For SCC - Miracle Whip Needid 6-24-07

This past Sunday Sunrise ended our "Meet the Imperficts" series. Hopefully we all have gleaned some insight into the family unit and have grown in our relationship to God and family members during this series. The last topic for this series was chosen because in our imperfect families we need God's grace to abound and miracles to happen. We sometimes need medical miracles, money miracles, forgiveness and restoration miracles, strength miracles during times of hardship and various other miracles or pouring out of God's grace are needed in our families. God is into family. He wants us to experience healthy, vibrant, and encouraging family relationships. But because I am imperfect, and are imperfect this can often times be difficult if not seemingly impossible. We live in the Young and the Imperfects, or the Bold and the Imperfects or, As the Imperfects Turn. Soap Operas are much more than TV shows they are sometimes are lives. Broken relationships between parents and children and siblings. The sudden loss of a loved one when all seems to be so well. Divorce, addictions, hurtful words and actions, and the list could go on. STOP. STOP. God's grace and truth can bring positive change and hope to individuals and families. God will meet us at our need and can do a wonderful work if we are willing to allow Him to do so and believe in Him and His word. No, all will be perfect, but you and your family can move into a new realm of thinking, relating, caring, forgiving, helping, encouraging, sharing, and growing together in Christ and with one another if we will choose to allow God to meet our needs and choose to belief Him and His word . Please back up and read that sentence again. One more time. May God work a miracle in our lives and may we become the change we wish to see in the world. May God work a miracle in our families and....

For SCC - Dads' Get Dangirous 6-17-07

The Father's Day service was very upbeat and we gave away some really neat gifts to men. Thanks to Kathy Holland and Jenny Michonski for helping with the gifts that were given away.

Flag Day

This is a day that we honor Old Glory, the flag of our great nation. There is great symbolism in the folding of the Stars and Stripes. The folding of the flag 13 times is for the original colonies. 1st fold is a symbol of life. 2nd fold, belief in eternal life. 3rd fold, in honor of veterans. 4th fold, the weakness of humans and our dependence on God. 5th fold, a tribute to our nation. 6th fold, honoring the Pledge of Allegiance, "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all." 7th fold, tribute to the Armed Forces. 8th fold, tribute to one who entered the shadow of death that we might see the light of day. 9th fold, tribute to mothers. 10th fold, tribute to fathers. 11th fold, glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 12th fold, emblem of eternity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 13th fold, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our nation's motto, "One nation under God."

This is an excerpt from a devotional from Daily Guidepost website.

You can count on...

GOD'S MERCY for our past mistakes.

GOD'S LOVE for our present needs.

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY for our future.

Saint Augustine. for more about Saint Augustine google or yahoo his name.

I will...

Today, I will...
choose to love.
choose to respect.
say, " I love you", to family members.
thank God for lunch.
try to be positive.
stop, think and pray (STP).
smile.
enjoy work.
notice creation.
say, "I am sorry".
help someone.
sing in the car or shower.

I will. We get choose. I will...

Love and Respect website

www.loveandrespect.com

This is the official website of Love and Respect. Good Stuff.

Ephesians 5:21 -33 The Message

The following passage of Scripture is from Ephesians 5:21-33 and is taken from a transaltion of the Bible called The Message by Eugene Peterson

21Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
22-24Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.
29-33No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

For SCC - Love and Respect 6-10-07

Sunday was about Mr. and Mrs. Imperfect showing love and respect to one another. We took a brief look at a few verses found in Ephesians 5:21-33 that offer some instruction on a relationship between a husband and wife. We focused on a husband showing love for his wife and a wife showing respect towards her husband.

I prefaced what was presented with the following comments. Family is very important to God. It was His idea. Marriage, the union between a man and woman is very important to God. It was His idea. In Scripture you will find various roles that a husband and wife will fulfill in a marriage. Friends,partner, counselor, lover, confidant, encourager, corrector, buddy. You will not find in Scripture that the wife is too stay at home and be a homemaker and the husband is to go to work and earn the income and the wife is to take care of "homemaker stuff" and the husband is to take care of "manly stuff". You will find that a husband and wife are to honor one another, lift one another up and honor God in their relationship. In Ephesians 5:21-33 you will find that out of honor to Christ we are all to submit to one another and respect one another. You will find that a wife is to submit to her husband as she does to Jesus Christ and that a husband is to love his wife as much as Jesus loved the church and gave His life for the church.

A husband is to love his wife. The Greek word used for love in this passage means an unconditional love, a welcoming love, a love that bestows life into a person. It is the type of love that God has for us. It is not a "I love you if... or a I love you because..." It is a "I love you (period). This love is much more than a feeling. It is an action word. It is self sacrificing, giving, other oriented, and very considerate of the other. This love that the husband is to show for his wife is relational. It moves past rules, regulations, guidelines and preconceived roles. In this type of love the husband is committed to is wife's fulfillment, joy, purpose and beauty.

