Some Great Links To Check Out

I realize I'm behind on a few of these but I wanted to share a few links that I’ve read over the past few weeks or so!

• I loved this post from Scott Hodge on, “Are you most or some?” WOW!
• With our students two weeks removed from returning from camp I thought Pastor Steven Furticks post on, “Staying Out of Trouble vs. Walking In Your Calling” was timely and oh yeah...awesome as well!
• This post by Seth Godin…and this post…are worth a minute of your time!
• Clayton’s blog on depression was very timely for me! Maybe it will be for you too...?
  

That’s all for now! Tons of great stuff out there!

Contentment

Every once in a while you have a moment where you realize that things could not possibly be any better than that exact moment. You wouldn’t exchange it for anything the world has to offer. I had one of those moments last week. When it happened I pulled out my camera...

Peaceful

Joyful

Thankful…

all wrapped into a moment.

Marking The Next Generation

I am still reeling from how incredible it was to hear about all the life change that is taking place in our students at NewLife. As each one of them shared about what God was doing in their life through the experience that they had a camp I couldn't help but think how can I get involved in their lives to help them process and move forward in the journey that they are in.

Laura...one of our student pastors gave us some great insight on some different levels of how we can get involved. I pray that you'll choose to get invovled...here's what she had to say:

Simple: Pray, Pray, Pray! Pray not only for your kids, but for all of our amazing teens in our student ministry, pray that they stay strong to the call that God has on their lives, pray that they not give into the temptation to fall back into familiar patterns at school, pray that they would be bold in their witness for Christ, pray that they would start a movement of purity and holiness in an environment where that is unheard of and even laughed at. Pray for the schools that our kids attend (Central High School, Timber Creek, Fossil Ridge, Kell High, Glenview Christian....) Pray that the students would have a strong hunger for the Word of God. Pray that their daily walk and relationship with Christ would remain fascinating to them. Like I said, PRAY!

Semi-Simple: Engage with them! Whenever you see anyone at all from this generation, prove to them that our generation hasn't given up on them. Be encouraging, ask them what they are reading in their bible, tell them about your walk with Christ, tell them what you are currently struggling with, ask them to pray for you right then and right there. Don't let what God has done in them slip away from them. They are supposed to be the immature ones, but we are not! We have got to step up and fight with our words and our actions. Show them that they are important to you by talking to them. They may seem skeptical at first, but once you prove to them that you are really listening, they will be putty in your hands.

Not so simple: Really step up to the plate by volunteering your most precious commodity: your time. Show up to our student services and activities. Just simply be there. Our services on Wednesdays bring a lot of painful subjects to the surface, be there as a shoulder to cry on. It's ok if you don't have all the answers for them, most of them just want to be heard, (and even if you did have the answers they will probably try it their way first!) Get to know the kids and become a part of their lives. You won't regret it!

Not even a little-bit simple: Take on a mentoring role with one of our students. Agree with them to meet once a week for a coffee (for you, a monster for them.) Hold them accountable, be their sounding board for advice. Pray for them in front of them so they learn how to pray, let them pray for you, its great practice. Talk about where you are at in your bible and what you gleam from it so that they can learn how to find life inside the pages. Tell them you are proud of the person they are becoming. Help them through the rejection and hard times. Live your roller coaster life in front of them so that they know that when tough times come that if they endure they will find joy in Christ!

I pray that you'll pick a way to get involved. This is our time to leave a mark on the next generation!

Monday Morning Reflections

Saturday night was incredible! I had such a blast hanging out with those of you who were here and what an incredible message we got to hear from Pastor Brian Houston from Hillsong Church in Australia!

Here are some of the highlights that I took away from his talk...

• Many times in life we can come to an ending...and God is still with us in our endings.
• An unstoppable life sees God in the beginning of something and in the end of something.
• God wants us to live an unstoppable life and just because something is over it is not time to stop.
• It's not over until it's over!
• Always believe the best for the future.
• We need to talk to the future.
• We need to be committed to the future.
• As long as we're trying to hold on to something that has come to an end we're not committed to the future.
• We have to commit to the mountain!
• The best is yet to come...

NewLife...I want you to know that I am committed to the future! I can't wait to see what God is going to do through the life of our church. I am incredibly blessed to be partnered with so many of you who are committed to that same future. I can't wait to see where God takes...truly the best is yet to come!

One Prayer Concludes Saturday

I can't believe that tomorrow night we conclude another amazing year of our One Prayer series. God has worked in amazing ways during One Prayer this year as believers around the world have united to pray, learn, and love others. It's been incredible as we've shared teaching, training, resources, and, most importantly, God’s love with the world.

As we look back over the last three years, it’s amazing to consider what God has accomplished since One Prayer began in 2008. What started as an idea between a handful of churches exploded into a global movement of thousands of churches representing millions of believers.

• Instead of just talking about Jesus, together we’ve displayed His love through a unified and global biblical community.

• Individuals have contributed to offerings beyond the four walls of our church buildings, funding projects like planting thousands of churches in India, China, Sudan, and Cambodia.

• We’ve experienced corporate prayer and fasting with other believers around the world from South Africa, Guatemala, Great Britain, and India, to Nigeria, Honduras, Australia, Bolivia, and more.

• Many churches have been able to explore new possibilities after discovering that video teaching is successful in their environment.

Don't forget that when the Church unites, it's unstoppable, and I know I can’t wait to see what God continues to do in and through this strategic partnership of churches.

**NewLife: Don't miss this Saturday night's concluding message about how to live an unstoppable life! With the cookout afterwards it's a great opportunity for you to INVITE your friends and family to join you this weekend...I truly believe the message of HOPE that they will hear will have the potential to be a life changing moment!