That my Mama’s really here! We had lunch today and she is in and out for a few weeks before heading back. Glad to have her home!
See you this weekend. What a gorgeous day so far.
Thank you God for each new day…I sure need them after I mess up the one before 
Blessings and peace!
Seriously. God has laid a PASSIONATE message for our church on my heart. I pray your world is rocked. You won’t want to miss it.
And it is confirmed…MIKEY STAKE and his side-kicks have written an original song that is longer…so we are starting it a few minutes before the service…and will run it right off the top…so don’t be late. Be early for once
And best of all, my MAMA will be there. That always makes me a little nervous. Welcome home MOM! And we will also see our new Pastor of Children’s Ministry on Sunday…wow, what a crowd!
Most of all, I hope to see YOU as we finish off this series with a real bang.
And yes…for those of you wondering, I did really STRIP for a message 2 weeks ago. Click HERE and watch “The Discipline of Service”.
And lastly…please PRAY. There are some big things breaking loose at NEW HOPE…please join us in prayer for the ministry. I hope it is ALWAYS on your HEART in PRAYER.
Blessings and Peace!
pic: and yes…it’s a tennis shoes’ day.
Hey, someone stole our “Come as you are, leave different” theme…with a twist. Check the pic sent from Pastor Tim from somewhere in Orlando…
Are you looking to find an amazing place to serve? We need people to serve ONCE A MONTH at our newest campus to launch Lord-willing in the next 4 weeks @ the Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility.
A few hours once a month that will change young men’s lives. These boys need someone to just listen to them, encourage them, love on them and let them know that they are NORMAL, not different for being incarcerated. They need to know the TRUTH so they can be set FREE. We need women and men (you must be 18 to enter) especially MEN as this is a boys facility. Will you consider this calling? If you are interested, e-mail” nicole@newhopewired.tv or call the church 419.994.1112.
Let’s keep taking it to the streets in JESUS NAME. It’s all about HIM and HIS love and HIS grace and HIS mercy. Not about us. That last part is hart to swallow.
And by the way…you don’t want to miss this weekend as I close this series. It is going to ROCK our worlds, I promise. We will open with an amazing original song performed by our team…so come 3 minutes early to hear it…GOD IS ON THE MOVE…how about you?
blessings in all your ways this week.
Hey all! Rick Warren is sharing the PEACE plan and I would be remiss to try to write all the notes from it. I will post the link to the session to listen to. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Skipped the beach last night for a special session with KAY WARREN on AIDS ministry. Simply amazing. Her book DANGEROUS SURRENDER is one that I will be reading. Great night. Flip-flop kind of day.
Well, here we go with a few key thoughts that hit me:
We have wiped out all kinds of diseases in American, but not around the world and NOBODY CARES. 250 thousand died in a tsunami, which is a drop compared to those with AIDS and malaria.
The Great Commission is not a suggestion, we are to go into ALL THE WORLD. Don’t think you can make a difference? From Loudonville we put a well in Malawi, Africa, have a campus in China, are doing compassion things with AIDS education, AIDS orphans, etc. If we can do…so can YOU! We will also be training PASTOR around the WORLD to do church in a PURPOSE DRIVEN way, just like many of the things we do at NEW HOPE minus the technology of course in most countries.
But technology shouldn’t drive your mission, only ENHANCE it. If it is the focus, it is an IDOL.
Back to the notes:
I encourage you to listen to the PEACE plan and see how you can be involved.
The local church has abdicated love, care, concern and compassion for the world to other organizations and the government.
Church is great at TALKING but not at changing people’s lives. The church is known for what it’s AGAINST more than what it is FOR.
God will use ordinary people empowered TOGETHER, by God’s Spirit, doing what JESUS did, wherever they are!
We don’t need more PROFESSIONALS to the work of the ministry, we need more AMATEURS in the LOCAL CHURCH where ministry is supposed to flow from.
