Christmas @ Wayman Manor

Once again I have been moved by the generosity of the Western Hills Church. On Sunday, December 17th we delivered 150 boxes full of presents to the Wayman Manor Apartments in Temple. As we pulled up, a large group had already gathered. We were warmly welcomed by smiles and excited laughter.

After a few minutes of "organization" we began to distribute the gifts as moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and what seemed like hundreds of kids came through the line. The joy of seeing the smiles and hearing the small voices say "thank-you" was instant validation that we were doing God's work!

Thank you to all who bought and wrapped gifts, gave money and lifted this ministry up in prayer. Thank you for being His Hands & His Feet at Wayman Manor.

God bless.

-Scott Seela

Spange

Do you know what "spange"/"spanging" is?

Do you know how WHY participated in the "LOST" series?

Check out the Western Hills Youth Blog to read about how our teenagers have helped homeless teenagers in Denver, CO and learned why God gives us extra.

http://westernhillsyouth.blogspot.com

Mark Your Calendars!

The work is almost done! The worship center is almost ready! We have set our "return to the worship center" for the first Sunday of 2007 - January 7. This day will be a special day in the life and mission of this church. We will have a celebration for all that God has done. We will begin with a breakfast in the Family Life Center at 9am. This time will include prayers of thanksgiving and words of blessing from our shepherds. At 10 we will move into the worship center and at 10:15 we will have our first worship of the new year.

Make plans to be a part of this celebration. Invite anyone and everyone you wish, to be with us and join in our season of thanksgiving.

God Bless

Scott

Tree of Light Christmas Gifts

We began our Tree of Light Christmas Gifts this last Sunday. This year we are doing gifts for the kids at Wayman Manor. (We have an ongoing ministry at the Wayman Manor Apartments in which we share Jesus' love with the kids that live there.)

To participate in the Tree of Light, all you have to do is...

1. Select a tag (or tags) from the tree in the FLC & grab a box (or boxes).
2. Sign your name on the list by the corresponding name.
3. Fill the box with simple gifts (clothing items, toys, etc.).
4. Wrap the box, apply the label provided and return it by December 13.

It's that easy!

The response has been great so far, but we still have a few tags left. Come by and pick a name or two.

Thanks for sharing Jesus' love through this project.

-Scott Seela

Some Movie Recommendations this Season...

Two movies out this season are worth taking your family to see. These two movies support faith and family and would make for a great time together this holiday season. The movies are the Nativity Story and Charlotte's Web.

The Nativity Story (rated PG) is a telling of the biblical story of the birth of Jesus with the same attention to detail as in the Passion. Many of the same locations were used to film the movie to give it an authentic sense of time, place and people.

Charlotte's Web (rated G) is a live action remake of the animated classic that anyone over the age of 21 has seen. The story focuses on the power of believing in someone and seeing them through new eyes. The new version will include the talents of Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, and Oprah Winfrey.

Either or both of these movies would be a great event for the family this holiday season.

God Bless,
Scott

Stewardship

We, as a church, are actively practicing the value of stewardship. This core value reminds us of several things.

They are...

1. We are not owners, it ALL belongs to God.

2. We are MANAGERS of the resources God has given us to manage.

3. We have a little bit of time and a little bit of opportunity to leverage for the sake of the KINGDOM.

4. We cannot be fully devoted followers of Jesus and remain upside down in our personal finances.

5. We need to order the arena of our money so that we GIVE first, SAVE second, and the LIVE off of the rest.

6. When we have more than we need (extra), it is for someone in need.

The value of stewardship is just as important for the whole church as it is for the individual Christian. To set our operating budget for 2007 we are currently collecting the Stewardship Cards. If you have not yet filled yours out and turned it in to one of our elders please do so. It is important that you participate in this process. Remember, the sum total of all of the cards will become the budget for 2007. We will add or reduce ministries so that the church will practice what we preach, "Live within our means." We believe God will bless us as we learn to be good stewards of all that He has given us.

In Him

Scott

Thankful for...

Of course this time of year it only seems appropriate for everyone to make their lists of what they are thankful . I thought I would create a list of what we as a church have to be thankful for this year.

1. The grace of Jesus Christ.
2. The sustaining presence of God that has seen us through some rough times.
3. Godly leadership from our elders. (They are not perfect by they love God and love this church!)
4. A generous church that is willing to give sacrificially.
5. One of the best youth ministries and children's ministries I have ever seen.
6. Ministry/mission opportunities in our community. (Wayman Manor, Upward Basketball, Love of Christ Center)
7. The Elder's vision to be a church that connects the unconnected, cares for our people, and changes lives for God.
8. The numerous volunteers who serve in a variety of ways each and every week.
9. The beautiful new worship center that will be ready in 2007.
10. So many of our senior saints who love on my kids and make them think that church is the best place on Earth.

That's my list. What would you add?

Happy Thanksgiving

Scott

Rock-n-Roll

The stone is going up and the beams are being painted. In the picture masons are working on the section that is up front, below our baptistery. The work on our worship center is moving forward quickly.

It won't be long before we experience our first worship experience in the new worship center.

Thanks for Giving!

Thank you for your response to our food drive for the Love of Christ Center.

Doug Wheeler estimates that with your food and money donations combined, we will have over 1 TON of food!

This will make a big difference as the Love of Christ Center services the people of Bell County. As Matt Peacock shared a week ago, the Love of Christ will serve approximately 28,000 people in 2006. Your generous contributions make this all possible.

Thanks again for being the Hands and Feet of Jesus.

