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Here are the survey results from this week’s questions…

Choose your favorite WHY question from this bunch:

• 28% Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
• 22% Why do banks charge a fee on “insufficient funds” when they know there is not enough?
• 19% Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
• 19% Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
• 12 % Why do we drive on parkways, but park in driveways?

If you could ask God one “WHY” question, what would it be?

• Why do you love me so much and have so much patience?
• Why is it so easy for some to question your amazing glory & grace?
• Why do you allow killing, disease, suffering and death to innocent men, women & children?
• Why does gas cost so much?
• Why did you create mosquitoes?
• Why is our universe expansive?  Why did you make other galaxies?
• Why didn’t you help Eve when she faced the serpent?
• Why is there terrorism in the world?
• Why is it so hard to give something away for FREE?
• Why do children have to die?
• Why do I get sick so much?

WHY do I know what is right and yet I choose to do the opposite?

• doing right is sometimes hard
• our selfishness
• because it’s easier to do what is wrong
• the right thing isn’t usually fun
• instant gratification
• the opposite is easier
• sometimes the opposite is what we really want
• WANT is greater than WILL
• because I am human and noone is perfect
• laziness and weakness

Look for another why survey in this week’s bulletin. Thanks for your responses!

What an awesome 3-day weekend…

• Saturday’s Outreach Car Wash was a smashing success. We washed 42 cars for free in about 2.5 hours. We were able to share the love of God in a practical way with many in our community. Several expressed genuine interest in visiting LCC in the near future.
• Saturday afternoon…got to hang out with the neighbors with our annual block party on our street. About 60 people from our street hung out in the street eating and drinking from about 3 pm - 10 pm. It was great to get to talk to neighbors…something which is extremely lacking in our regular daily lives.
• Sunday morning at LCC was fantastic. Incredible service. Great crowd for a 3-day weekend…I think the gas prices kept more people in town. I really do love what I do. I’m thankful to be able to truly feel as though I’m fulfilling God’s purpose in my life in what I do. I’m thankful for the awesome congregation and leaders I get to work with each Sunday. LCC rocks!
• Sunday afternoon we went up to PA to visit my parents and grandparents. We had an awesome Roast Beef dinner, followed by me whipping up on my son in pingpong and then me sleeping through most portions of the King Kong movie (I’m so tired by Sunday night…not much can keep me awake :-))
• On Monday, we landed at my sisters for a combination Memorial Day Picnic/40th Anniversary Party for my parents. It was great to catch up with family and surprise my parents. I found out something new about them…on their very first date (1967), they went to the Miss World Pageant at the Baltimore Civic Center and sat in the very top row…not your average first date, but a nice bit of trivia.
• Thankfully we got home pretty smoothly last night facing minimal traffic.
• Only 9 weeks to go for BABY #4 arrives…Sherri is doing great…lots to be thankful for.

As promised here are the survey results from last week’s survey questions…

Why did the chicken cross the road?

The favorite answer was from Jerry Seinfeld: “Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn’t anoyone ever think to ask, “What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place, anyway? Where do they get these chickens?”

What is your favorite WHY question of all time?

• Why am I dealing with this?
• Why me?
• Why not?
• Why ask why?
• Why are the foods that taste the best bad for you?
• Why are we here?
• Why can’t we all just get along?
• Why did God allow for sin?
• Why can’t kids make babies? (from a 6 year old)

Why is it easy for us to preach and believe what “should be”, but difficult for us to live what “should be”?

• it goes against our nature
• it’s always easier said than done, to live it takes action
• because we are sinners
• living what “should be” requires accountability
• because we are weak and impatient
• because each time you feed your appetite it gets bigger
• like water, we often seek the path of least resistance
• the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

Look for another why survey in this week’s bulletin. Thanks for your responses!

It was a fun…and exhausting weekend.

Friday evening was actually great…very relaxing…an evening at home and a couple of episodes of LOST.

Saturday was a full day of ball games.  I managed my son’s baseball team and we had a 13-6 victory.  Then we had a short break before I coached my daugther’s softball team and we had a 10-0 victory.  Somewhere in there we also had a youth activity and some housework and the usual prep for Sunday.

