It has been quite a week! We called a special meeting of some of our Wednesday night group and it went well. I can't go into details here, but we could tell the result we wanted was there the following night.
Today our leadership team had teacher training. Dick led it and we had three teachers present besides our leadership team. A lot was covered and paperwork distributed. We went over our calendar for the next 2 months and leadership training will be morphing a bit as we head towards a launch date.
We will be having an intimate Mother's Day service, just with our leadership team and Bible Study group. We're looking at a Father's Day service too, if we haven't launched yet. If we have, we will definitely have one!
Thanks for following! Our next prayer letter will be coming out soon.
Blessings on this gorgeous Sunday evening.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Missions Conference
Just thought I would share about my experience at The Harvest Gathering Missions Conference. Facebook pictures.
Greg and I signed in around 12:15 Friday and waited for our team to arrive. Josh and Monica brought Dick and Mary and they decided to stay over, where Greg and I wanted to drive back and forth to see the kids Friday night. We saw the Coordinator for the conference and one of our board members, John DuPree.
At 1:00 we had worship with Todd Anderson, which was great. Then there was a drama titled "Terrorists Interrupt Worship", which actually happened. Our keynote speaker was Pastor Wally Magdangal, you can see his very powerful story about being kidnapped in Saudi Arabia for preaching the gospel and his death sentence here.
Exhibits, bookstore and refreshments were from 2:30 to 3:00. Then the Workshops started. I went to "Raising Missions Visibility in the Local Church". It was great. We got a handout with about 30-40 ways to do this, broken down into different areas like Worship, Sundays, Visual Technology, Published Media, Special Events, and Special Projects. Lots of great ideas!
After another 30 minute break, it was off to the next Workshop. I went to "The Story of the Bible: Discover God's Heart from Genesis to Revelation". It was taught by Bob Sjogren, president of UnveilinGLORY. He wrote Cat and Dog Theology. Again, great workshop. Monica went to this with me and loved it as well. We couldn't write fast enough. Check it out here.
At 5:30 we had a great dinner, donated by Mt. Hermon. At 7:00 we had a general session with Todd Anderson and Brenda Myers doing worship. We had Hmong Dancers and the keynote speaker was Dr. Fermin Whittaker.
The next day, we got there about 8:15 and had worship and our Keynote Speaker was Bob Sjogren. It was fantastic! The workshop I chose that morning was "Chef's Recipe for Church Staff and Missions" by Dr. Sam Earp. Yes, he is related to Wyatt Earp. His great-great grandfather was Wyatt's brother. It was about how to get your staff to take ownership of and participate in the lives of the missionaries. Very good stuff!
Lunch was great and met some very interesting people.
Greg and I skipped the workshop part where 4 exhibitor spoke at a session and took a walk, sat on the grass, and had a great conversation with Monica. I invited Mary to go to the next session with me, which was "Loving Our Neighbors". I got some great info on a program I'd like to bring to our community. More on that another time.
Our last General Session was with John DuPree and it was a Commissioning Prayer service. He had those who felt called to "Go" and "Evangelize" stand up and everyone around them layed hands on them and prayed for them. Our whole team stood up as Evangelists. Next, he had those who felt called to "Send" (by prayer or giving) do the same. Next, "Welcomers", those felt called to welcome the nations here. Then the "Mobilizers", which we also all stood up for. It was a very touching, tear invoking time. Then John had everyone break into geographical areas, we had Modesto, Lodi, Gustine and even South Carolina (we didn't want him to feel left out!) We talked about events and things going on in our areas.
We came home well fed to be sure. Greg had prayed that a fire would be lit under our team members and it surely was. As a result, Monica and I will be having a Bible study together on the Old Testament. Can't wait! I enjoyed doing the first lesson already!
Greg and I signed in around 12:15 Friday and waited for our team to arrive. Josh and Monica brought Dick and Mary and they decided to stay over, where Greg and I wanted to drive back and forth to see the kids Friday night. We saw the Coordinator for the conference and one of our board members, John DuPree.
At 1:00 we had worship with Todd Anderson, which was great. Then there was a drama titled "Terrorists Interrupt Worship", which actually happened. Our keynote speaker was Pastor Wally Magdangal, you can see his very powerful story about being kidnapped in Saudi Arabia for preaching the gospel and his death sentence here.
