When we first planned to do the Million Egg Hunt for 2007, I knew the weather was going to be nothing like what Easter had been like the previous 7+ years in Las Vegas. I just didn't know how different!!
The 2007 Million Egg Hunt had snow on the ground and bitter winds that put the temperature well below freezing, but despite that around 900 people came and we went at it again this year in 2oo8.
Now knowing that Easter would be the earliest it has ever been and won't be again for over 200 years there was the possibility of some interesting weather again.
There was!
No bitter winds, a little warmer temperatures and no snow on the ground...until we started.
By the end, of the 2nd Annual Million Egg Hunt, snow was coming down in what seemed like droves and yet over 1000 people were out there hunting down one of around 35,000 eggs (exact count unavailable) and they were so excited and thankful that someone did this for them.
One family brought their daughter to the egg hunt so she could enjoy it while their son was still in the hospital with pneumonia. I got a chance to pray for that family!
Another young man, who won the grand prize bike for his age group, was in need of a new bike and you should have seen the look on his face as he rode it off the track!
One other lady had walked a ridiculous distance with her baby and other children just so they could attend. You should have seen our volunteers who made sure she had a ride back home!
Those 3 stories are just a few glimpses of what took place at the 2008 Million Egg Hunt and of what it means to see people Loving God and Loving People!!
New Life, you ROCK!!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
What a year! - Part 2
A Word from PD... (continued)
In May, there were several things that spotlighted the month. From the beautiful Ladies Tea in the Sanctuary to the unforgettable Walleye Fishing Trip, the people of New Life continued to stretch their arms out to the community and region by including others in such events.
The summer months of June, July and August were filled with all kinds of memories! The trip to Ireland, the beginning of our commitment to Pay it Forward, and Summer Camp for the teenagers at Myrtle Beach all highlight the summer’s wild side!
The fall and remaining part of 2007 helped us at New Life to never miss a beat when it came to living out the vision of Loving God and Loving People. Our Hunter Safety course we provided for the community saw over 100 people attend. The creation of our Sunday Night Community Groups became a great avenue to really connect with people in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. These Community Groups, meeting the first Sunday night of every month, are our largest attended Sunday nights due primarily to the relationships that are being established, and strengthened during these times at people’s homes.
The last thing to note is the greater success of the Fall Block Party in 2007. We decided to bring nearly the entire outreach inside the facility. With doing that, it included bringing a 35 foot high slide that went from the stage to the balcony and other inflatables right there in our sanctuary. The 2007 Fall Block Party nearly doubled our attendance from 2006 with over 700 people there seeing that New Life Community Church loved them period!
As we are already off and running in 2008, and we have continued to be all about Loving God and Loving People with a definite focus on showing this love in tangible ways. People are realizing they can count on New Life Community Church to do whatever it takes to show that we love them and more importantly, so does Jesus! Watch out for NLCC in 2008!!
Let’s keep changing lives!!
Pastor David Grieve
Senior Pastor
In May, there were several things that spotlighted the month. From the beautiful Ladies Tea in the Sanctuary to the unforgettable Walleye Fishing Trip, the people of New Life continued to stretch their arms out to the community and region by including others in such events.
The summer months of June, July and August were filled with all kinds of memories! The trip to Ireland, the beginning of our commitment to Pay it Forward, and Summer Camp for the teenagers at Myrtle Beach all highlight the summer’s wild side!
The fall and remaining part of 2007 helped us at New Life to never miss a beat when it came to living out the vision of Loving God and Loving People. Our Hunter Safety course we provided for the community saw over 100 people attend. The creation of our Sunday Night Community Groups became a great avenue to really connect with people in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. These Community Groups, meeting the first Sunday night of every month, are our largest attended Sunday nights due primarily to the relationships that are being established, and strengthened during these times at people’s homes.
The last thing to note is the greater success of the Fall Block Party in 2007. We decided to bring nearly the entire outreach inside the facility. With doing that, it included bringing a 35 foot high slide that went from the stage to the balcony and other inflatables right there in our sanctuary. The 2007 Fall Block Party nearly doubled our attendance from 2006 with over 700 people there seeing that New Life Community Church loved them period!
As we are already off and running in 2008, and we have continued to be all about Loving God and Loving People with a definite focus on showing this love in tangible ways. People are realizing they can count on New Life Community Church to do whatever it takes to show that we love them and more importantly, so does Jesus! Watch out for NLCC in 2008!!
