Gilbert Thurston

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

Inside Today’s Experience

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  • What a contrast to last week…in more ways than one.
  • The weather today is incredible and unlike last week all aspects of set-up went very well.
  • Not sure though the extra hour of sleep helped though…even though we didn’t move our clocks forward, everyone seemed a bit lethargic.
  • I know some were fighting colds…Aaron was a real trooper battling through both Experiences despite a bad cold.
  • Had a record crowd for the 9:15…think we picked up some of the 10:45 crowd because attendance was down there although overall attendance was about average.
  • Here are some links I mentioned in today’s message…
  • Now you know why I don’t sing!
  • A lot of fun though with everyone singing along…especially the “Nobody Bothers Me” commercial.
  • At 10:45 though I started in a key higher than I should have an just barely made it through “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man”.
  • I promise no more singing for awhile.
  • A big thanks to Dan Fry, Jenny Shilfer and Missy Kibbe for their testimonies during this series.
  • Can’t wait until next week and the kick-off to the “You Asked For It” series.
  • The creative team has some great surprises in store…don’t forget to invite someone.

    • “Mystery Shopper” Visits United

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    Late last night I was searching for any new health information on the status of Gilbert Arenas who plays for the Wizards…yes I’m a Wizards fan…let’s move on.

    In any case, searchng for stuff for him made me think, “It’s been awhile since I googled, ‘Gilbert Thurston’ so I should do so to see what the latest and greatest (in some cases gripes) about me are on the internet”.  Apparently it’s been at least 1 year since I last did it because I found out that a mystery guest from “Church Visit” had paid us a visit in February of 2008 during our 3 Wise Monkeys series. 

    I had heard of these guys before…they hire a person in various communities to “mystery shop” churches and then write up a review so guests can get a glimpse into what they might experience in a church before actually attending.

    With a sense of nervousness I began reading our review.  Wow you couldn’t have asked for much better.  And it’s not like this guy is afraid to speak the truth either.  He has now reviewed about a dozen churches in the Chambersburg area and he is sometimes even more brutally honest than I am.  You can read the others in the blog archive on the right hand side of his site.

    Way to go United and everyone else in CFCOG!  As I said this past week it takes all of us doing our part to make United truly an Experience.  Keep up the great work!