Exhibits, bookstore and refreshments were from 2:30 to 3:00. Then the Workshops started. I went to "Raising Missions Visibility in the Local Church". It was great. We got a handout with about 30-40 ways to do this, broken down into different areas like Worship, Sundays, Visual Technology, Published Media, Special Events, and Special Projects. Lots of great ideas!
After another 30 minute break, it was off to the next Workshop. I went to "The Story of the Bible: Discover God's Heart from Genesis to Revelation". It was taught by Bob Sjogren, president of UnveilinGLORY. He wrote Cat and Dog Theology. Again, great workshop. Monica went to this with me and loved it as well. We couldn't write fast enough. Check it out here.
At 5:30 we had a great dinner, donated by Mt. Hermon. At 7:00 we had a general session with Todd Anderson and Brenda Myers doing worship. We had Hmong Dancers and the keynote speaker was Dr. Fermin Whittaker.
The next day, we got there about 8:15 and had worship and our Keynote Speaker was Bob Sjogren. It was fantastic! The workshop I chose that morning was "Chef's Recipe for Church Staff and Missions" by Dr. Sam Earp. Yes, he is related to Wyatt Earp. His great-great grandfather was Wyatt's brother. It was about how to get your staff to take ownership of and participate in the lives of the missionaries. Very good stuff!
Lunch was great and met some very interesting people.
Greg and I skipped the workshop part where 4 exhibitor spoke at a session and took a walk, sat on the grass, and had a great conversation with Monica. I invited Mary to go to the next session with me, which was "Loving Our Neighbors". I got some great info on a program I'd like to bring to our community. More on that another time.
Our last General Session was with John DuPree and it was a Commissioning Prayer service. He had those who felt called to "Go" and "Evangelize" stand up and everyone around them layed hands on them and prayed for them. Our whole team stood up as Evangelists. Next, he had those who felt called to "Send" (by prayer or giving) do the same. Next, "Welcomers", those felt called to welcome the nations here. Then the "Mobilizers", which we also all stood up for. It was a very touching, tear invoking time. Then John had everyone break into geographical areas, we had Modesto, Lodi, Gustine and even South Carolina (we didn't want him to feel left out!) We talked about events and things going on in our areas.
We came home well fed to be sure. Greg had prayed that a fire would be lit under our team members and it surely was. As a result, Monica and I will be having a Bible study together on the Old Testament. Can't wait! I enjoyed doing the first lesson already!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Tuesday we started the Parenting Bible study. I wrote this 10-week study by merging a few resources and adding my own stuff. While putting the finishing touches on that this week, I finished going through the Crisis Care DVDs and transposing my notes into a document for Greg to teach to our leadership team next month. I somehow managed to squeeze in the payroll tax reporting for the business for the first quarter, read a chapter in the Unstoppable Force book and answer the questions for tomorrow's leadership meeting, and help Greg squeeze 5 days work into 4 because we went to the Harvest Gathering Missions Conference in Fresno with our team Friday and Saturday. I came home to spend the next 2 hours doing laundry, cleaning house for the meeting tomorrow, putting away our tax stuff for personal, the business, and EQUIP, updating my blog, and doing miscellaneous stuff at my desk. Last week was no easier, getting 3 churches ready for Easter and our corporate client ready for a big tour.
Here's the great news! I have Thursday off to do the tax-exempt form for the government! Also, Monica and I are going to go through an Old Testament Bible Study book we found at the conference on Tuesdays before my other Bible Study.
On the Missions Conference, it was great! Lead by our board member John DuPree, we got to go to some great sessions and the keynote speakers were fabulous. It was so good, we bought the CDs to all the sessions. It confirmed the things we knew were true and inspired us. Greg prayed it would light a fire under the team and it did!
I hope to share some of that in an upcoming blog.
So, we still need a building and a worship leader! Please keep praying.
Time for bed, I'm pooped!
Here's the great news! I have Thursday off to do the tax-exempt form for the government! Also, Monica and I are going to go through an Old Testament Bible Study book we found at the conference on Tuesdays before my other Bible Study.
