new life ramblings (7/10/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• My daughter turns 16 on Monday.  What a year we are having in the Jones family.  Many “significant moments” for us.  (20 years of marriage, and Kaylee turns 18, graduates from High School and goes to college)
• I am so excited about our summer series. The church is called to be a lamp stand…why are we not shining? What are some viruses that are making the local church sick?  What is Jesus saying to his church?
• We had a planning meeting talking about the fall.  Very excited about what God is going to do at New Life this fall.  Very important season as we see this building go up.
• Pray for our Junior High students.  A bunch of them are leaving on Monday for a week of camp.
• Pray for me. I have some kind of infection in my eye. More irritating than anything.
• Sept. 20 we are planning a 40 day fast.  Praying for our community, church and world.  We are specifically going to pray for Sunday, November 1. We need to receive $800,000 to finish phase one of our building.  Everyone needs to be involved. 
• We have decided to cancel Encore Café for the summer.  We will use these next couple of months to determine our future direction with Encore Café.
• Did you know between Lift (Junior High), Axis (Senior High/early College) and The Crossing (young adults) we have 275 students and young adults involved with New Life? This is amazing. We are planning a huge gathering at the end of the summer to bring all three of these environments together.
• Read Revelation 2:8-11 to prepare for Sunday.
• Friday is my day off. It is may day to focus on my wife and family
• Make sure you check out  the building.  In two weeks the walls go up! 
• I love this sunshine today! 

new life ramblings (6/26/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Last week I preached a message called “Where are you?”  I want to encourage every man to listen to this again or for the first time.  Click here.
• Membership Orientation is Sunday at 5:00 PM.  Great time to hear the heart and vision of New Life.  Click here for more info…
• Michael Jackson dies at 50…Farrah Fawcett dies at 62…Ed McMahon dies at 86—reminds me that I need to cherish every moment of my life.
• This Sunday I am speaking Axis.  If you have a senior high student—they don’t want to miss out.    We are focusing on relationships.  Our relationships determine the quality and direction of our lives.
• So many people have asked about the “Man Up” series.  We have put all four messages in one package.  This package includes my message from last week and messages from Roosevelt Hunter, Monty Hipp, and Jeffery Portmann.  We are blessed as a church!
• On Wednesday we had 80 men show up to discuss “How to be a Spiritual Leader”.  Powerful and practical.
• So many people gave last week to send students and kids to summer camp.  Thank you.  We need another $2,000.  We don’t want to say “no” to one student.  It cost $279 to send a student to camp.  If you can give one full scholarship or even a half, that would be incredible.  Put it in the offering marked “Camp Offering”. 
• This Sunday I am preaching “My Chains are Gone”.  We live in country founded on freedom.  Jesus has given us freedom. Why are so many people in bondage? Read Galatians 5 to prepare for Sunday.
• Our choir will open up the 9am and 10:30am services with a couple of patriotic songs.  Be early.  You don’t want to miss this. 
• I went to see “Transformers” Wednesday night at midnight with a bunch of young adults involved with our youth ministry.  Every theater was packed at midnight and 3 am as I was leaving.  Crazy…I don’t get it.
• New Life, your giving is amazing.  We are up 10% from last year…thank you.  Can you imagine what kind of resources we would have if everyone learned how to be a generous, systematic and cheerful giver?  Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  You can’t grow if you don’t give.  Period.
• Sept. 20 we are planning a 40-day fast.  Praying for our community, church and world.  We are specifically going to pray for Sunday, November 1. We need to receive $800,000 to finish Phase One of our building.  Everyone needs to be involved. 
• Pray for peace in Iran.  God has called the church to pray for our leaders.  Pray for the favor of the Lord and wisdom of God.
• July 5 we begin our summer series called “Outbreak”.  A study of Revelation 2-3.  The seven churches.  What are the seven viruses killing the church? 