A wife is to respect her husband. The Greek word used in this passage means for the wife to submit to her husband. It means to arrange under, to submit to one's control, to obey. In the military sense it means to troop divisions under the command of a leader. In the non-military sense it means to have a voluntary attitude of giving in.., cooperating, carrying a burden, to place yourself below the other. a wife is to honor and respect her husband. When a wife submits to er husband as she does to Jesus Christ she is honoring her husband and God. This does not mean that a wife is n to be heard. This does not mean a wife is to be a doormat. this does not mean that a wife is to stay at home and take care of all the "wife stuff". It does mean that a wife is to willingly submit to her husband. It does meant that a wife is to honor her husband. It does mean that a wife is to lift up her husband and respect him.

Love and Respect is not all there is to a marriage relationship. There is much more, but the Ephesians passage is about love and respect. the two words if fleshed out taught in this passage will produce satisfying fruit in a marriage relationship.

As a Hope Deal I have to opportunity to be involved in wedding ceremonies of various types, but every couple has one intent in their marriage, "BLISS". These truth of love and respect can lead to marriage bliss.

A GOD GIVEN DREAM

A GOD GIVEN DREAM will stir your passion.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will be humanly impossible to accomplish.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will make a life time impression on you.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will lead you to practice strong faith.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will be attacked by the dark side and enemy of our souls.

Adapted from 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer, Injoy Stewardship Services

JFT (Just For Thought)

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Thomas Edison

Variety and Unity

The following are just a few verses of Scripture about the topic of variety and unity. These verses were written to a specific group of people and were addressing a church family. They can be applied to todays church family, work groups, friendships and the family unit.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-7

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. I Corinthians 12:4-7, 12, 14

1 If 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:2-3

For SCC - Thank God for One Anothir 6-3-07

This month Sunrise is continuing with the theme of The Imperficts. During this series we are delving into family life and issues and discovering ways to live in joy in the midst of The Imperficts or the family unit in which we live. This past Sunday the topic was Thank God for One Anothir: Family Fun. In our families we can thank God for many things, but we focused on giving thanks for variety and for unity. Thank God for variety. Thank God for the different personalities, abilities, and ways of approaching life that each family member adds to the family unit. Variety adds spice and pizazz to the family. Variety broadens your horizons, leads to learning and makes family life and life in general more enjoyable. Instead of picking one another apart we can choose to be thankful for one another and place a high value on variety and each family members uniqueness. We have the opportunity to choose being thankful and enjoying variety which will lead to more family conversation, openness, forgiveness, encouragement, and joy in our lives. We also discussed being thankful for unity. Family unity leads to less "busyness" and more purpose, direction, meaning and joy. The poll questions about busyness revealed no one in the crowd desired more busyness in the lives, and yet almost everyone desired more purpose, direction, meaning and joy. Seeking to create unity and thanking God for one another will lead to more purpose, direction, meaning and joy in our family lives and in life in general.

Variety comes somewhat naturally in the family unit because none of us are alike. We may have some of the same tendencies but each person in the family is a unique individual. Unity does not seem to happen naturally. A few ways we can develop unity in our families are spending time together, listening to one another, sharing with one another and having family fun together.

This week speak these words to your family members on a regular basis. If you cant do it during the week do it just one evening. "I love you." "I thank God for you." "You are important to this family." These three statements are a good start to Thanking God for One Anothir.

Communicating With Your Child

Eight Helpful Hints for Healthy Communication with Your Child:

1.Think before you speak.
2. Stress the positive.
3. Deal with the negative in a very clear, concise and character building manner.
4. Spend time with your child.
5. Love your child even when you do not like what your child is doing or has done.
6. Apologize when you make a mistake or "blow it".
7. Keep in mind that parenting is not a dash it is a marathon.
8. Pray for yourself and your child daily.

These are adapted from Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman.

Hopeful Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Praying with a thankful, hopeful, and bold heart. The above prayer was written by the apostle Paul while he was on an extended vacation and enjoying the beaches of the Med. WRONG. The prayer was written from jail. Not a jail with A/C, ping pong and three nice meals a day. A jail that was not very sanitary, meals were not a given and neither was his next day. Yet, he writes with hope. How? v.6 above. Paul had confidence not in himself or in his circumstances, but in God. He knew God would complete the work He had begun. God is in Control. Really. God is in Control. God is working in you and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving in your family and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving in your job situation and He will complete the work. HOPE. God in working in your spiritual growth and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is working in your finances and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving. HOPE. Look again at v.6 above. Claim this verse for you, your family, your career, your finances, your faith walk. HOPE.

Hit the pause button in life today and HOPE for just a few seconds.

For SCC - 5-27-07 Raising Heavin Raisirs

On Sunday, May 27 we dreamed about "Raising Heaven Raisirs". Actually we did more than dream. Steve Gabriele put together three drama sketches that helped us see a heaven raisir who was 7, 15, and 40 years old. It was a pretty picture. It helped us see what a heaven raisir may look like in everyday life. "Raising Heaven Raisirs." If you are a parent, uncle, aunt, grandparent, step parent, foster parent, etc. you have the opportunity to raise heaven raisirs. What a thrill. What an opportunity. What if? What if we who are parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, step parents, foster parents developed a plan to raise heaven raisirs? What if we sought to raise up a whole generation that loved God, loved people, and served Jesus Christ. What if we prayed, planned, and prepared to raise children who are givers, respectful, honest, bold, fun, thankful, obedient, healthy emotionally and walk with God? Just imagine. What if? Well, if you are around children you have that opportunity and, "What if?", can become more of a reality if we will choose to practice the following.