THE SHIFT NEEDS TO BE BACK TO THE LOCAL CHURCH AREA here in AMERICA and around the WORLD.
Had to leave for interview on u-stream. Watch it BELOW…it was fun! Here about our re:SOURCE conference and about the place YOU all @ NEW HOPE make so special!
Great stuff alert: “The KINGDOM is ANYWHERE where JESUS is KING!”
We gotta roll to the airport…so goodbye and GOD BLESS! What an AMAZING time of connection, learning and moving my soul. I love getting out of my context to learn and grow.
May Blessings and Peace go with you.
Hey all…just letting you know that I will be on the PURPOSE DRIVEN U-STREAM live feed in the next hour or so talking about small town ministry and multi-site.
Take a peek at it HERE. Probably around 3:00 pm EST.
Log-on and share your thoughts LIVE and any questions you might have.
Final thoughts coming from the week. The pic is me in the very last row of the conference at the very top…all by myself. People hate me sitting in front of them with my ADD nature…can’t sit still
blessings and peace.
Here we go…This should be good.
Mark Driscoll–Mars Hill: He has a notebook…he is taking notes as a great leader is always a great learner.
There must be a DESIRE for discipleship. Pulling out of people the “conflicted” desires. Like Paul, wants to do right, but can’t. If you are truly regenerated, your deepest desires won’t be conflicted.
Many underestimate the power of the preached WORD. 13 Week Series of Lectures on theological storyline of the Bible.
Small groups are SERMON BASED. Air War is Sunday. Ground War is week. SHOULD NOT BE A DISCONNECT. They work together. The pulpit to the crowd.
Lots of digital interaction extras during the week. WEBSITE is front door.
Do one thing well before moving on to the next thing. Many churches are doing 10 things poorly hoping that one will stick.
Daniel Kim–Sarang Comm. Church: 3 Tiers of Discipleship
16 week pre-discipleship. Lay-led.
32 weeks of discipleship led by pastors.
32 weeks leadership training by the Lead Pastor.
2-3 YEAR WAITING LIST! Takes time and intentional efforts.
Nelson Searcy–Journey Church: Spiritual Disciplines, Small Groups. Discipleship begins the very moment you come as a guest. Groups/PD Class System/Next Steps…what’s next?
Groups: Allowed to move around, not assigned.
Wanted to start “house church” they wanted in NYC the larger worship gathering first, then moved into small groups.
They do a campaign like 40 Days every fall and small group attendance doubles.
Steve Stroope–Lake Point Church: Affinity groups, life-stage groups, mixed groups. Variety.
Make it easy for them to figure it out. Don’t make it slick or hard to figure out
Lee McFarland–Radiant Church:
What do we want them to do, and HOW will they know HOW to do it?
Truly digging into moving them from “Pagan” to “fully devoted follower of Christ.”
Another Great Session. All had great stuff to say. Here are some highlights. This panel was diverse which was very engaging. There are too many people on the panel to dive into each scenario. Would be great if there were just like 3 people. Here are the highlights:
Marcos Whitt–Lakewood Church: Musicians are different.
Yes, Lead Pastors can’t sneak in after the worship. After all, they expect them to listen to the message…ha ha laugh! You can’t take someone somewhere you haven’t been yourself. Lead Pastor must model.
Greg Surratt–Seacoast Church: Innovation is born out of desperation.
Keeps taking glasses on and off…he is totally in denial. He is really funny though.
Wonderfully controlled chaos. Nice picture.
The only limits are those of vision.
Holy cow…Greg just told OUR STORY to thousands of people. He said Loudonville, OHIO…and he said it right. He also asked why we would live in OHIO…who would want to live in OHIO he said.
Tommy Kyllonen (Urban D.): Crossover Church: Using hip-hop and r & b to reach the next generation. Great site to visit. HERE
Dave Ferguson–Community Christian Church: He pushes the “Big Idea” where the entire church is learning the same idea each week with 1 big idea instead of hundreds of small ideas.
