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!