March 26, 2008
6:37 AM

God is alive and active at Trinity Church! We celebrated this with great fervor on Easter Sunday as we pulled out all the stops to declare in worship that "Christ is risen!" The climax for me personally in our Worship Center celebration was after Allison Stinson shared her faith story. She did such a great job declaring the wonder of Christ's work in her life, and her recent transfer from darkness into his marvelous light. Then we sang, "The Power of the Cross," a piece that Jeff Moore orchestrated for us. Jeff has an incredible talent. He orchestrates so that the musical accompaniment isn't just there so the musicians have something to play. Instead, he highlights each musician's and instrument's sweet spot, and then brings them together to paint a beautiful musical picture that compliments the lyrics and inspires a wholehearted expression of praise from those who hear it. It was glorious as our congregation journeyed to the cross in worship and finally declared:

This the power of the cross
Christ became sins for us
What a love, what a cost
We stand forgiven at the cross

Yet, what happened 2 days earlier at our Good Friday service was even more evidence that God is truly alive and active in our congregation. Quite frankly, it was the highlight of my weekend. The service was an incredible expression of praise, culminating to a glorious climax with 10 people getting baptized. I love the way we do baptisms because it is a wonderful demonstration that the gospel is real - that Jesus is changing lives today as people turn to him, are saved, and then transformed as they grow in the faith. Each testimony was unique, but all pointed directly to Christ and the gospel and the centrality of Scripture. Each one also was a beautiful expression of worship to God. I found myself feeling deeply grateful that we are who we are at Trinity. It is easy to be critical, and I would even say, necessary, but certainly what we experienced on Friday was the fruit of a vibrant ministry where Christ and the gospel as revealed in Scripture are central to all we do. I praise God for our senior pastor, Gary Inrig, and the intense focus that he has in teaching us solid meaty truth from the Scriptures each week.

I keep discovering pockets of people who are deeply committed to and concerned for our church and have taken it to God in prayer. Many feel a deep hunger to see God at work here in an ever-increasing way - saving, sanctifying, growing, healing, transforming. "God is up to something," people are saying. Keep praying Trinity Church - God is certainly answering our prayers! He delights to reveal himself to his people as we look to him in faith. Good Friday was a huge confirmation that God is answering these prayers. For that I shout a great big HALLELUJAH! "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1Th. 5:23-24, NIV)