23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23

Quotes

The following are quotes from children they placed in Mother's Day Cards.

Angie - 8 years old
"Dear Mother, I'm going to make dinner for you on Mother's Day. It's going to be a surprise. P.S. I hope you like pizza & popcorn."

Robert
"I got you a turtle for Mother's Day. I hope you like the turtle better than the snake I got you last year."

Eileen
"Dear Mother, I wish Mother's day wasn't always on Sunday. It would be better if it were on Monday so we wouldn't have to go to school."

Diane
"I hope you like the flowers I got you for Mother's Day. I picked them myself when Mr. Smith wasn't looking."

Carol
"Dear Mother, Here are two aspirins. Have a happy Mother's Day!"

Q & A

Pregnancy Questions and Answers.

Should I have a baby after 35? No, 35 children is enough.
I am two month pregnant now. When will my baby move? With any luck, right after he finishes college.
What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex? Childbirth.
My wife is five month pregnant and so moody that sometimes she is borderline irrational. So, what is your question?
My childbirth instructor says it is not pain I will feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right? Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
When is the best time to get an epidural? Right after you find out you are pregnant.
Is there anything I should avoid right after childbirth? Yes, pregnancy.
Do I have to have a baby shower? Not if you change the diaper very quickly.
Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to act normal again? When the kids go of to college.

Grow

"We must never be content not to grow for if you are not growing more, you are growing less - if the light is not increasing, darkness is encroaching."
George MacDonald, nineteenth century Scottish minister

From Five Star Families. A book to be given to all ladies this Sunday, May 11, 2008

Contagious

Your attitude is contagious. Is yours worth catching?

Bang

The following is taken from a book Sunrise is givng to all ladies this Sunday, May 11, 2008. I am doing a quick scread (Scim + Read) of the book. Good stuff. I am so thankful for the church in which I serve.

One piece of advice for new moms, "Watch out when changing diapers... poop shoots."

LOL

Release

As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
because He is my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried, "How can you be so slow"?
"My child", He said, "What could I do,
you never did let go?"

Ten

Adapted from Rev Mag, March/April 2008, p.30. Good leadership thoughts. Have fun.

Top Ten Ways to Fail As A Team Leader and The Somewhat Solution:

1. Fill your team with people just like you.

Others are important. Good leaders surround themselves with sharp and people who may not be like the leader.

2. Ask someone to do a specific job, and then do it yourself.

Let other do it. Follow up and encourage.

3. Don't trust anyone.

Develop trust.

4. Look out for #1.

That is not team.

5. Exercise high control.

Trust. Develop people and leaders. Help others succeed.

6. Make sure all ideas originate with you.

Brainstorm. Give others credit. Be open to ideas that will help accomplish purpose of team and of organization.

7. Foster an atmosphere of paranoia.

Foster and atmosphere of Koinonia (Community/Fellowship).

8. Make sure nobody appears smarter than you.

That will take a lot of effort. Put you effort into purpose.

9. Have a closed door policy.

Open the door. Pick up the phone. Read your emails. Communicate with team members.

10. Conserve affirmation.

Compliment, encourage, and give thanks regularly.

This is good information for any leader, boss, supervisor, etc. to practice. have fun.

Inspection

Yesterday I took the vehicle our daughter drives to a local Auto Shop for the yearly state inspection. I sat in a vehicle line long enough to have a good prayer time, thought time, planning time, and thank God time. A couple of verses that came to mind and heart later in the day are from Psalm 139.

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.

These verses are about a God Inspection. It is good for you and I to open up before God and allow Him to make sure we are in line with Him, His glory, His truth, His wonder, Him. As you commune with God today and this week allow Him to search your heart and lead you in His ways.

Waking

"We wake, if ever we wake at all, to mystery." Annie Dillard

Privilege

I am privileged to serve and work with some smart, hard working, fun, loving, growing in Christ people who are a part of Sunrise Community Church. This past Sunday I heard positive word after positive word from various people. Individuals who are very intelligent and really are thinking through their walk with God. People who are living in joy and are helping me and my family live in joy. I thank God for the privilege of being able to serve Jesus Christ with these people and the honor to be their local pastor, hope dealer.

Take just a minute and thank God for people in your life and offer up a quick "Shout Out" to God for them. Have fun.

Concert

My wife and I went to a concert last night at Busch Gardens. We were introduced to a group from the land down under called Revive. They were smooth and rockin' and there lyrics were right on. We also heard Matthew West. I did not realize how many of his songs I liked until he started singing them. He was also very funny and interacted with the crowd really well. The evening ended featuring Third Day. I have liked the sound and lyrics of Third Day since their first release in 1996. The evening was beautiful, fun, inspiring, and God did His thing with a few little Godcidences occurring. They really were not and are not little. They were God working in His wonderful and mysterious ways. The concert series is being billed as Glory At The Gardens. Cool name. Cool Place. God moving. Looking forward to next Sunday at Glory At The Gardens.

If you are not familiar with Third Day I would recommend you purchase a CD of theirs called Chronology, Vol.1. It was released in '07 and has some really good songs from their other CD's.

Optimism

Finally, 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 4:8

A Letter To Sunrise - Joy In Your Finances

Greetings,

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” This is how Paul ends his letter of joy to the people in the church at Philippi. What a way to end a letter of thanks, joy and hope. I hope you have experienced your joy quota increasing as we have taken a look at the letter of Philippians for the last seven weeks.

