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Sunday Night Thoughts

 Here are some thoughts from the weekend…

• Do you know that there are some people who get to NLCC at crazy-early times on Sunday morning?  Tech people, nursery workers, Student staff and volunteers, coffee team, worship team, parking team, and more; they are all here EARLY on Sundays getting ready for what God is going to do.  Thank you, Thank you!

• I LOVED hearing everyone sing on the chorus of "Mighty to Save."  Especially the line "Jesus, he can move the mountain. Our God is mighty to save, He is might to save!"   Second service crowd really got into it.  I love hearing people worship LOUD.

• I felt God leading me to say some pretty tough, pretty straightforward things today about repairing relationships.  We may not see it right now, but the fruit of obeying God on this will be seen for years to come.

• There were 11 people today that committed their lives to Christ!!

• My daughter Hannah graduated on Friday night.  She is one beautiful, smart, funny, talented, creative kid…uh, adult.  Gena wrote a great blog on Hannah and graduation.  You can read it here.

• My family has been wiped out from graduations, swim team, end of school, and on and on and on.  We crashed all day Saturday, and Sunday evening is shaping up to be crash-time too.  We've needed a little downtime just to catch up.

Thanks Jeremy!

 New Life's own Jeremy Davis has almost attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.  The process takes a long time and it takes a TON of work, and Jeremy has done it all.  One of the final steps is to spearhead a large scale community project. 

Jeremy decided that he wanted to do his project for NLCC.  So he gathered the equipment, funds, manpower, and everything else to install a new playground for our kids.  Jeremy said it was God that got him through all of the planning and the problems that go along with a project of this size.  And even though he's getting his Eagle Scout award, Jeremy really did this to benefit the kids that come to New Life! 

Thanks Jeremy for ALL your work, time and effort, and for making a huge difference in the lives of kids!

Servolution Video

Here's the Servolution video we showed yesterday in church.  I watched it several times just to remind myself of the incredible things God did on that day.  You can view it here.

(Thanks Tim Witort for incredible video production!)

Great article on my friend Ken

Saturday in the Modesto Bee, they ran an article on my good friend Pastor Ken Van Vliet from Monte Vista Chapel here in Turlock.  You can read the entire article here.  It's a privelege to minister alongside great people like Ken, and to see God using him to lead a church like MVC.

God has used Ken more than once to encourage me during tough seasons, and to challenge me to continue to give God my very best.  Ken has a passion to see the church BE the church, especially right here in our hometown.

My favorite quote from Ken in this article is:  "My greatest passion is that our community would see that a life surrendered and lived for God is the best life you could ever live. I truly believe the church is the keeper of the most transformative message in the world."

AMEN!

Sunday Night Thoughts

We had a great service on this Memorial Day weekend.  Here are some thoughts about the day…

• Thank you, thank you to all of you who serve and volunteer each week.  Even on a holiday weekend you were there ready to go, and excited to be there serving.  YOU are a blessing!

• It was good to see the Moll family today.  They were back here visiting after moving to the East Coast.

• Thanks to Tim Witort for the AWESOME Servolution video he made.  It's being uploaded to youtube.com, and I'll post the link once it's published.  It was fun to see those pictures and all those projects we tackled.

• If you were in the first service, here's a quick wrap up to my Saturday morning burglary story.  No, the police have not caught the thieves (yet).  Yes, we did make it to the swim meet on time.

• Thanks Ron & Sarah for ALL you did for Servolutiion.

• Thanks Jeremy Davis and your Scout troop for installing the new playground equipment.  You have truly blessed the kids of NLCC!

• A woman spoke to me after the first service, and God was really dealing with her about an accountability relationship and her need to set another relationship right.  She didn't want to take any shortcuts with God's will for her life.  That's life change!

• I work hard with our staff and team to pray about and plan our Sunday services.  Our team puts their very best into how we can worship, teach, share, and communicate Christ most authentically and effectively.  And then every once in a while God decides to shake things up, and he does something beyond what we could have envisioned (like this next entry).

