Pastor Bob's Blog
Forgiveness
The Lord has been downloading into me truths from His word regarding forgiveness that are absolutely liberating. I can't wait to start the sermon series beginning this upcoming Sunday dealing with this whole area of forgiveness and mercy...they do really go hand in hand.
I'm completely convinced so many people are in bondage to bitterness towards others, and God not only wants us to be free from this, but He will equip us to do so.
See you Sunday and remember to invite someone. Your invite could change their life!!!
A prayer perspective
Someone recently asked me about the practice and perseverance of prayer, especially when it seems like God is silent. If you think like me, (I know I do) maybe a word picture would help us understand this.
Letting our requests be known to God is like submitting a purchase order to the management of your company. If it comes back stamped "Request Denied" accept the fact the management knows something you don't. If you know your request is clearly according to God's will, continue to submit the requests, because here's the deal...try to see God as the owner of the company.
He will equip us with what we need to complete the work he started in you. God will never ask you to do something that He won't provide the resources to bring it to completion.
Youth Camp
If I had to pick one word to describe this past week with the youth up at Lake Helen it would be WOW. It was nothing short of amazing watching God work in and through the lives of our younger generation. Relationships were restored between family members, hearts were opened to changes God wanted to do in different areas of the kids lives, some were set free of junk from their past and others were filled with the Holy Spirit.
There was a sense of anticipation from the time we boarded the "purple bus" behind the Teen Hope Center on Sunday. It's as though we somehow knew God wanted to transform lives, and to His praise, He did.
The staff working with the kids did an outstanding job! New Life is SO blessed to have dedicated men and women who will spend a week in a cabin with high octane kids and pour into them. We also had an amazing kitchen crew that kept 60 tummies plump and pleased. I don't know who made that eclaire dessert, but I'm sure they have a special place in heaven...they were unbelievable! There were several others from New Life who stepped up and donated food items, their time and finances to see this memorable week become a reality. To God be the glory!!!
Drink Milk
In the spirit of growing up in America's Dairyland let's not forget June is "Dairy Month".
As one that follows Christ, I want to know Him more...I want to know His ways, His character, His love, His grace, His sufferings, His plans.... I want to not only know the One who gave His life for me more, but I want to understand the implications of this reality, live out and carry on the work He started and handed off to me.
Yet the only way I can grow in my walk with the Lord is to know His Word, the Bible.
1 Peter 2:2 says, "Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."
So here's the thought: Why not drink in the milk of the Word during Dairy Month? In fact, how about drinking in the entire New Testament over the next 30 days? It's going to be fairly intense, but SO worth it.
But who likes to drink alone, right?
Here's my challenge: Let's all drink in the nutrients of God's Word together throughout the month of June.
WE CAN DO THIS!!
I put together a reading plan to follow each day. It follows the general order in which the New Testament books were written.
http://pulaskinewlife.com/sermon_supplements/drink_milk/drinkmilk_schedule.html
I've got 46 people who've committed to joining me...Will you?
Happy Anniversary
It's hard to believe New Life Community Church has been having services now four years in Pulaski... Wow, where has the time gone?
Talk about an amazing way to celebrate our 4 year birthday, this past week we saw 16 kids placed their faith in Jesus as their Lord, as their God and as their Savior!!!!
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
...And when people meet Jesus, their is always a life change. I can't wait to see what God does in these young lives.
There is not one example in the Scriptures of someone who met Christ and was not changed! (Though there are PLENTY of examples of people who were AROUND Him but did not embrace who He was; therefore, they were never changed!)
I'm completely convinced New Life has the best volunteers with servant's hearts on the planet. Our children are SO blessed!
We also had a great time with a group of teens at our Why Wait conference we held in Green Bay. Going over the physical, spiritual, emotional and relational consequences of sex before marriage was very powerful.
Seeing our young people make commitments to save themselves for their future spouses was the highlight of the weekend.