-Scott Seela

Auditorium Update

The worship center is really moving along now. Everyday we are one more step to being completed. The room is being prepared for the painters to come in and work their magic. We will be moving in before we know it. Of course the worship center is only one of several exciting things occurring right now. Remember to bring your CASES of food for the Love of Christ Food Drive. And our annual Stewardship Sunday is coming Nov. 19. Be praying for your financial commitment in 2007.

Food Drive for the Love of Christ Center

Our annual food drive for the Love of Christ Center is set for this coming Sunday, November 12th.

The Love of Christ Center is a ministry where the basic needs of food and clothing are met every week due to your generosity. As Matt Peacock shared during our contribution time, the Love of Christ Center is on track to serve 28,000 people in the Bell County area in 2006. Your giving and donations make that possible.

The challenge for this year's drive is to make a MAJOR STACK with cases of food items. (Of course, all food items will be gratefully accepted!) A section of the Family Life Center has been taped off so we can make our stack "Case High." If you weren't here last Sunday, this means that we are trying to fill the taped off area to the height of Case H. (a teen in our student ministry).

The area is approximately 4 feet by 13 feet. Case is 5 foot 7 inches. For you math people, that means our goal is basically 290 Cubic Feet.

So bring a case (or 2 or 3 or more) to the Southwest corner of the FLC on Sunday, November 12th. For a list of the needed food items, CLICK HERE or contact the church office (254-778-4246).

I'm looking forward to seeing what God does through His people.

-Scott Seela

Sound Sytem Being Installed

The new sound system is being installed. The new system will provide quality clear sound throughout the auditorium. This will be a great tool as we present the message of Jesus with creativity and passion.

Keep Checking In,

Scott

We Love Wayman Manor!

Wow! What an awesome experience! The Western Hills Church went to the Wayman Manor apartments and lived out the love of Jesus.

For those who don't know, the Wayman Manor apartments is a place where the teens and others regularly minister (Once a week in the summer and once a month during the school year). The teens come together with the Wayman Manor kids to play games, draw, apply fingernail polish, play with play-doh, sing songs, learn about Jesus and share a snack.
Yesterday, the 20/20 Groups (and a few other groups) put on an incredible Fall Carnival for the kids and families at Wayman Manor. Faces were painted, wet sponges were thrown, candle flames were squirted out, rides were taken on an antique fire truck, hot dogs were eaten, kids bounced on air, mass amounts of candy were passed out (I could go on & on) and FUN was had by all.

Western Hills wasn't just the Hands and Feet of Jesus yesterday, they were also His Arms. I saw the loving Arms of Jesus wrapped around the kids and families of Wayman Manor through everything you did!

This church continues to go above and beyond to live out the love of Jesus. The people aren't satisfied to be "the church in the pews." Our people continually seek out ways to be the church in the community and in the lives of others.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the Fall Carnival a blessing. Thanks for the mass amounts of donated candy, for sponsoring fun booths and for genuine smiles and love displayed.

- Scott Seela

Rock-n-Roll

The stone, that will decorate the front of our worship center, has arrived! The front/pulpit area is almost ready for the stone to be added. Soon the masons will go to work to fix the rock to the waiting wall. Things continue to move along smoothly and quickly. Keep praying for God to place a sense of mission on our hearts to utilize this beautiful worship center as a tool to proclaim the love of Jesus.

Keep Checking In,

Scott

It Keeps Going...

The work continues! This week the walls were sheetrocked and a MASSIVE amount of electrical work was done. As you can see in the pic the walls are no longer the dark paneling and the sockets for the wall sconces are in place. Everything is really starting to come together. My prayer for us is that as the worship center gets ready we get ourselves ready to worship. It is not the decoration of the room that makes it holy, it is the presence of God in the lives of the worshippers. May we be ready to worship God in this place.

Keep Checking In,

Scott

How can you tell? Part 2

It seems to me in the theological/religious world we are more interested in being right than being like Jesus. Most of our discussions spiral downward into debate then simply into arguing. Often we (me included) are more caught up in our "position" on certain theological issues than we are consumed with the nature and character of Christ. So often have I been so wrapped up in the debate that when an example of Christ comes into my view, it hits me like a bucket of cold water, shocking back to clear vision, even if only for a brief while.

Consider the nature of Jesus that is being exemplified in the tragic Amish school shooting. Following the shooting donations from all over the country have poured into the community. They now exceed more than $1million. When asked how the money will be spent the leaders stated that a portion of the money will go to the KILLER'S family! The Amish consider the family of the killer to also be victims of this horrendous crime.

If an Amish religious leader and I were to sit down together, we would probably have numerous disagreements on how to interpret certain scripture. We would most likely disagree on numerous doctrines. But what I could not deny, is that the nature and character of Jesus is being reflected in a community when it is willing to not only forgive the family, that brought so much grief, it also blesses them. Sounds a lot like what Jesus did for me on the cross.

May the character and nature of Jesus be also alive among those of us who worship with the Western Hills family!

In HIS Grip,

Scott

How can you tell?

"They will know you are my disciples by your _________." This statement found in the Gospel of John is,at the same time, one of the simplest and difficult statements by Jesus. It seems that so often we have tried to fill in the blank with many things Jesus never intended. In my life and experience some of the things we have tried to fill in the blank with are...

• doctrine
• clothes
• church buildings
• sign
• college
• tracts
• political party

Unfortunately none of these are what Jesus said. He said the world will know we are disciples of his by our LOVE. This is the way that Jesus himself tells us we will be recognized, because it is LOVE that most clearly reflects the nature of Jesus. In the end it is more than our belief system but our behavior to others that sets us a part from the world. This is why I am so excited about our Carnival in Wayman Manor. We will go into the community and show the love of Jesus. And if we take Jesus at his word they will recognize who we belong to!

