“Come Home” is what the request was after Pastor Dan talked about the Prodigal Son. The worship team did an amazing presentation of the prodigal story to set up Dan’s Message.

Here are some snapshots from tonight. You can view more pics here.

I did get an emotional boost around 11a when my wife instant messaged me telling me to check my inbox. She forwarded me an email she received from a neighbor I had invited on Sat.

This email was describing this couples experience and feelings from their visit. She explained how they haven’t been to church in a long time and how they decided at the last second to come. My favorite thing was that the message fresh and relevant to her everyday life.

That put it in perspective. Many hours of rehearsal. Eight services. Lots of prayer. For people like my neighbor. And the thing that impacted her the most was the message.

We need to remember that the glitz and glamour cannot distract from the Gospel.

Not that there isn’t a place for the lights and cameras. We just need to remember that they are to enhance the message and not inhbit it.

This weekend we focused on being our best. Westside’s best is making an atmosphere where people can connect with God and that’s what we did. We’re at our best when we worship.

The set list was:
The Same Power ( we opened we a fugue that Jason, our music director wrote. I will post that later so you can see this cool and creative opening. )
Song of Hope
Alive and Running
Let Me Sing
Welcome
Transition: I Will Follow (live bumper)
Message pt1
Stronger
Jesus Paid it All
Message pt2
Closing
Happy Day

Al of our volunteers knocked it out of the park this weekend. The vocal team sang for all eight services and the production team made it all come together.

Thanks to all for your prayers and efforts this weekend so God could change lives.

Saturday. A day where people had a choice:

1. Go with what everyone has seen and lose all hope that He wasn’t who He said He was.
2. Remember the prophecy and believe that He was the Promised One and wait for its fulfillment.

So the disciples waited. Most all chose to believe what they saw. The cross, the blood, the thorns, the sword, the grave, the stone, the soldiers and the morning after they heard the silence. 

When you lose a loved one, you wake up the next morning in a daze filled with emotions of loss, hurt, pain and fear. Hope is hard to find in death.

Saturday. Loss. Hurt. Pain. Fear. Where was Hope? Where was the promise? Where were the people remembering the words He said when He talked about rebuilding the temple in three days?

Saturday. Loss. Hurt. Pain. Fear. 

Limbo.

Saturday. The day before…

The day before… Soldiers down, stone rolled, folded clothes, angels behold, people gather, hope grows and the Promise unfolds… Sunday.

Tomorrow is Sunday. The day we celebrate our Hope in a Savior that Loves us so much that He paid the penalty for our sin so we don’t have to.

Tomorrow we celebrate a day. Every day we celebrate a Risen King!