The title of this blog says it all. I’m not sure what they are saying in this video, but as you’ll notice words are not very important. This is not meant to be spiritual, philisophical, or even of much value other than it made me laugh and I hope it does the same for you!
Enjoy the next minute and 33 seconds.
Have you watched any funny videos online recently? Send them my way, let’s share a laugh together!
Dave
“I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” . . . . John 16:33 (NCV)
Jesus never promised us everything would be perfect here on earth. He knew we would encounter troubles. But His instructions were to be of good cheer (to be brave or courageous or encouraged) — not to let things get us down. As we encounter difficulties in life, it will help us to remember the big picture. First, God is our Father and He has a wonderful, eternal plan for us. We are His children and He loves us. Second, our time on this earth is but a training period for our future life with God. We are to learn to trust God and obey Him. Every problem or difficulty we face is an opportunity to walk in faith and please God. Every trial or hardship is an opportunity to overcome - with God’s help.
What is the answer when we seem overwhelmed with trouble? Look to Jesus! He has already won the victory. He has overcome and defeated the world. In Him is victory. We may ask how we can look to Jesus.It is mostly a matter of focus — what we choose to think on. What God says in His Word (Psalm 55:22; 1Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7) sets us free (from worry, sleepless nights, stomach upsets, etc.) and gives us peace (that passes all understanding). Our circumstances do not have the final word over our lives. God does.
Today, let’s be encouraged to keep looking to Jesus and His Word. Speak them. Sing them. Shout them. Rejoice over them. And thank God for them!
I believe God desires for us to have an on-going and loving relationship with Jesus that continues to grow. As we persist in prayer and in listening to His still, small voice and obeying His Word (written or spoken), our relationship with Him deepens as well. Let’s develop the habit of talking with Him about everything (our hurts, joys, disappointments, excitements, concerns, etc). We can speak freely to Him – after all He knows what we are thinking anyway.
In closing, no matter what we face, we can be brave because the Lord is with us . . . . . Paul admonishes, “I (we) can do all things through Christ, because HE gives me (us) strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NCV)
junn & tet
Today was beautiful! I mean common! Sunny with a high of 17 degrees (Celsius of course!), what more could I ask for? Balmy-like breezes. No jacket required. Finally I can put away my winter coat! Things are starting to look up! It is crazy that only a week ago I was literally loathing the unpredictable-ness of the weather! Have you forgotten so soon? Let me take you back. Crazy hurricane force rain and wind! Trees down in yards! Okay, maybe not that extreme, but it was incredibly cold and wet and I did see branches from trees on the ground.
As I drove by those branches scattered on the ground, the thought occurred to me, seasons are changing. I love the beauty of winter, but I’m not too fussy on the bleakness and how barren it is. Winter tosses fall leaves to the ground and halts growth. Everything goes into survival mode. Animals store up, bears eat up and we stock up! But then there is the beginning of spring, the beginning of a reprieve. Where we see faint glimmers of hope that something greater is coming. I bet you know where I am going.
Life’s seasons are like that. Moments of great victory and promise come like the flowers in springtime. Hard work comes like the hot, humid days of summer. Fruitfulness and promises fulfilled come like the autumn harvest. And then Winter. Winter comes to teach us about rest and restoration, life when everything around you has a resemblance to death. But then the moment comes where everything that the winter months have taught us is tested. It is the lion-like days of March. Days where there seems to be so much chaos that you don’t know if you’re moving ahead or stumbling backwards.
And that is what I thought of when I saw the branches of a tree down on the ground. The seasons are changing and everything that does not belong in this season is not going to make it to the next. When seasons change in the spiritual world, God has this phenomenal process of ‘shaking’. He shakes up your world! He shakes up your world through love, so that everything that is not rooted and established securely in Him will fall off. He helps you to shed off unwanted and un-needed excess so that you can go into the next season ready. Prepared. To go into the next season free!
Alex
Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to take a bit of a break from the Rumble team and their regular activities. However, with Easter around the corner there have been many intense rehearsals and several new additions to the routines. I must admit that last week when I had the chance to help out with one of the extended Rumble KIDZ practices, I was quite impressed with what I saw. The production that the team is working on for the Easter celebration is tremendous. I’m not sure if it’s top secret but I’m too excited not to share what is happening! The team is putting together a dramatic performance entitled ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ and the lead track has such an amazing beat, with a slew of new performance components. The Rumble KIDZ have incorporated elements of spoken word, lyrical dance, and a stomp routine just to name a few. Of course you can still anticipate an outstanding vocal performance by the choir and soloists in addition to new raps that will get you moving.
It’s amazing to see how far the group has come and I’m looking forward to working with the team again and being involved with this special one-time presentation that will take place during our Easter Sunday service. So be sure to join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and how He has impacted the lives not only of these kids, but of hundreds of thousands of believers across the world.
