Gilbert Thurston

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

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Awesome motivation!!!

October 15, 2007 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Last night I was helping with our College & Young Adults and in the small group I was a part of, another one of the older adults shared something awesome with me and the group that has been quite the motivator today. She said that for years she used to take young people (teens) out to Findlay, OH to our denominational headquarters for a 4 day conference designed specifically for them. She said that they always got pumped up, but that it was hard to sustain once they got back.

She said what she likes about United is that we are actually doing better music and have better creative technology pieces than what they did at the conference each year. What she said next really was the biggie…she said, what’s amazing is you guys pull it off every single week, not just once a year. Wow, what a compliment…obviously I don’t do that on my own, so a big thank you to the entire team that works behind the scenes each week to make every Sunday an Experience with God, not just a service we offer!

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Inside Today’s Experience

October 14, 2007 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

  • Pretty decent sized crowd today and a few new faces from the Block Party on Saturday.
  • The band has really stepped it up recently and for the 2nd time in the past 3 weeks, we had a power outage.  I can’t wait to move into the new building and not have these problems anymore.
  • The huge iPod continues to be a huge hit with everyone.  Two quotes from today…”You dance as bad as my dad.”…ouch!   “No really, you’re dancing isn’t all that bad.”  Uhh, think I believe the first one.
  • Had a big response to people wanting to be “touched” by Jesus today like the leper was in Luke 5.  I’m still amazed that God uses the foolishness of preaching to change lives.
  • Tonight I followed up the message by speaking to our College & Young AdultMinistry (CAYA).  I was able to share some of the things that got “left on the cutting room floor” and take some questions.  We then broke into small groups and discussed it on a more personal level.  It was great conversation and I’d encourage all 18-27ish people to get involved.
  • I’m pumped about next week’s message based on the song “Crazy”.  We’re going to throw in a surprise which should definitely have people talking.
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    Public Speaking

    October 11, 2007 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

    I once saw a survey where people were polled on their greatest fears. The funny thing was public spekaing was higher on the list than death. I’ve often said that what this means is that more people would rather be the guest of honor at the funeral than give the eulogy at the funeral.

    Yesterday I saw this principle play out in another unique way. About 20 minutes before the funeral I was speaking at, I went up to one of the deceased persons grandson’s and asked him if he’d like to say a few words. He looked at me like, no way…there’s no possible way I’m doing that.

    Now for the ironic part…he’s a heart surgeon! So operating on hearts doesn’t faze him in the least, but speaking in front of people does. Isn’t it funny how God wired us all up in different ways to do many different things? I thank God for men like him that can physically restore a human heart and I thank God that He has given me the gift to speak of an even greater heart surgery…the one Jesus can do spiriutally in each and everyone of our lives.

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    So much to do…so little time to do it!

    October 9, 2007 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

    I have a funeral to prep for tomorrow and of all the GodPod messages, this was the last song we had chosen, so I’m behind in my prep time…plus I have a little bit of a chest cold that makes me sound like Barry White. All that to say, I’m applying the Bad Day message to my own life…how about you?

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    Inside Today’s Experience

    October 7, 2007 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

    • Galen did a great job creating the huge IPOD for our GodPOD series.  18 feet by 6 feet and fully functioning with video created quite a first impression.
    • We had a lot of minor tech problems today…they drive me crazy!!!
    • The band did a great job covering the “Bad Day” song.  Andrea stepped in at the last minute to lead it and did awesome.
    • Had some good friends there today, including a couple from Seattle.
    • The opener video with me dancing in the iPOD got some big laughs….ahh the things you’ll do for Jesus!  Click here if you dare.
    • Had a young woman tell me before the Experience that 3 different people she knows died this past week…wow…that’s not just a bad day, that’s a bad week.  If for no one else, at least I know that God wanted her to hear today’s message and that makes it well worth it.
    • It’s kind of neat to know that millions of Christians around the world today celebrated communion together, during world wide communion Sunday. 

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