Power Of Prayer

Prayer is the tiny nerve that moves God's mighty hand.

Taking A Break - New Series in Sept.

Hey, I'm going to take a break from blogging this week. Looking forward to a new series in Sept. "MYTHBUSTERS".

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Trust

Sunrise Community Church dealt with this word this past Sunday. We encouraged people to offer themselves wholly to God and trust Him with all of their lives. This is an interesting clip. Think about it.

And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. Exodus 40:31

And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him. Deuteronomy 9:23

O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. II Samuel 7:28

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me (Jesus). John 14:1

Good Soil

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear." 10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Ping Pong - Man I'm Good

This is me playing Ping Pong with my friends while in High School. This video was edited and played like it was a big tourney play. Not really. Just me and friend having some Table Tennis fun.

Luke 5:27-32

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Facing The Giants - Give It Your Best

Fun For The Nethery's

These pics and the brief video spell FUN for the Nethery's this summer.

Good Time

Good time at the Beach Baptism. The baptisms were exciting and it is great to be is a church that celebrates people coming to now Jesus Christ and following up in baptism. Thanks to those in SCC for helping people accept Christ and begin to grow in their faith walk with Jesus. Jesus Christ is Lord.

Praying

The Best Way To Pray

A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. 'Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray,' the priest said. 'No,' said the minister. 'I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.' 'You're both wrong,' the guru said. 'The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor.' The repairman could contain himself no longer. 'Hey, fellas,' he interrupted. 'The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole.'

My King

No Title

The week comes to a close. I will be working some this weekend. Admin stuff. Calendar stuff. Sharing Christ with people and baptizing people is the fun stuff. Thanks God for allowing me to serve You.

1Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. I Timothy 1:15-16

I learned the above verses many years ago and they are a very important part of my life and calling into the ministry. JC is real and He has changed my life. He is working in me and through me to touch the lives of others. Good Stuff.

The Prayer Of Relinquishment

A mother watched her son run into the house clutching his bloody hand. "Let me see!" she said. Backing away he cried, "No, you'll hurt me." When he finally opened his hand, instead of a major injury she saw a tiny scrape that bled a lot. As she marveled at his theatrics, she realized she'd done the same to God. When her husband left her she was so hurt, she refused to pray. God kept saying, "Let me help you," as she clenched her fists and said, "No, you'll hurt me." Once she realized this she gave it to God and her healing began. Catherine Marshall called this "the prayer of relinquishment," which means giving the situation to God, taking your hands off it completely, refusing to discuss it any further, and trusting the One who makes "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28). That's why prayer makes it possible for you to stop struggling with the situation and have peace about it.

Cast you burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you... Paslam 55:22a

This was taken from the Bob the Blogger link on my blog.

Jesus Christ Is Lord

Praying For Kristen Ellis

Keep praying for Kristen Ellis who is in El Salvador this week sharing Christ with others and helping Compassion International.

Beach Baptism This Sunday

Sunrise is having a Beach Baptism this Sunday. No snorkels needed. We are looking forward to baptizing people who recently made the decision to become followers of Jesus Christ. This is a step for them in faith and obedience towards growing in Christ and becoming totally committed followers of Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3:1-9

1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Leadership Thought From Rick Warren

