New Series: Starts March 7
Spiritual gifts. What exactly are they? Did I get one? Does everyone get one? How are they used and for what are they used? The idea of spiritual gifts are a mystery to the unchristian and young christian. They are a tremendous challenge for the seasoned follower of Christ. Wherever you fall on that scale there is a truth for you about spiritual gifts. Find out who has them and why in our next series beginning March 7th. We will also talk about why they are so valuable and how you can begin discovering how to take yours “Out of the Box” and get maximum use out of it today!
Book List
Well, I am looking for ideas to populate my book list for the remainder of the year. What recommendations do you have and why? Add them in the comments section… your help is appreciated!
Living and Dying
One of my favorite moments of each day is the quiet moment I share with my sons well after they have gone to sleep. In the quiet of night I slip into each of their rooms to make sure they are covered up and warm before I go to bed. Often I stop and think… “holy cow, I have two boys!” Most of the time I whisper prayers on their behalf praying for things like strength to stand against temptations I know they will face. I will pray they have the grace to act as gentleman in their lives as it relates to friends, women, church, family, and business. Many prayers are spent praying against the enemy of God and his efforts to win their hearts and rob them of the joy of knowing and following Jesus. Last night was a little different. I stayed up late to watch a documentary on WWII. It highlighted the sacrifices of so many young Americans to protect what I enjoy today. I heard stories of great personal loss and loved ones who beamed with pride over those they lost during this war. So, last night as I slipped in to pray and care for my boys my thoughts were more like, “I would die for you without hesitation.”
I gotta tell you it was a simple statement that is having profound effects on me today. It is nothing new, but is in this moment all new. I thought of how Christ died for me, and how he has called me to die daily to selfishness and follow Him. This verse from Matthew 16:24 came to mind:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
I was so eager to confess my willing sacrifice for my sons…how willing was I to do the same for Jesus? After all, I believe He has already done this for me. Then I began thinking about the ramifications of daily dying to myself and what that would look like. Not choosing sin over holiness. Obedience rather than rebellion. Devotion instead of fickleness. It really comes down to a commitment. Am I committed to living like I am dying. Dying spiritually to my selfish ways and embracing the way of the cross. The implications go even deeper. If my faith in Christ is immediately impacted, so then would statements of devotion to my family. I confessed in that nightly prayer that I would die for my kids, wife, and family. The wave of conviction that swept over me next was, “then why won’t I live for them?”
We spend so much time thinking about how much we would die for our loved ones that we rarely consider how we will live for them. I felt conviction over certain dietary selfishness that could rob me of healthy days and the potential for longer life. I felt the shouts of anger and impatience screaming back at me and thought about how I can never have those back. I crumbled under the pressure of my own choice for work over family and what they tells my most cherished people. Although I have made major improvements in some of these areas in the last many years I am a work in progress and I am sure this epiphany is pushing me to declutter and refocus on that razor sharp edge God wants me to live on with my family…AND WITH HIM.
My life with Him will only strengthen my healthy habits towards and for my family. Dive in to your relationship with God as you seek to follow Him and deny yourself. Let that relationship change the way you will sacrifice for your family. Conisder right now how you will live to make your family more aware of your willing sacrifice on their behalf…not just in words (they are often too cheap, too easy to speak) but in your actions. Good news… you won’t be alone!
A Boys Imagination
Finding the treasure!
I think fathering boys was everything God built me for…I am not always the best daddy of boys, but I am a work in progress. Some of the things I love about my boys are the moments of adrenaline, the sense of urgency, the need for adventure, and the list goes on. I have tried to feed many of those needs in my little men. One of the ways I have been working with Brady is through story. I have concocted an 8 day story this last week and a half that has ended with major adventure for his little 5 year old mind. So much so…he couldn’t sleep the night before the big event. What did I do?
Simple. I made up an ongoing story that each night ended with…to be continued. I didn’t have to do too much creative digging…mostly I just talked about what I loved as a kid with him. The story involved little boys taking trips around their neighborhood, and became as elaborate as these same kids meeting up with spies for a treasure hunt. Interwoven into this long tale where truths from God’s word about what a boy must be to be a man.
