Leaning Forward
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Leaning Forward
Fearless
Our second Sunday with two services went very well! The first service had about the same attendance and the second was down a little. It was one of those weeks when lots of people were out out town.
We saw, again, first time guests join us and we are now able to give them a gift. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel is a great way to introduce people to Jesus. I pray that God will use this tool along with the weekly ministries of our church and people to see many take the next step.
It is important to keep in mind that the enemy does not want what is happening in Scranton to continue. Anytime God works and people's lives are being changed the enemy will throw lots of roadblocks at you to discourage you.
In Ephesians 6 Paul reminds us that our battles are truly spiritual. As we hold up the shield of faith lets remember that God expects us to use that particular piece of armor to push forward not stand in one place!
We saw, again, first time guests join us and we are now able to give them a gift. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel is a great way to introduce people to Jesus. I pray that God will use this tool along with the weekly ministries of our church and people to see many take the next step.
It is important to keep in mind that the enemy does not want what is happening in Scranton to continue. Anytime God works and people's lives are being changed the enemy will throw lots of roadblocks at you to discourage you.
In Ephesians 6 Paul reminds us that our battles are truly spiritual. As we hold up the shield of faith lets remember that God expects us to use that particular piece of armor to push forward not stand in one place!
Taking Off!
I would be lying if I said I woke up yesterday without fear. My first waking, and irrational thought, was "what have we done?". I was trying to figure out a way to contact everybody and tell them that we were just going to have our regular worship service at 10:30. Like I said, irrational.
So here is what happened with yesterday's second service launch at New Life
* We got there early
* Nobody else did
* It was getting closer to nine
* The auditorium was less than full - empty is a good word
* We prayed
* People came!
We had 57 in the first service with 140+ in the second. We had over 200 people total! We were actually running out of room for the second service! If this keeps up maybe we will need to add a third....
So here is what happened with yesterday's second service launch at New Life
* We got there early
* Nobody else did
* It was getting closer to nine
* The auditorium was less than full - empty is a good word
* We prayed
* People came!
We had 57 in the first service with 140+ in the second. We had over 200 people total! We were actually running out of room for the second service! If this keeps up maybe we will need to add a third....
Two Words
Two words: Launch Day! Tomorrow we launch our 2nd Worship Service! I can't even begin to tell you how excited and nervous I am all at the same time!
We have had quite a week. The enemy has thrown some pretty significant roadblocks at us. There are lots of people in the hospital and we had a funeral yesterday. It adds up! One thing I remember, though - Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against us shall prosper". That's right. Bring it!
Please pray about the services for tomorrow. I have no idea how they will even out or if they will be even.
Also pray for Steamtown Community Church. They are launching their first public worship service tomorrow as well. Go get 'em, Dennis!
We have had quite a week. The enemy has thrown some pretty significant roadblocks at us. There are lots of people in the hospital and we had a funeral yesterday. It adds up! One thing I remember, though - Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against us shall prosper". That's right. Bring it!
Please pray about the services for tomorrow. I have no idea how they will even out or if they will be even.
Also pray for Steamtown Community Church. They are launching their first public worship service tomorrow as well. Go get 'em, Dennis!
Coming Soon...
OK, pretty excited. Next week is Launch Day for our 2nd Worhsip Servce at New Life. This is quite an adventure for our church and I am not sure what is going to happen. I do think God is doing something!
Here is a sneek peak at our new teaching series...
We will explore together how Christ gives everyone a new beginning.
Here is a sneek peak at our new teaching series...
We will explore together how Christ gives everyone a new beginning.
Lots 'O Room
You just gotta love being in the airport long before dawn only to find out you have to use a completely different airline and be totally rerouted. There is, however, a bright side...
I am on my way to Kentucky to speak for a Snow Camp for Vertical Student Ministries. When I got on the plane in Philly the flight attendant asked me if I wanted to sit in the emergency exit row all by myself! With all that extra room I was able to spread out and work on some of our upcoming teaching series at New Life. Sometimes God looks favorably upon those of us with long legs!
We will finish up our series on Generosity next week and then move into a series on the theology of Christ (Christology). All of those talks will come from Luke's Gospel, and this series will kick off our 2nd Worship Service Launch.
Speaking of generosity, our community at New Life has really stepped up to the plate! We passed a pretty aggressive budget a few weeks ago and so far we are making it! Praise God!
For 8 weeks, beginning April 6th, we will explore Ephesians together in a series we are calling Uprising. The core of that series comes from Eph 5:14, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." That sentence stirs something deep within me. I am really praying and dreaming about how to present this material in a creative and memorable way. For now lets just say it might involve gladiators or priestesses (uh, that's a nice way of saying prostitutes - no seriously).
I am on my way to Kentucky to speak for a Snow Camp for Vertical Student Ministries. When I got on the plane in Philly the flight attendant asked me if I wanted to sit in the emergency exit row all by myself! With all that extra room I was able to spread out and work on some of our upcoming teaching series at New Life. Sometimes God looks favorably upon those of us with long legs!
We will finish up our series on Generosity next week and then move into a series on the theology of Christ (Christology). All of those talks will come from Luke's Gospel, and this series will kick off our 2nd Worship Service Launch.
Speaking of generosity, our community at New Life has really stepped up to the plate! We passed a pretty aggressive budget a few weeks ago and so far we are making it! Praise God!