Paul ends the letter of Philippians by thanking them for the financial gift they sent to him and by encouraging them to continue to trust Jesus Christ in all things. He is positive, upbeat and hopeful because of the joy he is experiencing in Jesus Christ. May you and I experience that kind of hope in our lives and in our families. May we live in the realm optimism day by day. As we go through the weekdays may we live with a sense of anticipation. May we “Delight ourselves in God, yes, find our joy in Him at all times”.

As you and I go through the work days I realize that money is a major part of our thought life. I am aware of the time, prayer, planning, preparation, and thought that you and I give to our finances. We desire to make healthy decisions in regards to our income, expenses, and giving. Because money is such an integral part of life it is very important that we understand that God wants to be involved in our financial decisions and He wants to bless us so we can bless others. He wants us to experience joy in our finances, and we can if we will flesh out the truths found in the Bible and in the book of Philippians.

This morning we gained a little insight into the possibility of experiencing joy in our finances. As I think about money, work, expenses, bills, raising children, savings, unforeseen expenses, and giving I thank God for the opportunity to be able to think, work, serve, and learn how to make the most of His financial blessings. What a privilege it is to make decisions in regards to finances. You and I can decide to be bummed or joyful about our financial situations. We choose to make the most of our finances or allow our finances to get the best of us. We have the opportunity to be joyful or disheartened about our finances. I want to choose joy. I hope you will also. I must admit I am not always in the realm of optimism when thinking about finances, but I am learning to live in joy in all of life as I walk with God. I hope you and I will grow in the areas discussed this morning in the service. I really hope we will trust God and seek to honor Him in our finances. What a joy it is to ask God for help with money. What a joy it is to give so others can know Jesus Christ. What a joy it is to sit before God in stillness and be content with the current blessings and challenges in life. What a joy it is to help others and make a difference in someone’s life. What a joy.

Again, May your joy quota increase. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

National Day of Prayer

PRAY. Pray for America to bless God. Pray for your walk with God. Seek to be in tune with God today. Pray for your family to follow Jesus Christ. Ask God to heal broken relationships and watch with anticipation and hope. Pray for your church leaders. Pray for your pastors. PRAY.

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will make my request and watch for the answer throughout the day. Psalm 5:3

A Little Humor

Hope

17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:17-26

Almost 24 Years Ago

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

These verses became real to me in my early college years. I was asked to help lead a group of teens on a mission trip from north TX into the heart of Houston TX. We prepared for two months, traveled to Houston, worked in the inner city with young children and overcame many obstacles along the way. I do remember children accepting Christ. I do remember cleaning out areas that were trashed. I do remember walking children to their homes and noticing their home had no doors or windows where there should have been doors and windows. I do remember lives being changed. I do remember the above verses being the theme verses. That was almost 24 years ago. I thank God for "forward" as I briefly reminisce.

I am thankful that in God's grace I have the opportunity to continue to serve Him and see others learn to live in "forward". Thank God.

Powerful Words

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Website Helps

The below is taken from an eletter I recently received from www.faithhighway.com. I found the article brief yet helpful. I am not a techie yet I know the tech world is a relevant and needed way to reach others with the Gospel. Faith Highway had a person visit a church website with the intent of evaluating the site. Have fun learning.

Our first visitor is a thirty to thirty-nine year old white (non-Hispanic) female who has resided in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area for the last six to ten years. She infrequently attends church and was only vaguely familiar with the church whose site she visited. Our visitor was asked to rank her experience in 4 main categories.
The definitions of those categories and her scores are listed below:
Navigation “…the framework of a website, the organization of content, the prioritization of information, and the method in which a viewer moves through the website… good navigation gets you where you want to go quickly, and offers easy access to the depth of a website’s content”:While the visitor was able to find most information easily, she mentioned that “One icon says, Our Mission, but that really doesn’t list the church’s beliefs. The main beliefs are found under the Our People icon.” GRADE: B
Functionality “The site works well, has live links, loads quickly, and is functional and relevant for the intended audience. Good functionality makes the user experience paramount, and makes the technology invisible.”: The visitor found no broken links and the pages loaded quickly. GRADE: B+
Content “The information provided on the site. Good content should be engaging, relevant, and appropriate for the audience. It has a voice, a point of view, and regardless of whether it is informative, useful, or funny, it should always leave you wanting more”:Although the information was complete and thorough, it was not current and updated. GRADE: D-Graphics: “The appearance of the site. Good visual design is high quality, appropriate, and relevant to the audience and to the message it is supporting”:The graphics and style did not impact the visitor either negatively or positively, but the site seemed to be designed with the visitor in mind. GRADE: D-
Overall: When asked about her very first impression of the site, she indicated that she did not like the home page for two main reasons. The first was “a ‘ticker’ at the bottom of the web page” that “reminded [her] of watching CNN news.” The second element she disliked was the “fast changing text in the upper right corner. Before she could finish reading the first thought or verse, a new one would appear.”While our visitor was displeased with the graphics and found the navigation confusing and somewhat misleading, she did mention that “one is able to find directions, service times and contact lists easily.” If she could improve one thing, it would be to have the name of the church more prominently featured on the home page. Based on the user’s experience with the website, she would consider visiting the church.

