Just when you think you got it............You Don't

This past Sunday was interesting for me mainly because I got the opposite reaction that I thought.
I thought this was a "charge up the Hill and take it" type of message, but for many, it was more of an ....I am not sure this is what I signed up for message.

Here is what I heard from people:
    
     I don't see where Ester was being selfish
     It was cut throat (this person was truly being positive)
     That was blunt

and it made me wonder, do people really want everything in parables?
Does it make us feel better to believe we are believers even though we don't really believe?
Are messages that tickle better than messages that touch?

I really thought that we had moved forward as a body of believers but I wonder if I have to bring out the carton of milk again?

But wait, I'm not done yet because I also heard something else.
I heard the old angry Baptist reaction as well.
You know the one that does not allow the Holy Spirit to work in peoples hearts but rather we must TELL PEOPLE what they ought to do.

Some days you wake up and wonder, can we make it?
Can we really become the church God always intended or will we forever be pulled back by people who use God for their Glory and not for His?

I know what your thinking and I agree...........
Yes We Can!

So don't give up, don't give in, and don't give away the opportunity God has given us for such a time as this.
As long as people are in bondage to their sins and believe that religion is real we have work to do.

Lets go and Save some Lives Today    

What to do with Teenagers?

I had lunch yesterday with an amazing young man about to graduate high school. I really like to do this because not only do I get to know amazing people, I get the pulse of where the next generation is going. and here are a few things I learned.
1. The next generation will see the greatest movement of God ever. I believe God is preparing to do something great with them which is why it is ever so important to invest in them.

2. The way they are going to do church will be very different than the way we do it. Which means lets not fight change, lets support it.

3. This generation wants a real walk with God. They don't want to waste years in religion and reform.

4. They do not want their parents faith. They've seen how we have messed things up and they want real relationships. They are not content with what but want to know why.

But I do have some concerns.

Will we listen to them in a way that makes them feel valued so that we can partake in their engagement, or will we continue to tell them what they are doing wrong?

Will they come to us because they have to, or will they come to us because they see value in our wisdom and love?

Will we fund their spiritual growth or fight it?

My concern with the next generation is not will they succeed, but will we be a valued part of their success.

That's why we must get behind them now, so that they see, that we believe in what God believes in......them.

Blink, and it can all change

Yesterday one of our members was injured on the job by a log wrapper. In case you don't know what that is just think of 30 foot of wire with three foot of heavy chain on both ends.

They use it to bind logs together on a Log truck so that the logs don't come off. But to get them over the logs you must throw them over by hand.

So as one truck driver winds up to throw the wrapper over his load, Jack, our member bent over to pick up a binder and got caught in the face with the back swing.

He's OK, other than stitches, hard time in Emergency rooms, and trauma to the eye. He can see, He will heal, but He will hurt.

One second your just doing your job, the next, your bleeding, blind, and have broken your glasses.

or One second your just getting ready to throw your binder and whack, you've blinded someone.

Life is that way.

The Question is, how will you deal with it?
How do you handle life when it changes?

Jack gave an amazing illustration of it yesterday.

He handled it with grace.
He was not upset with God
He was not upset with Darwin. (the guy swinging the wrapper)
He was not angry, grumpy, stressed.
He just hurt and sought medical attention to ease the pain. (Sought....lol)

How different would our lives be if when thrown a negative, rather than return one, we seek relief. Rather than complain about how inconvenient it all is, we just seek comfort from those around us who we have put in our lives for that reason.

Just a thought, do you have people in place for these life changing Emergencies?
Your Spouse, Your Children, Your Church? and do you focus on them, (at least one eye for Jack) or do you focus on the pain?

Thanks Jack, I needed to see (sorry I can't help myself) this amazing illustration of how to handle life change.

Saturday Skip Day

It is being reported by a wacked out Christian group that the world will end on Saturday.
This means a couple of things.

#1 Saturday is going to be the Safest Day for People who don't know Christ.

#2 See you all Sunday

Matthew 24:35-39 (KJV)
³⁵ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ³⁷ But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
³⁸ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Anyone for a Road Trip?

Hey, what would you all think about having tonight's service at the Astoria Column?
A few Songs with Guitars, a Short Message, some prayer, a few testimonies? Let me know what you think.

Does anybody See her......

....is not only a powerful song by Casting Crowns, it is an important question.

Do we notice people?
Not just their actions but their being.

Did you notice the woman who was sad Sunday because she had just lost her pet of 12 years and was heartbroken?

Did you notice the man who was wandering around as if he had no relational place to stand?

