We had another church planting victory for our church planters, JD and Angela Elleman! Sunday was our grand opening, but it was their first missionary service as home missionary associates. They have another service scheduled and several other pastors have indicated that they will be scheduled in their churches as well.
Please remember to join us for 3 on 3 prayer, the third Tuesday of every month at church. Even if you only can attend for a few minutes, lets pray for Utah. Also, remember our 5 on 5 initiative and lets pray five minutes for Utah every Friday, the fifth day of the week. God answers prayer and a project of this size must be covered in prayer. There are spiritual powers at work that we battle against and we will win if we apply ourselves to pray.
If you want to be a part of their prayer or financial support team, let me know. You can post a comment here.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Grand Opening Weekend Rewind
This last weekend was our grand opening in the new location. Huge thanks to all who helped out! Saturday was a fun day for open house. We met lots of new friends and had some great conversations. Sunday was a beautiful service. We had a new record attendance for our church with 277 people attending.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Back to Being The Pastor
After nine months of building project, I am going to try to get back to the blog and some normal things I want to do. It has been an amazing ride this year, and there is more work to do still. I have a budget meeting at 7:45 a.m. to figure out how to do phase two projects quickly in the morning. There is always more to do when you work for the Lord of the entire universe.
Our moving day was absolutely great! So many people worked hard to make it a great day. I am very proud of all of you. We have done a great thing and God is going to bless us in amazing ways. Check out the photo show by Cindy Watterson.
Our moving day was absolutely great! So many people worked hard to make it a great day. I am very proud of all of you. We have done a great thing and God is going to bless us in amazing ways. Check out the photo show by Cindy Watterson.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Work That Energizes
Monday night, four people met with me to work on the new building in the evening. It was great! We were able to knock out some very important items that allow us to move forward Tuesday morning right away.
After a three hour work session like that, I am so energized!
Now, on Tuesday morning, I am still feeling that energy as I study and pray for Sunday's sermon. I am putting the last touches on my study and then its off to work I go.
After a three hour work session like that, I am so energized!
Now, on Tuesday morning, I am still feeling that energy as I study and pray for Sunday's sermon. I am putting the last touches on my study and then its off to work I go.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Love University
I encourage you to catch up on past sermons by listening to the podcast on our web site. I especially urge you to listen to the message, "What's In A Name." I will have it posted later this week. If you have not heard the message describing our name change, you need to hear it before you enter the process of helping choose a new name.
Thanks to National Community Church and their team for cool logo for the series!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Crazy Bits Of News
I have been so crazy busy with the building project and name change that my blog has fallen behind. Sorry.
Here are some recent highlights and bits of news.
1. We are working very hard to get everything done that is necessary for us to have our occupancy permit by August 4th.
2. We are going to have more to finish after we move in.
3. We desperately need workers who can paint and sand drywall in the next week.
4. We are about ready to put down the new tile. If you have any home experience with tile you will be a perfect helper.
5. We have begun the process of changing the name of First Assembly of God. You will get info in the mail this week! Ballots will be received all week and at church this Sunday. This is not a survey. This is a vote. Anyone 12 and older can vote.
6. We are starting to plan for our public grand opening on September 8th! Let's have at least 300 people at church that day! Service at 10:00 a.m.
7. The first night of MEGA Sports Camp was very good. Go find more friends who can be there this week! We have plenty of room.
8. Plans have progressed wonderfully for youth camp and kids camp. Our students are going to have great camping experiences with God this year.
It is a historic summer for our church. I don't have time to contact each person and beg you to get involved. So, jump in with confidence and help out and be involved in some great opportunities this year.
Here are some recent highlights and bits of news.
1. We are working very hard to get everything done that is necessary for us to have our occupancy permit by August 4th.
2. We are going to have more to finish after we move in.
3. We desperately need workers who can paint and sand drywall in the next week.
4. We are about ready to put down the new tile. If you have any home experience with tile you will be a perfect helper.
5. We have begun the process of changing the name of First Assembly of God. You will get info in the mail this week! Ballots will be received all week and at church this Sunday. This is not a survey. This is a vote. Anyone 12 and older can vote.