Gas Price Solutions - LOL and hehe

Thanks to Tommy for sending this my way. A little humor is some price gouging times.

April 10, 1979 Tornado

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/wxevents/19790410/wichitafalls.php

My Lord Is Near Me All The Time

In the area I live we have been under a severe weather alert for some time now. The news stations are focusing on it and it is the conversation in our home and I am sure in other homes. Pretty powerful storm. Tornadoes, wind, thunder, heavy rain, dark clouds, etc. I grew up in Wichita Falls, TX and remember thunderstorms, lightning storms, and pretty serious tornadoes. Tornadoes were a normal part of the Spring season. On April 10, 1979 a tornado came through Wichita Falls and surrounding towns and caused major damage to homes and businesses and lives were lost due to the storm. My Youth Minister's house was destoyed except for the inner bathroom were his wife was staying for protection. For years my father would recall that day and tell the story of how he saw the tornadoe as it demolished homes and businesses. It impacted my father so much that just a few years later he started 3N Storm Shelter Company which placed tornado shelters in peoples yards. I worked for my father while in late high school and through college to help pay for my education.

This reminds me of a Hymn I learned while serving as the Youth Minister at First Baptist Church of Lakeside City some years ago. Serving in that church was a great time. The words to the hymn are below. I like this hymn because of the lyrics and the melody. I enjoy nature and storms even though I do not care for the destruction caused in storms.

First Stanza: In the lightning flash across the sky His mighty power I see, and I know if He can reign on high, His light can shine on me.

Second Stanza: When the thunder shakes the mighty hills and trembles every tree, then I know a God so great and strong can surely harbor me.

Third Stanza: When refreshing showers cool the earth and sweep across the sea, then His rainbow shines within my heart, His nearness comforts me.

Chorus: I've seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, and felt it in the rain; My Lord is near me all the time, my Lord is near me all the time.

My Lord Is Near me All The Time by Barbara Fowler Gaultney (1935-1974) copyright in Baptist Hymnal 1975. Hymn number 209.

Lookin' Forward,Havin' Fun, and Lookin' Forward

My son and I played in a benefit Golf Tourney this past Saturday. He and I enjoy the sport even though we do not play enough to really enjoy the sport. We played with another father son duo and had a great time playing golf, saying, "nice shot", and especially driving the cart. When my son and I were able to register for the tourney the anticipation set in and the countdown began. Countdown anticipation is a joyful way to live. We were lookin' forward to being with the other guys who are good friends, playing on a nice course, and driving the cart. We had fun. We hit some good hots and some not so good shots. The good shots are the ones remember. Learn from the not so good shots and remember the good shots. We laughed, high fived and played a pretty good round. Golf is a game of lookin' forward. In order to play the game well one cannot focus on the past bad shot, but instead one must visualize and focus on the upcoming shot. Look forward. Thanks to Barry Rowe who put the tourney together and others who helped. Thanks to the father and son we played with on Saturday. We had a joyful time.

Beautiful

Saw all three of these birds this past week. Beautiful.

Live Forward

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
Soren Kierkegaard

Scott Salsman used this quote in his message this past Sunday as he shared with us from the book of Philippians the topic of experiencing joy in our future. This is good food for thought.

A Letter To Sunrise - Joy In Your Future

Greetings,

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad.
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.

The above are all Philippians 4:4 in various translations. You can find these at www.biblegateway.com. This website will help you as read and study the Bible. You may want to take some time this week and visit this site and read the letter of Philippians in several different English translations. As you read the letter be sensitive to God as He speaks to you and you will sense your joy quota increasing as He shows you how to find joy in Him at all times.

Today’s service was sweet. The children interviewed on the DVD clip was funny, the children singing was encouraging, and the Lord’s Supper reminded us of the bright future we have as followers of Jesus Christ. I thank God for the opportunity to worship with you on the weekends and I hope and pray that you are encouraged in your faith walk as you worship God and offer yourself to Him.

The future for followers of Jesus Christ is bright and hopeful. Yes, we will experience difficult days, and seasons of sadness, but the hope we have is that “God is with us” and that He “will never leave or forsake us”. He is real and He does restore and heal. He cares and can provide joy in the midst of difficulties. The future for a follower of Jesus Christ is ultimately heaven. Heaven is a place beyond description. A place of hope, love, joy, peace and goodness. The place of our beginning. The place all people long for whether they know it or not. Look around at the spring beauty, smell the scent of fresh air after a hard rain, note natures colors and the breeze on your face and you will smile. You will sense a little joy. Multiply that joy times ten million and you still have not tapped into the wonderful future awaiting followers of Jesus. Wow, that is refreshing. Much like a morning coffee, an ice cold sweet tea, a V-8 or the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl (For those who do not know, I am a Cowboy fan)

In order to experience joy in our future as we traverse this terrestrial ball you and I need look forward, lean forward and live with just a hint of discontent in our spiritual lives. We need a discontented contentment as we place our lives in God’s hands, God’s future and grow in our relationship with Him and others. Learning more, growing more, serving more and looking forward to the hope we have in Christ. We also need to be committed to following Jesus. You and I know that a half hearted commitment is not really a commitment. We know that a half hearted commitment to anything in life will not produce joy. We do know it will result in drudgery, sorrow, disappointment and negativism. Who really wants to live there? All in favor please call 1-800-HELPMEE (JK). We also know almost instinctively that a commitment to a goal, project, relationship and other facets of life will give birth to excitement, anticipation, and joy. Joy in your future can be a reality if you will commit yourself to the Great Joy Giver. As you experience your joy quota rising do not give up when difficult times visit your porch. Look forward. Remain firm in your faith and allow God to do His work in your life and the lives of others. He loves you and cares for you. He desires for you to live in His full joy. This week give God your future dreams. Give God all of you. Commit your life to Him. Be still just a few minutes on your porch or in your yard and know that God is for you, with you, and His joy can be yours.

