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Many of you who call Living Water your community or church home know that this coming weekend we are celebrating 75 Years of God’s faithfulness!  75 years ago, in response to God’s beckoning, the McKoewn family moved from Southern California to the great Northwest

Sunday Evening Thoughts

I'm all settled in for the night, thinking about a great day.  Here are some of my highlights:

• Thank you for the email and Facebook messages!  I love that our church embraces a challenge to be more like Jesus.
• If we all get serious about ending this year with INTEGRITY, we'll be available for even greater things in the year to come.
• Over 170 couples at the Couples Conference getting restored, strengthened and challenged to be AWESOME husbands and wives.
• Jesus will take all of us from being "followers" to being "FOLLOWERS" (you had to be there).  The process is called Discipleship.
• We saw LOTS of men and woman come to Jesus!  That is a miracle!!!
• I really thought the Seahawks would pull off a win today, I was pulling for them... Sorry guys.
• Some people want the benefits of Jesus without the cost of discipleship.
• Jesus will keep asking, "Will you trust My word?" and "Will you trust My way?"
• QUESTIONS: do you have a time and place set aside where you can "check in" on your discipleship journey?
• What roles do you play? Mine primary roles are; Disciple, Husband, Father, Leader, Pastor, Friend, Brother, Son... Yours?
• GREAT JOB to everyone who stepped up to serve EXTRA this weekend because so many couples were at the Conference.
• I have two days off in a row!  It's a mini staycation...
• DO NOT MISS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE THIS COMING WEEKEND!

Sunday Evening Thoughts

Every weekend my heart grows more convinced that God continues to do great things in and through the lives of His people.  While the scripture validates this reality time and time again, media and culture seem to give us ample reason to grow increasingly concerned and pessimistic.  In spite of that, God's grace and mercy never cease to amaze me and I see His fingerprints ALL AROUND!

This weekend we talked about "Learning to live a life of WORSHIP and be a person of PRAISE".  Here are some of my highlights:

1. Eric and his team rocked the house this morning!  There were some technical difficulties at the beginning of the Nine but they praised their way through.  Great job!
2. Speaking of tech problems... Whenever we experience a tech glitch (which isn't very often) I'm reminded of how many weekends come together in such a way that most people have no idea how much complexity is involved within the presentation.  Our tech team including Dale, Jaysen, Daniel, Kelly, Joy, Ryan, Jeff, Jason, Mark, Kathy, Brenda, Laurel, Andy AND SO MANY MORE are some of the best in the world!  They have servants' hearts and truly worship Jesus with their service!  On the rare occasion something goes wrong, I THANK GOD FOR HOW OFTEN THINGS GO RIGHT!  I love our team. (by the way, if you're not involved in serving somewhere, you are MISSING OUT!)
3. Worship = when our attitude and activity align with God’s created purpose.
   

4. Praise and thanksgiving = when we RIGHTLY ATTRIBUTE CREDIT TO GOD.

5. SEX was created to be an act of worship to God.
6. Traffic jams, Sour Milk and Email Spam are all direct results of Adam.
7. Worship without Praise is Legalism
8. Praise without Worship is Hypocrisy

Sunday Night Thoughts

This was another great weekend at Living Water!  The church did a great job of being "salt and light" at the Bash on Saturday night and there was life changing, Spirit filled, ministry at each of our Sunday services.  Here are some of things that stood out to me:

• If a church is going to do a "Halloween Alternative", do it to reach the unchurched, not just to give church kids someplace to get candy. (By the way, I love church kids, I've got 4 of them :)

Kyle in the Ninja Room

via www.youtube.com

75th Teaser Announcement

It's going to be amazing! More to come.

via www.youtube.com

Traveling Back in Time Part 1

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Olympia Foursquare church.  We've got some exciting things we're preparing for this year's Thanks Giving service that you don't want to miss.  Today we traveling back to where it all began to retrace some steps of faith that ultimately ended giving birth to the Church of Living Water.

Podcast - "Against the Flow" Part 4- Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

Following Jesus was never meant to be easy, but it is possible!  In this study of the Beatitudes, we'll look at how the teaching that Jesus provided in this opening to the Sermon on the Mount is just as applicable today as it was then.  Join us as we learn to follow Jesus, against the flow.

Download Beatitudes_4

Podcast - "Against the Flow" Part 3- Blessed are the Meek

Following Jesus was never meant to be easy, but it is possible!  In this study of the Beatitudes, we'll look at how the teaching that Jesus provided in this opening to the Sermon on the Mount is just as applicable today as it was then.  Join us as we learn to follow Jesus, against the flow.

Download Beatitudes_3

Sending Your Kids Back to School... Overwhelming Influences

This is the season for sending kids back to school.  Whether they are off to Kindergarten or entering their final year in High School, parents need to have a plan for how they will lead their children this school year.  It seems natural to spend your last summer weeks school shopping and buying new clothes, but those activities pale in comparison to the importance of helping your kids get spiritually prepared for the change in environment they are about to face.

Consider these insights from Shawn Alyne Strannigan in her series of online articles, "Combating Cultural Influences".  Here's an excerpt,

When my children were toddlers, I installed childproof latches on all the cabinets and drawers within their grasp to keep them from ingesting dangerous substances. During the grade school years, I zealously guarded the shows they watched...  Read the rest.

The worst decision any parent can make is to assume that "everything's gonna be OK".  Be faith-filled AND proactive to help your kids grow up to be passionate followers of Christ.  They need you, and by the grace of God you can raise kids that will be INFLUENCERS rather than influenced.