new life ramblings (6/19/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

•  This Sunday is Father’s Day.  I will be speaking from Genesis 3 to all men, a message burning in my heart called, “Where are you?”.  God is waking our men up spiritually at New Life.
• This Wednesday at 7 PM I am going to do a one night “workshop” for men only.  We will discuss “How to lead your family spiritually.”  We will be practical and down to earth. 
• I have a burden for our senior high students.  This Sunday night I will be speaking at Axis.  I will be answering questions via text message during the Axis Service. We will also have an Axis BBQ with Ultimate Frisbee. 
• Our Junior High event—Amp’d, had 325 Junior high students and 70 volunteers.  Amazing to see what God is doing in our youth ministry.  This is one of the largest Junior High events in the Seattle area.  47 students gave their lives to Jesus.
• Last week the concrete pad for the auditorium was laid.  This week the remainder of the concrete pad will be done for our new lobby, chapel and bathrooms.   Check it out this Sunday or online.
• Be praying about Sunday, November 1.  We are going to do a one day ‘big” offering for our new building.  We need $800,000 to complete phase 1 of this project.  I am asking “everyone” do something this day. 
• I am calling a 40-day fast in the fall for the Church—September 20-November 1.   We will be discussing the dates and details around this soon.  I am going to ask everyone to bathe New Life and our future in prayer and fasting. 
• Our Junior Bible Quiz team went to nationals.  There are 2,500 JBQ teams across the country. Our team placed 16^th in the nation.  I am very proud of them.  Also, one of our very own students placed 2^nd in the nation—Jason Markarian. (There are over 10,000 kids involved with JBQ across the nation). 
• Read Genesis 3 to prepare for Sunday
• Membership Orientation is Sunday June 28.  This is a great evening to hear the vision and strategy of New Life.  Sign up today 
• On Sunday we will have special envelopes ready for anybody who wants to help pay a kid or teenager’s way to camp.  Camp is  $200 per student.  I want to challenge you to give a full or half scholarship.  This is a great spiritual investment. 

new life ramblings (6/12/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• My niece went to the hospital again this week.  I am asking New Life to pray.  She is stable right now.  But, she needs a touch from God.
• We had 90 people to sign up to volunteer for ministry.  Amazing.  I love New Life. If you would like to volunteer at New Life click here.
• Sonshine Learning Center changes 580 diapers a week. Talk about changing the world, one diaper at a time.
• This “Man Up” series is stirring up something at New Life.  I am very excited for the next two Sundays. 
• We begin our study over Revelation 1-3 in July.  This will be a great summer series.   Start reading Revelation now.  We will discuss seven viruses in the church. 
• My vision is for every man to be in a small group.  We are going to call them “Man Up” groups.  Even if you are in a married group—I would like to see you develop accountablity, belonging and care.
• Father’s Day is one week from Sunday.  This is going to be a powerful day at New Life.
• Sam Leyde has  been nominated for an ITM Live Charity Music Award in the category of “Best Male Vocalist”. You can click http://www.itmlive.org/Votes.htm and vote for him. I’ve never heard of the organization but I’m pretty sure it’s like the Grammys, only better.
• On June 28 our choir will be featured in our 9am and 10:30am services.  If you want to be a part of this experience email Karen Quintana at karen.quintana@newliferenton.com
• Mike Taber’s memorial service is Saturday at 11:30 AM..  This will be a meaningful time to honor Mike’s legacy. 
• As I type, they are pouring our concrete pad for the new building. 
• Your stomach produces a new layer of mucus every two weeks so that it doesn’t digest itself.
• This weekend we will honor our graduates in the services.  We put together a very cool video honoring all of them.
• My daughter graduates Saturday from Kentridge.  I am very, very, very proud of her!!!
• On Saturday—I  am going to Mikes Taber’s memorial, then to see my daughter, Chelsey, do a dance recital and then to honor Kaylee as she graduates from Kentridge.  Weekends like this remind me I am a blessed man.  
• Are you reading a Proverb a day? 
• Follow me on twitter. 
• Jana and I pray God’s favor on you. 

new life ramblings 6/5/2009

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind.   

• I am very excited about the next three weeks at New Life. Roosevelt Hunter is going to do an amazing job tonight at our Man Up Rally tonight at 7PM. 
• Roosevelt will also speak to our students at 9PM tonight. This will be a great time to spend time with Jesus and friends.
• I am praying for every man at New Life. That God would stir up a hunger to love Jesus and empower us to provide leadership in our family, community, work and church.
• On Father’s Day we are going to pray the favor of the Lord on every man at New Life.
• We will be honoring our graduating seniors on Sunday, June 14.
• Ok, on a very personal note-my daughter is graduating from High School. I am very proud of her. This weekend we have her open house. 
• When a giraffe’s baby is born it falls from a height of six feet, normally without being hurt.
• During our “man up” series I will be sharing my burden for the men of New Life. Also we have three other speakers that you will love—Roosevelt Hunter, Monty Hipp, and Jeffery Portmann. Roosevelt will speak tonight and Monty this Sunday. 
• Wednesday was a tough day for me. I was at the hospital when Mike Taber went home to be with Jesus. Also Lisa Reinhard’s dad passed away. Very emotional day. I thank God that Jesus is our rock during tough times. I pray the peace of God on both families during this time of great loss.
• There will be a Celebration Service for Mike Taber on Saturday, June 13th at 11:30am here at the church. Donations can be made to the “Michael Taber Memorial Fund” at any Bank of America branch or at New Life Church.
• What an amazing Simply Worship. Make sure you put the fall Simply Worship dates on your calendar. They are the first Wednesdays in September, October and November.
• On Sunday, June 28 our New Life Choir will be featured in the services. This will be a mass Patriotic Choir coming together to honor our country. We want to encourage everyone to join the choir for one day. It is one rehearsal—one time—one experience. Email Karen Quintana at karen.quintana@newliferenton.com to find out more information.
• If you are on twitter-I want to encourage you to follow me and New Life. If you  don’t know what twitter is-you may be better off .