I and the other leaders in Sunrise thank God for you and look forward to God’s continual work as we worship, serve and share Jesus Christ with others.

Looking Forward and Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

Overdressed

"If you're all wrapped up in yourself, you are overdressed." Anonymous

I am often oversdressed in me, myself and I. It is not a very attractive attire. I do pray and hope to dress in "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control". This is a nice outfit.

Joy In Your Accomplishments

Last week I sent out an email requesting that people reply with accomplishments that they think have been beneficial to them, others and possibly even the Kingdom of God. I read some of them in the service on Sunday, 4-20-08. The below a are few more responses.

How ironic you should send this out this week. One of my proudest accomplishments, besides my own children has been my wonderful Christian friendships I have forged over the last 20+ years of my adult life. Christian believers like Mike Whelan, whom I spoke to this week, have been a blessing to me. How wonderful it is that not only do we have common interests, but most importantly we have our Father that binds us together.

Hi, Steve,
How are you? One thing comes to mind for joy in family accomplishments - this happened a few weeks ago. My son (8 years old) was having a March of Dimes drive for his school. I explained to him what March of Dimes is and how it helps little babies who are born too early. I knew he had some money saved up, so asked him if he wanted to take $1 of his own money to donate. He said he would, so got out his money for me. He went back to eating breakfast and then out of the blue said, "One dollar isn't enough for those little babies. I want to give more." So, he went back to his wallet and pulled out a $10 bill. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes, that it was like helping the poor and how we need to help out other people. I was so proud of him and was overjoyed to see how he reached out to help someone else. This was a joy to me in that it let me know that I am raising my children to be aware of needs in the world and to take action to help. I can't think of a more rewarding accomplishment!

I have been thinking about this since you sent it to me and I think as far as accomplishments in this season of my life, it is the joy of getting up and out of bed every single day. During this illness there have been days that I have not been able to do that and days where I am not even up to changing clothes. I have asked God and thanked God for that opportunity and I find it is a great accomplishment and something I am not always guaranteed to do. I get up and study and pray and thank Him for it. You can use my name if you want; you know I am not shy.
I also think another accomplishment that I get joy from is encouraging my family to trust God and let him lead your life. Whether it is with my children, my daughters-in-law, or my nieces and nephews I think that God gave me the ability to speak with them frankly and encourage them to lean on Him.
Well, that is my story and I am sticking to it. Talk to me in a year and we will see what other accomplishments He has allowed me to complete. See you Sunday.

Taking Care Of Business

Recently read an article about churches learning from businesses. Here a few things written and worth thinking about if you are a leader in any organization.

Think through your core values. What is really important to you. What are the basics of the basics for you. List them out. Memorize them and flesh them out.

What is your mission or purpose? What are you seeking to accomplish? Think this through and write it out in a very brief sentence that you can memorize and use as a measuring stick for progress on purpose.

Set Goals. Weekly. Monthly. Quarterly. Yearly. On and On and On.

Operate with accountability and integrity. Purposefully set up systems that flesh out your core values, your mission and set goals that are measurable. Be accountable to the group and individuals and be open to others seeing the inner workings of the organization.

Finances. Businesses that do well and are respected manage their finances with great detail and seek to keep cost and expenses within income or receipts given.

Be organized and have written policies for your church and specific ministries. This allows for more flexibility and creativity that helps the whole organization.

Fun Stuff.

A Letter to Sunrise - Joy In Your Accomplishments

Hello,

I hope and pray that the accomplishment comments read in the service today touched your life and that you will spend some time this week thinking about experiencing joy in your accomplishments. As the comments came to me via email I was encouraged and experienced laughter, misty eyes (okay, tears), and spent time reflecting on some of my personal, professional, and family accomplishments that have been beneficial to me, others, and God’s Kingdom. This time in thought lead to thanksgiving, confession, praise and hope. I also made a few phone calls and sent a few emails to people who have helped me along the way. I could sense my joy quota increasing as I read the emails, spent time with God and made a few contacts. May your joy quota increase as you continue to read through Philippians, make a few contacts to say, “Thanks”, this week, and as you spend some time thinking about the many blessings and accomplishments in your life.

As I and the other leaders in Sunrise think about how God has worked in our lives and in your lives we give thanks and we rejoice. This year we have had new people in our weekend service every Sunday. You are inviting others to the service, introducing them to others and their lives are being touched by God and you. You and others are giving of your time, talents and finances and so that others can experience God’s love and blessing as you have. Story after story is being told to the leaders in Sunrise of how God is doing a wonderful work in your life and in the lives of people in your circle of relationships. What a joy! The leaders and I thank God for the opportunity to serve with you, to accomplish task with you, to build relationships with you, and to reach out to others with you. We hope you are sensing God’s joy and power in your life.

