Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Officially it was last week (July 28); however, this SatPM we are celebrating our first birthday @ Warehouse 727!! I cannot believe it has been a year! It's been a year of healing, adventure, faith, personal growth, learning, admiring, missing friends who passed, celebrating new life, witnessing God change lives, leaving the past behind, dreaming new dreams, enjoying new friends, deepening established relationships, & leaning on the LORD for everthing!
This Saturday night (Aug. 9) we will look back, look around, & look forward - all the while, recognizing God's gracious acts of kindness & appreciating all He has done! If you're a friend of Warehouse or a part of the family, come & enjoy the celebration with us!
Grace & Peace, Jeff
Friday, July 25, 2008
This morning I was meeting with a friend who is planting a new church in Seminole. We were outside Starbucks enjoying a cup when we heard a mother yell, "If you get off the sidewalk, I'm going to pop your behind!" Of course the little boy did & mom grabbed his arm & popped him on the rear. I know mom was attempting to teach her son about the danger of cars but something else caught my attention. More than anything else, the driving force in mom was frustration!
It seemed pretty obvious that there must be a number of other frustrating circumstances or worries that had captured mom's attention. As a parent, I knew exactly what she was feeling; however, it was far removed from the words of Jesus in John 14:1 & 27 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and also trust in me. I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart."
We all know frustration is a part of lfe; however, the peace of God should play an even greater part in the life of the Christ-Follower. I prayed a quick prayer for the young mom & her son... May she experience the peace that only Christ can offer us.
Have you had the opportunity to experience & express the peace of Christ today?
Grace & Peace, Jeff
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Today we had 60 people from church go to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. It was great to just hang out with some of the WH727 Family. Everyone had a good time. We won the "Best Sign Section" award & the group made it on the telecast! Special thanks to Tim for organizing this & to Greg for the signs and the hats he bought for the children!
Mark it on the calendar - BEACH BAPTISM at Ft. Desoto, Sunday August 10th!
Grace & Peace, Jeff
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Have you ever been around someone who was negative? Did your attitude change while you were around them? Did you feel like your joy was totally sucked away? It doesn't take long for our mind to begin having negative thoughts - critical, cynical, & pitiful! That's a long way from what God wants from us. Philippians 2:5 says that our attitude should be the same as Jesus'!!
What can we do to get our attitude back on track? This Saturday we're beginning a new teaching series titled "It's All In Your Mind" - in this week's message I'll share 3 things I chose to do to protect my heart from being negative - Attitude Check! We're going to have some fun over the next 4 weeks as we explore the issue of spiritual warfare, how it affects our attitude, & what we can do to have our heart realigned with the heart of Christ.
It has been a great year @ Warehouse 727! I am honored to be one of your pastors!
Grace & Peace, Jeff
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Linda is my favorite waitress at a restaurant that Charlene & I often go to. She's been attending Warehouse 727 about 3 months. She's already brought a handful of friends with her. I love to see her face, especially when she has a new friend with her. She is smiling ear to ear. She doesn't have to say a word to me & we are communicating to each other. She is thinking, "I got another friend to come with me!"
For the last year Christina has been praying for a friend & inviting her to come to church. Her friend finally came with her this week! I got to pray with her after the service...
God wants to use YOU in the process of changing someone's life, just as He used someone else in the process of changing your life!
Do you have any stories to share? What do you think are some important things to remember as we allow the Lord to use us to influence others? I immediately think of 3 words: REAL, RELATIONAL, & RELEVANT.
Until next Saturday, "The Church has left the building!" Jeff
Lord, Make Us Offensive – One Prayer, week #3
Randy Smith, Discovery Church, NJ
We have the Power, the People, & the Promises, so let’s make a difference!
Matthew 16:13-18
Jesus took his disciples on a field trip to Caesarea Philippi - this place is no monastery! Caesarea Philippi is a very sensually driven city in a very sexually driven culture! Jesus' disciples were looking at all types of vulgar & offensive behavior.
Jesus tells His 12 followers that His Church will be established to influence & change the very culture & people they are watching right now!
If we are to make a difference in the world…
1) We need to show God’s Power
Romans 8:11; 6:14; 8:31; 8:39; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:20
How do we experience God’s power in our lives?
1. Spend time with God
Practice “10/10/10” = each day spend 10 minutes reading Scripture, 10 minutes praying, & another 10 minutes (with no distractions!) thinking about the Scripture & listening to the Lord.
