His Hands and Feet....

Merry Christmas!!!

Our five Christmas worship experiences were incredible. The services were awesome as we heard and saw so vividly the importance of what it means to "Come Home". It is our prayer this Christmas season that God would wrap His arms of love, goodness, mercy, forgiveness and grace around your life. Jump into the arms of His love today. This year may have brought changes, celebrations, disappointments, trials, blessings, encouragement or challenges. As this year draws to an end, take a moment to reflect on His love for you. No doubt He has blessed you in more ways than you could possible count. One thing we could do this season is to be a blessing to others. Make a special effort over the next few days to share Christ love with others.

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Why I am excited about "Come Home" December 17-18, 2011

I am really excited about Christmas Weekend this year @nschurch. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

1.      I am excited because this is such a huge weekend historically for our church. Christmas time traditionally is a time people are willing or open to go to a church service.

2.      I am excited because I know the time, prayer, planning, excellence and creativity that are being poured into this weekend.

3.      I am excited about the theme of this weekend. The theme of these services is “Come Home”. There are many who simply need to come home to Him this Christmas.

4.      I am excited because we are adding an additional service to our schedule. We are having five services this year which gives more people the opportunity to attend.

5.      I am excited because of all the volunteers who are so willing to serve during these services.

6.      I am excited because we have a prayer team praying, as well as many others, for this important weekend.

7.      I am excited because I believe God is going to touch a lot of lives during these services.

8.      I am excited because you are inviting people to attend.

9.      I am excited because God is in control of this weekend and not our enemy the devil.

The ONE Thing I Believe About YOU!

I borrowed this from Perry Noble. It is so good I wanted to share with you.
The ONE Thing I Believe About YOU!
The One Thing I Believe About You Is – God Loves You, Has An Amazing Plan For Your Life and God’s not through with you!
People may be through with you, heck, the church may have even told you they are through with you…

GOD’S NOT THROUGH WITH YOU!

If you still have air in your lungs, if your heart is still pushing blood through your body then God’s not done!!!

God wants greater things for your life than you could ever imagine! (See Ephesians 3:20 and Matthew 7:9-11)

AND, no matter what you have gone through HE IS ABLE to bless your life MORE from this point forward than you have EVER experienced! (Job 42:12)

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT throw in the towel!

You are not too young to be used by God (look at Samuel in I Samuel 3!!)

You are not too old to be used by God (look at Noah and Moses!!!)

You have not been to sinful to be used by God (just look at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, whew, there are some pretty shady characters mentioned in that list…and yet God STILL used them!)

You ARE NOT USELESS! God created you ON PURPOSE, WITH A PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE (Ephesians 2:10!)

Too many times I see people throw away their lives because they believe that God does not care, does not have a plan for them and/or they have done too many bad things for their lives to EVER count for anything significant.

But God DOES have a plan…and IT IS the most amazing thing in our lives that we could ever experience (see how His will is described at the end of Romans 12:2!)

God’s NOT THROUGH WITH YOU!!!

I borrowed this from Perry Nobl. It was so good I wanted to share it with you.

Be Ready

It should never come as a surprise for the enemy to rise up against us. Knowledge of the fact it could happen is good but spiritual preparedness is crucial. The New Testament writer said: "Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. 1 Peter 5:8-11 (MSG)

Peter reminds us and it is comforting to know we are not alone. Believers like you all over the world are facing the same enemy. It never fails. When a believer begins to seek God’s rule for their life, the enemy is threatened. He does not want us to reform much less allow the living Savior to guide our feelings, decisions, and actions. He does not want us to win, even though the bible tells us we are winners in Christ. What happens, too often, is when a believer faces a trial, challenge or temptation they grow doubtful, tired, and discouraged. Sometimes rebellion and bitterness begin to cloud what we know is right. Through the years, I have seen God begin a good work in someone and just as they begin walking in the right direction, someone or something comes along and  becomes a roadblock in their situation. Too often they yield to this distraction and begin going a different direction than God intended. We must trust the one who has great plans for us. He reminds us they are not just good plans but great plans. I close with the words of Paul who said: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6 (NIV)