Invite a friend and make a day of it — cause it’s a performance you won’t want to miss!
Till next time,
Nina
Many of you will know from my many comments - that talking on the phone is not one of the greatest joys in my life. Probably, saying that I hate phones is an over-exaggeration because I manage to use up all my cell phone minutes long before a month is over. And like you, I too am very worried about getting ticketed while using my cellphone (lest, any of you start sending me silly comments I do have a blue tooth - but I am sometimes not very savvy with the technology (i.e. figuring out how to put it in my ear)
At any rate I was reading a blog I like and came across this ingenious list that gives me all the ammo in the world for not talking on the phone. The next time I have to call the pizza delivery place I am going to give them a copy of this memorandum and hopefully they will find a way for me to text in my order.
Jess
It’s March Break week for students and their parents that live in Canada. I am blessed with a child that not only has one week but has two weeks off. The great thing is this usually means, that we as a family are forced into a mini vacation for at least a little bit of the two weeks. This year we have decided to take a little Road Trip away with the family for one of the weeks and we are looking forward to a little R & R.
The funny thing is as a pastor of a growing church time off for a little R & R doesn’t always mean R & R. Now I want you to understand that I really love our staff. I am very confident of their abilities and competence and trust that they would make the right decisions when challenges occur- but it’s sometimes difficult to rest when you are in the middle of church growth and weekly life transformations and you just don’t want it to stop.
Truth is, I’m not the saviour of the world and so I have to trust that God will take care of His church- even if I’m not there. I guess the reason why I write this is that in the past when I have gone away there have been a few peculiar things that have happened in the church community that I missed and I just don’t like missing any of the action.
Oh well, I guess it’s good for me to let others enjoy the joys and sorrows of ministry while I’m away- and just think about it as a mystery treat when I arrive home. March Break, 2010 can’t wait to see what’s in store over the next few days ahead, I’ll let you know how it goes!
Pray for our Road Trip, just cleaned the car, hope know one barfs!
Any interesting March Break stories? Share them with us!
Dave
The past three weeks have been great for me at church. We know that Liberty is currently running a fifteen-week “Alpha Course Program” and we’re on our last leg of five-week remaining sessions.
Having the opportunity to be in the learning group was so much fun. During discussions, the group talked about who God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit is. We were also inspired and challenged to speak in tongues in one of our sessions. Two individuals at the end of the meeting expressed how they wanted to have the gift of speaking in tongues. While a lady sitting across from me admitted she’s quite confused with all the stuff about the “heavenly language” and asked for an explanation from others in the room. A minute of silence broke in . . . until finally, a lady shared her own experience on how the Holy Spirit led her to pray in tongues and saw the result of her obedience. Backed by two or three more powerful testimonies in the room, it brought great encouragement to everyone.
The beauty of being part of a learning group is that anyone can jump in and participate. At this point, I’m thinking of the Bereans, who meticulously studied the Scriptures daily. ( Acts 17:10-12; . . . read also Psalm 1:2). What an example they (the Bereans) have set for us as followers of Jesus…
Quotes from my fellow learners at our Alpha Course:
· Can I go to heaven if I didn’t speak in tongues? . . . YES!
· Can I resist evil? . . . YES!
· Can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? . . . YES!
· Can the Holy Spirit guide me? . . . YES!
· The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness!
· The Holy Spirit helps us when we don’t know what to pray!
Here’s what I know, Luke 11:13 . . . God is pleased to give you and me the Holy Spirit when we ask Him to. I need the Holy Spirit . . . every day . . . 24/7.
Today, you can ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit!
This week, I am introducing a song “ Open Up The Sky” by Deluge. It contains powerful lyrics I hope will inspire you.
junn
How many of us like the feeling of accomplishing something on our own. To go it alone and conquer the unconquerable! I think it comes from our first time tying our own shoelaces or riding our bike without training wheels. We get praise for doing things on our own. We are encouraged to do things on our own. And if we are not doing something on our own at least let us be the one offering help. It’s funny to me how most of us love to help people but almost all of have learned to despise receiving assistance. To show any size of weakness is rejected by society. We learn at a young age to not ask for help. Unfortunately, I’m no different, I love doing things all by myself. I love the accolades that I get. Where people will stop and say WOW you did that! (I know, I know, I am painting a pretty prideful picture of myself!) The only problem that we see with this is, its not how God has designed us, as His church, to function. God brings us together to share in the community of His people and ultimately to bring Him glory through it! We are not the ultimate be all and end all in life. Paul tells us in Galatians 6, that we should stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed, to share those burdens. It is not talking about helping out with ‘backpack burdens’. Those are the burdens that we are meant to carry individually. Paul is referring to ‘boulder burdens’; these are loads, like a huge boulder, that no one was meant to carry alone. Just picture a small or even average size person trying to walk down the road maneuvering this large unmovable rock. It is impossible! But when friends and family join in the struggle, the once unmovable boulder now is easily moved. Likewise, when one of those who assisted finds themselves in a similar situation, they should not be too prideful to reach out and receive assistance. The sad thing is that in rejecting help we let others know that we are the ultimate and have no need for them to be a part of our lives. Just think about the last time your offer to help was rejected. It makes you feel unwanted and unneeded, unvalued.