As we think about the accomplishments God has allowed us to experience may we give ourselves to God. May we look to honor God at work, in our homes, at play and in our resting. This week take some time to memorize Philippians 4:4 “Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in Him at all times.” As you do this you will begin to smile a little more. I want to encourage you to look forward this week and live in hope. God’s future for you is a future of hope. “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). Thank God. That is exciting. As you think about your accomplishments you will see that people are involved. God created us to be involved in relationships. Sometimes we give and sometimes we receive. This week seek to be a giver. Think of just one simple way you can have a positive impact in someone’s life and add a joyful accomplishment to your list. Be sneaky, have fun, and watch your joy quota increase substantially.

I and the other leaders in Sunrise thank God for you and look forward to God’s continual work as we worship, serve and share Jesus Christ with others. It is a joy to be able to accomplish God’s work with you and others.


Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

Earth Day 2008

Today is Earth Day.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

• Thank God for creation


• Recycle items. Especially aluminum and plastic.


• Ask for brown bags instead of plastic.


• Plant a shrub, a tree, or a few flowers.


• Place trash in trash cans.


• Pick up some trash as you walk over or by it.


• Have fun.

Leadership Thought

"A wise man creates more opportunities than he discovers." Francis Bacon

Right now ask God to make you a wise leader. Ask God to help you see, discover, and even create opps for His Kingdom to come. Right now.

Philippians 3:12-16

12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Catch Up Blog - Dinner

Went to dinner with a group of church leaders this weekend. We had a good time. Good food, good visiting and a fun time watching the chef prepare our food. We laughed with one another, learned a little more about one another, and left encouraged and smiling. Looking forward to more times like this one.

Catch Up Blog - A Feel Good Movie

I sat down, and laid down, on the couch Saturday afternoon after helping a friend do some early morning and into the afternoon hours work and came across a movie that was funny, romantic, hopeful, joyful, and made me feel good. Maid in Manhattan made my afternoon. I thank God for falling in love, having fun, new life challenges, children and other stuff that makes me feel good and causes me to think about life, love, joy and living in hope.

Catch Up Blog - Early Morning Sunrise

Last Friday I was on my way to a job very early and had the opportunity to watch the sun come up over the city of Norfolk. It was beautiful. As I drove through areas of Norfolk I noted the Dogwoods, the Azaleas and the other spring flowers that are glorifying God with their color. The beauty reminded me that God is in control. He is into beauty. He is glorious. I am His. What a joy. The days work was fun, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing. God rocks.

Philippians 3:7-11

7-9The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.
10-11I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Living In God's Will

I am a part of a small group of people called a Community Group. We are coming to the end of a study and fellowship at which we have been reading about and discussing how we can know what God wants us to do as individuals. The reading, thought and discussion have been beneficial to all in attendance. The author of the material suggest the following acrostic:

GUIDE

Go to the Lord (God)

Understand His principles

Investigate your options

Discuss it with others

Express your freedom

God will guide us as we seek Him. As we seek Him we will live in hope.

Remembering - A Life Prayer

One year ago today 33 lives were taken on the campus of VT. May we take some time throughout the day to remember and pray for the families who suffered loss for students and faculty at VT, and may we offer the following Life Prayer to God.

Our Father in heaven, how holy and pure is Your name. I am your servant. As I live for you today help me to live a pure and honorable live for You. May your Kingdom come, may your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. This day is your day. My life is a gift from You. I will live in Your love, goodness and hope today and will share your love with others. Give us today the food we need. Thank you Lord for your provisions. Thanks for my family, my home, my career, my income and the many other ways you have blessed me. I will give back to You and others. Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. God, I recognize that I do not always live up to your holy ways and I a thankful for your forgiveness. Strengthen me so that I will not hold on to unforgiveness and hold on to grudges. May I live in grace, mercy, and joy. Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. I am your servant. Please protect me and help me make wise and Godly decisions today as I live for You.

Friends

The following is taken from Bob the Blogger.

Every one of us has to make the decision on how to choose our friends. Who will we hang with? Are there people from our past we need to let go? This morning, my devotional was entitled "Stay Focused." The key verse is "Forgetting the past" (Philippians 3:13, New Living Translation). Here are five types of people the writer says we will encounter in our relationships with others:
Refreshers: people who strengthen your faith and energize you.
Refiners: People who sharpen you and clarify your vision.
Reflectors: People who mirror your energy.
Reducers: People who try to diminish your goals and efforts to their comfort level.
Rejectors: People who don't understand you or what God called you to do.

The writer states, "With God's help we can focus on the first three and let him handle the last two. Remain focused and you will stay grounded; the praise of others is less likely to go to your head, and the negative impact of your critics will be minimized."
Have a great Monday! Blessings, Pastor Bob
Source: The Word for You Today April 14, 2008

Dude

Dude,

I sent out a mass email today requesting people to respond with personal, professional, and family accomplishments that they believe have had a positive impact on their lives, the lives of others, and maybe in the Kingdom of God. WOW. What a response already. Look forward to many more.

