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

sunday night reflections

Happy 4th of July. We had a great service this morning at Living Springs followed by a All American Cookout...Burgers and hotdogs...We were joined in fellowship by the Southwest Community Church.

This week we will continue with Church on the Road...We had a great time last week at the Flagg family...this week we will be with the Sapp family.

Vacation Bible School is coming up August 2-5...we are hoping for a good response. This year we will have big pizza bash to end our school on friday with family night.

I am very thankful for our great nation and the freedom we enjoy...I am also thankful for our great God and the freedom He provided through His son Jesus.

I will be in Dallas this friday and saturday to attend the graduation from college of my daughter Sandra. Very proud of her...

I am in the middle of fliping a Manufactured home that was given to us. Our plan is to remodel it and then sell it just to do it again. I have been learning alot about contruction and have really enjoyed it.

Have a great week.

Sunday Night Relections

We had a good day this morning at Living Springs Church. I taught on healing and then spent some time praying for those in need of healing. Physical, emotional and spiritual healing were all addressed. "If any one among you is sick, let them call for the Elders of the church to anoint with oil and be prayed for.

1. Our God is a God of great compassion.
2. We must ask God for what we need
3. We must stand upon the authority of God's word.

We baptized 2 people this morning in the service. Baptism is an outward expression of and inward experience. Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior and then we follow in obedience and are baptized in water. Baptism does not save us but in calls us to make a public stand for Jesus. When we are transformed we want to do all that Jesus asks of us.

Quantity vs Quality is always on the table as well as Quality vs Quantity. We need to recognize that both of these tensions are valid and needed.

This week we take our midweek gathering to the home. I am very excited about getting out of the 4 walls and into the neighborhoods. The goal is to expand our small group ministry to the homes of people. While this is the practice of many churches it is a new thing for Living Springs.

We celebrated my son in laws birthday tonight. He turned 30. Herb is a great guy. Herb pastor's www.theexchangesa.com He is really emerging as a great leader and for that I am so proud of him.

Sunday Refelections

This morning we had Teen Challenge with us in our service. The testimonies were a reminder of God's power to change lives. It is powerful the way God can take people at there worst and make them us new creatures. As I fellowshiped with the ladies who came to minister I was reminded that we are all a work in process and progress. The key to steady discipleship is staying focused day to day.

recent people of encouragement

On July 10th, 2010 my daughter Sandra Juanita Ramirez Halbeisen will receive her college degree as she walks the stage at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas. WOW! Sandra finished her last courses while 9 months pregnant, raising a 3 year old, helping her husband start a church, having the baby and all that goes with a newborn.
To say that I am impressed is an understatement. I am extremely proud of my little girl because it proves what I have always known, Sandra has a big heart and big dreams for her life. Her drive has encouraged me on a lot of different levels and I thank her for that.

On June 2nd Ted Haggard told the world that he and his wife were starting a new church and getting back into the ministry. Just as Ted Haggard admitted 3 1/2 years ago that he had fallen into sin he was now getting back to what God had called him to do. Before Ted's fall I attended his church conferences and followed his church. I am encouraged to see pastor Ted in ministry again. I am encourage that leaders who are casualties of spiritual attack and downfall can rise again to be used of God. I believe pastor Ted will minister in a different vein because of his experience. I totally understand where pastor ted is coming from.

Sunday night reflection

Starting all this summer of 2010 I am going to do a Sunday night Reflection mainly just to have a record of things that are happening and for those who follow my ministry blog. Here goes.....

We had 2 people give there hearts to Jesus this morning. We also had several rededicate their lives to the Lord.

We now have 4 churches that meet at Living Springs Church. Southwest Community Church now meets at 11am in the fellowship hall. The exchange Church meets at 10am. Dominion Christian meets at 3pm and Living Springs meets at 11am in the sanctuary.

It is possible to have 6 churches meeting at our facility by the end of the year. We still have Saturday night and Sunday night as possibilities.

Kicked off "Taking the Church on the Road". We had 5 families open up there homes for a Bible Study and fellowship. I am hoping to have at least 10 by the end of the summer tour.

We are going to have the women of Teen Challenge with us Sunday, June 6th. I have always liked to have Teen Challenge in our church because they represent a ministry that really demonstrates life change.

Have a great week!

Confession

We have stated that the biblical formula for salvation is conviction plus confession plus conversion equals salvation. Simply put the design of true salvation consists of conviction leading to confession followed by conversion. When the Holy Spirit begins to deal with us He starts with convicting us of our sinfulness. He causes us to see our sin for what it is and how it separates us from God. When we are convicted we must then deal with that conviction through confession. Without conviction, confession would be meaningless. Without conviction without confession is useless. The two primary passages in the word of God that deal with confession are Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9. One primarily deals with confession in relation to salvation, that is becoming a Christian, a child of God, and the other primarily in relation to sanctification, living as a child of God. Both, however, have application to every single one of us. Remember, as I have said, the pattern conviction plus confession plus conversion is for both salvation and sanctification.

What does it mean confession of sin?
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If we Confess – if we acknowledge and assent to our sins - denial of sin protects, preserves, perpetuates that sin!
Confession is not merely a mental understanding of the fact that a sin has been committed that is being asked for - even the demons understand on some level that they have violated God’s commands (they just don’t really care). Confession is not just a mental assent to having sinned or acknowledgement of your sin. Confession does not mean rendering lip service, or mouthing deeds with vain repetition. It means calling sin for what it is – sin. Likewise confession is not an announcement. It is easy to say "I have sinned but…" and then seek to justify or whitewash our sins. Consider Adam and Eve in the garden after disobeying God. God confronts Adam who basically states. "I sinned. I disobeyed. But it’s not MY fault; it’s THAT WOMAN YOU gave me." God turns to Eve who says, "Yes I sinned and dragged Adam into it; but it’s not MY fault. It was THAT SNAKE in the grass." Confession of sin means owning up to it and seeing it as God sees it. A true confession is a complete admission of guilt. No rationalizing, no blaming. It should be further noted that in 1 John 1:9 the plural "sins" indicates that the confession is to be specific as well as general. Confession is necessary for fellowship. Sin builds a barrier between us and God. Confession puts us on the same page with God about our sins. Proverbs 28:13 (MKJV) "He who covers his sins shall not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them shall have mercy."