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?