I will be sharing a message this Sunday from Paul's letter to the Philippians found in the New Testament of the Bible. I am pumped after reading the responses. DO NOT MISS THIS SUNDAY. I will be reading the responses. You will be encouraged, humbled, excited, pumped, wowed, and tears and laghter will be a part of this experience.

Feel free to send your list to sneth@cox.net. Please give me your name even though I will not mention your name during the service or in the message.

LOL with joy.

A Letter to Sunrise - Joy On The Job

Hello,

I hope your joy quota is increasing as we continue learning from the book of Philippians during this “Surprised By Joy” series. The leaders in Sunrise want your joy quota to be increasing. This doesn’t mean that everything has to be going your way and that you are on an emotional high. It does mean that you are aware that God is with you, He cares for you, and He desires to be a major part of your life. Take some time this week to read through the Book of Philippians and glean some insight to experiencing God’s joy in everyday life.

Scott shared with us that we can experience joy on the job. Work is not a bad word, a bad thing, nor does it have to be a drag. Work can be enjoyed and we can actually be joyful in our work at home, on the job, in our career, and as we serve Jesus Christ together in Sunrise. You and I can even enjoy the commute to and from our place of employment if we will choose to “Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times.”

When you and I begin to really understand and live in the fact that work will sometimes be fun and sometimes be a pain we can begin to move into enjoying work as we choose to make the most of our time, relationships and resources that help us and others experience joy on the job.

This week as you are keeping up with responsibilities around the house, commuting to and from your job, and praying for and preparing for your service to Jesus Christ take a few minutes to offer a few co-workers to God and ask Him to work in their lives. Thank God for your home, supper, and vacuum cleaners. Ask God to direct you in your service to Him. “Joyful Work”. These words do not seem to go together. But they really do. God has given us the opportunity to build positive relationships on the job, be creative in order to help the organization in which work, and he has given us talents and abilities that we can offer back to him as we serve together in Sunrise to help people we know and do not yet know come to faith in Jesus Christ and begin to see their joy quota increase.

May God’s grace and peace be evident in your life this week as you enjoy work.

Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

P.S.
This week look at the following verse and give it some thought and begin to experience joy on the job.

“Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing.” Philippians 2:14

Sick and Tired, yet Hopeful (You Tube Attack)

Watching News. I am sick and tired of seeing the clips of the girls who attacked and the other and filmed it with the intent of placing it on the net for viewing. The whole ordeal is wrong. The whole ordeal is sickening and troubling. I have no desire to see it anymore. I am hopeful because I have spoken to teens, parents, and other leaders who recognize that this is wrong, evil, hurtful and very unhealthy. We also were able to admit that we have hurt people with words and silence. We were able to admit that when we have hurt and hurt people it is wrong. Yet we have learned and are learning to live in Christ. We are learning to move past and away from hurting people and God and live in blessing others as God has blessed us. It is hopeful, encouraging, and a privilege to visit, serve and live with people who are thinkers, learners and who are growing in Jesus Christ.

Sick and Tired, yet Hopeful (Obama & Hillary)

Watching news as I write. I am sick and tired of the hoopla between Hillary and Obama. Obama's words in a closed meeting were wrong and are wrong about the working class. Hillary's stories stretch the truth at times it seems and her comments about faith and guns are patronizing. Yet, It would be nice it they would take off the mouthy boxing gloves and step out of the ring of political verbiage and give speeches about issues that we seemingly need to process and focus on in America. I am not a Republican or Democratic. I am a person who looks at candidates websites, tries to know where they stand on issues of faith, family, values, less gov. or more gov. and make a somewhat healthy decision when voting. I have said things in meetings that were wrong and are wrong about people and I was wrong. There are times I may have stretched the truth and said things that are patronizing. In both cases I was WRONG. So are these candidates. When wrong, say, " I am sorry." There lies the hope. I am sorry. Words that can lead to repentance, correction, restoration and focus on healthy aspects of relationships. May you and I say, "I am sorry", seek to make needed change in our lives through the power of God and live in joy as we seek to honor God and live in Christ's health.

Hillbilly's Ten Commandments

(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin'
(7) No foolin' around with another fella's gal
(8) Don't take what ain't yers
(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Thanks to Steve Gingerich for sending this my way.

Leadership Thought

For most people it's not what they think the are that holds them back. It's what they think they're not. John Maxwell, Becoming A Person of Influence.

As a reader if you are a leader help people become. Good times!!!

How Important Are You?

More than you think. A rooster minus a hen equals no baby chicks. Kellogg minus a farmer means no corn flakes. If the nail factory closes what good is the hammer factory? Paderewski's genius wouldn't have amounted to much if the piano tuner hadn't shown up. A cracker maker will do better if there's a cheesemaker. The most skillful surgeon needs the ambulance driver who delivers the patient. Just as Rodgers needed Hammerstein you need someone and someone needs you.

The above is from Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll. Pages 110-111 in Chapter 7.

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. Philippians 2:19-30

Praying

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7

I met this morn with some guys for a time of focused prayer. We meet once a month and pray specifically for matters of seeing people come to faith in Jesus, and a renenwal of God in local churches. What a time.

Home

Good to come home. Great time on the river, but greater still to be home.