Lead Pastor must be a worshiper!
Ken Foreman–Cathedral of Faith Church: Create authentic moments where people are genuinely changed.
Drive the theme deep and wide. Connect with everyone there.
Get this…NEW HOPE will be helping to train church Pastors and leaders around the world. This is no joke…it’s truly going global as we live out the GREAT COMMISSION.
This is insane. God is on the move in HUGE ways. From LOUDONVILLE, OH? Yes…from LOUDONVILLE, OH. We will be training Pastors and leaders on how to be the most effective for CHRIST. That doesn’t mean that we will teach them how to look like NEW HOPE, but to infiltrate their CULTURE. Most don’t know where to start, and we are being asked and GOD is calling us to do this.
I told my WIFE a few years ago that I had no idea how it would ever look or happen, but that I knew that I was called to help train other PASTORS around the WORLD. Today this call became a reality. And NO, I am not leaving NEW HOPE. Don’t start that rumor.
I can’t contain myself. The first stop: CHINA. Not only will I be spending time with our CAMPUS, but am looking to gather as many PASTORS and LEADERS as possible to train and equip them. WOW. Only God.
Great sleep with time changes…STARBUCKS run…any suggestions for a non-coffee drinker like me? What doesn’t taste like coffee but has the kick? Let me know.
Full day today…Session One on PREACHING TECHNIQUES. Hope to spend an hour at LAGUNA BEACH TONIGHT. Our hour of sight-seeing. They have us packed to the brim!
Ummm…none of that stuff in the pic to the right out here. Sunny and warm! That is me @ Snow Trails flying off a big jump and landing on the downslope of the hill on the left side. I already miss the snow…only a skier would say that…WELL, HERE WE GO WITH THE NOTES:
p.s.–You will notice some blanks, remember that I am ADD, and I will miss a point or 2, I will get the notes and fill them in later for ya. Here we go again:
PREACHING TECHNIQUES by RICK WARREN:
Conviction/Character/Conduct need to be the process of preaching.
Much preaching is producing learners, but not doers. “Be doers of the word and not just hearers.”
Jesus: I have come that you might have LIFE, not just information. Doctrine, reproof, correction in righteousness are and ends to the means for us to become like CHRIST!
Rick Warren just talked about why Saddleback has really plowed ahead. He said they have always been FAST/FLUID/FLEXIBLE. Vision is surrounded by these things. Are you like this in life or your job or your ministry?
Another profound statement when talking about his worship leader Rick Muchow who he has worked with for over 20 years…he said that he has never said, “We can’t do that.”
It’s easy to be BIBLICAL if you don’t want to be RELEVANT. And it’s easy to be RELEVANT if you don’t want to be BIBLICAL. There is a fine line between doing both.
Need more HOW TOO preaching instead of just OUGHT TOO preaching. Teaching them how to self-feed.
1.
2. Find the UNIVERSAL TRUTH.
3. WHAT DOES THE AUDIENCE NEED?
6 Things everyone needs around the world:
1. Everyone wants to be loved.
2. Everyone wants their life to count.
3.
4. People are carrying a load of guilt.
5. Consumed with bitterness.
6. Universal fear of death.
STOP BEING AFRAID TO PREACH HOW TO! Much of the Bible is content, but much is application or more application! Pastor’s are afraid to do this out of fear of criticism.
This is a great session that you should see on VIDEO when it comes out. Can’t put all the richness into text. This is one of the best and most helpful. Want a copy? E-mail me, I will get you one.
He’s going on and on about APPLICATION. That studying the great preachers of old, they are at least 40-90% application just as SCRIPTURE is. Great stuff. We get it baby.
Always preach for RESPONSE.