Let’s keep changing lives!!
Pastor David Grieve
Senior Pastor
What a year!
Let me start by first saying that I realize that it is March of 2008, but I just spent time looking back at 2007 as I am getting ready to complete New Life's annual report. I decided to go ahead and put the letter that I am including in that report here on my blog. Due to its length, thought breaking it up into 2 parts would be best. Enjoy part 1:
Word from PD...
Loving God and Loving People. What an amazing statement! Five simple words that make up one simple phrase yet have so much power and possibilities tied to them. In 2007, we began to realize what it could look like if a church and those that are a part of it took those words and did not just speak and believe them but lived them out in their surrounding culture.
In January, we had our first ever Small Group Kick Off and began a new approach to connecting with one another through various groups that consisted of Community Groups, Common Interest Groups and Coaching Groups. These groups have created a basis for all of us to connect in various ways with those a part of New Life and those not yet a part of New Life.
In February, we had an incredible time at our Super Sunday Party coming together cheering and celebrating as the Indianapolis Colts won the 2007 Super Bowl. Something my Seattle Seahawks are still trying to figure out how to accomplish. We also had our first ever Married Live event where the married couples of New Life were able to finish off their dates in a warm and fun environment and have some amazing Cheesecake Factory cheesecake.
In March, we saw the beginning of the continuing transformation of our Lobby and Sanctuary as we gave our pews to several churches and replaced them with beautiful, efficient chairs that gave us a versatile Sanctuary that was never available until now. The Lobby also received a makeover as we removed the walls of the old Library/Bookstore and converted that into a Living Room-like environment that people take advantage of every Sunday as well as for other gathering times.
In April, came the launch of one of the most daring and unbelievable outreaches that New Life Community Church has undertaken – The Million Egg Hunt!! In 2007, we laid out 25,000 eggs, gave away countless bikes, baskets and other prizes and saw over 900 people come out despite the dusting of snow, bitter wind and cold temperatures. We are already receiving calls from people about this year’s Million Egg Hunt, whew!
Word from PD...
Loving God and Loving People. What an amazing statement! Five simple words that make up one simple phrase yet have so much power and possibilities tied to them. In 2007, we began to realize what it could look like if a church and those that are a part of it took those words and did not just speak and believe them but lived them out in their surrounding culture.
In January, we had our first ever Small Group Kick Off and began a new approach to connecting with one another through various groups that consisted of Community Groups, Common Interest Groups and Coaching Groups. These groups have created a basis for all of us to connect in various ways with those a part of New Life and those not yet a part of New Life.
In February, we had an incredible time at our Super Sunday Party coming together cheering and celebrating as the Indianapolis Colts won the 2007 Super Bowl. Something my Seattle Seahawks are still trying to figure out how to accomplish. We also had our first ever Married Live event where the married couples of New Life were able to finish off their dates in a warm and fun environment and have some amazing Cheesecake Factory cheesecake.
In March, we saw the beginning of the continuing transformation of our Lobby and Sanctuary as we gave our pews to several churches and replaced them with beautiful, efficient chairs that gave us a versatile Sanctuary that was never available until now. The Lobby also received a makeover as we removed the walls of the old Library/Bookstore and converted that into a Living Room-like environment that people take advantage of every Sunday as well as for other gathering times.
In April, came the launch of one of the most daring and unbelievable outreaches that New Life Community Church has undertaken – The Million Egg Hunt!! In 2007, we laid out 25,000 eggs, gave away countless bikes, baskets and other prizes and saw over 900 people come out despite the dusting of snow, bitter wind and cold temperatures. We are already receiving calls from people about this year’s Million Egg Hunt, whew!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Crutch anyone?
I don't really know what to say today. I've had a very interesting few weeks and I'm learning so much about who I am.
I realize that life's journey is not about discovering a new you, but the you that God always wanted and intended for you to be!
That journey is not easy, and to be honest it doesn't feel simple, but as I sit here and type I realize more than ever that even that discovery journey IS simple.
The simplicity comes from acknowledging that God has the answers, that God knows better than I do, that God IS God. I feel like I struggle for words right now. I know that's hard for some to believe, but it's true.
I just keep thinking about my favorite verses that I repeated several times in the shower this morning - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight (or direct them - you pick your version of the Bible). - Proverbs 3:5-6
People say God is a crutch sometimes, and I say sure! If I had a broken leg and I needed to lean on something or find support, I'd rather use a crutch than fall on my face alone!