See Ya Sunday,
Scott

Wearing our Hearts on Our Sleeves

Our Fall Carnival is just a little more than 2 weeks away (Sunday, Oct. 29). This event is for our us to go into our community and be a blessing. As a church we not only believe in Jesus, but we go and BE Jesus to our community. We will go to Wayman Manor to show them the love of Jesus. To help us be clear about our message we have designed some T-shirts that say "WE LOVE WAYMAN MANOR." We will wear our hearts on our sleeves. The shirts will be available for pre-sale this Sunday at the Coffee Spot for $5 apiece. Supplies will be limited so if you would like one then bring your money and reserve your shirt asap.

Remember we still need candy and your ideas for a booth. Just contact Scott Seela to let him know how you want to be involved.

I am proud to be a part of church that is willing to go where Jesus would go!

Scott

New Message Series Coming Soon...

Starting on a Sunday, Oct. 29 we will begin a new message series that will explore all that Jesus has to say about our MONEY! It is hard to believe, but Jesus actually said more about money than he did grace, baptism, and salvation combined. You can not be a devoted follower of Jesus and ignore all that he had to say about your finances. Our spiritual lives are not seperate from our financial lives. Jesus teaches that they are intimately interwined.

I want to challenge you to think about someone who you can invite to hear this series. This will be a group of messages that will be relevant and practical for all of us.

See you on Sunday!

Scott

New Bible Seminar Rotation

I've heard many positive comments about our new Bible Seminar format. Neil Haney & Larry Matthews have done a great job kicking off the new format with their two series!

I wanted to let you know about the next two series that begin on Sunday, October 15.

In the Fellowship Room Venue, a series titled Chasing After the Heart of God: A Study of the Life of David will be brought by Jason Bullock. Scripture paints a picture of David as a man who struggled to be a faithful follower of God in a chaotic world. Although clearly a servant of God, David made some very public mistakes. This series will focus on David’s relationship with God through the peaks and valleys of his life. Of all of the heroes of faith, it is David who is referred to in Acts as a man after God’s own heart. What lessons could we learn from the life of David that might one day allow the same thing to be said of us?

In the Family Life Center Venue, a series titled A Legacy of Spiritual Discipline: Guess Who's Watching will be brought by Mike Stirman. When it comes to spiritual disciplines, what we hear and what we see often don’t match up. This series will address the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines as well as some “how-to’s”.

So don't miss out on what's coming. Join us at 9:00 am, grab a cup of coffee at the Coffee Spot and pick a series to join.

Hope to see you there!

-Scott Seela

The remodel effort continues to move forward quickly. Here you can see the work on the pulpit extension, the steps, and the work on the back wall. Things are shaping up quickly. Continue to keep the effort and your prayers.

Keep Checking In,

Scott

The work on our worship center continues. Most of the work so far has focused on the remodel and construction of the front area and pulpit area. Steps have been added, the stage extended, and the walls are being prepared to apply sheetrock and the stone.

The work is on schedule because of your generosity. Neil Haney, one of our elders who is leading this effort, reports that a total of $127,489 has been given and pledged. So many of you have invested in the mission of God in this place. God continues to do amazing things here in this place.

Keep Checking In!

Scott

Party Time

Plans are already being made for our next Jesus party! This year we are going to Wayman Manor and have a good ol' fashioned carnival (or "fall festival", depending on how you were raised) Carnivals this time of year are something numerous churches do, what makes ours different? Ours is unique because instead of hosting the event in our gym, just for us, we ask the question...If Jesus were to host a carnival in Temple, TX, where would he go to host it? When we stop and consider that question, we think Jesus might go to Wayman Manor and throw a party there. Why Wayman Manor? Because no one is throwing parties there.

So now is the time to start cranking up the creativity! ALL Western Hills folks are invited to join in the fun. Groups can get together and come up with ideas for booths and games. (Just let Scott Seela know what you are planning on doing). Families are invited to bring their children to come and enjoy the carnival. Together we will go and have a blast being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Love Ya Much

Scott

New Features and Latest Updates

5 Years

5 years ago I was standing in the living room of my newly purchased, still-moving-into house. Erica, pregnant with Cayden, was already at school teaching her classes. I was getting dressed to come into the office of my job I had been at for 11 days. The TODAY show was on TV when they cut to local news and the local channel six reporter said a plane had just hit one of the towers. When they returned to the TODAY show they were then carrying the story. With all eyes and cameras trained on the towers the second plane hit. It seems that was the moment we all changed. By the time I had arrived in the office the Pentagon was in flames and flight 93 had crashed.

In a strange twist of irony I was heading to a funeral that day. A precious girl, Amber, in my youth group from Southern Hills in Abilene had passed away and her service was that afternoon. It was a day full of tears and terror. The only thing that seemed to make sense to everyone was to pray.

We must continue to pray. We must continue to follow the way of the kingdom and seek the path of the cross.

What do you remember about that day?

Scott

For Our Little Ones

As the work continues on the auditorium I realize that many may not know that the construction/changes go beyond the worship center. Our nursery area is also experiencing a facelift!

We have been blessed with many wonderful babies & toddlers at Western Hills and we want to have a place that is just right for them. Windows are being added to the hallway, the stairwell ceiling is being raised, the nursery bathroom is getting a facelift and all of the walls will get a bright new update.

As the remodel plans took shape, the elders challenged the remodel team to include the upstairs nursery area. It's a wonderful thing that this church has leaders that continue to think about all our people... including the little ones!

-Scott Seela

Change is Happening

The scaffolding is up and the walls are coming down. The transformation of the worship center is underway and on track. Not only is the structural side of things coming along but also the financial side. Western Hills continues to be a generous church as more gifts and pledges from the "Dare To Move" Campaign are received. Your sacrifice and dedication to this effort has allowed us to come far in a short period of time. Thank you.

