Leadership Thoughts - 10 Qualities of Godly Leaders

1. Respected
2. Faithful to marriage
3. Even-tempered
4. Self-disciplined
5. Friendly and accessible
6. Knowledgeable about the Bible
7. Not given to drunkenness
8. Not pushy or overbearing
9. Not petty or quarrelsome
10. Not driven by money

Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." 34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Acts 8:26-38

Baptism

Sunrise and Lee Memorial are hosting a Baptism Celebration this coming Sunday, March 2, 2008 so I thought I would post information about Believer's Baptism.

How Do I Register for Baptism?
You may do one of the following to register for Sunrise’s next Baptism Celebration:
Call the church office at 757-673-6419.
Complete a Communication Card on a Sunday morning and express your interest in Baptism.
Sign up on the Baptism Celebration Sheet located on the Information Tables on a Sunday morning.

What is the Meaning of Baptism?
It illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.“… Christ died for our sins … he was buried … and he rose again.”(1 Corinthians 15:3–4)“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” (Colossians 2:12) It illustrates your new life as a Christian.“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) “By our baptism then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead … so that we may live a new life!” (Romans 6:4). Yet baptism doesn’t make you a Christian. Only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring; it’s the outward sign of the commitment you have made in your heart. (see Ephesians 2:8–9)

Who Should Be Baptized?
The Bible says that every person who believes in Christ should be baptized. A believer is someone who has realized that their sin has separated them from God. They have given up all personal efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They have concluded that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between themselves and God. A believer is someone who has decided to trust Christ alone for salvation. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you should be baptized.(see Acts 2:41; 8:12-13)

Why Should I Be Baptized?
First and foremost, it is to follow the example set by Jesus. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” (Mark 1:9). In addition, Christ commanded it. “Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you.’” (Matthew 28:19-20) It demonstrates that you are a believer, a follower of Christ. “We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands,” (1 John 2:3)

When Should I Be Baptized?
As soon as you can after you become a believer“Those who believed were baptized that day.”(Acts 2:41)“Then Philip began with the Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized right now?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”(Acts 8:35-38)
Yet it doesn’t have to occur the moment you believe. The Bible teaches that there is no reason to delay your baptism. After becoming a believer, you should participate in the next available opportunity the church provides for baptism. If you wait until you feel you are a “good enough” believer, you will never feel ready for baptism.

Why is Immersion Baptism Important?
It is the method used in Jesus’ baptism.“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” (Matthew 3:16) Every baptism mentioned in the Bible is by immersion.“Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water …” (Acts 8:38–39). The word “baptize” means “to dip under water.” Immersion best symbolizes Christ’s burial and resurrection. (see Romans 6:1-11) The founders of the major denominations emphasized immersion. Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran denomination, said: “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.”John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian denomination, said: “The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.” John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist and Wesleyan denominations, said: “‘Buries with Him’ alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

What If I Was Baptized as an Infant?
In the Bible, we see parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But he did not baptize them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptize them.So if baptism signifies salvation (as the Bible teaches), only people who have intentionally received salvation should experience baptism. Thus, the Bible would indicate that baptism is for people who have made a decision to follow Christ.If you have not experienced a believer’s baptism, even though you have experienced baptism as an infant, the full meaning and significance of baptism has yet to take place in your life. We strongly encourage you to be baptized as an adult believer in Christ.Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This is a time when parents pledge their commitment to raise their child according to Christian values and beliefs. While a very meaningful event, this is not Christian baptism; it is not mentioned in the Bible.Adult baptism doesn’t belittle your childhood baptism; it is a fulfillment of your parents’ hopes when they had you baptized.

Is There a Follow-Up to Baptism?
Baptism is a biblical mandate for followers. And as Christ followers, it is important to learn the “foundations” of the Christian faith, to connect with other Christ followers and to use our spiritual gifts to serve the church and impact the world. We want you to be a part of worship on the weekends, become an active part of a Community Group and begin serving in order to help others expereince God's love found in Jesus Christ.