On the Missions Conference, it was great! Lead by our board member John DuPree, we got to go to some great sessions and the keynote speakers were fabulous. It was so good, we bought the CDs to all the sessions. It confirmed the things we knew were true and inspired us. Greg prayed it would light a fire under the team and it did!
I hope to share some of that in an upcoming blog.
So, we still need a building and a worship leader! Please keep praying.
Time for bed, I'm pooped!
Our First (Easter) Service
What a week it's been!!!!!!!
We had a wonderful Easter service in the Pritchard's backyard. The weather was beautiful and it was a touching service. Thank you to New Life Christian Center who blessed us with tables and chairs which came in extremely handy! Enjoy the pictures!
We had a wonderful Easter service in the Pritchard's backyard. The weather was beautiful and it was a touching service. Thank you to New Life Christian Center who blessed us with tables and chairs which came in extremely handy! Enjoy the pictures!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fresh Faith (cont.)
Face the reality of your spiritual situation, and go after anything God has shown you to be stolen property that Satan has cleverly taken from you. The zeal and love for Christ you once had can be recovered. The calling on your life to serve the Lord in a particular ministry can still be fulfilled.
It's not too late, either, for God to reach that son and daughter, no matter where they are or how they seem to be doing. The family that is falling apart right now is not too hard a case for Jesus Christ if you will just stand and begin to ask in faith that he restore what the thief has tried to steal. God will do it, and you will praise him in a new way.
Two very different thoughts here. The first is a reminder to me that our battles are not against flesh and blood. The enemy is the one who is behind the things that we often mistake man for doing. Greg has asked me to write a Crisis Care class for our leadership team to go through on one or two Sunday mornings. I'm 2/3 of the way through it. As I was wrapping up my notes Monday night, I was studying loss and the many types of loss there are. Several times the question was asked, "Are there any losses in your life that you haven't fully grieved over?" I could feel the Lord minister to my heart as there are some that I haven't fully grieved over. I've gone through a range of emotions, like anger, disgust, disappointment in others and myself, disbelief, amazement (in a bad way), and appreciation for how things are now. But I can't say I ever fully grieved over the situations. I need to find the time to be alone and deal with this important question.
The second thought above reminds me of what I'm working on saying at our Easter service this Sunday. I don't want to tip my hand too much, but I've written a 10-12 week parenting class that will start next week and that's part of it. God is a god of redemption. Nothing stolen is ever out of God's reach or will to restore.
Blessings on this breezy Wednesday.
It's not too late, either, for God to reach that son and daughter, no matter where they are or how they seem to be doing. The family that is falling apart right now is not too hard a case for Jesus Christ if you will just stand and begin to ask in faith that he restore what the thief has tried to steal. God will do it, and you will praise him in a new way.
Two very different thoughts here. The first is a reminder to me that our battles are not against flesh and blood. The enemy is the one who is behind the things that we often mistake man for doing. Greg has asked me to write a Crisis Care class for our leadership team to go through on one or two Sunday mornings. I'm 2/3 of the way through it. As I was wrapping up my notes Monday night, I was studying loss and the many types of loss there are. Several times the question was asked, "Are there any losses in your life that you haven't fully grieved over?" I could feel the Lord minister to my heart as there are some that I haven't fully grieved over. I've gone through a range of emotions, like anger, disgust, disappointment in others and myself, disbelief, amazement (in a bad way), and appreciation for how things are now. But I can't say I ever fully grieved over the situations. I need to find the time to be alone and deal with this important question.
The second thought above reminds me of what I'm working on saying at our Easter service this Sunday. I don't want to tip my hand too much, but I've written a 10-12 week parenting class that will start next week and that's part of it. God is a god of redemption. Nothing stolen is ever out of God's reach or will to restore.
Blessings on this breezy Wednesday.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Fresh Faith
This book by Pastor Jim Cymbala talks a lot about faith, obviously. Here are my highlights from Chapter 1 titled Stolen Property:
No matter how low you get, no matter what collapses around you, no matter who rejects you or slanders you-God is able to encourage you. He will help you get through. He will strengthen you deep within your heart in a place no one else can reach.AMEN!
David and his men came to a moment when they chose to get up and go after stolen property.
