Notes from Mike http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/ en-us Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:35:06 GMT Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss SiteOrganic 60 webmaster@cathedralofpraise.org August 20, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=16146 I'm so excited to be back with you in service this weekend. If you were with us in mid-July for our first weekend in the newly renovated Worship Center, then you already have a taste of what's in store - an incredible time experiencing God's presence through worship and the Word.....(Click date above to read more.)
I'm so excited to be back with you in service this weekend. If you were with us in mid-July for our first weekend in the newly renovated Worship Center, then you already have a taste of what's in store - an incredible time experiencing God's presence through worship and the Word.

Invite a friend to join you. Think of someone who might be struggling to connect in relationships and make life work or perhaps has lost their vision and passion for life. Imagine them having an encounter with the One who created us, who knows us best and loves us with unfailing and unconditional love. It may be that this is just what you're looking for, too.

Expect a life-changing service! I'm also looking forward to sharing what God has put on my heart for you and the freshness of this new season at Cathedral. Thank you for being faithful to the work God is doing at Cathedral. There's much to celebrate and even better things to come. See you this weekend!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=16146 July 20, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=15033 It was so good to be back together last weekend in the Worship Center. What a wonderful time in God’s presence! I could have lingered for hours. In His presence is where life-change really happens. I encourage you to spend some time this week worshipping at home. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes....(Click date above to read more.) Dear Church Family,

It was so good to be back together last weekend in the Worship Center. What a wonderful time in God’s presence! I could have lingered for hours. In His presence is where life-change really happens. I encourage you to spend some time this week worshipping at home. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes.

Thank you for being part of what is happening here at Cathedral. Again, I ask you to pray for me as I take the next few weeks to seek God and hear His direction for our church as we head into the Fall. Specifically, please agree with me for a spirit of wisdom and revelation. I’m anticipating great things to come.

I’m also asking for your help with a special project. We are partnering with North Charleston to provide school supplies for students in our community through the “It’s Cool to Be in School.” Your donation will help families who cannot afford basic back-to-school necessities start their children’s school year off right. You may add your financial gift to the offering or give online by August 2. Thank you for leveraging your resources to impact our neighbors.

REMINDERS:

• Don’t miss Vacation Bible School tonight through Thursday, July 22! Doors open at 6:30 pm. It’s not too late to get your children, grandchildren or neighborhood kids (ages 5 through Grade 6) involved. They’ll love the music, drama, games, snacks, great Bible stories and more!

• Cathedral Preschool opens August 9. We have spaces available for infants through 3-year-olds. We’re excited about this new opportunity to serve families.

I pray that you experience God’s touch this week in your area of greatest need and find the satisfaction that your soul longs for as you encounter His presence in a deeper way than ever before. May His joy fill your heart and bring peace to your mind. I’m looking forward to hearing your stories!

Doing life together,

Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=15033 July 15, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14954 It's a summer of firsts - our first services back in the newly renovated worship center and the opening of Cathedral Preschool! We are excited about the changes and new things happening at Cathedral.... (Click date above to read more.) Dear Church Family,

It's a summer of firsts - our first services back in the newly renovated worship center and the opening of Cathedral Preschool! We are excited about the changes and new things happening at Cathedral.

Cathedral Preschool now has a director! She, along with a strong team of educators and administrators, are interviewing potential staff members. We're renovating several rooms in our main building in preparation for the grand opening on August 9. We have spaces for infants through age 3. Please help us spread the word! Application packets are available in the church foyer or online.

I appreciate your patience and support over the last three weeks as we have held services in the Athletic Center. Be sure to join us this weekend for our first services back in renovated worship center. It will be so nice to be back "home." We're not totally finished with the project, but we're ready to move back in.

This will be a weekend of celebration. Even though I'm supposed to be out on study break, I didn't want to miss this important occasion. So I'll be back with you, leading the charge in the service. Let's make this a distinctive moment that sets the tone for the future. It's a time of setting apart this place as holy ground that is dedicated to God's purposes, by filling the house with praise and worship and experiencing God's presence together.

Come prepared to worship and invite someone to join you. We know that transformation and life-change happens in the presence of God. You don't want to miss it! I'm looking forward to seeing you and have great expectations for what is going to happen.

Doing life together,

Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14954 July 8, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14825 What a wonderful Independence Day celebration we had together last Saturday! I enjoyed visiting with everyone at the picnic following the service. By God’s grace and favor, we have the “freedom to” do amazing things and be distinctive people....(Click date above to read more.)
What a wonderful Independence Day celebration we had together last Saturday! I enjoyed visiting with everyone at the picnic following the service. By God’s grace and favor, we have the “freedom to” do amazing things and be distinctive people. My hope for America remains undimmed; in fact, it burns brighter than ever.

As I reflect on this past season of ministry, I am convinced that we have been hitting the mark. We’ve focused much of the first half of 2010 on preparation: encouraging us all to begin dreaming God-sized dreams and awakening us to the vital importance of leveraging our time, talents and resources to impact our culture in life-changing ways. We saw hundreds of folks baptized in water the weekend after Easter, and 170+ youth and leaders recently returned from the Forward Conference fired up and ready to make a difference. Can you imagine what the rest of 2010 holds?

For the last couple of weeks, Jim Weathers has been teaching while I have attended to some administrative tasks, including preparations for opening Cathedral Preschool this fall. Beginning next week, I’ll be out of the office for a short study break. I began doing this several years ago, and the payoff has been phenomenal; Cathedral Academy came out of one study break. During this time away from the normal routine, Dean and I spend a lot of time seeking the Lord regarding His next directions for the church.

I ask that you agree with us in prayer over the next few weeks. Pray for wisdom and understanding and revelation. We want to keep Cathedral aligned with God’s heart, serving our generation well and preparing for those to come. We believe He has even greater things in store for our church in the days to come.

You’re in for a treat with our line-up of summer speakers. You don’t want to miss Bo and Alyce Reeves this weekend. I’m looking forward to their excellent teaching. We anticipate being back in the worship center on July 17/18. I’ll see you that weekend to celebrate together and enjoy our newly renovated space.

Over the summer, I encourage you to review your notes from the Dream and Leverage series. Listen to the messages again online if you wish. My prayer is that this summer will be just as refreshing and revitalizing for you as I anticipate it being for us. Let dreams be ignited in you, leverage yourself well, contemplate your role in this time of history, and expect God to speak to you!

I am excited about Cathedral fully engaging in our community and fulfilling the role God has for us during this pivotal time. We have the hope of the world and we will not keep it to ourselves. Be bold - be courageous - be all God created you to be. Blessings to you and yours!

Doing life together,

Mike Lewis]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14825 July 1, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14683 Dean and I are delighted to announce the arrival of our precious granddaughter, Michael Kinley Turner! Luke, Megan, and Blakely are doing exceptionally well and are thrilled to welcome Kinley home. I’d like to take the time to thank everyone who attended services in the Athletic Center this past weekend and for making them such a huge success. ... (Click date above to read more.)
Dean and I are delighted to announce the arrival of our precious granddaughter, Michael Kinley Turner!  Luke, Megan, and Blakely are doing exceptionally well and are thrilled to welcome Kinley home.  

I’d like to take the time to thank everyone who attended services in the Athletic Center this past weekend and for making them such a huge success.  It was a unique experience and was full of life!   All of the elements, from the games to the worship, were outstanding.  I know that Jim’s message on how to “Flip your Failure” blessed you as it did me.  

We are making great progress on the renovations in the Worship Center and are looking forward to being back in there in a few weeks.   This weekend, we celebrate July 4th and the tremendous hope that we have because of the freedom that God has given to Americans.  Just as a reminder, we will only have ONE weekend service Saturday night at 6:00 pm in the Athletic Center.  Please note the time is different.

I hope that you will join us after service Saturday night on the athletic field for our Freedom Celebration. Remember to bring cash to buy food from our great vendors like Chick-fil-A, Moe’s, Old South Hotdogs, Papa John’s and more.  

I encourage you to reflect this week on the great freedoms we have that are unique to America. Dean and I are looking forward to celebrating those freedoms with you this Saturday at 6:00 pm in the Athletic Center and then afterwards for our picnic on the fields!

In His Freedom,

Mike Lewis]]> Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14683 June 24, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14477 Happy Summer! Hope this note finds you doing well. We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of our 2nd grandchild in just a few days, so you can imagine our excitement. There's a lot happening around Cathedral, too. This morning, three busloads of teens and leaders (around 160) headed off to the Forward Conference. Please pray for safety as they travel and for them to receive all God has for them! ... (Click date above to read more.) Dear Church Family,

Happy Summer! Hope this note finds you doing well. We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of our 2nd grandchild in just a few days, so you can imagine our excitement. There's a lot happening around Cathedral, too.

This morning, three busloads of teens and leaders (around 160) headed off to the Forward Conference. Please pray for safety as they travel and for them to receive all God has for them! We are believing for great things to happen.

We're moving ahead with opening Cathedral Preschool for (ages 6 weeks through 3 years) this fall. Applications are available online and in the church foyer. We are currently interviewing for a director. We're looking for someone who understands the vision and ministry of Cathedral and would prefer experience in the field of early childhood development. If you know someone who might be a good fit, please send them our way.

For the next two weekends, we'll be having services in the Athletic Center while ceiling renovations are underway in the worship center. We've moved our cushioned chairs from the worship center to the court floor to provide more comfortable seating. Don't miss these out-of-the-box services.

On June 26 & 27, we're discussing how to "Flip Your Failure." Some of the most successful people in the Bible and in our history failed many times along their journey. Our God knows how to redeem, restore and give second, third and fourth chances. Your best days could easily be ahead.

We'll celebrate America's independence together on July 3 and combine all our weekend services into one special gathering on Saturday night at 6pm in the Athletic Center. (If you have stadium cushions, consider bringing them; with everyone together, we'll likely be using bleachers, too.) Bring the family and invite your friends to the service and the picnic to follow. Several vendors will be on site, so bring cash if you wish to purchase food. We'll have games and more. (Reminder: we will not have services on Sunday, July 4.) As you celebrate this July 4th, I encourage you to take time to remember our nation's true history.