One. Humble yourself before God. Place yourself and your life in God's hand. recognize that their is a God and you are not He or She. In humbling yourself before God you begin to recognize His blessings, you begin to understand that life is a gift, you gain insight into life, meaning, purpose and raising heaven raisirs.


Two. Be bold in your faith. Faith is the assurance of things asked for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Live in hope. Place your faith in God and watch him begin to be and do wonderful things in your life and in the life of your children. Choose to live in faith in the good times and in the bad times. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Seek to please God by living in faith in your family life, financial life and work life. Please God by living in faith. Pray for your children. speak words of truth to your children. By faith raise heaven raisirs.


Three. Be what you want them Your children) to be. None of this, "Do what I say, not what I do." Instead. Be what I am showing and living for you. You want your children to obey. Then obey. You want your children to be honest. Be honest. You want your children to apologize when wrong. then apologize when wrong. You get the picture. Be what you want them to be. Be a heaven raisir. You ask, "What is a heaven raisir?" I answer, "What is a hell raiser?" You know. Now go opposite. Yeah, that's it. Let me help you out. A heaven raisir is caring, respectful, honest, fun, joyful, shares, is thankful, helps around the house, listens, is positive about life, .....

What if?

The various verses and passages used from the Bible: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5;
Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossains 3:20-21.

Birthday

The Nethery clan celebrated Dawson's 14th Birthday yesterday. We celebrated by saying Happy Birthday to him many times, giving cards and gifts, and eating at his place of choice, Chili's. He likes their rib's. His friends helped him celebrate by giving him their lunch money change to the total of $8.00. Pretty Cool. He stayed up late playing Call of Duty 3 on his playstaion and had a great time. Birthdays. Hope. Birthdays are fun unless you are a forty year old woman or man. Just Joking. Birthdays are a time of celebration. One friend celebrated his wife's B-day on May 22 by spending the day with her and hanging out while browsing and shopping in area malls and stores. She did not have to do a thing all day, but enjoy. Another guy I know recently had a 40th surprise party for his wife. It was awesome. Huge crowd. Great food and fun. Perfect gifts. Celebration. And she was SURPRISED. Birthdays are fun. Hope is fun. Hope is positive, sees opportunities, speaks encouraging words, gives live, and is a gift from God. HOPE. Birthdays are also a gift from God. Today, live in hope.

Alive

"That we are alive today is proof positive that God has someting for us to do today."

From the flip calendar in kitchen window.

Be alive.

Be in Christ.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Be joyful.

Be positive.

Be aware.

Be...

Do Live.

Do bless other.

Do honor God.

Do laugh.

Do encourage.

Do notice.

Do...

For SCC - 5-13-07 Moms, You Mattir!

This past Sunday we started a new series titled Meet The Imperfects. I'm imperfect, you're imperfect, we're all imperfect. This morning when you woke up and lookedinto your beautiful eyes in the mirror, you met imperfect face to face. I am aware that may be a hard pill to swallow, but it sure does lead to good health. We will have fun in may and June as we "Meet The Imperfects."

The Mother's Day service was great. Ladies, enjoy your flip quote book and give the extra one you may have received away to a friend or family member. Thanks to jenny Michonski for ordering the quote books and for putting together to gifts bafs we gave away to four mothers during the service. Sunrise has a great time giving to others. Moms, thanks for all that you give to your children and to society. Moms, you mattir. Your prayers mattir. Your help mattirs. Moms, be bold, it mattirs. You mattir. Your prayers are vital to the spiritual health and growth of your children and family. Offer those prayers. Your help and nuture mattirs. Your encouragement mattirs, your correction mattirs, your guidance mattirs. Moms be bold in truth and righteousness. If married, be bold in your love and honor towards your husband. Be bold in doiing the right thing and teaching your children to do the firght thing. Be bold in your passion for life. Be bold in living your dreams. Be bold and help your children live from there heart for God. Moms, you mattir. This week spend a few extra minutes petitioning god on bealf of your children. Evaluate how you are helping your childen grow in Christ and as a person and be bold in your wlak with God. So bold that it is evident who you follow in truth and grace.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Happy Day After Mother's Day

"There are not a lot of things moms do, they are just kinda there."
Dawson Nethery

Early. Happy Mother's Day

Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.
In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after mother's day (and not before.)
When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the Andrews Methodist Episcopal (now United Methodist) Church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. The 1912 General Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church, at the suggestion of delegates from Andrews M.E. Church, recognized Jarvis as the founder and advocated the celebration of the holiday. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honour of those mothers whose sons had died in war. Nine years after the first official Mother's Day holiday, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. holidays.

Moms, We really do appreciate you. Happy Mother's Day.

Do you ever need one of these?

When negative words are about to come forth?

Even the negative can be seen and spoken as a positive with a little heart adjustment, head thinking and tongue taming. I know that I need the clothes pin at times, not for clothes but for my lips. Positive people, positive words, positive cash flow and positive. We like positive. Let's speak positive.

