Another year has come and gone and I'm reminded that life is like a vapor.  It moves so fast that it is here and gone.  It seems like yesterday that we were entering the New Millenium (2000) and most people were expecting Y2K to bring no electricity, and anarchy due to all the computers shutting down (yet it didn't happen).  Now, here we are in 2008!  I remember thinking when I was a boy that by the time 2008 got here, we'd be driving flying cars, riding hover skateboards, & wearing clothes that looked like we lived in outer space!  I guess I watched "Back To The Future" one too many times.  Alot has changed since I was a boy, but we're still not driving flying cars, and the clothes don't look like we live in outer space (thank God - I like my "Old Navy" jeans).  There are several changes that need to be made at EFC to pursue excellence in ministry, and keep your leadership in prayer as we discuss those changes.  The 1st 3 months of our Building Pledge Drive has been a great success with over a 90% rate of return on pledges so far!  I pray you all have a prosperous New Year and may we continue to focus on building the Lord's Kingdom and spread the Truth of God's Word to every person!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Party last night!  It was a full night of fun and entertainment, and there was a great crowd!  There was so much chili and so many different kinds that everyone got plenty full.  The concert was a lot of fun.  It was difficult duplicating every song live that we recorded on the CD, but overall, I think we did great for our first concert.  I especially liked how lots of people got out there cell phones and waved them during the last song.  I felt like I was at a concert at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis!  We sold lots of CDs.  I'm unsure of the count right now because people are buying them off the internet as well.  Our goal is to sell at least 300, but I think we can sell 500 if everyone spreads the word and asks their friends and family to buy one.  This will help our building fund.

 

God bless you all and Merry Christmas!

 

PJ

Lori and I want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We pray traveling mercies upon those who are going out of town and may you light up your family get togethers with the light of Jesus from inside each of you.

 

At this time of year, I reflect upon what I am thankful about.  I am certainly thankful for a wonderful wife who is such a great helpmate, 2 beautiful sons whom I adore, and godly parents.  But, when I think about where I am today in life, I quickly begin to think of the wonderful people my Heavenly Father has surrounded me with.  Yes... I am talking about each of you.  There are those who have come and gone, but so many of you have stuck with us through thick and thin, and you've served/do serve the vision of EFC with a sincere passion for the Kingdom of God and Christ.

 

Phillipians 1:3 says "I thank my God upon every rememberance of you".  As your shepherd under Christ, I am pleased to see Christ being formed in each of you and as Phillipians 1:6 goes on to say, "...he which began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."  I am looking forward to seeing each of you grow in Christ as fervent disciples of him.  That is the greatest joy I recieve as your pastor... it truly is.

 

May you always have a thankful heart, and seek the truth of the Word of God for it's treasured wisdom and knowledge.  It will sustain you.

 

PJ

Hey everybody....

 

Don't forget about the CD Release Party & Chili Cookoff on December 2nd.  It starts at 7 pm and will end at 9 pm.  This will be the release of the first (but not last) CD from the EFC Band!  Start telling all your friends to come and support the band.  The CDs will be available after the concert for $10.  All procedes go to the EFC builging fund.  The more of your friends who come, the more CDs we'll sell and the more money we will raise.  Also, you can purchase several CDs to use as gifts for the holidays!  The CD project is being finalized now and it sounds great.  I personally cannot believe how awesome it is.  We have a very talented group of singers & musicians, but it still sounded better than I imagined.  I know you'll be blessed and want to listen to it as you get in the Christmas spirit.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing you there at the party.  The band will be playing all 10 songs "live" so you get to hear them for the first time.  THIS IS NOT A SERVICE... IT IS A CONCERT!  We are going to have a blast.

 

There will be a contest for those who bring chili:  Who has the hottest chili?  Who has the most "unusual" chili?  And... who has the best overall chili?  Bring your chili and put it to the test!  See you there!

 

PJ

Wow!  What a great service Sunday.  It's Thursday, and I'm still thinking about how great it was to see people praying together and encouraging one another during the service.  Even though it was great, I need to focus on this Sunday! 

 

God has been bringing to my mind this week just how fortunate I am to have so many friends.  I've thought about my church family at EFC, all of whom I love dearly.  I was thinking yesterday about my life before Lori and I moved to the St. Louis area.  At that time, I seemed to be living in the past, wishing for things that weren't in God's plan for my life or for my family.  I wondered if I was ever going to find a church family to belong to again that made me feel loved, like I did when I was growing up.  I'm so glad we listened to the voice of the Lord when He told us to move here 10 years ago.  I'm especially glad Lori and I had faith enough to trust Him to start EFC.  What would our lives be like today without all of you?  I don't want to think about it.  I thank God for giving us such close friends!

 

In Genesis 15, we read a wonderful story about God's promise to Abraham and how he made a "blood covenant" with Abraham (at that time his name was Abram), so Abraham would know God would stay true to His word.  Abraham trusted God, and James 2:23 says Abraham was a "friend of God".  True friends are in covenant one with another, and that means they don't stop being freinds!  They remain loyal one to another, encourage, prefer one another over themselves, help, etc.  May we all be reminded what a friend is... one who sticks closer than a brother.  One who would be willing to lay their life down for the other.  Jesus is a real friend.  He did lay down his life, and sticks closer to us than anyone else does.  What kind of a friend are you?  Let's be a people of covenant!

 

Speaking of friends, don't forget about Friend Day.  Get those cards filled out by someone you know and bring them to church on Friend Day.  You never know... that could be the day, the friend you've been praying for will accept Jesus and make him their best friend.

Welcome to PJ's Corner!

 

This is the first entry of my regular blog!  I'm excited that the information from this blog will be linked to our EFC website.

 

The last two Sundays have been fantastic!  The theme has been "Praise".  No matter what you're going through, good or bad, as Christians we should praise the Lord.  Praise gets God's attention.  The Bible says that God "inhabits the praises of His people".

 

Even though God always sees what I'm going through He will not interfere until I cry out to him.  But He must get praise, not for what He's done, or just what He's doing, but for who He is.  He is everything!

 

I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you on a regular basis using this blog!  I hope you will visit PJ's corner from time to time to hear what's on my mind.

 

PJ