This summer, I encourage you to be very intentional about leveraging your life. Put everything we've been learning over the last few weeks into action - as a parent, employee, friend and family member. Honor God with your finances, your talents and gifts, in your responsibilities and relationships. Expect Him to faithfully fulfill His word. Dean and I are praying for you!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike  

]]> Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14477 June 14, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14301 God’s heart is to bless His people with abundant life. This past weekend’s discussion on leveraging our money may have been the first time you ever heard about tithing - that 1/10th of our income is holy and belongs to God. Amazing blessings come our way when we obey God’s instructions regarding finances... (click date above to read more) Dear Church Family,

God’s heart is to bless His people with abundant life. This past weekend’s discussion on leveraging our money may have been the first time you ever heard about tithing - that 1/10th of our income is holy and belongs to God. Amazing blessings come our way when we obey God’s instructions regarding finances.

I’m aware that before you even made it to your car after service, you were probably bombarded with negative, doubt-producing thoughts. The Bible clearly tells us that the enemy of our souls comes immediately to steal good seed that is sown (see the story of the sower that Jesus told in Matthew 13:1-23). If the seed is stolen, it cannot take root and produce results.
  
I’m convinced that good seed was sown and that it fell on good ground because your heart is good. Many of you responded by writing your commitment on an envelope and putting it in the offering plate. I know the fight is on. I encourage you now to protect the seed, allow it to take root, water it by your actions, let it grow and expect a harvest.

Here are some ideas to help you:

  1. Make a commitment to tithe (if you haven’t already) and write it down.
  2. Share it with someone and make yourself accountable.
  3. Start budgeting or review your current budget. (Financial planning resources are available here.)
  4. Develop a plan to progress from where you are. If your finances are upside-down, pray about a starting point and begin giving something with the goal of ultimately tithing the full 10%.
  5. Cover your commitment and new plan in prayer.
  6. Write Malachi 3:10 on an index card and put it on your bathroom mirror. Every day, thank God for His faithfulness to fulfill His word. Begin thanking Him for honoring His promise in response to your obedience even before you see results.

Making the commitment to tithe and following through has the potential to change your life, your children, your family, our church, our city, our nation and ultimately the world. I would love to hear your tithing story. Be sure to share your stories with your friends and family, too. Your excitement will grow as you encourage others.

I’m praying for you!
Pastor Mike Lewis


“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14301 June 7, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14185 Take a moment right now and add “Go Vote” to your to-do list for Tuesday, June 8. Mark this item “high priority.” By voting, you can influence decision-making that affects us locally, and at the state and national levels. As Americans, we enjoy the privilege of having the right to vote. Let’s exercise that right and not take it for granted.... (Click date above to read more.)
Take a moment right now and add “Go Vote” to your to-do list for Tuesday, June 8. Mark this item “high priority.”

By voting, you can influence decision-making that affects us locally, and at the state and national levels. As Americans, we enjoy the privilege of having the right to vote. Let’s exercise that right and not take it for granted. Our freedoms came at a high price; the sacrifices of many have preserved them. May it not be in vain.

Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to cast our vote in a way that promotes Biblical values. In order to vote well, it is essential to know the issues and the candidates. Here are some resources to help you: www.scvotes.org and www.votesmart.org. Prayerfully consider the candidates and go to the polls informed.

If we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in an America that truly stands as “one nation under God,” we have a responsibility to do something. Learn about the foundations of our country and the Biblical principles that motivated our Founding Fathers as they drafted our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Teach your children and grandchildren true American history.

It’s high time for men and women who know and love God to get involved. Perhaps in elections to come, your name will be on the ballot. Start where you are, see where God leads you, and be willing to say “yes!” to the call.

See you at the polls!
Pastor Mike Lewis
]]> Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=14185 May 6, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13979 Thank you for partnering with us to make the Law Enforcement Memorial service so meaningful last weekend. Chief Deputy Guy Van Horn’s words of appreciation express well what was truly accomplished, “You allowed God’s love, grace, and healing to flow through you to touch the hearts of the men and women who serve our community.”... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Church Family,

Thank you for partnering with us to make the Law Enforcement Memorial service so meaningful last weekend. Chief Deputy Guy Van Horn’s words of appreciation express well what was truly accomplished, “You allowed God’s love, grace, and healing to flow through you to touch the hearts of the men and women who serve our community.” That’s exactly what we’ve been talking about in our current series “Leverage.” We’re all looking for ways to leverage our lives, our talents, our resources and more to impact the people around us.

Just a quick reminder, we are hosting a free job fair this Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm in the Athletic Center in an effort to address the very practical need for employment that many in our community have. For more information, visit cathedraljobfair.com.

This weekend, we’re celebrating Moms. Join us for a very special Mother’s Day service, and please invite someone to join you. Whether you’re a new mom, an empty nester, somewhere in between, even if you don’t have biological children, as a woman you have something special to offer. There is a distinctive part of God’s heart that women uniquely express. The world needs you! So come be encouraged, be inspired and be challenged to keep leveraging what God has lovingly placed in your feminine design.

May God bless you with His grace and peace. Remember - your life makes a difference. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 06 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13979 April 13, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13978 This week has been filled with stories of people whose entire lives have been changed by the power our “Risen Savior.” Did you ever think you would be a part of a church where in one weekend’s services, not 100, not 200, but 271 people would be baptized, celebrating the freedom and liberty given to them by Christ!... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Church Family,

This week has been filled with stories of people whose entire lives have been changed by the power our “Risen Savior.” Did you ever think you would be a part of a church where in one weekend’s services, not 100, not 200, but 271 people would be baptized, celebrating the freedom and liberty given to them by Christ! The only way to describe what is happening at Cathedral is a Book of Acts-proportion move of God!

Water baptism is a God-ordained opportunity for every believer to be fully identified with the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The life-draining aspects of our old nature are buried in the waters of baptism; and we come up clean, shameless, guiltless, and fully restored to God’s nature in us. We now have a fresh start, a new beginning.

There is clearly an increase of “God’s Life” flowing through Cathedral, and we want to cooperate with the Spirit of God by maximizing the full potential of our lives. We have launched our inspiring, transformational series LEVERAGE. So please invite your family, co-workers, and friends to join you as we learn how to make the most impact in our world with the one and only life we have been given.

I’m looking forward to seeing you for another life-changing weekend.

Doing Life Together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13978 April 5, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13977 Easter has come! While many of you worked behind the scenes as greeters, nursery workers, children’s workers, bookstore, shuttle drivers, parking lot, service production, and service support, the Spirit of God was pushing back the darkness and helping people see... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Church Family,
 
Easter has come! While many of you worked behind the scenes as greeters, nursery workers, children’s workers, bookstore, shuttle drivers, parking lot, service production, and service support, the Spirit of God was pushing back the darkness and helping people see.
 
He used your smiles, kind words, helpful assistance, welcoming eyes, and soft touch to orchestrate a moment where the Kingdom of God became tangible and hope gave light to promise. The invitation was given and 205 people gave their hearts to Christ! We all need to do a 'Yea God'!
 
And we’re not stopping there! This weekend we will continue to push back the darkness and celebrate new life with a water baptism service. We will have people from our Next Steps class being baptized, and we have invited those who gave their hearts to Christ at our Easter service to come and be baptized as well.
 
There really is a strong sense of God’s spirit moving in miraculous ways across our congregation and in our community.  When darkness increases, God promises to raise up a standard against it, and, for many people, these certainly are tough times, but God is faithful and this Easter validates these are exciting times of promise and hope.
 
Please join us this weekend as we keep the momentum going and celebrate the Kingdom of God coming to planet Earth!


Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13977 April 1, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13976 I can’t think of a better way to conclude our series on dreaming than to celebrate the event that makes all things possible. The resurrection of Christ was the ultimate display of God’s Kingdom power on Earth, and now you and I have access to that same power through faith in Christ... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Church Family,

I can’t think of a better way to conclude our series on dreaming than to celebrate the event that makes all things possible. The resurrection of Christ was the ultimate display of God’s Kingdom power on Earth, and now you and I have access to that same power through faith in Christ. It’s our faith that gives us hope and inspiration to dream the impossible dream. His resurrection represents the redemption of that which was lost and the rebirth of that which was dead. God’s promise to us is that He will make a way, and in the Easter story we see His faithfulness to fulfill his promise. Remember, the power of the resurrection was displayed in the middle of the darkest event on Earth, the death of God. What has He promised you? He is faithful. What dream has He put in your heart? He will make a way.

There are two times of the year that people are the most open to attending a church service, Christmas and Easter. I can’t think of a better gift than to share an Easter service with someone who needs to find hope to overcome the darkness in their life.  We have seen many families whose lives were changed because of a simple invitation to attend an Easter service. Do you know someone who has given up on hope or lost the inspiration to dream? Expect God to show you who those people are and invite them to attend an Easter service with you or your family.

In a time of great hopelessness and despair, we are the light of the world because the resurrection of Christ has given us the ability to dream God-sized dreams and to understand that Dreamers Rule the World! Looking forward to spending this Easter with you.

Dreaming together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13976 March 18, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13975 Easter is just around the corner. And I have a dream of each one of us having a friend or two by our side when we come together to celebrate what Jesus accomplished for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection. He came so we could have abundant life – where we pursue our dreams in relationship with God and with those around us... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Cathedral Family,

Easter is just around the corner. And I have a dream of each one of us having a friend or two by our side when we come together to celebrate what Jesus accomplished for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection. He came so we could have abundant life – where we pursue our dreams in relationship with God and with those around us.

This is one time of the year when people will most likely say “yes” to your invitation to come to church. We promise to do everything we can to create something memorable from the moment they drive on the property. Just this past weekend, one of our first-time guests could not stop talking about the incredible time she had. What she experienced far exceeded her expectations!

Thank you for helping make Cathedral a welcoming and friendly place each week. A simple smile can make all the difference. Perhaps you would consider serving with our Guest Services team during one of our 5 Easter services. If so, please contact Dave Ammons, dave@cathedralofpraise.org.

