Last night was SO AMAZING!

This pastor was SO BLESSED by the fabulous group of people that showed up for book club last night! The discussion truly was life changing!
Here's some notes from the last few weeks of our first book:

A Dee Dah Day, The practice of Celebration
Chesterton...for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we...
The Bible puts JOY in the nonoptional category! Joylessness is a serious sin!
Strategic Celebration, Begin NOW, Find a "joy mentor", Set aside a day a week (fill it with pleasant things, a dee dah day), Unplug (TV etc.) for a week...
One of the FUNNIEST stories I have ever read in a spiritual formation book begins on pg. 73 of Ortberg's The Life You've Always Wanted (truth is, this book is overflowing with HILARIOUS anecdotes that John suddenly turns inspirational)!

An Unhurried Life, The practice of SLOWING
"You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life!"
Symptoms of Hurry Sickness: Constantly speeding up daily activities, Multiple-Tasking, Clutter, Superficiality, An inability to LOVE, Sunset fatigue...
Practices for the hurry-sick: Slowing (deliberatley choosing to place ourselves in positions where we simply have to wait), The need for solitude, Reviewing the day with God, extended solitude...

Interrupting Heaven, The practice of PRAYER
Check out Revelation 8...All of heaven comes to a standstill in response to the prayers of the saints!
Walter Wink...History belongs to the intercessors - those who believe and pray the future into being...
Prayer Patterns, The Lord's Prayer, a time and a place, simple prayer, spiritual pathways, learning to be fully present, a review of prayer, interceding for others, Prayer as RELATIONSHIP...
Prayer is a learned behavior! No one ever masters prayer!
Tony Campolo's story on pg. 104 will make your splean fall out from laughter and then suddenly teach you PERSISTENCE in prayer!

You don't have to be an avid reader! Just show up on Wednesday evenings and you will be blessed at Pastor Paul's book club!

Go Girls

This fabulous group of girls gets together every Wednesday as part of our midweek ministries!

Judy Deaver is making an eternal difference in the lives of the young ladies of Bayard!

BTW, Happy 21st Birthday Judy!

It's Exciting to live in a city where a new pastor is still Front Page News!

(just click on the image to read the article)

You might live in Nebraska if...

I always like to start my sermons with something funny.
(it lightens the mood so folks can endure the talking head)
A couple Sundays ago I shared some of Jeff Foxworthy's words on Nebraska.
(it was from an email Carie Sinks sent me)

If someone in a home depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Nebraska...
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Nebraska...
THIS IS MY FAVORITE: If you've had a lengthy telephone coversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Nebraska...
If you measure distance in squares of farm land, you live in Nebraska...
If you know several people who have hit a cow more than once, you live in Nebraska...
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in NE...
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in NE...
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in NE...
SO FUNNY!

Keith and Dee Sinks invited Holly, Nathaniel and I to the Farm and Ranch Expo last weekend, where I won a hat in a drawing. Here's a picture of Nathaniel in the hat. He has a thing for hats...which got me thinkin'...
You might live in NEBRASKA if...YOUR ADOPTED SON FROM ETHIOPIA STOLE YOUR FARM AND RANCH EXPO CAP!

It's All About LOVE

How fitting to continue my first sermon series on LOVE right thru Valentines Day!
Actually ya'll are gonna get tired of this preacher talking about LOVE! But, Jesus said it's the main thing...that it summs up ALL of scripture!
Here's a quick overview of the last 2 LOVE sermons:
(Don't miss out on the CELEBRATION, every Sunday 10am)

Matthew 24
3 simple thoughts to help us NOT LET OUR LOVE GROW COLD
1. Let Go of every offense
Unforgiveness, bitterness only hurts you and gets between you and your Savior!
Everyday we have a choice to be easily offended or be quick to forgive...
2. Let Go of every timeline
Jesus is Coming Soon, People Get Ready!
We don't know details, put away your charts, if it's veiled it's veiled for a reason, TRUST HIM
3. Let Go of stuff
store up treasure in heaven, not on earth
Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a uhaul?

