Gilbert Thurston

• I’m feeling much better today…could have to do with the new pool table that was installed today though.
• Seriously this is the first day in a few weeks that I haven’t felt the need for an afternoon nap. Ok, check that…it’s the first day in awhile that I’m not taking an afternoon nap.
• I won the CAYA tennis tournament last night! Seriously this time I’m not lying…I really won…in fact I didn’t lose a single game.
• Thank you all so much for the cards, e-mails, e-cards, notes and words of sympathy following my grandmother’s death…it means a lot to know you care and that you are praying.
• I’ll be leaving after I’m finished with this post to go spend a little time with my grandfather in the hospital. His recovery has been rough considering everything that’s going on…please keep him especially in your prayers.
• Some time I’m going to do a series called “Confessions of a Pastor.” I know of other pastors who have done something similar and it’s always shocking for people to hear what the pastors have to say.
• Here’s one of mine…I hate it when people in my family die. As the “pastor” I have to be the strong one and be there for everyone else. I’m not complaining…there are so many other benefits to being in ministry, but this is the one that bugs me.
• And oh yeah…guess who always prays at family meals.
• Wow that got depressing all the sudden didn’t it…on a much happier note…
• I AM JACKED UP ABOUT THIS WEEK’S EXPERIENCE!!!!!!
• I’m going to be speaking about forgiveness and as I’ve been putting the finishing touches on the message, I can honestly say that everything that we have planned could make this the most meaningful, life-changing Expereince ever!
• If you know of someone that is hurting in any way, do whatever it takes to make sure they are with you…I really think God is going to do some tremendous healing in our midst.
• I AM ALSO JACKED UP ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP RETREAT FROM THIS PAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!
• WHY AM I TYPING IN ALL CAPS?
• Anyway, the vision and direction God has given our team is exciting and i believe the entire church is going to be much stronger for the growth God has in store for us…I’ll give you more details as I’m allowed/feel led…but for now, all I can say is get ready to be used by God to impact the region in a major way.
• Tonight is honestly the first Council meeting that I can say I’m looking forward to attending…can’t wait to further expand upon this weekend!

• Between still being sick, the death of my grandmother on Friday, our big leadership retreat over the weekend and the normal adrenaline of preaching…I feel like someone has taken a baseball bat to my body.
• Despite all that, we had another awesome Experience…4 more people born into the Kingdom!
• I wasn’t even planning on doing a call for commitment at the end but felt the Spirit nudging that way…just goes to show what I know.
• This was one of my favorite worship sets we’ve ever done…the band was hitting it on all cylinders…the new song “Look to You” was amazing!
• We weren’t sure what the attendance would be today since the Blended Service in the sanctuary had a special Easter program going on, but we ended up with our 2nd highest attendance ever!
• Looks like a lot of you took the challenge from last week and invited in your friends.
• Keep up the inviting…Easter is only 2 weeks away.
• Only heard of a couple of people who were confused with us not changing the time…seemed to be a success.
• Even for those that were confused, it still meant they were there, just an hour early.
• Without going into major details, the retreat this weekend looking at the future direction of the church was great….we’ve got some huge things planned for the entire church and United in the coming months and years that are going to be incredible.   Keep praying as God gives us direction now on the timing of each of those things.
• Let me just say this…to accomplish what we feel God is calling us to, it is going to take a lot more people discovering and then using their spiritual gifts.
• If your not currently serving in some way, please let us know so you can play a part in the exciting things God has in store for us.
• Tonight is CAYA and I’m hopeful of afterwards redeeming myself in the competition on the Wii.

Just got home from our leadership retreat and Lisa had a few e-mails from people on the set-up crew saying they are sick and won’t be able to make it in the morning. So if you’re available at 8:45am to come in to help set-up chairs for United that would be great! Thanks in advance.

At a little after 11PM last night I got a call from my mom…as soon as I saw her name on the caller ID I knew something wasn’t right.  She told me my grandmother was being rushed to the emergency room with a heart attack.  I immediately jumped in the car and headed down to the Washington County Hospital in MD.

The weird thing is my grandfather had just had major surgery that same day.  When I got to the hospital, I knew she wasn’t going to make it by the way she was breathing.  They wheeled my grandfather’s bed down from the 5th floor so he could lay there beside her and hold her hand.  She was responsive all the way up to the end, but finally went home to be with Jesus at a little after 1am.  Please pray for our family in the coming days, weeks and months as the transition to life without “Mom” (pronounced “mum”) becomes a reality.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of His saints.
                                                                                           –Psalm 116:15

To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.
                                                                                     -2 Corinthians 5:8

Don’t forget that this week we WILL NOT be changing our clocks until after the Experience.  Enjoy the extra sleep!

Article in today’s Public Opinion… no love for United though   :(