I was just reading an article titled, "The Devil Goes to Church," from the magazine Pray. The very first sentence reads, "I believe the devil spends more time in church than many Christians do." He knows who we are, he refuses to let conversion happen easily, he sows seeds of hatred and bitterness in us, and he makes things go wrong. I think that if he is going to show up, we ought to count him in the attendance, but since he isn't a tither...All kidding aside, that scoundrel shows up and tries to ruin things. Recently he has been attacking the babies at The Journey - the baby Christians that is - and I am dealing alot with these attacks. It is time to turn up the prayer pressure!
This Sunday was a good Sunday. We were lower in attendance (55) than we have been, as we were missing many people. But it was a good service, especially with Julie's husband Floyd raising his hand for salvation!!! She just got saved this past week, and now he has made a commitment to God this week. Hallelujah!
So far as visitors, we had James Smith (Candace's husband) with us as he is on leave from the army (?), and he is such a great guy. I thank God for men and women like him who have given up so much to defend our country. Also back with us was Betty Smith (?), who is looking for a church here in Rochester, having come from a Congregational background. We will see what that produces. Also, Floyd's son, Floyd Jr. was visiting with us for the first time.
It was a good service as I continued preaching on Irresistible Evangelism: Life and Death on the Fairway. I talked about Jesus being a Risk-taker and a Friend-maker, using John 4, and that we should follow His example in leading others to Christ. During the sermon, I also played and sang (for only the 2nd time) the song Thank You by Ray Boltz, talking about the reward making the risk worth taking in getting to know and love others.
One other note: it has been an interesting week and a half as I have gotten more involved with Nick (Donna's son) and Carrie. She was saved in our service last week, and I was able to lead him to the Lord on Friday night - but the situation between them still is no where near good, and I am just praying for a miracle in their relationship. A miracle has happened in their hearts, and now we entrust the rest to God.
Overall, God continues to work even with satan present, and lives are being changed every week here. To God be the glory!
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Monday, October 18, 2004
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Um...wow. Really - wow. Maybe I am impressed too easily (although I don't think so), but I am so amazed at what God does here continually. Let's just start at the top.
To begin, we had 66!!! Our highest total ever, and that was missing several people. We could have very well reached 80!!! Someday soon - I think before the year is out. And I have to again expand our chairs - the auditorium was almost full yesterday before I dismissed the kids. What a great problem to have! :)
Now for more - a lady Brenda brought on Wednesday came again today with her husband (Julie & Floyd), and Julie got saved! Praise God. He just doesn't stop working. I had a strong gospel message as I preached on Irresistible Evangelism - Hitting One of the Tee, talking about how we can begin to impact someone and see them come to Christ. Krista said I did well, so I will take that to mean that God was working, because I was surrendered to Him.
But it gets better. Donna has been praying for her son, Nick, and daughter-in-law Carrie, who are really struggling right now and need the Lord. Carrie and Nick both came to church yesterday (!), and Carrie also got saved as well. I have been praying for her and Nick all day yesterday and today, praying that the Lord will continue to work in their lives. But Donna's prayers have been working (which is great to see as she has struggled with prayer).
Also, Brian (Brenda's husband) came yesterday, and he has been having some personal struggles. I was so glad to see him there, and I pray that we can encourage and strengthen him. Sean & Shay Bennett were with us again, as was Christie their friend, and they want to know more about membership.
I was just telling Elizabeth, the last two months we have seen some good and sustained growth, in attendance, finances, spiritual growth, and community. We have also seen many people come to Christ, and God is beginning to make us into the community that I dreamed we could become. I know struggles are ahead, and satanic opposition is there (I believe right now there is an undercurrent of some activity that will raise its head soon), but nonetheless, God gets the glory because He brings the increase.
Right now, we are riding high in New Hampshire, watching the Lord work. May His kingdom and power and glory continue to abound and grow in our little community of believers!
