Scott McAlister

Do you hear God when He speaks?  I have learned a lot over the past few years.  I have learned that people will let you down…I learned that little lesson years ago but I still have to relearn it over and over again it seems.  I have learned that the people that you thought would never leave you nor forsake you will in fact leave you and forsake you.  I have learned that no matter how hard you try to do what’s right in God’s eyes people will still doubt you.

Do I sound a little pessimistic?  I don’t mean to.  I guess the point that I am trying to make is that at the end of the day the only thing that should matter is what God thinks.  Lately God has been speaking to me through His Word in ways that I can’t really put into words.  All I can say is that when God speaks nothing else matters.  So have you heard from God lately?

I love to laugh.  I think that laughter is a good medication for the soul.  Here’s a funny story that I read this week.  I hope it makes you laugh!

Murphy’s Law in the Ministry
By Ron Walters

Murphy’s Law warns, “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong-and at the least opportune time.” Some might even say Murphy was an optimist.

To prove the point, Dear Abby reprinted the following four-day typographical nightmare published by a small-town newspaper:

Monday: For Sale – R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 947-0707 after 7:00pm and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.

Tuesday: Correction – We regret having erred in R.D Jones’ ad yesterday. It should have read, “One sewing machine for sale, cheap. Phone 948-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him after 7pm.”

Wednesday: Correction – R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in his classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: “For sale – R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707 after 7:00pm and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him.”

Thursday: Notice – “I, R.D. Jones have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don’t call 948-0707 as the telephone has been taken out. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit.”

I am sitting here looking out my window at a beautiful blanket of snow.  I absolutely love snow days.  We don’t get them very often here in the sunny south, but when we do I try to slow down and take it all in.  I know those from the cold north find our amusement with the white stuff a little crazy.  I think that one of the reasons that I love the snow so much is that it slows everything down.  There are school and work cancellations.  The roads are ice covered so most of us stay at home where of course we have already stocked up on bread and milk.  I totally don’t get the bread and milk thing…I stock up on milk and cookies.  If I go during a snow blizzard I want to go fat and full with a smile on my face.  I hope that enjoy your day!

I want to pass on a blog I just read from Tony Morgan.  I think that he brings up some interesting thoughts.  He certainly made me think!  The title of his blog is The New Traditional Church.  Check it out!

Here’s a quote that I came across from an 18th century monk named Anselm: “I do not seek, O Lord, to penetrate thy depths.  I  by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree thy truth, which my hearts believes and loves.  For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand.” 

I hope that last part rocks your world like it did mine!

Wow!  What a weekend.  We had meetings on Friday night 7-9, Saturday from 9-3 and Sunday afternoon from 4:15-6:30…dude I am toast!  But through it all it was an incredible weekend.  The services yesterday were so sweet.  We baptized 18 people and the music was off the charts.  Drew connected and lead us to the very heart of God.  It was amazing!  Connie Burton, our Creative Arts Director, who by the way was off yesterday, but showed up to worship with us anyway, called me yesterday after the service just to share how the service blessed her…her words were so uplifting.  Thank you Connie!

This morning has been sweet as well.  John Haney sent me an e mail this morning that so touched my heart.  I saw another post on someone’s face book page that just watered my soul.  And I got a comment from one of our praise team people that totally rocked my world…thanks Katie!  I’m ready to charge the hill.  Are you with me?

I want to share a comment that someone left a couple of weeks ago.  “Hi Scott, Please address the objection that some people have to donating in a recession.”  Here’s what I have learned over the years…I have learned that most people don’t object to giving during a recession.  They just object to giving in general.  Giving is never a money issue…giving is an issue of the heart.  A very sweet lady said to me recently that she could not give because she has lost her job.  I could see the pain in her eyes…her heart was broke because she had no money to give.  I said to her you may not have money to give but you can give of your time and talent.  This sweet lady doesn’t have a heart problem she has a money problem.  When the money comes I believe that she will give financially because she has the heart of a giver…she longs to give out of the overflow of her love for God.  I have learned that people who will not give when they have little will never give when they have much because it’s not a money issue it’s a heart issue.  May God bless those who are struggling during this difficult economy.

Hey guys.  I just wanted to thank everyone for showing so much love to Clay Slatton last Sunday.  In my absence Clay spoke this past week.  You have no idea what a blessing you guys were to him.  Clay being a former staff member was a little nervous about being back but he said it was like he had never left.  While I’m sure that God used Clay to touch many hearts I also believe that God used SpringWell to touch Clay’s heart.  Thanks for being such a blessing to so many!

Have you ever just needed to hear from God?  I mean it’s like you know you need to hear from God and you want to hear from God but when He does actually speak it completely takes you by surprise.  And it is so clear that you can’t believe that He could be so personal.  When I say clear I mean that God reaches inside and touches you right where you hurt.  Well that has happened to me for the past couple of days.  I really can’t explain it, but it is so stinking awesome!  Oh yea the verses that He spoke to me through was Psalm 123 and Psalm 124.  I hope that they will bless you like they did me.

Sunday was a great day to be at SpringWell. Last Sunday  Bill Simmons hit you guys with a 100 chair challenge.  He said that we would add 100 more chairs to the 11:00 service if you guys would invite your friends and fill them up.  Well you stepped up to the plate and hit a home run.  We are out of black chairs so this week we will have to add some metal chairs.  We are not going to purchase more black chairs at this point…they are just too expensive.  But please don’t worry we will do everything that we can to make room for more people.  We may have to consider changing service times in order to try to balance out the two services…there is still room for growth in the 9:00 service.  Please pray that God will give us wisdom to know what to do.  Thanks guys!