The moment must come for you and me when we say, "Wait a minute-am I just going to keep sitting here feeling bad for myself? In the name of the Lord, my daughter, my son, my grandchild is going to be reclaimed. In the name of the Lord, I am not going to give up on my calling, my potential in life. Satan, you're going to give back that property! I come against you and resist you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord."
Remember, we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. We are engaged in spiritual warfare.
Satan wants to snatch this [vibrant heart-faith and childlike trust in the risen, supernatural Christ-the kind of faith that changes the way you live, talk, and feel] more than anything else, for he knows "the righteous will live by faith" (Romans 1:17). He knows that "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). He knows that real faith is our lifeline to God's grace and power. If he can sever the faith connection, he has gained a tremendous victory. He knows that without a living faith, prayer as a force in our lives will be extinguished. We will soon be just mechanically going through the outward forms of religion while experiencing nothing of God's power.
Sometimes I just need to be reminded of all these things. I'm so thankful for books that hold these incredible thoughts. I don't have to rely on my horrible, fading memory. I can just pull them off the shelf and look for yellow!
It's Saturday and we did an extra work day today. I'm pooped! I've got to make dinner before a counseling session at 6:30. Have a blessed, sunny, breezy, Saturday evening.
No matter how low you get, no matter what collapses around you, no matter who rejects you or slanders you-God is able to encourage you. He will help you get through. He will strengthen you deep within your heart in a place no one else can reach.AMEN!
David and his men came to a moment when they chose to get up and go after stolen property.
The moment must come for you and me when we say, "Wait a minute-am I just going to keep sitting here feeling bad for myself? In the name of the Lord, my daughter, my son, my grandchild is going to be reclaimed. In the name of the Lord, I am not going to give up on my calling, my potential in life. Satan, you're going to give back that property! I come against you and resist you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord."
Remember, we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. We are engaged in spiritual warfare.
Satan wants to snatch this [vibrant heart-faith and childlike trust in the risen, supernatural Christ-the kind of faith that changes the way you live, talk, and feel] more than anything else, for he knows "the righteous will live by faith" (Romans 1:17). He knows that "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). He knows that real faith is our lifeline to God's grace and power. If he can sever the faith connection, he has gained a tremendous victory. He knows that without a living faith, prayer as a force in our lives will be extinguished. We will soon be just mechanically going through the outward forms of religion while experiencing nothing of God's power.
Sometimes I just need to be reminded of all these things. I'm so thankful for books that hold these incredible thoughts. I don't have to rely on my horrible, fading memory. I can just pull them off the shelf and look for yellow!
It's Saturday and we did an extra work day today. I'm pooped! I've got to make dinner before a counseling session at 6:30. Have a blessed, sunny, breezy, Saturday evening.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (cont.)
The last entry was the end of my highlights for the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. At the end of the last chapter, there is an extra blurb called 'A Word for Pastors'. I'm going to include it here, because I feel it is so important to hear this man's heart for Pastors.
I have always struggled with the notion of addressing pastors, because I am keenly aware of my lack of classical training. But in the school of practical experience, the main truths of the Bible have become evident, and that is what I try to share.
I mention the following out of my heart's concern that all of us fulfill God's calling on our lives:
1. Every real pastor is in the ministry today because, in the words of Ephesians 4:11, "it was he [Christ] who gave some to be . . . pastors and teachers." The ministry was not your idea or mine; it was God's plan from the beginning of time. He has entrusted us with a sacred privilege, and with that comes an awesome responsibility - one for which we will have to answer at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Let us all lead our congregations with the desire for divine acceptance, rather than focusing so much on current trends or what is popular with our peers. Christ will one day assess the quality of our work. He will pay no attention to trends set by others in the pastoral profession. That is why we all need to go humbly before him with open hearts, letting him rearrange all we do in order to meet his approval.
2. We must face the fact that for our churches and ministries to be all God wants them to be, they must be saturated with prayer. No new revelation or church-growth technique will change the fact that spiritual power is always linked to communion with God. If you and I are prayerless, if our churches have no appetite for God's presence, we will never reach our full potential in him.
3. Many visitors to our Tuesday night prayer meetings get inspired and want to go and do likewise back home. But it is very important to discern God's guidance as to the true spiritual temperature of a congregation and what the next step should be.
