Thank you New Life!!

As the last few hours of my last day in the church office for 2010 come to a close and I get ready to go visit my family for Christmas, I want to say, “Thank you New Life for an amazing year!”

We have seen so many great things take place during this past 12 months that I know would not have been possible without you!

We've seen that the journey to a deeper relationship with God is long, difficult, dangerous, expensive one that requires sacrifice & demanding work! We have started on that journey this year with a depth and desire for more of God unlike any I have experienced during my 11 years of being a pastor. That only gets me excited for what’s next!

We had the largest Million Egg Hunt and Fall Block Party we have ever had, seeing literally over 3,000 people reached by New Life’s love with those two events combined!

We took a risk of ceasing Sunday offerings as we all know them, and place offering boxes in the back under the balcony. Before the holiday season began, we had seen greater giving this year than last year despite a continued recession.

We had 5 of the most unforgettable weeks celebrating our 50th Anniversary and having each former Senior Pastor come share with us a prophetic picture of New Life Community Church’s future. It was great to meet so many people that have been a part of our church’s past. Great memories!!

If you remember, we started the year with 40 Days of Love: focusing on how we should love God and others. Now we are ending the year with 40 Days of seeking God for what each of our roles will be in 2011 and the Year 51…
Harvest of children that brings a harvest of families
Focus of being the best place at taking care of kids on the Westside of Marion
Vision of being the church instead of going to church.

Finally, thank you to each of you that responded to our year-end offering that will help New Life start the New Year off strong! New Life Community Church truly is completely dependent upon each of you and most important completely dependent upon God! If you were unable to give last week or you were unable to attend, you can still give to this year-end offering this coming week and on December 26th as well.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In Him,
David

Year 51!

I was so pleased with the response from people after Sunday’s Year 51 vision message. I encourage EVERYONE to go to the website http://www.newlifecc.us/ and listen to the message if you missed it or were serving in the back.

As we seek God for the next 40 days, to the end of 2010, to see what role we are all to play in Year 51; keep one thing in mind: This journey is much like my families’ personal journey that led us to Marion.

We started by saying “Perhaps, the Lord will” take us to Indiana to a moment when we took the word “perhaps” off and knew He was leading us here. We seized the divine moment that was in front of us and have never looked back!

This IS a divine moment that New Life must choose to seize!! The word “perhaps” can now be taken off. I know now, like I did when we came here, that this is the Lord’s will when it comes to the direction of New Life Community Church.
We know there is a harvest of children which brings a harvest of families waiting for us
We know we will become the best place at taking care of kids on the Westside of Marion and grow from there
We know this happens if we decide to start being the church instead of going to church and make necessary changes for the future like…
…Stopping Fall Block Party and Starting a Three Block Party
…Stop Mentoring Adults only and Start Mentoring Kids, Youth and Adults
…Stopping Sunday PM Service and Starting Sunday PM Home Groups, Family Nights and All-Church Equipping Nights

This means taking steps of risk and faith by us all.
Who will open their home on January 16th to be one of the first Home Groups?
Who will commit time getting to know the people of our 3 block radius on a consistent basis?
Who will be a part of our After School Program the next school year?
Who will release their talents, gifts, resources, treasures, abilities and yes money into the vision of mentoring kids and youth and creating a Community Center on our campus or giving new coats or socks or uniforms or blankets or…

Do you see the great need?

Do not choose to look at this as a gigantic task but look at this as a task that our gigantic God as asked us to take on!

I believe in you all!
In HIM,
Pastor David

4 Days...

Hey New Life!

The 50th Anniversary celebration is coming to a close this weekend and what a celebration it has been! Each former pastor has shared significant words of wisdom and insight that speak to all our lives today and to the future direction of New Life Community Church!

Just as Paul begged the believers in the Ephesian Church to live a life worthy of the calling they had from God (Eph. 4:1) because he knew the benefits that would come from living that way, I am urging all New Lifers to come and be a part of the events of the next 2 weeks because of the benefits it will bring to your life and mine.

Saturday, November 13th – Our Celebration Meal for the 50th Anniversary is from 12-4 pm on this day and will be filled with great memories of the past and memories made that day. This is a great opportunity for us to all celebrate our church’s history with those that have been a part or are still a part of New Life.

