Archive for the 'love' Category

2BC3

Today we were wrapping up stuff from the weekend, then trying to finish Christmas stuff.  This year Christmas seems to be flyin at me, but for some reason I’m just not wigged out about it.

Yesterday at C3 Church we had record attendance at our weekend gatherings.  We’ve now completed our first year meeting at Regal Cinemas.  Our average attendance before moving to Regal was about 400… yesterday we had almost 800 (our highest attendance).  God really is “connecting the community with Christ” through C3.  We also saw 20 adults become Christ-followers yesterday! Think about that… 20 more people will experience heaven in eternity, and knowing Jesus in this life as well, just because you cared, prayed and invited.

C3 - you made a huge difference in lives.  Thank yo so much for your sacrifice of time, your faithfulness in giving, and your heart to love God and love others - obviously it’s more than just a saying.  I can’t wait for Jan. 4, ‘09 as we talk about what God’s done, and what’s next!  Loving God and loving others really does change people.

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Byron Bledsoe
on December 22, 2008
in C3 Church, Christmas, Faith, Friends, Future, Leadership, Life, Past, Random, Sunday, Thankful, Thoughts, Vision, feed the children, finances, love, portable church, prayer and transitioning church
. 1 Comment

What A Day

It’s late and I don’t have much left - this day has worn me out.  While I’m dead tired, my mind is still racing from this morning.  I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude.  As I reflect on this morning, and wrapping up our first year in meeting in the theaters I’m grateful for:

  • Our amazing God who continues to blow my mind with how much he loves us.
  • The movement that is C3.  C3 Church you stepped up big-time.  Not only did you deliver the food and supplies, but in many cases you added to it.  For people who needed help you paid utility bills, rent, and mortgages.  You helped people with Dr’s for checkups and tests.  Some of you even helped people who were unemployed find a job.  Then, you invited people to experience C3 with you today, and as a result they experienced God.  You even provided their kids with Christmas gifts.  You’ve made loving God and loving others have traction in people’s lives.  Your love for God and others is contagious and you’ll roll through Christmas this week knowing you’ve made someones life better.
  • January 4, 2009 - that’s right, I’m already grateful for it.  Even though it hasn’t happened yet, I know what we’re planning and I believe God’s going to use it to change even more lives.  Remember, next weekend we have no gatherings so be ready Jan. 4 and bring people with you!

In the midst of deep gratitude I’m also burdened.  I’d like to ask you to pray for a couple of needs I’m aware of.  One of the families we’ve been helping is scheduled to be evicted Christmas Eve.  Please pray that God provides the necessary funds for them.  Also, another one of the families we’ve been helping experienced a tragedy this week.  The Mom in this family ended her own life.  For her husband and three kids Christmas will be very different now.  There are constant reminders all around us that people desperately need Christ - and to know his deep love.  Let’s share that love this week.

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Byron Bledsoe
on December 21, 2008
in C3 Church, Christmas, Faith, Family, Friends, Future, Life, Random, Sunday, Thankful, Thoughts, Vision, feed the children, love, my thoughts, prayer and transitioning church
. 1 Comment

The Best Gift

There are moments in life where you just know.  They are rare.  Those times when it’s beyond description… and you just know.  This coming weekend at C3 Church is going to be beyond reality.  God is going to do something huge.  Lives will be radically changed, families will experience hope for the first time in a long time, children will be excited about life… and a movement will become even more.

C3 - this Sunday we have a rare opportunity.  There are people you know - your neighbors, work associates, classmates, family members - who desperately need to know the love of Christ and how he longs to know them.  They will come this Sunday just because it’s Christmas.  They will come… only if you invite them.  In the rush of the holidays, with all that is to be done, please don’t skip the most important things - thinking about Christ, spending time with family, and inviting others to a worship experience this Sunday.  Think about it, you could help someone experience their very first Christmas as a follower of Christ.

