Next!

After God showed up so hugely this weekend, it would be natural to take a break. It would be easy to sit back and reflect on the joy of this past weekend when 136 people went public with their faith by being baptized. But we can't!

Last weekend was one victory in a great war. It was one battle in the epic battle of Christ vs Satan. We got the privilege of witnessing God's power at work, and the evil one was powerless to stop it!

The war rages on. We don't have time to reflect on the battle won, we must prepare for the next one. We must equip as many as we can to stand up to the enemy and be victorious in their everyday lives.

So, what's next? This weekend is the Fresh Start Class. It will be Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 10am. And so it continues. The preparation for the next battle. Reflection is necessary, and we will spend some time doing that today, but then we must move on. We must prepare for the next one.

As much as we rejoice in 136 baptized this weekend, we need to notice the thousands who are still without a relationship with Jesus Christ. So, we press on. We prepare others for battle. One thing you will notice though, is a bit quicker step, a broader smile on our faces, and a renewed vigor to accomplish the task before us.

Next!

Satan Fails Again

It was last Friday, on my day off, as I was working on some things for the weekend (yeah, sometimes a day off isn't, but when it isn't, it is almost always very worth it!). That's when it started. These thoughts started coming into my head.

First, let me say that I am reading the book Wild at Heart. It's taking me some time to get through because there are several issues that it has raised for me that I thought I had dealt with, but realize that I haven't fully. I know that Caleb loves this book, and now I know why. it's a must read for every man, and young man. Thoughts on the book are for a different post, but if you've read the book you'll understand this post that much more.

The thoughts were powerful. The first one, "what are you good for?" is one that I have had numerous times in my life. It's my Achilles heal and Satan knows it. With many things from my past, and the physical challenges I face, this is a constant challenge. I have battled back by calling it a checkpoint. When it comes, I can re-evaluate what God has done and is doing in my life.

The second thought was, "You don't preach anymore, and you don't sing anymore either. You don't..." It's a battle of pride and I know it. I miss preaching, but I know that there is no way that I could physically preach more than one or two services. My voice is gone, and while there are moments when I can still sing beautifully, I am very inconsistent, and there are ranges that I can no longer hit. That's reality!

The thoughts keep coming. My memory doesn't work the same since my stroke, so how could I help other churches.

I know where these thoughts were coming from, and why. This weekend was baptism, and God was getting ready to do something huge (and he did!). I have heard these thoughts enough that I had a response.

Philippians 1:6 says that God is continuing to shape me into what he wants me to be, and he won't stop until he is finished. That's a promise that I cling to every moment of every day. The other thoughts? Those aren't my role now. God used me to do those things in the past, and I don't know if he'll use them in me again, but what he has me doing now is important because it is what he has called me to for this season in my life. Sure, I hope that I get the opportunity to share what I have learned, and am learning, about working with new and returning believers with other churches, but mostly, I just want to do what I am doing better and better.

The other stuff just doesn't matter any more! As long as I can get out of bed, I will serve him, and if or when I can't, I will still praise his name. He certainly has done a great work in me, and I thank him for not being finished. I don't know what he has planned for me in five or ten years, but for now, I am thrilled to get to do what I am doing.

Satan tried to discourage me. He tried to get me focusing on my past rather than on the present. he tried to get me focused on me, not on Him. It didn't work, the weekend was awesome, and Satan failed...again!

Satan is a Nerd!

I loved the T-shirt a young man was wearing as he got baptized. He was truly standing up for his faith. Satan wasn't happy about what God was doing at Palm Valley Church this weekend. He couldn't be! We are all celebrating what we saw God do this weekend.

So, what did God do? Three weeks ago we had 45 signed up for baptism this weekend. By Friday we had 86. More registered over the weekend so the number grew to 93. That's pretty amazing in itself, but sometimes people don't show up. This weekend God showed up big, and so did the people. In our five services, we baptized 136 people! I was praying for 100 (Oh ye of little faith!).

The stories represented would take months to tell. It was great to see so many that our New Believer Ministry has worked with.

Personally, I am exhausted, and every inch of my body is in pain. I can hardly walk right now, but I would do it again tomorrow if given the opportunity! God gave me the strength to get through the weekend, and I am sure He would get me through another day as well.

It was awesome to get to serve all weekend with Paige! She was terrific (as always). She ran the check-in table and it went so well.

So may of our staff stepped up and went the extra mile this weekend. That's no surprise because that's normal for our staff. A special thanks though to Art (a huge amount of help!), Dennis, Christina, Jillayne, Ryan, Daniel, Brent, and Greg (who preached and baptized even though he wasn't well!).

Along with staff, there were several volunteers who really shined this weekend. Mark, Debbie, Kathy, Eloy, & Don especially.

