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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.

Sunday Evening Thoughts

Today was an amazing day at Living Water.  Not only did we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus, but dozens, that's right, dozens of people gave their lives to Christ.  Here are some of my highlights:

• The Youth Choir was really, really good!  Props to Daniel, Cody and Pastor Shane for discipling young people to worship!  The church loved it and I think Jesus was pleased as well.
• As we studied the beginning of this Historically and Spiritually significant week, we saw how Jesus accomplished not only living a sinless life, but also a life lived under and with AUTHORITY.
• I heard a story of someone who had recently lost their job and was discouraged coming to church on Saturday.  After hearing that Jesus doesn't always take the PATH we desire but He will 

Sunday Evening Thoughts

A few thoughts about the weekend at Living Water:

• It was awesome to celebrate with the church what JESUS did last week at Repossess.  I love how our church celebrates the WIN!
• Andy put together a GREAT Repossess recap video.  If you haven’t seen it, view it here.
• I walked in on the Usher’s pre-service meeting before the 9.  I love those people.
• I love worship and today we saw what a GIFT worship is to all of us.
• The thing that the Father is looking for in a worshiper is spirit and truth, not the quality of our voice!  Thank God for that.
• Worship flows from the OVERFLOW of what Jesus is doing in our life.
• Form and Substance are important in worship, but only as they serve to LIFT UP JESUS.
• HUSBANDS - we need to lead our families in worship.
• The Holy Spirit will always direct us to reconcile relationships that are out of alignment BEFORE we come to the altar of worship.
• Worshiping in preference will block you from worshiping in power.
• My heart goes out to the hurting people we were able to pray with and minister to today.  JESUS is the HEALER.
• I LOVE seeing people come to the altar for prayer.
• To every spouse that is contending for their husband or wife - you are not alone, we stand with you in prayer and faith-DON’T GIVE UP.
• Don’t come to church to EVALUATE, come to PARTICIPATE

I love you church family!  God is up to BIG things in the LW family.  Pray this week for something miraculous to happen and for God to open a door that no man can.

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 :)

Sunday Night Thoughts

Here are some of my highlights and things worth remembering after a great Independence Weekend.

• Pray without ceasing!
• Prayer is often the "if I have time" spiritual discipline...
• God is not a vending machine and Prayer is not our currency
• We don't "nag" God through prayer
• Prayer deepens our intimacy with the Father
• (Hypocrite) an audience of many = small impact
• (Humble) an audience of One = BIG impact

• The bands at all campuses were fantastic!  Spirit led and confident - way to go!
• Laurel, Dan and Peter did a great job at the Blvd Campus
• Cheri, Joey and Beth made an amazing transition between two songs (I can't remember the name of either song, but it was awesome!)
• Daniel did a great job hosting!

Most of all, Jesus was lifted up and the people of God prayed in unity, in 5 services at 3 venues.  Way to go Church of Living Water.