When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray he said "pray like this" and then proceeded to give a model for prayer. I don't believe we should just have vain repitition of any prayer but I do believe we can use the model prayer as a springboard to pray more effectively. What do I mean. As we spend time in prayer we can quote the model prayer ,and as we do, we can allow the components of the prayer to make the prayer ours. So we start buy reciting the model prayer and then as we come back around to the begining wecan focus on the parts of the prayer that will act as a focal point. "Our Father who is Heaven" O how thankful I am that you my Father are so far above anything a man can even imagine. Your greatness surpasses all power and glory. How long can you park on that that statement and just give God the praise and honor due His name. One part of the prayer that has helped me is when Jesus says "and lead not into temptation but deliever us from evil". Here we can spend time asking God to head temptation off even as it will make its way to us during the day. We can thank God before hand that we will not allow temptation to creep up on us because we have asked for supernatural strength before hand to overcome. We can place a shield of protection around us when we ask to be delivered from evil.
The model prayer can help us pray strong everyday. We should use the words of Jesus to help us pray everyday. When you don't know what to prayer go to this prayer and use it as a jump off point to get you in the Spirit of prayer.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday Night Reflection
This morning we had a guest speaker at Living Springs. Don Baily is a Biker preacher(He goes to Sturgis and Daytona bike rally's). Brother Don also sings Christian Country music. Bottom line about this preacher is he loves Jesus. Don is the guy who preaches where ever the door opens. Most weeks you will find him in a nursing home and out of the way places preaching and singing for Jesus. Brother Don loves lost souls. Brother Don loves people.
It was good to see new faces in the crowd this morning. I am praying for the day when the crowd become the core. Rick Warren says like this:
The community becomes a crowd, the crowd becomes a congregation, the congregation becomes the committed and the committed become the core.
We are getting ready for our Vision banquet. It is necessary to continue to cast vision. We need to revisit vision often because vision leaks and people forget. The main focus will be the urgency of why things cannot remain the same. We will talk more about the here than the there.
Living Springs cannot not stay where it is because we will miss the greatest opportunities to reach its community. Everything is on the table but the greatest obsitcle we face is ourselves. The status quo is safe. Cruzing is optional but not acceptable. We cannot, we will not remain where we are. It is time for "Carpe Diem" "seize the day".
It was good to see new faces in the crowd this morning. I am praying for the day when the crowd become the core. Rick Warren says like this:
The community becomes a crowd, the crowd becomes a congregation, the congregation becomes the committed and the committed become the core.
We are getting ready for our Vision banquet. It is necessary to continue to cast vision. We need to revisit vision often because vision leaks and people forget. The main focus will be the urgency of why things cannot remain the same. We will talk more about the here than the there.
Living Springs cannot not stay where it is because we will miss the greatest opportunities to reach its community. Everything is on the table but the greatest obsitcle we face is ourselves. The status quo is safe. Cruzing is optional but not acceptable. We cannot, we will not remain where we are. It is time for "Carpe Diem" "seize the day".
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Measuring Growth
Sometimes in church work we measure growth by numbers. How many members. How big is the offering. Things like that. In a church that is being revitalizing I think we need measure things by other criteria as well. Most Churches that are in need of revitalization have lost there way in terms of vision and effectiveness. How long does it take to get a church turned around. In my experience every church will be different. A church in revitalization is doing other things that are measures of growth. Creating new space from old space, remodeling, training leaders, preaching about change,vision casting, helping the conformed deal with new ideas, putting out fires and creating small victory's like special events and projects.
When churches are in transition people leave when change begins. New people are hard to impress when you are in between here and there. How do you measure growth in the transition process. You have to get people to buy into the new vision. You have to get things going in the right direction and if you can do that you are growing.
