A good thing

Chloe and Jaden's school had "Muffins for Mom" today. The PTO (Parent/Teacher Organization) put it together and did an amazing job. (we had "Doughnuts with Dad" earlier in the year! YUM!) I had the chance to serve this morning and WHAT A BLAST! Seeing all of the moms hanging out with their kids...VERY COOL! AND we gave away over 1,000 doughnuts and muffins. INCREDIBLE! Well done PTO for putting this together and THANK YOU to the school for allowing it...great idea!

Uncharted Prayer...

Some of my notes from Jim's message...this message pierced my heart!

-we must commit to pray to God
-what if we all took more time to pray...to listen more...what would happen?!
-Whey do we talk to God?
-When I approach God I must BELIEVE he can do what I'm asking...(if not...why ask!!!!)
-Jeremiah 33:3 God says: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
-God has untapped

I INTERRUPT THIS POST TO SAY: YES! YES! YES!

I am sitting here typing this post...in the middle of typing "God has untapped" and my cell phone rings. On the other end of the phone is Dawn...she found out earlier today that her dad and step-mom were going to get a divorce after over 20 years of marriage...we prayed together for a miracle to happen...we prayed in faith...believing that God could do what seemed to be impossible...AND GUESS WHAT?!?!?! She met with them tonight and they are going to get some counseling and work to stay together! No one is moving out...no lawyers...AMAZING! THAT IS GOD! Whoo-hoo! Praise God! I LIKE that kind of answer to prayer...GO GOD! COMPLETE HEALING is on its way!

UNCHARTED PRAYER...IT WORKS SO GO DO IT...

ENOUGH SAID!

I'm bothered

Jim's message from yesterday bothered me...I have not been able to get Jim's message out of my head...tonight as I was sitting here in my chair...thinking...wondering what to read in the Bible...I picked up my Bible and a thought crossed my mind..."Read John 14." That's it..."John 14)

Here is what I believe...I believe that The Spirit of the Living God lives in those who put their belief in him...therefore, I believe the SPIRIT prodded me to read that chapter...so I started reading...

and there it was...

it was a short verse, but it bothered me...just like Jim's message

It rattled me...shook me up...

Jesus said...in verse 14...

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

You read it right..."you may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it."

Doesn't say might do it...no maybes...

Jesus, the Son of God, said "ask and I'll do it..."

this bothers me...because it means that I must know what Jesus wants...it means that I must get "clean"...get rid of sin...make sure I am seeking his will and not mine...be seeking him so much that what I'm asking for is what he wants...what responsibility! And...

this bothers me...it is reshaping me...something different is happening inside of me...a longing for a greater, deeper faith...for more of what God wants and less of me...ummmmmmm...

God is doing something in our church right now...it is really special to experience it, to be in the middle of it...I want nothing more than what GOD wants for Grace Community Church...I will beg him to show me...more than that...to show US...HIS CHURCH what that is and WE will join him...

GREAT problem to SOLVE

We had a GREAT morning yesterday! Passionate worship...great time hanging out...OUTSTANDING! We do have a problem though...one that we knew was coming, but we are going to HAVE TO do something about it! One of our challenges is sound in our new building. Everything is close together and last week (our first Sunday) the music and my mic were so loud that it really disrupted the kids...this week the adults could really hear the kids upstairs...

HERE IS THE DEAL THOUGH! I LIKE THIS CHALLENGE!

1st Children are the church of TODAY...not just tomorrow...TODAY! If they come to Jesus at a young age...THEY ARE THE CHURCH! Jesus didn't say...let the children come to me when their 18...he said: "let the children come to me." SO...BRING THEM ON...let's reach them with the love of Jesus NOW so they walk with him for their whole lives!! we have kids FILLING UP the Kidzone room...a month ago we were just dreaming about that! NOW we're in!!

2nd We have kids FILLING UP the Kidzone room...a month ago we were just dreaming about that! NOW we're in!! What if my struggle was that we didn't have any kids? If we were a dieing church with no young life...I'll take this problem!