To begin, we had 66!!! Our highest total ever, and that was missing several people. We could have very well reached 80!!! Someday soon - I think before the year is out. And I have to again expand our chairs - the auditorium was almost full yesterday before I dismissed the kids. What a great problem to have! :)
Now for more - a lady Brenda brought on Wednesday came again today with her husband (Julie & Floyd), and Julie got saved! Praise God. He just doesn't stop working. I had a strong gospel message as I preached on Irresistible Evangelism - Hitting One of the Tee, talking about how we can begin to impact someone and see them come to Christ. Krista said I did well, so I will take that to mean that God was working, because I was surrendered to Him.
But it gets better. Donna has been praying for her son, Nick, and daughter-in-law Carrie, who are really struggling right now and need the Lord. Carrie and Nick both came to church yesterday (!), and Carrie also got saved as well. I have been praying for her and Nick all day yesterday and today, praying that the Lord will continue to work in their lives. But Donna's prayers have been working (which is great to see as she has struggled with prayer).
Also, Brian (Brenda's husband) came yesterday, and he has been having some personal struggles. I was so glad to see him there, and I pray that we can encourage and strengthen him. Sean & Shay Bennett were with us again, as was Christie their friend, and they want to know more about membership.
I was just telling Elizabeth, the last two months we have seen some good and sustained growth, in attendance, finances, spiritual growth, and community. We have also seen many people come to Christ, and God is beginning to make us into the community that I dreamed we could become. I know struggles are ahead, and satanic opposition is there (I believe right now there is an undercurrent of some activity that will raise its head soon), but nonetheless, God gets the glory because He brings the increase.
Right now, we are riding high in New Hampshire, watching the Lord work. May His kingdom and power and glory continue to abound and grow in our little community of believers!
Monday, October 11, 2004
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Whew! What an exhausting but exciting day~! From our service to the orchard to the bonfire, it was a great day!
To begin, let's look at the service. Because we no longer have Greg's sound equipment, we had to piece our old stuff together, but the sound went surprisingly well. Today, the praise team was minus Audrey, who was absent because she was attending her grandmother's wake. But the worship went very well. People were singing and were into it.
The sermon went alright as I did my second lesson in Irresistible Evangelism: Playing the Master's Course. Flo and Donna thought the golf analogies were a little too much (it's all good), so I will play that down a little next week. No one was saved, but at the end, I handed out tees (the starting point to "get in the game [of evangelism]) and prayed with people who came to the altar over specific people they knew who needed Christ ("You're not in the game if you don't have a name!"). It went well.
Also, Corey & Jill Hampton and Sean and Shea were with us again. Corey and Jill are seriously considering joining, and Sean and Shea will definitely be back again, according to Shea as they left. I am excited to see God provide more growth.
At the end of the service, the church gave us two gifts for Krista's and my one year anniversary. They gave us a memory book with comments and notes from many different church members, and they gave us a $175 gift certificate to be used to get away for a night or two. It was unexpected but so sweet. God has so blessed us with a great congregation.
One thing about the service - sickness played into our attendance today (we had 54), as Margarite, Heather, Ralph, and little Amanda Westsrate were all sick and not with us (neither was Amanda's mom, Amber). We specifically prayed for them during our prayer time.
After church, about 35 of us went down to the Applecrest Orchard down in Hampton Falls. It was a nice orchard (LOTS of people), and it was nice day to hang outside. One "funny" note: we did see the host of America's Funniest Videos, Tom Bergeron. All I can say is that TV does ALOT to make him look younger than he is.
After the orchard, we all went up to Kyle and Amber's house in Milton for a cookout and bonfire ~ it was great! They have a beautiful home, and lots of room in their yard, so many of us played two-hand touch football. My team won (7-0) on a touchdown pass from Chuck to me (please don't ask me how far I had to run to catch the ball - let's just say that when I caught the ball, I saw a sign for the state line of Maine close by!).
After all was said and done, it was a great day with great people who are blessed because of a great God!