new life ramblings (5/29/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Today is May 29—Did you read Prov. 29 today?  I like verse 20: “do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him”.  Interpretation—think before you speak. (or think before you press send on that email)
• Last weekend 29 people from New Life built 2 homes in Mexico.  I love to see their excitement.  Did you know we have built  8 homes in Mexico in the last three years?   
• A shout out to all of our graduates at New Life.  We have a ton of students graduating from High School and College.
• We just had 36 people in the “Fireproof your Marriage” series on Wednesday night.
• Man Up rally with Roosevelt Hunter is next Friday, June 5. Seven days from now.  You don’t want  to miss this Friday night rally.  You will love it.  Rally begins at 7:00 PM. 
• After the Man Up Rally, Roosevelt Hunter will be speaking for our youth at 9:00 PM.  I am very excited to see what God will do next Friday night at New Life.
• The original game of “Monopoly” was circular.
• Simply Worship is Wednesday.  This is the last Simply Worship before summer.  I love these evenings where we pursue Jesus together.
• We have over 17,000 books in the RCS library. 
• We are making great head way with our building.  Very exciting.  Begin to pray about November 1, 2009.  This is the day we finish “Now is the Time”.  We need $800,000 to come in by this day.  We will do a one-day miracle offering on this Sunday.  I need everyone to pray about giving.
• I visited Mike Taber in the hospital this week.  The Taber family is a significant part of New Life. Mike is struggling for his life.  He needs a touch of God. It was amazing to see the church in action.  To hear the stories of how people are gathering around Amy (his wife) and the family is amazing.  Everyone needs to have friends in life that will stand with you during tragedy.
• Fridays Rock for kids is tonight.
• We are baptizing some kids on Sunday.  I love seeing people go public with their faith.
• Your thumb is the same length as your nose.
• Read Exodus 18 to prepare for Sunday.  This is a defining text for me as a leader.
• Last week I met with the elders.  We were reflecting on the generous giving of New Life.  Thank you your giving.  I pray God’s favor on your life.  I often think—what would happen if everyone gave in a systematic, generous and cheerful way?   Can you imagine the potential and strength of this kind of church?  Ok, something is stirring in my heart. 
• Jana and I love New Life.

new life ramblings (5/22/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• We are home!  Jana and I had an outstanding time in Hawaii.
• Sunday we finish our series on Joseph.  Joseph is known for many things.  On Sunday we are going to unpack the most powerful principle in Joseph’s life.  Read Genesis 50 to prepare. 
• The Word of God changes our character and conduct.  How has this series changed your character and conduct?
• Jeffery did outstanding last weekend.  I love our teaching team.
• We have 30 people in Mexico this weekend building homes.  I love this church.
• Short week for my ramblings.  I’m still trying to catch up on everything.  
• See you Sunday! 

new life ramblings (5/15/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

•  Aloha from Hawaii! We’re celebrating our 20^th wedding anniversary. 
• Sunday is going to be incredible. Walking through the life of Joseph has personally challenged me in some core areas of my life.  Read Genesis 45 to prepare for Sunday.
• Last Sunday we received $7,078 for homeless moms.  Every penny goes to Vine Maple Place and Vision House.  You can still give to this online here.
• Roosevelt Hunter will be speaking our Man-up rally on Friday night June 5.  This is the first time I can recall doing a Friday night service just for men at New Life. Click here for more details.
• Last week they installed all 173 of the geo-piers.  This week they poured the footings for about half of the perimeter of the building.  Take a peek at the live webcam here.
• I am believing God for people to give their lives to Jesus every Sunday at New Life.  Last Sunday two people filled out the NEXT card and said, “I prayed with the pastor and gave my life to Jesus”.  Also 4 people signed up to be baptized in water.  This is what the church is all about!
• Last Saturday at Serve Day over 50 volunteers collected over 300 yards of garbage, 1 truck full for Salvation Army, shredded over 50 boxes of sensitive documents and a container full of recycled appliances.  I love serving our community!
• The youth ministry secured a great location for their fireworks stand, Goodwill in Four Corners in Maple Valley.
• Pastor Ricardo and Pastor Randy met with some traffic experts to improve our traffic flow.  Very important for us to solve this.
• The average chocolate bar has 8 insect legs in it. 
• Our Women’s event, Morning in May, is taking place this Saturday.  Click here to register.
• My oldest daughter is graduating high school in 4 weeks…Crazy!
• We still have a few spots open for our August mission trip to Panama.  Check out our mission catalog or email bert.fields@newliferenton.com for more info.
• I want to invite you to follow me on twitter.  If you don’t know what twitter is—don’t worry about this.
• Jana and I love serving you!  Last Sunday was very humbling for me.  Thank you for all the kind words last weekend.  All the notes were very meaningful for Jana and me.  We read each one individually.
• Pray for people to give their lives to Jesus on Sunday!  