• Towards the end of the 2nd service, Eva Davies wasn't feeling well from her cancer treatment and was trying to get out of the service when she collapsed down in front.  I really sensed the Lord shifting our service and our need to pray for Eva, but also to acknowledge that God can be trusted whether we're struggling with cancer (like Eva), or with a marriage, or school, or work, or whatever.  I had a family tell me afterwards that a friend of theirs had shown up to church today just spur of the moment, and the prayer and the moment with Eva let her see Jesus and the church in a new way.  She gave her life to Christ at the end of the service, along with 13 others!  (By the way, I spoke with Eva tonight and she is doing better.  She's spending the night at Memorial Hospital but should come home tomorrow.  Keep praying for her and her family).

• Kudos to our Welcome team for handling the emergency with Eva.  Our parking crew directed the ambulance right to the spot, and we had some medical folks that stepped in to offer assistance.  The EMT said that it really helped them to have the directions and assistance that they received.  Thank you guys!

Servolution Pictures

I've posted some pictures online from Servolution day.  The link is in the right hand column, or you can just click here.

We've also finished our first Servolution video and you'll be able to see that Sunday during both services.  I'll also be posting the video to youtube.com later next week.  Keep checking back!

Sunday Night Thoughts

I told someone recently, "You DO NOT want to miss a Sunday, not even one."  God is doing such awesome things week after week, and He's moving in us, challenging us, and encouraging us in powerful ways.  The person that I had told not to miss, had been gone for a week and they're first question to me was, "What happened in church?"  It was kind of funny.  They hadn't heard anything, and they hadn't talked to anyone, but they just KNEW that something was going on. 

That's the kind of church I'm so glad that I get to be a part of, where I see God doing something all the time.  Here are some thoughts from Sunday…

• Pastor Mark & Helba Lemos were with us this Sunday.  They are missionaries to Brazil and God is doing amazing things through their ministry.  I've had a chance to be in Brazil and see what is happening first hand.  Their vision and passion for God's kingdom is making a huge difference.  Mark is also my cousin so it was great to hang out a little bit.

• Here are some things that really struck me from Mark's message:
        -- "Prayer is the muscle tissue that moves the hand of God."
        -- "Our passionate prayer can set the tone for generations to come."
        -- Our willingness to "go and do" is what God honors.
        -- Don't let your past limit what the Holy Spirit wants to do through you.

• THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Jodie Leonard and all the AWANA leaders for your willingness to serve and give.  You are truly making an eternal difference.

• Watching Lauryn Avila quote the books of the Bible and Judah Gregg recite (with conviction) the passage from Psalm 119 was awesome.  You two were an inspiration to EVERYONE on Sunday.

• Next chance you get, check out the new playground installed by our own soon to be Eagle Scout, Jeremy Davis.  He and his crew did an incredible job.  We're going to thank him this Sunday.

Servolution news article

I wrote in the last post that the Turlock Journal wrote an article on Servolution.  Here's the link.

Servolution…one week later.

It's hard to believe that one week ago Servolution happened.  This time last week, we'd already been out at the church for 3 hours getting things ready, worshipping, and heading out to project sites.  I'm still shaking my head from all God did.  This really was NOT about serving ONE day, this was to let us see the possibilities of serving God the other 364 days too!

Today in the Turlock Journal there is a front page article with pictures about Servolution.  When we begin to live with love as our primary motivation, the community does notice.  I wonder what God will do through all of this.

In case you don't get the weekly e-newsletter (you can subscribe in the column to the right), here is an excerpt of my article.

Our community has never seen ANYTHING like this before, and we did it all for the Glory of God and to really live "love in action."

Here are a few facts from the day . . .