Hope. Heavy Stuff Man.

Look, I am making all things new.
Jesus Christ

This is taken from the Bible. Jesus speaking to people like you and me.

Growth. Heavy Stuff Man.

For most people it's not what they are that holds them back. It''s what they think they're not.
John Maxwell

This is taken from Becominig A Person of Influence by John Maxwell.

Purpose. Heavy Stuff Man.

...life is about lettiing God use you for his purposes, not you using him for your own purposes.
Rick Warren

This is taken from What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

Desire. Heavy Stuff Man.

The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
Ben Stein

This is taken from Chapter 5 of Outrageous, Contagious Joy by Ed Young

Proseuchomai: To ask; pray

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:6-8 found in the Bible

Acts 2:42-47

41-42That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
43-45Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
46-47They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Acts 2:42-47 found in the Bible

For SCC - 5-6-07 The Church: A Wild Party - Reachig In: Community

Sunday was cool. Community is awesome. Real community is sweet. Being with people who care for you and desire the best for you is charging. Hangin' with the people of Sunrise is awesome, sweet and charging. As we worshipped through song during the service I had priveledge of being in the Dark Room with Jack Michonski and Barbie Hofler. They sing great. The three of us turned the Dark Room into a little space of huge worship as we lifted our hearts and voices to God as GLARE led us into God's presence. A wild party. Community. Charging.

Andrea Doane helped us understand community through her dramatic presentation of the phone calls from a friend. Steve Gabriele and the Set-up Team are definitely experiencing a wild party as they set up on Sunday mornings and develop a sense of community with one another and the new people who are joining the team. Community is a charge. A charge in life and for living.

As we reach up and worship God He will lead us to reach out and share with others and reach in to those we meet and begin to expereince community. Reaching in is about welcoming people, meeting new people, and partying together.

Community is a wild party. Community: to Love and Be Loved. To Know and to Be Known. To Serve and Be Served. To Celebrate and Be Celebrated. Community is about God, you and others. Community takes courage and commitment. By God's goodness may we keep the wild party going. Let's party.

NDP in Portsmouth, VA

I had the honor to attend a NDP gatheing a noon today in the City Hall Building of Portsmouth. The gathering was well done and the prayers stirring. The whole atmosphere created by the committee was excellent and welcoming. It was obvius that the people who planned the event and put time into the event wanted people to encounter an awesome God and enjoy meeting new people of common faith in Jesus Christ. Hats off to Deputy Chief Troy Tilley (who is a part of SCC and is loved by SCC even though he is a Redskin fan), the committee members who helped plan the event and Mary (Go Cowboys!!!) for moving us into the presense of God this early afternoon. May God answer as we call out. May we hear and obey as God answers.

PROSEUCHOMAI!!!

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 3, 2007 is National Day of Prayer in the U.S. May we spend time throughout the whole day in prayer for our nation. May we bless God. Take time to STP. Stop, Think, Pray. In your transitions STP. Go to www.ndptf.org for more information. It is a website worth your time.

Be Aware of God

Taken from Joel

The below is from Joel Osteen on 5-1-07. So true and good I wanted to post it. This is about hope. Forward is a word of hope.

Be Courageous

Today's Scripture
"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God says not to tremble or be dismayed by anything, because He is with you wherever you may go. That is such an encouragement, and it's absolutely true! You should be walking around in life without even the slightest amount of fear, because that is not the nature God gave you. You should refuse to be defeated by the things around you, even if they seem insurmountable. Perhaps one definition of courage might be staying strong and moving forward, even when most would give up and even surrender their ground to fear. Be strong and courageous today for God and do not allow yourself to be defeated by fear or the unknown!

A Prayer for Today
God, I want to live and serve You boldly without being crippled by fear. Make me strong and courageous in Your power to do what You want me to do. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Healthy Heart

There is no better exercise for strengthening the heart than reaching down and lifting up another.

Phillip Goes Wild - Phillip Reaches Out

26-28Later God's angel spoke to Philip: "At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29-30The Spirit told Philip, "Climb into the chariot." Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"
31-33He answered, "How can I without some help?" and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this: As a sheep led to slaughter, and quiet as a lamb being sheared, He was silent, saying nothing. He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial. But who now can count his kin since he's been taken from the earth?
34-35The eunuch said, "Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?" Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.
36-39As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.
40Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.
Acts 8:26-40 found in the Bible

For SCC - 4-29-07 The Church: A Wild People - Reaching Out: Sharing

Where is your dollar coin? Place it in an area where you will see it several times every day of the week. May it remind you that sharing is fun. May it remind you of how much God has given each of us in Jesus Christ. In Christ we have eternal life, eternal hope, real purpose, real meaning, new perspective, power, love, self-discipline, LIFE. Let's reach out and share with others we know and meet the good news of hope in Christ.

Thank God that someone took the time to share with Marcus Dulin at the Bowling Alley over 10 years ago. Because someone shared Marcus has and is experiencing life change and new purpose. Because someone was wild in their faith Marcus is blessing many today. Go Wild!!! God will bring people into your life this week so that you can have the opportunity to tell them about the dollar coin. Have some fun.

Be Aware of God.

