Amplify
Our upcoming event is an amazing student arts conference like nothing else being done in all of Oregon. All of you have probably heard of Fine Arts Festival, but a lot of you haven't been to one in a very long time, maybe not ever. In the last couple years this event has changed in some really outstanding ways. In fact, it's changed so much we had to give it a new name, Amplify - A Fine Arts Conference.
read more // comments (0)God of The Left Handed by Pamela Weston
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” - I Corinthians 1:27-29
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Last Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at Family Worship Center in Gresham with Pastor Dan Hatton. The Christian Education Director for the church is Andrea Franco. Andrea has done a fantastic job of building up and equipping a team for service each Sunday. One of the reasons I was there, on Sunday, was to honor our Oregon Ministry Network Teachers of the Year. This year’s choice was Dave & Linda Hoard. Dave & Linda have faithfully taught the same elementary Sunday School class for 40 years. Dave has also served as the churches Royal Rangers Senior Outpost Commander for just as long.
read more // comments (0)Drawing People to God by Jeremy Hocker
Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herodias, smoldering with hate, wanted to kill him, but didn't dare because Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt - and yet he couldn't stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back. -Mark 6:17-20 (The Message)
Guilt does not change people. I thank God that He did not come to earth to guilt us into serving Him. He came to love us into the kingdom. Even as He gave us communion, the remembrance of His cruel death on the cross, He did not leave us feeling guilty but victorious. Yes, He took our place. But we celebrate that He rose from the dead, and that He is coming back for us. Not that He made us guilty for dying for us.
read more // comments (0)The Divine Mentor
Daily Devotions, Quit Time, Alone Time, Prayer Time - call it whatever you want, but spending time with Jesus is one of the most important disciplines you will ever form in your life. Some might suggest that having a time of daily devotions is just program. If this is your view then you have misunderstood this discipline all together.
Last week I just finished reading an outstanding book by Wayne Cordeiro, The Divine Mentor. In chapter 12 he writes this about the discipline of daily devotions, “It is not the program but the process that changes our hearts as we sit with the Master.” As a Pastor, Wayne has developed a self-feeding program for his church, using a simple system of daily devotions. It is not a daily devotional, but rather a disciplined daily system of reading God’s Word, listening to what He is saying to you through the scriptures and applying His Word to your daily life.
read more // comments (0)Something New by Brad Shimomura
Last night I tried something new: I made quiche. I love to cook, mostly because I love to eat, and eating out has become too expensive and unhealthy. Making the quiche was a strategic move on several levels. First of all, Roberta and I noticed that we were in a food rut, you know where you eat the same things, and it is starting to get old. Secondly, it expanded my cooking horizons. Third, it expanded my eating horizons. Quiche is not normally something I eat, make or have much to do with all, except when a lack of options leave the choice to eating quiche or starve. Long story short, it turned out pretty good. I liked it, and would probably do it again, if for no other reason than simply to perfect the art of making quiche.
read more // comments (0)Save the Date
Last week you should have received a NextGen Ministries Postcard from us listing all our Summer Ministry Opportunities for 2010. A “Save the Date” postcard, to help you as you’re planning for summer. If you didn’t receive this post card please contact our office so we can resend one right away.
I always feel like summer is the best time to minister to kids and youth. It is not a time to slow down or shut ministry down, but to ramp ministry up. Students are out of school; there is no more homework. Summer is the ideal time to do some special and creative ministries. Like putting on a Vacation Bible School, start up a summer discipleship ministry, kids sports camps, or taking youth & kids to camp.
read more // comments (0)WOW! by Troy Pomeroy
My mother has been in the hospital for 2 months and three days, most of it in ICU, and I haven't actually spoken to her since just after Thanksgiving...but today, I got to hear her voice through the telephone!
So Troy, what's the big deal? you ask...(even if you didn't, I'm giving it to you.)
read more // comments (0)Setting Goals
February is still early in the year and is one of the best times of the year to set goals for STL & BGMC in your ministries. Last year at this time, Frank Sarvabui, the Children’s Pastor at Christian Center of Salem set a goal for BGMC to go from giving zero dollars to BGMC in 2008 to over $2,000 in 2009. At the end of last Frank’s church ended up being the most improved giving church for BGMC in 2009. Here is his story in his own words.
read more // comments (0)Last Opportunity?
I once heard a story about the great evangelist, D. L. Moody, and the Chicago fire of 1871. Here is how the story goes, on the night of the fire, Moody preached a revival service and wrestled with whether or not to give an altar call. He decided not to and it was just a few hours later that the city was up in smoke. Following the great fire and the loss of many lives, Moody, made a decision to never end a message without giving an opportunity for the people to respond to God’s Word. He knew that this might be their last opportunity.
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