new life ramblings (10/30/09)

…thoughts from Pastor Troy

On Sunday we are doing our Big Give offering.  Put your gift in the offering or giving kiosk marked “Big Give”.  We are trusting God on Sunday for you to respond.  We will have no strong appeal. We are trusting God for an Exodus 36 miracle.  “More than Enough” to come in.  The groundwork has been laid.    This is a special edition of New Life Ramblings:  The Big Give Ramblings!   We are on time and on budget for our new building. Yesterday I gave a couple from our church a personal tour.  I love seeing people’s eyes when they see the possibilities and dreams. If you ever want a personal tour, email me. Either I or one of my pastors would love to walk through the building with you.  Weekdays at 4:30 PM is best time for the construction workers. Countdown begins—-22 Sundays and we move in! This is it. If we don’t receive $500,000 we will have to phase in the chapel.  The chapel will be used for Softer Sundays, The Well, Senior High Axis, Simply Worship, Renton Christian School, Funerals/Weddings, Community events, etc.  Without the chapel significant ministries will be impacted. We have not had ONE change order on this project.  The general contractor says this may be a first for them. We haven’t spent much of our contingency fund either. This is good news. The construction drawing set consists of 131 drawings. There are 49 architectural drawings that took 1300 hours, two bottles of aspirin and too many cups of coffee to count to complete. There is no recession if you are a plumbing contractor! The new building will have 26 water closets, 6 urinals and 22 hand sinks. There is no recession if you are a door supplier! The new building will have 62 door frames with 85 doors. Although the floor of the new building is relatively flat and all areas are accessible, the new building will have 168 steps. We have 8,831,200 lbs of concrete in the new building. Some have asked-can we give this by the end of the year?  Yes. Yes.  Yes. However— We have to communicate to our general contractor if we are going to finish the chapel or not by early November. Some have asked-can we just continue to give monthly even in 2010 and beyond.  Yes. I posted a blog called “Giving Muscles”  I would love to have everyone read this.  Read more HERE. We have already raised over $2 Million for this new building.  This is the biggest fundraiser in our history.   Thank you New Life! Over the last few weeks people have given $500 to $30,000 checks. Even one person committing to $100,000.  Equal sacrifice, not equal giving. We are up 7.5% in our giving from last year at this time.  God is blessing New Life.  Thank you for your generosity.  The best way to support the mission of New Life is to give systematically.    When we move into the new building we will move our kids into our current space.  They desperately need this space.  Last week we almost had 500 kids onsite. When we move out of this current building-our Junior Highers will move into the current Ally room (Upstairs).  They are very excited to have their own space. When we move out of this building—our nursery will have more space. When we move out of this building—we will build RCS a gym. We are making three financial assumptions:  Debt service not to exceed 25% of general income, receive 2.6 million in cash and pay off loan in 15 years. Day Light savings is Sunday-nothing to do with new building-but it does give us all more sleep. “Fall back” Read Luke 5 for Sunday.  Four stories.  One Jesus.  Redemption. You don’t want to miss the last five minutes of our services.  Buildings come and go.  Buildings burn down.  Buildings are a tool.  The church is you and me.  We are the family of God, bride of Christ, light of the World, body of Christ. In the words of late Michael Jackson-this is it! Let’s do it.  We are crossing the finish line.

new life ramblings (10/23/09)

What is on my mind?  What is happening at New Life? What is happening in my personal world?  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and find out.
 

• Last weekend we changed the oil of 55 single moms at New Life.
• This week they are putting the stadium seating in our new worship center.  Looks great.
• Our big give offering is Sunday, November 1st.  We need another $590,000.  If we don’t receive this amount we will have to phase in the chapel.  The chapel will be used for Softer Sundays, The Well, Senior High Axis, Simply Worship, Funerals/Weddings, RCS chapels, etc. 
• Attention all ladies…Mark Friday night November 6th  at 7pm on your calendar.  Eileen Hunter will be speaking to all ladies on our UNITE Ladies event.   Sign up online for this FREE event.New Life Orientation is Sunday, October 25.  Sign up online. If you new to New Life or been around for a while this environment is a chance for you to hear the vision and heart of our church.  If you want to begin to serve at New Life or have any questions—New Life Orientation is for you.
• People spend around two weeks of their lives at traffic lights.
• I posted a blog this week called “Giving Muscles”.  I would love to have everyone read this.  Check it out HERE. 
• Butterfly Effect:  “It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.”
• One small act changes everything.  During the Butterfly Effect we will discuss how one small prayer, one act of generosity and one conversation with a person far from God leads to large scale and unpredictable spiritual awakening.
• Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by creating environments where people pursue intimacy with God and community with people. 
• Our strategy statement (this is new) is “Plant Seeds. Grow Roots. Bear Fruit”.  We plant seeds in our weekend gatherings, we grow roots in our groups and we bear fruit by serving our church, community and world.
• I met with our Elders this Tuesday night. Amazing leadership at New Life.
• Read Exodus 35:20-36:7 to prepare for Sunday.  I love this story in the Old Testament.

new life ramblings (10/16/09)

What is on my mind?  What is happening at New Life? What is happening in my personal world?  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and find out.