While some pastors have started prayer meetings similar to ours and have seen a wonderful response, others have been disappointed. Many times the spirit of prayer has been so absent in a church that a weeknight prayer meeting, no matter how biblical or laudable, meets with apathy and coldness. This discourages pastors even more, and they feel doubly defeated as fewer and fewer people come each week.
I often recommend that these pastors adjust the Sunday service instead. Preaching time can be shortened somewhat, and when the sermon is over, invite those who feel touched by the Word to come forward for prayer. Get your staff and the church's spiritual leaders around you and pray with them. What is an "altar service"? It's a mini prayer meeting.
After people find more freedom to bring their needs to God, the spirit of prayer can begin to take hold. The God will lead you to the next step. We must always remember that prayer is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and we can't work it up. So give God time to work in people's hearts. After they have experienced the joy and power of his presence, God will be able to do even greater things.
4. Let us never accept the excuse that God cannot work in our situation...that our particular people are too rich, or too poor...too inner-city or too suburban...too traditional or too avant-garde. This kind of thinking is never found in the Word of God. No matter what ethnic origin or geography characterizes the local church, we can see God do things just as he did in the book of Acts, since he has never changed. The only changing that can occur is within us.
Let us purpose in our hearts to change in his direction and see him do incredible things to the praise of the glory of his grace.
After this Word to Pastors is a study guide on the book with personal reflections. I'll next blog about my highlights to the next book within this book, Fresh Faith.
Blessings to all on this dark, cold, windy Wednesday.
I have always struggled with the notion of addressing pastors, because I am keenly aware of my lack of classical training. But in the school of practical experience, the main truths of the Bible have become evident, and that is what I try to share.
I mention the following out of my heart's concern that all of us fulfill God's calling on our lives:
1. Every real pastor is in the ministry today because, in the words of Ephesians 4:11, "it was he [Christ] who gave some to be . . . pastors and teachers." The ministry was not your idea or mine; it was God's plan from the beginning of time. He has entrusted us with a sacred privilege, and with that comes an awesome responsibility - one for which we will have to answer at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Let us all lead our congregations with the desire for divine acceptance, rather than focusing so much on current trends or what is popular with our peers. Christ will one day assess the quality of our work. He will pay no attention to trends set by others in the pastoral profession. That is why we all need to go humbly before him with open hearts, letting him rearrange all we do in order to meet his approval.
2. We must face the fact that for our churches and ministries to be all God wants them to be, they must be saturated with prayer. No new revelation or church-growth technique will change the fact that spiritual power is always linked to communion with God. If you and I are prayerless, if our churches have no appetite for God's presence, we will never reach our full potential in him.
3. Many visitors to our Tuesday night prayer meetings get inspired and want to go and do likewise back home. But it is very important to discern God's guidance as to the true spiritual temperature of a congregation and what the next step should be.
While some pastors have started prayer meetings similar to ours and have seen a wonderful response, others have been disappointed. Many times the spirit of prayer has been so absent in a church that a weeknight prayer meeting, no matter how biblical or laudable, meets with apathy and coldness. This discourages pastors even more, and they feel doubly defeated as fewer and fewer people come each week.
I often recommend that these pastors adjust the Sunday service instead. Preaching time can be shortened somewhat, and when the sermon is over, invite those who feel touched by the Word to come forward for prayer. Get your staff and the church's spiritual leaders around you and pray with them. What is an "altar service"? It's a mini prayer meeting.
After people find more freedom to bring their needs to God, the spirit of prayer can begin to take hold. The God will lead you to the next step. We must always remember that prayer is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and we can't work it up. So give God time to work in people's hearts. After they have experienced the joy and power of his presence, God will be able to do even greater things.
4. Let us never accept the excuse that God cannot work in our situation...that our particular people are too rich, or too poor...too inner-city or too suburban...too traditional or too avant-garde. This kind of thinking is never found in the Word of God. No matter what ethnic origin or geography characterizes the local church, we can see God do things just as he did in the book of Acts, since he has never changed. The only changing that can occur is within us.
Let us purpose in our hearts to change in his direction and see him do incredible things to the praise of the glory of his grace.
After this Word to Pastors is a study guide on the book with personal reflections. I'll next blog about my highlights to the next book within this book, Fresh Faith.
Blessings to all on this dark, cold, windy Wednesday.
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