He is always active and calling out for us to join Him as He seeks to give dollar coins to others. He desires to work in and through you to help others experience what you are experiencing in Jesus.

Start A Conversation.

Say hello to someone. Take some cake to your office. Buy your close co-workers lunch and tell them it is because of the dollar coin. They will ask. Listen to someone very intently this week when they open up to you. Didn't we go to Kindergarten together?

Focus on Jesus Christ.

When you begin to share your story with others in your family, friendships, and working life include what Jesus Christ is doing in your life. You do not have to become all religious and use big words. Just tell them how God is working in your life through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Where is that dollar coin? Thanks to Marcus Dulin, GLARE, and the bank for helping us discover how to be A Wild People and Reach Out through Sharing.

Morning Phrases

Good morning God.
Thanks for Breakfast.
Beautiful morning God.
Thanks for a warm/cool home.
Thanks for my bed partner (I do not mean the dog or cat).
My children are awesome.
God, thanks for coffee.
Lord, thanks for sugar.
Father, thanks for cream or milk.
Thanks for the rain.
I slept great.
What a Sunrise. Wow.
Thanks for my house God.
God, this is going to be a fun day.
God, I am yours.
God, You are awesome.
THANKS.

Genesis 32:22-31 Wrestle w God

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.

Virginian Pilot Front Page

Please pass the word. Well done article in todays Virginian Pilot about VT Tragedy featuring Adam Russell. Fred, Liz, Adam, Aaron, and Rebecca were an active part of Sunrise before moving to TX. The Nethery's had Adam over for supper on Friday evening, 4-20-07. We had a good time with him. Great mexican food and some fun "Pente", a game Adam enjoys winning. Adam is a student at VT. He is an active servant in New Life Campus Fellowship on campus of VT. Adam is the featured Saxophonist on Sunrise's Christmas CD. To this day Adam is blessing people he has never met because he took the time to help with the Sunrise Christmas CD. May we live that way. Continue to pray. Proseuchomai, Steve Nethery

For SCC - 4-22-07 Crazy Times Call fo A Wild Message

The Service was awesome, powerful, and very meaningful. Thanks to GLARE, Steve Gabriele, Marcus Dulin, Doug Smith for the wrestling mat, and for those who shared from the floor mics. Thanks for all who help with set-up, tear-down, infants, children, students, hospitality, and guest services. It is a pleasure to serve the Lord with you guys.

Crazy Times:

Shootings and killings in Hampton Roads

2 teens killed in car accident by someone DUI

Imus and Rutger

VT Tragedy

Killing at Space Center

Cross down from chapel at WM

Car bombings killing more than 100 in Iraq

Family Break-ups

Need I write more

Wild Message:

Wrestle with God. See post from Genesis. Wrestle with God. When we wrestle with God we are recognizing God, using our mind, will, emotions, and passions to relate to God, and if you will stay on the mat you will be blessed. Stay on the mat. Wrestle with God. Strive in your relationship with God. Do not quit because times are crazy. Because times are crazy live the wild message. Get on the mat.

Spencisms

On Thursday, 4-19-07 I had the opportunity to meet with some very sharp church leaders in Richmond, VA. We had the privilege of hearing from and discussing with Ray Spence who is the pastor or Second Baptist Church (2BC) in Richmond, VA. Ray has been the pastor of 2BC for 45 years. Yes, 45 years. WOW. The dude is witty, smart, wise, real, loving, competitive, and gracious. I do not know Ray personally, but those who do, count him as a blessing in their lives. I tagged Ray as an Intelligent Redneck. By the way, you know the famous last words of a redneck? "Hey Bubba, watch this!" Ray took the time to share with a handful of pastors some insights he has gained over the years about taking a church through big changes. We listened, laughed, and I hope learned. Below are some of Ray Spence's comments, "Spencisms", as he enlightened some "grasshoppers".

About people:
"People who press you hard are not your enemies."
"A dog that bites you once will bite you again."
"Find one thing you can do and do it well."
"Some people don't give two hoots and a holler about the church."
About ministries:
"Junk it."
"They are absolutely crushin' it."
About money/finances:
"Not everyone can give a lot of money, but everyone can give a lot of sweat equity."
Kiss of Death: "Let me pray about it."
"Don't cut me out this year I really need you.''
About ministry:
"Churches want excellence."
"Move from Seminary to the pew."
"Sometimes pastors may want to take a poison pill."
"You always have a righteous remnant."
"Successful people take hits."
"Don't use the language of Zion."
"Hadn't always been a cake walk."
"I think behind my belt buckle and in front of my spine."

I will let you interpret. "That dog can hunt."

Verse for theses times

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

For SCC - A Time For Wild Prayer

This coming Sunday, April 22, SCC will have a special weekend service in regards to the tragedy at VT. Please see www.sunrisecc.org for more information.

We will also have some special guest with us this Sunday, April 22. People who have been helping with CrossBridge Church will be joining us in April and May and will hopefully become a part of Sunrise. Sunrise Community Church was instrumental in the beginning of CrossBridge Church 3 1/2 years ago. After much work, prayer and thought Crossbridge has decided to come to an end. This ending is also a new beginning. This transition for those who have served in CrossBridge is an opportunity for Sunrise and CrossBridge to bless one another, encourage one another and continue to work together as Sunrise Community Church to reach up (worship), reach out (sharing), and reach in (community/fellowship). This is Wild stuff. Let's have some fun.

