OK,   Now that we are a blogging community, can we encourage each other to "do" good deeds this week.    There is a comment from Clay Adams about how he took a step to serve someone just because, and it encouraged me, so let's encourage each other.    Add a comment and if you have time send the story to info@livinghopechurch.com .    

Thanks Clay!   Keep serving, keep "doing" acts of kindness, Keep being an example for us!

It matters!

John

Have you ever had a moment where you wish time would stand still?  I had one of those "ah ha" moments yesterday.  What happend in my life, the lives of our staff and the life of a young couple is hard to summarize, but I will try this weekend.  I had another one of those moments this morning.

I am sitting in my office so overwhelmed by how faithful God has been to us and how His mercies are really new every day.  As I am putting the finishing touches on my sermon and as I listen to the choir practice, with a couple hours to go until our weekend services begin, I just want to say a couple things to anyone who reads this blog (I love the blog thing)

1.  Don't miss the service this weekend, if you can at all help it.   I promise, God will do something in your heart, as He has in mine, but you have to show up, and if you can, bring a friend.

2.  Moments matter  When you have a moment where you wish it would stand still, thank God for it.   Remember it and celebrate it.   All too often we are moving so fast from somewhere to somewhere that we forget to see God in the simple things.

Today, one of those moments happened in my Hannah's life (my daughter).  This morning, I walked in my office and she was reading my blog and Romans 8 in her bible, highlighting sections that she liked. I was on my way out to "do church" and I could have blown past the moment because I am busy, but God quieted my heart long enough to tell me to see this little gift He gave me.  I stopped, read with her and hugged her and left, and as I did, Ithought I wouldn't trade this little moment for anything.  I have the joy of speaking to lots of people each weekend, yet in that moment nothing else seemed to matter.    See and seize the little moments that are in front of you.   The gift of "now" is the one gift you will never have again!

See and Seize every moment

John

Ever see Lion King? 

Our family went to see this production at the Keller Auditorium with Dave, Diane and their family last night.  Have you seen the movie?  I think it is was so inspiring and by far the best dramatic production I have ever seen in my life (ya, I'm a regular Siskel and Ebert.... I've seen like maybe four). 

I have never seen the movie, so seeing Scar decieve Mufasa, seeing Mufasa die and and seeing Simba run away from his rightful place as the 'King' and heir to the throne, was a bit frustrating.   Yet so inspiring....Go Simba!

If you saw the movie you know that Simba gets vision, sings a cool song (Hakuna Matata...Don't worry about anything), and eventually wins the position of King, the lion girl of his childhood and respect from all the jungle animals.  My favorite song was, "He Lives in You."                 Shouldn't that be the song of our lives?  Doesn't Jesus live in us?  Isn't that like us to run from what we deserve to what we think?  We believe lies about us, we take the blame and run, run run.   So silly. 

We are daughters and sons of the King of Kings.  We are His!  How cool is that thought?    Never forget HE LIVES IN YOU!   

Read Romans chapter 8.  You are adopted, purchased, set apart and if God is for you , who can be against you?    

We had such a fun time as a family   I just loved hanging out with the people I love the most and who are so supportive of what we do as a church community.   Family, when it works the way God designed it, is so amazing.   

Hey, by the way, Michelle is doing better.  Still has low grade migraines, but is able to function.   THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!   Please keep praying for her.  She is the best.

BY THE WAY 

OK, someone accused me of having long blogs?  What's that about, are there now blog monitors, BFI (Blog Federal Interrogators).  I didn't know, but someone said if they were too long, people wouldn't read them.....   So with that warning, I will sign off....for now!

Hakuna Matata

John

PS    I think Timom and Pumbaa were the best characters.  You have to see this show at the Keller Auditorium.   

I am still in awe of all that God did over this past weekend.   I never get tired of seeing God move in the hearts of people.    I jokingly say, yet am so serious about this...If I didn't work at Living Hope, I would still go here.   Because the people here are so excited to not just learn but to move closer to God, and His will for their life.   