I encourage you to begin thinking who you’ll invite to attend an Easter service with you. Invite cards will be available this weekend. Visit our Easter website – dreamersruletheworld.com – to see our service times and send an evite.

Sometimes we need a little help and encouragement to go after our dreams, especially when the dream is bigger than us. And we are definitely pursuing God-sized dreams. I look forward to seeing you this weekend for our next installment in the dream series.

Dreaming together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=13975 February 25, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11765 How’s your dreaming these days? We’ve really been going after discovering, uncovering, and bringing to life our passions and dreams over the last few weeks. I hope you’re taking the journey with us... <p>(click date to read more) Dear Cathedral Family,

How’s your dreaming these days? We’ve really been going after discovering, uncovering, and bringing to life our passions and dreams over the last few weeks. I hope you’re taking the journey with us.

Our guests, the Lee Singers, definitely demonstrated the power of pursuing a dream and how both the process and results change us and impact others. I trust that you enjoyed the students as much as I did, maybe even more. We blessed them with a generous financial gift because of your response. It’s always a pleasure to partner with others in furthering their dreams.

I hope to see you this weekend as we discuss another important factor in successful dreaming – being in good physical health – with our guest speaker Pastor Steve Reynolds. He’s lost over 100 pounds and been dubbed “The Anti-Fat Pastor.” He has a true heart for helping people reach their optimum health. I trust you’ll enjoy his presentation and the other elements we have planned for the service.

In my own life, I’ve noticed that it’s easier to go after my dreams when I’m doing well physically. You may remember that I had back surgery a few years ago. As my recovery continued, I was amazed at the increase in my energy level. I had not realized how much physical, mental and emotional effort had been focused on coping with the pain. I anticipate us moving forward into a greater level of freedom together.

Also, just a quick reminder to share with us your dream stories. We’ll have a camera set up in the foyer again this weekend. Drop by, tell us your name and what you’re dreaming. We can’t wait to hear the amazing creativity and variety of ideas.

Until then, God bless you with His favor in every arena of your life. Keep looking for the dream in you and encourage those around you to discover theirs. Who knows what changes we can make in our community and even the world!

Dreaming together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11765 February 12, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11764 Are you dreaming yet? The possibility of snow in Charleston could definitely inspire some dreaming. It has been years since we’ve seen any accumulation of snow here. Yet, today there seems to be a real chance it could happen... <p>(click date to read more)
Are you dreaming yet? The possibility of snow in Charleston could definitely inspire some dreaming. It has been years since we’ve seen any accumulation of snow here. Yet, today there seems to be a real chance it could happen.

Maybe you’ve got some dreams that haven’t been pursued in years. I believe this is a season when old and new dreams can move from ideas to reality. I’m hearing stories of people starting businesses, writing books and more. Who knows how many new things will happen over the next few months and years because people like us were courageous enough to dream, and act!

Discovering a dream is multifaceted. The process involves reconnecting with your passion, determining your gifts and talents, assessing your resources, and awakening to the opportunities for influence all around you. You have immense potential.

God created us in His image. He calls those who believe in Him sons and daughters. What would it be like to partner with God, create with Him, dream with Him? What if God’s response to our dreaming question is, “What would you like to do? Give it a go.” Let’s chat more about that this weekend.

I look forward to seeing you. Until then, remember, you can dream!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11764 January 29, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11763 Time moves so quickly. We’re nearly at the end of the first month of 2010. There’s no better time than now to start pursuing your dreams. Last weekend, 50 people made the wonderful, life-transforming decision to accept Christ’s offer of salvation. That’s something we celebrate at Cathedral!... <p>(click date to read more)
Time moves so quickly. We’re nearly at the end of the first month of 2010. There’s no better time than now to start pursuing your dreams. Last weekend, 50 people made the wonderful, life-transforming decision to accept Christ’s offer of salvation. That’s something we celebrate at Cathedral!

One couple I know started a brand new endeavor in their early 70s. So, it’s definitely not too late for you. It takes incredible courage to take risks and leave our comfort zones. But the greater danger often lies in not changing – consider many animals who became extinct, companies that no longer exist, or people with ideas who just simply stopped too soon. Choosing to change will bring new challenges – but the renewed sense of life, excitement and adventure makes the journey worth it!

This weekend, as the next part of our “If I Can Dream” series, we’ll be talking about seeing. What do you envision yourself being and doing? Are you crystal clear on your dream, or is it just coming into focus? Who do you see yourself influencing? Do you see your life as a gift yet?

I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we continue discovering and pursuing our dreams together. Remember to invite someone to come to service with you. May God bless you with dreams and visions for your life that will impact you and many, many others!

Dreaming together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11763 January 22, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11762 When we enter the world, our innate curiosity fuels a life of adventure and discovery - trying new things, exploring and taking risks. As we grow older, we often set aside our dreams and wonderments as “childish” pursuits. And in the process, our sense of excitement and enjoyment of life diminishes. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, our approach would have to be childlike... <p>(click date to read more)
When we enter the world, our innate curiosity fuels a life of adventure and discovery - trying new things, exploring and taking risks. As we grow older, we often set aside our dreams and wonderments as “childish” pursuits. And in the process, our sense of excitement and enjoyment of life diminishes. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, our approach would have to be childlike (Matthew 18:13).

We’re taking a journey together with our “If I Can Dream” series on the weekends. I encourage you to keep attending and invite someone to join you. What a great opportunity for a fresh start, especially if you or someone you know is currently in an unexpected transition. I trust that this series will cause hope to rise and inspire new dreams.

Remember, you are a gift to this planet. Believe it! This weekend, we’ll consider an important part of making our dreams a reality – moving beyond what we know and what we have been. To become what we’ve never been will take courage and likely necessitate making some changes.

When Jesus was on earth, He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). We can do the same by offering a smile, simply being nice and meeting practical needs. Thank you so much for your generosity and compassion in giving nearly $10,000 to assist those affected by the earthquake in Haiti last week. We’re partnering with local ministries in the Dominican Republic providing supplies and relief to their Haitian neighbors. You may continue to contribute by designating a special gift or giving online. Every gift matters.

We’re dreaming God-sized dreams – ones bigger than us that will make the world a better place. I look forward to seeing you (and a friend) this weekend!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11762 January 14, 2010 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11761 What have you been dreaming about lately? We started the new year with an amazing service in the Athletic Center, renewing our sense of purpose as a church - helping people connectand grow in relationships with God and each other. We do this, in part, by glorifying God, which is simply revealing and making more clear who God is by the way we live our lives... <p> (click date to read more) Dear Cathedral Family,

What have you been dreaming about lately? We started the new year with an amazing service in the Athletic Center, renewing our sense of purpose as a church - helping people connectand grow in relationships with God and each other. We do this, in part, by glorifying God, which is simply revealing and making more clear who God is by the way we live our lives.

Irenaeus, an early 2nd century church father said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” We often come alive when we’re pursuing our dreams. So, we’re starting a “dream revolution” at Cathedral. Consider these questions:

  • What is your passion? Your unique gifting?
  • What’s your boomerang – the idea that you try to dismiss or put out of your head but keeps coming back?
  • What have you distanced yourself from or put down that once fueled a sense of purpose and destiny in you?
When you’re living out your dream, you’ll have a greater sense of fulfilling your life’s purpose. You won’t be the only one who benefits; your family and those close to you will also be affected. The impact may even extend far beyond your wildest imagination.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we keep unpacking the how-to’s of discovering and living out the dream that God has put in your heart. Remember to invite people to join you for this series (and let us know who you bring by signing up on our website). Let’s inspire each other to dream big.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11761 December 31, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11760
We’re changing things up this weekend and starting 2010 with “New Year Madness!” Our three services will be in the Athletic Center (with concessions available). You’ll definitely want to be here and catch the excitement of where we’re going as a church! Let’s start the year well and set our course for 2010.

Have you ever wondered why do we do church like we do at Cathedral? Or how we can significantly impact our community? What does “winning” look like for us as a church? Maybe you’ve wondered how you fit into “Team Cathedral” and what you have to offer. We’ll address these topics and more this weekend.

When Cathedral started 22 years ago, God already had in mind what we would be and do in 2010. We must stay focused on His purposes for our church and put our energies and resources into accomplishing the Kingdom endeavors that are on His heart. Ultimately, eternity is at stake. And it will take each one of us doing our part and functioning together to be successful.

I have high expectations for this year. Let’s get charged and energized and move forward courageously and expectantly. When we look back on 2010, I trust we’ll be able to say we hit the bullseye and have a sense of God saying, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”

God bless you with fresh vision and excitement about your unique place in His heart and His plans for Cathedral and our community!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11760 December 17, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11759 December 17, 2009

Christmas is just a few days away. Are you “taking Christmas” yet? It’s most often a deliberate choice in the face of seemingly overwhelming circumstances. Today, we’re at the hospital with Megan again due to the excessive nausea that is preventing her from taking in nourishment. Thank you for you continued prayers. We appreciate them so much. Even in the midst of this, the truth is it’s Christmas and we will celebrate.

I hope our series “Christmas at the Movies” in helping you get into the spirit of the season. Perhaps like Ebenezer Scrooge, your attitude has shifted – no more “bah humbug” for you. Maybe you’re seeing people differently, especially yourself and realizing that you do have a wonderful life and that the world wouldn’t be the same without you. This weekend, we’ll conclude the series with “Miracle on 34th Street.” A miracle happened that first Christmas when Jesus was born, and miracles still happen today. The real Christmas question is “do you believe?”

Here are just a few things to be mindful of as we head toward Christmas:

  1. Our Soles4Souls shoe collection ends this Sunday. Please bring your new or gently used shoes to the collection box in the Living Room by the 11am service so our junior high teens can finish packing them up to ship next week.
  2. Remember “Our Christmas Gift” special offering to help those in need this season. Thank you to all who have already given so generously.
  3. We need your help to bring folks with you to our Christmas Eve services next week as we “Follow the Star.” Our team is working diligently and has a very special service planned. Be sure to pick up several invite cards this weekend to give to family, friends, co-workers, cashiers, servers and more. This is one time of year when people will most likely say “yes” to an invitation to join you at church.