6. We are starting to plan for our public grand opening on September 8th! Let's have at least 300 people at church that day! Service at 10:00 a.m.
7. The first night of MEGA Sports Camp was very good. Go find more friends who can be there this week! We have plenty of room.
8. Plans have progressed wonderfully for youth camp and kids camp. Our students are going to have great camping experiences with God this year.
It is a historic summer for our church. I don't have time to contact each person and beg you to get involved. So, jump in with confidence and help out and be involved in some great opportunities this year.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thank you Lord
There are times when we need to stop and just say thank you Lord. God is faithful. I am just feeling grateful today for God's goodness. I am thankful for my wife and family. I am thankful for the people of our church. I am thankful for lots of friends. I am thankful for the truth and the beauty of God's word. I am trusting that this will be a very good day.
Friday, April 19, 2013
New Service Schedule
There are some changes coming in May!
First, we are going back to two services for the summer. Our attendance is usually lower in May, June and July. So, we are giving the workers a break. Based on last years numbers, we have room for summer crowds and room to grow in two services. Don't let up in inviting friends to church. We will have room. The new times will be, 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Second, we are going to really mix it up on Wednesday nights in May and work on the building each Wednesday night. There are many who have not been able to join in the work and really feel like they are missing out. To make time for you, we are going to take the adults to the new building each Wednesday for a short burst of work. My goal is simply to give a new outlet for workers. Kids ministries will still meet at the 408 East 8th building from 6:30 to 7:30. If you want to work early, I'll be there by 6:00 each Wednesday (with coffee).
First, we are going back to two services for the summer. Our attendance is usually lower in May, June and July. So, we are giving the workers a break. Based on last years numbers, we have room for summer crowds and room to grow in two services. Don't let up in inviting friends to church. We will have room. The new times will be, 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Second, we are going to really mix it up on Wednesday nights in May and work on the building each Wednesday night. There are many who have not been able to join in the work and really feel like they are missing out. To make time for you, we are going to take the adults to the new building each Wednesday for a short burst of work. My goal is simply to give a new outlet for workers. Kids ministries will still meet at the 408 East 8th building from 6:30 to 7:30. If you want to work early, I'll be there by 6:00 each Wednesday (with coffee).
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Building Blog
We are having great success with the volunteer work on the building. Amazing work has been finished by many helpers. Huge thanks to St. Jame First Assembly of God for a great team Saturday. What a huge blessing you were! They also took up an offering for the project and raised over $1,300.00.
This Saturday Rolla First Assembly will be sending a team to help. It is going to be a great day.
Check out the latest video blog.
http://www.firstagwashington.org/category/building/
This Saturday Rolla First Assembly will be sending a team to help. It is going to be a great day.
Check out the latest video blog.
http://www.firstagwashington.org/category/building/
Monday, April 8, 2013
Celebration Sunday Spring 2013
Sunday was a great Celebration Sunday. Every six months we have a joint service at a rented facility so that our entire church can be together. It won't be long and we will not need to rent a place for one service. By the fall celebration, we will be in our new facility.
I am so glad that four people responded at the end of the message. The most important thing that can happen at church is a changed life! It was amazing to see and feel people responding to the preaching during the sermon. Attendance was great, our offering was great and lunch was great too!
It is sad to think that this may be our last meeting in a rented place for a few years. But, these celebrations have been wonderful!
I am so glad that four people responded at the end of the message. The most important thing that can happen at church is a changed life! It was amazing to see and feel people responding to the preaching during the sermon. Attendance was great, our offering was great and lunch was great too!
It is sad to think that this may be our last meeting in a rented place for a few years. But, these celebrations have been wonderful!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Virtual Reality
Ecclesiastes 10:10 is one of my favorite Scriptures.
