- Thank you to all the volunteers who served to make this the best Easter Service @ LifeSpring ever. The service was AWESOME. A great time of worship, teaching, & meeting new people. WOW!
- 2 people responded by trading in their “old life” for a “new life” offered by Jesus. I look forward to speaking with them personally this week.
- 10 people expressed interest in joining one of our LifeGroups, and 6 others asked to help serve on other volunteer teams.
- We celebrated Jake Palmers 10th birthday by the congregation singing “Happy Birthday” and just celebrating his life. I KNOW this was one of the answers to the WWJD question (What Would Jesus Do?)
- I was so glad to see so many “LifeSpring” High School & College Students bring their families with them to church. It was good to meet these parents and see the joy on their faces as they worshiped with their children.
- Our Worship team, Production Team, band, greeters, & hospitality teams all brought their “A game” on Easter. I have got to “step it up” as their pastor… I love the challenge.
- After declining several offers for Easter lunch, my family – all 5 of us – went out to lunch together for our own “Family Time”, and it was GREAT! I have the most fantastic children. They’re so witty and loving. They are/have grown into some wonderful adults. I look forward to seeing the impact they are making on the Kingdom of God.
- God had blessed me with a passionate and diverse group of volunteers and staff that are excited about loving and serving others as Jesus did… Thank you God!
April 6, 2010
Monday morning "reflections"
November 24, 2009
Mark 4: 1-20
My notes
Summary of 1st soil THE PATH…
Some people are like soil that has been trampled down by life and people so that they are not RECEPTIVE to the word… because of this, when the word is given to them, sewn into them, it doesn’t sink in…and is easily taken away by our enemy (Satan)
End results…no fruit…soil didn’t do it’s intended purpose…. to nurture the seed and allow it to transform into a plant … that with the continuing nurturing of the soil, will produce a harvest of fruit.
How do we help Break up or loosen the packed down soil?
Through New Relationships (caring) – Not a lot of training needed to do this, nor is there a lot of work required. Just need to care about others and give a little time. It’s just like taking the shovel and turning over the soil, loosing it up, one shovel full at a time.
Summary of 2nd soil ROCKY PLACES…
Some people are like soil that has rocks under its surface. The seed is initially received, and the soil above the rocky place begins to nurture the seed so that it transforms into plant. However, before it can bear fruit, the scorching heat of trouble and persecution drains all the life from the plant, because it needs deep roots to survive the withering environment above the surface.
End results…no fruit…soil didn’t do it’s intended purpose…to nurture the seed and allow it to transform into a plant … that with the continuing nurturing of the soil, will withstand troubles and persecutions…and will produce a harvest of fruit
How do we help to remove the rocks from under our soil?
Through Mature Relationships (accountability). This takes a little more time and effort. It is being close enough with someone else that you can hold them accountable when the “rocks” show up. It means getting your hands dirty and helping the other people remove the rocks under the surface.
Some people are like soil that is growing both thorns and the farmer’s seed. The soils is actually nurturing both plants, and because of the nature of the thorns, they are quick growing and begin to compete for the same space that is needed for the farmers plant to grow, ultimately choking it out before it can bear fruit…
End results…no fruit…soil didn’t do it’s intended purpose….to nurture the seed of the farmers and allow it to transform into a plant … that with the continuing nurturing of the soil, will produce a harvest of fruit
How do we protect against the thorns?
Through Discipleing Relationships (learning & application). This is the most difficult, and requires the most training and guidance to be able to help. This is also the most dangerous because of the nature of the thorn.
Soil did it’s intended purpose….it nurture the seed and allow it to transform into a plant and continued nurturing of the seed and plant and allowed for large crop….
This is what we are striving for in our own lives and should be striving to help others achieve as well.
November 19, 2009
Mark Chapter3 notes
Mark Chapter 3 notes:
- Vs. 5…Jesus gets angry at those religious leaders (or whoever he was asking the question to in vs. 4) for remaining silent. Jesus distressed at their “stubborn hearts”…what were they being stubborn about? It is almost as if Jesus is saying that, Hey…which is lawful on the Sabbath, to do good, or to do evil…to save life or to kill?... you know, doing nothing, when you have the ability to do good….is the same as doing evil… I would say that Jesus doesn’t like complacency…
- Jesus actions were causing him to become more popular with those who need healing …a change. People were coming to him now
- Vs. 21 states that Jesus family though he was crazy for doing what he was doing… Doing good in this world (rather than evil) makes you look like your crazy….at least in the worlds eyes…
- A lot of people following him…but Jesus only chose a few to be apostles….to be sent out and preach and have authority to drive out demons
- Doing Jesus Will (Vs. 34-35) makes us a part of his family
November 18, 2009
15 minutes of Mark 2
Ok, Here is some thoughts on Mark Chapter 2
- Vs. 6 says “now some teachers of the law were sitting there, …”
Yet, Vs. 2 tell us that there was basically standing room only inside and outside because of the Jesus was preaching the word to them…
I guess these teachers of the law had some power or prestige to get to the sitting area of this meeting
- Vs. 10 tells us the reason behind why the paralytic was healed… “that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”
- Vs. 17 tells another reason that Jesus came … “not to call the righteous, but sinners”.
- I get the illustration about the “unshrunk” patch on a hole in a shrunken cloth…but I had to look it up to find out about the wine skins… reply back to this post and I will send you what I found out…petty cool stuff… has to do with the fermentation process.
- Vs.28…Jesus says he is Lord even of the Sabbath.
15 minutes of Mark 2
Ok, Here is some thoughts on Mark Chapter 2
- Vs. 6 says “now some teachers of the law were sitting there, …”
Yet, Vs. 2 tell us that there was basically standing room only inside and outside because of the Jesus was preaching the word to them…
I guess these teachers of the law had some power or prestige to get to the sitting area of this meeting
- Vs. 10 tells us the reason behind why the paralytic was healed… “that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”
- Vs. 17 tells another reason that Jesus came … “not to call the righteous, but sinners”.
- I get the illustration about the “unshrunk” patch on a hole in a shrunken cloth…but I had to look it up to find out about the wine skins… reply back to this post and I will send you what I found out…petty cool stuff… has to do with the fermentation process.
- Vs.28…Jesus says he is Lord even of the Sabbath.
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