VT

May we continue to pray for VT students, faculty, administrators, family members and the town of Blacksburg, VA. The pain and dismay of this event is still very real to many.

Simple Prayer Pointers for such a time of this.

Be still
Still your mind and heart
Thanks for your famly
Thanks for the opportuity to live
Recognition of God's greatness
Awarenss of God's presence even in chaos and pain
Confess sin and ask for renewal in your life
Ask for people to be aware of God's love
Ask for good grief for families
Act on what God speaks to you

Proseuchomai: To Pray

Very Relevant for Today

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.

Abraham Lincoln

Wild Worship

Be still, (cease striving, calm down, stop, quit trying to control everthing in you life) and know (be aware, look, sense, acknowledge, admit) that I am God (your friend, in control, active, on your side, moving, Incredible); I will be exalted (recognized, known, lifted up) in all the nations (throughout the whole world and universe including your life).
Psalm 46:10 found in the Bible

For SCC - 4-15-07 The Church: A Wild Celebration - Worship

Helpful Bible Passages: Isaiah 6:1-9a; Psalm 46:10; Matthew 28:18-20

Wild Worship. These words placed together seem to make an oxymoron. But the fact is Worship is Wild. Worship is Celebration. Worship is looking to The God, and only God who is Awesome, Powerful, Loving, Just, Involved, and desires for us to look to Him. "Love the Lord you God with all....."

This past Sunday we looked at Isaiah 6:1-9a. Wild Celebration/Worship will involve our time, God's awesomeness, Our sinfulness, God's forgiveness, God's calling out to us, and our obedient response.

Andrea Doane helped us understand Worship Posture as she silently presented various postures you and I may use in worship. She also helped us understand Worship Language as she spoke short phrases we are familiar with that can be used in wild celebration. Ruth sang to us Isaiah 6:1-9a and helped us understand God's Holiness.

Celebrate.

Isaiah 6:1-9a

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
9 He said, "Go and tell this people.
Isaiah 6:1-9a found in the Bible

For SCC - 4-15 Horizon Correction

Correction! Correction! The offering given on 4-8-07 was not $441.00 it was $4,441.00. Sorry about that mistake. $4,441.00 is sweet. Keep it up. :)

Red Bird SINGS

Long day, yesterday. Productive from 5:00 am till 8:30 pm. Good Stuff goin' down in people's lives. My son returned from beach vacation with family friends. He's grown. Missed him while he was gone. Great to have him home.

Today. 6:15 am. The Cardinal SINGS. Cool. May we SING.

Post-Easter. HE

Happy Easter (HE). (HE) Happy Easter. HE. In the beginning God. HE. This is what we need to remember for post-Easter. HE. God is God. I Am. HE is present. HE is powerful. HE is real. HE is Easter. Easter is HE. HE is the resurrection and the life. HE is today. HE is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. HE. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. God is HE. Happy Easter (HE). Easter is more than a Sunday, Easter is an experience. HE. HE cares for you. HE is passionate about you. He is The Good News everyday. Easter, experience it.

So True. So True.

From the calendar at our kitchen sink window:

Afflictions may be lasting, but not everlasting. Watson

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans12:12

Features and Benefits

Easter Features: God. Power. Love. Beauty. Meaning. Hope. Life. Heaven. Purpose. Excitement. Joy. Crunk(in the good sense).

Easter Bennefits: God. Power. Love. Beauty. Meaning. Hope. Life. Heaven. Purpose. Excitement. Joy. Crunk(in the good sense).

For SCC - 4-8-07 Experience Easter

This past Sunday was fanbulgeous (fantastic, fabulous, outrageous). Easter Sunday. Power. Life. Love. Peace. HOPE. The Continental Breakfast was sweet (no pun intended). Both the decor and food were well done. Thanks to all who helped with the set up and goodies. GLARE (God's Love Audibly Reaching Everyone) rocked our hearts with music that drew us to God. Way to go GLARE. We love you guys and gals. The concert was kickin'. The service was powerful. Many lives were touched. Many books given away. Many CD's given away. That's the way, uh ha, uh ha, we like it. Sorry, I almost broke out into a song and dance. People have told me they have already started the book. The CD will help hundreds accept Jesus Christ and begin to grow in their walk with God. The multi-media, monologues, life stories and music presented during the service led individuals to encounter God and life change. God is on the move. Where be you? I hope you have an Easter week. Get some rest. Recognize God. Notice the miracles all around you. Choose the path of God. God is speaking, listen. He is the Big stuff and in the small things. Remember His sacrifice of love. Experience Easter.

HOPE

Later

I have a friend who does not say "Bye" when ending a conversation via the phone. Instead he says "Later". That's good. Meaning he is looking forward to seeing or speaking with you "later". "Later". "Later", a word of hope.