3rd SUNDAY MORNING IS NOT ABOUT CHILDCARE! Sunday morning is about the CHURCH worhsipping God...about allowing people who don't know Jesus to see how much we love him, so THEY will want what we have! That is ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

4th I LOVE KIDS! I love how they pray...how they play...how they take risks because they don't know any better!

5th With Nursery, Pre-school, elementary age, middle school and high school about 50% of our church is 18 years old or younger! AND OH DOES THAT EXCITE ME!

6th Children are the church of TODAY...not tomorrow...TODAY!! (Did I mention that already!!)

So this "noise" is a good problem to SOLVE...why? Because there is LIFE happening...and where life is happening there are things to work through...AND I'm glad I have a team of people to work through this with me!!

Great morning

The service was amazing...Uncharted Prayer was the message...VERY POWERFUL! I'll share more on that in the next couple of days...our worship time has just been electric the past 2 weeks...just LOVE IT! The band is leading us well AND people are RESPONDING! VERY COOL!

We had our first "We don't have to leave!" party after the service...we moved all the chairs...set up tables...and people brought food...LOTS of food! We have been portable church for about 3 years and it was good to just hang out after the service. AND to do that for 3 HOURS!!!! DID YOU CATCH THAT?!?! 3 HOURS! I got home today 3 1/3 hours after the SERVICE was over! Did I mention how AMAZING the food was?! I think we need to have another one soon!!!!

Class

I started my first on-line class ever last week! I must complete 2 classes by the fall to renew my teaching license. I had let it expire when I stopped teaching 3 years ago. Week 1 is complete...it started on the 9th...yeah, you got it...it started in the middle of last week...it was originally good planning because I registered for the classes when I thought we would be in the new building last month! Oh well...last week was definately a whirlwind!!

Class 1 is on teaching special education students (figured that's a smart class to take since my class is all sp.ed. students!)...then the 2nd class is on right & left brain learning...I start that in April, I think...I'm looking forward to that one...it should be useful in the the classroom and preaching!!

GO CAVS!

YES! MY Cleveland Cavs made a GREAT deal to pick up Jamison from the Wizards today...he will no longer be playing against 'Bron! GREAT DEAL DANNY FERRY...now let's just get Z back in 30 days and go on and win the championship! COME ON CAVS! Ferry made the right choice today...lots of talk about bringing in another guy...but it wouldn't have been the right fit...way to do what was best for your team and not take the trade everyone was talking about today...THAT is good leadership! WHOO-HOO!!

Olympics

I love watching the Olympics...I do this to myself every 2 years...stay up late...get up early...I'm just a sucker for the stories behind the athletes...AND I LOVE the competition. Love to see the reactions of the competitors when the win or lose...or simply have a personal best. MAN IS IT FUN! "Thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." (Good old Wide World of Sports!) Those snowboarders were sure fun to watch...and the Chinese couples winning last night in figure skating...AWESOME! What a proud coach to dethrone the Russians after all those years and then coach the Gold and Silver medalists...WOW!

Best part this year has been watching Jaden. He LOVES watching...He was frustrated when he got up this morning that the news was on and the Olympics weren't on. (Got to love only having generic TV!)

GO U.S.A.!!!!

Reflections

The band praying before the service
20 minutes before service...

'Bout time to get started...

I really can't get my mind around this morning yet...been blur...exciting...here are thoughts as they pop in my head...

-"WOW...this morning was AMAZING!!"

-The Spirit of THE LIVING God was moving in that building!

-Worship was the best ever...

-Jerimae's song he wrote...WOW-PERFECT!

-I really enjoyed seeing people who have invested so much in the building WORSHIPPING!

-We left the building at 12:35...the theater would have already opened!

-Fun to watch people serve

-Good to have some Goshen people with us

-The auditorium was ROCKIN'

-One of the best times of Worship...EVER!

-LOTS of energy in the room!

-The preschool room was about to explode with kids! (BRING ON THAT PROBLEM!)

-Kidzone and the auditorium can really hear each other...

