Pastor Leary is forming a class for all those new Christians and Marla is scheduling baptism classes on a regular basis. And I told you last "blog" about some changes in the children's area. Well, they are almost ready to "Blast Off". This is a hint. The children's area will look like our Solar system. It is awesome. Stop by and see why the kids will be so excited. Thank-you Bruce Charlton for all the work on the planets.

Even though I had to teach the Ministry 301 class Sunday afternoon (48 attendees), I was able to get over to the Youth Explosion service near their end. What a sight. All of those teenagers on their knees at the altar. Pastor Steve just shared with me that they have had over 30 new students in just the past 4 weeks. Again, Yea God!

Folks, unless the Lord "draws people" and "touches their hearts" everything we do is in vain. It is still true, "unless the Lord builds the house (any house-any ministry-children, youth, adult, doesn't matter) they labor in vain that build it".

OK, I may as well tell you now. I have been in contact with Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association (Tim Tebow's dad). He and I are working on a Sunday when he will be with us in our services. Pray about this and I will keep you posted.

Until the next "Blog" - Can someone tell me what that stands for? It must be an acronym for something.

Pastor Lloyd

What a great summer so far. I can hardly contain my excitement even as I write this "blog". Whoever came up with that name must have been on something. I don't always have the time on Sunday morning, though I try, to inform you of all the things that are going on. Having three services also makes it hard for you to "experience" the work of God in our church.

First, thank you for the warm welcome given to Pastor Steve and Laura at their "Meet and Greet" Sunday. We had several hundred attend and over 70 youth were present which is more than we have had in about a year. Pastor Steve already has much of the year planned out and the youth workers are as excited as I have ever seen them.

Second, on July 19th, we had 55 people walk forward to receive Christ as their personal Savior. People in the second and third services said they had never felt anything close to what the Holy Spirit did that day. A lifetime friend I grew up with and went to school with from kindergarten through graduation came forward to receive Christ.

Third, Last Sunday, August 2nd, we baptized 37 people and had a very moving time during the Lord's Supper in all three services.

Fourth, on Sunday, July 26th, we had the largest single Guest Dinner we have ever had. 97 people attended and that night 33 people came to Membership 101. We have had an average of 14 new families from the county visiting each week since the first of June.

Fifth, last Sunday, we were back to around 1,100 in attendance when you add the children's ministry to the Sunday morning attendance.

Sixth, even though the economy is still rough and all churches are experiencing a drop in offerings, yes, even Gulf to Lake, you gave $3,000 to supply children with back to school supplies. Tyler Burns and help from mom, Pam, and Marla, will be coordinating the distribution. We are going to help Rock Crusher, Lecanto, Crystal River, and Forest Ridge schools; and possibly Crystal River Middle.

Last, but not least, Marla and the children's ministry has done an unbelievable job this summer. She has had something for the kids two to three times each week. We have numerous new families with kids because they heard about all that was happening in the children's ministry. By the way, things are going to change in the children's ministry but we are not saying yet. It will be a BIG surprise.

What can you say but "Praise God"? We are going to keep doing what we are doing and praising the Lord in the process and counting on his continued mercy and grace. He is absolutely sovereign and in control; and sometimes puts us through a "pruning" process to put us in a situation to receive all that He has for us. I love you and I would not want to be anywhere else but serving with you. Until the next "blog".

^{Pastor Lloyd}