Leadership Thoughts

The little things don't mean a lot they mean everything.
Harvey McKay

Feedback is the breakfast of champions.
Ken Blanchard

Planning honors God.

Financial Resource - Good Book - Easy Read - Very Practical

http://www.crown.org/

Leadership Thought

The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it (life).
William James

A Letter from Jesus

Dear Friend,

How are you?
I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care about you.
I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends.
I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me too.
I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you –
and I waited.
You never came. It hurt me but still I love you, because I am your friend.
I saw you sleeping last night and longed to touch your brow,
so I spilled moonlight upon your face.
Again, I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk.
I have so many gifts for you!
You awoke and rushed off to work.
My tears were in the rain. If you would only listen to me!
I LOVE YOU! I try to tell you in blue skies and in the quiet green grass.
I whisper it in leaves on the trees and breathe it in colors of flowers,
shout it to you in mountain streams, give the birds love songs to sing.
I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents.
My love for you is deeper than the ocean,
and bigger than the biggest need in your heart!
Ask me! Talk with me! Please don’t forget me.
I have so much to share with you!
I won’t hassle you any further. It is YOUR decision.
I have chosen you and I will wait because I love you.

Your Friend,
Jesus

For SCC - 2-17-08 Loved

On Sunday, 2-24-08, we continued our 3:16 series and the topic was Loved. "For God so loved..."

Love is a relationship word. God desires a relationship with us.

I shared the following quote:

"So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often loose heart. But it is the other way about - He is looking for us." Simon Tugwell

The following verses were shared to help us understand God's love for us:

God is love. Part of I John 4:16

9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:9-10

1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I John 3:1

8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

Psalms 136:1-3

3-6How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Ephesians 1:3-6

The above verses and passages are just a few of the passages and verses that tell us of God's love for us. God desries a relationship with us. God's love is about a rlationship that provides hope and life for us. We looked at the follwoing three ways God provides for us because of his love for us. There are many other ways God expresses His love for us, but these three will give us a good idea of the hope and life god desires to give us and are very practical and can be fleshed out during the weekdays.

1. When I am discouraged, God is my strength.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

2. When I am worried, God is my confidence.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29"11

3. When I need guidance, God is my conuselor.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

God desires to be a part of our lives. His love for us is real and provides hope for us. Practice these four secrets in ordert begin to experience God's love and presence in your daily life.

1. Invite Jesus into your life.

2. Be still and quite. Take some time each day to be still and quiet and listen to God.

3. Talk to God about everything.

4. Develop the habit of thanks and praise.

God loves you. He desires have a real relationship with you. Christianity is about a relationship with God. This week God is looking for you.

"So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, we must often loose heart. But it is the other way about - He is looking for us." Simon Tugwell

Leadership Thought

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, YOU’RE GOING TO END UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Happy Valentine's Day

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

I John 4:7-12

ADPD

Do you suffer from ADPD? Attention Deficit Prayer Disorder. ADPD is the inability to focus while you are speaking to and listening to God. The speaking to and listening to God, AKA prayer, is vital to living in the power and presence of God, but the vast majority of followers of Christ I know and visit with spend less than 10 minutes a day in prayer. Ouch. There are numerous reasons for this lack of time with the Creator, Savior, and Life Giver, but one that seems very real is ADPD. The mind wanders, the to do list grows, roof brain chatter beckons, silence leads to nodding off, restless leg syndrome kicks in (even as I write), and on and on and on the list goes. To my knowledge their is no drug or pill that can help with ADPD. I sometimes wish someone would discover focustor or prayerdellin so that I could pop the pill and focus as I seek to speak to God and hear from God in my daily life. but not so. So, here are a few suggestions for myself and for others who suffer form ADPD.

