I have this deeply rooted belief that a church ought to be a safe place to land for a sinner. It ought to be the last place you would find Judgementalism and the church should be the first place where you would find understanding.
Why?
Because all of us have the potential to fail God.
Peter knew this well as he wrote this after his famous denial of Jesus
2 Peter 3:17 (ESV) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
But traditionally the church is known more for two things. Cannibalism
Galatians 5:15 (ESV) But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
and Cannabis usage. (Ignoring the reality of the problem)
See First Corinthians
Why can't we have a biblical balance where we care so much for the soul that when a person falls from God our goal is Restoration and not Rejection? I am not saying that we ignore the situation but we surely shouldn't shoot the person by either ignoring them because of what they have done or igniting a fire around them through gossip and here say.
If they come to us, its because they believe that we care and that we can help point them back on the right path. If they come to us, usually its because they are repentant and they are seeking restoration.
Lets give them a safe place to land. Lets not be the church that stones people, nor the church that's stoned about people.
Lets be the Church that leads them to the ROCK.
Have an Awesome day
Friday, September 6, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Something that just touched me today, Enjoy
Healer
Holly Ann
Door of Hope Church
At my worst
yet You are always by my side
And still my doubts
they get the best of me
yet You are always by my side
And still my doubts
they get the best of me
Consuming fire
It seems I am cold as ice
Come lift me higher
I long to follow You
It seems I am cold as ice
Come lift me higher
I long to follow You
Heal me
Comfort me
in these storms that I create
When I turn away
will You follow me?
Seems I’m always walking away
but its always, always Your grace
that leads me back home
Comfort me
in these storms that I create
When I turn away
will You follow me?
Seems I’m always walking away
but its always, always Your grace
that leads me back home
Protect me, oh Lion
Comfort me, oh Lamb
I need You, I’m crying out
Lift me up on eagles wings
Comfort me, oh Lamb
I need You, I’m crying out
Lift me up on eagles wings
(CHORUS)
You are my home
•••••
Holly Ann - piano / vocals
Braden Spotts - camera / editor / director
Matt James - sound / mixing
Matt James - sound / mixing
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Happy Anniversary Gary and Cindy
One of the greatest blessings of this past year for our church was the Lord's adding to our pastoral staff. Gary and Cindy have truly been a "Gift of God" to newLife and we have been honored to partner with them in reaching our community with the gospel.
But today is their day. Their Anniversary.
To Honor them, Please take a few moments out of your day and thank God for them and the testimony of Love they have for each other!
But today is their day. Their Anniversary.
To Honor them, Please take a few moments out of your day and thank God for them and the testimony of Love they have for each other!
Monday, May 6, 2013
His Gift of His Glory
One of the most beautiful things ever to happen in any church is when the people decide to work together.
There is one Father ~ God
There is one Savior ~ Jesus
There is one Spirit ~ The Holy Spirit
There is one Purpose ~ Bringing those who don't know these three together.
All because there is one Focus ~ Heaven
I believe God was very pleased with our gathering yesterday and that it was nothing more than a body of believers who have been blessed by a simple prayer made by Jesus.
John 17:20-23
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me
Yesterday ~ All of Yesterday, was a Gift of His Glory given to us by Jesus
Lets never lose our First Love of Him.
Awesome day newLife, You did well.
I can't wait till next Sunday
Monday, April 1, 2013
Why do we do Easter at the Liberty?
I get this question all the time and there are several answers.
#1 Its an amazing Venue.
#2 They are wonderful to work with.
#3 Its Fun.
#4 Visitors like it.
but the most important reason we like doing Easter at the Liberty is we get to see the truth about people.
This was a text sent to be from Suzy Jackson in regards to the Children's Ministry.
I cant even begin to tell you how wonderful it was to see one reading a story to the children, one sitting down at the table coloring and drawing with some other children, one rockin a baby, one walkin a crying baby, one feeding a baby, and those that taught the little ones the chicken dance, to the ones that signed in and out the children, and the ones who kept an eye on our new little line backer who was new today and running all over the place. We all worked together, we were all engaged with the children and the Spirit was Amazing. The kids had fun and we got a work out, but I would serve with these ladies any day :)SJ
Suzy was describing a group of ladies from our church, most of whom were supposed to be IN THE SERVICE because they are ALWAYS in the Children's Ministry, but CHOSE to serve the children.
The truth is these ladies don't come to church for themselves, they come to love God and others and the Liberty only exposes the depth of that Love.
I think my work is done here.
Have an Awesome Day.
P Rob
#1 Its an amazing Venue.
#2 They are wonderful to work with.
#3 Its Fun.
#4 Visitors like it.
but the most important reason we like doing Easter at the Liberty is we get to see the truth about people.
This was a text sent to be from Suzy Jackson in regards to the Children's Ministry.
I cant even begin to tell you how wonderful it was to see one reading a story to the children, one sitting down at the table coloring and drawing with some other children, one rockin a baby, one walkin a crying baby, one feeding a baby, and those that taught the little ones the chicken dance, to the ones that signed in and out the children, and the ones who kept an eye on our new little line backer who was new today and running all over the place. We all worked together, we were all engaged with the children and the Spirit was Amazing. The kids had fun and we got a work out, but I would serve with these ladies any day :)SJ
Suzy was describing a group of ladies from our church, most of whom were supposed to be IN THE SERVICE because they are ALWAYS in the Children's Ministry, but CHOSE to serve the children.
The truth is these ladies don't come to church for themselves, they come to love God and others and the Liberty only exposes the depth of that Love.
I think my work is done here.
Have an Awesome Day.
