One Person at a Time...

This Sunday at New Life!

I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we start our Christmas series at New Life!  It's titled, "Preparing the Way for Jesus," and this Sunday's message is titled, "Ready or Not...!"  Are you ready for the Christmas season?  Are you ready to prepare the way for Jesus---not only in your own life, but in the lives of those around us who don't know Jesus as Savior and Lord? This series is designed to help and challenge us to recognize that Jesus HAS come and that He IS coming.  When He comes again it won't be as a baby in a manger, but as the Lord of the Harvest!  While we'll be focusing on all the texts that record Jesus' first coming, we'll be looking at how that coming is our foundation for preparing the way for His coming again.

See you Sunday---and bring a friend!

WORD-FM Opportunity this Thursday

John and Stephanie have invited me back to their show on WORD-FM (101.5 FM) this Thursday, Nov. 29, at 5:35 p.m.  We're going to be doing a segment titled, "Stump the Pastor."  I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but it was something that I suggested may be fun to do, and John grabbed onto it right away.   If you think of it, please lift me up in prayer for wisdom and discernment that God will show me the biblical answers to John and Stephanie's questions.  Also, pray that those listening on Thursday, will receive answers to questions that have been stumbling blocks to their faith and will be built up in the Lord. It would be great if folks would even come to trust Jesus as a result of listening!

Next Step #28--Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone!

Thanksgiving is over, right? Wrong! As followers of Jesus who are filled with the Holy Spirit, every day is Thanksgiving. During our 40 Days of Gratitude Series at New Life, I made a point about the Holy Spirit and thanksgiving twice: If our "gratitude meter" is on "zero" then our "Holy Spirit meter" is on "zero," too. What I mean by that is that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and living in His power, one of the natural results is THANKSGIVING. The best scriptural illustration of that is found in Ephesians 5:18-20: Don't be drunk with win, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will ALWAYS GIVE THANKS for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Do you see the connection? When the Spirit controls our lives, we will ALWAYS GIVE THANKS for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you want to know whether the Spirit is in control right now? How is your "gratitude meter"? Are you grateful for EVERYTHING? Last night the Thanksgiving "feasting" caught up with me. Let's just say I was experiencing some nausea. In the midst of that how do you be grateful? It's actually easy if the Spirit is in control. I was grateful for HOW I was feeling, but I was grateful that God was still in charge, that I had a comfortable bed where I could lie down and rest. I was grateful for indoor plumbing! You say, "Chris, that's gross." No, it's gratitude for the common blessings that you and I take for granted, but that most of the world has no opportunity to know. As you and I go about the day, living in the Spirit, Thanksgiving will be the order of the day, regardless of what comes our way!

Amazing Story of Giving!

Just saw this on Pastor Jeff Leake's blog and I had to post it here for you to see, too!

Isn't God amazing!

This Sunday at New Life!

Hi Everyone!  I hope you'll complete your Thanksgiving holiday by joining us Sunday as we conclude our 40 Days of Gratitude with "Grateful for a Family of Faith!"  One of the greatest blessings of our lives is having brothers and sisters in Jesus who worship, fellowship, learn and serve together in Jesus' name. Here at New Life it is our goal to be such a family. If you're looking for a church home, we'd love to have you join us THIS SUNDAY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

If you've taken the time to turn to my blog today, THANK YOU.  While you're here remember that God's word tells us that EVERY Day is a day for thanksgiving:

      ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

        ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                           Ephesians 5:20 NIV

      ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.                                                                                 Colossians 3:17 NIV

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Eve at Crossway!

Hi Everyone!

Remember to join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Crossway Church as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our brothers and sisters from Crossway.  Pastor Pat Summers will be bringing the message, and several folks will be receiving believer baptism including New Life's Bobby Kennedy. As we near the conclusion of our 40 Days of gratitude series, what better way than by gathering as God's people to say thank you for all He has done!