If the ax is dull and the edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success. (NIV)
I love the passion of this view of life. No victim mentality Bible reader will make this their theme verse! This is an, "I will win," attitude.
If my tools are dull, then I can overcome with more strength, greater effort and time. If my tools are dull, I will sharpen them. I can increase my effectiveness by working to be sharper and more efficient with my limited strength and time.
Finally, when my strength and effincey are not enough, I need skill. The same word Solomon used in this verse, is the word he used in Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." When my strength is all used up, and my resources completely spent, I know that God's wisdom and ability will step in to help me be successful at accomplishing his will.
The starting point for this wisdom and skill is the respect of God.
Respect of God will develop a true perspective.
Respect of God will eliminate a victim mentality.
Respect of God will create the work ethic to sharpen and swing hard.
Respect of God will bring success.
If the ax is dull and the edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success. (NIV)
I love the passion of this view of life. No victim mentality Bible reader will make this their theme verse! This is an, "I will win," attitude.
If my tools are dull, then I can overcome with more strength, greater effort and time. If my tools are dull, I will sharpen them. I can increase my effectiveness by working to be sharper and more efficient with my limited strength and time.
Finally, when my strength and effincey are not enough, I need skill. The same word Solomon used in this verse, is the word he used in Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." When my strength is all used up, and my resources completely spent, I know that God's wisdom and ability will step in to help me be successful at accomplishing his will.
The starting point for this wisdom and skill is the respect of God.
Respect of God will develop a true perspective.
Respect of God will eliminate a victim mentality.
Respect of God will create the work ethic to sharpen and swing hard.
Respect of God will bring success.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Virtual Reality
We live in a world filled with virtual perceptions of reality. Often the image driven culture creates an world that is not really there. One of the greatest images our culture distorts is the image of death.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 says,
"A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart." (NIV)
Think about what our image driven culture says. "Death is bad, dark, scary, and there is nothing good about it." Then we also tend to say, "Birth is joyful and happy, the future is bright and do birthdays are happy days." The Bible says the opposite! How can the Bible say, "...the day of death is better than the day of birth." Why?
Look at the words around this reality check. "A good name is better than perfume." A good name is not given at birth, it is earned by a reputation of being good. So the day of death is better than the day of birth because at birth nothing has been willingly or consciously accomplished. But at death we have the opportunity to celebrate a life well lived. At death we can look at an entire life and rejoice in its courage, service, honesty, labor, success, friendships, and family.
In that regard it is better to go to the funeral home than the party. As a kid I went to scores of funerals. We lived close to all the extended family and had huge family reunions and huge funerals. Some parents disagree, but I was glad for the reality check of funerals. I understood death. Grandma did not just disappear, I saw her funeral. Burying my loved ones was not an imaginary concept, it was real. Today when I attend a funeral, I always think about my life and living it so that my day of death is better than my day of birth.
How can you make the day of your death the best day possible? Live life for Jesus Christ. Let him do his redeeming work in you. Allow his word to make your life abundantly blessed as you obey his plans. My job is to live my life for the greatest glory to God for the greatest amount of time. Then, I and all my friends will be rejoicing. Some friends rejoicing on earth. Some rejoicing with me and Jesus in Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 says,
"A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart." (NIV)
Think about what our image driven culture says. "Death is bad, dark, scary, and there is nothing good about it." Then we also tend to say, "Birth is joyful and happy, the future is bright and do birthdays are happy days." The Bible says the opposite! How can the Bible say, "...the day of death is better than the day of birth." Why?
Look at the words around this reality check. "A good name is better than perfume." A good name is not given at birth, it is earned by a reputation of being good. So the day of death is better than the day of birth because at birth nothing has been willingly or consciously accomplished. But at death we have the opportunity to celebrate a life well lived. At death we can look at an entire life and rejoice in its courage, service, honesty, labor, success, friendships, and family.