Our simple map.
We talked of courage, honor, faithfulness, risk, saying thank you, looking for things and not giving up, and so much more. I shared about how you won’t always be perfect but when you aren’t you gotta learn to say your sorry and get better (maybe a little of Tiger Wood’s drama affected me here). All in all it is a precious time and one that I try to protect and keep each night.
As we neared the end of the story and my imaginative capacity… I thought a treasure hunt would be a great end. So we did just that. I copied a simple map from the internet. I used my iPhone to enhance the spy part of the experience. I also used the phone to act as a treasure detector. I hid the treasure while he was looking in another place…so there was no need to go bury something prior to the trip. He was surprised, curiously engaged the whole time, and eager to use his new found treasure to go hang out with daddy. (Doing something with the person who helped you find the treasure was part of the treasures instructions!)
His treasure. We are going to go to lunch and a movie!
So, now Brady and I will go spend a day having some lunch (quality time to talk and hang out) and then catch a movie which has been one of our favorite things to do for a while now. (plus the movie may feed our imagination). And, as you can imagine I am thinking about and dreaming of our next adventure together and the story line for that series.
Stay tuned as I am bound to post an update about that one as well.
Need Your Courageous Words
This will be an exciting week, but I need your courage to help pull it off. As we discuss Speaking Up for Jesus I want to show people real life examples of what I am talking about. Sound like fun? Want to give it a shot? Here is what I need:
Wanted: 3 people to share their story of how God changed their lives.
In 2-3 minutes talk about the following things:
- How or when did you become aware of your need for Jesus?Specifically, how does God make a difference in your life right now?
- Specifically, at what point did you become willing to admit you were a sinner? What got you to that place?
- What do you remember experiencing or feeling when you made that decision?
- Where did you make the choice to follow Jesus?
- How has that decision changed your life?
If you could take a minute to write out those answers (briefly please) and then share them on Sunday that would be great. Also, I am open to doing your part on video if you are game.
Speak Up
New Member Class: February 21st
Every other month we meet to outline why we have a membership process at Pin Oaks. Our goal is to help you clearly see the investment the Bible asks every Christian to make to a local church. It is a whole life investment that gives God the reigns and then He sets you free about His eternal work. It is about cooperation, accountability, and encouragement. Ultimately it is for the sake of Christ in our community of Anna, Texas. We invite you to join us this February 21st at 6:00 PM for our next New Member Class and see what making Pin Oaks your church home means to you, to God, to Pin Oaks, and this community.
New Member Class
February 21st @ 6 PM
POCF Worship Center
Snacks and Childcare by RSVP
Missions Night: February 15th
In an effort to inform and ready our church for missions involvement in Anna and throughout the globe, our own Dr. Chuck Vance, will be hosting a special missions awareness night on February 15th at 7:00PM.
The evening will highlight the many ways we are reaching our community, our nation, and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will look at missions in Honduras, China, Africa, Louisiana, and right here in Anna, Texas. We will be doing anything from building homes, giving money, preaching in churches, prayer walks, caring for orphans, clothing needy children, serving the needs of the poor in our community, and much more. There are places to get plugged in right now and start serving for Jesus sake. This night will be very informative and help you gain insight into how we plan on attacking 2010 for the sake of the Gospel.
February 15th @ 7 PM
Pin Oaks Worship Center
120 W 4th Street
Anna, Texas 75409
Dessert will be served.
Speak Up Series Begins February 7th
This will be a great series that challenges us all to speak courageously about the thing that means the very most in this life. Sharing about Jesus is the hardest, and yet, most rewarding thing we may ever do. With so many ways of telling people about Jesus, chances are you have been made to feel guilty for not using one persons “way.” Come and learn how you can be free from that guilt and still speak up about Christ without fear!
this series begins February 7th and you can hear it at 9:00AM or 10:30 AM every Sunday. Make plans to join us today.