· 700 people rolled out of bed early to serve on Saturday.
· 80 projects.
· 750 people ate at the BBQ lunch together.
· 387 decibels when the band played ;)
· About 25 TONS of debris was dumped at Turlock Scavenger, including 42 separate loads and 2 BIG dumpsters.
· Sod was rolled out, sprinklers installed, weeds cleared, grass mowed, flowers planted, paint applied, washers & dryers delivered, concrete poured, windows installed, beds & dressers delivered, food collected and distributed, people were loved, and GOD WAS GLORIFIED!

So what do you do next . . .

Keep looking for ways to live love and serve [added: remember, there are 364 others days in the year!].  Stay connected to your team and maybe you can go back to the same projects you worked on and do a little more.  Contact your project leader and see what might be possible.  I overheard several teams that are already planning on continuing what was begun.

You see, you don't need a T-shirt or a logo, or a special day to love and serve.  You can do it anywhere, anytime.  So here is my "pastoral" proclamation over you, "Go and do good works everywhere in the name of Jesus."  There.  You're official.

We're going to do another Servolution, but in the mean time, don't stop serving and loving in Jesus name.  If you liked being part of a team on that day, step up and join in on a  "Second Saturday." It's open to anyone and it's like a mini Servolution every month (on the Second Saturday, get it?).

Catch the wave of what God is doing!

Song Ideas?

Next Wednesday night is the NLCC Volunteer Appreciation Dessert.  I have some guys putting together a video with pictures of people serving from this last ministry season.  I'm looking for a couple of songs to have on the sound track, any ideas?

Post your song suggestions and if we use your song I'll send you a $5 Starbuck's gift card.  Ready…set…GO!

Sunday Night Thoughts

I'm really late this week getting to my Sunday Night thoughts, obviously.  It was an incredible day, a day of celebration and God's power. 

• 17 people accepted Christ.
• Sunday was our largest non-Easter attendance ever!
• We dedicated 25 children on Sunday.  It was great to see so many families taking a step and vowing to raise their child to know God.
• Eli and the band were ON!
• The video venue in room 201 was full.  We've got a few bugs to work out in that, but it's happening.
• I still have to get used to preaching from the main stage.  I keep wanting to walk down the steps and get closer, but I know I'm freaking some of you out.  You keep waiting for me to slip and fall!  I'll work on staying up top so you can stay focused and not worry.

So much happened Sunday, and it felt like we were still riding the high from Servolution.  But I find this week I'm feeling kind of quiet and contemplative.  I was really excited about Sunday, but I think I feel  humbled more than anything else. Standing by and watching God change and transform lives, marriages, and families and realizing that God is choosing to do that right here, through people like me and you.

I know how little I bring to Him, and yet He chooses to use what I have anyway.  I wonder what that boy felt when he brought his few pieces of bread and his small fish to Jesus.  I'm sure he had no idea what Jesus was going to do, but then Jesus took what was offered and it made a difference to so many.

I think God just wants us to keep coming with what we have and giving it to Him.  Letting Him in His ultimate wisdom and power do something in us and through us that could never happen without His touch.

Servolution Day: early a.m.

It all begins today!  I believe we will look back on this day and see it as the starting point for so much that God wants to do through this crazy group of people called New Life.

We're just heading out the door in a few minutes, and I'm as excited as you can get at 6 a.m. with NO coffee yet.

More to come…

One more thing…

I'll be sending out a special NLCC e-newsletter this week with all the info about Servolution on Saturday, May 10th.  If you don't receive the newsletter, you can click the link at the top of my right hand column and subscribe.

Sunday Night Thoughts

• You know there's an excitement and a buzz about what God is doing when people can't stop cheering and applauding during services.  Second service absolutely exploded in cheering today.  God is good!

• Loved "Everything Glorious" that Eli led us in today.  That song seems to capture the spirit of the series we're in.  God can take ANYTHING, and turn it in to something glorious -- including us.

• I'm pretty pumped about "Servolution."  We even had more people sign up today. I can't wait for Saturday. (I loved seeing all the yellow shirts around too).