Did you notice the young lady who did not make it? and if you did, did you notice her without judging her?

Did you notice the child who could not find their mother?

It is so easy to come to church, do your thing, and not notice people.
The writer of Hebrews said in Chapter 10 that considering one another was one of the main reasons to meet.

Next time you come to church, stop looking after yourself, and start looking for someone to love. You will be amazed at what you find.

None but Jesus

The question has been asked of late, what is worship?
Some say its the song service a church has.
Others say its the way you live your life every day.

I don't know where we get these ideas, as the bible does not directly use the word worship in the way we do. But I do know, what I have often thought of as worship, is not.

I do know that it is an act.
Something that is done in response to someone or something.

I also know that worship is a matter of the heart and not the hands.
Its not what we do, but something that's in response to what He has done.

and so I came to this simple thought.

Worship is nothing more than Showing the Value we place Jesus.

In every church service we ought to show the Value we place on Jesus.
In every song, every testimony, every offering, every prayer, every statement, every scripture our worship is dictated by our value of Jesus Christ.

In every day of a Christians life we ought to show the Value we place on Jesus.

In the start of Every Day we ought to Show our Value we place on Jesus as we Pray and Read His word.

In the act of Every Day we ought to Show our Value we place on Jesus as we love others, forgive those that wrong us, and reject the sin we are tempted with in preference to a relationship with Jesus.

In the end of Every day we ought to Show the Value we place on Jesus as we praise Him for the Love He gave us, the life He led us to, and the learning we gained by walking with Him. So that at the end of every day, Jesus has been worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.

How have you Worshipped?
Who is Jesus to you?
What place does He hold in your life?

I do know that we will worship that which we place the highest value on.
What is of more value than Jesus?
and How are your Expressing that Value?

A Letter from Pastor A to newLife

Never in a million years did I ever think I would see what I saw Sunday.
It was Amazing!
I know others saw it, but I don't think they understood the significance of it.
But I saw it, and it made this Sunday the best Sunday I have ever had in church.

You may have missed it if you left right after church.
You may have missed it if you were consumed with a conversation.
You may have missed it if you were a guy.
But I saw it and am glad I didn't miss it.

What was it?
Nothing really to the casual observer of Christianity but everything to me.
So much that I have a renewed hope that Christians can actually be Christ like.
It was awesome.

What was not?
Nothing but Hayley Clark trying on a prom dress......at church.
I know, wasn't it awesome.

You still don't see it do you?
Well let me explain it the way I saw it.

One of our young women felt so loved by her church family, and was so confident that she would not be judged by anyone negatively, had the desire to share one of the most important times in her life with her church family.

Her dress was stunning as well as modest. (for you who might be prejudging) and she was beaming. There were Ladies were running up to the corner room where she had changed and when she came out she was surrounded by encouraging Godly women who showed their love and support of WHO Hayley was.

Of course she is a newLife girl so she was gorgeous, but for me, I saw a Christian feel loved and Christians love her and it was good.

A Beautiful Girl capping off a Beautiful Day with a Beautiful Church for a Beautiful God.

Now I have to find something else to doubt so that God can prove His presence and power in our church and lives.

What do you think is never going to happen in a million years?
Post it and we will pray about it and see God do amazing things together.

One Word, a Thank You and a Thought

Sun


Son

Have a Great Day in the Sun with the Son!

Just not Feeling it

Let me begin this morning by saying, I am happy that Justice was served towards Usama Bin Laden. The bible is clear about such things.

And I understand Americas reaction to it. UBL brought our country alot of pain. Because of the actions of this one man, many lives were changed forever.

But our reaction kind of reminds me of how the Jews reacted when Jesus was Crusified. UBL is no Jesus, don't even go there, but our response to a man dying is a little disheartening.

Right now, to some peoples pleasure, Usama Bin Laden is feeling the pains of Hell.
For Eternity he will be seperated from God.
He will never feel love
He will never feel mercy.
He will never feel grace.
He will never feel freedom.

I just can't rejoice about that.
I can't facebook it.
I can't sing about it.
I can't really talk about it.

I asked God to save Him back in 2001.
My Prayer was answered and its a no.

I am happy justice has been served.
I am sad about the sentence that had to be carried out.
and Sadder, that others, others who may not have done as much evil as UBL, but have still sinned against God, will join him in hell.

unlike UBL, Jesus rose from the dead
and so, I will save my celebration for those who enter heaven through Jesus.
That's when I will sing, that's when I will rejoice in Justice being done.