Hey everybody,
It’s been quite some time since I’ve been overwhelmed by God’s spiritual presence in one of our services like I was Sunday! One older man told me, “I’ve been following Jesus since I was 20, and this was absolutely the most meaningful communion I’ve ever experienced.“ Many people responded personally and by email the same way. I even had people write and thank me for how the Communion experience inspired them in their marriage as well. If you weren’t here, I want to challenge you to watch the message online. Just click on this link and it will take you there.
We’re gearing up for one of the biggest Reach projects in the life of our church family. Fall Family Festival is an opportunity to give to a huge segment of our community. 3500 people came onto our campus last year and enjoyed our fun, food and free candy. In order for FFF to work, we need everyone in our church to engage at some level.
Here are three ways you can participate: First, you can serve. It takes a huge crew of people manning game booths, cooking food, setting up and tearing down in order for this event to succeed. Last year 240 people served. We need more. Will you serve? Second, you can give. Last year we gave away 1725 pounds of candy. Kids will go home happy if they have candy. Will you give? Last, you can invite. We will have invitation cards available for you to hand out to the families in your neighborhood as well as posters you can hang up at your business. Will you invite? You can get information about all of this at the Special Events Table beginning Sunday.
Holding Nothing Back,
Pastor Ron
Hey everybody, this Sunday we observe Communion together. I know Communion has always been part of my spiritual growth and is a great way to get re-tuned and charged up. As we focus on living “Wide Open,” I think it’s significant to follow the words of Jesus to remember Him. The Bible has called the church to participate in two observances or sacraments. They are baptism and Communion. It’s my desire that you will join your church family as we have a guided time of remembering Jesus Christ and our commitment to Him.
We’re about to gear up for one of the biggest Reach projects in the life of our church family. Fall Family Festival is an opportunity to give to a huge segment of our community. Over 3526 people came onto our campus last year and enjoyed our fun, food and free candy. In order for FFF to work, we need everyone in our church to engage at some level.
Here are three ways you can participate: First, you can serve. It takes a huge crew of people manning game booths, cooking food, setting up and tearing down in order for this event to succeed. Last year 240 people served. We need more. Will you serve? Second, you can give. Last year we gave away 1725 pounds of candy. Kids will go home happy if they have candy. Will you give? Last, you can invite. We will have invitation cards available for you to hand out to the families in your neighborhood. We will have posters that you can hang up at your business. Will you invite? You can get information about all of this at the Special Events Table beginning Sunday.
Holding Nothing Back,
Pastor Ron
Hey everybody, our “Wide Open” series has really been different than many people might have expected. Last Sunday was just such a day. The number one comment I received from Sunday was, “Wow!” One woman stopped me and said, “I was so moved the entire day that I just cried through it.” I’m not saying that tears are always the sign of a great day at Twin Cities, but I do know that our message “Living for A Higher Cause” was so moving as we looked at how God has shown His glory throughout time. And then to think that He’s now placed His glory in those who know Him. That is just amazingly humbling. We have such a huge calling to show Him to our world.
I want to remind us all on this Thursday that God called us to “hold nothing back” as we live for His glory. Remember that means “Whatever we eat or drink or do, we do for the glory of God.”
G – Give Myself To God Passionately
L – Love And Serve Others Compassionately
O – Obey God’s Word Devotedly
R – Reflect And Share God’s Love Clearly
Y – Yield To God’s Purposes Completely
That first idea – Give Myself To God Passionately – is a simple way of saying, “Worship God with all that I am.” That’s what we’ll talk about this week. We’ll unpack the concept that God designed worship to be what we do with all of who we are each moment of our week, not just on Sunday. I hope you’re eager to stand wide open before God as you live each day.
Holding Nothing Back,
Pastor Ron
Hey everybody, On Sunday, we’ll look at a subject that we give lip service to, but very few people actually understand. It’s about God’s glory and how we bring Him glory. The Westminster Catechism says, “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.” If God wants glorifying Him to be our highest purpose, then I think it’s pretty important to know what that means. That’s what Sunday is about as we continue our “Wide Open: Hold Nothing Back” series.
On a completely different subject, the new entrance on the West end of our property and access road are finally nearing completion. I want to thank our Building Team and Ernie Szabo for helping us finish the project in a timely manner with as few disruptions as possible. I also want to thank our Parking Team for their great job at helping us change our traffic patterns on Sunday. Yeah to all of you!
If you will remember, part of the process of this project included the opportunity to refinance our current mortgage loan. Our Finance Team received a verbal agreement in January that they would be able to carry this out. Unfortunately, with the continued economic struggle in the real estate and lending markets, the bond company has informed us that they are unable to refinance our loan in 2010. They did say they are willing to work with us again in 2011. Our Finance Team will be meeting later in September to determine our next steps.
Will you make this a matter of prayer? We used our Reserves Account to pay for the new entrance with the belief we could replace it with the new loan proceeds. I look forward to seeing how God moves to help us meet our financial obligations in light of this development. Let’s trust Him together!
Holding Nothing Back,
Pastor Ron
Hey everybody, Daniel was the last of the thirty-three people who went public for Jesus Sunday, as the sun was setting at Lake Wildwood. His story is an amazing account of God’s relentless pursuit of those who need Him and the power of prayer for those who are hurting. Daniel’s grandmother, who attends our church, had been asking us to pray for him for some time. He has a rare auto-immune disease that almost took his life.
One day while in the hospital, literally close to death, he turned his life over to God’s care. Up until then he was very angry at God about his condition and misdiagnosis that almost cost him his life. Daniel still struggles with his disease, but now he has the spirit of Jesus in Him giving him hope for his future. His story is just one of the many from Sunday. I am so grateful for our church and the belief we have in God’s power to heal and change lives.
Speaking of prayer and healing, if you missed last Sunday, it would be awesome if you watched the service online or got a copy of the CD when you’re here again. We covered prayer and faith and how they work together for healing in our lives.
This week we begin a brand new series that I believe will be a serious shot in the arm for us. We’re going to focus in on the concept of passionately responding to God with all that we are. That is our definition for worship. The series is called “Wide Open: Hold Nothing Back.” I am so excited for what God is going to do in His people as we learn better what it means to live lives of complete devotion to Him.
Holding Nothing Back,
Pastor Ron