Time On the River

I spent some time on the Mattaponi River with 5 other pastors Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. We had a good time playing Ping Pong, Pool, watching the basketball game, and sharing with one another how God worked in our lives and moved us to the point of serving Him in the local church. Good stuff. Lots of laughter, a few misty eyes and the presence of God. Sweet. Oh, we also had fresh fried catfish straight out of the river.

For SCC - 4-6-08 Joy In Your Circumstances

This past Sunday SCC continued our series Surprised By Joy and we looked at experiencing joy in our circumstances. Steve Gabe and Salsa did a fine job with the drama and helped us laugh a little. Anita Fritz and GLARE touched our lives with the song "Praise You In The Storm". We looked at a few verses found in the letter of Philippians and sought to glean a nugget of truth from God's Word that will help us live in joy and be more joyous.

The following is a brief of the message.

JOY IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

1. Look beyond the circumstances and see God's work.

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Philippians 1:12-18

Paul was able to see beyond his difficult circumstances and see what God was doing. He noted that despite his situation the Good News of Jesus was being spread. God was actually moving in the midst of Paul's difficulties and being glorified.

2. Look beyond the temporary and see the eternal.

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

We need to see more than the eye can see. Thee is more to this life than the the physical. Paul lived as we do in the physical and yet also was very aware of the hope that lies ahead in a new realm of life and he desired that others experience that realm. We need to use our "stuff" to impact the eternal and think more often about the hope we have in JC.

3. Look beyond the bad news and see the good news.

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.

Just do it. An old saying that needs new practice.

Book To Help With Philippians Study

Both of these books are good. Both are written to help the reader gain a better understanding of Philippians and experience joy.

A Letter To SCC - Joy In Your Circumstances

Hello,

I hope you are already sensing and experiencing your joy quota increasing as we continue learning from the book of Philippians during this “Surprised By Joy” series. I hope at various times this past week you were able to “turn that frown upside down” as you gave thanks for people in your life and sought to increase someone else’s joy.

In the book of Philippians it is obvious that Paul isn’t writing from a circumstantial point of view. If he was the letter would have been sour, negative, harsh, and disheartening. Instead, Paul is upbeat, warm, hopeful, positive, and even cheerful despite his circumstances. The letter is full of thanks, joy, and hope. It is clear that Paul is not focused on his circumstances and has been able to see beyond the temporary and focus on the eternal, see past the bad and focus on the good, and to see how the good news of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed despite his difficult situation. This letter is crazy or outrageous if you really think about it, but this is what can happen in our lives if we will choose to see and live life from a new perspective and not focus on circumstances.

Circumstances are much like the weather. They can be good, bad, and sometimes ugly. They can change very quickly. I remember one day not long ago in this area when in one day it was warm, sunny, cloudy, thundering, cold, rainy and then snow followed by a clearing blue sky, all of this in one day. It is not wise or healthy to base our lives on circumstances because they can change in a heartbeat and there are many circumstances that we have no control over. Instead we can choose to allow God to have reign in our lives, in our attitudes and begin experiencing real joy that is crazy, outrageous and contagious. Experiencing joy (peace, calm, anticipation, hope, a positive attitude, encouragement) in the midst of circumstances can be accomplished if we will focus on how God is working in our lives, the good news, and view life from an eternal perspective. I hope that you and I and Sunrise Community Church will continue to, “Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in Him at all times.”, and live with a sense of awe and wonder that will draw others to Jesus Christ.

As I end this letter I want to share some good news, really good news and great news with you. The good news is that you are reading this letter so you are currently alive. The really good news is that life is a gift from God and He really is in control no matter what your circumstances. The great news is that we can live with a deep sense of awe, wonder and joy if we will focus on God’s work in our life’s and those around us, the good around us, and live with an eternal focus.

God’s work is happening. You and I just need to adjust our perspective a little bit to see His wonderful work in our lives. You and I have plenty of good things to dwell on in our daily lives. We just need to choose what we are going to see. I have eternal hope because of my trust in Jesus Christ. If you have trusted Jesus you have that same hope. That is joyful news. This week take a few minutes each day to look at your life and the life of those close to you and begin to discover how God is moving and working. Make a list of all the good things in your life. Think of people, material possessions, and a positive story that you recently heard and write them down at the bottom of this sheet. Take few minutes now and thank God for eternal hope. Ask God to help you discover how you can help others come to know Jesus Christ personally and experience the eternal hope you have. As you act on these three items in your life watch your joy quota increase. Just be careful someone might think you are crazy.

Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

How God is working or moving:

The good stuff:

How can you help others come to faith in Jesus Christ?

Some of Paul's Hardships

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23b-28 NIV

Sunrise is 8

Sunrise turned 8 today. Pretty good stuff. Eight years of ups and downs. Eight years of sharing the Gospel with people. Eight years of making disciples. Eight years of laughs. Eight years of some tears. Rejoice. Rejoice. Thanks to those who helped start Sunrise eight years ago with a great deal of prayer, work, planning, giving, serving and teamwork. "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 NIV

Stuart

Remember, God works in all things and people like you.

Sunday Morning Rest

Salsman backstage sleeping during the message. He really believes in meditation. JK. This is a planned photo. Just havin' fun.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

Good friends and co-servants of Jesus Christ. People like this help us live in joy and rejoice in life. I thank God for people like Tim and Phro. People who are helpful, encouraging, committed to Christ and who take risk when needed. What a joy and thrill to experience life with Joy Givers. I want to be a Joy Giver.