May God bless you and yours the rest of this week with tangible displays of His favor. Expect God to show up. I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Taking Christmas together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests. Luke 2:14 ]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11759 December 8, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11758 December 8, 2009

Dear Cathedral Family,

On the first Christmas, the kingdom of heaven invaded our planet. An angels’ song directed shepherds to the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem’s stable. A star guided wise men from the East to the young Messiah. Especially in our busy culture, we often need someone to refocus our attention, point the way and help us enter into the reality and true joy of the Christmas season.

This December, like so many before, we’ve put a high priority on creating moments and places where folks in our community can step out of the harried hurry of overloaded schedules and experience what Christmas is all about. I’m asking you to partner with me to help your friends, family and co-workers “take Christmas” at some of our events this month:

  • “Taste of Cathedral” offers a wonderful Christmas lunch experience from 11am-2pm in the Worship Center this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
  • “Christmas at the Movies” is our message series on the weekends. This weekend, we’ll focus on one of my personal favorites “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
  • “Soles4Souls” - Give the gift of shoes. Clean out your closet (or your wife’s) and bring your new or gently used shoes to the drop-box in the Living Room. Meeting practical needs is a great expression of God’s love, especially at Christmas.
  • “Our Christmas Gift” - Each weekend we’ll be receiving a benevolence offering to help those in our community in need. Experience the joy of giving to someone who cannot give back.
  • “Follow the Star” with us this Christmas Eve. We will have 5 services this year: at 5 & 7pm on December 23 and at 2, 4 & 6 pm on December 24. Childcare is provided. Be sure to pick up some invite cards to help spread the news.

Also this month, “Get in the Game” our three-year capital campaign comes to an end. We appreciate each one of you who has contributed and will be giving a more detailed update in January 2010. Thank you for being part of this amazing thing God is doing in Charleston. The best truly is yet to come for Cathedral.

Taking Christmas together, 
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11758 December 1, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11757 December 1, 2009

Welcome to December. Dean and I love this month. We’re very intentional about “taking Christmas” – looking for opportunities to engage in the season, coming off autopilot and enjoying small moments each day with friends and family, and with God!

Let’s take the next 25 days and journey through the Christmas story together. I’m believing that God will give us new insights each day into how the kingdom of God came to earth that first Christmas and how we, too, can be part of His kingdom coming here and now.
 
Last weekend we talked about how we can communicate with God through the five love languages. Here’s a sampling of those kinds of expressions in the Christmas story:
 
Acts of Service - After the angel Gabriel announced to her that she would give birth to Christ himself, Mary answered: “I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Matthew 2:38

Words of Affirmation – Angels announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields: “Glory to God in the highest.” Luke 2:14
 
Physical Touch – Simeon had been promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated, “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.” Luke 2:28

Quality Time - “There was also a prophetess, Anna…she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them (Mary, Joseph and Jesus)…she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Gifts - “When they (wise men from the east) saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11

As you prepare your heart for the Christmas season, consider how you can communicate with God and with the people in your life by employing these love languages. The simplest action can convey a lot! Remember to look for God’s expressions of love to you as well.
 
With great expectations,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=11757 November 18, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9319 Dear Cathedral Family, 

It’s so good to be back in Charleston. We always miss you when we’re away. I’ve heard great reports about the service this past weekend. Congratulations to everyone who participated in water baptism. You truly are a trophy to God! We celebrate with you and look forward to hearing about your continuing journey with God. 

For many of you, Jim’s message may have introduced a brand new, and seemingly counterintuitive concept regarding unlocking your finances. I encourage you to move forward in giving back to God the tenth that He says already belongs to Him. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you’re living under God’s covering and the remaining 90% of your income has God’s blessings on it. You heard Jim and Susan’s story, and I can assure you from my and Dean’s experience that God will supply your needs in amazing, unexpected and miraculous ways. 

One major key to any strong relationship is communication. This weekend we’ll discuss how we communicate with God: by listening to what He has said through His Word, the Bible, and by responding to Him through what we say, which is often referred to as prayer. I believe you’ll walk away this weekend with a better understanding of how to utilize these keys, in conjunction with authority and worship, in your life.  

My prayer is that you are beginning to experience the reality of God’s kingdom coming and His will being done in your life. Let’s continue the great adventure of walking with God together. 

Hope to see you this weekend!
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9319 October 22, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9318 Dear Cathedral Family, 

It’s time to celebrate! I’m looking forward to this weekend as we remember all that God has done here at Cathedral over the last 22 years. When Dean and I started the church with three couples in 1987, we had no idea that Cathedral would be what it is today. What great memories! I can hardly imagine what the next 22 years will hold. 

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been remembering God’s faithfulness throughout our history – His miraculous provisions of land, buildings and resources and the way He has worked through ordinary people like us to do the extraordinary. I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on what God has done in your life since you’ve been here. I’m sure you have amazing stories, too! 

You don’t want to miss our celebration service. Let’s just say – expect the unexpected! If you are a member or regularly attend Cathedral, please consider coming to the 5pm service on Saturday or the 9am service on Sunday so we’ll have extra room for new guests at 11am. Whatever service you attend this weekend, we’ll have a grand time together.  

I hope to see you at our family picnic on Sunday afternoon at the pavilion, near the ball fields. We’ll start with lunch at 1:00 pm. There’ll be activities for the children, too. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, football or other games! This crowd loves good food, so please bring enough food for your family plus one. 

Thank you for being part of Cathedral over the last 22 years, whether you’ve been here for many years or maybe just a few weekends. We have something very special and unique. God has blessed us beyond what we could have imagined at the beginning.  

Let’s continue the journey together!
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9318 October 15, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9317 Dear Cathedral Family, 

Dean and I are so glad to be back with you after our trip to China. We’ve been watching the DVDs and hearing good reports. As a church, we are tremendously blessed to have men and women of character and integrity who are gifted and talented to handle the services. When you see them around campus, let them know how much you appreciate their service and ministry.

Thank you for being so generous to our guest Adrian de Visser and his wife Ophelia. We blessed them with $19,440 that will go directly into their ministry efforts in Sri Lanka. Remember the faces of the boys and girls, widows, and leaders-in-training? Their lives will be better because of you! Jesus said in Matthew 25:40: The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Your gift is seed sown in good ground that will definitely bear much fruit. Expect a great harvest for you and also the Kingdom of God. If you were not prepared to give over the weekend or missed the service, you may give online through our website. 

If your family is like mine, we make a big deal about birthdays and anniversaries. On October 24 & 25, we’re celebrating Cathedral’s 22nd anniversary! We had no idea in 1987 how much God would do through our church in the lives of people and on this property. It’s truly remarkable! I promise you an outstanding service with some surprises. Plan to be here and come expecting! The festivities begin during the weekend services at the regular times. Then, join us for the family picnic on Sunday afternoon out at the pavilion - lunch at 1:00 pm with fun to follow. Please bring lawn chairs, games, and enough food for your family plus one. I’m looking forward to seeing you! 

This weekend, we’ll continue our series “Heirs of the King.” May God bless you the remainder of this week with the awareness that He loves you and He likes you. He calls you “Friend.” What a glorious and transforming reality - God chose you and declares that you are worthy! Enjoy His favor. 

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9317 September 24, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9316 Dear Cathedral Family, 

Just a short note to touch base and let you know that I am praying for you. These are exciting times for us as a church. What thrills my heart is that we are waking up and becoming more aware of our identity as “Heirs of the King.” 

This past weekend we exposed many of the forces that are at work against families and relationships. There truly is a kingdom clash that we live in everyday – the kingdom of light (God’s Kingdom) versus the kingdom of darkness. If you missed the service, I encourage you to go to our website and view it online.  

One of our greatest tools in learning how to live the abundant life that God desires for His children is the Bible, God’s own Word to us and for us. The Word is described as a sharp sword, a strong weapon for defense and offense against the enemy of our souls (Ephesians 6:17 & Hebrews 4:12). I encourage you to take the 61 Day Challenge that Megan mentioned during the service. In just 61 days, you’ll get an overview of the entire Bible. It’s a great place to start. 

We’re on a wonderful journey together. May God bless you with continuing revelation and understanding of His Kingdom principles and how to reign in all areas of your life.   

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9316 September 8, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9315 Dear Cathedral Family,

We’re on an exciting journey together – learning how to live as heirs of the King. The “normal” life we’ve come to accept is a far cry from what God originally intended for mankind. God’s Kingdom operates on very different principles from those to which we have become accustomed. In Romans 14:16-18, we see that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. How well does that describe our lives today?

When Adam and Eve sinned, the whole human race became estranged from God. But because of God’s great love for us, He provided a way for our relationship with Him to be restored. When we believe in Jesus (and what He accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection) and receive Him as our personal Savior, we are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). Now we can truly pray, “Our Father in heaven . . .”

Once we become God’s son or daughter, we have access to new authority and new privileges. As we continue to grow and learn how to walk with God, we begin to function differently – not as a slave, but a son; not as a hired hand, but as a partner with God. It is our new birthright to act as God’s representative and bring His Kingdom rule to planet Earth. We begin learning how to live in a way that God’s “super” gets added to our natural, and then the supernatural happens.

Faith is the currency of God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). I encourage you to put your faith into action and continue praying the Lord’s Prayer each day, expecting God to respond. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Invite God’s presence and His Kingdom to come into specific areas of your life and situations that concern you: marriage, children, finances, career and health. As you actively pray and align yourself with His purposes, remember that God really loves you (He’s crazy about you!) and has limitless resources and power to help you. It’s up to you to ask!

Soon and very soon, I believe we will see dramatic changes as God’s kingdom comes into our lives. Expect restoration, new ideas, new vision, and new life! May God bless you today as you intentionally seek His Kingdom first. I look forward to seeing you this weekend (and at Open House on Sunday afternoon).

Doing Kingdom life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9315 August 31, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9314 Dear Cathedral Family, 

I am thrilled to be back with you, my fellow heir of the King. In our current series, we’re learning about who we truly are in Christ and how to walk in our new identity and authority as children of the King. Over 100 people declared their faith in Jesus and made the decision to trust His leadership in their lives this past weekend. That’s worth celebrating!   