Sunday, November 14th – At 10 am, we have the founding pastor of New Life, AW Thomason with us and in the evening at 6 pm, we have a former staff pastor and current missionary Larry Stevens closing out the celebration with a look into the future.

Wednesday, November 17th – This is DAY 1 of YEAR 51 and at 6:30 pm we are ALL coming together to celebrate the future, share stories and pray for what God has next. I will also give a sneak peek to those there at what God holds for New Life’s future!

Sunday, November 21st – This is the 1st Sunday of YEAR 51 and on this day, I will be revealing the future focus and vision of New Life Community Church. What does it mean for you? Come and find out!

These 4 days are CRITICAL to all of us at New Life! These 4 days are VITAL that we make every effort to attend! These 4 days are the TURNING POINT for New Life Community Church!

Plan on being a part of these 4 days!

In Him,
Pastor David

PS – please pass this on to all those that you know are a part of the New Life family!!

50th Anniversary

We are nearing week 4 of our 5 week celebration of New Life Community Church's 50th Anniversary and what a ride it has been!

I was anticipating great things but what has occurred has exceeded my expectations!

Week 1 - watching those 12 men bring down 12 stones to build a memorial for the first 50 years was special. People suddenly started clapping all on their own as the men came down the middle of the sanctuary to the front to lay their stone on the memorial. Here is a picture of Shami and myself next to the memorial.

Week 2 - hearing Pastor Johnny Garrison play "Great is Thy Faithfulness" on the piano during worship and then going right into the next song singing "Hallelujah!" was like heaven just opened up and gave us a glimpse of what a piece of life after earth will feel like.

Week 3 - seeing the standing ovation of love spontaneously given to Pastor Larry Gallaway as he came to speak was truly remarkable, and seeing God our Healer heal 2 people that day filled me with great joy! Can't even forget the 900+ people that attended our Fall Block Party that night!

Anticipating God to do awe-inspiring things as we begin to bring the celebration to a close with week 4 & 5 ahead!!

Truth or Grace?

I have some friends in Seattle that are struggling with the way people who say they are Christians act, whether in a church building or outside of it. This was my response to one of their messages...

It can be hard. One of the problems is the tension between truth and grace. I learned about that tension a few years ago.

The Bible says, we are saved by grace, and that it's nothing we do (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it also says that the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

You see if you live and give nothing but grace then you lose true freedom to live and love the way Jesus intended (remember John 14:6, Jesus says He is the truth). This is when people allow others to do, say or live how ever they want without challenging them to grow, change and become greater than what they are now.

But if you live and give nothing but truth then you lose the very means of our salvation which is grace. This is when people become judgmental, legalistic and intolerant.

So the tension is knowing when to give grace to people and when to share the truth with people. I think Hebrews 10:23-25 are some good verses to look to for how to live in the tension of truth and grace.

Living Differently

We are on the last week of 21 days of fasting and I hope that we have noticed the difference this time has been in our lives. On Sunday, during our “Remove the Noise” evening gathering, the question came up that since we, as Christians, are to live differently, “How do we live differently?”

During the time that followed, one of the Bible’s great verses that talks about sin that entangles us and those things that are not sin that can trip us up. As we talked I said it was in James, but afterwards could not find it there and it bugged me, so I went to be sure where it was.

Though, James has some great words on the effect of sin in our lives, the verse that was discussed is actually Hebrews 12:1 –

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

This verse is written after one of the most popular and powerful chapters in the entire Bible. Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith.” In chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews lists so many individuals that lived lives of faith in God. These individuals lived differently!!

That is one way we can live differently – look at those that have lived before you, and live around you today that are living differently, and follow their examples. See how they have failed and succeeded and use their lives as examples or patterns to choose to imitate. Paul says it well when he told his listeners to “follow me as I follow after Christ.”

Have a great time finishing your fast and continuing to live differently!! Using the lives of those that lived before you or that are living around you to better follow Jesus and Love God with everything you have and Love People no matter what!

NO GOLF

Ever gear yourself up for something all day only to see it not happen? That was me yesterday.

I have been planning to go Golfing in the evening with some friends - Rudi, Sam and Jim only to have nature tell me, "NO!" just as I was about to leave.

I shaved (usually don't do that on my day off), put on some good "Golf Clothes," at dinner quickly, already had my clubs in the car...I WAS READY!

