R&R: Relationship and Release

Listen to Pastor Paul's Sermons Online!

Monday, August 30, 2010

check this out

Family Matters is a non-profit ministry whose goal is to see families transformed by God's grace into instruments of restoration and reformation by equipping families for every age and stage of life. We view families as the foundation of a successful society. Today, perhaps more than ever before, the family is being fragmented and undermined by many counter-forces such as busyness, relentless change, a lack of clear moral values, an attitude of indifference, and children being forced to grow up too fast. When families are unhealthy, our communities suffer many of the consequences in areas relating to economic productivity, education, law enforcement, health care needs, abuse, and violence.

Family Matters offers hope to today’s family by...

  • Educating family members about the strategic role they play in their homes and communities.
  • Equipping family members with successful relational skills and resources to make better family choices.
  • Encouraging family members to keep their promises and fulfill their commitments to one another.

In addition to offering hope, our ministry philosophy embraces a grace-based approach to relationships, provides a solid grasp of the "big picture", promotes a character-driven strategy for parenting, and shows family members how to leave a legacy that never dies.

Family Matters has created relevant, practical and
well-researched tools to equip families...



Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Martina McBride - Anyway w/lyrics

I don't know when I became a country music fan (I think it's mainly the new stuff w/ Christian themes, not a fan of the old twang) but this song is AMAZING! It's my new theme song! The only way to truly live...LOVE: DO IT ANYWAY!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

missions/adoption bike ride


It's official...your pastor is crazy maybe even psychotic!
I will be riding my bike 410 miles (across the state of Nebraska) raising funds for missions and Holly and I's Rwanda adoption.
Can you help me find sponsors/pledges?

Here's the pledge form:
You are more than welcome to click on the image, print it out and help your pastor collect pledges?! (computer hug)
Every little bit helps...or you may know a business owner in need of a tax write-off?!
You may want to visit http://youth.neag.org/ or http://awaa.org (our adoption agency) for more information...

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

facebook


If you're not already, I invite you to be my friend on facebook!
Seriously, I'm FB CRAZY!
You might think it looney, but I use it as an extension of my ministry... and of course just for FUN!
It makes the world much smaller, and I'm able to keep in contact with friends and family near and far... (such a blessing since moving to NE from OR)

here's a link or click on the facebook box on the left of my blog
GOD BLESS

Monday, August 16, 2010

cultivating community

I'm still reeling from last Sunday Eve's Team night!
We talked about cultivating community within our church and then we truly practiced it...
I was also blessed with some birthday surprises from my amazing church!

Here's some highlights from our discussion:
The apostle Paul said...You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so MAKE EVERY EFFORT to continue together in this way...
Relationships are HARDWORK!
Rick Warren said...If you're tired of fake fellowship and you would like to cultivate real fellowship and a loving community in your church, you'll need to make some tough choices and take some risks...
Cultivating community takes HONESTY!
The tunnel of conflict is the passageway to intimacy in any relationship.
WHEN CONFLICT IS HANDLED CORRECTLY, we grow closer to each other by facing and resolving our differences.
Cultivating community takes HUMILITY!
PRIDE destroys fellowship faster than anything else.
You can develop humility in very practical ways: by admitting your weaknesses, by being patient with others' weaknesses, by being open to correction, and by pointing the spotlight on others!
HUMILITY IS NOT THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF; IT IS THINKING OF YOURSELF LESS!
Cultivating community takes COURTESY!
Courtesy is respecting our differences, being considerate of each other's feelings, and being patient with people who irritate us!
Cultivating community takes CONFIDENTIALITY!
GOD HATES GOSSIP!
Cultivating community takes FREQUENCY!
Relationships take time.
We are to develop the HABIT of meeting together.
Characteristics of BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP: We will share our true feelings (authenticity), encourage each other (mutuality), support each other (sympathy), forgive each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honesty), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesy), not gossip (confidentiality), and make church a priority (frequency)...

PS...
I'm so looking forward to some events that were planned during our brainstorming Sun. Eve!
The Kinnamans are inviting us all out to their ranch on Sunday, September 26 for a night of fun! Hayride at 4pm, Potluck at 6pm...PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!
OH AND...
We are having another missions dinner this Sunday Evening! Sorry about the late notice, It will be a potluck so please bring something yummy to share...

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Someone said...vacation used to be a luxury but today it's NECESSITY

Thank you so much for allowing your pastor some time away...
(and a BIG THANK YOU to those who filled-in while I was away)

Check out some fun picts from our Summer Getaway with family and friends in the Northwest on Holly's Facebook Profile:
and
oops, don't worry he didn't get that wet

Because God has called me to spiritual leadership, I make it a priority to "lead by example"...
So, when was the last time you got away with your family?
I'm continuing the FAMILY MATTERS sermon series tomorrow. I want to "practice what I preach"...
by the way, tommorrow morning we're talking about THE SIMPLE LIFE...