So, this Sunday 100 families will be helped with food and basic necessities, and they will hear about the love of Christ and have an opportunity to know him personally.  And, hundreds more that we invite will also have the opportunity to meet Christ.  This will be one of the most important Sundays in the life of C3.  As a pastor, sometimes God lets you in on what he’s about to do… I’ve seen it and this Sunday is going to be huge for many.  This Sunday at C3 people will move from death to life - will it be someone that you invite?  Every single day invite someone to meet you at C3 Church this Sunday!

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Byron Bledsoe
on December 15, 2008
in C3 Church, Christmas, Family, Friends, Future, Life, Random, Sunday, Thoughts, Vision and love
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It Changed Everything

Last night during dinner we were talking about “Christmas Vacation” and the C3 devo for the night.  The discussion turned as a couple of the kids began to have “more intense discussion” (don’t know if that ever happens w/your family during dinner).  It stopped when I said, “Nate, say something nice about Kayleigh.“  Then every person at the table, one at a time said something nice about her.  Of course, everyone wanted to be next.  We spent some time with each person hearing something nice from everyone at the table.

I watched something happen.

I saw the power of words.

What I saw was more moving that what I heard.  I watched the countenance of faces change, the atmosphere became lighter.  Last night at dinner every person in my family was encouraged - I heard things I really needed to hear, and I believe each person did.  It struck me that we had each heard more kind things last night than many people hear in week… or much longer.

Our home is crazy hectic - a pastor’s home with 4 full of energy kids and a bride with a million talents, and a husband that’s got to be worth 4 more kids - it really is crazy… but it’s crazy good.  This Christmas season I pray that in all the business we take the time to love and encourage those who mean so much.

C3 - Sunday’s flyin at us - invest and invite!!!

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Byron Bledsoe
on December 12, 2008
in C3 Church, Christmas, Family, Future, Life, Past, Random, Sunday, Thankful, Thoughts, love, marriage and women
. 2 Comments

Making the Impossible Reality

This Sunday begins a whole new level for C3 Church.  This morning as I was at our storage units helping to load two trucks with food and supplies, I was deeply moved with gratitude for the people of C3.  It takes a true passion for Christ to put others first, to sacrifice time and to give beyond logic.

Years ago God put a deep vision in my heart to be a part of a movement that truly makes a difference - to lead a church that actually impacts the community and brings hope to the hurting.  People are suffering all around us and the vast majority have decided that church is not the answer to their pain.  In fact, research shows that while many are searching for God, the majority have decided that church is not where you find him.  How could we look so different than the one we claim to love and follow?  It will be through following the words of Christ - “loving God and loving others” that we will capture their attention and then their hearts.

The people of C3 are doing the unthinkable.  In a struggling economy when we have less, they are giving more.  We (Christ-followers) have an unprecedented opportunity to show what we care about.  It all comes down to us or others, what’s comfortable and sensible or what pushes us to the edge of our faith - a place of hope without all the answers.  C3 has chosen.  We are not about building an institution, we are all about advancing a movement.

As we’ve been reminded this week to be thankful, and we move into the celebration of the birth of Christ, this year can be more than the past.  For C3, 100 families who have real needs are going to be helped.  We are going to help feed and provide basic necessities for 100 families for an entire month.  Then, on December 21 these 100 families will come to C3 as we celebrate the birth of Christ, and each of their kids will get a Christmas present, and many of them will receive the greatest gift in all of life.

It just makes me wonder… if 11 men changed the world, what could a few hundred do?  Or… what could hundreds of thousands do if we truly loved God and loved others.

C3, we’re about to change the world!  I’ve never been more grateful for a group of people - you’re awesome!

Published
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Byron Bledsoe
on November 29, 2008
in C3 Church, Church, Faith, Friends, Future, Life, Past, Random, Sunday, Thankful, Thoughts, Vision, feed the children, finances, love, money, timeless and transitioning church
. 0 Comments