It was great to see so many new (and old) faces at our Sunday service as we considered the statement "Lukewarm Christianity"...is there such a thing?
4 years...we are just beginning!!!!
Believe It or Not
Another week of celebrating in heaven as the pen that writes in the Lamb's Book of Life got a workout!!!
That NEVER gets old!!!!
On Sunday we began the new sermon series: Christianity...Believe It or Not. The more I study God's Word the more I realize how much people identifying themselves as Christians really doubt the truths they proclaim to believe. Had a great time of praying for needs at the end of the service.
I challenged the New Life family to examine their lives to see if there was any resemblance to those digital billboards we see. You know, the one's that are revolving and continually change their message. Our lifestyles are a reflection of what we really believe. They ought to be consistent.
Here's the question to consider:
Weekend Reflections
The Lord poured out His blessings and amazing grace on us again with another great week at New Life.
We wrapped up the New Testament book of Titus this week at youth group and Philemon is on deck. Going through a new book of the Bible each week has been a rich time on Wednesday nights.
Again, we saw several new faces as the teens continue to invite their friends to experience the presence of our Great God!!
Two teens stepped over the line and committed their lives to Christ!!!
This morning two others nailed down their eternal destiny as well... Praise God!
That NEVER gets old!
Today was part two of the "Here Comes the Bride" sermon series that focuses on end time events according to the Bible. Knowing what happens on the other side is an incredible source of peace that followers of Christ can live with and look forward to.
NO CONDEMNATION according to Romans 8:1... That's great news.
Can't wait to see what this week brings.
Celebrating
What an awesome evening at the Teen Hope Center last night!!
First we had a great time of exalting our great and everlasting king, King Jesus. Seeing 60 kids praising the Lord with uplifted hands and grateful hearts in surrender was incredible!
Several of the youth then presented a human video to the song "Let the waters rise" which, by the way, they did a great job. Sometimes visuals aid the message...seems to me Jesus used visuals a time or two. What talent so many of the teens have. Keep it up guys!!!
Then in our trek through the New Testament we arrived at 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Nobody was yawning as we talked about the return of Christ and the rise of the antichrist. The Blessed Hope...WOW I can't wait. I think you could have heard a pin drop as the Holy Spirit was talking to several young people about their relationship to this soon coming King.
Here's the best part....5, yes FIVE kids crossed the line of faith and gave their lives to Christ!!!
THAT NEVER GETS OLD!!!!!! YAAAAAHHHHOOOOOO.
These lives will never be the same...forgiven, sealed by the Holy Spirit, adopted into the family of God, names written in the book of life, spiritually dead to alive!!
Can't wait til Sunday...Gotta be there, and bring someone along with you. We work together as a team!
First we had a great time of exalting our great and everlasting king, King Jesus. Seeing 60 kids praising the Lord with uplifted hands and grateful hearts in surrender was incredible!
Several of the youth then presented a human video to the song "Let the waters rise" which, by the way, they did a great job. Sometimes visuals aid the message...seems to me Jesus used visuals a time or two. What talent so many of the teens have. Keep it up guys!!!
Then in our trek through the New Testament we arrived at 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Nobody was yawning as we talked about the return of Christ and the rise of the antichrist. The Blessed Hope...WOW I can't wait. I think you could have heard a pin drop as the Holy Spirit was talking to several young people about their relationship to this soon coming King.
Here's the best part....5, yes FIVE kids crossed the line of faith and gave their lives to Christ!!!
THAT NEVER GETS OLD!!!!!! YAAAAAHHHHOOOOOO.
These lives will never be the same...forgiven, sealed by the Holy Spirit, adopted into the family of God, names written in the book of life, spiritually dead to alive!!
Can't wait til Sunday...Gotta be there, and bring someone along with you. We work together as a team!
Reflections
I can't say enough how much I'm amazed at what the Lord is doing in and through His church...a few thoughts about this past week:
Yesterday we had Pastor Gerald Lewin bring a great word from the Lord on "ministry as a way of life". What a good reminder and encouragement to not let obstacles prevent us from bringing people to Christ who need His touch.
