Gilbert Thurston

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

Whatever Wednesday: Random Thoughts

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  • Haven’t been motivated to write this past week so this is easy to do a Whatever Wednesday post since I can just bullet point stuff.
  • I’m still wrestling through the emotional stuff from the shooting.
  • I don’t think about it immediately when I wake up now but I have started dreaming about it…although that has morphed into some weird things.
  • The other night it was of Lisa getting shot.  That’s even worse than me so I don’t like those thoughts at all.
  • I have an appointment with a counselor tomorrow so hopefully he will be able to help keep me on the right track.
  • Ok enough of that…what else is going on?
  • Was disappointed with the Super Bowl…not necessarily the outcome but just the game itself…really thought it would be a close, exciting game.
  • The commercials were a bit lame as well this year.
  • I’m taking my own advice from this past Sunday’s message and I’ve done a good job this week not complaining about the snow, ice, cold, shoveling, etc.
  • It’s been nice this past week with all the bad weather having Lisa home more.
  • After not using it hardly at all our first few winters here in Harrisburg, we are firing up the gas fireplace quite a bit this winter.
  • Not so much for the heat but just because it’s relaxing.
  • It was a bad night for my sports teams last night…both the Caps and Terps suffered disappointing losses.
  • Oh well, at least the Wizards are above .500 for the first time in 4 years!
  • I’m excited about our new series that starts this week at Exponential.  It’s called “Crazy Love” and is based off the book of the same name by Francis Chan.
  • The entire premise I’m going off of for this series is, “You won’t do what God wants you to do until you fully appreciate who He is!”
  • Now you can do stuff for God but if you’re doing it because you HAVE to instead of you WANT to, all of the sudden your faith will seem like a burden and will be no fun.
  • This is why many Christians struggle with their faith and have no joy.
  • This is also why a lot of people reject Christianity…they think it’s just a bunch of rules and rituals…but who wants that?  No one…so they end up missing out on the most life-changing and awe inspiring relationship a person could ever want.
  • So for 6 weeks I want to help people fall in love with who God IS not what He can do for you or wants from you.
  • OK guess that’s all for now…I have a busy day tomorrow but if I have time I think my Theological Thursday post will be my thoughts from  last night’s Evolution vs. Creationism debate.

Random Thoughts

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Been awhile since I a random thoughts post.  Here we go…

  • Excited about the 60+ resumes that have come in to take over for me at United.
  • Couple of potentially good candidates in that stack.  Pray for the search team to find the right person.
  • Balancing my full-time responsibilities I still have at CFCOG along with starting a new church is interesting.
  • I have a follow-up meeting this Friday with a man that owns one of the buildings we’re looking at.   Please pray about that.
  • We have two really good but vastly different options when it comes to where we’re going to meet.
  • Speaking of buildings, if you know anyone who’s looking to buy a house, steer them our way.  Here’s the listing for our house.
  • Excited about the new series we’re starting this weekend called, Littlefaither:  The Worry Wart Series.
  • Don’t forget we ARE NOT changing our clocks this weekend until after the Sunday morning Experiences.
  • Love that we do this…why lose an hour’s sleep when you don’t have to!
  • It’s amazing the speed I can rip through a whole box of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies.
  • What’s even more amazing is how quickly I can go through two boxes!  :)
  • Really enjoying the warmer weather!
  • I know NASCAR said they we’re going to let the boys be boys this year but the whole Carl Edwards thing was a bit ridiculous.
  • When someone dies in the future they are going to have a lawsuit on their hands for being accomplices in a homicide.
  • The lawyer will argue that because they didn’t do anything about it now, others felt it was ok and the result was death.
  • Speaking of sports, my Caps are kicking some serious butt.  Hope they don’t use up all there good game play in the regular season then falter in the play-offs.
  • Ok, one last sports thing…sorry ladies once my mind goes there it’s hard to stop…This week and the next two are arguably the best all year round.  Can’t wait for March Madness to start…especially since my Terps are playing so well!
  • Now back to our regularly scheduled blog, already in progress…
  • The Toyota with the stuck gas pedal thing had to have been quite frightening…did you see the guys face after he got out and was being interviewed.
  • I think he was in a need of a change of underwear!
  • Can’t believe there are only 9 more episodes of LOST.
  • Please writers don’t let us down…we’ve stuck with you this long…give us a good conclusion or I’ll send the smoke monster to your house.
  • Glad Idol isn’t 5 hours a week anymore.  Even with the ability to speed things up on the DVR, that is still crazy.
  • I really liked Andrew, but he’s been a disappointment recently.  Now I’m thinking a girl might win it…Crystal?
  • Guess that’s enough for now…have a great day!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