Then the storm hit! NO GOLF!

What about our life's storms?

We are getting ready to be with God, spend time with Him, put on our "garments of praise." Do we stop when a storm in life hits?

Unlike golfing in rain, thunder, and lightening is unsafe, continuing to meet with God in the midst of a storm is what we must do!

Jesus if that's you, tell me to come!

"COME!"

Out of the boat and into the storm I go!

Good Old Days

A question has been stirring in me of late that I want to share with you. Perhaps we will start an open discussion about it through the information highway.

By the way if you have not got on the 50th Anniversary page, YOU NEED TO! There is some great history for us to learn and some great people to meet that have laid a beautiful foundation all of us that are currently attending New Life Community Church should be grateful for. If you don’t know how to get there, you can go to our church website – www.newlifecc.us and just click the “50th Anniversary” link.

Here’s my question – “Why do we say ‘those were the good old days’ when speaking of the past?”

I have some great memories of good days in the past but I always get the impression that people that tend to use the “good old days” language would rather live in those good old days.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever so to him every day is good! He chose to create today and I am glad that he did. I hope he chooses to create tomorrow as well. We had a phenomenal altar time both Sunday AM and PM this last week, but no matter how good it was to see people Baptized in the Holy Spirit like Sunday PM or set free and on to a new journey with Jesus like Sunday AM, I want more of HIM. “Good old days” implies to me that you want the forward moving God of the universe to stop time and reverse all that has happened so you can bask in whatever experience you may have had back then in “the good old days.”

If I were to bask in what God did during those 3 Sunday PM services we entitled “Remove the Noise” I could have missed the miraculous moment of God’s financial provision for Shami and me a few weeks back when we stepped out in faith trusting that He provides ALL things for us and not the green colored paper that says “In God we trust.” If I was to concentrate on that moment I could have missed the opportunity to hear my daughter, Bayley say “Yes” to getting baptized this Sunday, April 25th during the AM service with 4-5 other people!!

I love what good that God has done through the 36 years of my life, and through the 50 years of our church but God has greater things planned for me, for New Life Community Church and FOR YOU!

When the exiled Jews returned and began to build the new temple, it was smaller than before and some wept because of that fact but the prophet Haggai spoke for God regarding that new temple and said in Haggai 2:9 – “The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory,” Those that were weeping for the past “Good old days” did not know that the Son of God himself would walk into the new temple one day.

What if the disciples lived after Jesus’ death and resurrection thinking, “remember the good old days when Jesus was with us?”
But they did not. Jesus basically said in John 14:12 that these days may be good but you have greater days ahead!! “

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."

We MUST REMEMBER our days from years gone by, but the truth still remains…they have gone by! If you are not sure yet, I love all of New Life Community Church’s history, every piece of it! Without it we would not be Loving God with all we have and Loving People no matter what TOGETHER!! We’ve needed the past to get to the present so we can keep going on towards are greater days!

As I close this email please remember the amazing words of the song “God of this city.”

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

May God give you a greater day today than the one you had yesterday…whether it was Good day or a Bad one! I love you all!

In HIM,
Pastor David

THANK YOU!!!

I know that I have already expressed thanks to all involved in the Million Egg Hunt, yet after our sorting of the Easter Eggs last night I want to make sure all of you are aware of my great joy that I have in the people of New Life Community Church that jumped up to respond in giving candy, bikes, baskets, cash for any of these items, bunnies, or t-shirts.

Thank you for your time helping collect sponsorships, or donations. Thank you for helping serve at the unforgettable, battle-scar creating adventure known at the Egg Stuffing night! Thank you for coming early to help set up and prepare on the day of the egg hunt, serving through registration, security, prize giveaways, bunny/shirt blasting, costumed characters, running names from registration to the prize table, and more.

Thank you for those that helped get the bathrooms opened, did a great job in their efforts to count every person, make signs, lay out eggs in all four sections, help during the egg hunt time, collect the eggs and clean up during the raining aftermath. Thank you to everyone that stayed to help get everything back into the van and Budget truck, unload it at the church, reset the sound for Kids Zone.