1. Know that God does desire to hear form you and speak to you.
2. Plan the time.
3. Pray with some order. Start by thanking God. Then admit your shortcomings and concerns.
Ask for God's guidance. Be willing to change. Offer request.
4. It is okay to move around while praying.
5. Have your to do list in front of you and pray over it.
6. Call a friend on the phone and pray together on the phone.
7. Memorize one verse about prayer and as you start to wander go back to that verse when you
start to wander. This may help you focus. For instance: Call to Me (God), and I will answer
you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

These are some helpful hints to help with ADPD. May your time with God increase as you work through ADPD.

Some of Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

Angelia Sanders to Kenya

Since December 2, 2007 Kenya has been undergoing a lot of political instability due to rigged elections in the country. So far, almost 1,000 people have lost their lives and close to 300,000 have been displaced from their homes due to violence and instability. As of now it does not look like things will get better before it gets even worse.

Angelia Sanders will be going to Kenya from February 20th to March 16th to work with those who are HIV+ and living in the make-shift shelters. She lived in Kenya from 2002-2006 and considers it her true home. As she leaves for Kenya, she asks for your support:

She will be taking over a trunk that she would like to fill with colored pencils and crayons. These need to be NEW and SHARPENED please.

Also if you would please consider donating $10, with this small contribution from each member of Sunrise she will be able to do a lot for those in the camps. She is covering her own expenses and so everything you give her will be going to the people she will be working with.

Please place crayons and pencils on the stage Sunday February 17th.
If you are donating with a check please make checks payable to Africa Conservancy.

Finally, above all else, please keep Angelia’s safety and the people of Kenya in your prayers.

Thank you in advance for any support you can offer,
Sunrise Community Church

Some Names of God

Leadership Thought

Dwell on the positive. Do not ignore the negative, but dwell on the positive.

Philippians 2:1-11

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11

Look again at verses 3 and 4 and give some personal thought to humility, the interest of others, and considering others better than yourself. Thank God for the opportunity to live and make a difference in the lives of others.

NOW

"Men have succeeded in accumilating a greater mass of objects, but the joy in the world has grown less." Fyodor Dostoyevsky

NOW - Right Now. Take a minute and enjoy. Take a minute and give thanks. Take a minute and smile. Take a minute and ....

Just stop and breath and experience a beginning of joy.

John 3:16 Animation

http://www.gieson.com/Library/projects/animations/walk/index.html

This will take a few minutes for you to view.

For SCC - 2-3-08 Witnessing: Once upon a time...

This past Sunday we ended our series called New Year, New You: Life Changing Resolutions. Steve Gabriele and I shared from Acts 9 and we encouraged you to tell your story, the story of someone else or the story of what is going on in Sunrise. This is one way for you and I to witness to to others so that they might hear about how much God cares for them.

Steve and I started the message by telling some stories and starting the stories with Once upon a time...

We then shared that one way to witness is to tell your story, the story of someone else and the story of what is going on in the church.

Stories are important. Stories are our life. We all have stories from childhood, the teen years, college days and on and on and on... Acts 9 is a chapter in the Bbile that could be called the Buzz Factor because of what happens and how the news of what happened spread through relationships, networks, and households due the the Buzz that was created from stories being told.

Acts 9 - The Buzz Chapter
Acts 9: 19-22 Saul/Paul tells some of his story and speaks about Jesus Christ
Acts 9: 26-28 Barnabas tells some of Pauls story and speaks about Jesus Christ
Acts 9: 36-43, focus on 42 Word spreads of Jesus Christ after a miracle happens in a local church

Three tips for telling your story, the story of someone else or the story of what is happening in the church:
1. What you know
2. What you have
3. Because of God

The benefits of witnessing - telling your story:
You learn and grow
You become acountable
It energizes your spiritual life
Others come to know Jesus Christ

This week think about your story and tell it to someone. Once upon a time....

Leadership Thought

"Leaders do not worry about failure, instead they plan for success."

Rick Warren

John 3: 1-21

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."