Sunday Recap

We had another solid day today at Parkway. Very cool to see two people trust Christ in our services. God continues to amaze me as HE uses this church to reach people that are far from HIM. We wrapped our the Everything that You Wanted to Know series with an interesting (I think.) twist. We answered a ton of questions with a few Lifelines (like Who Wants to Be A Millionarre). The big idea of the day was that if we lack wisdom we should ask God who give it generously to those who ask. It is obvious that people have tons of questions based on the types and volume of questions that were submitted as a part of this series. Here's the deal: you don't have to wait for the church to answer your questions. Go to God. Go to His Word. Go to the people around. Wisdom abounds.


Here are some of the other highlights of the day:

• Children's Ministry Xtreme Sunday was a huge success. The kids learned that church is fun and it is cool to invite your friends.


• There was still a buzz in the church following our Man Up event on Thursday. Looking forward to seeing what happens as we launch new groups and studies this week.


• I am excited that we have three new groups forming right now - 1 for men, 1 mixed group, and 1 for young adults.

Have a great week and we will see you on Sunday as we kick off the new series 3:16 Numbers of Hope.

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I Love Small Groups

Today, I am in San Antonio with the Group Life Advisory Team for the Willow Creek Association. It is a privelege to be a part of this group. This gathering of people probably includes some of the greatest community building leaders in North America. We are talking about issues that we all face and we are working together to build the Willow Group Life Conference for the fall.

I love times like this because I get to see old friends. These times also stretch me to make sure that I am still growing as a leader. I am hoping and praying that God gives me a picture of what it will take for Parkway's small groups to be taken to the next level. We are good. I want to be great.

To get a feel for some of the people that I am hangin' with, check out these videos:

Russ Robinson
What if there is conflict in my group?


Mike Hurt
What if someone in my group asks a diffcult question?


John Burke
What if I can't get my group to talk?



For more group life videos, visit the Leadership Media section of our site and www.smallgroupexchange.com.

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Bekah's Turn

Last Thursday, was Bekah's turn to be in the schools production of Circus, Circus. She did a great job. Enjoy the video.


Circus, Circus from Mike Hurt on Vimeo.

By the way, we are loving the Flip video camera that Santa brought Nick for Christmas.

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Sunday Recap

Sunday was another good day at Parkway Church. It never gets old to see people trust Christ with their lives. Yesterday, I had more action at the couches than we have had in weeks. If you aren't a part of Parkway, let me explain. We invite people to come meet me at the couches in our cafe after the services. Generally, I meet people who are new to the church or who have a prayer request or maybe even a quick question about the day's talk. Yesterday, was a little different. Sure we had new people, prayer requests and more follow-up questions for the talk. On top to this, I also had people just stopping by to tell me how God is at work in their lives. These are men and women who had prayed with and for in previous weeks and months so it was great to catch up on what the Lord has been doing in their lives. The thing that hit me as how excited they were to see God at work in them. They couldn't contain themselves. When you give a talk on discovering God's will for your life, there is nothing better than hearing stories of life-change and God's leadership like I heard yesterday both at the couches and through email. Thanks Parkway for encouraging your pastor yesterday.

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This Weekend

This weekend, we are continuing the Everything You Wanted to Know Series as we answer questions about discovering the will of God. As a part of the talk we will look at:

• How do you know when the Lord is speaking to you?


• If God’s will is predetermined and perfect, what is the point of prayer? Will my request actually change his plan?


• What is the point of praying “Let your will be done” – won’t it be done anyway?


• When praying for something, are you supposed to pray over and over and over again?

Want a sneak peak, check out this Wordle.

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That's My Sister

Last night, Leah was a part of her class' production, "Circus, Circus." They did great. She was a lion, of course. She even got a chance to 'roar' on the mic.


"That's My Sister" from Mike Hurt on Vimeo.

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Okay...as we work through the Everything That You Wanted to Know series, I want to answer a question that I have been asked a few times over the last 6 months. The question: "Mike, what do you think about the Shack?" I purchased the book a few months back BUT I have not read it. Honestly, I am not sure that I will. Fiction isn't my favorite reading material. So, how can I answer a question about a book that I haven't read? I can point you to Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill.Mark's comments here, leave no doubt as to his view on the book. Did he give it a fair analysis? I don't know, but I do know that his thoughts will give you something to think about if you have read or are considering reading The Shack.

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Friends

Last week, I got an email from my best friend from High School. Her name is Aly Calvo. Why am I telling you about Aly? Well, it's because she is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She and her twin sister, Andrea, are big time leaders and their story is an inspiration to anyone with a pulse. You can learn more about their story here.

Recently, Aly has added author to her long list of accomplishments. I don't know where she gets the time and energy to do all that she does. She must have a secret that the rest of us don't know yet. Hmmm....maybe that's why she wrote her first eBook.

The 25th Hour: The Ultimate Guide of Juggling for Work at Home Moms
Written for Work-At-Home-Moms (or Dads), the book teaches the art of "getting it all done" by prioritizing family, self, and work in an easy-to-implement style.

http://www.rockstarsrock.com/rockstarsrock.com/eBook.html

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