When churches are in transition people leave when change begins. New people are hard to impress when you are in between here and there. How do you measure growth in the transition process. You have to get people to buy into the new vision. You have to get things going in the right direction and if you can do that you are growing.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday Night Reflection
I was very happy to be in the morning worship service of the Exchange church because they dedicated Liv my newest granddaughter to the Lord. Pastor Herb did a great job.
I was also nice to see some friends from the past back in San Antonio for a visit. It is always nice to see people succeeding in life.
We had a good service at Living Springs. We saw some new faces in the congregation and that's always nice. I preached on "What did Jesus Say" The teachings of Jesus.
My 2 main points were on what did Jesus say about the scripture? all I have to say is "IT IS WRITTEN". The 2nd point was what did Jesus say about why He came to earth. "Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost". So simple but yet so transformational.
I attended the service at Dominion Christian Center this afternoon. Pastor Phil invited a 90 year old women evangelist to preach. Talk about being bold. What stayed with me was her testimony about her calling. She felt God calling her to preach in the 1940's. The church back then would not let her. God reminded her of the calling He gave her years before and she has recently launched out to begin her ministry. God is opening doors for her. WOW! How old is to old and can a christian leader really retire?
I attended the Global Leadership Summit put on by the Willow Creek Church this past week. San Antonio is a city filled with great churches. Some of the most innovative and growing churches are right here among us. Here's a list. Grace Point, Oak Hills, Westover Hills Assembly of God, Harvest Fellowship, Community Bible Church, Bandera Road Community Church, Castle Hills First Baptist and the list goes on. From Mega to mini San Antonio has great leaders and churches.
I am still dreaming big dreams for Living Springs and the Fellowship66 network. I have a crazy thought in my brain that I am praying about. The one thought that has kept coming to me is about Resurrection and new beginnings. How many things will God allow us to have a hand in? As many as He wants us to handle. It's time to rethink what the norm is.
I was also nice to see some friends from the past back in San Antonio for a visit. It is always nice to see people succeeding in life.
We had a good service at Living Springs. We saw some new faces in the congregation and that's always nice. I preached on "What did Jesus Say" The teachings of Jesus.
My 2 main points were on what did Jesus say about the scripture? all I have to say is "IT IS WRITTEN". The 2nd point was what did Jesus say about why He came to earth. "Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost". So simple but yet so transformational.
I attended the service at Dominion Christian Center this afternoon. Pastor Phil invited a 90 year old women evangelist to preach. Talk about being bold. What stayed with me was her testimony about her calling. She felt God calling her to preach in the 1940's. The church back then would not let her. God reminded her of the calling He gave her years before and she has recently launched out to begin her ministry. God is opening doors for her. WOW! How old is to old and can a christian leader really retire?
I attended the Global Leadership Summit put on by the Willow Creek Church this past week. San Antonio is a city filled with great churches. Some of the most innovative and growing churches are right here among us. Here's a list. Grace Point, Oak Hills, Westover Hills Assembly of God, Harvest Fellowship, Community Bible Church, Bandera Road Community Church, Castle Hills First Baptist and the list goes on. From Mega to mini San Antonio has great leaders and churches.
I am still dreaming big dreams for Living Springs and the Fellowship66 network. I have a crazy thought in my brain that I am praying about. The one thought that has kept coming to me is about Resurrection and new beginnings. How many things will God allow us to have a hand in? As many as He wants us to handle. It's time to rethink what the norm is.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday Night Relections
I preached for Pastor Herbert and the Exchange Church this morning. I really like the group of people God has brought together for this church plant. I see great things in store for this church. My Message for them was to remember that they are investing not just participating. Everything that they do must be viewed with the future in mind. Laying the culture for there church will allow them to do all that God has called them to do.
We had a good service at living Springs. We saw some new faces in the crowd and we had a good worship time. We start VBS tomorrow at Living Springs. We are looking forward to ministering to the children this week. On Friday we will have parents day. We are praying to start some relationships with the unchurched that will show up.
