Icy Weekend

What can I say but this has been a crazy weekend. We lost power on Saturday around 10:30 a.m. and we are yet to have power. I am currently staying at the church with my family because there is heat and power there. (I love my job but this gives living at the church a whole new meaning.) One of things I hated most about this weekend is canceling church. This is twice this year that we've had to cancel. I hate missing the presence of God and the people of God the most. For now its just me and the family hanging out and playing monopoly. Hoping to get the power on soon so we can get back to normal life!

Happy Reunion

The last few weeks have pretty crazy. As many of you know Josh came home Saturday night to do a free concert at his old high school in Martensdale. Nashville Star got a hold of my sister and said they wanted to do a reunion with him and his mom. All I can say is God is good as we got to see Josh for the first time in a long time. I was thankful to the Nashville Star staff as they were very gracious to us and giving us time to spend with Josh. You can see some of the footage Thursday Night at 9 p.m. on the USA Network. God is good and I'm especially happy for my sister.

http://www.archive.org/download/CommunityHopePauseWars/Pause_Wars.mpg

For those that missed the video on Sunday I decided to post in on the blog. Hope you enjoy and may the force be with you.

Leading

I was reading Craig Groschell's blog the other day about why some churches make it and some don't. Here is what it said:

Some church plants make it. Some don’t.
Some ministries grow and reach people for Christ. Some slowly die.
Some student ministries explode. Others implode.
I’ve often wondered why. What’s the difference? While only God can sort out the details, I’ve noticed one phrase that leaders of struggling ministries often repeat. If a leader says this phrase too many times, worse yet, believes it, the ministry or organization will likely struggle or fade away. I call it the “phrase of death.” What is this deadly combination of words?
“The people won’t…”
Here is what someone might say:
“The people won’t bring their lost friends.”
“The people won’t tithe?”
“The people won’t get into small groups.”
“The people won’t serve.”
“The people don’t care about the poor.”
“The people won’t come to the prayer meeting.”
“The people won’t do what I want them to do.”

There’s a fine line between asking someone to do something and leading them to do something. If we just ask a crowd of people to do something, they probably won’t. But if we lead them, chances are much better they will.

8 Responses to “The People Won't

Perhaps we should concentrate of or better yet begin to state these words “I will…”
• I will go• I will give• I will create a small group• I will serve that small group• I will care about the poor• I will pray for all• I will do what others won’t do

Perhaps the answer lies in what each of us “Will Do” not so much in what we say … the scripture does teach that we are to let our light so shine that they see our “good works” and glorify our father which is in heaven.

Crazy Ride and Nashville Star

Well just an update on what is happening with my nephew Josh and Nashville Star. My sister got a call last night from someone from the show and Josh wants to see her. He is coming in this weekend and he is going to do a free concert in Martensdale High School on Saturday night. They want the whole family there for a sort of reunion and its all going to be taped. It will be a late night on Saturday and then get up to preach on Sunday but I want to be there for my sister. My prayer is that this will be a new beginning and fresh start for my sister who hasn't seen her son in over fifteen or so years.

Yesterday our ladies wrapped over 80 valentine plates full of cookies and cupcakes for absentees and prospects for our church. I was amazed by all the plates that were made! I had the chance to deliver a few of them last night and I know everyone was truly grateful. It's amazing what a little plate of cookies can do. We prayed before we delivered the plates that when the people take a bite of cookies they would be reminded of God's love for them.

For those that watched Nashville Star last night, you heard Josh's song that was written for his mom which is my sister. Lots of emotions running last night since it's been ten years or more since I've seen Josh. I know Josh has been hurt by a lot of things in the past and it's really too bad. Divorce can be an ugly thing and Josh does not know the entire story. I know his mom dearly loves him and would like nothing more to connect with him. None of our family has known for years where he has been until all of a sudden he shows up on t.v. This really reminds me of the power of forgiveness and the words of Jesus. We all make mistakes and none of us are perfect and so I'm glad for the forgiveness of Jesus and I'm glad that I can then offer that forgiveness to others. My prayer is that someday Josh will come around and really want to connect with his true mom. I know that our side of the family would want nothing more then to accept him back no matter if he is a Nashville Star or not.

Turning 30

This Saturday I officially turn 30. I remember when I was kid 30 seemed really old but now since I'm turning 30 it doesn't seem so bad. I guess my twenty-something years are over and for awhile I had a hard time with that but now I'm coming to grips with it. Jesus was thirty when He started His official ministry and David was thirty when he became king. My prayer is that the next few years will be a year of getting to know God more, growing more in wisdom and faith and being used by God in a great more powerful way!

This Sunday we are starting a new series called "Pause." We will be dealing with how to fight temptation and the devil. Sometimes I think we take the devil and temptation too lightly. Jesus has called us to defeat temptation and He has showed how we can stand over the devil. Over the next four weeks we will be learning how to do just that and learn to pause before we give into temptation and the devil. Make sure you plan to attend church the next four weeks!

Celebrating 3 Years

We had a great service Sunday. I can't believe it has been three years since Community Hope started as an official church. Gary Smith started out talking about how it doesn't matter how we start the race but how we finish! I am thankful for Gary and his family for starting Community Hope. Cary Vankampen spoke next about the first days of him coming as the launch pastor. Cary told how the Lord spoke to his heart that Community Hope would be unlike any other church but to let God lead and for him to get out of the way. Cary and I spoke on the same scripture verse in the book of Matthew. Cary and I had not spoke to each other about what we are going to say. God's Spirit was trying to tell all of us the same things.

1. Jesus went to the people/ To be the church, we must go to the people!
2. Jesus had compassion/ Jesus had compassion for the sick and hurting
3. Jesus told us to pray for laborers into the harvest/ Word in the verse is send out which means eject. We need to eject out of our comfort zones and go spread the message of the kingdom.

I am so thankful for Mike and Ann Emheiser who was there to lead us in worship Sunday. Ann gave her testimony of how she had not played the piano since they left. It was very moving and powerful way to end the service. I am thankful for three years of ministry at Community Hope, but I am even more thankful the years and the things to come!