This past weekend was a bit risky, as we think about "blessability" (which is simply moving into a place of listening and responding to God) there are key areas of our faith which have exponential possibility.   One of the key areas is how we understand sex, intimacy and God.    The theme verse for this series has been from Romans 12:2:

²Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

"Then you will know."  If I allow God to change the way I think, I will know what He wants.  I love that.  We can for sure know what God's will is in our lives, and it begins with changing how we think.   I have this tendency to want to change an outcome or a result of my choices, but until I change how I think about anything, I can't ever really have lasting, God honoring change.    Trusting God is hard, changing how I think is even harder, because I have belief patterns that are etched in my mind and from those patterns I end up making choices that sometimes aren't the best.   

If you missed this weekend (or even if you didn't) read 1 Corinthians chapter 6.  Read, and re-read the whole chapter.   It will eventually change how you think.   OK?

This weekend, I will never forget the man who came up after the service and said "thanks for being real"  "Thanks for telling me the truth, and I am going home to fix my family."  As he said "fix my family" two young boys (his two sons) came up, he put his arm around them, they walked out together, and as they were leaving, he turned around and said, "things will never be the same again in our home."

Tell me what has the power to change lives more than God's Word?  Not the government, not the educational system, not even each of us.   God's Word has the capability to change us, but it begins with how I think.  Every week, I still can't believe we get to be part of what God is up to.  I love it!

What will  we change our minds about?

John

PS
Thanks to all of you for listening and to making encouraging comments.  Your words mean alot.

Hey there Friends,

As I am writing this blog, I am a bit stressed out and need some prayer.  Many of you know that Michelle (my wife) suffers with chronic migraine headaches.   She has had them for most of the last 20 years.   I just got off the phone with her.   I feel so helpless.   I wish she didn't have to have these, yet she NEVER complains.   In fact, she worries about me.  She is an amazing person, whom I learn from every day.   I learn what matters, what doesn't and how joy is in all reality a choice.        I need to remember that, like about every 6 minutes.    

If you get a second, please pray for her, our family and me....   

I hope you have a great weekend.   Our weekend team is putting the finishing details together, and I just know God will move our hearts as we "experience" Him together.

Seeking Jesus alone

John

This is my first experience blogging.  I guess there is always a first time for everything.   First day at school, first car, first date, first kiss, first job, first time someone hurt you.    I remember all those, but more than anything, when I think of "firsts"  I remember the first time I believed that Jesus was really who he said He was.   That day marked my life forever.   How could someone really give their life for you?    It seemed the only reasonable thing was to give my life back to Him.   

Anyway, as time goes on I have realized that this relationship is different than any other relationship.   Like other relationships "trust" is the center of everything, but unlike every other relationship, God has never given me reason not to trust Him...Still I have times when I just can't seem to get there.

This is one of the verses I am studying for this weeks message, from Proverbs chapter 3:

⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

I am great at trusting in areas God has proven Himself faithful with me.  Isn't that a bit odd?  Shouldn't I trust Him in EVERY area of my life?     Most Christ followers are 90% there in terms of trust, but it seems that there is the 10% that we have a hard time with.  Read the verse again and notice the underlined parts.   Notice the key word "all."    I have a little quote that hangs in my office:   

90% devotion to Christ is still 10% short.

What area in your life isn't surrendered to God?

In our new series the "Blessability zone" (which you know blessability isn't a real word, well it wasn't until the series began...Aren't we cool to invent words...always a first, right?)  we are looking at some key areas, where in your faith you won't see "incremental" change but rather "exponential" change in your faith.   If you haven't seen the first installment in the series, check it out on our website.  We are attempting to stream all current weekend and LSM messages. 

This weekend, pray.  I really think that there is one area we aren't listening to God in.    I am excited and hope you come this weekend.

OK, that's it for now.  Wow, my first blog experience.  Hope you liked it.

Love wins!  (be nice)

John

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