Skip to main content

powerful, life-changing truth


The past few days I have been on the opposite side of the United States.  Been visiting California and the LA Dream Center as our friend Keith Fulcher graduated this weekend from their Discipleship program.  It has been incredible, and I am super proud of Keith.  He will be returning to Virginia and begin helping our church once again.  Pray for him and his family!

Along the way this trip has allowed me to spend some time with people who are pouring into my life.  My brother Steve is the greatest and a big encouragement to my life.  Also got to meet with some of the leaders at the Dream Center, specifically Danny Ovando and Michael Conner, who have given me insight and helped me think outside the box.  Even got to meet with some guys planting a church in Huntington Beach, California and with another friend, Dave Ingland, who has been a blessing to my life. 

I got a Facebook message from my friend Stan Lake who said I was on an “awesome church tour”, and what he meant was we have been able to visit some neat churches this weekend.  So, I’d like to share powerful, life-changing truth from the messages we heard:

Our first visit was to Saddleback church where Rick Warren is pastor.  He talked about building habits of happiness and great relationships.  Rick and his wife Kaye were interviewed on CNN last week concerned the suicide death of their son, and it was a powerful interview.  Here are a few points from his sermon:

·      Quickest way to change a bad relationship to a good one is to start praying for them.
·      Happiness based on happenings is temporary.
·      Our lives begin to crumble when we stop being grateful.
·      Believe in people and build them up.  Give people vision and share expectations as people will often rise to what we expect of them.  Be patient with the progress people are making.

Sunday morning was Keith’s graduation, and we attended the two morning worship services at the Dream Center, the church is called Angelus Temple, where Matthew Barnett preached a message about defeating worn out thinking.  Here are some quotes from his message:

·      To keep from being drained -- Run from any lure that baits you back into strife.
·      We are part of the body of Christ. Agree on what matters. Run from things that divide us.
·      When I say no to things on outside, I'm saying yes to spiritual things on inside. Don't be man pleaser. Please God.
·      Run from the things that drain you so you can run to the things that sustain you. Run to Jesus.
·      I wonder how many assignments we have missed by filling our life with clutter. Find solitude with God to fill your life.

The last church we got to visit was Mosaic where Hank Fortener shared a message about being a leader and serving.  Here are some notes from what he shared:

·      We are in desperate need of leaders with character, leaders that we can trust.
·      If you search for position, authority only lasts as long as your position lasts.  But if you serve with humility, your authority & impact will go past how long your position lasts.
·      Be the people who cheer for the people who chose to sit in the seat of humility.
·      Realign Jesus as the leader of your live.  Begin there and let your life, the way you live, fall into line with that choice.

That is only a few quotes from each of the churches we visited.  Each message was awesome and hit home with me.  I challenge you to lean in and listen to the people who share life with you.  Find time with God and allow Him to work in your life each day!

Then you will find powerful, life-changing truth along your journey.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...