Sermon Prep

I've got my message down to 8 pages 14pt times new roman font. I think I'll be doing some more slicing tomorrow!

Father, I thank you for this opportunity to share your Word and insights with the congregation this Sunday. I pray for your protection over my heart and mind this weekend. Help me to make wise choices that will keep me focused upon you and diligent in my continuing preparation. I pray for good sleep and that you'd touch my body and bring me back to full health.

Lord, I pray for those who will be at church and especially those in financial trouble and heart trouble... may they hear clearly and change their habits even this week.

Shanna bought toddler panties for Carissa tonight at K-Mart as we're going to start potty training tomorrow morning. Lord, I pray that Carissa would pick up on this quickly and not soil to many clothes. Give us patience too Lord... we'll need it!

Big!!!

Father, I pray you would use me to carry your Word and message of salvation to multitudes of people!
Damon called yesterday and said he had a meeting with Ralph... the Pastor of Camarillo Community Church. Ralph said they've been planning for a year to plant a church in Oxnard area and are looking for leaders to make that happen. That's potentially incredible! He recomended a next step for me, Damon, John Turner and our wives to go to the Baptist Church planting assesment center in Wisconson! Lord, I pray that you'd give clarity and open this door if this is your will. Ralph is going to be at North Point in three weeks and Damon will try and get him and John Turner together for a meal. Lord, I pray for something big to come out of this. I pray for John Turner and that you'd guide him out to this area to plant a church.

Father, I want to be part of an effective team focused on reaching out to the community... I love the people here at this church Lord, but if you call me elsewhere, I'll follow.

Simple Church: a congregation designed around a staightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.

There is a relationship between being simple and being effective.

Change is here...

Well, today I found out that our H.S. Pastor is going to be done at the church in less than two months... instead of the expected 5 months. That's pretty darn quick. The Elders pushed the date up so they can release him to fully concentrate on his church plant. That was a shock to him... and the whole staff. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the CMT (Co-Management Team) to discuss my role. I'm guessing that I'll be asked to take over high school as well as middle school. That's big to me... I'm feeling stressed and nervous about the conversation already... why? Cause change is change which is change and that means change.... uneasiness and less control and many unknowns etc... also, I question whether I'm the guy for the job. I question how this will work structurally. I question whether I can relate well to high schoolers. I am wondering whether this is a time the Lord is releasing me to another church.

Lord, give me wisdom and discernment and courage in the coming days. Lord, give me the right words to say during the coming crucial conversations.

Came home with Carissa's 'big girl' mattress today. $99.00 from the Ortho Mattress place on main... good price. I hope she's comfy on it! We'll try her out on it this Friday night. Tomorrow we go to an LA Kings Game and Carissa is spending the night at the Yanez's house. Should be fun!

Prayer & Treasure

Jan 8, 07
I'm speaking to my students on prayer this Wednesday. I'm sticking to a great format that I've used many times successfully in my own prayer journey... ACTS. We're actually going to take time to write out a prayer journal to God at the end of my message. My goal in speaking is to not just be a talking head but to cause my students to learn by modelling and getting them to practise what I teach. Lord, I pray for fruitfulness this Wednesday!

On the 28th I speak in the three main services on treasure.... where your treasure is there your heart will be also. 2nd time ever in the pulpit here at first Baptist and I'm talking about money. Lord, teach me this month. Overflow my cup with your wisdom in this scripture and help me draw out your principles in a creative and memorable way for people to remember.

Wow, it went up to 29 celcius today... in January! I ran at the beach... it was glorious! The tide was high though, so it ment trudging through softer sand. Slowest time yet, but I still completed it! Yahoo!

A little pooch ran past me... I said 'hi' to him... he glanced at me quickly but then swung his attention to his master right away. Something I need to do with distractions lately... swing my attention away from them and to my master.... Lord, thanks for using a dog to teach me today.