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Sunday Evening Thoughts

I've been looking forward to beginning this series for quite some time.  I really believe that the message of the woman at the well has HUGE significance for every person.  If you didn't hear the message today, you can find it on the website in the next day or two.  Some of my highlights from the weekend:

• First, Cody and Dan were really, really good!  Cody sang, "I will rise" by Chris Tomlin.  I heard it 5 times and it got better each time.  I've known Cody for 5 years and I'm so proud of the husband and leader he has become.  If you've got J Highers, get them plugged in!
• I pray that every Christian (I know I am) was convicted to evaluate their willingness to "go where the harvest is" even if it moves us outside of our religious preferences.
• Fawn and I were reacquainted with a gal who started coming to church 10 years ago when we were the college leaders.  We love that she's getting plugged in again!
• Don't believe the lie that your past failure disqualifies you from His abundance!
• Jesus wants to deal with our spiritual problems, then our physical problems. 
• When you encounter Jesus face to face, someone else's testimony can become your EXPERIENCE.
• Literally DOZENS of people responded to the call to release something to Jesus that they've been holding back and embrace His abundance.

I love you church!  It's an honor to serve and get to be a part of what God is doing.  Don't hold anything back from Jesus this week.  Let His abundance overflow and impact the people you encounter.

Getting DEEPER...

 Last week I spent 4 1/2 days with 25 other pastors from around the world.  Our motivation to be together was to sit under the teaching of Dr. Jack Hayford at the college and seminary he founded in Van Nuys CA.  Pastor Jack consistently sets aside weeks throughout the year to mentor pastors of all ages and backgrounds.  Someone asked me, "Isn't he kind of old to be giving advice about the contemporary church?"  My response, "The church isn't anything new, nor are the principals and TRUTHS that make her the most powerful community on the planet."

What Pastor Jack brings to the table does not fall into the categories of trend or style.  Because of his vast experience and fruitful ministry, he focuses on the theology and experience that he has gained over 50+ years.  

Some of my take-aways:

• I love that he still LOVES and HONORS his

Are you in a busy season?

 It seems to me that "busy" has become a popular state of existence.  There are a lot of people who are legitimately busy, but I wonder, "Do we secretly feel more valuable the more busy we are?"  A couple thoughts about being busy:

1. The definition of "busy" is: having a great deal to do. The opposite then is: having very little to do. WHY WOULD ANYONE WHO CAN HONESTLY SEE THE NEEDS AROUND THEM NOT WANT TO BE BUSY MAKING A DIFFERENCE?!  I think the problem is when people get busy doing stupid and pointless things.  Look at your last 48 hours, what was really WORTH the energy & time you gave it.  Watching TV, Facebook, Tweeting...

2. God never said we wouldn't be busy, but He did tell us we needed a rhythm that included a Sabbath.  Not taking a Sabbath will ruin anyone.  I don't care how important you are or what world changing activities you are a part of - God rested, so should we.

3. THIS IS ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE IN MINISTRY.  Don't believe the deception that you can go at an unhealthy pace at the expense of Sabbath and family because it is just a "season".  It is so easy to justify when you are in ministry and your job is to take of people in the name of Jesus.  How could you ever say no? But busy ministry seasons never end and it does not honor God when we get burned out and leave our families in the dust.  (If you are married ask your wife how many times you have used the term "busy season" in the last month.  If she says more than 4, you need to reevaluate.)

4. Being busy is not a bad thing, but let's not feel more worthy because we have more to do.  If we are busy doing things that honor God - BE THANKFUL that your life is making a difference.  If we are busy doing things that are time wasters - STOP...NOW - you have the potential to be great in Jesus.

5. Let's work together to do the RIGHT things, but keep it in balance with God centered rest and rhythm.

6. Remember, if you are married, your spouse is your thermometer.  Ask often and listen well to what they have to say.  You can always get a new job, you can't get a new spouse or children.

Expecting...

 This year has already been an exciting year at Living Water.  The word to our church, "Expect an Encounter" has prompted all of us to ready our hearts for whatever God wants to do.  I've talked to several people who are struggling with feeling like they don't deserve to "expect" anything from God.   

If you've been thinking this way or have friends that are, this will encourage you.

Haiti Relief

In response to the disaster in Haiti, this is what the Living Water family is doing.  Please pray with me for the tens of thousands who have been displaced and devastated.  

Living Water cares about the 7.0 earthquake which struck Haiti on January 12^th. Our hearts go out to the Haitian people affected by this tragedy. As a church we encourage you to respond to this situation in the following ways:

• Pray for Haiti using these prayer points.
• Participate in the Living Water Haiti Relief Offering or give a special gift in a regular offering.
• Consider going to Haiti with Living Water's Relief Team.
• Check out the Foursquare Missions (FMI) webpage for news about
  Foursquare relief efforts and Foursquare missionaries in Haiti and the surrounding areas.
• Pray for Living Water Missionaries to the Dominican Republic Rich and Kirsten Root.

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Prayer Points

• Pray for the people of Haiti as they deal with the aftermath of the earthquake, ask the Lord to comfort those who are injured and mourning.
• Pray for rescue efforts to find survivors trapped in destroyed buildings and for communication links and power supplies to be restored quickly.
• Pray that the country of Haiti would have a receptiveness to the message of the Gospel in the midst of this tragedy.
• Pray for the relief efforts of the Foursquare family and the Foursquare missionaries in the area that they would have wisdom to know how to minister to those around them.
• Pray for a swift and generous response from the international community to help this disaster-prone poor country.

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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 :)

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.

Tools of the trade

Getting ready for the weekend. "Against the Flow" the beatitudes for today