Many other staff and volunteers helped make this such a special experience. To all, a big Thank you!

God is so good!

Falling Away

Why do people fall away from Christ? And just as important, what draws them back? Lastly, how to we shore them up to prevent them from falling away again.

Some may argue that those who re-commit to Christ, probably weren't Christians to begin with. Their first decision probably wasn't sincere. That's not a call I can make. That's a matter for God to determine their heart. What I do know, is that people with genuine relationships with Christ, sometimes go through tough times and need a Fresh Start with God!

So how do we help them? Do we act as though they never had a relationship with Christ and have them use the same materials and go to the same classes as those accepting Christ for the first time? The more and more that I encounter people truly wanting to re-connect with Christ, I am convinced that they need something different. Something in between the new believer process and plugging them into regular home teams.

What that looks like, I don't know, but God has been impressing upon my heart that there needs to be resources geared to them. So, I am beginning work on that. Next week I will be taking some time for focused prayer and study in this area. Then, I will be meeting with other pastors to brainstorm in this area. I hope that by fall we will have a resource that will bring hope and connection to those re-connecting with God.

85 and Counting!

I can't wait! So far, we have 85 people signed up to get baptized this weekend, and I am sure that number will go higher. We have eight people from one family getting baptized! God is so good. I am so excited that I get to be there to witness this.

Baptizing is one of the greatest blessings a pastor can have. This time, however, I will mostly be on the sidelines. I am sad and excited about that at the same time. It may sound odd, but I have chosen not to be in the water baptizing because of my health. For that I am sad. But I am excited that our newest Pastor Dennis will take my place and be in the water with Pastor Greg baptizing people. I am excited that Dennis will get to enjoy this blessing. He has a great heart and loves people. This will be a special time for him I am sure, and I will enjoy watching that.

As for me, I'll have plenty to do with odds and ends and supporting the Fresh Start table. This is a team effort and it is a huge step in the faith journey of those getting baptized. I hope and pray that our entire church is blessed by this weekend. Everyone has contributed to the growth of these people.

Think about it. Someone invited them. They came and were welcomed. They had a great worship experience and heard the Word of God. They accepted Christ. Our New Believer ministry helped them grow. Our Home Teams help them continue their journey. All the while, their children and youth were being cared for and were learning to love God for themselves. Our office, communications, and tech teams have made resources available to them. Our set-up and tear-down teams created an environment where they could hear the voice of God. Our care teams and other volunteers met their needs and cared for them, as well as equipped them for service. All in all, we all loved them, regardless of their past, their struggles, their appearance, or their means, we all loved them with the love of the Lord. Now they are seeing the fruits of their labors, over 85 getting baptized!

Praise be to the one true, gracious, holy, and loving God!!!

Good, Bad, & Ugly!

The Good:
My niece Christy is getting married this weekend in Texas! Wish I could be there, but I am excited for her.

The Bad:
One of my sisters had some tests yesterday, I hope and pray that they come back negative!

I've had, and continue to have, several Dr. visits right now. The results are that my cholesterol and blood sugar have shot up, so I am on yet another medication, and making some changes in what I eat to get those numbers back line.

Apparently the disc at L5 in my lower back has gotten much worse and is pinching nerves. The pain levels in my back and legs have increased dramatically. The epidurals didn't last long! I am beginning some tests (another MRI among other things - I hate being in that little tube, and I don't care for the open ones much either) and first steps of treatment (fortunately there are a couple things to try before surgery). I was glad to hear that many things are connected, so if we get that fixed, several problems will go away.

The tremors in my hands are worse. So much so that I can barely write (thank God for computers). Hopefully a medicine change will get that back under control.

The Ugly:
I don't look good in shorts right now (like I ever did) because of the nerve damage in my legs. It has cause the hair to fall out, but only in specific areas related to the nerves that are pinched. It is really weird! I am also seeing the Dermatologist today to take care of what she called, "the barnacles of life". So I'll have some healing to do from that.

Saving the Best for Last:
God is so good! I praise him every day and am thankful that I am able to get out of bed. He must still have things for me to do.

It's Raining New Believers!

I got curious. Since Easter, the decisions to accept Christ, re-dedicate lives, and people coming to the Fresh Start table has been off the hook! I ran a report this morning because I was curious to see how many people have made some sort of decision for Christ since Easter (total of 3 weeks). I took out duplicates and those who were just letting us know that they were believers (You'd be surprised at how many I get of those and from those who were just confused when they filled out their card).

The total?

In three weeks we have had 163 decisions! Take a moment to let that sink in.

I have cauliflower ear from talking on the phone so much!

Of those, 68 came to the Fresh Start table. That's an average of 23 people at the Fresh Start table on a weekend! That's people who aren't just saying that they made a decision. These are people saying that they made a decision and that they want to take the next step in their journey!
It wasn't long ago that our average was 4 and I was so excited to see that it had grown to 7!