More pics to come, keep checking in!

Scott

A Look Back

Thought you might like to see the auditorium in its original state. This picture was sent to me by Mike LeFan and shows our worship center circa 1964. While this remodel effort is needed to continue our mission of proclaiming the message of Jesus; this picture reminds me that God has been at work in this church for a long time. It took men and women of vision to see the need for a larger facility and begin to dream of relocating from Ave. G to our present location. It took men and women willing to make great financial sacrifice to build our current structure. We are in some of the most exciting times this church has ever seen, but I do not want us to forget that we stand as heirs to the blessings of faith of countless saints who have gone before us.

Thanks to God for a legacy of faith and vision here at Western Hills,

See You on Sunday,

Scott

Some Personal Thoughts

10 months ago I transitioned from the role of the youth minister to the role of preaching minister for this church. I am not sure how everyone else has experienced this transition but I'd thought I would share some of my reflections.

1st - The most amazing experience has been it seems that I am have many of the same conversations as when I was youth minister...Except now the person talking to me is older. It appears no matter how old we are we are still concerned with "Do people like me?", "Can God forgive my mistakes?", "How can I grow my faith?", "What does the future hold for me?", "Why is life so hard?".

2nd - I no longer have the luxury of being older/more mature than everyone I am speaking to. One guarantee about youth ministry was that I was sure to be older than anyone in the youth group. If nothing else I at least had age and experience on them. Now I find myself week after week speaking to an audience where roughly half has far more experience, expertise, insight and wisdom than I possess. Many of these seasoned saints can provide more Godly answers than I attempt to serve up each Sunday. I am humbled simply by the lives of the faithful that sit before me each week.

So that brings me to number #3

3rd - I covet your prayers and encouragement now more than ever. So many of the congregation have consistently blessed me with encouraging words each week. Many of you tell me you are praying for me. THANK-YOU! I need your prayers now more than ever. I am so grateful for the prayer effort that is behind me each and every week. Your behind the scenes ministry is effective and powerful.

May God continue to bless Western Hills as we journey together.

I am blessed to be a part of this great group of believers.

Thank-you

Scott

Thank-You Unsung Heroes

Each Sunday I am humbled by the numerous volunteers who show up early to make sure the lights are on, AC is blowing, doors are unlocked, coffee is hot, powerpoint is right, sound system is working, communion is prepared, Bible classes are staffed, etc..etc...Each of these elements are critical to our Sunday morning mission of connecting to the unconnected and caring for our people. To an outside spectator these actions may appear small and basically inconsequential. But each of these actions when offered to God becomes the building blocks to life change. Thank you to everyone who serves so willingly. You are making an eternal difference.

If there is an "unsung hero" from our church who is an example of Christ-like service to you, then I encourage you to post a "Thank-You" to them in the comment section.

God Bless

Scott

Going...Going...Gone!

It's official. There are no pews in our worship center. The work is underway. Many volunteers have jumped in to break down, pick-up, and carry out our old seating. The room is now ready for its makeover. One interesting thing to note is that many who have seen the room with pews removed have said it feels smaller. I am excited to think that our new pews with the improved seating plan will actually bring a greater since of intimacy. God will use our new auditorium to help the unconnected find a place to belong.

Keep Checking In

Scott

Welcome!

One of the many cool things that occurred this past Sunday was the grand opening of our new COFFEE SPOT. Patty Thomas and her "First Impressions" team is working hard to see that every person who walks on to our campus is greeted and made to feel welcome. Many people will make a judgment call about us, our church, and God in the first few moments they are in our building.

The question is this, are we willing to do whatever it takes to reach someone for Jesus? If we are serious about connecting the unconnected, then making a positive, welcoming, first impression is key. Each week God is sending new people through our doors. Many are coming to us with little or no church background. Many are coming to us after having been away from God for a long time. Each Sunday God is bringing us people who He wants to reclaim. So we are starting with a cup of hot coffee and a welcoming smile, believing all the time that these simple gestures could be the first steps in someone's relationship with Jesus.

Our First Sunday in the Gym

I don't know about you, but I could feel the energy and excitement in the air yesterday. It was our first Sunday worship in the Gym/FLC and it was great! Scott Meyer kicked off a new series on the Exodus titled "Road Trip: When God Moves His People" and called us to hear and respond to the cry of the oppressed.

As the previous blog's pictures illustrate, the auditorium remodel has begun with the removal of the old pews. Therefore we have begun our soujourn in the gym for worship! Thank you to the many people who made the move possible. Countless hours of work by several people went into converting the gym into a very usable worship venue. Western Hills is blessed to have so many who quietly serve behind the scenes.

August 20th was also the first Sunday of our new Bible Seminar format. I've heard many good comments about the 2 Seminars taking place. Neil Haney's seminar is covering the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Larry Matthew's seminar is titled "Faith Risks" and is examining how people in the Bible have taken risks of faith to serve God.

I believe yesterday was just the first of many times of excitement, blessing and challenge for the Western Hills Church. Thank you again to all those who made it possible. And thanks and praise to God for all He has done, is doing and will do!

See you next Sunday!

- Scott Seela

The work is under way. Here are the first pictures of the effort. God is doing amazing things. I am excited about our first worship together in the Family Life Center (gym) this coming Sunday. There has been a ton of activity around the building to get ready for it. Numerous people are working behind the scenes to make sure everything is ready to go. What a great time to be a part of Western Hills!

Keep checking in...

Scott

It's Begun!

The worship center remodel has begun! Yesterday morning we hosted our last worship service in the current auditorium and by yesterday afternoon an entire section of pews had been removed. (Thanks to the efforts of Jake and Jim). So at this point there is no turning back. We are headed to the Family Life Center (gym). It will be exciting to see the new worship center take shape over the next 3-4 months. Each week during the remodel I will post pictures of the progress here on the blog.