If you are new to Cathedral or want to learn more about us, I invite you to our Open House coming up on Sunday, September 13. This is one of my favorite times when I get to spend time sharing with you Cathedral’s history, what makes us unique and our vision for the future.  

You know, God really does like you. He is crazy about you and can’t get enough of you. Your past is not a problem to Him. He wants to walk closely with you today and has amazing plans for your future. I encourage you to pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) every day this week. Here are some suggestions to help you make it personal: 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Thank you for adopting me into Your family when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I am no longer a slave; I am an heir of the King. You are my provider, healer, comforter, and sustainer. I worship you today. 

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I choose to follow Your lead today. Your ways are higher than mine. Let Your plans and purposes come to be in my life, my family, my church, my city, in SC and in America. Guide those in leadership. I need your direction in the following decisions today . . .  

Give us this day our daily bread.

I trust you to provide for my needs today as I seek Your kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). I believe that You desire for me to prosper. Here are my concerns today . . . 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Father, I confess my sins to you...I repent of my pride and my unbelief and allowing other people or things to take Your place in my life.  I ask you to forgive me, trusting in Your faithfulness to Your Word (1 John 1:9). I receive the gracious gift of your forgiveness. How freeing! Because I have received Your mercy, I also choose to forgive and release the offenses I have held against those who have hurt me.  

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

I trust you to guide my steps today. I need your help in these areas where I struggle…  

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

It’s all about You today. I submit my plans to you. You are my strength. I cannot do life in my own power or wisdom. All the credit and praise and adoration belongs to You. Today I look forward to walking with You!  

As you go about your daily activities, consider asking God what He thinks. Nothing is too small to discuss with Him. For more insight on how simple walking with God can be, consider this short book: “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence (view the text in its entirety or purchase a paperback edition). 

I’m praying for you. May you experience God’s blessings this week (Deuteronomy 28: 1-14). I look forward to seeing you this weekend. 

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

P.S. Click Here to download some wallpapers for your desktop featuring our current series graphics! ]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9314 August 20, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9313 Dear Cathedral Family, 

What a great summer! I trust that you have enjoyed the speakers over the last few weeks. Dean and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together with family. Thank you for praying for us and agreeing with us during our study break. We are refreshed, refueled and ready to be back with you this weekend. I am so excited about what God has in store for Cathedral as we move into this next season and look forward to starting our new series, “Heirs of the King.”  

When you hear the word “kingdom,” what ideas and images come to your mind? Do you consider yourself as someone who reigns in life, living abundantly and victoriously? Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching about the kingdom of God. In the Lord’s Prayer, we’re encouraged to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What does that mean for us today? How does the kingdom of God come into our everyday lives? And what difference would it really make? We’ll be exploring all these questions and more over the next few weeks.  

I believe this series will give you a new perspective on life and renew your hope. Please don’t miss it! I hope to see you this weekend.  

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9313 July 14, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9312 Dear Cathedral Family,

When is the last time you witnessed a move of God in a worship service that was so powerful it felt like being on the brink of revival?

Many events in Cathedral’s history stand out in my mind – our very first service, building our first building in Appian, moving to our current location, seeing 417 people commit their lives to Christ during the Easter Messiah production – but I cannot remember anything that would eclipse what happened on July 11 & 12, 2009, especially during the 11am service on Sunday.  

It started with several teens who asked to mark their newfound freedom by being baptized after coming back from FORWARD, a youth conference attended by nearly 10,000, hosted by Jentezen Franklin’s church Free Chapel. After sharing their stories in FUEL (our teen ministry), at least a dozen teens accepted Christ for the first time and more than 50 teens wanted to be baptized. Knowing that many of you supported the trip that resulted in radical life-change for the 169 teens and leaders, Luke and Megan Turner and the FUEL team desired to share a taste of FORWARD with the whole church family. What an amazing celebration of God’s power and glory! 

Perhaps you were one of the 140+ people who spontaneously responded to the invitation to be water baptized during the service they put together. Space here will not permit me to share all the stories - people worshipping down on their knees, others running down the hall with tears asking “where do I go?” and then celebrating their baptism. It’s a good day when you run out of towels for baptism. My heart filled with awe and gratitude as I watched 190 people - dads and daughters, brothers and sisters, whole families, men, women and children - say yes to God and embrace His marvelous gift of grace. This is the closest thing to a revival spirit that I recall encountering.

I am confident that God has even more in store for us at Cathedral. Dean and I are just beginning our summer study break. For us, this is a time of rest, prayer, fasting and seeking God. We ask that you agree with us in prayer over several items:

·         Praise God for His continuing favor and provision for our church.

·         Pray that our church will stay positioned for God’s blessings and that we will experience an even greater outpouring of His Spirit.

·         Pray for this to be a time of refueling, re-envisioning, refreshing and re-empowering for us personally and for the church.

·         Pray that we will have great clarity – that we will clearly hear God regarding His direction for Cathedral’s next moves. 

Dean and I love serving you. Please, don’t miss any of the upcoming services. Who knows what might happen next! You’ll definitely want to be front row center. Thank you for being a great church. 

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9312 July 1, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9311 Dear Cathedral Family,

As we prepare for the upcoming July 4th holiday, we find ourselves in a highly challenging time in the history of our country. For many families, the flame of the American dream is flickering in the face of stark realities – business downsizing, stock market losses, job losses and layoffs, bankruptcies, and, even more disturbing, declining moral values.  

No matter what the current circumstances, we as the Church of Jesus Christ are determined to bring hope to our nation, community and world. In fact, I believe if we all, with a unified effort, will respond properly to the challenges we face, we have the opportunity to shine brighter than ever before.  

In spite of the fact that we, as a church, have been actively preparing and practicing good stewardship principles for many years, we now are feeling the impact. We have been intentionally refocusing our resources into areas of ministry that most directly affect our church family and the community. While attendance remains good, we have dropped 20% in our income, which is understandable considering the economy. However, we don’t need to take another drop in income, which we traditionally do, during the summer months. 

I understand that many of you within our church body are continuing to give faithfully through tithes and offerings, even though your income has decreased. Others have lost jobs and give when possible. Currently, 17% of our church family is carrying the financial weight of the church. What I’m asking for is your help in sharing the load this summer. 

Here are some ways to help that you can pray about and discuss with your family:

·        If you are not presently tithing, and have a biblical understanding of this principle (Malachi 3:6-12), consider starting now. Just a few tithers could make a real difference.

·        As a regular tither, don’t forget about tithing during vacations and summer excursions. Online giving makes this easy and convenient wherever you are.

·         If you are in the position to give more, your generosity would help fill in the gap for those who cannot give right now.

·         If everyone would get on board to give something every week as an act of faith, that would be a big help. 

While each of us may not have much to give, when we bring our little to God and He blesses it, there will be more than enough to meet the need. I am reminded of the story in the Gospels when Jesus fed 5,000 with one little boy’s lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fish. Our little becomes much in the Master’s hand, but we must make our little available to Him.  

So, please consider getting on board by tithing through the summer months. I know from years of experience that God blesses faithfulness in giving. Who knows? After summer, you may be so blessed until you “can’t afford not to give.” 

May God bless you as you have a great summer. Prayerfully consider what He would have you do in regards to helping Cathedral continue moving forward with God’s vision and mission this season. Let the light of true freedom continue to shine through us. 

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=9311 June 22, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6667
For the last four weeks, I’ve asked you to express your appreciation to the many people who volunteer each weekend to help make the services happen. You have graciously responded by writing encouraging “Thank You” notes to people who serve all around Cathedral - in Guest Services (ushers, greeters, golf cart drivers, folks caring for infants and toddlers), Cathedral KIDZ, FUEL, the Bookstore, Worship/Technical Arts/Staging, and more. It’s amazing how a simple word of gratitude can brighten someone’s day and provide inspiration to keep going!

Today it’s my privilege to say “thank you” to you. Thank you for your faithfulness in being a part of this church family. I appreciate the way you participate in the weekend services – engaging in worship, bringing your tithes and offerings to God, listening attentively, applying the Word of God to your hearts and lives, and sharing stories of what God is doing in you and your family.

You’ve made the choice to invest part of your life in something bigger than yourself. You make relationships a priority, helping foster an environment where people can grow and develop TOGETHER. As parents, you choose to position your children where they can grow and learn, building on what you have already journeyed through and standing on your shoulders to advance beyond where you and I will go in our lifetimes. Together, we are building a legacy.

You courageously live in such a way that you truly are salt and light: salt that brings a Godly flavor to the culture around you and preserves biblical values, and light that shines with God’s hope in an ever darkening world. You reach people I would most likely never meet in our community and invite them into your life - to share a meal, to play sports, or to join you at a small group, or an event. By simply being around you, they see the difference that God makes in a life. Then when you invite them to church, they are already primed to experience the life-change that only happens in God’s presence.

So, from the deepest part of my heart, I offer you a sincere “thank you” for being you and taking the journey together. I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we conclude our Relationship Stimulus Package series. May God bless you this week with many expressions of His love for you.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike
]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6667 June 16, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6662
I hope you’re finding it easier this week to recognize and resist the bait of offense, especially after hearing Eddie’s story. Jesus said that it’s impossible that offenses won’t come (Luke 17:1), but we do have a choice in how we handle them. Remember - don’t take the Scandy Candy!

The Lord has blessed our current “Relationship Stimulus Package” series. He is doing a great work in helping us see how we get in the box and even do life in the box for a long time - sometimes years or even decades. But the good news is we can get out of the box and enjoy freedom and life in all our relationships.

Father’s Day is this weekend, and we’ll be continuing with our current theme. For many Dads, it’s your time to get out of the box; for others, it’s time to let Dad out of the box.

We’ve planned some manly things – classic cars, motorcycles and more. If you’d like to bring your classic car or motorcycle to display this weekend, please contact BH Rader bh@cathedralofpraise.org. And don’t miss what the guys are grillin’ on your way in to service. What a great weekend to bring a friend! Let’s celebrate Dads and their FREEDOM!

