Expecting....Unexpectedly

Yep. In eight years of marriage, last night Heather surprised me with one of the top one or two surprises. Last night she asked me, do you want a boy or a girl. Yep. We're having a baby. Number 3. More later.

God will supply all of our needs according to His riches...

The forty years of wandering is quite interesting on a number of levels. We know from earlier accounts that not even their sandals wore down. They ate for forty years, bread from heaven. God's judgment and our trials are sprinkled with His grace, mercy and provision. The righteous, even the fallen righteous have never been forsaken by God. (Verse 11)--The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleaven bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan. It's this type of love and grace from God that allows the writer to state: "Count all joy brethren when you fall into various trials....:James 1:2-ff. (It's worth reading)

God bless,

txt message

This series is really challenging. I know that sounds strange since I am the one speaking. But it really is. I hope you are inviting friends and family to join us. I believe that God's Word is alive and active and the more we learn to engage it and allow it to engage us, the more our lives will be radically changed for the cause. God is serious about His Word. He took 1,500 years to write it, used over 40 different people. He chose kings, shepherds, slaves and women to pen this message. We should approach it with a seriousness. Check out www.youversion.com for some different ways to approach His Word. Again, spread His revolutionary love, be missionaries and allow His love to transform you and those around you.

God bless,

What if....

John 3:25-30 (New International Version)
25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.

Can you imagine the kind of impact we could/would have if we, one community of faith, operated in this attitude! What if we decided to look at the gifts and callings God has placed on us; what if we decided to focus on the needs immediately in front of us; what if we chose to receive God's grace and gifts that HE has chosen for us. If we rejoice with those that rejoice, other churches, other ministries, other people's promotions, gifts and talents, what would happen. What if we really thought that we needed to become less as He becomes greater in us and through us and, wait, yes-through others? What would happen?

The Church (no not just our church--His Church) would explode with wonders and salvations. Let's join in OnePrayer.com. Joining churches around the world uniting together in Him. Let's let our love for one another shine.

I'm reading again...

It's true. I haven't really read anything challenging or current in leadership, ministry or life (except the Bible) since defending my dissertation. But now, I think, I am ready to start reading again.

I was reading a blog www.stevenfurtick.com and loving his style and thoughts. Before I knew it I was glancing at his recommended reading list. Then, like old times, I was on amazon.com checking out a couple of the titles. Now, they're here. Authors I have read before so I am having flashbacks. I feel as if I am supposed to critique, write up a 10-20 page theologocial and methodological Praxis of Pentecostal leadership with case studies and so on.

However, I am encouraged with the trends, thoughts and suggestions of these writings. It seems that TC is intiutively doing and living these principles. God desires for us to stretch and continue to grow in all areas. (Can't just rely on the degrees) I am excited about what God has on the horizon for us at TC. I know that as we remain faithful and continue to listen to His voice and obey, He will take us to places never seen. Reading these books is great, but relying on His voice and plan will always prevail. It's a continual balancing act of exposure to other's insights and models and being true to oneself and the unqiue call and plan of God for our specific journey. Let me know what you think.

God bless,

Oneprayer

I want to encourage all that read this to pray and fast for the upcoming series OnePrayer. We are joining with over 700 other churches and over 460,000 believers around the world. We are teaching on "God Make Us ________". TC will talk about "God Make Us Contagious". Then we will join with the other churches on June 8th to hear about Make Us One. The next three weeks we will join with other world class teachers to pray prayers for the corporate church at large. Join me in prayer and fasting for revival and maturity.

Leadership...

The following stuff I took from www.perrynoble.com

Joe, one of our pastors on staff found this video on you tube the other night. BEFORE you watch it please keep in mind that it is around nine minutes long…but worth every second. It brought tears to my eyes and raised several thoughts in my mind.
#1 - Every Week Is Someone’s First Week At NewSpring.
If you are a pastor…the same could be said about your church…that every single weekend COULD be THE weekend that THE PERSON who people in your church have been inviting and praying for show up. For some people that may be an afterthought…but I am OBSESSED with this thought. This video was proof that you never know who is going to show up.
#2 - If The Tomb Is REALLY Empty Then The Atmosphere At Church Should Reflect It!
It blows my mind that a person will go to a football game and nearly kill themselves yelling for a bunch of people they don’t even know…and that SAME person will go to a church the next day and show no emotion at all.
I once Mark Beeson, pastor of Granger Community Church, say that Christianity is THE most exciting thing that has ever happened in the world…and it has taken the church 2,000 years to make it boring!!!
It IS our job to make the environment exciting and friendly.
I can’t get these thoughts out of my mind
Jesus is ALIVE…He ROSE!!!
WE WIN…I’ve read the last chapter of the book
People do not have to go to hell!!!
These thoughts govern my teaching and my leadership…which is one of the reasons I am getting away from the critics…with all that God is doing here–I simply do not have time for you. I want to see more people reached for Christ!!!
#3 - God AND The People Walking Through Our Doors Every Week Deserve Our Best!
It bothers me when a church throws some sort of program together at the last minute & then asks God to bless it…this is equal to the college student that refuses to study for an exam all semester long and then shows up to take the test and throws up some lame prayer, asking God to help him out.
I know this–Sunday at NewSpring God is going to give His absolute best. We are going to get His best attention…His best grace & mercy…His best empowerment…His best beauty…His best protection…the best of everything He has. (Yes, this is there for every church in the world!)
BUT…we should give Him our best…our best in prayer…our best in preparation…our best in the singers…our best in the musicians…our best in the parking lot…our best in the greeting…our best in the children’s & nursery area…our best in EVERYTHING!
AND…when you combine God’s best with the churches best…BAM…things happen. Churches grow when people in the church do not sit around and offer God half-hearted, watered down presentation…they grow when people KNOW that God is SOVEREIGN…and because of that very fact are willing to go all out to see as many people as possible come to Christ.
I can’t wait for Sunday!!! I promise you we will give our best. Oh yeah…just a sidenote…we mess something up EVERY week. Seriously…which is a beautiful reminder that God is so much bigger than all of us or our efforts…and its so cool to see Him work MANY times not because of us…but in spite of us!


Thought some of these things were worth hearing again and thinking about. I appreciate that we (PW and TC) strive for excellence and don’t just throw things together. God does deserve our best and someone’s first impression or last chance at God may weigh in the balance. There was another blog about sent reminding us to not forget the power of prayer. Sometimes we tend to trust in the programs, educations, curriculum or talent we may bring to the table, but without prayer it stinks and that always shows. As Pentecostals we know the importance of prayer, but our churches tend to look ineffective in the numbers game. We see other models, traditions, or styles blowing the doors off without an emphasis on the Spirit or prayer and we may rely too heavily on a program or model or curriculum too easily. Bottom line is: don’t forget to bathe everything we do in prayer. Strongholds are broken, direction is birthed, vision is discerned and wisdom garnered.