The seven foundations of Jesus’ leadership by Rick Warren
There are no perfect leaders. I’m not a perfect leader. Neither are you. But Jesus is. There’s no better teacher on leadership than Jesus. What made him such as effective leader? Lots of reasons. In this article I’ll give you seven of them.
1. Identification: I must know who I am. To be a leader you’ve got to know who you are. All great leaders know their strengths and their weaknesses. We’re a bundle of both. Leadership is not ignoring one in favor of the other. It’s being honest about them. Good leaders don’t try to be something they are not. They are self-aware.
Jesus had no doubt about his identity. He said:
I am the light of the world.
I am the Son of God.
I am the way.
I am the truth.
I am the life.
I am the bread of life.
Jesus defines himself 18 times by saying, “I am…” He didn’t let other people define him. He defined himself. If you’re going to be a leader, you must know who you are.
2. Clarification: Know what you want to accomplish. You must clarify what God has called you to do with your life. The direction of your life is your choice. If you don’t like the direction your life is headed right now, change it. Nobody’s holding a gun to your head. Nobody’s making you a victim. Nobody’s forcing you to serve in the manner you’re serving.
Jesus knew exactly what God had called him to do. He was a straightforward leader who established clear-cut goals. In John 8 Jesus says, “I know where I came from and I know where I’m going.” Jesus had a clear purpose. He knew not only who he was, but what was he trying to do with his life. He truly was a purpose-driven leader. God has a purpose for your life and ministry. If you don’t fulfill it, you have wasted your life. You were put on earth to live for the purpose God created you for. A leader knows that purpose and pursues it with passion.
3. Motivation: Know who you’re trying to please. You need to settle the issue of motivation. You can’t please everybody. Just about the time you get one person happy, you’ll tick someone else off. Jesus lived for an audience of One. His whole purpose was to please his heavenly Father. Jesus says this in John 5, “I only try to please the One who sent Me.” Jesus wasn’t trying to win a popularity content; he just wanted to please God.
That’s a lesson we have to learn as leaders. You’ve got to learn not to care about the opinions of others. You’ve got to focus on God’s opinion of what you’re doing. Don’t pay attention to those who cheer you or jeer you. Either one will sidetrack you.
4. Collaboration: Work with a small group. You never lead by yourself. You always do it in context of a team. All great leaders are great team builders. In fact, if you don’t have a team, you’re not a leader. You’re a loner. The test of leadership is whether anyone is following you.
Jesus modeled this kind of ministry. He never did ministry alone. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.” Jesus enlisted other people to serve the cause with him.
If God gives you a vision for your ministry, he’s going to bring other people with the same idea together with you. If nobody agrees on your idea, guess what? It’s not from God.
5. Concentration: Focus on what’s important. Leaders must focus on what’s important. Life is filled with things that will distract you from what’s important. Sometimes we can be distracted by good things as well. If Satan can’t mess up your life by getting you to do wrong things, he’ll mess up your life by giving you too many good things to do. Jesus was a master of concentration. He focused his life like a laser. He refused to be distracted. Luke 9:51 says, “As the time drew near for his return to heaven, he moved steadily onward toward Jerusalem with an iron will.” He headed toward Jerusalem to die on the cross for us. He did it with an iron will. He would not let anything distract him from what was important. Your ministry has incredible potential. But that ministry potential won’t be realized until you decide what’s really important. Settle on what’s most important, and God will use your life like you could never imagine.
6. Meditation: Listen to God. Make listening to God a habit of your life. Jesus did. Prayer was a regular part of his life. The Bible tells us in Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” If Jesus needed to get alone and listen to God, don’t you think that you need to? You need quiet times to reflect, renew, and recharge. You need time to just get alone, be quiet, and listen to God.
7. Relaxation: Take time to recharge. Leadership is draining. It’s hard work. We all need time to just relax. Jesus encouraged his very busy disciples to take some time for relaxation. Mark 6:31 says, “Crowds of people were coming and going so that they did not even have time to eat. He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], ‘Come away by yourselves, and we’ll go to a lonely place to get some rest.’” Jesus realized the disciples had been busy serving, and they were tired. They needed a break. So he told them to get away and rest. Rest is so important that God put it in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment says this: every seventh day you take a day off. Pastor, this applies to you as well. You need a day away from the church.
Years ago I learned a key to lasting in leadership: divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually. Divert daily means doing something fun every day. Get a hobby. Do something that relaxes you. Withdraw weekly means you take a day off every week for relaxation and restoration. Abandon annually means you get away and forget everything for some time each year.

Your leadership is a key ingredient to helping your church become what God has called it to be. In fact, the Bible says this in Proverbs 11:14, “Without wise leadership a nation is in trouble.” That’s true of every single area of life. Without wise leadership, your church is in trouble. Learn about leadership from Jesus. We have no better guide.

Mighty To Save - Hillsong United

Evolution From A New Perspective

This is funny. At SCC we have created the word "creavolution" for creation and evolution. We believe in God and science. We believe God is the Creator and the Evolver. Helpful Information

Stickey Sayings

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

The Goal

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to lead the 1st - 5th Grade group at Sunrise with a couple of others who serve in Sunrise. It was fun. The children are responsive and enjoy being active and learning about God's love for them. We played THE BALLOON, THE BLOB, THE TARGET, and THE TOUCH. Each game had a specific goal to accomplish and throughout the lesson we would yell out the words "the goal". We learned from the Bible that God's main goal is to have a relationship with us, "Me". I thank God for the adults who serve in the Children's Ministry at SCC. They are helping children become totally committed followers of Jesus Christ. They are helping families walk with God. They are living a lasting legacy.

To El Salvador

This past Saturday, 8-9 08, Kristen Ellis left for El Salvador with a group of others with Compassion International so she could meet a child she sponsors through Compassion and do some various ministry in the area. It is a pleasure to serve with Kristen in SCC. Please pause for a moment and offer up a prayer for Kristen.

