Darrin Patrick: Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission
Arthur F Miller: The Power of Uniqueness: Why You Can't Be Anything You Want To Be
Chip Heath: Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Craig Groeschel: Chazown: Define Your Vision. Pursue Your Passion. Live Your Life on Purpose.
Jon Gordon: The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work
John MacArthur: Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ
Mike Foster: Gracenomics: Unleash The Power Of Second Chance Living
Christopher Witt: Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint: How to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas
Bill Thrall: TrueFaced: Trust God and Others With Who You Really Are
Pete Wilson: Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?
David Platt: Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Robert Elmer: Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader
Thanks for visiting my... uhhm, "post-less" blog. (Smile.) I've pressed "pause" on posting to my blog to rethink its purpose. I'm thankful to my friend Dustin Valencia, who has given me some helpful insights to consider. While I'm putting my thoughts together for my blog, Dustin has a blog I think you'll find engaging and worth your time. Check out Abraham's Chronicles, here!
In the meantime, I'll keep my blog's reading list (left column) up-to-date and Twitter feeds (right column) active.
The earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, resulted in widespread destruction and chaos. Buildings of the government, schools, universities, churches, commercial institutions, and homes crumbled and become piles of debris. More than 230,000 were killed, an estimated 300,000 people were injured, and nearly 250,000 homes were either destroyed or damaged, displacing more than 1 million people.
But the Church in Haiti rose up amid the rubble. And, April 1-6, 2012, I have the opportunity to serve as a volunteer missionary alongside a team of 10 high school students and 3 adults from Stonecreek Church. We are setting aside our Spring Break holiday to help rebuild and offer hope to the Church in Haiti and her most vulerable children through our partnership with Compassion International.
Your donation is an intangible investment in the life experience of students and leaders of students who feel set apart to serve the Lord as a volunteer missionary to Haiti. Each of our team members is committed to trusting God with the resources needed to send them to minister among Haiti's most vulnerable children and families.
Will you consider helping our volunteer missionaries reach their individual goals of raising $1,650 for this missionary experience? You can give as little as $10, fully fund one missionary for $1,650 or give any amount as God leads you.
To learn more and to give securely/conveniently online, visit our team's fundraising page.
Thank you for your generosity and prayers as we make preparations in faith for this missionary endeavor.
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
As 2011 draws to a close, the words and melody of the old hymn, "O How I Love Jesus," are on my mind and in my heart. There is no greater name than the name of Jesus! I cannot think of a better way to close out 2011 and ring in 2012 than to have his name on my lips, on my mind and in my heart.
Join me in having the name of Jesus be the last you speak in 2011, and the first you speak in 2012.
There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing it's worth;
It sounds like music in my hear,
The sweetest name on earth.
O, how I love Jesus!
O, how I love Jesus!
O, how I love Jesus!
Because He first loved me.
It tells me of a Savior's love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner's perfect plea.
It tells of one whose loving heart
Can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears a part
That none can bear below
I have not been as visible as usual at Stonecreek in recent weeks, and I wanted to give you an update to some medical challenges that I am facing that have required me to "lay low" in recent weeks.
September 18, I began having significant pain in my neck throughout my right shoulder, tricept, arm and hand. Thanks to my primary doctor's insight and quick response on September 19, I was able to see a spine specialist with x-ray and MRI in hand to assess the problem. These reports revealed a significant disc herniation on my cervical spine (C6), with some degeneration, arthritis and spurring at my C5 and C7 vertebrae. The herniated disc is pinching the nerve root, causing the pain and numbness I'm experiencing in my right shoulder, arm and hand. In addition to the pinched nerve, the herniation's close proximity to my spinal cord brought reason for caution. After two spinal epidural steroid injections and further consultation with my spine specialist, primary care physician and neurosurgeons, it was evident that surgery would be the best solution to my problem.
I am scheduled for surgery (ACDF C6/C7) on Wednesday, October 19, 10:45 a.m. We are so very thankful for God's provision every step of the way, and are confident in the medical team providing us care. We have been encouraged and lifted by our family, staff family, elders, church family, neighbors and friends.
