computer fritz

Sorry, My computer has been on the fritz. Please check back with us this afternoon and we should be back up and running.

Don't worry, be happy

I have felt myself being anxious about alot of things lately. So God brought me back to Phil. 4 where Paul instructs us to be anxious about nothing. I wasn't making much progress until I looked the verse up in another version; the Message. "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." That's powerful stuff. In todays vanacular, it would be "chill out in the faith."
Don't worry, be happy really can work when you allow God's peace and strength to calm your apprehension. The anxiousness comes in when we become impatient with God and force our own hand.

The clapper

Clap on, Clap off. It is awesome to watch a piece of modern technology help illustrate the word of God. That is what the "clapper" did today. We had a great service this morning; in worship, many visitors, but most importantly were the people that walked the isle to give their heart to God. The youth ministry did a terrific job of preparing our fellowship tonight. There's no substitute for root beer floats and great conversation. I hope you have a great week and don't forget next Sunday will be our Extreme Makeover revealing for 2007. You won't want to miss it!

F3N

There's nothing like Friday Family Fun Night. F3N was created a few years ago in our family and I am so glad we did. We had a great time together last night. Children need stability about as much as they need anything else in their lives. They need to know that there are times where they have your complete attention and that you have made them your top priority after your relationship with Christ. If you don't make it a constant on the calendar, there is always something that is going to steal your time from making it happen. You cannot go back and make up for time you gave away. It doesn't have to be a money blowing night where you give them whatever they want. You cannot buy their love or respect. Just give your family one night a week where your willing to shut down everything else. Now come tomorrow ready to minister and worship the God of the universe!

Sleep Number Stones

The Bible records a story about Jacob that really struck me funny. It says he stopped one night to catch some sleep. And when he laid down to sleep, listen to this, he took a stone that was by him and put it under his head. Then he went to sleep and had an incredible dream where God spoke to him and set his future into motion. I had to laugh , a rock for a pillow? Are you kidding me? I have camped out a lot in my life. I have had to use rolled up coats for pillows; backpacks, even at times I had nothing to put my head on. But I can honestly say, I never once considered sliding a rock under my head for a pillow. What is that sleep number; negative 75? But the story goes onto say that when Jacob woke up he he said, how awesome is this place! He even concecrated the rock. Most of us would have woke up complaining about how bad our neck hurts and if God was going to bless us so much, why did we have a rock for a pillow? Here's the lesson; if we will get our focus off of our circumstances and allow God to pour into our lives, all of our temporary hardships will seem insignificant compared to the proimises of God.
The bonus material can be found in Matthew 21:44

Power of Prayer

For whatever reason I tuned into part of the democratic debate. I missed the actual phrasing of the question, but it was obvious they were asked to give their views on the power of prayer. Besides the entertainment of watching them squirm, there was one answer given by three of them that caught my attention. They said they believe in the power of prayer for comfort and peace but prayer cannot stop bad things from happening. If you go back to the example that Jesus left for us on how we should pray, you'll see a perfect example of how prayer can stop bad things from happening. "Lead us not into temptation". God gives us the ability to say no to tempatation which can stop many destructive things from entering our lives. In a broader sense, prayers have blocked untimely deaths through healing, protected lives when we did not even know it, kept marriages from divorce and the list goes on. God promises he will raise a standard against the enemy. He is a shield around us. Becasue of the world we live in, we will all have to deal with some terrible things in our life time. But there are countless times God can keep us safe simply by touching His heart through the power of prayer.

Coping with stress

A few weeks ago in my class on Sunday we learned some principles for coping with stress. There is one by Rick Warren that is so on target, I want to share it with you. The principle is this: Know whom you're trying to please. Jesus did. Here's what he said in John 5:30: "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." Listen, you can't please everybody, because by the time one group becomes pleased with you, another group gets upset with you.
When you don't know whom you're trying to please, you cave into thre things:
1. Criticism - because you are concerned what others will think of you.
2. Competition - because you worry about whether somebody else is getting ahead of you.
3. Conflict - because you are threatened when anyone disagrees with you.
Matt. 6:33 helps us understand that if I focus on pleasing God, it will simplify my life.
We love to blame our stress on other people and obligations. "You made me" "I have to"
Hardly anybody makes us do anything, so usually we can't blame other people for our stress. We are not victims unless we allow ourselves to be pressured by others peoples demands.

Weeeks! Wrong, I meant days.

Sorry, out of town for a few weeks. Be back with you on Monday.