10 Things About Preaching for LIFE CHANGE:
1. All behavior is based on a belief.
2. Behind every sin is a LIE I am believing.
3. Change ALWAYS starts in the mind.
4. EXPOSE the lie they are believing.
5. Trying to change BEHAVIORS instead of BELIEFS is a waste of time.
7. You don’t change peoples minds, the APPLIED WORD of GOD does.
8. Changing the way I act is the result of the FRUIT of REPENTANCE.
9. Deepest kind fo preaching is preaching for REPENTANCE.
10. Lasting life change: Enlighten the Mind, Engage the Emotions, Challenge the Will.
If you preach this way, you will be criticized. But show me a church that has baptized more people than Saddleback in America.
People want more information so they don’t have to change.
peace out from the 419…more to come! Stay up late for good stuff.
A slight rabbit trail from our conference notes:
Go HERE for a great discussion about SEX and QUESTIONS so many have. Myself included!!
Great BIBLICAL insight and help for those struggling to understand this GODLY creation for those who are MARRIED.
You know you have QUESTIONS.
Great blog site. 2 of the people who write it are here @ Saddleback this week.
blessings and peace.
PREACHING Panel…
Jentezen Franklin: Preaching is more important that administrating. We must remember that.
Can’t plan way ahead. Does 4 series each year like on family, etc. BIG on focusing on messages that speak to the kids and youth.
Fast for power in preaching, especially when you feel a loss of the power.
Refuse to become a “professional”. Don’t get comfortable with your material, study yourself full, pray yourself hot, set yourself free.
Tim Keller: Get with the people to have not just bones, but flesh for the sermon.
Takes a week in June and plans out a year. Reads big books as necessary back grounds for the series. (Liturgical year: Father/Son/Holy Spirit).
By the end, they shouldn’t always be in a position to “take notes.”
Erwin McManus: (was an unscheduled surprise…not on the agenda at all) Part of the process is to dream. People need us to imagine and dream what their lives can be like…it will help them escape the track for what they were created to be.
He thinks he is having a conversation with LA when he is planning his series out. Whether public or in the church congregation questions, etc.
Help answer the why?
Kerry Shook: What does the church need right now? Balance according to purposes. What kind of action do we need to take as a congregation. What purpose needs revved up?
Live it out at the home, power to preach comes out of your priorities. Can’t change the world unless you are being changed yourself.
Love people where they are at and challenge them for what they can be. (His Dad’s quote)
Jud Wilhite: Delegate and block time so you can communicate well. Don’t excuse this time…find a place you can be alone and drop everything else.
Use a team to help plan. Plans a 12 month run.
Tell stories out of your life. They are funny!
Speak to the broken and you will always have an audience. Not just the Pastor of the church, but a product of the church.
Warren: Fire-up, build-up, comfort, encourage, are the areas that we need to cover.
Don’t ask, What should I preach on…instead: who should I preach too?
Keep an e-file or file. He has stuff for 20-30 years waiting to be preached in a file.
Be ready for local, national, world crisis…they WILL happen. Be ready.
This is it for tonight…Good night Will be back @ it tomorrow.
blessings and peace.
OK friends…here we go. Tony Morgan throwing down the gauntlet on the PC vs. Los Whit who is pounding the forbidden fruit.
Who will win this battle? It’s a cage match to the death. Let the sparks fly and the hard drives crash.
Look @ los trying to convince Tony about an apple app and Tony is getting ready to throw that left hook resting on the chair. It was ugly, and all caught live on U-STREAM. (content not suitable for children under 16).
Your call…vote on the winner.
amazing day hanging with the biggest church leaders in the country. if there is an evangelical terrorist, this would be a target.
not sure why one of the biggest churches in America has no plugs in the auditorium, so my cpu died and it was recharging in the backstage area, where they were filming, so i couldn’t get it back too soon. Here are great notes though to finish Rick’s first session HERE from PERRY NOBLE. Session 2 HERE.
The ustream.tv is #1 right now across AMERICA. Amazing. God is good, and American can see that right now. Pic i took from this AM.
Stand Out Points from Evangelism Ideas:
Great stuff all day.
peace.