I sure am grateful my folks never gave up on me.
The presence of God was pretty intense on Wednesday at the Teen Hope Center. Several youth responded to the message as the Lord was speaking to their hearts.
Two young ladies received Christ and left with a brand new freedom they'd never known before!!! Praise God...that NEVER gets old!
As we trek through the New Testament at youth group, our sights are on Philippians this week. Can't wait to see what God does!!! By the way, keep praying for our young people in this area. God is passionate about seeing our teens set free from loneliness, sin, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, fear, addictions and feelings of rejection just to name a few.
I praise God we serve a Ephesians 3:20 God!!
Two more small groups are being launched this week through New Life... "Digging Deeper" which is a deeper look at the Sunday messages, and "Living Beyond Yourself", a great Beth Moore study of the fruit of the Spirit.
Opportunities to serve and get involved continue to abound.
It's going to be a great week....and month... and year!
Yesterday we had Pastor Gerald Lewin bring a great word from the Lord on "ministry as a way of life". What a good reminder and encouragement to not let obstacles prevent us from bringing people to Christ who need His touch.
I sure am grateful my folks never gave up on me.
The presence of God was pretty intense on Wednesday at the Teen Hope Center. Several youth responded to the message as the Lord was speaking to their hearts.
Two young ladies received Christ and left with a brand new freedom they'd never known before!!! Praise God...that NEVER gets old!
As we trek through the New Testament at youth group, our sights are on Philippians this week. Can't wait to see what God does!!! By the way, keep praying for our young people in this area. God is passionate about seeing our teens set free from loneliness, sin, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, fear, addictions and feelings of rejection just to name a few.
I praise God we serve a Ephesians 3:20 God!!
Two more small groups are being launched this week through New Life... "Digging Deeper" which is a deeper look at the Sunday messages, and "Living Beyond Yourself", a great Beth Moore study of the fruit of the Spirit.
Opportunities to serve and get involved continue to abound.
It's going to be a great week....and month... and year!
New Year resolutions
I'd rather call my resolutions personal goals for my future.
Here's what I do....I examine four key areas that influence not only my life but the lives of those around me and ultimately the Kingdom of God.
If i want to live out my life to the utmost and fulfill the plans God destined for me, I need to examine and be willing to stretch myself physically, spiritually, relationally and in knowledge.
I want to do my best physically...when I look in the mirror, I need to remind myself I only get one of me, and what I'm looking at is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I ask myself, "what am I doing to get the most mileage out of this body?"
Spiritually...Am I doing the best I can to grow in my walk with the Lord? What is lacking?
Relationally...What can I do to improve my relationships with those around me? Trudy, the kids, the New Life family...
Knowledge...Is the brain getting a decent workout as well. I love to read about so many random topics. When I stop learning, I stop being effective. Leaders continue learning and leaders are readers.
So there you have it; my list for 2010. Actually it's the same list each year, just different focus points under each area.
Can't wait to see what God has in store this year!!!
Here's what I do....I examine four key areas that influence not only my life but the lives of those around me and ultimately the Kingdom of God.
If i want to live out my life to the utmost and fulfill the plans God destined for me, I need to examine and be willing to stretch myself physically, spiritually, relationally and in knowledge.
I want to do my best physically...when I look in the mirror, I need to remind myself I only get one of me, and what I'm looking at is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I ask myself, "what am I doing to get the most mileage out of this body?"
Spiritually...Am I doing the best I can to grow in my walk with the Lord? What is lacking?
Relationally...What can I do to improve my relationships with those around me? Trudy, the kids, the New Life family...
Knowledge...Is the brain getting a decent workout as well. I love to read about so many random topics. When I stop learning, I stop being effective. Leaders continue learning and leaders are readers.
So there you have it; my list for 2010. Actually it's the same list each year, just different focus points under each area.
Can't wait to see what God has in store this year!!!