-There were people EVERYWHERE!

-I got to shake about everyone's hand as they walked out the door...I love that

-Ended the message by passing out flashlights, because we long to be a lighthouse of hope in this community.

-People were coming up to get the flashlights before I ever told them too!! It was GREAT!

-Message was on Uncharted Initiative...stepping out...not waiting for others to act first...Our community NEEDS us to share hope with them...

-A church with uncharted initiative will be the first to...Be thankful, seek God, Cut off sin, CELEBRATE, NEVER give up, pray OUTRAGEOUS prayers, take risks, and live and tell stories of what GOD has done. (We will tell this mornings story for a long time!)

-I CAN'T WAIT to see what God is going to do through us

-Cool moment for me before I got to the building...I thought through where we have been...the journey...the steps to get to this point...God is so good

-Great to see Pat McGann...the owner of the building...come to the service

-Lots of visitors today...several students from Bethel

-My dad drove over 4 hours this morning to be there!

-Lots of people talking in the halls

-This morning was a dream come true...God was really lifted up...VERY pleased!

WE'RE IN!

YES! PRAISE GOD!! VERY COOL!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

We're in for Sunday morning! Ready to move forward...the hard work has paid off!!

Extreme Makeover

(Getting the sign up!)

WHOA BABY! These guys work like crazy! I LOVE being around them...they got the women's bathroom done in a hurry! AMAZING! Great work!

I just received a text from Rusty, our project manager...our final inspection is for 1:30p.m. Thursday...PRAY! Then pray again...then pray a little more!! NOW WE GO! Pray for God's favor through the inspectors...pray for the rest of the work to get done...

This is a fun week...so many loose ends coming together...so many unknowns, that little by little become known...best part? It IS coming together! We have the best volunteers on the planet!!

Hey...check out Pastor Jim's blog: http://thebrownbytes.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-move.html (Click on the link!) Cool post about what is happening here!

The bathroom one day...

The bathroom the next day!

Biggest Loser

Quote of the night on The Biggest Loser...it went something like this:

"Instead of running away from it, run into it." The quote was about running from problems...one of the contestants said he always ran away from his struggles...never faced them...instead he ran to food...He is a football coach, so when he says "run into it" he REALLY means it!

What does this look like for you? What do you escape to...when life is pushing you down, do you run away or into it? Are you willing to tackle your problems or escape and not really deal with them?

I long for my kids to tell their children..."Grandpa NEVER gave up...he didn't run from his troubles, he didn't look for the easy way out...he ran into them and dealt with them through Christ's strength."

5 days

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12)

"God...my our thoughts and attitudes line up with you this week and into the future of Grace! It is you we want...you we long for...your will be done! Pierce us...convict us...pour courage into us. We love you."

Uncharted Sunday...

(Jaden helped me get the stack's of 5...these were the Hershey Bar's and invites that people took home to give to their friends, neighbors, co-workers...)

Our theme is Uncharted, so today we went to Uncharted ground...we didn't have a service...instead we showed up at the building, prayed and set out for a 2-part blitz...1st part: 7 teams of people went out and gave away close to 500 Hershey Bars and invites to our service next week on Valentine's Day. The 2nd part happens this week...the 5 stacks of bars and invites (the pic above) are for families to invite their friends, co-workers, neighbors this week to our service next week! (I have to go buy more Hershey Bars because we gave so many away today...I don't have any left!!!!)

Outreaches like this just fire me up! My team went out and gave away over 125 Hershey Bars in less than a 1/2 hour. We gave away close to 100 of them at the Pancake House right next to our building...I got to meet and invite the owner. VERY COOL! Then we crossed 5 lanes of traffic (with 8 children...7 of which were 9 and under!!) and headed to McDonalds. It was great to see the kids serving people and enjoying it.

I love to hear children pray...two kids from our group prayed (great job Shelby and Jaden!) about the blitz and the service next week...for another guy in our group it was the first he has prayed in public like that...VERY COOL! THAT is church! Just in time discipleship...things you can't teach in a classroom!!