The Power of Too

Words are powerful. They have power of life and death. The word TOO is a double edged sword. Today's Party at the Point community outreach was a perfect example. It was too hot. There was too much work to do. It would have been too easy just to stay home. But the flip side is just as powerful. There were too many people from our community that came needing someone to share the love of God with them. Turning Point has people who care too much to stay home. You are too awesome!
Despite the intense heat, everyone that signed up to help (except one sickness) came through like a champion. The success of today is a direct result of your effort and attitude combined with the strength and faithfulness of God. I want you to know as your pastor; I am proud of you. I am in awe of your continual attitude of serving. I am humbled to be able to share life with you.
Thank you.

Opportunity of a lifetime

I can't believe it! It's hard to imagine that I can even offer this opportunity to you. Before you read any further , get a pen and a piece of paper or just press print now. Are you ready? O.K., here it goes...tomorrow morning beginning at 9:30 you have an opportunity grow in the knowledge and grace of God, to worship the creator of the universe, to experience the presence of a Holy God, and to help someone else encounter the depth of the love of Jesus Christ. And you get to experience all of this with other people in the same place. I know, I can't hardly believe it myself. But it's true! Come with an elevated expectation of what God will and can do. And besides all of that, you have the opportunity to hear from the only pastor in the nation still wishing for his missing front tooth. See you tomorrow!

The Thicket

One of the things I look forward to every year is my week of deer hunting. For me, it has never been about the size or quantity, I absolutely love being outdoors and experiencing it with my friends and family. I have a friend, who I refer to as the deer whisperer, simply because he always seems to know where they are. Last year when I arrived late, he gave specific advice by telling me if I would go and sit in the thicket long enough, the deer would come. It was nearly a five hour wait in a very uncomfortable place. But the thicket paid off in a huge way. There was also a thicket that played a huge role in Abraham's life. You know the story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. But at the last second, God stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice that was waiting in the thicket. Here is the life lesson; God will always provide if we can follow the example of Abraham. First, he was, completely obedient to God's instructions. Second, when God spoke he listened and it saved the life of his son. Sometimes when God gives us our destination plans, there are turns and stops along the way in order for us to grow. Thirdly, the Word says that "Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram." Many times when we are asking God for something, we assume it has to come in a certain package. But I believe if we will look closely, through the trees and obstacles of life, we will see God is continually blessing us with exactly what we need.

K.I.S.S.

Today I had the unfortunate task of taking my cell phone in for repair. I had heard all the horror stories of how long I would have to wait. Unfortunately, all the stories were true. It was two hours I lost out of my day just to find out the phone could not be repaired. The really sad part of the story is I was the first one in the store. Having plenty of time to think and observe, (which helps keep your from focusing on the time) I came to a conclusion of what the I believe was at source of the long wait. The company had completely over complicated the process. In an effort to simplify the process on their end, they had made it a dreadful experience for the customer. But then how often do we do the exact same thing in our own lives? God, in a way that only He could do, has made our manuel for life so simple that anyone can follow it. We are the ones that bring complications to the table. The apostle Paul said, "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." There are alot of great opportunities that come along in life, but that doesn't mean we are to overfill our lives with everything that comes our way. If we could just learn to be consistent in the simple things then we could accomplish much more in life. When we over complicate the process, we end up doing alot more talking than succeeding. The most successful people in life have learned how to simply do one thing but do it consistently and give it everything they have.

Just be you

Last night we had our couples fellowship at Longview Lake. We had a great turn out of about 40 people. Normally when there is a strong wind at a picnic, your easily frustrated in your constant attempt to anchor everything down. But when it is 95 degrees, any small breeze is like a Christmas present. Despite the heat, we had an awesome time. There were many highlights to the night, including a hoola hoop contest won by Pastor Chris (he'll never admit it), a cut throat horse shoe contest, and a sand volleyball tournament that was supposedly won by Tim's team known as the rock angels. But as the night went on, the one thing that stood out the most to me was the fact that everybody was just being themselves. You say well that's no big deal. It is a huge deal, especially among Christians. Many Christians often find themselves living their lives trying to be something they are not. Two quick things to remember: true Christian fellowship can't happen until you allow yourself to relax and just be yourself. It happens when we allow people to see behind our insecurities.Secondly, one of the greatest sources of tension in someone's life can be the continual pressure to be something you're not. You are a super natural creation of the living God. Now let's keep living like it. Have a great day!