From one of my favorite speaker/teachers Mark Beeson:

The Early Church from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Watch Grace’s Student Ministries Intern, Andrew Wood, take a New Year’s Day Polar Bear dip in support of World Vision:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-AGXk4QTR0

David Crowder Band has recently released a new CD with a recording of John Mark McMillan’s How He Loves, but Kim Walker recorded it live last year and I JUST LOVE the recording.  Check it out:

I saw this video today and thought it was awesome!  It’s a story of a woman who was being robbed and as she prayed for the would-be assailant, the whole situation changed.  Check it out >> CLICK HERE

For the last few weeks, I’ve been working my way through the book It.  No, not the Stephen King novel about the creepy Tim Curry clown.  The book by Pastor Craig Groeschel; It - How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It.

The book is an intriguing look at the reason some churches make an impact and grow, while others stagnate and/or struggle to survive. Here’s an excerpt from a chapter titled “Hearts Focussed Outward.”

It-free churches are often very friendly.  In fact, they can be so tight, so bonded, so close - to each other - they unintentionally overlook those they don’t know.  On the other hand, ministries with it remember that Jesus came for the outsiders.  He came for those who were lost.  Broken.  Hurting.  Disenfranchised.  Alone.  Overlooked.  Poor.  Jesus came for those whom religion rejected.  Many churches unwittingly focus inward and forget those who are the very purpose for Jesus’ coming, the very purpose for our being here on earth.  These churches are like a hospital which no longer accepts patients.  Or a soup kitchen which no longer feeds hungry people.  Or like Sponge Bob no longer wearing square pants.

So, what do you think?  Is the Grace community a community with it?  Or are we Sponge Bob sans square pants?

Hi, Everyone.  I just wanted to say thanks for participating with me in the fast last week.  We’d like to get some feedback on how it went.  Please watch the video and see how you can share your story.  Thanks!

- Pastor Bartley

Grace on Vimeo

Fast at Grace from Grace Church on Vimeo.

We are headed into a three-week stretch of teaching at Grace in which we will observe the lives of Noah and Abraham.  As I have prepared the worship time for these upcoming weeks, the recurring theme that has inspired me is the significant calling that each of these men had.  God challenged them to accomplish tasks that were HUGE!

I asked myself the question: Does God call us (people today) to such great assignments?

Here’s a short video from a pastor/author named Erwin McManus that I believe sheds a little light on this issue.  Enjoy!

We’re having a baptism as part of our service tomorrow morning.  We have 4 people scheduled to share their faith stories and take the “big dip” for Jesus.  It should be a great celebration!

Here’s a video from the good folks at Granger Community Church about baptism.  I think it is rather amusing!

Crispus Cremus from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter.

Who is this King-Glory?
God, armed
and battle-ready.

Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter.

Who is this King-Glory?
God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
he is King-Glory.

Psalm 24:7-10 (The Message)