One Person at a Time...

If You Missed Worship Yesterday...

I know the weather and the extended weekend kept some of you away from New Life worship yesterday, and if you missed it, you missed a great time with God!  Worship Administrator Mia Tepper coordinated the music yesterday as Worship/Youth Leader Brad French served as the preacher of the day.  The music was outstanding, and Brad's message incorporated some great visuals, a humorous video, and an AWESOME teaching on God's AWESOMENESS! We also welcomed new covenanting disciples, and Pastor of Administration Pat Fecich gave us a "delicious" introduction to this year's "Blessing Bag" ministry.  If you missed it you missed a lot, and you'll want to go to New Life's Website and download the audio!

Thanks, Leaders!

I want to personally and publicly thank our leaders at New Life for their participation in the leader retreat Friday evening and Saturday at the Hust "retreat center"!  We are blessed at New Life to have leaders who are seeking God's will for our life together, and who desire continue growing in their life as followers of Jesus.  The focus of the retreat was "Equipping."  The focus text was Ephesians 4:11-16.  As we move through 2008 the emphasis of all our leaders is going to be on maturing in our own relationship with Jesus AND equipping as many of the "saints"--God's people--at New Life as we can to fulfill our mission to share the New Life of Jesus Christ with the world--one person at a time.

Annual Meeting of the Corporation...

In 40 minutes the Elders Board and Council will hold the annual meeting of the Corporation of New Life Christian Ministries, Inc.  It's a legal "formality" on the one hand, it's an important time of reviewing the year and anticipating a new one on the other.  It's good to stop and see what God has done, what He has empowered us to do, and also what we have failed to do to advance His Kingdom.  That's what annual meetings of a local group of followers of Jesus should be, and what they are at New Life.  One of the greatest joys for me as the founding pastor of New Life is that we have a structure that is designed to enhance MINISTRY, not maintenance.  I frankly  don't care if New Life exists as a local body of Jesus if all that means is that we "maintain" what we've always maintained.  A local church exists to expand God's universal Kingdom, to work together with other local congregations to see God's realm grow bigger with each passing year.  The gains at New Life have been modest this past year--but there have been gains.  Lives baptized in obedience to Jesus.  Missionaries supported to the glory of God.  Worship celebrated to God's pleasure.  Fellowship shared to deepen the bonds of love in Jesus.  This is why the church exists!  Some think that one day, when New Life has a building or buildings at 127 Knoch Road we will "really" be a church.  Praise God that we are already a church!  A building will be just one more "tool" God uses to lead others into His Kingdom, and for that reason, I look forward to the day when 127 Knoch Road is our "mission outpost" or "embassy of God's Kingdom" in our community.  Until then, by God's grace and the Spirit's power we will continue to advance His Kingdom at South Butler Primary Center, in our homes, schools, workplaces and in the world.  After all, our "corporation" is a world-wide conglomerate, with billions of constitutents, and thousands added each day--to God's eternal glory!

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!

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!

Brad's "ON BOARD!" (Officially)

Hard to believe but Worship Coordinator and Youth Leader, Brad French's initial 90-days of employment concludes TODAY, and the elders' council have confirmed his employment as permanent!  That's a great blessing to all of us who call New Life Home.  Brad's love of Jesus, his commitment to excellence in ministry, his many gifts and skills, and his genuine humility make him an outstanding leader at New Life.  Along with Sam, who brings many gifts and skills of her own, they make a great team, and I am truly grateful to God for them and their ministry with us!  May the PERMANENT status of Brad's employment be just that for many years to come!

New Life on the Move!

If you were in worship this past Sunday, you know that the stage at the high school has been condemned.  That means our worship services are going to be moving---literally--across the street on November 18.  This Sunday (Nov. 4) and the next we'll continue to meet in the high school auditorium and use the space in front of the stage curtains for the worship team and others involved in leading the service.  Then on the 18th we'll move across the street to the South Butler School District Primary Center and our worship "home" will be the multi-purpose room, probably until the end of February.   As I reflected on the transition, it reminded me of God's people in the days of Moses who were literally traveling from Egypt to the "Promised Land," and how they had to set up the tabernacle--their worship center--every place they stopped along the way.  How much more convenient it will be for us!  The school district has been so helpful with seeing that our needs are met during this temporary change.  Kudos to Mr. Todd O'Shell and Mr. Chris Riser from the district who walked us through our options this afternoon and did it with professionalism and care. 

I'm actually looking forward to the tempoary change as it will give us all an opportunity to be closer to each other, since the room is wider than it is deep AND to have the hospitality center in the worship area, so we'll all have the opportunity to know when worship is going to begin.  More updates will be coming in worship, through the LIFELINE, on the church website, and in various ways, but you heard here first!

Turning the Vision into Reality!

This past Sunday during my CLUB (Come Let Us Build) update, I spoke about the importance of turning the vision into reality, when it comes to our life together as followers of Jesus.  The impetus for those comments came from a "Defining Moments" talk delivered by Pastor Bill Hybels of Willowcreek Community Church.  The main point of the statement is that it's fairly easy to define a vision, to cast a vision, to state a vision--the challenge comes when we move to getting it done. 

I challenged those who were in worship on Sunday to do two simple things from now through December 30, as a part of seeing the vision become a reality:  1)  Bring 2 people to worship; and 2) become part of a 40 Days of Gratitude LIFE home group.  The first commitment requires each of us to TELL others about Jesus, or at least invite them to join us in worship where we can all tell them about Jesus together!  If each of us who was in worship Sunday does that, then we'll have more than 500 folks in worship on December 30th!  (What if the additional 300+ all need to know the Lord?  Then God's Kingdom could grow by 300+ people, and EACH one is worth one Jesus!

Becoming part of a 40 Days of Gratitude LIFE home group is even easier!  All you have to do is commit an hour and a half each week for 6 weeks in October and November to getting together with 4-12 other folks who are seeking to see the vision becomea  reality for fellowship, growth and encouraging each other to action.  If you're reading this post, I URGE you to take the challenge and act on the 2 simple steps to turning the vision into reality.  As we do God's kingdom will grow and so will we!

Kudos to Brad!

Yesterday, Brad French preached his first message at New Life.  What a tremendous start!  Brad showed us his passion for Jesus, his humor, his hopes and dreams, and challenged us to live our passion for Jesus by telling others about Him.  Brad is a great addition to the New Life team and I'm grateful to God for sending Him to us.  If you missed it, you'll be able to hear it and/or read it soon at New Life's Website: www.newlifexn.org