Training vs. Trying for Spiritual Growth -- WORD.FM

Today's the day I have the opportunity to visit WORD.FM to be on the John and Stephanie talk show.  I'll be dialoguing with them about "Training vs. Trying for Spiritual Growth."  It's a topic that's made my blog before.  The longer I live the more I believe that it is one of the most crucial matters of life for Jesus' followers.  George Barna's statistics keep showing that Christians in America don't stand out in any signicant ways when it comes to our lifestyles from those who don't claim to follow Jesus.  How is that possible?  The only answer I can arrive at is it's possible, because we don't intentionally "train" to become more like Jesus.  When we don't "train" for spiritual growth, it won't happen.  We all want or hope to be more like Jesus, but wanting and hoping won't change us.  Trying won't change us too often either.  It's only when we make the commit to train--to regular activity carried out OVER TIME--that becomes progressively more challenging as we become stronger in whatever area it is--prayer, bible study, serving others, fellowship, giving, etc... that the transformation Jesus calls us to when we're born again, becomes a reality.

What areas of your life are "in training," when it comes to spiritual growth?  How's the progress?  How's the perseverance?  May God empower each of us by His Spirit to train in ways that will bring us more and more into maturity in Jesus!

Next Step #27 -- Half Time!

Next Step #27—“Half Time”

Aristotle is credited with the statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  His words remind us of the importance of taking the time to assess our lives, to see where we are growing and to consider what changes are necessary for us to become everything God intends us to be. (Actually, it’s doubtful that Aristotle would have concerned himself with becoming all that God intends us to be, but you get the point!)  It’s been six months since the “Living in the Spirit” series at New Life, and six months since many of you prayed for the Holy Spirit to baptize and fill you.

How is it going with living in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit each day? Are you taking time every morning when you get up to ask the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you? Remember, Ephesians 5:18 reminds us that we need to “be being filled with the Holy Spirit.” It’s an ongoing reality, not a once in a life time experience. Back in May, the Holy Spirit moved in many of our lives through the Living in the Spirit series, but that was not so that we could look back and say, “Wasn’t that an amazing experience BACK THEN?” He did it so that we can know His presence and power moment by moment--NOW. While it IS important to take time to examine where we were six months ago, it’s equally as important to consider what is happening at this moment, because only then can we know whether we have grown. So, have you grown in your walk with Jesus in the last six months through the Holy Spirit’s presence and power? Take five minutes right now to reflect on that question. One good way to know whether the Holy Spirit IS deepening you in your walk with Jesus is your “gratitude meter.” As the Apostle Paul reminded us: when we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, we will GIVE THANKS TO GOD!

As we move into the next six months, let’s make certain that living in the Spirit is more and more the reality, because then, and only then, will we be sure that God’s kingdom will advance in our lives and in the lives of those around us!

Not for Cowards...

At 3:00 a.m. I was awakened by the sound of rain pounding on the roof.  Nancy must have been awakened by it, too.  I said, "Doesn't look like a good morning for a run, does it?"  She said, "No, it doesn't."  We both drifted back to sleep, and when my alarm went off at 4:50 a.m. the rain had slacked off, but was still coming down.  I put on my running clothes and headed to Kelley's for my weekly meeting with my accountability partner at 5:30.  At about 6:10, we ended our time with prayer and it was still raining "lightly."  I got to the track and started running.  I thought, "This is not a day for cowards."  I started praying, thanking God for the new day, for the opportunity to be with Him, for the rain..."  We actually do need the water, you know! 

I thought, "I'll just run a mile this morning and then go home and get on the "Cardio-Glide" for 45 minutes.  But about the third lap the rain STOPPED.  Cool! I decided, I could do two miles, since my outer sweatchirt wasn't that wet.  After two miles it seemed that one more would be okay.  After the third mile, I took off my outer sweatshirt and did one more, then a cool down lap.  35:25 with the Lord.  A little short, so I prayed my way home.  As I went downstairs for a brief weight-lifting work-out, I gave thanks to God for not being a coward.  The decision that mattered took place at 4:50 a.m.--I got out of bed.  For most of us that's the most important decision of the day.  After all, it's tough to take on the world when you're on you're back!  Remember, when your alarm clock rings tomorrow, don't say, "Good Lord, it's morning."  Say, "GOOD MORNING, LORD!" and it will be!