Lot's of other things are going to happen this Sunday. We launch the Bible Seminar. You will have two choices. Check out the website for all of the details. We will also open the COFFEE SPOT. This is one of our many efforts to welcome people as they come into our building. We want to be a place that CONNECTS people to JESUS.

Youth Ministry Sunday Night-Be There!

Sunday night Matt Peacock will be sharing all of the things God has been doing in the lives of our students this summer. This group has traveled from Mississippi to Colorado in the name of Jesus and have some exciting stories to tell.

You need to be there. I know it is not always easy to be present on Sunday night, but this Sunday night you need to make the effort. It is easy to say, "I don't have any kids in the youth group why should I be there?" Here is the reason...Do we believe in our students or not? Do we want to see them grow to mature disciples in Jesus or not? Are we willing to do what it takes to reach the next generation?

Western Hills is a church with a passion for young people. That is one of the reasons I love this church so much. Many churches have dismissed the "kids" to the backroom or the basement thinking they will just keep them happy, then when they are old enough we will call them to follow Jesus. WRONG! By then it will be too late. Most people make a lifelong commitment to Jesus before the age of 18. If we do not consider our children and teenagers as a priority-one-mission field then we might as well coast into obscurity.

So why do you need to be there? Because our teens need to know that a life of faith is worth it. They need to see people who are living it right now. They desperately want to know it is real. So join us Sunday night, your presence might just be making an eternal difference.

Random Thoughts

This post is some of the random thoughts that are going through my brain...

#1 - Thanks for the encouragement from Sunday - Many of you have come to me to share how much you enjoyed part 1 of AWESOME WONDER. This series has been loads of fun to prepare for and to deliver. Thanks for your encouragement. I am glad you share my complete amazement at how BIG our God is. I can't wait for this coming Sunday. I saved the coolest pictures for this week.

#2 - Only 1 more week in the auditorium - I can't believe this coming Sunday is our LAST Sunday to worship in the auditorium as it currently exists. Starting on August 20 we will be worshipping together in the gym. I am excited because it will cause all of us to break out of our habits. God is going to bless us so much during this time.

#3 - Coffee Spot Opens - Also on August 20 the Coffee Spot will open up. I know you are wondering what is so exciting about coffee? (Especially since I don't even drink coffee.) I am not excited about the Coffee Spot because of the coffee, I am excited because of what it means for this church. Our elders have laid out a vision of CONNECTING the UNCONNECTED. The Coffee Spot is just one of the strategies we will employ to accomplish the mission. How welcoming will it be for a first time guest to walk in our door, be greeted, and receive a hot cup of coffee served from a very warm and welcoming environment? We are simply taking advantage of every opportunity to connect someone to Western Hills and connect them to Jesus. It all starts with a smile.

#4 - Operation Backpack - Once again this church shows its love for this community through the collection of school supplies for Wayman Manor. ALL of the backpacks have been claimed! Thanks for loving on some kids like Jesus would. This is one more reminder that we are a church that sees the mission field in our own backyard. Be sure to return your backpacks this Wednesday night.

That's all for now.

Scott

Pardon our Progress

The remodel of our worship center is about to begin. The construction schedule is coming together and coming quickly. Because it will be happening fast we will begin worshipping in the Family Life Center on August 20. That means only 2 more Sundays (Aug. 6 & 13) will we worship in the auditorium as it currently is. This is an incredibly exciting time for WH. Keep on praying as God keeps blessing us and calling us forward into His future.

See Ya Sunday,

Scott

Don't Miss This Sunday

You will not want to miss this Sunday. I'm not kidding! I will be starting a 2 sermon series called AWESOME WONDER. We will be discovering how BIG our God is (and how small we are). We serve a God who created the universe and everything in it, simply by saying the word. All around us are miracles that shout out His glory. The Psalmist says...

the heavens declare the glory of God.

the skies proclaim the work of His hands

For the next 2 Sundays we will explore the heavens and see what they teach us about the God who spoke them into existence. I have been hanging out on the Hubble Telescope site and the NASA site lately. I have gathered a ton of cool stuff I want to share with you. The next 2 sermons will be image rich and visually stunning. The messages will be great opportunities to invite a friend or co-worker to church. This will be the kind of presentation they can understand, even with little or no church background. So bring them and let them hear how BIG our God is.

See you Sunday

Scott

If you were not with us in worship today you missed out. God continues to do AMAZING things among the Western Hills church! Today was our "DARE TO MOVE" Sunday. We collected the gifts and pledges for our auditorium remodel effort. After all of the cards were counted, Neil Haney announced, more than $100,000 dollars had been pledged! The second amazing announcement is that a member (who wishes to remain anonymous) will finance the remainder of the project at 0% interest. This kind of response to the project will allow us to bring the needed updates to the auditorium without incurring great debt or reduce any funding to current ministries. God has once again delivered on His promise to do amazing things! As I said in the sermon I have never been more excited to be at Western Hills than I am right now.

Scott

Back from Trek!

Last week I joined Matt Peacock and the youth group on a trip called Wilderness Trek. This is one awesome experience! Wilderness Trek is a 5 day backpacking adventure in the mountains of Colorado. Using the challenges of rappelling, hiking, and climbing to teach spiritual lessons about following Jesus. As I hiked along it occurred to me how many lessons of Trek fit our church right now. Here are a few...

Lesson #1 - Travel Light
When you have to carry everything on your back for 5 days you start to really evaluate how much you need each item. In church the temptation (at least for us minister types) is to always want to load down the church with program after program. Programs are not bad, but they can be deceptive. Staying busy with program after program does not automatically equal the mission of God. We need to carefully and prayerfully evaluate everything we do to ensure that it is keeping us on target with our mission.