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  • This week so far is picking up where last week left off…crazy!
  • Before I forget…on Saturday I went to the funeral of Brian Miller’s grandfather.  The entire Miller family has been attending United the last few years and wow are they crazy talented. 
  • Brian spoke, his mom read an original poem, his two sisters and brother-in-law sang and his brother produced a very touching video montage of his grandather’s life.
  • I also bought a new video game this weekend…Tiger Woods Golf 2009 for the Wii.  Haven’t got to play it too much yet, but boy do I stink….and I’m sore.
  •  You may remember a few months ago in a message I was talking about the healing power of God and how that week I visited a young girl in the hospital who’s water had broken after only 5 months of pregnancy.  Basically the doctors told her she was going to lose the baby, but God did a miracle and not only did she not lose the baby, but “somehow” her water was restored.
  • The reason I bring all this up is that this morning I got a call from her mom telling me that the baby was born today healthy as can be!
  • Just in case you’re wondering who won the NCAA basketball title this year, my answer is…Maryland!
  • They beat both North Carolina (whom supposed is the national champs) and Michigan State (who were the runner-ups)…in my book that makes them the champs.  Congrats to my TERPS on another great season!
  • Speaking of sports…this morning when I woke up I decided not to shave and to wear my Washington Capitals warm-up jersey…figures then that I had to make a trip up to the hospital…that always happens on the days I’m looking like a bum.
  • Hopefully by now you have made some invites for Easter this weekend…gonna be a great day!
  • In case you’re not a part of the United Group on Facebook, here is the   link to sign-up.
  • Oh yeah…how about my O’s taking it to the Yankees yesterday!
  • Now back to our regularly scheduled blog already in progress…please be praying this week the “3 open prayer”…
    • That God would open doors for you to invite someone.
    • That their hearts would be open to coming.
    • That you would have the boldness to open your mouth and actually make the invite.
  • I guess their is one final open then and that is that their hearts would we open to the message on Sunday…please be praying for me that God give me just the right words to share.

    • Other Weekend Thoughts

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  • I’m still pretty pumped up about yesterday’s Experience where we discussed Is It Alright For Christians to Drink Alcohol?
  • Aaron, the worship team and creative team have done a great job of making this a very memorable series.
  • One unexpected side benefit from yesterday’s message has been the number of people who have told me or e-mailed me about giving something else up for the 30 day challenge.
  • In other words, they don’t drink alochol, but they are giving up chocolate, coffee, caffine, fast food, Mt. Dew, TV, for 30 days to make sure nothing has higher precedence in their lives than Jesus.
  • I realized yesterday after I sent out Inside Today’s Experience’s that Easter was one year ago yesterday.  This means for the second year in a row we broke our attendance record on the 4th Sunday of March.
  • Friday and Saturday Lisa and I travelled to Cove Valley Camp for a 2-day leadership retreat with about 40 others from the church to pray and discuss about what the next 6, 12 and 24 months may look like in the life of CFCOG.
  • Let me just say…buckle up tight, the adventure is just now beginning.
  • God has such incredible things in store for us to do…the key is staying faithful to Him and trusting in Him more than our own wisdom, the economy, the President or anything or anyone else that may tempt us to stray from the vision He has given us.
  • Was really disappointed to get home and watch my Terps get crushed by Memphis in the tournament.  I at least thought they’d keep it close but Memphis shot the ball incredibly well.
  • This week should be a good one.
  • Sometimes when we get done on Sunday’s I think…”Oh no only 165 hours until we have to do all this again”, but right now I can’t wait for Sunday to get here…
  • We’ll be talking about temptation and I believe God is going to set a lot of you free in amazing ways.
  • As always do whatever it takes short of sin to get someone to the Experience with you.

    • Week in Review

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  • Been a good week!
  • Worst part has been getting up real early almost everyday…like 7am early…I know for some of you that’s rountine, but for me going to bed normally between 12-1am that’s early.
  • Had some really interesting meetings this week. 
  • I know interesting and meetings should never be used in the same sentence but I just did.
  • My sister made it through her shoulder surgery on Monday with flying colors which was a big relief…thanks for the prayers.
  • Got to do quite a bit of hanging out with people this week which was cool.
  • Wednesday Aaron, Adam and I shot a video that will be used for the message on temptation.
  • Got to see a rough cut of it last night and it’s going to be hilarious.
  • At one point we were afraid we might get arrested while shooting…which made it even more…hmmm…how shall I say this…FUN!
  • Last week’s message is “burning up the charts”.  One of our most downloaded ever.
  • I have a feeling that this week’s message on alcohol though will quickly surpass it.
  • I love being able to talk with and help out other churches, so we were honored last night to have a team from Smithsburg Valley Baptist Church come in to check out our equipment and rehearsal.
  • Got home a little after 11 last night and after having sheltered myself all day long from the basketball scores, I sat down to watch Maryland’s game against Cal that I had DVR’d.
  • Yes…go TERPS!
  • In all I had 13 of the 16 games correct on day 1 in my bracket.
  • Today we prepare to head out, with the rest of our churches staff and leaders to our Strategic Planning weekend.
  • Going to be long and exhuasting but well worth the time to pray, think, dream and plan where God would have us go in the next few years.
  • As always, do whatever it takes to get people to church with you on Sunday…I promise you won’t regret it!