Sunday was a great day at LCC.  We kicked off our WHY series with the question: Why does God allow trials in my life?  I brought in my Bowflex and used it on stage as a prop to demonstrate how suffering builds our spiritual muscles…producing endurance, character and hope.  Check out Romans 5.  As always, the music was great.   Then in the afternoon we had another softball game at 3 pm…this was a rainout makeup game out in Gainesville.  I was a little grumpy about it, but it ended up being a thriller that we pulled out 12-11.  A fun memory for Tori and me.

I’m looking forward a to a great week.  As a staff we are attending the Whiteboard Sessions all day on Thursday.  This should be a great one-day conference for us.

And one more tidbit…if you haven’t yet picked up your copy of the new CD, Expect the Unseen…do it today.  Follow this link below.

Our new series: WHY? begins this Sunday. Over the next 4 weeks we’re looking at WHY questions right out of the book of Romans. This Sunday’s question: Why Does God Allow Trials in My Life? I hope you’ll join us on Sunday and that you’ll invite your friends and family.

Students…check out info here on our Ice Skating Event this Saturday evening.

Car Wash Outreach Info…click here to read about an opportunity for you to be part of LCC’s outreach to the community on Saturday, May 24th.

Hands Needed…Lend a hand of service on Sunday mornings by joining our set-up or tear-down team. Interested in volunteering??? Just send me an email back and I’ll connect you with the right people.

Do you think outside the box? Maybe you would be a good candidate for our Creative Team…email josh@lifecc.us if you are interested in joining the team.

We had a great Mother’s day service at LCC.   Good crowd, great music, the baby dedication was fun…always is unpredictable…but great to see parents making that commitment to God.

Our new lights are working out well for us.  Having the light board under our control at our A/V table is a big improvement to flipping breakers back stage!

The band is sounding great.  The new in-ear monitors have really improved the sound quality.  Thanks to our sound team and band for working so hard each week.

Our set-up and tear-down is going smoothly…but we could use a few fresh bodies…adding a light system and a few others things has added time to the work load.

I’m definitely looking forward to our next series: WHY? I’m answering 4 WHY questions from the book of Romans over the next 4 Sundays.  Check out the questions on our website.  Also, notice the series graphic…this was actually drawn by hand by one of our teenagers…great job Emily!

What’s up with all the rain?  Talked to someone last night with 4 inches of rain in their basement…been there and done that…it’s a sick feeling.  Don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some sunshine here real soon!

Our baby countdown…11 weeks…

Last Sunday at Life…awesome day!  The service went great…the 3 interviews were right on!  Lives were touched and God was glorified.  We did podcast the interviews…so you can check Russ, Randy and Bryant on iTunes if you missed it.  The music perfect.  A great performance of By His Wounds by Mick, Bryant & Josh.  And the Milwaukee Frozen Custard afterwards was off the chain!!!  Thanks to the Hickenbottam family!

Office Space Update…thanks for the donations…we’ve received a TV, a vaccuum, a microwave…just about everything we need.  We appreciate all the financial gifts that helped to make it happen.  The space is already being used…we’ve had 3 meetings held already, of course the daily work space is great, a men’s Monday night Bible study will be starting here soon.

Babies-r-us…while my wife was filling out a baby gift registry after work yesterday…our friends, Mick & Julie Tingstrom were working hard (mostly Julie) to deliver their baby at Bethedsa.  Great news…about 1 month early, their baby boy has entered the world as of last night at 7:41 pm weighing in at 5 lbs, 6 oz.   Another way for the church to grow!   Sherri is now a little jealous

Mom’s Cafe…it was great to have my parents in for the weekend.  My mom spoke to our ladies at the Mom’s Cafe on Saturday at our home.  I think she refrained from telling too many of my personal stories!  I heard she did a great job.

Expect the Unseen…the hottest new CD to hit the streets…it’s arriving this week.  Click here to find out how to get your copy.

Don’t miss this Sunday at LCC. I will be interviewing 3 of our guys about what God has done in their lives. You’re going to hear from Russ, Randy & Bryant this Sunday. They each have unique stories that I know you’ll enjoy and I’m thinking they just might draw you closer in your relationship with God.

And don’t forget…the tasty treat of Milwaukee Frozen Custard after the service…a little ice cream party!