But what's great is at some point, your leg is repaired and the cast comes off and the crutch is no longer needed. Now I'm not saying toss God into the closet but what I am saying is that there are areas in your life where you are weak and feel hopeless. At some point, God is able to show you how to overcome these areas and you now become a support or crutch even for others.
We wonder why we go through things in life, and I think part of the answer is to find who God intends us to be and the other is to find where we help support others! It kinda looks like a "Loving God and Loving People" kind of picture doesn't it?
I realize that life's journey is not about discovering a new you, but the you that God always wanted and intended for you to be!
That journey is not easy, and to be honest it doesn't feel simple, but as I sit here and type I realize more than ever that even that discovery journey IS simple.
The simplicity comes from acknowledging that God has the answers, that God knows better than I do, that God IS God. I feel like I struggle for words right now. I know that's hard for some to believe, but it's true.
I just keep thinking about my favorite verses that I repeated several times in the shower this morning - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight (or direct them - you pick your version of the Bible). - Proverbs 3:5-6
People say God is a crutch sometimes, and I say sure! If I had a broken leg and I needed to lean on something or find support, I'd rather use a crutch than fall on my face alone!
But what's great is at some point, your leg is repaired and the cast comes off and the crutch is no longer needed. Now I'm not saying toss God into the closet but what I am saying is that there are areas in your life where you are weak and feel hopeless. At some point, God is able to show you how to overcome these areas and you now become a support or crutch even for others.
We wonder why we go through things in life, and I think part of the answer is to find who God intends us to be and the other is to find where we help support others! It kinda looks like a "Loving God and Loving People" kind of picture doesn't it?
Saturday, March 1, 2008
T-R-U-S-T
What a big word! Yeah I know it's only 5 letters, but it can either destroy a marriage, a job, and a church or push them all to greater heights!
As I've wandered through my many thoughts on trust, I've gotta say thanks to Lance Newton for just letting me use him as a sounding board on Friday.
Trust has been so abused by people. Leaders use that trust to manipulate others into thinking their ways are right while no other way might be better. That very thought shoots fear right through my very bones. Do we as leaders, get tunnel vision on our ways that we miss out on a more effective way? Do we not listen to voices because we want to ignore them or because we should disregard them? Man! So many questions can come out of that!
I wonder what Moses thought as people complained to him at, what seemed, every chance possible. Was he going the right way? Should he head back to Egypt? Why didn't he go into the Promised Land even though those 10 spies said he shouldn't?
Moses knew one very important thing, that when it comes to trust, we must all remember to - TRUST GOD!
God had place Moses there as the leader and told him "I will be with you." Any time Moses may have doubts all he had to do was remember those words - "I will be with you."
As I go through my day, I too, need to always remember that God will be with me and he will never leave me! When decisions need to be made in my home, at my workplace, with my friends, I can remember to go to God for his help. I can ask him because he IS with me!
That's how we can learn to trust our leaders, our kids, our spouses, or employers, and yes even our pastors. We can trust God and trust his guideance in all these other people's lives!!! And yes, yours too!!!
As I've wandered through my many thoughts on trust, I've gotta say thanks to Lance Newton for just letting me use him as a sounding board on Friday.
Trust has been so abused by people. Leaders use that trust to manipulate others into thinking their ways are right while no other way might be better. That very thought shoots fear right through my very bones. Do we as leaders, get tunnel vision on our ways that we miss out on a more effective way? Do we not listen to voices because we want to ignore them or because we should disregard them? Man! So many questions can come out of that!
I wonder what Moses thought as people complained to him at, what seemed, every chance possible. Was he going the right way? Should he head back to Egypt? Why didn't he go into the Promised Land even though those 10 spies said he shouldn't?
Moses knew one very important thing, that when it comes to trust, we must all remember to - TRUST GOD!
God had place Moses there as the leader and told him "I will be with you." Any time Moses may have doubts all he had to do was remember those words - "I will be with you."
As I go through my day, I too, need to always remember that God will be with me and he will never leave me! When decisions need to be made in my home, at my workplace, with my friends, I can remember to go to God for his help. I can ask him because he IS with me!
That's how we can learn to trust our leaders, our kids, our spouses, or employers, and yes even our pastors. We can trust God and trust his guideance in all these other people's lives!!! And yes, yours too!!!
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