Here it is. It is prime Just Walk Across the Room time. The Easter season is upon us. It is a great time to extend an invitation. I pray that you will.
One of the things that impacted me the most in these lessons was what Bill said in our video excerpt last Sunday. “Never just means no for now.” For me that means that I must pray and be patient and pray and be creative and pray and love and pray and extend a hand and pray. Did I mention I must pray for lost people more? It may take some time. It may take 8 years! It may take one invite to a service or one Bridge Illustration. It could be that the seed was planted long ago and it has been watered and fertilized and you are the one who God allows to be present when the soul is harvested.
Be diligent. Love. Serve. Share. Take a walk. Share your story. Share God’s story. We are never more like Christ than when we are extending His Good News to another.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
We Are Better Together
I was reading Numbers chapter 32 this morning where there is a fascinating account. The Children of Israel have wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and now they are preparing to cross the Jordan River and go into the Promised Land. They know that when they cross that river that it will be a war. God’s command is for them to cross over and then begin driving out and or eliminating the people that inhabit the land.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad want to settle in the land east of the Jordan River. They are ranchers. The land is prime grazing land. The leaders of their tribe go to Moses and say, “We want this land on this side of the Jordan.” The inference is that the other tribes will not want this land…so we will take it.
Moses reaction is very interesting. His first impression is that they want to settle the land right now and never cross the river and never join the fight. Moses tells them that they may have the land if the men of their tribes will cross over and fight with the other ten tribes. They agree to go into the land and fight and then they will come back to their wives and children that they have left on the other side of the river.
For me there are several principles here that form a parallel for us in our church.
1. We are all in this together. The Scripture is clear that we are in a spiritual battle. The good news is that we have each other. We are in this together.
2. Unity is required. For us to accomplish all that God has called us to, we must strive together in unity. Moses makes it clear that disunity is sin. He reminds them that the reason that they had circled the desert for 40 years is because they were not unified in their purpose the first time around.
3. We all have a part to play and a job to do. For the Children of Israel to be successful and to maintain unity, everybody had to do their part. The same will be true in the church. Again, Moses is very clear. For the tribes of Reuben and Gad to be remiss in doing their part would be sin.
God has blessed Venice Church with wonderful people and a wonderful spirit. I appreciate your love for this church your desire to fulfill the mission that God has given to us. We are better together! Thanks for doing your part. I am honored to serve along side of each one of you.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad want to settle in the land east of the Jordan River. They are ranchers. The land is prime grazing land. The leaders of their tribe go to Moses and say, “We want this land on this side of the Jordan.” The inference is that the other tribes will not want this land…so we will take it.
Moses reaction is very interesting. His first impression is that they want to settle the land right now and never cross the river and never join the fight. Moses tells them that they may have the land if the men of their tribes will cross over and fight with the other ten tribes. They agree to go into the land and fight and then they will come back to their wives and children that they have left on the other side of the river.
For me there are several principles here that form a parallel for us in our church.
1. We are all in this together. The Scripture is clear that we are in a spiritual battle. The good news is that we have each other. We are in this together.
2. Unity is required. For us to accomplish all that God has called us to, we must strive together in unity. Moses makes it clear that disunity is sin. He reminds them that the reason that they had circled the desert for 40 years is because they were not unified in their purpose the first time around.
3. We all have a part to play and a job to do. For the Children of Israel to be successful and to maintain unity, everybody had to do their part. The same will be true in the church. Again, Moses is very clear. For the tribes of Reuben and Gad to be remiss in doing their part would be sin.
God has blessed Venice Church with wonderful people and a wonderful spirit. I appreciate your love for this church your desire to fulfill the mission that God has given to us. We are better together! Thanks for doing your part. I am honored to serve along side of each one of you.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Cool Stuff
Los Angeles is having a summer prequel here in March! I love this weather, but I pray that we can make it through this year without our state burning up.
If you are with us at Venice Church, I trust that you are enjoying Just Walk Across the Room. I have found it to be inspiring, encouraging and convicting to this point. Please let me remind you that what we are looking for here is a change in our lifestyle and our approach to sharing our faith. We are not looking to take “walks” just this month. We want to become “walk-across-the-room” types of people for the rest of our days. As you have seen or will see in this week’s lesson, sometimes it takes a long time to see our friend or loved one come to Christ. Hang in there and enjoy the rest of the Just Walk experience.
