That Just Happened…If Only
(Pete Hise, w/guest blogger, Justin McCarty)

I hope you had a great Christmas, friends. I’ve been praying for you as I take some time off with my family this week. 2009 was a remarkable year on so many levels. I hope you’ve been celebrating and remembering and really drinking in these final days of the year. While so many people I talk to are looking forward to 2010 – and are eager for it to get here – Justin brought us a timely message this weekend about the regrets and “if only’s” that keep us from making the progress we long for. I hope you spend some great time reflecting over these next few days.

Here’s some of what Justin saw this weekend:

1. Watching the Fused band rock out “Carol of The Bells” was one my personal favorites! God is using the gifts & talents of our students in incredible ways — what’s coming in 2010 for them?

2. Jon Headley and the band cranked out a great version of Creed’s new song, “Rain.” Watching the rain & water droplets on the back screen made me so thankful for this amazing room we now have church in!

3. Getting to share the “Cinnamon Challenge” that Anyerin Drury & I took was one of the funnier moments I can remember… and the lingering taste of cinnamon makes it one of my top ranked “if only I hadn’t done that…” moments of 2009.  (You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcNNU1Ean4c)

4. When I had people who actually kept their 2009 resolutions raise their hands (and then those who kept them from 2008…and 1995) and saw how few there actually were, it became easy to see that January 1st has no power to erase our regrets. It really is just another day on the calendar.

5. Its not everyday you open the book of Leviticus, But helping Questers connect the Jewish “Day of Atonement” (or Yom Kippur) to Jesus’ death on the cross was eye-opening. I love the reality that while New Year’s Day might not have any power, Good Friday created the possibility of a new beginning for everyone.

6. I watched so many Questers do real work with the “If Only” cards, where we wrote down our regrets & mistakes from 2009, and then let them be nailed to the cross as a reminder of the truth that Jesus really did take our sins away. Hundreds of people streamed forward to the crosses, worshiping the One who allows us to be done with the past!

7. Without a doubt, one of the highlights of the entire message, was the truth that Jesus has His own “if only’s” for us! But they are “if only’s” full of possibility, hope, and excitement about what the future can bring… if only we’d trust Him with our past, receive Him into our hearts, or live in the truth of His love!

8. I got to met several people who realized they had never experienced the cross & had their own personal “day of atonement.” They left the room having received forgiveness and invited Jesus into their hearts…and they’re starting the new year as new people…forgiven and free!

9. One of the biggest celebrations of the day was Megan, who gave her life to Jesus. She makes the fourth (and final!) member of her family who’s come to Jesus this year! Can you imagine (and yes, I know many of you have experienced it!) all the members of your family coming to Jesus in one year…or even just in 7 months? Let it fill your heart with hope about what’s possible for the people you love & pray for!  It did for me!

10. I can hardly believe that over 6,000 people have come to Christ in 2009 through the ministries of Quest!! That’s UNREAL. With that in mind, can you even begin imagine what He’s got in store for 2010? I loved getting to close out 2009 with the words of Habakkuk 1:5 – “For I am doing something your own day… something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”

Happy New Year, Questers! Bring your regrets & “if only’s” to the cross and leave them there. God has so much in store for the year in front of us!