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