For 8 weeks, beginning April 6th, we will explore Ephesians together in a series we are calling Uprising. The core of that series comes from Eph 5:14, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." That sentence stirs something deep within me. I am really praying and dreaming about how to present this material in a creative and memorable way. For now lets just say it might involve gladiators or priestesses (uh, that's a nice way of saying prostitutes - no seriously).
Treasure Test
We had a great day at New Life yesterday. Great turnout, great atmosphere, and an awesome spirit as we continued our series on generosity.
From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus teaches regular people about extraordinary stuff. He teaches about their relationship with each other and with God. He broaches some pretty touchy issues. But they are issues everyone needs to deal with.
Money is one of those hot button issues. In verse 24 Jesus teaches we cannot have equal allegiance to both God and our wallets. He doesn't start there, however. In verses 19-20 he reminds us that we all make investments. We can either invest in stuff here or invest in things eternally. As we mentioned before everything dies. Every single thing on this planet has an expiration date. Everything. So what does an eternal investment look like? What lasts? The answer is two things - The Word and people. God's word will outlast everything. God has preserved it this far and will continue to after we are gone. People last forever. Not our bodies, of course. Some of us realize that we are falling apart and there is definitely an expiration date. The souls of all human beings will exist in one place or another. When someone crosses the threshold of eternity they will either be with God forever in Heaven or they will exist in darkness and torment apart from God. There is no in between.
What investments are we making?
From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus teaches regular people about extraordinary stuff. He teaches about their relationship with each other and with God. He broaches some pretty touchy issues. But they are issues everyone needs to deal with.
Money is one of those hot button issues. In verse 24 Jesus teaches we cannot have equal allegiance to both God and our wallets. He doesn't start there, however. In verses 19-20 he reminds us that we all make investments. We can either invest in stuff here or invest in things eternally. As we mentioned before everything dies. Every single thing on this planet has an expiration date. Everything. So what does an eternal investment look like? What lasts? The answer is two things - The Word and people. God's word will outlast everything. God has preserved it this far and will continue to after we are gone. People last forever. Not our bodies, of course. Some of us realize that we are falling apart and there is definitely an expiration date. The souls of all human beings will exist in one place or another. When someone crosses the threshold of eternity they will either be with God forever in Heaven or they will exist in darkness and torment apart from God. There is no in between.
What investments are we making?
Treasure
I am getting ready to preach on Matthew 6:19-24 tomorrow. This will be week two for our series on Generosity. God is really teaching me about this business of storing up treasure. I have never been a person that chases money. That is not my treasure. The word means the amassing of something of value. The fundamental question is this: What do I value?
Everything dies, wears out, breaks, fades, or frays. Nothing we want to keep we keep. Like the axiom states, "He who dies with the most toys, still dies".
Looking forward to more meditation on "Seeking first the Kingdom of God".
Everything dies, wears out, breaks, fades, or frays. Nothing we want to keep we keep. Like the axiom states, "He who dies with the most toys, still dies".
Looking forward to more meditation on "Seeking first the Kingdom of God".
Idea Piracy (a good thing, arr)
I can relate with John Nash. He is the lead character in the movie A Beautiful Mind. In the on screen adaptation of this true story, Nash is a mathematical genius (uh, that is not the part I relate to) who has to learn to deal with schizophrenia. While he is studying for his post-graduate degree he is obsessed with developing an "original idea" in the field of mathematics. He is driven by the need to create a formula or theory that is completely new and revolutionary.
In the world of ministry I struggle with the same thing. I read books, articles, and blogs about people who have these great ideas and make them work! I wonder when that will happen to me. When will I have that great idea? The answer: Maybe never.
In our search for innovation, lets not forget that other people have great ideas that are often given freely to us. Use them! Conversely, lets not forget to ask God to do more than we can imagine. There is no ministry obstacle that God does not have a creative solution for!
Speaking of great ideas...Becky and I are planning on going to a new one-day conference in Northern VA. Check out The White Board Sessions.
In the world of ministry I struggle with the same thing. I read books, articles, and blogs about people who have these great ideas and make them work! I wonder when that will happen to me. When will I have that great idea? The answer: Maybe never.
In our search for innovation, lets not forget that other people have great ideas that are often given freely to us. Use them! Conversely, lets not forget to ask God to do more than we can imagine. There is no ministry obstacle that God does not have a creative solution for!
Speaking of great ideas...Becky and I are planning on going to a new one-day conference in Northern VA. Check out The White Board Sessions.
Weekend in New Hampshire
I had the opportunity to minister at Snow Camp this weekend. Over 250 students and leaders converged on the campus of Rumney Bible Conference for a few days to recharge and renew. Many students indicated they wanted to enter into a relationship with Christ. God was moving!
It was also a great weekend because I was able to bring a ministry team from Baptist Bible College to lead worship. Redemption has begun to travel on weekends representing the school and will be on the road all summer ministering in camps and churches. They proved they are both very capable musicians and more importantly, flexible ministers.
It was also a great weekend because I was able to bring a ministry team from Baptist Bible College to lead worship. Redemption has begun to travel on weekends representing the school and will be on the road all summer ministering in camps and churches. They proved they are both very capable musicians and more importantly, flexible ministers.
Encouragement
I am really thankful for those times when God brings someone into your life that just ministers to you with encouragement. That has happened to me recently with my friends Dave, Brady, and Bill.
On Monday night I found myself on an airplane sitting next to a fellow pastor who chose to build into my life for a solid 90 minutes. God knows what we need when we need it.
On Monday night I found myself on an airplane sitting next to a fellow pastor who chose to build into my life for a solid 90 minutes. God knows what we need when we need it.