I know by now that you have seen the new logo and hopefully you have checked out the new website. There is more exciting stuff coming your way. Beginning on Sunday April 1st we will unveil a brand new line of printed material. You will see a new layout to our weekly handout, there will be a sweet bag of goodies for your friends who visit for the first time, and there will even be new offering envelopes and response cards. God has been very good to us and I believe that you will be proud of our new look.
Here are more dates to set aside on your calendar:
This Sunday – Rockstars go to Chuck E. Cheese. Yea!!
April 6th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00
April 8th – Easter Sunday – Two Services at 9:00 & 10:45 AM.
June 9th – Marriage Seminar with Don & Sheryl Rooks of Connecting Point Ministries.
You can find other ministry information and dates on our website at venicechurch.com.
If you are with us at Venice Church, I trust that you are enjoying Just Walk Across the Room. I have found it to be inspiring, encouraging and convicting to this point. Please let me remind you that what we are looking for here is a change in our lifestyle and our approach to sharing our faith. We are not looking to take “walks” just this month. We want to become “walk-across-the-room” types of people for the rest of our days. As you have seen or will see in this week’s lesson, sometimes it takes a long time to see our friend or loved one come to Christ. Hang in there and enjoy the rest of the Just Walk experience.
I know by now that you have seen the new logo and hopefully you have checked out the new website. There is more exciting stuff coming your way. Beginning on Sunday April 1st we will unveil a brand new line of printed material. You will see a new layout to our weekly handout, there will be a sweet bag of goodies for your friends who visit for the first time, and there will even be new offering envelopes and response cards. God has been very good to us and I believe that you will be proud of our new look.
Here are more dates to set aside on your calendar:
This Sunday – Rockstars go to Chuck E. Cheese. Yea!!
April 6th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00
April 8th – Easter Sunday – Two Services at 9:00 & 10:45 AM.
June 9th – Marriage Seminar with Don & Sheryl Rooks of Connecting Point Ministries.
You can find other ministry information and dates on our website at venicechurch.com.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Let Them Know
Every one of us who is a Christ follower have somebody in our life that played a significant role in pointing us to Christ. One of our assignments this week in our series Just Walk Across the Room is to let them know. We have been challenged to send a card or an email to the person or, in my case, the people that helped us across the line of faith.
I have sent three emails this week and the experience has been rewarding for me and for the folks who lovingly and courageously and persistently pointed me to Jesus Christ. I sent an email to my mom and dad thanking them for never allowing me to live one day without hearing the name of Jesus. I thanked Jerry Thorpe. Jerry is a great preacher and, like me, a preacher's kid. For the better part of my life I have been privileged to hear Jerry preach and most importantly for me, tell his story. You see, Jerry reached his teen years without giving his life to Christ and he literally lived in torment believing that Christ would return without him ever taking Him as Savior. I experienced the same thing. And Amy. It took a tremendous amount of courage on Amy's part to put me over. She stepped up and took Christ as Savior when everybody in our church thought she was already saved. She was a leader in our Youth Group for goodness sake! Her decision to come forward and say, "I have never really given my life to Christ" gave me the courage to do the same. It is not easy for the preacher's kid, who sings in the choir and does "all the right things" to admit that he is not even saved, but I did and it was Amy's courage that put me over.
So I thank them all.
If somebody has played a significant role in your life...let them know.
I pray that somebody will let you know that you helped them across the line as well.
It doesn't get any better than that.
I have sent three emails this week and the experience has been rewarding for me and for the folks who lovingly and courageously and persistently pointed me to Jesus Christ. I sent an email to my mom and dad thanking them for never allowing me to live one day without hearing the name of Jesus. I thanked Jerry Thorpe. Jerry is a great preacher and, like me, a preacher's kid. For the better part of my life I have been privileged to hear Jerry preach and most importantly for me, tell his story. You see, Jerry reached his teen years without giving his life to Christ and he literally lived in torment believing that Christ would return without him ever taking Him as Savior. I experienced the same thing. And Amy. It took a tremendous amount of courage on Amy's part to put me over. She stepped up and took Christ as Savior when everybody in our church thought she was already saved. She was a leader in our Youth Group for goodness sake! Her decision to come forward and say, "I have never really given my life to Christ" gave me the courage to do the same. It is not easy for the preacher's kid, who sings in the choir and does "all the right things" to admit that he is not even saved, but I did and it was Amy's courage that put me over.
So I thank them all.
If somebody has played a significant role in your life...let them know.
I pray that somebody will let you know that you helped them across the line as well.
It doesn't get any better than that.
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