To begin, let's look at the service. Because we no longer have Greg's sound equipment, we had to piece our old stuff together, but the sound went surprisingly well. Today, the praise team was minus Audrey, who was absent because she was attending her grandmother's wake. But the worship went very well. People were singing and were into it.
The sermon went alright as I did my second lesson in Irresistible Evangelism: Playing the Master's Course. Flo and Donna thought the golf analogies were a little too much (it's all good), so I will play that down a little next week. No one was saved, but at the end, I handed out tees (the starting point to "get in the game [of evangelism]) and prayed with people who came to the altar over specific people they knew who needed Christ ("You're not in the game if you don't have a name!"). It went well.
Also, Corey & Jill Hampton and Sean and Shea were with us again. Corey and Jill are seriously considering joining, and Sean and Shea will definitely be back again, according to Shea as they left. I am excited to see God provide more growth.
At the end of the service, the church gave us two gifts for Krista's and my one year anniversary. They gave us a memory book with comments and notes from many different church members, and they gave us a $175 gift certificate to be used to get away for a night or two. It was unexpected but so sweet. God has so blessed us with a great congregation.
One thing about the service - sickness played into our attendance today (we had 54), as Margarite, Heather, Ralph, and little Amanda Westsrate were all sick and not with us (neither was Amanda's mom, Amber). We specifically prayed for them during our prayer time.
After church, about 35 of us went down to the Applecrest Orchard down in Hampton Falls. It was a nice orchard (LOTS of people), and it was nice day to hang outside. One "funny" note: we did see the host of America's Funniest Videos, Tom Bergeron. All I can say is that TV does ALOT to make him look younger than he is.
After the orchard, we all went up to Kyle and Amber's house in Milton for a cookout and bonfire ~ it was great! They have a beautiful home, and lots of room in their yard, so many of us played two-hand touch football. My team won (7-0) on a touchdown pass from Chuck to me (please don't ask me how far I had to run to catch the ball - let's just say that when I caught the ball, I saw a sign for the state line of Maine close by!).
After all was said and done, it was a great day with great people who are blessed because of a great God!
Monday, October 04, 2004
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Another great day - another great attendance and offering - another great fellowship! Let me start out with the church service itself...
To begin, we were nervous with the music going in because Greg and Gail were not with us (and will no longer be with us - they are looking for a new church atmosphere and we wish them well). But the music went well, and I began a new series called, "Irresistible Evangelism: Playing the Master's Course." Using the example of golf, I will be spending this whole month talking about evangelism, and telling people about Jesus Christ. I am hoping that we will become a church that actively shares our faith with others.
We had 60 in service(!), and Candace Smith came forward to join us. Lee and Joann Thompson also are going to become members, and we are excited about all of them! Sue Avery joined us again today, and I hope that she will continue to come back. She is such a blessing, and a part of our family. I hope she will make us a priority.
This afternoon, we held a cook out and watched the Pats play Bufallo (Pats won!), and while the men watched football, the ladies did a craft and the kids played outside. It was a great day of worship and instruction and fellowship!
To begin, we were nervous with the music going in because Greg and Gail were not with us (and will no longer be with us - they are looking for a new church atmosphere and we wish them well). But the music went well, and I began a new series called, "Irresistible Evangelism: Playing the Master's Course." Using the example of golf, I will be spending this whole month talking about evangelism, and telling people about Jesus Christ. I am hoping that we will become a church that actively shares our faith with others.
We had 60 in service(!), and Candace Smith came forward to join us. Lee and Joann Thompson also are going to become members, and we are excited about all of them! Sue Avery joined us again today, and I hope that she will continue to come back. She is such a blessing, and a part of our family. I hope she will make us a priority.
This afternoon, we held a cook out and watched the Pats play Bufallo (Pats won!), and while the men watched football, the ladies did a craft and the kids played outside. It was a great day of worship and instruction and fellowship!
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