Romans 12
1. Humility is a necessary ingredient to love.
Ephesians 4:2...Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love...
1 Peter 4:8...Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins...
2. Fervency is a necessary ingredient to love.
NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL, BUT KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR, SERVING THE LORD!
ZEAL FOR THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP!
(Love, the Holy Spirit and...WIND: John 3:8, John 20:22, Acts 2:2, 2 Peter 1:21...)
3. There is not enough paper in the world to list all the ingrediants to LOVE!
Verse 21 of Romans 12 comes close to a summation...What are you doing EVERYDAY to overcome evil with good?
(feast for the soul)

Minnow Racing...CHURCH IS FUN

TEAM Night

We have set aside Sunday Evenings at 6:30pm for TEAM Night!
Together Everyone Accomplishes More!
We could call it DREAM Night Or VISION-casting Night!
It's not about me; It's about WE! What can we accomplish TOGETHER!?
Everyone is a Minister! Everyone needs a Ministry!
So, the evenings have been beginning in the sactuary with me at the piano for some time of worship...then we've gone to the fellowship hall for some discussion and snacks...Rick Warren has been joining us to talk about some of His purpose-driven ideas (by video of course)...

Here's some thoughts from the life-changing discussion of the first few evenings:
It All Starts With God
Colossians 1:16...For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him...
You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ!
You Are Not an Accident
Isaiah 44:2...I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born...
Nothing in your life is arbitrary!
What Drives Your Life?
Many people are driven by...guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, need for approval...
One key to failure is to try to please everyone!
Knowing your purpose...gives meaning to your life, simplifies your life, focuses your life, motivates your life, prepares you for eternity...
Isaiah 26:3...You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you...
Made to Last Forever
Ecclesiastes 3:11...God has planted eternity in the human heart...
Since I was made to last forever, what is the ONE THING I should stop doing and the ONE THING I should start doing today?

Maybe your reading this blog and you don't know Jesus. Right now, whisper three words that will FOREVER change your existence! I NEED JESUS! He wants to know and love you!

I can't stop laughing

This either reveals my sense of humor or cheesy-ness!
A friend sent me this by email...I can't stop laughing...It's so Funny!
I even put it on my new business cards...not very professional, but I hope people see I aint' no uptight preacha!
My Bible says laughter is a good medicine...I even believe it to be a spiritual discipline...

Installation Service

Pastor Dwight (superintendent of NE AG) blessed us today with a very special installation service...

His sermon was overflowing with inspiration...what stood out to me was his declaration of GRACE! We follow Christ because we GET TO not because we HAVE TO...

The shephard staff was a special gift just before the anointed installation prayer.

What a wonderful reminder for our leadership to practice the principles of the Good Shephard!
The potluck and annual family business meeting topped off an incredibly BLESSED day at Cornerstone Fellowship!

I was SO encouraged by the dreaming, vision-casting that took place this afternoon! The TEAM-SPIRIT of this church is truly amazing! If everyone continues jumping into ministry, using their giftings for God's glory, our positive influence will be far-reaching!

AND, the response to my leadership lesson (Turning Conflict Into Cooperation) really blessed this pastor's heart...ok, I'll stop gooshing now...

Pastor Paul's Book Club

On Wednesdays after the kids activities I've started a book club.

(You don't have to be an avid reader to attend! Just show up, I promise you'lle learn something!)

We're beginning with one of my very favorites: The Life You've Always Wanted, Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People by John Ortberg!

Here's a quick overview of the first 3 chapters already discussed:

We Shall Morph Indeed, The Hope of Transformation

"The Christian gospel insistes that the transormation of the human personality is possible. It begins to happen anytime people become intensely serious about learning from Jesus how to arrange their lives."

Surprised By Change, The Goal of Spiritual Life

John says the great irony of Jesus day was that the "righteous" were more damaged by their righteousness than teh sinners were by sin.

Warning Signs:

1. Am I spiritually "inauthentic"?

(inauthenticity involves a preoccupation with appearing to be spiritual)

2. Am I becoming judgmental or exclusive or proud?

3. Am I becoming more approachable or less?

4. Am I becoming weary of pursuing spiritual growth?

5. Am I measuring my spiritual life in superficial ways?

Training vs. Trying, The Truth about spiritual disciplines

Consider a few things spiritual disciplines are not:

1. Spiritual disciplines are not a barometer of spirituality.

2. Spiritual disciplines are not necessarily unpleasant.

3. Spiritual disciplines are not a way to earn favor with God.

Signs of Wise spiritual training:

*Wise training respects the freedom of the Spirit.

*Wise training respects our unique temperament and gifts.

*Wise training will take into account our season of life.

*Wise training respects the inevitability of troughs and peaks.

*Wise training begins with a clear decision.

WE LOVE KIDS! I'm so thankful for these amazing volunteer leaders! Kids Clubs (rangers, missionettes) Wednesdays 6pm