Thoughts

Doing some reading in Exodus today and studying the Hebrew word: "Kunl" The word is translated with 108 different words or phrases in the Old Testament. For about 3 or 4 weeks I have been intrigued by the word "direct" in the Bible...seeing how God used that word in His Word.

In Exodus 15 Moses is writing a song...a song about the power of God and how God moved for the Israelites as they left Egypt. AMAZING song! There is a point in verse 17 where he says God will "plant them (the Israelites) on the mountain of your (God's) inheritance" - The Lord's dwelling...the Lord ESTABLISHED (DIRECTED) this spot for them...he ALREADY SET IT in place...it was there for the taking. They just needed to claim it...

It made me think...what does God have established for us...what does he have right there in front of us that he wants us to claim? What does he want us to have to go through the desert to get? Imagine...the Israelites struggling through the desert, and coming in front of them was going to be the mountain that God established ahead of time to be their inheritance! POWERFUL! AMAZING!

More than anything it gives me hope...hope that if I seek God...and plead with him to reveal what HE is doing and what HE wants me to do...he will show me. WHY? Because it is already established...already set and waiting for me...I just have to seek him out!

Whoo-Hoo!!

Yeah Baby! Boucher ran...for 5 MINUTES yesterday!! Yep! 5 WHOLE minutes of my 30 minute walk were RUNNING! OK...let me be a little clearer on that...I "jogged" (if that is what you call it!!) at 5 mph on the treadmill for 5 minutes! BUT it wasn't just a walking speed...5k here I come!

Books I'm Reading

I have 2 books that I'm starting to read this week...The Unity Factor by Larry Osborne and the 7 Principles of an Evangelistic Life by Douglas Cecil. I respect Larry Osborne A LOT...I went to a conference on multisite church before we launched our church...I had the opporunity to hang out at his church in CA. God has done amazing things through him and his church...reaching people in VERY creative ways. The book is a little older, and is in its 4th edition. The 2nd book by Cecil is on envangelism and I'm looking for something to add fuel to my fire! Coming off of Easter, I'm really stirred up on prayer and reaching people who don't know Jesus...I'm looking forward to this book.

Back at the office

It is hard to believe that I have not worked in the office for a month...last week was a full week, but I spent most of my time studying up in Kidzone. It was good today...talked with a few people...put my new weekly To Do list into action. The list is made up of things that I have to get done every week. SOmethings things get pushed back or not done that REALLY need to happen each week. So, I created a list of things for each day I'm in the office...I also worked on making a block schedule while I was off. It gives me time to get admin stuff done...studying... relationships...pouring into leaders...We'll see how it works.

I was back in the hospital today...only this time it was to visit someone...strange walking back into the ER...glad that God brought me through that...lots of lessons learned.

Monday Reflections

So good to be back yesterday! Great celebration of Jesus' resurrection!! We had testimonies during the service...never done that on Easter...some powerful things were shared! Amazing to see how God is working in people's lives and WHAT BETTER day to talk about that!! I have not been so impacted by a message like this one. We talked about our payment options for eternity...talked about how life is a mist...we are only here for a moment...a brief moment in time. That at ANY TIME we could die...and what then? Will we have chosen the best payment option for our sin?

Many "seeds" were planted in people's hearts on Sunday...we didn't have anyone come to Jesus, but we did our part! We gave the message and gave people the opportunity and time to respond. My heart aches for those who left on Sunday who haven't put Jesus in charge of their lives yet...I spent time this morning sitting on stage...praying for them...begging God to open their eyes before it's to late. This is something that bothers me after any invitation we give...who are the people that hear this message, yet don't come to Jesus...I pray that they do before it is to late.

Our Egg Dash went very well too...a GREAT time with the kids!! OUTSTANDING JOB to all of our people who made that happen!!

Ready

I'm ready for tomorrow...ready for God to show up...ready to have speak through my weakness...I've done what I can do...others have prepped the building and prepared for the service. Now it is God's time...his time to show what he is up to...It feels good to have the pre-Sunday jitters back!! The anticipation of what God is going to do in people's lives...longing to see him SHOW UP!

"Now to him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than all we could ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to him be flory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout ALL generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

(Ephesians 3: 20-21)

Tough Day

Imagine yourself right now being a follower of Jesus the day after he died...you heard him teach...saw his miracles...but now you have questions. HE IS DEAD?!?! How do you handle this? What would you have done? Would your faith be rattled? Shaken? Doubt had to begin to crowd into their minds...today would have been a TOUGH DAY...yesterday, watching him die would have been painful. Today would be when the doubts came on you...

How do you respond when God hasn't answered your prayers the way you want? When you have begged him to move and he hasn't come through...at least not yet? Does doubt about his power come on you? Do you doubt that he will answer? When these times come on you go back to those first Christians, the first Christ followers...and remember HE DID RESPOND! He did come through!! Trust him...continue to pray to him...continue to ask...AND BELIEVE! The God who raised Jesus from the dead is STILL ALIVE and working TODAY!

Payment Options!

Easter Sunday...WOW...I have a lot of emotions going into this Sunday. A lot of things going on inside of me. I look forward to "being back" and preaching. And how exciting is it that it gets to happen on the day we celebrate OUR SAVIOR's VICTORY over sin and death!

So...come...Payment Options is the message title...which option will you take?!?!

Good Friday

Thank you Jesus for what you went through on the Friday before Easter...if it wasn't for Friday, we would have NOTHING...NOTHING AT ALL to celebrate on Sunday. We would have no hope...because you would not have been willing to suffer for us. So, thank you...not just that you were so POWERFUL to conquer death on Sunday, but that you were willing to be beating...spit on...whipped...and crucified so that we could have the opportunity to experience heaven when we die.

Thanks.

Thoughts from Ugly Mugs

I'm sitting here at Mugs...prepping my message for Sunday and taking a break from it for a couple minutes...

Things in my head for Sunday:

-WOW...Jesus did all that...what a payment he made for me
-God PLEASE work on people's hearts so they respond to YOUR message and don't risk eternity away from you
-Thanks for life
-Looking forward to really being back!!
-Jesus did that, yet I complain about so much!
-Revelation ends with "Come..." oh that many would come THROUGHOUT THE WORLD and respond to messages of hope


Other stuff as I take a break:
-I LOVE Ugly Mugs...what a great place to hang out and study
-That bball hoop we got Jaden was PERFECT!
-He made a shot from 20 ft. away!
-CHLOE is exercising like crazy...cool to see her develop!
-I RAN (well...sort-of jogged) across the street 2x's yesterday...and yes Kelsey was standing right there! COMING BACK!
-My heart hurts for people...people who are dealing with deep pain right now
-What will happen when the church CONTINUES to learn how to love each other and the community as Jesus would?
-I think I might pull for Butler to win it all now...not sure after the "sympathy" card I received from a friend who is a Bulter fan...Maybe I just won't tell her!
-Off to lunch with Tim Welling...great friend...