.Real.Greg.Lee.

What is the worst thing about being in ministry?  Without question the most common answer I hear is having very little freedom on your evenings (when else can church meetings happen?) and weekends.  I’m living that one this weekend.

I tried every way I could to figure out how to be at the church I grew up in tomorrow morning.  It just wasn’t going to happen.  I so wish I could be there because by niece, Megan, is getting baptized there.  She does it after much guidance from her parents and others at her church.  She has completed a study guide I sent her from Suncrest.  And, most importantly, she sincerely wants Jesus to be at the center of her life.

She knows baptism is a huge step…and a beautiful step.  She knows it isn’t the end of something, but the beginning of a new life. Like the Bible says…  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4)

I’m proud of you, Megan!  And I just prayed for you to be faithful to Christ for the rest of your life.

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Since I’m 0-4 on my Bears picks, I am now only continuing to make these picks only for fun and because I said I would.  I’m pretty sure I have nothing of value to add as commentary.

This would be a great week to get one right.

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So the White Sox won tonight to put them in the play-offs.  I know some people care, but they are definitely playing 2nd fiddle to the Cubs when it comes to the storyline in this city.  It almost doesn’t make sense…the white sox had to win three games against three different teams in three days…and they did it in dramatic fashion the last 2 nights.  Still, they are playing 2nd Fiddle.

I love the role of 2nd fiddle and rooting for #2… 

-Maybe it’s because I’m the second (and middle) child

-I love living close to Chicago…the “second city”

-I’m not one to come up with brand new ideas, so I’m not much of an innovator.  But I think one of my gifts is seeing early what are good ideas and which one’s will fizzle out.  I love the “2nd” role of “early adapter”.  Suncrest going multi-site is an example of that.  The idea that we are exploring an Internet campus is another one.

-I’m enjoying being the assistant Coach on Jack’s soccer team a lot more than being the head coach last year.

-Most important player on an NFL team?  The Quarterback.  Second most important player?  The back-up Quarterback.  Just ask the Green Bay Packers that right about now.

The best part about being “2nd” is you get a chance to observe and learn so you are ready to go when your number is called…either to support the leader or lead yourself. I loved that role at suncrest here for my first 7 years.  Now that God has me in the lead role here, I’m always finding it helpful to be the observer/learner from churches who are a few steps ahead of us.

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Since you are probably tired of READING about East Campus by now, I’ll share a few photos from Sunday…A great day!

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Downloading some brief thoughts on a number of different fronts…

–Still buzzing after East launch yesterday.  Can’t wait to get more details this week.

–Don’t want us to forget that lots of people are still suffering from flooding in Munster and surrounding areas.  They are still working at South Side Christian Church…go there to help any time.

–I’m not sure what to think of the government bail-out being voted on today.  Government involvement is almost always a negative to me.  But, like everyone else, I don’t want an economic meltdown.  I’m wondering…Is the dire threat real?  How urgent is the threat really?  Doesn’t a bail out let people off the hook who should be paying the price?  And worse…doesn’t it teach Wall Street that if you ever get in big trouble…we’ll probably come in to save you?

–I got more emotional than I expected teaching at West Campus yesterday.  But every time I see people carrying guilt and shame unnecessarily, my heart breaks.  I know working it out seems complex, but it many ways it is as simple as embracing what Jesus did on the cross.

–Bears Defense looked GREAT last night.  Goal-line stand was incredible.  Alex Brown is the man.

–Yes, I lost a deal and I really am wearing a Cubs jersey this Sunday.  (Maybe they will get swept and they will get knocked out Saturday night…that would be interesting).

–I’m waiting to get word on our offerings from yesterday.  We’ve really suffered on that front for the last few months.  Attendance yesterday was really strong at both campuses.

-Lots of stuff to get done today…

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This morning Suncrest’s east campus launched with a great experience at the Showplace 12 Merrillville/Hobart.  Way to go, East Campus!  Great leadership by Doug and the staff.

