"The least observed, yet the most transformational Virtue..."

Gratitude—Our Motivation and Drive for “Operation 500 Plus” on November 17
The least valued of all the virtues is one of the most impactful - “Gratitude”!

In Luke 17 we find Jesus encountering ten lepers. Jesus heals all ten lepers, then we read these sad words, 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?

Now before we are too harsh on the nine lepers who didn’t return, we recall that Jesus did in fact tell them to “go and show yourselves to the priest” for in the Law of Moses this was required before they could see their families. They had been separated from their families due to this contagious disease.  I can empathize that they ran to the priest.  With that said, could all of that waited just for a moment to be able to return back to Jesus and express gratitude for healing for it was Jesus who healed and restored them.

In a few days we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  Do you know its origin?

Some think the first Thanksgiving occurred in 1609 at Jamestown, VA while others believed it occurred in 1620 at Plymouth Rock. The actual holiday did not come into existence until the middle of the Civil War struggle by then President Abraham Lincoln writing a proclamation and making it a holiday in 1863:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Gratitude is the most valuable of all virtues and the least observed. This Sunday,          November 17, the campus pastors and I invite you to be one of “500 plus” who will    commit to inviting one person per week for 60 weeks.  I’m sure you are grateful for what Christ has done in your life, for the grace you have experienced in Jesus and his sacrificial love for you.  This is our motivation—gratitude!

We invite you to join us in “Operation 500 Plus” where we will ask you to come forward and be willing to commit to inviting one person each week for 60 weeks.  The Win is to “Invite” the person.  It’s up to the person, of course, whether they attend worship. Over 80% of people are open to an authentic invitation to attend worship.  Friends, coworkers, neighbors, family members and acquaintances all need a warm invite to worship.

Gratefully,
Pastors Charles, Julie, Chip, Trent, Mike, Harley, Brian, Brent, and Tyler