I stood there watching people come forward for prayer knowing what it took for many of you to move out toward home, watching tears fall as blessings weere pronounced upon you declaring that you are sons and daughters of God. Some things we call beautiful that are less than beautiful, sort of the way we use awesome to describe everything. This sight was truly beautiful though; there's no other way and no better way to describe it. I love seeing people come home to Jesus. I will never get tired of it. Each story is packed with value, dignity, significance and transformation. Some of you came home for the first time and trusted Jesus as your forgiver and leader; others came home after a long voyage in a distant country, and some came home from years of slaving for God's attention. You walked over mountains of pride, shame, disobedience, and trust to fall into the arms of God. The cross truly is reconciling the world to God one person at a time.

God is moving in deep ways in our community - I hope you can feel it. He's changing us inside to move us outside into the lives of others. As we head to Easter week we have a great opportunity to help others come home too. It is one of the few times of year that people are willing to go to church and listen to the story again. Every year, in those moments, Jesus draws people to himself. So this year, pray about whom God wants you to bring to our Easter services at 9 and 11. We will be focusing on new life, with baptisms and stories and getting to re-tell the story of our living Savior. God wants all of us to come home and we get to help others come home too.

After Easter I will be starting a series called "Next." I am excited about it because it will help us see how we can help shape the city with the love of Christ and we all get to be in the middle of what God is doing. In the meantime, as people with a real need for Jesus, his great death and powerful resurrection, we set our sights on the Passion Week. It will be a great week. Be praying for your brothers and sisters that God wants to bring home this Easter.