P Rob
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Bare with me, this is a little sappy
What do you do when you see something about yourself that you do not like but you believe that no matter what you do, you can't change it?
Like my genetics. I look just like my father did when he was my age.
Hair in the ears, growing gut, scruffy face.
Like my attitudes. I act just like my father and my brothers do.
As the baby of the family I have the scary ability to see how I am going to act when I get older on multiple levels.
Like Me. I am my father and my brothers.
I think like they do, I talk like they do, I limp like they do (hip problems)
and while I loved my father and look up to my brothers there are some things that I see in them that scares me a little.
My Father always had Hopes and Dreams and did some crazy things in his younger years, but once he hit 50 it seems as if he stopped acting on them. And my brothers (at least most of them) are following in his footsteps.
I have hopes and dreams but struggle with whether I want to pull the trigger on them or not. The craziest thing I do now is ride a Harley. Five years ago I moved to change this church from what I created it to be to something God created. I was fearless in my pursuit of Jesus and the best for His church. But I look at my family history and wonder, is wisdom comfort, and is it time to begin seeking a rocking chair and as my Brother would say, get out the cigars?
I also struggle with the fact that so many of the greatest things men accomplished for God were after 50.
Moses and Aaron
Joshua and Caleb
Daniel
Zacharias and Elizabeth
Paul
God used them not to maintain but to conquer more.
Psalm 92:12-15
The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
The only thing holding me back is what I am full of.
Would you pray this verse for me today.
Ephesians 6: 18-20 Fill Me God
Like my genetics. I look just like my father did when he was my age.
Hair in the ears, growing gut, scruffy face.
Like my attitudes. I act just like my father and my brothers do.
As the baby of the family I have the scary ability to see how I am going to act when I get older on multiple levels.
Like Me. I am my father and my brothers.
I think like they do, I talk like they do, I limp like they do (hip problems)
and while I loved my father and look up to my brothers there are some things that I see in them that scares me a little.
My Father always had Hopes and Dreams and did some crazy things in his younger years, but once he hit 50 it seems as if he stopped acting on them. And my brothers (at least most of them) are following in his footsteps.
I have hopes and dreams but struggle with whether I want to pull the trigger on them or not. The craziest thing I do now is ride a Harley. Five years ago I moved to change this church from what I created it to be to something God created. I was fearless in my pursuit of Jesus and the best for His church. But I look at my family history and wonder, is wisdom comfort, and is it time to begin seeking a rocking chair and as my Brother would say, get out the cigars?
I also struggle with the fact that so many of the greatest things men accomplished for God were after 50.
Moses and Aaron
Joshua and Caleb
Daniel
Zacharias and Elizabeth
Paul
God used them not to maintain but to conquer more.
Psalm 92:12-15
The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
The only thing holding me back is what I am full of.
Would you pray this verse for me today.
Ephesians 6: 18-20 Fill Me God
Monday, February 18, 2013
Listening through loveless ears
I recieved this quote from my nephew on facebook and really appreciated it.
It speaks volumes.
A very convicting quote from Charles Spurgeon:
"How happy you used to be in the ways of God. Your love was of that happy character that you could sing all day long; but now your religion has lost its lustre, the gold has become dim; you know that when you come to the Sacramental table, you often come there without enjoying it. There was a time when every bitter thing was sweet; whenever you heard the Word, it was all precious to you. Now you can grumble at the minister. Alas! the minister has many faults, but the question is, whether there has not been a greater charge in you than there has been in him. Many are there who say, "I do not hear Mr. So-and-so as I used to,"—when the fault lies in their own ears. Oh, brethren, when we live near to Christ, and are in our first love, it is amazing what a little it takes to make a good preacher to us. Why, I confess I have heard a poor illiterate Primitive Methodist preach t...he gospel, and I felt as if I could jump for joy all the while I was listening to him, and yet he never gave me a new thought or a pretty expression, nor one figure that I could remember, but he talked about Christ; and even his common things were to my hungry spirit like dainty meats. And I have to acknowledge, and, perhaps, you have to acknowledge the same—that I have heard sermons from which I ought to have profited, but I have been thinking on the man's style, or some little mistakes in grammar. When I might have been holding fellowships with Christ in and through the ministry, I have, instead thereof, been getting abroad in my thoughts even to the ends of the earth. And what is the reason for this, but that I have lost my first love."
"How happy you used to be in the ways of God. Your love was of that happy character that you could sing all day long; but now your religion has lost its lustre, the gold has become dim; you know that when you come to the Sacramental table, you often come there without enjoying it. There was a time when every bitter thing was sweet; whenever you heard the Word, it was all precious to you. Now you can grumble at the minister. Alas! the minister has many faults, but the question is, whether there has not been a greater charge in you than there has been in him. Many are there who say, "I do not hear Mr. So-and-so as I used to,"—when the fault lies in their own ears. Oh, brethren, when we live near to Christ, and are in our first love, it is amazing what a little it takes to make a good preacher to us. Why, I confess I have heard a poor illiterate Primitive Methodist preach t...he gospel, and I felt as if I could jump for joy all the while I was listening to him, and yet he never gave me a new thought or a pretty expression, nor one figure that I could remember, but he talked about Christ; and even his common things were to my hungry spirit like dainty meats. And I have to acknowledge, and, perhaps, you have to acknowledge the same—that I have heard sermons from which I ought to have profited, but I have been thinking on the man's style, or some little mistakes in grammar. When I might have been holding fellowships with Christ in and through the ministry, I have, instead thereof, been getting abroad in my thoughts even to the ends of the earth. And what is the reason for this, but that I have lost my first love."
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