Gilbert Thurston

Random Thoughts About Life, Ministry and Whatever Else Happens to be on my Mind

How are you doing with the challenge?

by Leave a Comment

Yesterday I challenged you to spend all day Monday remembering that everybody is somebody for whom Jesus died? How are you doing so far? Are your relationships and how you view people different today than they were Friday at work? How about at home or school? Now what’s to keep you from doing this again Tuesday and then Wednesday and then…oh yes, I’m even going to say Thursday for Thanksgiving when you see some people that maybe you don’t always see eye to eye with? Yes, even your relatives are someone for whom Jesus died, so see if you can’t react and respond to them differently this year than last.

Have a great rest of the day and make sure you check back tomorrow for a very special announcement.

Inside Today’s Experience

by Leave a Comment

  • I started the blog 2 weeks ago with WOW…today I’m beginning with AAHHHH!
  • There is absolutely nothing good that comes from a cold, rainy day, so I should have known from the beginning that this was going to be an interesting day.
  • It started with just little problems all morning long…then right before the Experience was to start, I went up on stage to turn the hazer off and got burned on my right hand and forearm…AAHHHHH…it’s still throbbing here at 2PM.
  • Next, somehow the main sound cable got unplugged so when the countdown ended, the team had nothing…AAAHHHHH!
  • Then during the second song, the software we use for projection did something we’ve never seen it do before…it deleted the song…so we had to run a blank screen….AHHHHH!
  • Other little things continued to happen during the morning, but despite all that, God still used us to see another 6 people make first time professions of faith!
  • That’s now 21 during this series! 
  • As good as that seems, remember we have a God-sized goal of 50 professions during this series.  That means we need 29 more professions in the next two weeks.
  • Please invite people like you never have before…next week is a topic everyone is interested in…money and the following week will be a very special Sunday…more details to come later in the week.
  • Had a lady at the guest reception today tell me that last week when she came into the church she got so excited she broke out in hives.  I mentioned that maybe that wouldn’t be our best advertising slogan….”Come to CFCOG and you’ll break out in hives!”….uhh think maybe attendance would drop.
  • Friday night’s coffee house was awesome.  There were between 50-60 people packed into a tiny coffee house in downtown C’burg.  We had 3 bands and a very excited crowd.
  • Saturday Lisa and I were able to spend the whole day together meeting with people and shopping…I love spending time with my wife.
  • Tonight we’ll be getting together with some close friends of ours for dinner.  We normally get together with them on Sunday nights, but the last month has been so hectic that we haven’t been able to…it’ll be good to see them.
  • I’m really excited about some behind the scenes stuff that’s happening right now…hopefully I’ll be able to share some of it with you soon.  In the meantime, pray for wisdom and direction for myself and others as decisions are made.
  • Thanks for being such an awesome church to pastor…you guys rock!

The Magic is Gone

by Leave a Comment

I’ve mentioned this a few times when preaching, but some of you recently approached me surprised to find out that I used to be a professional magician. From 1989-1999, I travelled throughout the country performing mostly for corporate clients.

I love illusions, but one of the downsides is that I’m no longer fooled or in awe when I see someone perform.  That sense of wonder and amazement is just not there…I miss that. 

In the same way, we must be careful as Christians not to lose the wonder and awe of what God is currently doing in our midst. Do you realize that just our United Worship Experience is now 3 times bigger than the average church?  Our entire church is about 9 times bigger than the average church?  Do you realize that the 21 professions of faith in the last 3 weeks is more than what most churches see in an entire decade?  Do you realize that we have more people serve in ministries on Sunday morning than the average church even has in attendance?  Do you realize that we have more children on Sunday mornings than the average church even has adults?

What I’m trying to say is that God is using you and me to do incredible things on His behalf.  Let’s not lose the sense of awe and wonder of getting to participate in that.  Let’s not get complacent and say “Well we’ve done enough.” So let’s continue to invite people like we never have before…let’s continue investing our time and our resources in even greater ways and most of all let us continue to worship our God who amazes us in the most incredible ways.

Like Radio Shack…

by Leave a Comment

…you’ve got questions, we’ve go answers. I think from time to time I will use this blog to answer common questions that come up. The reason I thought of it was a question that someone submitted via a Connection Card this past week.

The question was can we turn the music volume down so they can hear other people singing besides just the worship team. The answer to that is…No. Here’s why. The person asking the question thought that it would be more worshipful if they could hear others.  Actually the opposite is true.  People are much more likely to sing out with all their hearts when they know they can’t be heard by others.  I know that’s true for me…if you thought my dancing was bad, you should hear my singing!  But yet on Sunday’s, I can sing at the top of my lungs, because I know that I can’t be heard.

Also keep in mind that the Experience is designed for people who have not yet made a decision to follow Christ.  They are use to going to concerts where the volume is louder and since the songs are new to them, it’s much more likely they will try to sing along because they are not as afraid to make a mistake that the person sitting next to them will hear. 

Well gotta get going the team is getting ready to practice and we’re shooting some video footage, so lots to do tonight before the big New Year’s Eve party planning session.

This Weekend

by Leave a Comment

I know I probably say this a lot, but I am super-excited about this week’s Experience. I truly believe that many relationships will be transformed and renovated as a result of the message. This would be a fantastic weekend to invite someone to come along with you…I guarantee they and you will not be disappointed. Also, please be praying for the Experience on the 25th. I’m working on trying to arrange something for that day that will be yet another can’t miss event.