Yes, I’m compiling a year end list.
But not an all inclusive here’s all the great things God did in 2007 list.
I think I’ve done a pretty fair job of regularly celebrating the salvations, baptisms, resources, and victories that God has provided this year.
So this list is just for fun.
7 of my favorites from ‘07. Very original, I know.
1. Sermon series that I had the most fun preaching:
It’s a 3 way tie (you know I couldn’t pick just one, because every one is the best ever. Leave me alone… it’s my list):
When Life and Truth Collide, Confessions of a Pastor, and Sun Stand Still
(The worst series, in case you were wondering, was a series we simply called:
?
It was in June, I was on vacation, having to film the sermons in advance, and we kind of copped out on our original concept-a sure fire recipe for mediocrity. Thankfully, it was only a 2 week series, so we were put out of our misery before it got too unbearable.)
2. My favorite song we’ve sung on Sunday mornings:
Amazed by Jared Anderson is really beautiful, and I could listen to it all day.
There is a song that one of our worship leaders, Mack Brock, wrote called We are Alive, that I think is really something special. As a matter of fact, our worship leaders are writing a lot of great stuff right now. You’ll be hearing more from them in the next few months.
3. My favorite surprise from my staff:
The stack of very meaningful letters they recently wrote me about how I’d impacted their lives. That made my year.
Wait… maybe it was my xBox 360 they gave me for Christmas.
After all, stationery is cheap. 
(I’m also very proud of the following staff accomplishments:
1st annual Chicken Bowl Challenge, Halloween Costume Contest, etc.)
DISCLAIMER: I didn’t not eat the chicken bowl or dress up. I’m so lame.
4. My favorite date night of the year:
Hands down this is it:
Last week I secured childcare, took Holly to a nice hotel in town, ordered in an appetizer, main course, and Great Wall of Chocolate from P.F. Chang’s (F.Y.I.-Gift cards always welcome), put the Do Not Disturb sign up, and we slept for 11 hours straight.
For a couple that pastors a 2 year old church and has 2 kids in diapers, the gift of sleep is the greatest gift there is. It was amazing.
(For all of you who really like to hear the Furtick family stuff, here’s a quick honorable mention for the cutest thing Elijah said in ‘07:
One day he woke up from a nap and began to ramble down the halls saying:
“Hewwo (Hello)? Is anybody dewa (there)?”
And here’s what makes that funny:
Why did he think we might not be there? Has he ever woken up once in his life with nobody at home? There’s got to be a sermon illustration in there somewhere.
Kids… )
Oh, and he regularly uses the word actually these days. My 2 year old saying actually is just funny to me. And a little scary. It’s the beginning of his argumentative powers coming to the surface. Watch out.
5. Most memorable moment in a sermon planning meeting: We were preparing an illustration about tithing using 100 piggy banks.
The Holy Spirit starting moving (sarcasm alert), and we began to reel off various pig related lines I could use in the sermon, such as:
“God is saying to you this morning, ‘Little pig, little pig, let me in… ”
And
“Pigs in a blanket… “(accompanied by my actually throwing a blanket on the pile of pigs.)
The disturbing thing is that I actually used the lines on Sunday morning.
It’s a wonder anyone comes to hear me preach…
6. Most controversial blog post:
Just before I beat Paris Hilton out for the top spot on Technorati my blog went down for a few days. I returned to the scene with a fiery little entry called:
I promised you a good comeback.
A lot of people liked it. Some didn’t. I still stand by it. Boom.
7. A promise God made me in ‘07 that I can’t wait to see Him fulfill in ‘08:
That we’ve only just begun. For the last 4 months, we’ve been digging down and strengthening our stakes: adding staff, raising resources, stabilizing systems.
In early 2008, by the grace of God, we’re going to spread out and lengthen our cords like never before. Another tidal wave of growth and momentum is swelling. It’s about to crash on our shore.
God is speaking to our acquisition team about potential properties.
God is granting us favor in our city that is undeserved and borderline bizarre.
God is unifying our staff and leaders with a vision for our next level.
The people of Elevation are fully alive and running over with the passion of God.
And the best is yet to come.