AND from yesterday, Thank you for those of you that helped sort the eggs back into the boxes (dimple or no dimple) and helped clean the gym up afterward too. Regardless of how long you helped in any capacity or how much of you gave (time, resources…) I want to say again THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

I appreciate that we understand the why behind all that we did in preparing, giving, serving and doing this year’s Million Egg Hunt! It was not for a record attendance, which we likely had. It was not to look good to the community, though they loved it. The why behind the Million Egg Hunt is one word – souls!!!

There were souls that were transformed that Saturday morning and we should be proud of our efforts, no matter if it took 5 hours to stuff or 3+ hours to sort. We should be proud because God used us to live out the Great Commandment (Loving God and Loving People) and live out the Great Commission (Go make disciples in all the world!).

Remember this journey of going deeper into a relationship with Him is long, difficult, dangerous, expensive, requires sacrifice and requires demanding work. The Million Egg Hunt has reminded me of that truth even when it comes to reaching others with Christ. As we go deeper into Him we will learn that He wants us to go further into our community and share what He has done in our lives!

Keep digging deeper!
Pastor David

Million Egg Hunt Update!

What a night!!! I don’t think anyone of us that were there will forget that experience! I know we’re all glad it happens only once a year too!

I was amazed at so many people.

- I don’t think Debbie Williams and Donna Gray ever sat down. Tim Bolden took his family home and came back to help finish. Shami’s sister, Tanya and her two kids (Ashlee and Austin), were here on Spring Break from Las Vegas and stuffed eggs the entire night with us so did Pastor Ryan McCarty and so many of his people from God’s House. Mike Colyer came and represented Hills Chapel and we thank them for their help too. Dan Faunce, even with his battle with cancer, was the first one to show up around 5:30 (I think) and I know he was there past 9 PM! Pastor Garth and Phil wrapped so many bunnies and t-shirts for Saturday that I have heard they need to shoot off one every 15 seconds to get them all out into the crowd!!

I could keep telling more stories like this! I know so many of you did so much too! Your energy and efforts were just as valuable! THANK YOU NEW LIFE!!!!!!!!! Last night displayed one of the reasons why I love all of you so much! You make your Pastor smile and feel so blessed to be with you!

Let me give you an extra push this morning to continue preparing for the Million Egg Hunt with excitement and expectation.

Friday, April 2, 2010 at 6:30 pm we will gather again (not for 5 hours and I promise not one egg will be stuffed)! This time we will present to God all of the things during the past 40 days that we have removed from our insides as we have been drawing deeper into HIM! I must tell you that one person emailed me and told me that years ago they gave their life to Jesus and now they felt what they were to nail to the cross tomorrow night was “THE REST OF THEM!” WOW!

We will also be praying for all the prayer requests that have come in, in the past 12 months, praying for every chair in the Sanctuary for Easter Sunday and of course praying for the Million Egg Hunt itself too! We have planted the “seeds” into the Easter Eggs for 4 years now and I believe that the weather has been set up to be the best yet because there will be a harvest of souls Saturday morning and Easter Sunday!!

Just remember to not grow weary in doing good because at the right time (God’s time) we will reap a harvest of righteousness!

A New President?

I am one who does not jump into the political realm easily, but I feel like this is a moment that I am being told to do so.

Right now there is a big divide in our country because of the actions recently under our new president, and the Congress. Many have said let's elect a new president because of it.

It's interesting to me to see the attitude towards President Obama is similar to that attitude that was present towards our previous president, George Bush. The main difference? Those speaking for and against have merely traded their words with each other. But rather than speak my own opinions about these actions, I would rather direct us to God's opinion when it comes to the authority that is set over us.

Daniel spoke some powerful words to a powerful king one day - "The Most High God rules the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them." - Daniel 5:21b

Jesus echoed these words when he told Pilate, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above." - John 19:11

So what does God say to do when it comes to human authority, to the government?
Romans 13:1-7
Verse 1 - "Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God"
Verse 2 - "So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished."
Verse 5 - "So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience."
Verse 6 - "Pay your taxes too, for these same reasons."
Verse 7 - "Give respect and honor to all whom it is due"

Personally I believe that the punishment Paul is speaking of comes from God, not from the government. Look what Paul also says in the letter to his friend Titus...

Titus 3:1-2 - "Submit to the government...be obedient, always ready to do what is good...must not speak evil of anyone...be gentle and show true humility."