• I had quite a few people tell me that this message on moving past guilt was what they needed to hear.  One woman said she had recently lost her sobriety after being clean and sober for years.  She was beating herself up and today was a new step of hope to begin recovery.

• Gena and I were without kids today and were able to go out to lunch with a young family that we've wanted to get to know.  This couple serves so consistently and selflessly, with no fanfare or spotlight. They serve just to love God by loving people.  We're so blessed to have people like this in our NLCC family.

• I was able to plant a few plants this afternoon and go for a tour of my neighbors yard with him.  I was picking his brain about drip systems and plant placement.  You should see his flower beds, they're like Sunset Magazine.   We have the best neighborhood in the world!

• I'm writing this at 8:45 pm, and Gena isn't home yet.  She's been serving, and connecting, and helping people all day!  I have the most incredible wife in the world!

• Be praying and fasting for Servolution this weekend, that we'd be able to show the love of God in powerful ways!

Challenged. Part 1

Over the past weeks there have been numerous books I've read and messages I've listened to that have been really challenging me.  I've had to re-think some things as God calls me to walk closer to Him, and be more courageous in following Him.   Here are some things to think about…

• Do I let my personal preferences get in the way of God's preferences in my life and in the church?

• When God is moving in someone or in a church somewhere -- CELEBRATE!  It doesn't mean that God isn't moving or working in me or in our church.  Imagine that!  God can be powerfully at work in more than one place!

• When it comes to God and His power, we have no idea what we've gotten ahold of and what we're involved in.  He is WAY more than anything we can imagine.

• It is our job as the church to life up the name of Jesus, and God forgive us if we sell out to some other agenda.

• The same God who draws people to Himself, can keep them, protect them, and grow them as well.

• I desire to celebrate people coming to know Christ.  I want NLCC to share that passion, and it's happening!

Sunday Night Thoughts

It was a great day today, and it was good to be back preaching again after 2 weeks off.  We missed a big group of our guys who were up at a Men's Retreat for the weekend, but I've been praying that God fires up our men in a BIG WAY.  Here are some thoughts from the day…

• Eli and the team were ON today.  They started the first song right in sync with the countdown video when the guy says, "It begins now."  Their first chord took a few people by surprise in the first service and I saw a few people jump.  I loved it.

• When I mentioned the baptism and "Elevate" from last Sunday I got a lot of cheers.  I think people are still riding the high of last week.  I know I am.

• I had a chance after both services to pray with a number of people that are going through some pretty tough stuff.  But every single one of them was making a decision today to put it all into God's hands.  It's pretty cool when people are responding to God's Word and actually living it.

• We had 14 people today make a decision to follow Christ! 

• I was reminded again today of how true the lyrics are to the song, "You are in Control."  We think we've got it all nailed down, but then we blow a circuit losing lights and backdrop video, and Ramon's amp cut out.  I just reminds me again how much He IS in control, and how those amps and videos are great, but they're not what really matters.  I KNOW that, it's just good to be reminded of it every once in a while (but hopefully not TOO often).

• The kids got to go to Grandpa and Grandma's after church today.  Gena had lunch with a woman facing some tough marriage issues, and I had lunch with a friend who is walking through one of the toughest seasons of his life.  There are no easy, simple answers to the dark valleys of life, but we do have a Heavenly Father that will walk through them with us.

• I'm still a little sleep deprived from the days in Yosemite and I'm beat from this morning.  I'm off to bed and praying for a good nights sleep.

Sunday Night Thoughts

It's been a while since I last posted but a LOT has happened.  About three months ago some wonderful people gave us a week at a condo in Hawaii IF we could get there.  I was determined to make it happen and have some down-time just Gena and I.  I booked the ticket (got a great price) and a week before leaving I received an email that my airline (ATA) had filed bankruptcy and no flights were happening.  Tickets had about tripled by that time, but I was able to find a pair for our exact days for only $40 more!  I don't know what you feel about that, but I FEEL that God wanted us on that trip.  It was wonderful, relaxing, a new memory and experience for Gena and I, and I vowed not to blog while there.  Mission accomplished!