• Serve Day is Saturday from 10am-2pm.  Bring your trash to the church. Tell your neighbors about this opportunity.  We are doing free oil changes for single moms.  It will be a great day.
• Attention all ladies!!!  Mark Friday night November 6th on your calendar.  Eileen Hunter will be speaking to all ladies at our UNITE Ladies event. You can sign up or get more information HERE.
• New Life Orientation is Sunday, October 25.  Sign up online.  If you are new to New Life or have been around for a while, this environment is a chance for you to hear the vision and heart of our church.  If you want to begin to serve at New Life or have any questions—New Life Orientation is for you.
• I posted a blog this week called “Giving Muscles”.  I would love to have everyone read this.  You can read it HERE. 
• The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing.
• Did you know we have over 100 kids in Royal Rangers and Missionettes on Wednesday nights? 
• The Big Give is three Sundays away. (Sunday, November 1)
• Read Exodus 17: 8-16 to prepare for Sunday. 
• We plan our teaching series 12 months in advance.  This week I felt a burden to change our next series.  The new series is called “The Butterfly Effect”.  I am pumped.  Invite a friend.
• Butterfly Effect:  “It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.”
• One small act changes everything.  During the Butterfly Effect we will discuss how one small prayer, one act of generosity and one conversation with a person far from God leads to large scale and unpredictable spiritual awakening.
• Spent some time with Gary Moreno this week.  Gary was our worship leader 4 years ago.  Great guy.  He is doing very well. 
• Check out Project Rescue.  We will be supporting with them in 2010.
• Check out Convoy of Hope.  We partner with Convoy of Hope to respond to extreme disasters and hungry people. 
• Check out Vision House and Vine Maple Place.  We partner with both of these ministries to provide homes for homeless moms.
• Our goal was $800,000 by November 1st.  We already have $200,000.  Someone committed $100,000.  We need another $500,000 by November 1st if all possible.  December 31 at the latest.
• Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by creating environments where people pursue intimacy with God and community with people. 
• Our strategy statement (this is new) is “Plant Seeds. Grow Roots. Bear Fruit”.  We plant seeds in our weekend gatherings, we grow roots in our groups and we bear fruit by serving our church, community and world.

Your Giving Muscles

Yesterday I had a conversation with our pastors and staff.  I guess I would call it “your giving muscles”

We all have muscles.  If you don’t exercise they get weak and fragile.  Giving is a muscle you have to exercise.  Jana and I learned how to exercise these muscles early in our marriage.  I thank God we did.  I remember the first time we gave $500 to missions.  It hurt.  It stretched us.  It was essential as a young couple to learn to exercise this muscle.

How are you exercising your giving muscles?  If you don’t tithe to the local church—it may seem overwhelming to begin.  I get this. But—start exercising your muscles today.  Start with lifting 10 pounds or anywhere.  I have a deep conviction that our goal should be 10% of tithe to the local church.  But—start somewhere. 

I don’t lift weights. I know I need to. (Jana does.  Does this count for me?)  For now hear my illustration.  If I started to lift weights I couldn’t bench press much.  But—I need to start…with a little. 

Start somewhere in exercising your giving muscles. 

Here is what they say with weight lifting…The important thing to remember when it comes to strength training is that you must give your muscles more weight than they can handle–that’s how muscles grow.

You have to start giving “more than you can handle”.  I don’t mean to be stupid.  But…give more than you’re comfortable with.

Stretch yourself.  If you are a faithful tither, remember tithing is the foundation to your giving, not the ceiling.  Give to missions…give to hurting people…give to people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus.

If you randomly give in the offering just to make yourself feel better—start being systematic.  Decide on a percentage and start.  Have the goal to give 10%.  But start with a few weights. If God has blessed you and gifted you to make a lot of money…don’t just buy another toy. Advance the Kingdom of God with your wealth.  Write that $10,000 or $100,000 check to make a difference.

I had a couple sit down with me and say, “Pastor—we want to give in the Big Give Offering (Offering for our new building, November 1^st).  But we don’t have any money.  We are strapped. What would you do?”  I said, “You need to stretch your muscles.  Do this—both of you pray—ask God—What should you give?  Share it with each other.  Decide on this. “  It was funny they both already had a number in mind.  Then I said, “Sell something.  Do an extra job.  Include your kids.  Do a lemonade stand if you have to (just a joke) Stretch your muscles.  As you give it—make this a spiritual act of obedience.  Make it a declaration—my family won’t live in a selfish way.  My family will be givers.  We are out of shape now…but are going to make a spiritual declaration—God is our provider. God is the owner.  Everything spending decision I make honors him.”

new life ramblings (10/9/09)

What is on my mind?  What is happening at New Life? What is happening in my personal world?  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and find out. Last weekend we brought in over $8,000 for Convoy of Hope.  Amazing to see New Life respond to the earthquake and tsunami victims.  MarriedLife Live is tonight!  I am looking forward to spending the evening with a bunch of couples from New Life.  Date night! Jana and I spent a couple of days in Southern California meeting with leaders talking about sex slavery and human trafficking across this world. In 2010, New Life is going to partner with an Organization called “Project Rescue”. You can visit their website HERE.  Project Rescue rescues girls sold to sex slavery.  After a victim is rescued she is taken to a Home of Hope — a safe place where she can heal and be nurtured. At Homes of Hope, victims also receive the loving message of Christ, counseling, education, general medical care, basic literacy training, and vocational training leading to financial independence. Hospice care is also provided for women with HIV/AIDS. Serve Day is coming Saturday October 17.  We are doing a free oil change for single moms. The response has been outstanding. We already have 40 women signed up.  Click HERE for more info about the oil change or HERE to volunteer to help. If you sneeze too hard you may fracture a rib. If you suppress a sneeze you may rupture a blood vessel. We’ve launched about 50 new small groups this fall There is a new Beth Moore ladies Bible study starting this Wednesday night led by Judy Thompson, Judy Mullins, & Darla Sherman. The Big Give is three Sundays away. (Sunday, November 1) Read Isaiah 6:1-8 to prepare for Sunday.