Thank you for joining us in prayer. Here are some ways you can pray for us:
Pray for God to glorify Himself through every relationship He brings our way through this journey.
Pray for the skillful hands of my surgeon, anesthesiologist and medical team.
Pray for the protection of my vocal cords, as there is potential for damage.
Pray for emotional and physical strength for Kim and the kids.
Pray for complete restoration and healthy progress throughout my recovery.
Stonecreek Church: Please remember to pray for our 19 adult volunteer missionaries who are currently serving the children and families of Guatemala City through the ministry of Hope for Guatemala. Pastors Ryan Martin and Jason Howard are hosting the trip, and reported on Monday that the team arrived safely and are eager to serve.
Take a few moments each day this week to pray for each person by name:
Allison, Allison, Angela, Betsy, Chad, Cindy, Donna, George, Howie, Jason, Karen, Katelynn, Latonya, Leslie, Nicole, Ron, Ryan, Tina, Tom
Stonecreek Church will host Beautiful Outlaw: An Evening with John Eldredge, Tuesday, October 11, 7 p.m. in the main auditorium. The event is the first stop in Eldredge's four-city tour to celebrate the release of his new book.
Eldredge shares, "Beautiful Outlaw is a book I've just written about the personality of Jesus--His playful, disruptive, scandalous, dangerous, beautiful personality. There is nothing more that matters than Jesus; to have His life, His joy, His friendship, His love. To know Him is to have the greatest treasure in all worlds."
Seating is limited and this event will sell out quickly. Tickets are $5 each. There is no childcare for this event.
Tickets for Stonecreek Church leaders and attendees may be purchased, here.
Tickets for the General Public may be purchased, here.
For more on Beautiful Outlaw, visit Ransomed Heart's Web site, here.
I stumbled upon the words to this hymn last night while thumbing through an old hymn book that was given to me a few years ago by a senior adult couple in our church. I pray these words that were written many, many years ago speak into your heart the timeless truth that Jesus is your Mercy Seat (Romans 3:21-26). May He shed "the oil of gladness" (Isaiah 61:1-4) upon you as you allow the words of this hymn to lead you to worship Him.
From Every Stormy Wind (H. Stowell and S. Wilder)
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat:
'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet:
It is the blood-bought mercy seat.
There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Tho' sundered far, by sides more sweet:
It is the blood-bought mercy seat.
Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
I had the opportunity to participate in a worship leaders' gathering hosted by Passion City Church Atlanta called "Lift: A Worship Leader Collective." Our worship times together were recorded as a part of Matt Redman's newest album, "10,000 Reasons" (available July 12, 2011).
If you were to ask me what worship album you should purchase for your times of personal worship, I would unhesitatingly say, "10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman." Every song on this album will lift your eyes, heart and lips to your Creator in praise for His faithfulness, redemption, grace, holiness, love, power, compassion, mercy, death, resurrection, second coming... and 10,000 reasons!
I believe that God will use this collection of God-songs to teach you how to have a lifestyle of worshipping God. You will love the music. You will be amazed at the production. But most importantly, the words will help you express your unhindered affection to Jesus.
Let it fill you car as you drive, your earbuds as you run, your home while you share a meal. I have no doubt, it will also fill your heart wide open with 10,000 reasons to worship Jesus with every breath of every day. Download it now on iTunes.
Here is a quick highlight of the song, "Never Once," from "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman, recorded live at "Lift: A Worship Leader Collective" in Atlanta. (You'll find me at 1:45-1:48, about 2 o'clock: bald guy in a black zipper jacket. Yes, I was there!)
"According to the Bible, a local church exists to do corporately what each Christian should do individually all week: namely, worship God and show forth the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; reflect back the glory of Him who shined down on us... We are saved to worship God." A.W. Tozer, The Purpose of Man, page 167
Worship is to be cultivated daily. It is to be continued.
When we gather corporately as the Church, it should be our aim to come to the Worship Gathering as a continuation of a worship lifestyle that is being cultivated throughout the daily-ness of our lives. What are you doing in the routine of your day that is cultivating a lifestyle of worshipping God that is to be continued when you gather together with His Church this Sunday?