OK, on to this last Sunday.  WOW!  What a weekend.  God was so good and it was just one of those weekends you sit back and shake your head at how awesome God really is.

• 15 baptisms!  You know we're learning how to celebrate when people are clapping, whistling, cheering, high fiving!, and blowing airhorns after each baptism.  That's what it's supposed to be…a Celebration!

• Thanks to Jason for creating some innovative baptism shirts for me.  One of the issues with the baptism is that the mic pack can't get wet.  We've tried all kinds of things…wrapping them in ziploc baggies and pinning them to shirts, trying to create a "sling" to hold them across my back.  It's been a challenge.  But Jason sewed "mic-sized" pockets onto the backs of 2 t-shirts with a velcro closure, so I put the mic on, slip it in the pocket and VOILA', we're in business.  Thanks Jason!

• After the 2nd service I changed right into a suit and drove up to University of the Pacific in Stockton to do a wedding at the Morris Chapel.  It is absolutely beautiful, and it's also where they filmed a couple of scenes in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."  So that was pretty cool to stand right where "Indy" stood. Congratulations to Adam and Brittni!

• Sunday night was "ELEVATE."  A community worship service that we worked on with Monte Vista Chapel.  This was powerful.  There were about 500 people who filled the Turlock Community Auditorium and I don't think there's been anything like this in Turlock, EVER.  Eli, Mark, and all the musicians, vocalists, and techs were incredible as they led us in worship.  This was top notch stuff, and people were celebrating God, lifting hands, and raising the roof for OUR GREAT GOD.    I love having the guys from Teen Challenge come and worship with us.  They just worship and celebrate and they don't care what anyone thinks.  We're going to be doing another one of these later this year, so keep an eye out for news of ELEVATE.

• Went out after Elevate with the family to the Frozen Cow (it's over on Crowell Rd. by the University).  Good stuff.  Go check it out.

The best…

We had a great Lead Team meeting today.  I took our Pastors out to breakfast at Panera (fast becoming my favorite place…period), and we sat for an hour and a half talking about ministry, vision, the future, and leadership.

I walked away so humbled and honored to serve with these guys.  They have huge hearts, a passion to see people transformed by the power of God, and they're willing to do ANYTHING to make it happen.  You can't buy that (you can't even RENT it!).

They are THE BEST!

By the way, this is no April Fool joke!

Sunday Night Thoughts

• I was a little toasted from the Saturday night hockey game, but once the music started this morning, all the tiredness just washed away.

• I LOVE the feel and passion in our church right now.  There is this excitement, and openness, and anticipation for what God is doing.

• Eli and the team didn't get to practice this week because so many people were gone with kids being out of school, but you never would have known it.  You guys were awesome today!  I especially loved "Not to Us."

• During the worship set I watched Jeff and Dawn Vercelli playing, and I was so proud to be able to serve with them.  Jeff plays keys and Dawn plays bass almost every week.  They bring their kids to practices on Thursday nights, and come early on Sundays to serve and play with our team.  I am always amazed at people so willing to give and serve so selflessly.  Thank you Jeff and Dawn for letting God use you to bring all of us closer to Him!

• We had 17 people today accept Christ in our services!  17 people who made a decision that will change everything.  God continues to blow me away week after week.  I went back through our records and was floored to discover that since January 1 of this year, 143 people have accepted Christ.  That's in just 3 months.  We've only begun to experience what God has in store for us.  KEEP PRAYING HARD!

• Eric and I played some tennis tonight with another dad and his son, and I'm proud to announce that the Larson Boys were victorious!  It was good to be out on a beautiful night and have fun in the fresh air.

• Time for bed.  It's been a great day, but I'm ready for some rest.

Easter Pictures

I brought along my little digital camera with me this past weekend.  I just wanted to get some shots of our great volunteers who gave and served so much.  I also took a few shots of people being prayed for, and people who came to celebrate.

You can see the pictures here.