Lesson #2 - Not everybody goes at the same pace
I am not going to lie...It is frustrating on the trail to be patient with those struggling to keep up. God uses such opportunities to teach me patience. He also teaches me that as Western Hills moves forward we must be patient and all move together. However, as we are patient there is a difference between encouraging those who struggle and stopping the forward movement. We must be sensitive to all who are a part of this great church but we can not stop just because the journey is too tough. Which brings us to lesson #3...

Lesson #3 - The best journeys are not easy journeys
Through the adventure of Trek we climbed and stood on top of Mt. Shavano (one of Colorado's 14,000ft.+ peaks.) The climb was NOT easy. Let me say again...The climb was NOT easy. Every part of my body hurt. BUT it was worth it. To stand on the top and look for miles in every direction made every step pay off. As this church goes where Jesus would go it will not be easy. At times it will simply be uncomfortable, other times it will be great sacrifice, either way the destination is worth it.

More reflections later...
It is good to be back home.

See you on Sunday,
Scott

Interview with Shelby Garmon

God continues to bless Western Hills with new people and families. We believe that each person who comes to Western Hills is a gift from God. Each person brings both talents we need as well as opportunities to minister. Shelby and Emily Garmon are among the many new faces here at Western Hills. We thought it would be fun to sit down with them and learn more about how God is shaping their lives. We also get to see Western Hills through fresh eyes as we work to become a church that is CONNECTING the unconnected, CARING for our people, and CHANGING LIVES for God.


WHBlog: Tell us just a little bit about your family and why God brought you to Temple?

Shelby: Emily and I grew up in Corpus Christi and met at Church of Christ South. We attended Lipscomb University in Nashville for two years before moving back to Corpus Christi to lead the college ministry at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. We were married in 1995. Emily worked as a paralegal while I completed college. After graduation, I worked for 7 years as a commercial lender for Frost Bank while Emily finished her degree in chemistry. Emily was then accepted to medical school at UTMB-Galveston and we moved to the Houston / Galveston area in 2002. Our first daughter, Kendra was born in May of 2002. Our second daughter, Camryn, was born in August of 2005.

A number of things led us to Temple. Being that we had 2 small children, we wanted to find a good place to raise our kids. Scott & White seemed to have the best program for Emily's residency as far as quality of training and a family friendly program and atmosphere. Most importantly, we wanted to be in a place where there was an active church and group of Christians who were ready to reach out to each other and the community. God answered our prayer in bringing us here.

How did you first hear about WH?

Shelby: We heard about Western Hills through Chris and Jennifer Burnett. They were very enthusiastic about Western Hills and assured us that it was the kind of church home that we desired.

What were your first impressions of Western Hills?

Shelby: The first Sunday we walked in the door at Western Hills, we knew this would be our Church home. Donna Leavelle was the first person we met and made us feel right at home. She introduced us to lots of people, took us on a tour of the children's area, and just showed us the ropes. It's obvious the people at Western Hills know how important even the first few minutes are for people who are visiting and searching for a church family. We felt the warm, friendly, and loving atmosphere God has blessed this family with and knew we wanted to be a part of it.

What factors influenced your decision to become part of the Western Hills family?

Shelby: We were drawn to WH for a number of reasons. The people were obviously a major factor - there is a genuine atmosphere of love and acceptance and seems to be a strong commitment to drawing new families into WH. We also liked the fact that there is a good 'mix' of age groups at WH. We were happy to find that WH was deeply committed to a strong children's ministry. Last of all we were excited to see that WH was involved in building closer relationships through its small group efforts.

How can WH help your family to grow closer to God and look more like Jesus?

Shelby: The way we feel that we will grow as a Christian family most is just through being involved. It's amazing how much one can grow when they are reaching out and ministering to others. We know our children will also grow from the efforts at WH to make children a high priority. One of the areas Emily and I have grown the most over our years of involvement at churches is through a strong commitment to be involved and grow through small groups ministry.

What ways do you hope to minister/serve/get involved here at WH?

Shelby: In the past we have helped out in areas ranging from children's classes to sponsoring youth activities to leading a college ministry effort. As I mentioned above, one area where Emily and I have really enjoyed serving in the past is in small group ministry. It's amazing how people tend to flourish and grow and get to know each other on a deeper level through this ministry tool. We are excited about getting to know more people and find the various areas where we feel that God can use us best at WH.

Remember to pray! Our elders have called us once again to a collective season of prayer. The elders are challenging us to be in prayer everyday from now until July 30. On that day we will gathering the gifts/pledges for our DARE TO MOVE campaign. This is our effort to COMPLETELY pay for the remodel of the auditorium. Why are we eager to pay for it with out having to borrow? Because having all the funds in hand allows us to keep all current ministries going and even expand some. I believe this glorifies God!

So as you pray here are some things to remember in your prayers...

• our elders and their leadership
• the numerous new people God has brought to us
• for God to bring numerous more people to us
• for us to be ready to minister to all God brings our way
• for God to use the new auditorium for His glory
• for your part in the Dare to Move campaign

What an exciting time to be a part of Western Hills! So what are you praying for? Post a comment and let us know what you are asking God's blessing on right now.

Praying for you,

Scott

God is GOOD!

What a great morning to be a part of what God is doing with and through the Western Hills Church. Neil Haney (one of our elders) announced the effort to remodel our auditorium to bring it up to date. The new design looks AMAZING! Thanks to Patty for giving us all a peek into the future through her artist rendering seen above.