As we prepare for our upcoming July 4th celebration, we want to honor those in our church family who protect the freedom we enjoy as Americans. If you or an immediate family member serves or has served in the US Armed Forces, please visit our website and click on “Defending Our Freedom” to notify us.

Also, as the summer progresses, be sure to keep checking our website www.cathedralofpraise.org for the latest updates on summer events at Cathedral, like Summer Camps, Summer Groups, Vacation Bible School and more.

May God bless you this week to see yourself and others the way He does – as loveable and loved. Then consider taking action - say thank you, do the kind act you’ve been considering, forgive – and trust Him with the outcome.

Doing Life Together,
Pastor Mike
]]> Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6662 June 1, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6661
Doug and Vicki did an outstanding job. I think we all could see ourselves in the story as they shared from the stage. One person said afterward, “I wonder what sort of offenses I’m holding onto that adversely affects my daily walk.” Another said, “I never realized how my distorted and darkened vision affected how I see life and people.”

You will not want to miss this next weekend when I will be talking about “How to Recover from an Offense.” We will be spending more time on the how to’s of walking out of an offense. I believe God will meet us as we open our hearts to Him around this important subject. Many of us will be set free no doubt.

Thanks so much for your response to the call for Guest Services Summer Schedule. You are a great congregation and as a result of your commitment we will have a great summer. For those of you who signed up, we will have an information meeting Wednesday, June 3 in the Worship Center at 7:00pm. This meeting allows us to download vital information so that when you come for your serve you will know where to go, who you are working with, and exactly what to do so the experience will be positive for all. If you can’t attend the June 3 meeting we will have a second opportunity on Wednesday, June 10. Please register for childcare through nursery@cathedralofpraise.org.

God Bless, have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you next weekend.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike
]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6661 April 15, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6660
What an amazing Easter celebration! Thank you for being part of a place like Cathedral that could have the kind of Easter service that we did which impacted so many lives. Because you courageously asked, many of your friends, family and co-workers responded and had the opportunity to encounter the hope that we have in God.

You helped create an environment where 200-plus people would open their hearts to receive Christ and accept His offer of grace for the first time. I believe that many others experienced the reality of grace at a deeper level than ever before – receiving freedom from shame, guilt, past hurts, addictions and more. Now that’s AWESOME!

Thank you for being the people that you are and loving God like you do. I am honored to be your pastor. May you be blessed this week with an even greater awareness of God’s unfailing love for you and may you see the evidence of His grace in your life and your family.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike
]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6660 April 8, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6659 Dear Cathedral Family, 

We have just wrapped up our series on LOST. What a great preparation for one of the holiest weeks on the Christian calendar, one that changed the course of history two thousand years ago! Because of God’s amazing grace, many of us who once were “lost” have now been “found.”  

In the midst of the upheaval we are experiencing in this country and around the world, people need the touch of God’s grace more than ever. That said, there is such a sense of expectancy and hope as we approach our Easter services. We’ve prayerfully crafted our services this Easter with the intention of creating an atmosphere where people can experience God’s presence in a life-changing way.  

Now we need your help. I’m asking you to invite several people to come to church with you this Easter. It’s one of the two times of the year that the majority of folks will say “yes” to your courageous invitation.  

I trust that the same life-restoring power that was made available to us through Christ’s resurrection will flow freely in our services and minister to each person with an open heart who believes, asks and receives the gift of salvation. I also believe they will leave our services with a renewed hope and confidence in God’s sustaining and keeping power.  

Thank you in advance for being God’s instrument for intervention in the lives of those you invite. Be sensitive to God’s prompting leadings and nudges saying, “Invite this person because life change, deliverance, hope, and healing are awaiting them this Easter.” Thanks again for your partnership this Easter. I look forward to seeing you at one of our weekend services.

Blessings,
Pastor Mike

]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6659 February 19, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6658 Dear Cathedral Family, 

Each weekend, we have what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. When people know that they matter to us, then it is easier for them to believe that they really matter to God. But what communicates to people that we really care? 

When you’re planning for a visit from a family member or close friend, you prepare thoughtfully, making sure your home is ready to receive your special guest. It’s the same heart attitude that compels us to create a warm and safe atmosphere in our church home for each person who chooses to join us for a service or special event. 

That’s why we started the Guest Services ministry in 2008. Many people made a 3-month commitment to help with the ministry, serving one weekend a month in a variety of areas: campus hosts, shuttle drivers, traffic, children’s registration, Kids Matter, set-up, ushers/greeters, and much more. Now that initial period is concluding; some folks are staying and others are moving on to other ministry opportunities.  

Today, I’m asking for your help to build up our Guest Services teams for the next season. I’d like to share the vision for this ministry with you. Please join me this Saturday, February 21 from 10am until noon in the Auditorium for a Family Meeting. Childcare is available by reservation, 760-2626 ext 237. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from those who have been involved and discover what a difference you can make in the lives of our Cathedral family and guests by putting your unique thumbprint on this area of ministry. 

I look forward to seeing you! 

Blessings,
Pastor Mike

]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6658 February 16, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6656 Dear Cathedral Family,

Historically, the church grows when times get tough. The downturn in the economy has affected many of us in a variety of ways. You may be in transition, currently seeking employment, living on a fixed income as the cost of living continues to rise, or feeling a bit shaken and unsettled.

Wherever you find yourself in this season, I encourage you to join me this Wednesday night, February 18, for a time of prayer from 7 – 8 pm in the Auditorium. Please come, even if you are not currently in need; you can help others by supporting them in prayer. Shared burdens always seem lighter. 

Doing life together as a church family includes encouraging one another, praying for each other and providing practical help and support. We continue seeking God for creative ways to network folks in need with those who can help and to provide productive outlets for those who have time available to serve. Be sure to utilize our www.cathedralfamily.com resource to post or look for jobs, services, etc.  

I’m also making a last call for our Israel trip coming up in April. The deadline to register is this Thursday, February 19. For more information or to register online, visit our website www.cathedralofpraise.org or contact Virginia (virginia@cathedralofpraise.org). Do pray and see if this is the year that God wants you experience a life-changing visit to the Holy Land.

I hope to see you Wednesday night. Know that Dean and I are praying for you!

God’s blessings to you!
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=6656 February 5, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4720 Dear Cathedral Family, 

We have been asking God to bless our church since the beginning of 2009 through our focus on the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). God is granting our requests. This past weekend, we experienced God’s presence in an amazing way during our services. And I believe this is just a taste of what is to come! 

After the Saturday night service, I attended the Bill Gaither and Friends concert at the Performing Arts Center. One song so struck me that we included it in our services on Sunday morning. Rarely does an entire song grip me. Yet every word of every phrase of the song “I Then Shall Live” resonated in my heart, my mind and my spirit.  

What a clear, inspirational expression of the mission of the church at large and of our church family here at Cathedral! That’s why I wanted to make sure that you have access to it. You can view the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_p3lDJJRWc or purchase the song through the link on our website’s homepage. 

As your pastor, I bless you with having the truths expressed in this song penetrate your heart and mind. I wish I had space here to go through the song line-by-line (see the lyrics below). My prayer is that you will experience these realities in your own life and relationships and that your passion for following Christ and expressing His love to a hurting world will increase more and more each day. The church truly is the hope of the world. 

Be blessed!
Pastor Mike Lewis 

-------------------------------------- 

“I Then Shall Live” 

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid
I know my name is clear before my Father
I am His child and I am not afraid
So greatly pardoned I'll forgive my brother
The law of love I gladly will obey 

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving too
I'll know how fear builds walls instead of bridges
I'll dare to see another's point of view
And when relationships demand commitment
Then I'll be there to care and follow through 

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me
Your pow'r and glory let them shine through me
Your hallowed name oh may I bear with honor
And may Your living Kingdom come in me
The Bread of Life oh may I share with honor
And may You feed a hungry world through me

Amen 

© 1981 William J. Gaither, Inc. ]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4720 January 28, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4719 Dear Cathedral family, 

We have a wonderful opportunity! We are growing and adding new families every weekend. Many of our families have little ones under the age of 5. Would you believe that nearly 100 preschoolers were here during one service on a recent Sunday morning? That’s a lot of life and energy in one small area.  

In order to better serve our children and their families, we’re making some exciting changes beginning this weekend, January 31 and February 1.

·  Our one-year-olds will now be cared for in a room adjacent to the current children’s registration area in Building B.

·  Our three- and four-year-olds will enjoy their new classrooms on the first floor of Building C.

·  An additional registration area will be available in the hallway of Building C to accommodate families.

Our Guest Services, Kids Matter and Cathedral KIDZ teams are excited about this weekend. There will be many volunteers ready to help families find their way during this transition. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we move forward in this new year. We’re anticipating a great year of doing life together. 

Blessings to you,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4719 January 7, 2009 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4718 Dear Cathedral Family,

It’s a new year! Great opportunities and challenges lie ahead of us. January is a great time to evaluate and make course corrections that will set our pace and trajectory for the rest of the year.

We serve a God who loves to bless His people. He is not surprised by the current economic situation facing us, our country, and the world. (Yes, we’re all going to be tightening our belts and adjusting financially.) Now more than ever, we as the Church must posture ourselves to not only receive God’s blessings for ourselves, but more importantly to be prepared to be a blessing to our community.

So how do we position ourselves for the outpouring of God’s blessings? By aligning ourselves with God’s principles for life, financially and relationally, and by placing our faith, confidence and trust in Him and His Word. And by simply asking God to bless us!

Let me encourage you to pray a simple but bold prayer this month. It’s the one a man named Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10. God said “Yes” to Jabez. I trust He will do the same for you.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10

I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we continue our series “Bless Me!”

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=4718 October 29, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3984 Dear Cathedral Family, 

What a wonderful 21st Anniversary celebration this past weekend! I hope you enjoyed the service and picnic as much as Dean and I did. We always love meeting new people and reconnecting with longtime friends. The last 21 years have been good to us. We count it a privilege to serve you all. 

Great adventures lie ahead. Now we have all the rights and privileges that come with being “legal.” God has amazing things in store for our church. It’s up to us to put feet to our faith and step out boldly, obediently following His call and seeing His blessings poured out in abundance. 