Easter Story - Mark 16:1-20

1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"
4-5Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.
6-7He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."
8They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.
9-11After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared early on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, whom he had delivered from seven demons. She went to his former companions, now weeping and carrying on, and told them. When they heard her report that she had seen him alive and well, they didn't believe her.
12-13Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside. They went back and told the rest, but they weren't believed either.
14-16Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.
17-18"These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
19-20Then the Master Jesus, after briefing them, was taken up to heaven, and he sat down beside God in the place of honor. And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.
Mark 16:1-20 found in the Bible

Surround Sound

5:45 AM the birds are singing like crazy. This morning I am listening in surround sound as the birds greet the day and their creator with joy, charm, and praise. As I sit on my porch I am able to hear birds from afar and nearby, to the left and the right, from behind and in front. Surround Sound. Beautiful. Those of you familiar with the Commodore Theater's Sound System; no comparison to what I am currently enjoying. Rich. AM radio is plain. FM stereo is okay. A good sound system in your home or vehicle is nice. A surround sound system that is done properly is rich, thick, and seems alive. I hope you have some idea of what I write. The birds at dawn know of what I type. Surround sound. Sweet!!!

Questions for us:
Do we live an AM radio life or a surround sound life?
What does God live?
What is Easter about, AM, FM, Surround?
Where do you want to be?

This past Sunday Kristen Ellis shared with us some insight from John Maxwell. The two important days in your life are the day you were born and they day you know why. Discover your why and live in Surround.

Dear God, Thanks for the why?

Mark 14:66-72

66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
68But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.
69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."
72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Kitchen Calendar Quote

Though you may ask God to do something for you, He generally wants to do something in you.

This week as we read the latter part of the Gospels may we be open to God's work within us.

John 19:1-16

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."
13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

For SCC - 4-1-07 Begin Living Your SHAPE

Today we ended a series and begin to live in SHAPE. The SHAPE series has been awesome. People have been very responsive and in tune with what God is desiring to do in their live and through their lives. Today GLARE rocked while presenting the song This Is Your Life by Switchfoot. The DVD Clip about Jack and his comfort zone was funny, yet not funny. May you and I step out. John Ortberg has written a book titled If You Want To Walk On Water You Have to Get Out Of The Boat. The theme of the book is START, GROW, and MOVE. We need to START. We need to GROW. We need to MOVE. We need to realize God has given us a green flag. Ladies and gentlemen, start your SHAPE. We need to GROW. Purchase a little Miracle Grow, spray it on and GROW. We need to MOVE. Make a move from fear to faith. Change neighborhoods. Move out of the fear subdivision and into the faith subdivision. FEAR = False Experiences Appearing Real. Do not live in fear. Live in faith.

Just a reminder. We are moving forward. SCC's mantra for 2007 is forward. Forward is a fun and exciting word. It is also a word of change, growth, challenges, new territory and faith. Moving forward.

Begin Living Your SHAPE

The more we get what we now call "ourselves" out of the way and let him (God) take over, the more truly ourselves we become. C.S. Lewis

The absolute surrender of everything into his (God) hands is necessary. If our hearts are willing for that, there is no limit to what God will do for us or to the blessing he will bestow. Andrew Murray

Basketball

Watching some Bball. These guys are good. Went to a high school Soccer game last night with my daughter. Those guys were good.

www.sunrisecc.org

New site going public this Sunday, April 1, 2007.

Cardinal

The past two mornings I have been able to set on the porch for my morning prayer, read, focus time. Each morn there has been a cardinal that sits in the top of a tree near our porch and sings, and sings, and sings. He is bright red and his song brightened my morning. His song is beautiful. It is as if he knows God is listening, and he gives it his all. What a way to live. Singing with everything you have to God.

For SCC - 3-25-07 Learning from Experiences

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Soren Kierkegaard

Yesterday the weekend service focused on learning from the past. We were encouraged to think about positive achievements and painful experiences in our lives that are meaningful and have somewhat formed the way we live and think and will help us minister to others as we begin to live in SHAPE. We are not to live in the past, but we need to be aware of the past. We live in the now. We relate in the now, and yet God uses past achievements, painful experiences, family backgrounds, past training, careers, and education to help form and SHAPE us in order to live a life that brings glory to Him and fullness and meaning to us and others.

Painful experience quotes stolen from others:

Allow your mess to become your message.

Allow your crisis to become your catalyst for ministry.

The passages below from the Bible will help you understand how God works in all of our experiences.

II Corinthians 1:1-11 Look closely at 4, 9, and 11

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of All Comfort 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Romans 8:28

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Isaiah 6:1-8

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 43:2

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

This morns read and prayer time

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:1-8 found in the Bible

Student Ministry Move

Sunday, April, 15 the Student Ministry is changing meeting locations in the school building. Due to spiritual and numerical growth the student ministry will gather at the Teacher's Lounge area and them move to the Auxiliary Gym which is located behind the main gymnasium. Parents: Look for the fylers about this move that are all over the school building on Sunday morns.

Website Launch

Sunday, April 1, 2007 SCC is launching a newly constructed website. www.sunrisecc.org

Weekend Services April 8 - 29, 2007

Born to be wild.

www
World Wild Witness
4-8 Easter Sunday Morning
9:30 Continental Breakfast
10:00 Concert
10:30 Wekend Service
4-15 www
The Church:
A Wild Celebration
(Reaching Up: Worship)
4-22 www
The Church:
A Wild People
(Reaching Out: Sharing)
4-29 www
The Church:
A Wild Party
(Reaching In: Community)

Proseucomai (pros-yoo-khom-ahee)

Keep Praying. Stay in prayer. Pray at all times.