new life ramblings (5/8/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Hawaii here we come!  We leave Monday AM!  Why Monday?  This is when Pastors take vacation.  We arrange everything around Sundays. 
• 20 years of marriage this Wednesday May 13.—I am one blessed man!
• One of the traditions we have on Mother’s Day is giving people an opportunity to give to homeless moms in our community.  There will be a “Give Back” envelope available on Sunday.  All money goes to Vine Maple Place and Vision House.  I love this tradition we have at New Life.
• A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones (Prov 12:4).  God has blessed me with a wife with noble character.
• Serve day is Saturday! This is a great day to serve our community.  Click HERE for more information.  Tell a friend.  Encourage them to do spring cleaning. No strings attached.
• This year we had 8 interns from Northwest.  We take the summer off.  Very excited about our internship this fall.
• Junior Bible Quiz is going to nationals.  I love watching kids memorize God’s word.  We will honor them on Sunday!
• I preach Genesis 41 on Sunday.  What a story!  On Sunday we will learn the secret to Joseph’s success.  The principle we will unpack on Sunday is perhaps the most defining principle in my life. 
• “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”  Abraham Lincoln
• They are done with the 173 GEO piers.  We are making progress.
• Simply Worship was amazing on Wednesday. There is something breathtaking watching 300 people come out on a Wednesday night  to worship Jesus.  Don’t miss our last one before the summer—the first Wednesday in June!
• Chelsey (my daughter) will be speaking for a few moments on Sunday!  She is quite the preacher.
• While doing site work this week, we removed an existing log that was approximately 8′ under ground.  The log was 27′ long and 30″ in diameter.  In the initial effort to remove the log, its size and weight collapsed the front tires on the back hoe.
• “A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”   Tenneva Jordan
• Let’s “praise” all the moms on Sunday.  “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Prov 31:28)
• We are going to experiment receiving our tithes and offerings at the end of the service each week.  Thank you for your giving.  I live to give.  I don’t live to survive.  I am setting giving goals, not getting goals.
• Receiving the offering at the end will allow people to turn in the NEXT information card.  On the card will be a place that says, “I prayed with the pastor and gave my life to Jesus today”.    Let’s believe God for people everyday, every Sunday to say YES to Jesus.
• See you Sunday!  Sit with your mom! 

new life ramblings (5/1/2009)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• I was at a Northwest Ministry conference all week hanging around a bunch of pastors. 
• Sam and our worship team led the conference in worship on Wednesday night. They did an outstanding job. I was so proud that it actually brought me to tears. 
• The last episode of Heroes was amazing.
• Gen. 40 on Sunday! Can’t wait! Read this passage to prepare for Sunday!
• The building is happening! Wow! All week they were drilling geo piers for our foundation.
• Life lesson—you can’t see the geo piers. We can’t see the foundation of our lives.  So many things God does in our hearts we simply can’t be seen. But, without a strong foundation our lives will crash.
• Take some time on Sunday to check out the progress of the building (we have a viewing station).
• Simply Worship is this Wednesday. I can’t believe we are in May. Sam and Jana do great creating an environment where we can pursue intimacy with God.
• RCS uses 418,000 sheets of paper each school year. 
• Follow me on twitter. Ok, what is twitter? I send out personal updates and thoughts throughout the week. You can receive them on your cell phone. All you have to do is set up a free account through www.twitter.com. Then decide to follow me. If you don’t get it—don’t worry about it.
• 40% of McDonald’s profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
• Jana and I leave for Hawaii in 10 days to celebrate 20 years of marriage.
• Beginning May 10 we are going to experiment receiving the offering at the end of the service. Why? We want to encourage people who say yes to Jesus to fill out the NEXT card and put in the offering plate as it goes by. What do you think?
• Lots of people coming to Married Life Live tonight.  It will be great. Last minute people still can register online or at the door. Click HERE to register online.
• Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. Mother’s Day is one of the largest Sundays we have at New Life. Moms have a lot of influence on this day (and everyday). Moms—tell your kids, husbands, relatives that you would love to sit together in church as a family. Do brunch before or after. 
• See you Sunday!