We had 22 in the Fresh Start Class last weekend, the most ever!

There are 21 people signed up for the New Believer Growth Group! We had to multiply the group, and we are having two groups meeting on two nights of the week. The hosts, Mark and Debbie are going to lead both groups (I don't know who is more excited, me or them!)!

We have 46 people signed up to be baptized, but we just started announcing the date, and I just sent out about 200 letters inviting people to sign up for it.

I know it's a goofy term, but I really am giddy with excitement about all that God is doing here at Palm Valley Church! The fact that I get to be involved in this process is so humbling. The responsibility is as great as the opportunity to touch lives for the kingdom.

Perhaps even better, everyone who attended the last New Believer Growth Group is connected and serving! That means that the process is working. We are able to move people from decision to disciple and have a true impact in their lives. They aren't just going to classes, or joining groups, they are connecting with Christ and others. They are learning to feed themselves and others spiritually.

I am in awe at what the Lord is doing in our midst! I pray that it continues. I pray that we do it better so that we connect more people. I pray that God would send more people to participate in the process and help these people connect. I pray for strength and endurance, and I pray that the Lord will keep the evil one away so that these children of God can grow to maturity.

Praise God!

Treasured or Remembered Thoughts?

I was thinking this morning (always a dangerous moment) about memories. I have always thought the entry in the Bible where it says that, "Mary treasured all these things in her heart."

I was thinking that for us to remember positive events in our lives, we need to "treasure" them in order to embed them into our memory, yet when bad things happen, they go immediately into the recesses of our memory as permanent fixtures.

How many of the hurts in your life do you remember, versus the blessings? How vivid are the details of those events? How many negative versus positive memories do you have?

I hope that you have had more opportunity to treasure memories rather than remember the hurts in your life. It makes me think that I need to be sure to capture each positive moment so that those memories will crowd out the painful ones.

One memory I have treasured in my heart this week was Caleb's 20th birthday. It's hard to believe that we don't have any teenagers in the house, and that our "baby" is now 20! Tuesday, Paige and I drove over to the school (there is no up or down here because we live in a flat valley!) and took him to dinner. Paige even baked him a cake and we ate it at a picnic table at the school without plates or utensils (man style!). It was pretty simple, but it was meaningful time, especially for me.

Because of a TIA (small stroke) that I had several years ago, I have some memory disconnects, so every treasured moment is important to me. I am thankful that Paige is able to remind me of things past.

Anyway, just some thoughts about how we remember or treasure things in our lives. I am thankful that I remember a key time in my life when Jesus finally became someone that I could talk to. I will treasure that day always!

Happy Easter!

No, I'm not confused. I know that we celebrated Easter two weekends ago. But then again, what is Easter? Isn't Easter the day we remember what Jesus did on the cross for us? Don't we celebrate his resurrection?

Shouldn't we be doing that every weekend (every day actually)? Shouldn't our focus be the same? I think that the only real difference between a "normal" weekend and Easter weekend is that so many people come to do their "duty" in coming to church.

The thing is, every weekend there are people who don't normally attend church who come to PVC. We have the same opportunity to show them that Christ loves them and that he is risen. We have that opportunity 52 weekends each year!

We just need a reminder now and then what the weekend is all about. I can't wait for this weekend. Happy Easter!

Job

Have you ever felt like Job? What about Peter?

In Job's case, Satan was convinced that the only reason he worshipped God was because God was blessing Him, so God let Satan test his theory. Job went through all kinds of stuff. I love it when his "friend" comes and says, "curse God and die!"

Jesus told Peter that Satan would, "sift you like wheat" to prove that his faith wasn't genuine.

I have to admit that sometimes I feel like these guys. In the past few weeks I have been waiting for one of my friends to tell me to curse God and die. Since that hasn't happened, I'm thinking that things aren't as bad as I think they are, and that I'm not under attack to that extreme.

Things certainly haven't been easy, but I know whom I have believed in, and know that he is able, and proves faithful, and powerful enough to accomplish his purposes.

When I really compare what Job and Peter went through, I know that I haven't faced anything that compares (praise God for that!). But still, in my world, sometimes the challenges seem overwhelming. The best thing about it is that I know that God loves me, and cares for me, and won't let anything happen to me that doesn't fit into his plan.

One thing that God has been impressing upon me lately is that I need to more fully trust him, and rely on his power. I need to give him complete control and live in expectation of what he has yet to accomplish in my life. God is great, and Philippians 1:6 reminds me that he is still at work in my life.

So, when I start to feel like Job, or like Peter, he reminds me that my life is nothing like theirs, and I praise him for that!

Just some random thoughts today!