Hey all…will be posting several times this week…go to posts before this day to see news, etc. from chazzdaddy. I will be updating the conference and other fun stuff. peace. Don’t forget, we are -3 hours out here…and btw, it is really warm
It’s definitely a white shoes day with the dudes I’ve been bumping into. Huge thanks to Roepke and Tony Steward for the invite to the green room where the big homies hang. Watch it all…
Watch the LIVE STREAM of the CONFERENCE when it is on each day here.
Watch the back room bloggers and awesome post-session interviews when on each day here.
Warren: When God wants to re-new your church, country, etc. he always takes it through these five steps and renewals:
1. PERSONAL: It starts in the heart.
2. RELATIONAL: Right with God and now right with others.
3. MISSIONAL: God wants to do something around the world.
4. STRUCTURAL: In your churches structure.
5. CULTURAL: (went to the restroom)…Think it was the final point of changing the culture around you.
Rick wrote down many young pastors 5 years ago to pray for them. 1/2 of them are gone now.
7 nationally known pastors in Orange County when Rick began. 4 have had affairs. Wow.
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.
How To Experience Personal renewal in our lives:
1) Learn to enjoy the grace of God. (2 Cor. 4.1)
He choose us, we didn’t choose him. We are just a trophy of HIS grace.
a. I don’t have to prove myself.
b. Never confuse PROMINENCE with SIGNIFICANCE. Your ministry matters to God.
2) You have to be authentic. (2 Cor. 4.2)
a. Obvious imperfections are a good thing. We don’t always applaud strengths, but weaknesses because we can relate.
3) Remember that it’s not about you. (v. 5) [heard that one before?]
a. If not, you will be bitter or burn-out.
More to come…my battery keeps dying. Watch for updates.
And no joke, I am back in the staging areas and out of no where, Rick Warren has me in a huge bear hug. That was fun. Scary, but fun.
peace…stay tuned.
thoughts.
blessings, peace and love in the week ahead.
I hate sending out e-mails like this, but it is part of the fallen world we live in. I am so thankful for ETERNITY and REDEMPTION. I am also glad that the church provides an ARMY of support to hold people up in their time of need. Thank GOD for people who are part of HIS BRIDE the CHURCH.
How else could we get through things like this:
Dear New Hope: I need to give an update on Jessica and Brant Berry who were at the Mayo Clinic this week to see top doctors on her liver cancer. They were given the news that even with a liver transplant, that there might not be long for her to live after the transplant, if they do one. They are not sure if they will even put her on the transplant list for that reason. Please pray for the committee that will meet will push through to allow a transplant. If there is no transplant, they will go in and take as much as they can out of her that is impacted by the cancer, but will not be able to get it all.
We at New Hope have made an appointment with a NEW PHYSICIAN for Jessica and Brant to go see. His name is the GREAT PHYSICIAN and he actually created Jessica in her mother’s womb and knows all about her. We will go to Him now as the earthly doctors are not giving much hope. We will ask HIM to do surgery that no one else can do. To give NEW HOPE to those with NO HOPE. He will answer as we lay at HIS feet on behalf of the Berry’s who have come so far in their walk with the Lord and each other.
Let’s assault the Heaven’s for Brant and Jessica and their 2 small kids (Kiya and Dakota). Let’s watch HIM do what the doctors say is IMPOSSIBLE. With GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! I still believe what GOD says is true. Thanks for standing with them and all the hurting in the world. There is much suffering all over the place right now.
Leave a word for them if you feel led…i will print them out for them. Click on COMMENTS below.
peace.
Hello New Hoper’s! The first thing I want to do is to let you know that my Parents and all of the people in the region of our China Campus are OK. They were not affected by the earthquake. It was located to the northwest from where they live. Thanks so much to all of you who called and e-mailed your concerns. Please continue to PRAY for those affected in CHINA from the earthquake and MYANMAR from the cyclone . What DEVASTATION the world is seeing recently. May God show HIS power and compassion and bring the focus to HIM. This did not take our God by surprise. Our hearts must ache as HIS does and we must PRAY.