SHAPE

This coming Sunday, 3-25 there are 19 persons attending "The Hour of SHAPE" in the morning and 9 attending in the evening. This is good stuff. We are going to have a great time getting into SHAPE. Lookin' forward to it.

For SCC - 3-18-07 Abilities and Personality

What are some of your abilities? The following list will help you think this question through.

Cooking

Teaching

Partying

Welcoming

Listening

Sewing

Underwater Basket Weaving

Dancing

Building

Breaking

Writing

Mechanic

Decorating

Analyzing

Designing

Camping

Hunting

Athletic Abilities

Coaching

Organizing

Photography

Acting

Singing

Burping

This is just a start. What are some of your abilities? Remember: Availability is more important than ability.

What is your personality groove? Let the following help you determine.

Extrovert or Introvert

Party Animal or Wall Paper

Rock n Roll or Country

Quiet of foot in Mouth

Spinner Rims or Plain Rims

Outdoors or Indoors

Bookworm or Doofus

Wild Thang or Cool Cat

Plain Jane or Cool Cat

This is just a start. Have some fun. Be you. Remember: Availability is more important than personality.

St. Patrick did not invent green beer but he did help many people become followers of Christ in Ireland in 400 AD because he was sincere, he cared, he introduced others t0 Jesus and he was available. Ed Lane helped many people in TX and CA experience Jesus Christ and enter into a new realm of life because he was sincere, he cared, he lived for Jesus and he was available.

Become available. Move forward.

Your abilities are important. Your personality is important. AVAILABILTY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

Please see the Psalm 139 post to begin to understand just how important you are to God

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139 found in the Bible

Passion is more than a fragrance

The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad things, but that we are not passionate enough about good things.
Larr Crabb, Finding God

Passion is the fuel of life. It is the great source of energy and drive. It's what makes us explore new vistas, develop new relationships, and seek solutions to perplexing problems.
Bob Buford, Halftime

We were created with a passion to live. Erwin McManus, Stand Against the Wind

From morning reading

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 found in the Bible

From morning reading

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 found in the Bible

For SCC - 3-11-07 It Is a Matter of the Heart

On Sunday, 3-11-07 we took another step forward in discovering our SHAPE and living a full life that honors God and touches the lives of many others. Steve Gabriele and all his muscles "pumped us up" after GLARE (God's Love Audibly Reaching Everyone) pumped us up by presenting to us a song about wanting to live the life that God created us to live. the "H" in SHAPE is for Heart. The "H" is about living with passion or living out of your passion. Living life with some zeal. Heart = Desire. Heart = Passion. Passion for life. Living with passion. Discovering what is important to you and living to make a difference. Andera led us in some exercises that got our hearts pumping and pulses up. Passion is about living life "pumped." Living for something. Check your pulse. Discover your SHAPE. Live.

Faith in People

I am working through Becoming a Person of Influence by John Maxwell with Steve Gabriele. He and I meet together on Thursday afternoons and have a good time laughing, sharing, and learning. Today are discussion was about a chapter in the book that spoke about having faith in people. We both enjoyed the read and the discusson. We see God working in people's lives and consider it an honor to be a part of that work. We are grateful that God has faith in us even when we may not have faith in ourselves. We want to be men who have faith in God and faith in others. Steve and I are thankful for the life-change that God is accomplishing in our lives and are pumped about people wanting to know God, grow in Christ and begin to discover their SHAPE.

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1:3-6 found in the Bible

"Spring Forward" on Saturday evening, March 10, 2007.

A Helpful Book

For those who enjoy reading. This book will be beneficial to you during the SHAPE series.

For SCC - 3.4.07 Open the Present: Spiritual Gifts

We have started a new series called Getting Into SHAPE. This past Sunday we looked at the S in the acrostic SHAPE. Spiritual Gifts. We discovered that Dodge ball is not a spiritual gift even though it is a blast to play. We also were reminded that god wants us to move forward with Him in His service and His work and in a relationship with Him. Part of moving forward in Jesus Christ is knowing our SHAPE. As we looked at Spiritual Gifts this past Sunday the following is the Cliff notes of what we uncovered.

What are spiritual gifts?

A God-given special ability, given to every follower of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit of God to strengthen the church and reach others.

Who receives spiritual gifts?

Every believer (follower of Christ) receives spiritual gifts.

Why does God give spiritual gifts?

To strengthen the church and bless others.

How do I know what gifts I have been given?

Spiritual growth, affirmation of others, and serving and sharing.

What to do?

Enter into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and move forward.

I have posted a few passages from the Bible that speak about spiritual gifts. Take a few minutes this week and give them a read. Have fun.

Spiritual Gifts: Ephesians 4:11-12; I Peter 4:7-11

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4:11-12

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 4:7-11

Spiritual Gifts: I Corinthians 12 and 13

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13

Spiritual Gifts: Romans 12

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12