Many times churches choose to build something when they are stuck and there is no excitement. The belief is that "if we build we can get some folks motivated and get some energy back in the church again." It is an effort to kick start a church when church has become stale or stagnant. I can guarantee you that is NOT the case here. God is blessing WH in some amazing ways. Our elders are leading us into this effort because we need it to keep up with all the blessings God is sending our way. Every week we have new folks walking through the doors for the first time. These people are looking for a place to connect with God. We are going to see that we give that one chance the best possibility.

Be in prayer for the next 20 days asking God to direct our steps as we follow His lead.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Western Hills is on the Move!

So are you still planning to be there this Sunday, July 9? We will be tackling Myth #3: Church Should be Easy. Also there will be a special elders announcement about some exciting plans for the Western Hills Church. I am telling you not to miss. The whole day will be about the amazing things that God is doing to move this church forward. God apparently has some BIG dreams for us. One year ago we entered into 40 days of prayer and fasting. We trusted the verse in Joshua 3:5 that says...

consecrate yourselves because tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.

And amazing things He has done and is doing. Over the last year we paid off the debt on the gym, added Scott Seela and Matt Peacock to staff, sent a group to Mississippi for Katrina relief, started a new ministry in Wayman Manor, hosted a PACKED Upward league, hosted our inaugural Financial Peace University class, AND have been welcoming lots and lots of new people to Western Hills. Now the elders will share with us the next step that God is calling us to take as we move ahead.

See You Sunday
Scott

Success in spite of rain!

Last night's 4th of July celebration was a BLAST! Thanks to Elwood and Ann for opening your home to us. Even the the rain right before dark was not enough to slow us down. One of the coolest things of the evening was watching every young boy play in the rain. The food was great and plentiful, the spirit warm and loving, the fireworks were great and the turnout was tremendous.

In fact as we crammed into the Smith's large living room the thought struck me, "We are NOT a small church." I know it is tempting in church to want to stay small so "you can know everyone." Well it seems we need to get past that thinking because even with the fantastic turnout still 2/3 of the church was not present. We are a big church. So our challenge is not how do we stay small so that we can personally know everybody, our challenge is how do we create opportunities to connect with each other as we continue to grow?

Our elders have called us to be a place that is "connecting the unconnected." As we continue to put that in practice we WILL grow. Growth is what God desires for His church. Growth means more folks are connecting to Jesus and to Jesus' people. Growth comes with some challenges though. We will have to think in some new ways...increased small group opportunities, 2 services, new Bible classes, more prayer groups, new ladies Bible study opportunities...etc, etc. If God continues to bless us with more and more singles/couples/families joining our church then these are some of the things/ideas/issues we will have to think about and move toward.

Isn't being a part of a growing church fun?!

Scott

Celebration Tonight

Today is the day! The yearly Western Hills 4th of July extravaganza. If you have not participated in this event yet then you need to BE THERE tonight. This year will be different in the simple fact that the Beckers, who have hosted the event for years, have moved to Ballinger. Elwood and Ann Smith have stepped up to the plate and opened their home to us this year. So let the celebration begin.

Remember we will gather and celebrate tonight and then there will NOT be a meal or classes tomorrow night (Wed. July 5) at the building.

Have you made you plans to be there on Sunday??
Hope so...

See you tonight,
Scott

Don't Miss Next Sunday

I know it is only Monday but I can't wait till next Sunday...(and usually my Monday's are spent recovering from the Sunday before.) You will not want to miss this coming Sunday! I am serious, make plans now to do what it takes to be in worship on July 9. I won't spoil the surprise but don't miss it. We will be focusing on the future of Western Hills and our mission of "connecting the unconnected" to God.

So how is that for a teaser? Do I have your interest?

See you on Tuesday night @ the Smith's
Scott

PS -Keep checking in to this blog for more updates and clues.

What a Sunday!

WOW! It is Sunday afternoon and I am simply exhausted from the adrenaline rush I have been on today. The worship this morning was an awesome experience. I am not sure what I liked best..the singing was energized, the prayers were heartfelt, the reading of the 23rd Psalm powerful, and to top it all off...3 more families joined our church and our mission. In the last two weeks 5 families have committed to being a part of what God is doing here at Western Hills. It seems He is blessing us in some BIG ways. I have often said it is God's desire to bless His church beyond our wildest imagination. We just have to position ourselves to receive it. So to the Cunninghams, Rainers, Gibsons, Garmons and Frisch's we say WELCOME. We consider you a gift from God to help us be the church He is calling us to be here in Central Texas.

Because of the CROSS
Scott

Surprise Visit

Last night as I came down the hall carrying Cutter, Aloha grabbed me and said, "There is someone you have got to meet, John Roberts." For those who may not know, John Roberts is a former minister of Western Hills, now serving in Memphis. He, his wife and son were traveling and made sure to stop by and see friends at Western Hills.

This was my first opportunity to meet John. He struck me as a humble and sincere man with a deep faith in God. I was also struck by how many from this church threw their arms around him and his family. He literally could not walk down the hall without a sea of hugs and handshakes.

Again, I was reminded how much love Western Hills has to share. We continue to be a CONNECTING and CARING place almost by nature. Jesus says the world will be able to recognize my followers...Not by their doctrine...Not by their logo...Not by their clothes...But by their LOVE. It was amazing to see just a small taste last night. I continue to be grateful to serve in a church as caring as Western Hills.

Because of the CROSS
Scott

Build and Bring!

We are off and running with the Mythbuster Series. Many of you have encouraged me with how much you are looking forward to the series. Thanks! Encouraging words are always a blessing. What is even more encouraging is the number of people I am meeting every Sunday morning. God is bringing a tremendous amount of new people through our doors. When I ask a few questions I inevitably find out that all of these people are coming because YOU are inviting them.