Next, last weekend was amazing. If you were with us on any of our MOTHER’S DAY services…they were amazing. Our LADIES were blessed in big ways as we served them by setting up a SPA with massages, hand waxing, lots of FOOD, free flowers, and many other touches that showed how much we value them. Tiffany, Melinda and Nikki did a great job sharing from their HEARTS. It was a great day, for all, not just the ladies! Thanks to all our STAFF and VOLUNTEERS for pouring out their HEARTS to serve our LADIES!
Please don’t forget that we need to continue to head out to Landoll’s Castle to help with the clean-up when you can. Let’s be a huge BLESSING in Jesus name. They self-insured the restaurant, which means that they need all the help they can get. Call the church office with any questions. We will also hopefully be sending some relief to their workers when our budget allows. Last weekend though well-attended was not strong with regulars as some couldn’t come on Saturday, and our giving was down. We expect to be back to normal this weekend, and that will allow us to help their workers from the overflow of our GENEROSITY. Let’s keep pressing on!
The final few weeks in our HOW series are going to be amazing. You won’t want to miss them. I am beyond excited about what I am teaching on this weekend. Bring a friend or 2 and let’s continue to pray for ALL our CAMPUSES and for our ability to INVEST and INVITE and use our TIME, TALENTS and TREASURE to keep ROCKING our COMMUNITIES for CHRIST! I love this place. There are some HUGE things that are happening. WHY? The POWER OF ALL OF US.
blessings, peace and healing to all around the world who need HIS TOUCH right now.
oops…this never posted…an old one. must have a need for someone today. so whomever this is for…let me know sometime! It is months old…
Forget everything you have heard and know…and read this if you want to hear about the future trends of MARKETING. Great stuff.
(and don’t ever really forget what you know…it will come back to haunt you one day
blessings and peace.
ps: THE OFFICE is back. If you don’t like The Office…check your salvation.
I have the world’s BEST Mom and Mother-in…Mom. Sorry, you don’t. I do. They are both amazing. My MOM gave me the faith I now own. My other Mom stood by my side through thick and thin and helped us along with my Mom to start New Hope and now the Ashland Campus.
I LOVE YOU MOM’S! And my China Mom will be home soon…CAN’T WAIT!!!! I miss her dearly.
And my BRIDE is an AMAZING MOM to our kidz. God knew who I could be one flesh with. Love ya babe.
We do something really cool @ the Hope for Mom’s and ladies. We let them ENJOY that day with their family. Come on, you know that Mom’s help keep the church alive and running and they come and serve, serve, serve on Mother’s Day every year and all they really want is breakfast in bed and time with their family. So we only do Saturday Night Services on Mother’s (and Father’s Days)…and let them enjoy their families all day on Sunday. Our staff and volunteers are BLESSED big time by this honor. I know I am!
I know some people cry foul. Sorry.
As a Pastor, I never knew what it was like to be honored as a Dad or really have the energy to honor my Mom’s and Wife after preaching a bunch of services. So we worship on Saturday and enjoy the day as a family on Sunday. Isn’t that WORSHIP anyway?
Is family really important? We think so. So much, we risk people not coming to church for a weekend so they can honor their Mom’s and be honored. But of course our Mother’s and Father’s Days services are so off the hook that it is wildly attended, but even if they weren’t we would make that same call. This year includes: Free massages, chocolate, girly food, flowers, free stuff given away, Brad Pitt…you know, all that GOOSHY stuff you love! This year will be an amazing time of learning what it means (from ladies in the church at all stages in life) to practice the DISCIPLINE of SIMPLICITY and SOLITUDE. (I know those words are a foreign language to most of you…come let us help translate!)
So MOM’S and LADIES of NEW HOPE…enjoy your family and may they enjoy you. We cherish you and all you do, say and mean in our lives.
peace, love, blessings, and wash your hands after you pee…oops (flashbacks
pic: http://flickr.com/photos/lbutler/2012437712/
I want to be the first to publicly welcome our new Pastor of Children’s Ministries and wife @ the HOPE…Jeff and Sarah Selph. They will join us June 1st!