I presented a growth plan for the next several month for the Church. Here it is:
Growth Agenda for Remainder of 2010
*Conduct Growth Campaign
Invest/Invite/Ignite
*Work on meeting environments
*Work on indoor and outside signage
*Vision Banquet to be held Wednesday, September 1, 2010
*Have 3 outreach events from Sept-December 2010
*October 31st Harvest Fest
*December lights for Jesus
I am really excited about our vision banquet. I am going to challenge the church to a greater commitment .
keep the faith!
We had a good service at living Springs. We saw some new faces in the crowd and we had a good worship time. We start VBS tomorrow at Living Springs. We are looking forward to ministering to the children this week. On Friday we will have parents day. We are praying to start some relationships with the unchurched that will show up.
I presented a growth plan for the next several month for the Church. Here it is:
Growth Agenda for Remainder of 2010
*Conduct Growth Campaign
Invest/Invite/Ignite
*Work on meeting environments
*Work on indoor and outside signage
*Vision Banquet to be held Wednesday, September 1, 2010
*Have 3 outreach events from Sept-December 2010
*October 31st Harvest Fest
*December lights for Jesus
I am really excited about our vision banquet. I am going to challenge the church to a greater commitment .
keep the faith!
Monday, July 19, 2010
It's Game Time
Foregoing my Sunday reflection for this post. Believe it or not I once coached 6 man high school football. I will not reveal my record as a coach only to say I had alot of fun. One year the guys used to huddle before the game and someone would say "what time is it?" and all the team would say "it's game time". In sports you have spectators and you have participants. In sports there are the stands and the field of play. My question to everyone of is are we in the game or just watching? If you are in the game then my next question is "are you in it to win it"? Here are a few thoughts about these questions.
Who is calling the plays for your life?
Do you know your position?
Are you prepared to play the game?
Even golfers and tennis players have a team around them
Is your head in this thing?
Is your heart in this thing?
Are you seeing the bigger picture?
The game I am referring to is your Christianity. I am referring to the game we call life. The stakes are very high and many don't understand the importance of it.
To many people just sit in the stands. We need for people to wake up, get up, suit up and get in the game. IT"S GAME TIME!
Who is calling the plays for your life?
Do you know your position?
Are you prepared to play the game?
Even golfers and tennis players have a team around them
Is your head in this thing?
Is your heart in this thing?
Are you seeing the bigger picture?
The game I am referring to is your Christianity. I am referring to the game we call life. The stakes are very high and many don't understand the importance of it.
To many people just sit in the stands. We need for people to wake up, get up, suit up and get in the game. IT"S GAME TIME!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday Night Reflections
We had a good service at Living Springs today. I wish I could say our attendance was good but it wasn't. Met with our leadership team this morning before church to throw out some thoughts about what steps i think we need to take in the next several months.
The Lords supper is always a great time to draw closer to God. We gave communion today and we challenged the people get things right with God. We had our monthly business session after church. Not always my favorite time but needed for the sake of accountability.
Had lunch with the Paul Taylor family. This family is a huge blessing to me and to the church. These people do it all for the sake of the Kingdom.
Yesterday I was in Dallas for my daughter Sandra's graduation from college. She received her BS degree in human services and management. Very proud of her. Cowboy stadium is an amazing structure. The jumbo tron is sick. I need to go see a game there.
Church on the Road continues this week. VBS is coming August 2-5. lots of work to do.
Until next time
The Lords supper is always a great time to draw closer to God. We gave communion today and we challenged the people get things right with God. We had our monthly business session after church. Not always my favorite time but needed for the sake of accountability.
Had lunch with the Paul Taylor family. This family is a huge blessing to me and to the church. These people do it all for the sake of the Kingdom.
Yesterday I was in Dallas for my daughter Sandra's graduation from college. She received her BS degree in human services and management. Very proud of her. Cowboy stadium is an amazing structure. The jumbo tron is sick. I need to go see a game there.
Church on the Road continues this week. VBS is coming August 2-5. lots of work to do.
Until next time
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