19-24I plan (according to Jesus' plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy's the real thing. He's been a devoted son to me as together we've delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I'm hoping and praying to be right on his heels.
25-27But for right now, I'm dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I'm sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he's been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others.
28-30So you can see why I'm so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you'll rejoice and how relieved I'll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren't able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.
Philippians 2:19-30 The Message

The Friendship Factor. This is a good book. My suggestion. Order it. Read it. Discuss it. It will help you become a Joy Giver. The links below will take you to info about the book.
http://books.google.com/books?id=vqSa4Ii2LNQC&dq=friendship+factor&pg=PP1&ots=RKI8P_07dF&sig=vWP-wNhKaRhnIAPTCSCs4Ll5SF8&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=HPIB,HPIB:2005-19,HPIB:en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=friendship+factor&spell=1&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail

http://www.amazon.com/Friendship-Factor-Closer-People-Care/dp/080661711X

Leadership Thought

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.
Peter Drucker

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." C. S. Lewis

"Joy is like peace dancing." G.K. Chesterton

Joy

Praying for others

This past week and weekend I was able to visit with people that I rarely see and yet have prayed for and served Jesus Christ with them for a good while. One was a college student at VT. She is an active part of SCC when she is in the Hampton Roads area and is missed by the music team and her family when she is at VT. She took some time from her full day at VT and gave my family a brief tour of VT so my daughter could get a feel for the campus. She is a blessing to my wife, SCC and my daughter. It is a joy to serve JC with this college student even though we are miles apart.
The other is a young man whom I've known for 12 or 13 years. He was an active part of a Student Ministry that I led in Chesapeake and I had the opportunity to serve with him on Summer Mission Trips. He and his family were instrumental in helping start Sunrise. He is a VT grad and has been and is an active part of a church that is sharing the Gospel at VT. He is soon moving to northern VA to begin a new phase of life and ministry. It is a joy to have helped this young man grow in Christ and serve JC with him even though we are miles apart.
Sunday evening my family, minus my daughter, had dinner with a couple and their two teens. This family was a part of Sunrise after we launched and SCC had the joy of baptizing them and serving with them. They now live in GA and are active in a church where they live. They are awesome people who are gracious and fun to be around. They bring joy to people. Their children are fun loving, kind and talented. Much like their parents. It is a joy to serve JC with these people even though we are miles apart.
These are people I have prayed for and served with for a good number of years. I remember them with joy in my heart and thank God for them as we continue to serve JC

Grace and Peace

"1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:1-2 NIV

Grace and peace. This is a fantastic way to greet people. Blessing them with God's grace and peace. Grace - God's undeserved favor towards you and I. God looking out for us. God, getting our back. God having our very best interest in His heart. Peace - A stillness and calm about life even in the midst of everyday life. A peace that allows us to move from fretting and frustration into a deeper faith in God. A peace that helps us sleep at night. A peace that clears our minds and hearts and allows us to enjoy life and relationships as we sit in traffic, correct mistakes at work, negotiate contracts, pay bills, study for exams, loose a game, and on and on the list goes.

Grace and peace. May we live in them a little bit today. Take a breath and ask God for that grace and peace and pray the same blessing for someone else right now.

ACT 16: 1-40 - Paul in Philippi

1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. 16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. 35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” 38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Acts 16:1-40 NLT

For SCC - 3-30-08 Joy In Your Relationships

This past Sunday Sunrise began a new series based on the book of Philippians found in the New Testament of the Bible. The book is really a letter written to the followers of Christ in the city of Philippi. The letter is written from prison by the apostle Paul who had started the church in Philippi ten years earlier on one of his three trips that he and others took to begin sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. You can read about about adventure in Philippi in Acts Chapter 16 of a Bible or in the post above.

Scott Salsman started the series with a message about experiencing Joy In Your Relationships. Sharing from the text found in chapter 1 of Philippians he shared these three truths that if we will apply them to our lives we can increase our joy quota in our relationships.

1. Put people in your thoughts and be thankful for them.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

We tend to think about many things during the day. Scott encouraged us to think about people. Remember people. Paul remembered the people in Philippi and gave thanks for them. He remembered the positive and gave thanks for the people. Paul understood that people are a priority to God and therefore gave thanks as he remembered and prayed for those in Philippi. You and I need to give thanks for people in our lives.

2. Put people in your hearts.

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart..." Philippians 1:7a

Not only did Paul think about these people bu he also cherished his relationship with them and considered partners and friends. He cared for these people. He enjoyed these people. He had warm and fuzzy thoughts and feelings for these people and he expressed this to them throughout the letter. Two way for you and I to begin to put people into our hearts is to think about and practice partnership and fellowship. When we begin to flesh out that partnership and fellowship are important to God, relationships, and the Gospel we will begin to fan the flame of warm and fuzzy feelings for people in our lives the joy quota in our relationships will increase.

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

Praying for people will increase your joy quota as you spend time with God praying for others and watch God do a wonderful work in their lives. You can pray that they will grow in their capacity to love, in their knowledge of God's love, that they will live pure lives, and be filled with God truth and holiness as they live for Jesus Christ. Praying for others will also cause you to grow in Christ and will help you remember others, hold others in your heart and move you higher on the joyful scale of life.