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Leadership Thought

The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such. - Andre Maurois

C-Kid - They're Back

C-Kidders arrived home this afternoon.

Some Sticky Thoughts

C-Kid - Excited and Thrilled

Just spoke with some Kidders. Awesome week. On the road home. Children had a great time and God touched many lives.

Forgiveness and Forgiving

This little booklet Forgiveness and Forgiving can be read online and is very good. I recommend that you take some time to look this over because this is a very real life issue. This information can lead you to a good start of living in and with forgiveness. I hope it helps you or someone you know. I has been helpful to me over the years.

Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Center. USS New York. It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It is the fifth in a new class of warships designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steel workers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.' Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.' The ship's motto? "Never Forget".

C-Kid - On The Way Home

The children and adults who have been a part of C-Kid will begin the trip home at around 11:00 AM this morning after a time of Bible Study, Closing Celebration and goodbyes. Thanks again for your prayers this week. Keep praying.

One Another

'Show mercy and compassion to one another' - Zechariah 7:9
'Love one another' - John 13:34,35
'Be devoted to one another' - Romans 12:10
'Live in harmony with one another' - Romans 12:16, 1 Peter 3:8
'Accept one another' - Romans 15:7
'Instruct one another' - Romans 15:14
'Agree with one another' - 1 Corinthians 1:10
'Greet one another with a holy kiss' - 2 Corinthians 13:12
'Serve one another in love' - Galatians 5:13
'Bearing with one another in love' - Ephesians 4:2
'Be kind and compassionate to one another' - Ephesians 4:32
'Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs' - Ephesians 5:19
'Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ' - Ephesians 5:21
'Admonish one another' - Colossians 3:16
'Encourage one another' - 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25
'Spur one another on toward love and good deeds' - Hebrews 10:24
'Do not slander one another' - James 4:11
'Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling' - 1 Peter 4:9
'Love one another deeply' - 1 Peter 1:22
'Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another' - 1 Peter 5:5
'Have fellowship with one another' - 1 John 1:7

C-Kid - Lots of...

Lots of fun. Lots of learning. Lots of food. Lots of God. Lot of new relationships. Lots of new things being tried. Lots of sun. Lots of growth. Lots of smiles.

C-KId Update and Schedule

All is well. Having fun. Afternoon events going well. Nice weather. Keep praying. Awesome visuals and stage setting for worship service. Visit C-Kid Schedule to be aware of what is happening during the day. Keep praying.

Know That God Is God

A Recent Email From A Friend LOL

TICK WARNING!

I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times, unintentionally...but this one is real, and it's important ! So please send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list. If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT ! THIS IS A SCAM ! They only want to see you naked.

I wish I'd gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid.

Wide Open @ C-Kid

The group from Sunrise arrived at C-Kid yesterday and "everybody is wide open and having a great time" according to a voicemail that Ray Coleman left for me late last night. Thanks to everyone who gave financially in 2007 and 2008 in order to help with the expense of this week. Thanks for the prayers you are offering this week. Pray for children to learn of God's love for them and for others. Pray that the children will continue to be "wide open and having a blast". Ask God to help all in attendance at C-Kid to have a better understanding and living of CHRISTianity

Fun Day

Below is what I and others experienced on Monday, 8-4-08, at the beach near the Hatteras Lighthouse in NC. We were in the water from 9:00 AM - 2:45 PM. I knew it was time for me to get out of the water when I could no longer push myself on the surfboard and when the 15 year old boys with us were sitting on the beach with the look of exhaustion. Man, this was fun. Thanks to Wally Allen for going for it and teaching my family to enjoy surfing.

For SCC - Simmer Down Now!! 8-3-08

A new weekend series began this past weekend. The series is "From One To Outrageous: Learn and Live One Verse, Expect and Experience Outrageous Results". Sunday, 8-3-08 We looked at Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Below are some other translations of this verse:

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

Our God says, "Calm down,
and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
will honor me."

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.

Be still - stop, cease, quiet down, simmer down, gear down, calm yourself, take a "time out"

and know - understand, comprehend, experience first hand, learn, take a long look, research, examine.

that I am God - God is God, He is in control, He is working, providing, caring, forgiving and renewing.

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth - God will be recognized by all.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11 New Living Translation

Mighty to Save

Psalm 46:10

Leadership Thought

Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. James 3:1 Found in the Bible

Acts 4:31-35

31While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God's Word with fearless confidence.
32-33The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
34-35And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person's need.