Serving people like this just FIRES ME UP! I was ready to preach when we got back...Then something happened that I didn't expect...people hung out...for about another hour+...it was great to see people talking and hanging out! EXCITING!



(It's blurry, but it's the one I have of everyone praying for next week's service...we are praying that many come...we are praying that people will give their lives to Jesus next week!)

(Part of my team that passed out 125 Hershey Bars in less that 25 minutes...just missing 7 other kids that went with us!!)

Do what Jesus did

That is what we will be doing in the morning...Jesus had his guys hang out with him for a while...check out what he was doing...then he sent them out...sent them out in groups of 2...our groups might be a little bigger tomorrow, but we are going to be doing the same thing! Heading out and serving the community...we often say that church isn't about what you get, but what you give...PROVE IT! Tomorrow morning we will! I am sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to this...I am praying tonight that someone shows up that has never come before and then goes out and serves the community with us...How cool would that be?!?!?!

What did you say?

I'm teaching at a local public school every morning. I teach Life Skill Children (moderate to severe disabled students) art, music and gym. This morning I was walking down the hall and overheard 2 8th grade boys talking. (They aren't in my class.) All I heard was "you don't have to like her to go out with her!" NOW I know what is wrong with the people's relationships!! You don't even have to like 'em to "go out" with them...WOW!

Blitzin' Sunday!

How are we going to spend our first Sunday away from Movies 14?!?!?!?! We are NOT going to have a service! Instead we are going to meet at the new building...pray...and go BLITZ the community! OH BABY am I excited!!!! We are going to deliver Hershey Bars to people...just share a little love with people! The best part?!?!?! WE will be doing it while other churches are having their services...SO the people we will be serving won't be in church...PERFECT!! GUESS WHAT?!?!?! That is who we want to connect with anyway!! VERY COOL...VERY EXCITED...Cannot wait for Sunday!

I'm BURNING up!

Pastor Jim BROUGHT IT on Sunday...if someone is not stirred up to share their faith, SOMETHING IS WRONG! COME ON CHURCH...You have been given the GREATEST gift ever...what in the STINKIN' world are we waiting for...let's start sharing our faith...inviting our friends...RESCUING PEOPLE FROM HELL!! Why not us?! Why not right now!? WHY NOT!?!? God wants to use EACH AND EVERYONE OF US...so let's get going.

There is a discontent really getting stirred up in me...something that is longing for more...more of what God wants...more of what grabs his heart...

I was challenged several years ago to quit praying for God to give me opportunities to share my faith...INSTEAD start sharing my faith and ask the Spirit to STOP ME if the timing wasn't right! Notice the difference? Let's not just expect people to find Jesus by what they see in us...instead let's LIVE IT and SPEAK IT! (It=The good news of JESUS CHRIST!)

Reflections on Sunday

A LOT of emotions for me on Sunday...Chloe and Jaden came with me early to the theater...our last Sunday at the theater...so many memories...baptisms (including Chloe and Jaden!)...people saved...helicopter landing on Easter...Easter Egg Hunts...Dad Fest (I WON THIS YEAR!!!!)...Mama Mania (Kelsey won last year!!)...Prayer...Spiritual Battle...AMAZING PASSIONATE Worship...growth...life change...I'll confess that I had tears in my eyes...Great moment after the service for me too...everything was torn down...most everyone was heading to our new building to unload stuff and eat...I went back through each auditorium we use and thanked God for what he did there. I ask him for a lot...I want him to know how grateful I am for what he has done and how he has changed me and many others!

1st things 1st

I don't want to go through the motions...I don't want to just live...just make it through the day...week...month...year after year...I want to be IN the battle for lost souls...I want to dive in deep be all that God has made me to be. You know what? That process is painful...BUT it is worth it. Reading 1Timothy and Titus the past couple of days. Paul talks about what young men and older men need to be like...2 words for young men...self-control..."God continue to reveal the areas of my life that need refined and help me to walk through what it takes for change with COURAGE and DETERMINATION..."