Peter also knew this to be true but when he was told to never speak about Jesus again, by religious leaders he said, "We must obey God rather than human authority." - Acts 5:29

So the boldest disciple was pushing aside human authority all together? No. Look what he said in I Peter 2:13-17 - "Accept all authority...show respect for the king."

Just as in the 8 years of the Bush Administration we were to honor, respect, and accept the authority set before us, so now during the Obama Administration we are to do the same.

When did you last complain, argue, or get angry about a political decision that was made or a political leader? Was it Sunday evening? Was it this morning?

When did you last pray for the political leaders who make those decisions? If God set these people in place as Jesus said, does God not have the ability to speak words of wisdom and council to them like he did in the days of Daniel?

Fight for what you believe in but learn to set the example for others that will set you a part from all other people and show that God is in you and coming through you!

Final thought: The way we handle our human authorities tells a lot about how we handle our heavenly authority.

Test Time!

I know what this week has been like for many, if not all of you.

You have been tested!

You have had to deal with tough decisions, hurtful words, angry glances, doubting days, and more.

WHY?

Because as we have begun to take this journey to a deeper relationship with HIM, there is nothing more the Enemy would like to do than disrupt what God is doing in your life. Yet the other side is true too.

God may be allowing this to happen to sharpen you and to clean out the areas of your life that you have been unwilling to clean out on your own. The tests have come for a reason and we will talk about that reason more in detail on Sunday!

I am very excited about what God has been doing in your lives and I love hearing the stories so please do not hesitate to tell me what God is shaking loose inside your heart as He prepares us for even more of his manifested presence daily.

I wanted all of you to know that we have decided to not have Community Groups this Sunday evening but we will be gathering once again in the Sanctuary for what we have called our “Remove the Noise” evening gatherings. I have seen God make His presence known in many services in my life, but I am hard pressed to remember a time greater than last Sunday evening. Even though I look back at that with excitement, I am still craving Him all the more. I know that He is cleaning us from the inside out, yet he wants us to reveal to others things we see that needed cleaning in their lives.

Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “An open rebuke is better than hidden love. Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”

After walking through the 40 Days of Love, we all know the need of telling the truth IN LOVE so do that with those you love. Pray for those around you! The more emptiness that is in us all the more space God has to fill!! And oh do we want his fresh in-filling!! Bring it God!

Sorry, I felt like Paul just then when he would get lost in God during his writings. That was amazing. I was shaking just as I thought about more of God filling me up!

Come ready for God, be ready for God. Be ready today, right where you are at, for God too!

Do You Remember?

God is really using our time alone with Him to prepare us for what He has in store for all of us at New Life Community Church. As we continue to talk about the exiled Israelites return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple on Sundays there is one portion of the story that I intend not to share but has been reinforced to me today during my quiet time with God.

It is found in Ezra 3:11-13. The Temple foundation has been laid and there is a mixed response to this monumental moment within the first 2 years of their return from exile. We see the younger generation rejoicing at the sight of the foundation and the cries and mourning of the older generation at the very same viewing of the foundation. The older remember the grand temple in Solomon’s day while the younger never knew it. The combination of cries and rejoicing can be heard “far away” the Bible says.

In my devotional these powerful words are penned – “It is said that the greatest obstacle to the latest move of God is the generation that experienced the previous move of the Spirit, and history confirms it. God obviously has a better plan. He intends for the older saints to guide, instruct, encourage, and support younger saints in their passionate pursuit of God. Anything less is sin.”

No matter where you find yourself on the spiritual maturity age range, one thing is clear – God will move on all generations and all generations need to move towards God. Peter recounts the words of the prophet Joel of how young men will see visions and old men dream dreams in his message in Acts 2 right after the Holy Spirit’s infilling.

DO NOT ALLOW your “self” to get in the way of what God wants to do in you and in all of us. DO NOT HAVE distaste for the passion to pursue God in a way that may seem different than your past, or your opinions. Rather DO ALLOW yourself to encourage all to seek God with ALL their hearts, minds, souls and strength. And DO HAVE distaste for the devil's schemes to come in and disrupt what God is doing and desiring for ALL of us.

In the end, all the mourning and rejoicing over the temple foundation had stopped and so did the work on rebuilding the Temple. They stopped work on it for 16 years!! WHY? They let the enemy discourage them, they let their pride get the best of them.