I love Jeff and Sarah’s heart for reaching everyone, not just KIDZ with the GOSPEL. They are an AMAZING couple and it is my HONOR to have them join our staff. But beware…he is a RADICAL like me. I think we both almost got kicked out of my Youth Group a few times. (Mainly his fault of course:)
Jeff and Sarah were in my YOUTH MINISTRY when I was a Youth Pastor in Michigan. Yes…I spent time wandering through HELL in the state of MICHIGAN until GOD rescued my soul and brought me to the PROMISED LAND here in OHIO…GO BUCKS! (sorry guys…and btw, Michigan was a very cool place to live, just don’t tell anyone I said that:) But then again, look at the picture above and YOU decide about the genetics of Pastors born in that state…
That was 8 years ago. How cool and rewarding it is to Tiffany and I that some of the kidz we invested in are now in full time ministry and are coming to serve in the MISSION and VISION @ NEW HOPE.
FINALLY, after 5-1/2 years we have a long-awaited FULL TIME PASTOR overseeing the current and future leaders of the CHURCH. There is a long line of servants who came before and some have graduated to eternity that have put the LOVE of JESUS into our kidz…JEFF, now it is your turn to take the reigns…all for HIS honor and GLORY!
I pray that all of the kidz staff who are amazing, and those @ NEW HOPE welcome them with OPEN ARMS! And THANKS to ALL of you who are INVESTING with your TREASURE to make this happen. It wouldn’t have happened without the POWER OF ALL OF US being OBEDIENT!
welcome guys. NOW GET TO WORK!
pray always.
What a weekend. If you missed it…snag the teaching on PRAYER. It was God-breathed.
We had people trusting Christ all over the place. Simply amazing. Ministry was happening at an alarming rate. Only God. Lives were being impacted in fruitful ways. The church at it’s finest.
Hey New Hopers…GREAT JOB. There are huge things in store this year. We are going to new heights together. We are going to grow LARGER in our impact and at the same time focus on getting SMALLER. As a matter of fact…1 on 1 small. That’s what we are shooting for.
Words can’t describe what I see happening from my view. All I can say again is that ONLY GOD can do a work this amazing. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING @ the HOPE? Because people are being bold and INVESTING and INVITING using their TIME, TALENTS and TREASURE to REACH and TEACH our community and beyond to become PASSIONATE followers of CHRIST!
Read Acts 2 today…it’s happening.
Next post here @ the ‘gurge…I will intro our new Pastor of Children’s Ministries. Look for it.
blessings and peace.
pic:http://flickr.com/photos/floatingimitations/463821626/
If I didn’t mention it earlier…We are truly going much farther into the “depths” of prayer this weekend…It is some tough stuff to wrestle with. I can only seem to focus for a short time and have to walk or surf away from this stuff.
Lacking power in your prayer life? I think that this weekend will open your hearts and minds like never before about this most powerful, beautiful thing called PRAYER.
“What God gives is precisely what we should have desired to ask.” –Francois Fenelon
Bring someone.
blessings and peace.
pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55169768@N00/350944402/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16377470@N06/1757903517/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12179403@N06/1459531719/
The more I learn and study about prayer, the more I don’t fully understand all that prayer is. Despite this trend, I am beyond excited to share some thoughts on the DISCIPLINE of PRAYER this weekend as we continue our series on SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
So come on out and let’s be confused together. There is a deep profound mystery about prayer, so “unlocking” it’s power might be an understatement or a mis-truth, or an arrogant over-statement. Anyway…
Here’s some advance food for thought to wet your appetite:
“Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts.”
–Eugene Peterson
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness.” –Richard Trench
“Pray without ceasing.” –1 Thessalonians 5.17
pic: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4674367016799085442