And God was very good to us.  We had a couple hundred new faces along with a solid (and highly committed) launch team so the attendance was well over 300.  Our prayer has been to give our church the chance to influence as many lives as possible so we are thrilled with that.

We’ve had some great collaboration with our NewThing Network along the way and our multi-site coach from NewThing was there today.  I got this summary a few minutes ago:

Today I had the privilege of being at the East Campus launch for Suncrest Christian Church. What an awesome experience! Let me point out to you a few of the highlights:

1. The feel in the Showplace Theater was electric and buzzing with people and energy.
2. The worship experience was great – music good, video message was introduced very effectively and people were intent on listening. Message was excellent.
3. It was obvious to me that the team was ready as people introduced themselves to me and seemed to be looking for new people.
4. It was also obvious that new people were present!

Thanks to all who have prayed for this! 

And, thank you, God, for placing this vision in us and showing your faithful hand all along the way.

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I didn’t actually take that picture at the left, but I could have today.  For the first time ever, I got to see a football game at he University of Notre Dame.  South Bend is just over an hour away…it should not have taken 12 years.

For those out of the loop…the mural of Jesus on a building right across the quad from the stadium has Jesus’ hands raised…it is affectionately referred to as “Touchdown Jesus” and Notre Dame is among the most hallowed places to watch a game.

Speaking of the game…unfortunately, Purdue got smoked after looking really good in the first half.  Still…a great day with a great friend.

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Excerpted from my email note to Suncrest on Thursday…

You HAVE to PRAY for LAUNCH.  We’ve had 300 people praying for 6 months now.  Doug and I prayed together Tuesday afternoon.  We have “prayed like it depends on God and worked like it depends on us”.  Now, the time is here.  Here are some creative ideas on how to pray in these last few days:

·         Fast (skip meals to pray intensely).  The Bible describes the power of this.  Do it for a 24 hour period if you are physically able.

·         Grab a phone book with Merrillville or Hobart or Winfield names in it and pray for individual people.

·         Go to a movie at the Show Place 12 this weekend and pray while you are there.

·         Click on the East Campus page of our new website.  Click through it; pray for what you find.

·         Pray for the right people to show up…we want people who are disconnected from God and church.

·         Pray for LOTS of people to show up…and about who you know that you could invite or refer to this new launch.

We’ll have updates for you as we can on Sunday morning at West Campus and I’ll definitely post stuff on my blog by Sunday night.

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While we were working at South Side Christian Church yesterday, a reporter and photographer came through.   Click here to read today’s Times article mentioning Suncrest and other churches coming together to help. 

Click Here for a slideshow of photos that start to tell the story.  They show a couple of Suncrest volunteers…Denise Tribble and Mike Lucko.  Thanks also to Charlie White, Sherri Fara, and others who served at the church.

As Miss Sue worked at the Eads School helping families last night she ran into lots of leaders from other churches and Suncrest folks who were volunteering…among them Pete Wories, Lyn Wories, and Alice Cannon.  I’m sure many, many more, but I’m inspired every time I hear a new Suncrest name.

For more info on our work…scroll down past the birthday and bears posting…

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Fourteen years ago today, Suncrest launched it’s 1st Campus!

Since then…thousands of people’s lives have been changed because people around here let God use them.  it might be the person you are sitting next to in church.  It might be the family member who was just affected by the flood.  It might be the Harvard student who is finding God at the church we planted in Boston, MA.  Who knows…it might even be you as you read this.

I’m thankful for the 12+ years I’ve served here…every day of it.

I’m thankful for Miss Sue who has us all beat…as she began serving the church even before it “went public”. 

I’m thankful for the faith, vision and personal mentoring of our Founding Pastor, John Wasem. 

I’m thankful for the many volunteers who still around here who served as “launch team” way back then. 

I’m thankful to God for his hand that guides us and his faithfulness to us.

And I’m thankful that the sense of mission is leading us to launch campus #2 this Sunday!

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