Hebrews 13:5 God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
2.Spend time serving God
Scripture tells us that God has given us His divine power & presence. To not use the power we have is similar to the difference between a battleship & a toy boat. A battleship might as well be a toy boat if it chooses to not use the firing power that it has!
3. Spend time with God’s people
2) We need to be supported by God’s People
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
I am not to walk alone with God. God created us to walk with others; we need the church!
3) We need to personally stand on God’s Promises
Our culture values diversity & so does Jesus! However, we must not confuse our acceptance of all people (diversity) with the belief that we must accept all beliefs! Our culture may promote the belief there is no such thing as absolute truth; however, Scripture teaches us differently. We must stand for truth even if we offend others.
We can be “offensive” in one of two ways: 1. Being “odd for God” or 2. Speaking the truth in love.
The 2nd way is the manner we should embrace!
Matthew 16:25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Who in your life are you to influence for Christ? You already have God’s power; make sure to use it!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Last SatPM's message was from Mark Batterson - National Community Church in DC. His message was titled, "Lord, Make Us Dreamers."
God wants to give dreams, or pictures of His preferred future for our lives. These are given to show us that we do not have to stay content with where we are (currently) & we should pursue the God opportunities!
We want to hear - what dream(s) has the LORD given you?
Monday, June 09, 2008
Last Saturday Night, in our first week of One Prayer, we were taught by Rick Bezet.
Lord, Free us from Shame
One of the biggest hurdles that keeps so many of us from experiencing the totality of the Christian faith is shame. Shame is a spiritual disease that prevents us from being spiritually healthy (having joy, peace, confidence about the future, etc.) & keeps us stuck in bad habits, bad attitudes, & bad expectations. In short, shame sucks... the life out of your soul.
Share your thoughts on shame...
What do you think are the biggest sources/reasons of shame?
How should the Church respond & what can the Church do to help those who struggle with shame?
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Make Us Free from Shame – One Prayer Week 1
Pastor Rick Bezet – New Life Church, Little Rock, AR
June 7, 2008
Sin & the shame from sin create a big space between God & I.
Romans 8:37-39
Romans 7:15-25
Wretched = total exhaustion
If I feel shame after I have embraced Christ, it is illegally attached to me.
In the beginning, before sin entered our world, there was no shame.
Genesis 3:7-8
After sin, the shame caused Adam & Eve to hide from God.
Shame does the same thing to us. In the times that we should run to God, shame causes us to hide from Him.
Shame will be the real deal in my life when:
1)I have regret from a past sin or secret
Acts 7:54-58 – Saul / Paul oversaw the killing of Steven & many other Christ-Followers.
Paul should be on the top of the list when it comes to feeling shame; yet, he fully understood the reality & depth of God’s forgiveness. He is the person who wrote Romans 8!
2)If I allow shame to be attached to who I am
Truth says you have made a mess. Shame says you are a mess.
Truth says you have failed. Shame says you are a failure.
3)If I don’t allow God’s forgiveness to cover my sin
To be close to God you have to allow Him to forgive you.
If you do not allow Him to forgive you, you are hopelessly stuck where you are.
Let’s say you want to change this…
Shame will leave me when:
1)I must honest with myself & with God
Psalm 51
Psalm 32:1-5
2)I know who I am (the new me) once Christ comes into my life
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Do you want to stay stuck where you are?
Will you allow God to forgive you, taking care of your sin & shame?
You must allow God to take away your sin & shame. You must allow Him to take it away from you!
In prayer, simply tell Jesus that you are tired of staying where you are, stuck to shame. Tell Him that you refuse to continue to carry this around any longer & you are allowing His forgiveness to remove it.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Forgive me for not posting anything in a couple of weeks. A lot has gone on & I'll eventually post on some of those events. However, here's what is happening now @ WH727... One Prayer!
I am so excited - this weekend we are joining over 1000 churches, considering what is the "one prayer" we should be praying for the global Church!
Over the next few weeks, we will be taught from 4 different pastors through specially made video messages. We will conclude this teaching series with me teaching what I sense is the greatest issue Warehouse 727 should be praying for our specific church family.
The message for June 6 will be from Rick Bezet from New Life Church in His message is titled, “Lord, Free Us from Shame.” It is excellant - a very appropriate message to kick off this series!!
For more info check out the website of One Prayer.
My love to the Warehouse Family!! I'll see you tonight at our volunteer banquet!
Grace & Peace, Jeff