Happy Birthday VCTC!

Birthdays are always special aren't they (unless you're over 38 and realize to have a sleep over party would be creepy)?  Over sized helium balloons that don't EVER deflate, icing (light on the cake), friends, family and surprises (like new pain in places that you didn't even know existed until you felt a sharp twinge getting out of bed on your birthday... "surprise, take some Advil!")  There is something though about that first birthday isn't there?  So I'm watching Malachi who's almost a year old (so close to 1 but not quite, work with me).  Are you kidding, I'm thinking this over sized Cabbage Patch Kid was just inside of Heather's body a year ago and now he eats ravioli (like there's a shortage globally).  I mean think of the progress a child makes in a year, from helpless and weak to standing on his own and drinking out of the dog bowl.  It really is unbelievable isn't it?

VCTC is having a birthday, a first birthday and the progress that we have made is not so unlike Malachi's (minus the dog bowl thing).  Just over a year ago the Theater campus was just a good idea... a God idea! Look how far we've come from the early days of two theaters and massive tech issues (they still pop up now and then just for kicks).  It has been a journey of growth, a year later we have gone from some awkward stages to standing on our own two feet.  Give pause and take a minute to look around on Sunday... we are a church, a living, breathing organism.  Don't get me wrong, we're not "there" yet, we've got a long way to go (and frankly we'll never get "there").  Life happens in stages, Malachi is standing on his own but he wasn't taking any swings at the Darth Vader pinata  at Abe's 7th birthday party last month (although he did try to eat Darth Vader's head).  You understand what I'm saying... let's celebrate the progress, let's be thankful for the presence of God, let's give glory for the life change, for the impact in the community for the volunteer spirit that thrives at Victory Church and the list goes on and on!

Now no birthday would be complete without gifts (that we open after everyone leaves the party which I find strange "Drop your Five Below item there, I'll get to it later!")  I wish I could give each of you a present ( although you did get the chocolate spheres of life a couple of weeks ago) but I can't.  This is what I can do and will do, I will pray that as we celebrate this most important of birthdays that you would unwrap the fullness of God in your life!  It is to this end that I have given myself... that we would lock arms and chase hard after God and would not settle for anything less than the John 10:10 "Best Life!"

Come Sunday with great expectation, come ready to eat cake, come ready to spend some time looking around and taking it in.  Happy Birthday VCTC!!!

Blessings,
Eric