Then after 16 years, the prophet Haggai spoke these words in Haggai 2:3-9,

“Does anyone remember this house – this Temple – in its former splendor? How in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong…all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.
“For this is what the Lord or Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

The rebuilding of the Temple then began shortly after that and when it began the prophet Haggai spoke again. This time he said this in Haggai 2:18-19,

“Think about…the day when the rebuilding of the Lord’s Temple began. Think carefully. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.”

I crave for God’s presence so dearly that I do not want to wait 16 years. I will if I must, but I do not want that! We must work together in unity and purpose so that what we do know is the blessing of God upon our lives, our families, our church, our 3 block radius, our city, our county, our region, our state, our country, our world!!!!!!

The Road Back

Today was an amazing morning gathering in the sanctuary. I loved seeing so many of us respond to the call to take the road back to a deeper relationship with Him. This road will be long, difficult, dangerous, expensive, require sacrifice and be demanding work. Yet when it is done, we all will be forever changed!

When does this road end?

I don’t know and I don’t care. As long as I am passionately pursuing the One that gave me life and loves me so unconditionally the road will be worth the travel.

I hope you won’t care either. I hope that you will learn to live out the words of Matthew 22:36-37 that tell us to love God with “ALL” we have. That “ALL” is challenging. That “ALL” is rewarding when we have times of God encounters.

Today we had an encounter with God and I am wrestling in my spirit whether I ended that encounter before God was ready to end it. I am not feeling guilty but afraid that God will not show up again for way too long!! He was there, right there.

The image I carry in my mind is that of the woman who was bleeding for 12 years. She pushed through the crowd, just so she could get a hold of Jesus’ garment, and when she did, she was healed! We had “pushed” through our crowded lives to get to Him and then just as we touched his garment……we let go.

We let go before his healing power could flow in bodies, in hearts, in minds, in souls. That will NOT happen again! Pray that God will be with us each Sunday. Pray for God to be with you each day. Pray for God to be with Shami and myself as we take the next 3 days to get alone with HIM for the things of New Life Community Church and our region.

Our response to Him from this moment on is CRITICAL!

Taking the Road Back to Him with you!

Don't Mess with the Monkey!

The Bible records the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:3-4 - "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven," and I have the privilege of having two little girls right now in my life so looking at things like a little child happens often for me.

Last night, Bayley and I came into the family room together at the same time that Savanah was beginning to take apart the Monkey that Bayley and I had made with Bend-a-roos the night before. All of the sudden the waterworks in both their sets of eyes let out!

Bayley was crying because the Monkey was being torn apart while Savanah was crying because she was in trouble for tearing the Bend-a-roo Monkey apart. Those tears flowed so freely from both of them I was speechless.

Today, a past member of New Life whom I never met before, came into the office to see the changes that we have made since his departure. We talked for a little while, or I listened might be more appropriate :-).

He told me he was married for 50 years and when I asked for 1 key reason, he said because they found Jesus!! All of a sudden the tears started forming in his eyes and you could see the waterworks wanting to let out as he told his story of amazing life transformation!!

That man was really a child. A child of God's who will most definitely be entering the Kingdom of Heaven!

(The Bend-a-roos Monkey was repaired and doing well, thanks for asking)

Wash Your Hands

Yesterday I was home alone with my youngest daughter, Savanah. At one point she had to do her duty and went #2 in the bathroom. She flushed away all that was laying in the toilet water.

As she came out of the bathroom, I asked her if she had washed her hands. She smiled at me, shook her head "no" and turned back towards the "place of dumping her waste" and washed her hands in the sink.

I asked her if she knew why we wash our hands after going potty and this amazing 4 year old in her innocence said, "no."

I explained why and she then said, "never knew that was why."

Do we dump the waste of life only to have the residue of that waste remain on our hands?

Moses was asked, "What's in your hand?" I ask you, "What's on your hands?"

Are you living with clean hands or is the residue of your life's waste still remaining?

Let's keep cleaning our insides out and washing our hands clean too!

Are You Nervous On Sundays?

I hope that your snowy week has been one full of fun with your family and friends and as little snow shoveling or pushing as possible :-)!

We are on the home stretch of our 40 Days of Love journey and it has been nothing short of phenomenal!