In that regard it is better to go to the funeral home than the party. As a kid I went to scores of funerals. We lived close to all the extended family and had huge family reunions and huge funerals. Some parents disagree, but I was glad for the reality check of funerals. I understood death. Grandma did not just disappear, I saw her funeral. Burying my loved ones was not an imaginary concept, it was real. Today when I attend a funeral, I always think about my life and living it so that my day of death is better than my day of birth.
How can you make the day of your death the best day possible? Live life for Jesus Christ. Let him do his redeeming work in you. Allow his word to make your life abundantly blessed as you obey his plans. My job is to live my life for the greatest glory to God for the greatest amount of time. Then, I and all my friends will be rejoicing. Some friends rejoicing on earth. Some rejoicing with me and Jesus in Heaven.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Virtual Reality
This week I have been rediscovering how much I love
Ecclesiastes, the Old Testament book of Wisdom.
What resonates with me most is the hard hitting reality of the
book. I am a very optimistic and
idealistic type of person who is thrilled by adventure and the opportunities of
life. At the same time, I am very down
to earth. I despise pretense and the
impracticality of a facade.
For me, living in our virtual world is like a
nightmare! Last week I saw an
advertisement on an internet website I was reading from. It directed me to the Social Security
Administrations site where you can sign up for disability benefits. I was shocked! I’ll say it again, I was shocked! It looked like a web site for Edward Jones,
Shelter Insurance, or a financial service group. There were banners and pictures of happy,
quite well dressed, wonderfully healthy people.
That is the virtual reality they create.
The actual reality that I see people dealing with is different. Going on disability is very difficult, no one
does it because of good health, and by the time the process is approved some
are in extreme financial difficulty that can never be recovered from with
limited benefits. That is the reality of
life. What makes me frustrated is when
an image is portrayed that is so far from reality.
What I love about Ecclesiastes is the extremely honest
nature of the book. There is no fake
mask on the truth of God’s word in this wisdom book. This week we will look at some of these
truths.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Declarations
I have seen a lot of friends on Facebook posting declarations. It seems to me that the key word in these declarations is the personal pronoun, "I." I declare that I am...
Without splitting hairs, it would be more correct to state what God declares.
God says, "You are forgiven." Thank you Lord for your forgiveness to me!
God says, "...by his (Jesus) stripes you are healed." Thank you Lord for healing for me!
God said, "I am going to prepare a place for you." So great eternal hope is mine!
I am thankful that the promises of God are mine because Jesus is my Lord. I am glad that I don't have to earn God's promises by stating them over and over to come true. Just trust him. We don't earn miracles and blessing by saying the right things repeatedly. We receive all God's gifts and blessings because we love and trust HIM. And, he loves us always.
Stay positive. Keep saying positive things because you are positive, not just to get something in return. Keep trusting the Lord, not your own effort. The effort that pleases the Lord is not effort to earn his blessing, but effort to love him more. His love for us is so abundant! His love is amazingly faithful! Let's let our love for him be growing toward that abundant and faithful love in return.
Without splitting hairs, it would be more correct to state what God declares.
God says, "You are forgiven." Thank you Lord for your forgiveness to me!
God says, "...by his (Jesus) stripes you are healed." Thank you Lord for healing for me!
God said, "I am going to prepare a place for you." So great eternal hope is mine!
I am thankful that the promises of God are mine because Jesus is my Lord. I am glad that I don't have to earn God's promises by stating them over and over to come true. Just trust him. We don't earn miracles and blessing by saying the right things repeatedly. We receive all God's gifts and blessings because we love and trust HIM. And, he loves us always.
Stay positive. Keep saying positive things because you are positive, not just to get something in return. Keep trusting the Lord, not your own effort. The effort that pleases the Lord is not effort to earn his blessing, but effort to love him more. His love for us is so abundant! His love is amazingly faithful! Let's let our love for him be growing toward that abundant and faithful love in return.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2 Pledges Completed!
Yesterday, I learned from our business manager, that another pledge to The Journey, our capital campaign was completed over the weekend. Then, I opened an envelope in the mail from a friend who also completed their pledge! I am so thankful for God's provision for us and for his provision for you!
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