In life most of us get to a place where we need friends, mentors or someone to be there to help us. When we hit the bottom we all need people to help us through that time. The problem arises when we haven’t taken the time to build community. That causes us to scramble to find someone, but because we have discouraged his or her previous offers to help, there is no one around to help carry your load. The fact remains; we need each other, and there is no way to get around it.
Proverbs tells us that ‘for the lack of guidance nations falls, but many advisers make victory sure’. When we live on our own and don’t allow anyone to help us we set ourselves up for failure (don’t get mad at me, I’m just telling you what the Bible says). The question I would leave you with is: whom are you allowing in your life to both help and whom you can help?
Alex
The Life Journal is Coming Soon!
I’ve got to share with you a secret, it’s something that I am so excited about I cannot wait till we launch the vision on Sunday March 28. For the last few months I have been asking the Lord how we as a church can begin to really dig into the Word of God in a way that will be meaningful to our community. Usually what happens is that in January of most years pastors provide their churches with a Bible reading plan that starts off with great enthusiasm and then fades away very quickly. Most people lose their steam and fall off the Bible reading plan track and it becomes very discouraging for those involved.
At the beginning of 2010 I really wanted to be one of those pastors that could beat the odds but didn’t really feel that we had something that would be a winner for everyone- till now. It’s three months into the new year and I haven’t found anything till now, and I’ve got to say that I am so excited, or maybe I said that already?
So I heard of this program from a colleague of mine that suggested I give it a look. I took a look at this program and thought well I don’t know, I’m not a big journal writing kind of guy, however the more I look at it I realize this is something that we can have fun with in our community and it will help all of us that want to dig deeper into God’s Word. So I’m pumped, I think we have something that we can develop for our church and begin this journal journey together.
The Life Journal is a Bible reading plan developed by Wayne Cordeiro, Senior Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii. The Life Journal has gone around the world with over 400 000 people picking up their copy and this number is rising daily.
Here’s the simplified explanation of what Life Journal is all about. In four easy steps you will begin to record what God is speaking to you about on a daily basis with the acrostic SOAP.
S- Scripture, record your favourite scripture from the Bible reading plan provided.
O- Observation, make an observation from the scripture and record in the journal.
A- Application, make an application from the scripture to your life and record.
P- Prayer, write out a simple prayer.
That’s it, God will begin speaking as you work through the scriptures in a systematic way and begin listening to the voice of God. Truth is, God is always speaking but unless we tune into His frequency we miss His voice completely.
So I’m sorry if I let the secret out before the launch date Sunday March 28, but I just couldn’t contain myself. Truth is, I want you to be ready to jump in with both feet as we begin the Life Journal and The 90 Day New Testament Challenge beginning April 1st. (there I go again, can’t keep a secret)
Get ready, as we Journal together!
By the way, your Life Journal will be available for the cost of about $12, includes 90 page journal & pen set with Liberty logo, Bible reading & journal plan.
So make sure you’re with us on Sunday March 28th @ 10am for the launch of the Life Journal!
Dave
As a part of our staff leadership development we are required to read a number of books throughout the year. Our team has recently finished reading Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. This was the first book we’ve read as team since the start of the New Year, and I must admit that the book is a valuable asset to any leader (especially leaders involved with church ministry). Bill shares his insights and experiences from a very practical point-of-view, and really breaks down so many different aspects of the joys & challenges that leaders face. There are many elements of the book that I’d love to share with you but it’s probably easier if you just read it for yourself.
My favorite quote from the book is from chapter 2, where it states:
“However, some of the most exciting visions that God ever offered to humans have languished, withered, and died. Why? Because some leader somewhere saw it and felt it but did not have the guts to own it or act on it. He or she failed to pursue it, so the vision never became a reality…. To squander a vision is an unthinkable sin.”
Although it seemed a bit harsh when I first read it, I fully recognize the importance of that statement. It reminded me of how important it is to not only hear God’s voice but to actually take action! I’ve had to ask myself…
Am I squandering the vision that the Lord has given me? Or am I fully embracing the vision He has placed on my heart? What about you?
Nina