Our trial run of having just one service on Saturday night went well this past weekend, so we’ll continue with only the 5 pm service on Saturdays for the next season. Sunday service times remain the same – 9 and 11 am. This weekend, my daughter Megan Turner will be speaking. Don’t miss the second part of her message on the power of faith and words.  

Please join me Tonight at 7:00 pm for our final prayer gathering before the election. The decisions made next Tuesday, November 4 have the potential to dramatically alter the course of our nation. As Steve Amerson sang so passionately this weekend, “Kyrie Eleison – Lord, have mercy.” That is our prayer. God, have mercy on America. We seek Your face. Hear our cry. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our city, county, state and nation. 

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3984 October 23, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3983 Dear Cathedral Family,

Our church is turning 21, and it’s time to celebrate. This milestone marks a significant point in the history of our church. As we move to a new place of maturity, there are new opportunities to pursue. God has a definite call for Cathedral. Like the father of our faith, Abraham, we are blessed, not simply for our own enjoyment, but also to be a blessing to others. Our heart has always been to reach people with the life-changing love of God as they experience God’s presence.

Join us this weekend in one of our three services (Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 9 or 11 am). I trust that you’ll enjoy our special music guest, Steve Amerson. You’ve probably heard Steve’s amazing tenor voice on movie soundtracks or television commercials. Then be sure to come to our family picnic on Sunday at 1 pm. Bring your blankets, chairs and enough food for your family plus one or two others. We’ll have plenty of activities for the young and young at heart.

I urge you to continue praying for the upcoming election. America needs God’s man in office. Pray for Americans to see and hear clearly and to vote in such a way that proclaims “In God We Trust.”

Thank you for being a part of carrying the vision and putting your faith into action through serving, giving and growing. There is so much more to come. Are you ready? As we continue to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and seek God’s Kingdom first, He will supply everything we need (Matthew 6:25-33).

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3983 October 15, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3382 October 15, 2008

Dear Cathedral Family,

What has been occupying your mind so far this week? Any distractions bombarding you? Are cares, worries and anxieties trying to choke out the seed of God’s Word and steal your peace?  Remember, we can choose to change our focus and turn our eyes on Jesus, allowing faith in the promises and character of God to rise in us.

I hope you’ll join me this evening at 7:00 pm in the auditorium for our weekly prayer gathering. Tonight is also “Game Day” for the school’s “Faith in Action” campaign, so many families from Cathedral Academy will join us. We’ll start with a time of worship and prayer together, then move to the new gymnasium that is under construction for a time of dedication.

Students have been preparing this week for their family’s opportunity to write prayers, blessings and dreams for the future on the steel beams of the gymnasium. Families will also bring their pledge cards, indicating their two-year financial commitment to the building project. While this campaign is distinct from “Get in the Game,” I would love to have your support through your prayers and your presence; the academy is a vital extension of our church into the community.

As the presidential election nears, I urge you to continue praying for our nation. God says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) This is a critical time for Christians to be engaged and alert.

A Prayer for Today: God, we come before You in repentance and humility, declaring our trust in You. Hear our petition and heal our nation. May the citizens and elected officials of America honor You. We desire Your will for our country. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thank you for being a great church,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3382 September 16, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3118
Dear Cathedral Family,

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Africa.

Many years ago, our church partnered with Tom and Joan Beak who went to Togo, Africa as missionaries at a time in their lives when most people their age were retiring. Their ministry started back in the mid-1980s and has been quite successful - digging wells in villages, sharing the Gospel, planting and building churches, and training nationals as pastors and leaders.

The Beaks now live in Charleston, serving God and pursuing more adventures in their golden years here at Cathedral. I promised Joan that I would accompany her if she ever needed to go back and Tom couldn’t make the trip. The time has finally arrived. Please keep us in prayer as we continue our journey. I look forward to being back with you on September 27 & 28.

Many of you have joined me for the prayer gatherings on Wednesday nights. This has been a powerful time of experiencing God, worshipping and releasing our faith through prayer. We will resume meeting on Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00 pm. Until then, I encourage you to continue praying and seeking God on your own or with a few friends. Find a good worship CD and spend some time in God’s presence.

Don’t miss this coming weekend! My daughter Megan will continue our series “Releasing the Power of the Seed” with a message about the influence of our words and the biblical principle of sowing and reaping.

Thank you for responding to the messages over the last few weeks and letting God’s Word (the seed) go down deep into your heart and mind. Remember to keep the scripture cards that we’ve given you handy. Keep praying these verses aloud, speaking blessings over yourself and your family (Deuteronomy 28:1-13, Ephesians 1:16-23 & 3:14-20). Here’s just taste of what God makes available to us:
• Blessings in all to which you set your hand
• Strength in your inner man
• Wisdom and revelation, knowledge of God, hope
• Windows of heaven opened and blessing greater than you can contain (Malachi 3:10-12)

Be sure to keep sending the stories of what God is doing in your life during this season. You’ll be amazed as He does “exceedingly abundantly above all that (you) ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) I trust that you are beginning to believe what God says in His Word is true for you and about you!

Believing God!
Pastor Mike Lewis
]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3118 September 9, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3117
Dear Cathedral Family,

I trust that you were inspired by Michael and Rocky Beene, missionaries from Guatemala and our special guests this past weekend. What contagious life, energy and joyful passion for God! Thank you for choosing to act in faith and sow seed into their ministry. As a church, we’re putting $30,000 into good soil. Because God is faithful to His Word, I know there will be an abundant harvest – in their endeavors and ours.

You don’t want to miss this weekend. We’ll dig deeper into the parable of the seed and the sower found in Mark 4:1-20. Jesus made it clear that understanding this particular parable was vitally important. That’s why I want to make sure that we get the truth of this scripture integrated into our hearts, our minds and our daily lives.

Once the seed of God’s Word gets planted into our hearts, there must be the proper conditions for the seed to grow and produce. A powerful stimulus for growth is spending time in God’s presence. I’m inviting you to join me this Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in the auditorium for that kind of transformational encounter. We’ll worship together, pray for the weekend service, our individual needs and for our church. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience God’s peace, find direction, be encouraged and grow. I look forward to seeing you!

Growing together,
Pastor Mike Lewis
]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3117 September 2, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3116
Dear Cathedral Family,

Are you expecting to be overtaken by God’s blessings this week? I am.

We’re making great progress as we move into week 3 of our series “It’s Yours for the Taking: Entering Your Promised Land.” Like Mephibosheth, the grandson of a king, we’re moving out of desolate Lo Debar and back into a place of abundance (see 2 Samuel 9). We’re destined for more, and we’re not settling for “low bar” living any longer!

Because God is faithful to His Word, I encourage you to continue reading Deuteronomy 28:1-13 this week. Proclaim these verses of blessing out loud, with your family agreeing together - over your home, your finances, your relationships and all that concerns you. And remember to send us your stories via the church website!

This weekend, we’ll delve into the story of the seed and the sower that Jesus told in Mark 4. The sower sows the seed, which is the Word of God. Once we receive God’s Word into our hearts and minds, we must nourish the seed to ensure an abundant harvest. Prayer is a powerful way to keep God’s Word alive and active in us.

Plan to join us this Wednesday at 7:00 pm in the auditorium for an hour of prayer, worship and teaching. As we pray together for our church, you’ll find your faith increasing and learn how to develop your own prayer life. You may even find a prayer partner. I hope to see you on Wednesday and this weekend.

With great expectation,
Pastor Mike Lewis
]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3116 August 26, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3115
Dear Cathedral Family,

It’s a new day! I am excited about what God is doing in His church. A good time is always God’s time, and that time is NOW.

I have such a clear sense that it is time for us as individuals and as a church family to arise – to get up! We’re not going to stay the way we’ve been. No more being stuck or limited by what has been our reality for too long. For some of you, that’s extremely good news! We’re preparing to enter our Promised Land (see Joshua 1). “It’s Yours for the Taking” will be our message focus for the next three weekends.

In this “NOW” season, I encourage you to expect to hear God speak to you and impress your heart and mind with His ideas. One important way to hear God is through prayer. I invite you to join me for the next four Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium for an hour of teaching, worship and prayer for our church. If you need a breakthrough in a specific area (finances, direction, relationships, etc.), then come and let’s agree together. As we unite in prayer and seek God, faith increases, courage rises, and our hearts realign with God’s will.

We’re believing for amazing stories of God’s faithfulness during this season. Take a few moments, visit our website www.cathedralofpraise.org and tell us about your recent breakthroughs and what happens when you step out in obedience. Your story will encourage others and help build their faith.

I bless you this week with knowing that God has a good plan for your life. You have an incredible inheritance as God’s child (Deuteronomy 8:1-18). He’s bringing us into a good land, a new place. It’s ours for the taking. Let’s go in together! Hope to see you Wednesday night and this weekend.

Pastor Mike Lewis
]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3115 August 22, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3114
Dear Cathedral Family,

It’s yours for the taking! What is it? The Promised Land – the place of fulfillment and destiny that God has for each of us and for our church. It’s time for us to move into what is rightfully ours as children, and heirs, of our Father God. And that’s what we’ll be talking about this weekend.

Don’t miss this weekend’s service! I am excited about being back with you and sharing what God has awakened in my heart during the summer study break. Dean and I have been praying for your faith in God to increase and for a greater release of His blessings in your life. Great faith changes the way we think and the way we live.

We serve an all-powerful God who cares deeply about our lives. I believe we’re moving into one of the most incredible seasons in the history of our church. Let’s all take the journey together!

See you this weekend,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3114 July 11, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3112
Dear Cathedral Family,

I hope you are having a great summer, enjoying family and friends, and taking a few opportunities to relax and rest.

For the next few weeks, I’ll be on study break. This is a time of refreshing and renewal and, most importantly, seeking God’s heart and direction for the next steps in the vision He has for Cathedral.

The word “alignment” seems extremely important in this season. As Dean and I are praying, we are asking God to adjust us individually and as a church, so that we all are properly aligned, clearly focused, and ready to move forward in God’s purposes and plans. I invite you to pray for us and agree with us as we seek God.

