My seven-year0ld, Zach, is in the middle of his first season as a football player.  During last Sunday’s game, a momentous thing happened in the career of this little guy.  They announced his name during a game, twice.  It was something like “The ball carrier on that play was Zachary Knickerbocker.”

Two problems with that.  For starters, he’s on defense (so he wouldn’t be carrying the ball).  Also . . . he wasn’t even at the game.  Zach’s number is 14 and another little guy’s number is 44.  My guess is that the announcer had a list of names and misread the first digit as a one instead of a four, and Zach was the beneficiary.

That’s the same thing that happened for us when Jesus died for our sins.  When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our salvation, God applies to us the forgiveness of all of our sin as the reward for Jesus’ suffering and death on Good Friday, even though we could never be in a position to pay the price ourselves, and, even though we weren’t there.  The major difference between the football mishap and our salvation is that God’s gift to us is no accident.  So, you don’t have to feel bad being the benefactor.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)

Thousands of people leave the church every year.  Outreach Magazine is promoting Sunday, September 12, as national “Back to Church” Sunday.  The Gate will be taking part through a postcard insert in 10,000 papers of the Morning Journal the week before that Sunday, 1,000 wrist bands to be given out during the Columbiana Street Fair, 300 invite cards, 400 door hangers and 100 booklets on “10 reasons why people leave the church, and why they’re coming back.”

Please be in prayer for this day and mark it on your calendars.  And . . . invite and pray for someone you know to re-discover church this new season.

Be sure to bring your friends to Firestone Park tomorrow for free Rita’s Water Ice, great music from Kim Bennett and our worship team and great fellowship.  We’ll be at the gazebo from 4-6 pm.  See you there!

As many of you fellow facebookers know, my family and I went to Camp Burton last week for family camp.  The staff served us well and we made many new friends.  We’ll be going back next year, for sure.

One of the many exciting activities planned for us by Dave Scull, the camp director and great friend of mine, was a ride in a hot air balloon on the camp grounds.  I had been busy fixing my car (long story), when Vanda called me and said the balloon ride would be much better if I was there with the kids.  She was right. 

Because I listened to my wife, I was able not only to see the hot air balloon myself – I was able to experience my kids’ fascination with the newness of it, how it’s beautiful colors filled the early evening sky and, of course, how wonderful it was to ride in the balloon and to see camp from way up high.

I am fully convinced that God is the same way with us.  He enjoys watching us take in and marvel at the mysteries of the world he created.  He also enjoys watching his plan unfold in our lives.  He says he will never leave us or forsake us.  I believe, at least in part, that it’s because he enjoys watching us experience life to the fullest extent through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we make plans to launch a satellite campus in Girard in January, 2011, let’s remember to allow God the pleasure of taking in this experience with us.  Let’s marvel at what he has done and what he will do.  And, of course, enjoy the ride.

I had the privilege of chatting with Ranae Becker, organizer of the Ignite Festival in Meadville, PA.  Bethany Davis, a long-time Gater (for the almost three years of our existence), put me in touch with Ranae.  Bethany was involved with the Ignite Festival last year and is even more involved this time around.

What started as small gathering for young people in Meadville has exploded into an event that had 6,000 visitors from places as far away as New York coming to listen to great music about how awesome it is living life with Jesus Christ and to hear great speakers in 2009.  And, it can all be had at no cost to you! 

Our hope is to develop a relationship with the designers of this event that will enable us to encourage any who may go to the festival from the Columbiana area to visit our church, if they don’t have one of their own.  What a ministry opportunity!  Ranae will be at our church with more info on Sunday, August 22.  Be ready to be inspired and to jump right in on what they’ve started.  After all, what they’re doing lines up with our mission: bringing people into our fellowship of hope.

Visit their web site at: www.theignitefestival.com/

The current series at The Gate is called “5 Easy Steps to Wreck Your Life.” We’ve been using reverse psychology to see the steps we would take if we wanted to fall into problems. By knowing how to screw things up intentionally, we will better recognize when we are accidentally falling into those bad practices that can mess up our lives.

This week is about how to become dissatisfied. We’ll read about how Jesus isn’t just referring to people who haven’t yet accepted him as Savior; he’s also referring to Christians who screw their lives up. It can happen to any of us.

Drop by on Sunday at 10:09 am or, if you can’t make it, wait a day or so and download it as an mp3 from our newly-updated web site under the “Online Sermons” button on the right of the home page. There is a link on the right side of this page (“The Gate”) that will take you there.

Blessings, and, hope to see you on Sunday.

Dean Stokes, a newcomer to The Gate family, has asked us to pray for his brother-in-law, Gary. Gary has recently been diagnosed with cancer, which has quickly spread all over his body. Dean has told me that Gary is in a great deal of pain from the chemo. Let’s all pray for God to comfort Gary, and give Dean the strength to show strength to support his family during this tough time.

Thanks.

After two very hard-fought softball games on Sunday, the Gate softball team won it’s second straight championship of the Columbiana church softball league hosted by our friends at Abundant Life Fellowship.

Well done, men! It was great playing with such great players and upstanding guys. Woot Woot!

skubala

When your life’s in the crapper, don’t just look for a way out.

A friend and I were chatting yesterday about tough times in life. He told me how his difficult situation allowed him to come closer to God. It took the current crisis to move him to seek God, and God hasn’t disappointed.

The apostle James says that we should rejoice in our sufferings because they are opportunities to become more mature Christians. When you’re down in the dumps, look forward to the new improved faith God is instilling in you.

My good friend, Kimmy Mclaughlin, did a great job with the new design for my blog. Some people just have a gift, and, as you can see, Kimmy has a eye for this. Thanks, Kimmy.