It is cold and many people are without power.  We have faired well.  We still have power at home and at the church.  There are alot of trees down in the area and it doesn’t look like it will get warmer until tomorrow.  This is the first time in my life to see this kind of weather.  It was beautiful this morning as the sun came out and lit up the snow.  Also, as a result of the weather we will not be having service tonight. 

When we moved in October, I noticed a major habit that I have formed.  I love books.  The more the better.  After unloading 13 boxes of books, Sonya challenged us to not buy any more books.  To me that is worse than fasting.  It is not that she is against reading, but that we no longer have any room for more books.  But I cannot live without books.  We go to the used book stores.  For relaxation I look at www.christianbook.comand dream of the next books I will buy.  My wish list on christianbook is 2 pages long.  I have been looking for used commentaries on eBay.  Is there any end to this habit?

But then I read a quote on the journey blog.  It helped relay my feelings about books.  It is an old quote from a 15th century scholar:

“When I have a little money, I buy books. If any is left over, I buy food and clothes.”  ~ Erasmus

This describes my condition in a nutshell!

We are in the middle of our first ice storm.  For a south Texan it is pretty cool to walk on slush.  The tree limbs are beginning to weigh down and icecycles are on everything.  We are praying we keep our power.  The disadvantage is I need to drive to the store but I am afraid to. 

Due to the icy weather our leadership meeting tonight will be cancelled.  We will let you know when we re-schedule it.  Stay inside, eat chocolate chip cookies and relax!

“Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all” – Richard Foster

Too often as leaders we forsake the true calling of what leadership is.  We become built up with pride rather than lowered in humility.  We struggle for power, when it is meekness that is needed.  We want to be served rather than to serve.  Everything we want to become is contrary to what Christ came for.  In fact, it was Christ who said, “I have not come to be served but rather to serve.”

If the Master came to serve others then that is what we must do.  Leadership is not about being over people.  Leadership is not about having others follow us.  Leadership is not about being in charge.  Leadership is service.  Leading people through servanthood, example and humility.  Sure, leadership means that someone is at the top, but it is the attitude of our leadership that counts.  Respect is earned not demanded. 

I challenge every leader, to serve others.  Let us take Christ’s example to be servant’s of all and lead through servanthood.

I have not played golf in a long time, but this cartoon reminds me of the last time I played.  I love golf, but golf does not love me.  I have never gone as far as this guy in the toon, since I have been saved.  But in my old days I did wrap a 2 iron around an oak tree.  The bad thing was it was my dad’s 2 iron.  Not a good thing!

When a 21 day fast is over, the first major decision to make is, “where do we eat?”  The fast has been a great experience for our church family.  Dozens of people have joined together to seek God’s heart for RFA.  We celebrated communion today and then broke the fast.  It was a great ending to these 21 days of fasting. 

As I was coming in the sanctuary for service today someone handed me a package of Oreos with a bow on it.  It pays to be the senior pastor:)  They took care of me because I told them of the temptation I had with giving Hannah cookies the other night.  I prevailed over eating a cookie and my reward was a whole bag of Oreos.  God is good!

I hear of many plans for the first few meals after the fast.  Some were going to Burger King, others to Braum’s for Ice Cream.  Many were going to Golden Corral and then others, steak dinner at home.  The Cheney’s end of fast meal is tomorrow at Chili’s.  The Cajun Ribeye, medium rare for me.  I can’t wait!

I have enjoyed these season of fasting and prayer because of what it has done in our church family.  When we all are doing the same thing, it brings us closer together because we identify with each other.  This is only the beginning.  We will find many projects and plans to work together on in the future.

Today is the final day of our 21 day fast.  It has been a good 21 days as we have prayed and sought God for the needs of our lives, our nation and our church.  I am proud of the many people in our church family who took up this challenge to fast for 21 days.  I am excited about what God is going to do as a result.

This morning, we will break the fast by participating in the Lord’s Supper together.  I believe it is a good way to end our fast together as we remember Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.