You don’t want to miss the next few weekends. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers who will be teaching in the services. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in tithing and giving, especially over the summer months. Your active involvement means so much.

Dean and I are excited about where we’re going and what God has in store for our church. We’re praying for you and will be staying in touch. May God bring times of refreshing to you and your family and bless you with peace.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=3112 June 25, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2351
Come celebrate America with us this weekend. We have a patriotic service planned with special guests: “2nd Edition”, an ensemble from Lee University, and Cathedral Academy’s new Head of Schools. I encourage you to invite your family and friends to join us as we remember our nation’s rich Christian heritage.

I remember when history books told a very different story about America’s beginnings and portrayed our Founding Fathers as men of character and integrity, guided by Biblical principles as they established this great nation. How much of our history is being rewritten? More than we probably realize. This trend deeply concerns me.

What we believe about the past affects our expectations for today and directs the course for our future. So this weekend, as we celebrate, it’s important that we also set the record straight regarding the history of our country. The true story must be told and a heritage of faith passed down so that it will not be lost.

We enjoy incredible privileges and freedoms as American citizens. God has blessed us. May He continue to shed His grace on America. Please join us this weekend with a sprit of celebration and a heart of thankfulness as we remember.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2351 June 18, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2350
Summer officially begins this weekend. What a wonderful time to reconnect with family and friends, and pursue new adventures! I’m excited about what is happening around Cathedral in the next few months.

Nearly 50 pre-teens and teens are participating in CAMP (Children’s Ministry) and EROC (FUEL - teen ministry) internships this summer. For six weeks, these students are dedicating themselves to serving and learning more about God and ministry. You’ll see these young people during the week and some weekend services. We’re thrilled about what God is doing in their lives. Be sure to bring your children and invite your friends and neighbors to Vacation Bible School next week, June 23-26. The CAMP team and children’s ministry (now called CathedralKIDZ) have planned an amazing week. Don’t miss it!

We’ve had a great 2008 so far. It has definitely been a year of new beginnings, with more to come. There is much to celebrate. Last Saturday, Radius met for the first time. It’s a new ministry for 18 to 30-somethings - single, married, career, parents, male, female. The team hoped for 30 people; 120 attended. My wife Dean and the whole team were delighted. They are passionate about reaching and mobilizing this energetic group.

This past weekend, we updated our church family with all the progress we’ve recently made in updating the children’s ministry areas. The infant and toddler nurseries, and preschool area, all have new hardwood flooring and fresh paint. We’ve also renovated two rooms for our 4 and 5 year olds, and the children’s registration area is under construction. Keep watching for more!

Our sports fields serve as a gathering place for families. We’re developing excellent soccer, softball and football fields for our church’s Sports Ministry and Cathedral Academy’s Generals. Soccer season just concluded, and softball season kicks off this weekend. What a thrill to look out on a Saturday morning or a weeknight and see the fields filled with children, teens, and adults! It’s just one of our dreams for community that is coming true.

You may have noticed a lot of activity between buildings B and C. Cathedral Academy will soon have a new gymnasium. What a great way to celebrate the school’s tenth year! To date, the gymnasium fund totals $280,000,with monies raised through auctions and golf marathons. The 2008 golf marathon yielded over $114,000 in pledges. In Fall 2008, Cathedral Academy will launch a capital campaign to raise additional funds to finance the gym. You can view construction progress through webcam pictures available on our website www.cathedralofpraise.org (go to Gym Construction under the Academy tab).

Just to clarify, the Cathedral Academy gym funds are completely separate from those for “Get in the Game”, our church campaign for a new auditorium. Of the $7.4 million pledged to “Get in the Game”, a little over $2.28 million has come in and is earning interest. We had initially planned to borrow and begin building, then pay off the debt as pledges were received. After prayerful consideration, Godly direction and wise counsel, we opted to wait, rather than incur so much interest debt. Our builders tell us that we need $5 million in hand before starting construction. In the meantime, site work continues, which includes piping the ditch between our current parking lot and the corner lot, and possibly clearing the corner lot at Windsor Hill Blvd and Ashley Phosphate. We definitely trust God’s timing and know that His plan for us is best.

This week, I’m attending a Kingdom Education conference in Tennessee with Cathedral Academy’s new headmaster. We’re anticipating great advances for our school under his leadership. You’ll have the opportunity to meet him next weekend, June 28 & 29, during our special Independence Day services. We invite all our military personnel (active, prior or retired) to wear your uniform as we honor our country, celebrate our liberty, and renew our awareness of the incredible cost of freedom.

Thank you for your faithful support of all the endeavors at Cathedral as we reach multiple generations. You are vital in the life of our church. We are praying for you and your finances during this season. Our confidence in God remains steadfast. We continue to do our part as obedient stewards, and trust Him for provision and protection. God bless you this week!

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2350 May 20, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2139 Dear Cathedral Family,

This week, I am on the road with Dean, Luke, Megan and Blakeley. We’ll likely have some exciting stories about our travels to Georgia with our infant granddaughter. Those of you who have traveled long distances with small ones probably have tales of your own. We’ll be returning to Charleston on Friday.

On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, I’ll be speaking at “Re-imagine the Possible: iChurch”, a retreat for nearly 700 pastors hosted by Evangel Fellowship International conference. Megan and Luke will be a part of the mix, as well. I’ll address how to transition a church for relevance and keep it vibrant and alive in the 21st century while training the next generation. Much of what I’ll be sharing with these church leaders comes from what we discussed in services last weekend.

Traditionally, churches tend to age along with their senior pastor. At Cathedral, we have a vision to be a parenting church, one that ministers to multiple generations effectively. This takes a commitment to following God through uncharted waters, sensitivity to different age groups, and an awareness of our personal “gravitational pull”, first in our own families, then in the church (see 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 John 1:12-14). Please pray for us as we share this concept with other church leaders, specifically that their hearts and minds will be open to receive and then that they will be courageous and step out in faith as God directs them when they return to their home churches.

This weekend, we’ll be continuing our “Extreme Makeover: Family Edition” series with a keen awareness that our nation is preparing to observe Memorial Day on Monday. One way we teach our children what is important is by giving proper honor and respect where it is due. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedom and rights as Americans. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could have eternal life. Together, we remember.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis ]]> Tue, 20 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2139 May 2, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2002 Dear Cathedral Family,

I hope last weekend’s message was helpful for you and your family. It is always a delight for me when my wife Dean and I have the opportunity to speak together. We truly love each other, our family and you. God brought you to Cathedral of Praise for a reason; your presence is no accident. One of our passions is to equip our church family to experience the abundant life that God has planned for each one of us – to enjoy life with each other and to impact our community.

This “Sexual Revolution” series has been much like having family meetings for the last several weeks. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’ve dealt with some tough issues. Most importantly, we’ve grown together. And this is really just the beginning of incredible change for our marriages and families. As we approach this coming weekend, I would encourage you to make every effort to attend one of the services as we wrap up this series.

Few of us have been left untouched by some assault in the arena of our sexuality, either by external forces or our own decisions. I believe that God truly wants us to heal and restore us. Wounded people who have been healed by God’s grace are often the best revolutionaries. For many of you, this is your weekend. No sin is too great that the love of God and Jesus’ sacrifice over 2000 years ago can’t handle. Jesus died on a cross so we don’t have to walk around deadened to life. He rose again so we can truly live – not just in eternity, but here and now!

So, I look forward to seeing you this weekend! I believe that we’ll have a lot of freedom to celebrate.

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=2002 March 18, 2008 - Easter http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=1671 Hope is here this Easter!

With your help, we’ll share the life-changing message of hope with several thousand members of our community this weekend. Thank you for helping us spread the word. We’ve already had several new visitors to our website cantfindhope.com. Let’s keep the team effort going. We want as many people as possible to encounter the risen Savior this Easter!

Here are some important reminders:

·         Keep inviting people. Forward the email invitation (http://64.71.179.243/easter_invite_email.html) or hand out invite cards. Be creative!
·         We have 6 service times: 
          o   Friday at 6 & 8 pm
          o   Saturday at 5 & 7 pm (Note the time change for the second service!)
          o   Sunday at 9 & 11 am
·         If possible, consider attending a service other than Sunday at 11am unless you have guests who can only come at this time. Most of our first-time guests will come to this service.
·         Video venues will be available in the Chapel and the Loft to accommodate overflow seating.
·         Come early. You don’t want to miss the beginning of the service!

We have crafted a service that will touch everyone in some way - no matter what stage of life. Remember, you have incredible influence with the people around you. I cannot invite them personally, but you can. God has uniquely placed you and gifted you. You can make a difference. As a believer,  you have within you the hope of the world – Jesus. Someone you invite may be the next Billy Graham. Imagine the future possibilities - a marriage saved, an addiction overcome, depression lifted, dreams brought back to life, HOPE RENEWED.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Sharing hope together this Easter,
Pastor Mike Lewis

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ]]> Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=1671 January 7, 2008 http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=1261

Dear Church Family,

Happy New Year! As I discussed this past weekend, we believe that God is going to do great things in 2008 here at Cathedral. We want you to experience all the fullness that God has for you and your family this year.

In order to better equip us all to fulfill the purpose God has for us as individuals and as a church family, we are hosting Rethink on January 18 & 19 in the main auditorium. I would like to personally invite you to attend this conference live via satellite from Crystal Cathedral.

·        Rethink – is about getting into the minds of today’s top thinkers, innovators and leaders.
·        Rethink – is cutting edge ideas in an ever-changing world.
·        Rethink – is about fresh perspectives and new directions for work, ministry and life.

Come join us for an unprecedented gathering of top thinkers in faith, media, politics, science, business and technology. Learn how to stay on the cutting edge in a world that’s ever-changing, in a culture that is reinventing itself at an astounding pace. Discover new ways to make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you lead and influence in your family and workplace.

I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to increase your awareness of the world to which we are called to take the Good News of God’s love and the message of salvation. Cost is only $25. To register and find more information, please visit our website at www.cathedralofpraise.org

Doing life together,
Pastor Mike Lewis

]]> Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cathedralofpraise.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21548&articleId=1261