Beyond what God has been doing on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the services, small groups and classes God has been giving all of us opportunities to take our love all over and impact lives!

Last Sunday, I was nervous and excited unlike any other Sunday!

Why?

Because a friend of mine who did not know Jesus as his Lord and Savior was coming!! My prayer for all of you is that you would have that feeling at least once this 2010 year!

To have that nervous and excited feeling we have to choose to INVEST into people we care about, and people we don’t know. Then INVITE them to Sunday or other gathering opportunities and INCLUDE them into your “church” circle of friends. I promise that when you have that nervous and excited feeling it will prompt you to want to invest into even more people! This is how our 10 year vision for the year 2018 to become 10 times our size in 10 years will become a reality!

That’s where we’re going…The picture above shows you where we’ve come from. It is the land our church now sits on before anything was there! 50+ years later here we are continuing what was begun in those days!! Keep Loving God with everything you have and Loving People no matter what!

Are you a Bezalel?

In Exodus 31, Bezalel was "specifically chosen" by God to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle that would allow God's presence to be with his people, the Israelites. Bezalel was a master craftsmen and was filled with the Spirit of God and had wisdom and knew what he was made to do and he did it well!

In the church today, we need Bezalel's to rise up and take their place. Too many times, followers of Jesus that are a part of the Body of Christ are choosing to sit and spectate rather than take their specific place that God has chosen for them to participate.

How do we do that? Be the part of the church you were made to be, do the part you were made to do and do it well!! Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 both focus on the uniqueness that each of us brings to the church and how each of us is needed!!

Ultimately, being who you are to be, doing what you are to do and doing it well will help bring other "parts" of the body of Christ together so we can draw closer to God and He closer to us!! Even those "parts" that don't know Him, yet!!

Be the Bezalel, God made you to be!!!

50 years of life-change at New Life Community Church/Westside A/G - what's your story?

As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, this coming October/November, we are planning to make a booklet entitled, “Where were you when…? – stories from 50 years of life-change at New Life Community Church”

We’re looking for stories of salvation, healing, baptism, humor and drama.
Stories of when a teacher impacted a student.
Stories of when a message changed a person’s direction in life.
Stories of what things were like after the dome collapsed, the mortgage was paid off, the various sanctuaries and buildings were built.
Stories from the bus ministry, the school…the list of ideas can keep going.

Please send us your story or stories, and pass this along to others that attended New Life Community Church or when it was called Westside Assembly of God.

Thank you for your help in making this a memorable year!

PS - you can send pictures too!!

Ready for Impact!

Last night, my two little ladies stayed the night at someone's house. The first thing that happened when I saw them was the best thing ever!

"DADDY!!!!!!"

Was the word they both screamed! First Bayley and then Savanah. Then they came bolting straight for me. I knew that I would have to get ready for impact. What a hit I took!! One of the best ever!

That imagery makes me think of God.

Do we make that kind of cry out to God? Do we just run to Him with everything we have? Do we make Him get ready for our impact?

I can see God right now. In position to take the best you can give Him! What are you waiting for?

Make God get ready for your impact!!!

The Book of Eli

OK...so I went and saw "The Book of Eli" yesterday night with a group of friends. It was full of depth and insight unlike any film I can recently remember. By no means is this a film for ALL to see. It is filled with language spoken from those who are the "evil ones" and the violence is indeed intense, but it is a film that can speak to many important pieces of our lives...

...using the power of the Bible for manipulation of people vs. seeing people's lives changed.
...knowing what is in the Bible vs. living out what you know is in the Bible.
...is the Bible on your shelf or in your heart?
...what are you willing to do to follow God's call in your life?

These are but a few thoughts and questions that "The Book of Eli" touches. Regardless, last but not least, one thing that Eli did that we all should do: is take time each day to read the Bible and see what it has to offer your life.

L-E-T-S-G-O

I watched my two girls begin their cheer leading seasons today. They both did a great job and I am very proud of their efforts and energy! I love how they encouraged the teams to do their best all throughout the games.

God watches us each day and in a very similar way, he "cheers" and encourages you and me to do our best. He also uses us to "cheer" each other on "towards love and good deeds."

Now I know God is so much more than a cheerleader, but to know that he is on my side each day, wanting me to be successful, that gives me an added boost to do my best!

So...L-E-T-S-G-O, Let's go and do our best today!!