That is the simple idea behind BUILD & BRING. You are building relationships with people God has ALREADY placed in your world. After investing in a relationship you bring them to church. This is our ongoing evangelistic strategy. That's it. We trust that God will cause the seed planted to grow.

You are in my prayers as you minister in the world.

See you on Sunday,
Scott

PS - Myth #2: God wants me to be HAPPY.

MythBusters

Raise your hand if you have seen this show? Ok, many of you have. If you are in the few that have not let me explain. The show is hosted by 2 balding and goateed guys who have an insatiable desire for truth, science and blowing things up. The premise of the show is to take a widely held belief, urban legend, or myth and try to recreate it in "the laboratory".

Well on Sunday, Toby Wilson (preacher for the Belton Church of Christ) and I will attempt to be Mythbusters! We will challenge some widely held beliefs by finding out what God has to say about that. So just like the show we will attempt to bust myths minus the goatees and the explosions.

This Sunday's myth is ALL ROADS LEAD TO HEAVEN!

See You on Sunday,
Scott M.

NEW CREW TIME

Last night Crew Time made its move to a new night and a new location. Our new Crew Time room is awesome! (Thanks to Patty Thomas, several teens and the Band of Brothers for helping transform the room.)

For those who don't know, Crew Time is a high-energy, active time of worship and learning for our 2 year olds through 5th Graders. Our Crew Time staff of teens and adults lead our kids in worship & interactive learning.

Crew Time has also added a new friend. Last night we met Dennis the Crew Time Carpenter. With Dennis' help, the kids learn about God, Jesus and many other things.

The room was packed with kids & energy as we learned about and participated in WORSHIP!

Be sure to stop by at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays to see Crew Time in action.

Wayman Manor

Last night the teens of Western Hills hosted their second Sidewalk Sunday School on the playground of Wayman Manor. In a word it was AWESOME. Our teens (and teens from Ave. T) prove that Jesus is bigger than any racial, social, or economic barrier or difference. Armed with kickballs, bubbles, frisbees and fingernail polish these students went to work playing with and loving on the children of Wayman Manor.

I am excited to be a part of a church that is committed to getting out of its building and going where Jesus would go. Keep our students in our prayers and keep Wayman Manor in your prayers. If this effort is part of the mission God has for Western Hills then the possibilities are far more than anything we can ask or even imagine!

A Church on Target

Our Elders have called this church to a new vision. Well actually they have reminded us of what our vision has always been. There is a saying that says, "The MAIN thing is to keep the MAIN thing the MAIN thing." Keeping the main thing the main thing is what our elders are helong us to do. SO in case you have missed it the vision/mission of the Western Hills Church of Christ is...

to Connect the Unnconnected

to Care for our People

to Change lives for God

Now the EASY part is to come up with the statement. The HARD part is to LIVE it out.
I want to invite eveyone who is a part of this church to begin praying about what God will do wiht us and through us in the immediate future. I believe he has BIG dreams and I can't wait to see them come to life.

End of the Spear

Fifty years ago this month, five men were martyred in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador and their story changed lives around the world. This month, the rest of the story will be told in a powerful motion picture coming to theaters called End of the Spear. Come and experience this unbelievable true story on opening weekend Jan. 20-22 and your view of missions will never be the same. This is a full Hollywood production that displays (in a postive way) the power of the Gospel message to change the culture of an entire people.

Upward Basketball Begins

Last Saturday, January 14th, we had our first day of Upward Basketball Games at Western Hills.

The Kindergarten teams started the day with excitement and energy! The 4th through 6th Grade Boys teams ended the day with heavy-duty action. In between, the day was filled with some great plays, awesome shots, loud cheering and a whole lot of fun.

Our coaches did a great job helping their kids do their best. Our referees did a great job teaching the kids the basics of the game with patience and love. Our concessions stand volunteers served up hotdogs, nachos and sodas with smiles. Our devotional speakers inspired and challenged the half-time audience. Our other volunteers did what was needed to make the day a success. (Thanks Kim Stern for hours of time keeping!)

All of these people made it possible to tell

a bunch of kids and their parents about Jesus!

It was a great day! There are 3 more game days at Western Hills.

• January 28th
• February 12th
• February 26

Come and join us for a game or two (or the whole day).

Or better yet...

If you are interested in helping serve in the Concession Stand, contact Matt & Heather Stephen.

If you are interested in helping with Refereeing a game or 2, contact Robert Moore.

If you are interested in giving a short half-time devotional, contact Marie Matthews.

If you want to help in any way needed (as Jesus would!), contact Scott Seela.

BUILD & BRING

These are two words you are going to hear me say often. Why? Because I believe in them. This is our strategy for reaching the lost of Central Texas. Sounds too simple, right? I know strategies for reaching the lost and bringing people to Jesus have been made complicated and intimidating.

So what is BUILD and BRING? It is simply this...prayerfully consider the people God has already placed in your circle of influence. This includes co workers, fellow students, friends, members of your bowling team, other soccer moms, your next door neighbor, guys at the gym...get the picture? You pray about God using you to be a missionary to those people. Don't get intimidated yet! Your job is to BUILD your relationship with them and then BRING them to Western Hills. Now that's not so scary is it? Another way to say this is with the words INVEST and INVITE. You invest in their lives and then invite them to join you for worship. I have a passionate belief that folks who come into our worship will encounter a living God. They might not understand everything or be able to put their experience into words, but they will NOT leave unaffected.

So there it is. The grand strategy in two words...BUILD and BRING. I wish I could take credit for this but Jesus beat me to it years ago.

God will do amazing things in 2006. I am praying for you and look forward to meeting the person/persons you bring to Jesus this year.

See you on Sunday,
Scott M.