#thisnevergetsold

17 more baptized Sunday!!! Just a quick  note to say how humbled I am at what God is doing @nschurch. We really didn't want to drain the pools last night. I guess that was the last baptism outside until the spring. However, we have more to baptize in the trough later this month. :)

Follow

I shared with those attending Sunday; "God had this date on your calendar before you were even born." This past Sunday was one of those days! Planned and prayed for weeks in advance, God did the spectacular.  Sunday morning 5:30 A.M. the first person arrived. The next to arrive was at 6:00 A.M. From there, the Follow team of 50 began arriving for the much awaited day. Over 200 volunteers worked this past Sunday believing God to touch hearts and lives. Our attendance was 1072 and I can’t even begin to share all the stories still pouring in relating to the events of this past Sunday. The reports at the end of the day indicated that we baptized 36 and had seven in our NS Kids accept Christ. God is moving at NorthStar and for this we are thankful.  We will never forget this day as we look forward to what God is going to do next. We have been praying the “Sun Stand Still” prayer asking God to do the unimaginable in our lives and in our church.  He definitely moved among us this past week.

Two Sundays

One of the greatest things you can do to see lives changed in the church is to invite people to attend with you. The majority of the people coming to our church were personally invited by those already attending.  I can’t tell you the numbers of people who have told us they are here because a friend or acquaintance invited them to NorthStar. While every Sunday is important, there are two Sundays we are challenging people to both attend and bring someone with them. Sunday, October 2 and Sunday, October 9. These two Sundays are going to be two of the most important Sundays in the life and history of our church.  October 2, is going to be our dedication Sunday. We are going to celebrate and dedicate. We are going to celebrate the fact that God led us to this new campus and we are going to dedicate this place to the Lord.  On October 9, we are going to have the biggest baptism celebration in our history and possibly in our region. We are calling this event “Follow” This is going to be a game changing event.  Please pray about both of these Sundays. Pray for you to have no distractions or delays. Pray God would bring change even before these days. Pray, asking God to direct you to the ones to invite and that He would make their heart receptive to the initiation.  Please pray for all the staff and teams in our church to be ready with anticipation. God is going to do the unimaginable on these two weekends. I believe it!

NorthStar Is...

NorthStar is a relevant church where real people connect to a growing relationship with Christ and others to fulfill their life purpose. If this were a perfect place, it wouldn’t be called NSC but rather Heaven. We have problems, issues, concerns, challenges, and imperfections like everyone else. However, we have the true Living God who meets us where we are, taking us where we need to go. What do you do when you are not who you used to be, but you are not who you should be? This church is a place where the hurting are comforted, the fallen are lifted up, the discouraged find hope, the abandoned find a home, the out of touch find mercy, the misplaced are directed, the sinner finds forgiveness, the unchangeable find change, the unloved find love, the broken are mended, the neglected find compassion, the anxious find rest, and the lifeless find life.


This Sunday is going to be a day where all the above happens again and again.

Amazing... Before Our Very Eyes

Amazing....Words can’t describe what we experienced on our first Sunday at our new campus. I arrived 3 ½ hours early,(don’t know why, that’s just how I do it) anticipating a record crowd. We had more yesterday than our record attendance this past Easter. In fact, we had more in attendance Sunday in three services than we did Easter in four services. Total for the day was 1147 attendees and 30 + people who trusted Christ as Savior.


I am so thankful the countless volunteers God used to make opening day such a success. Thousands of hours, blood, sweat and tears have been poured into this project. It is all good! It is all worth the sacrifices made. We know it is only successful because God led, directed, provided, empowered, and was present with us. He is the reason we do what we do. He is the author and the finisher. He is the power, source, and the fuel for what we do. All the man hours put into this building would be for naught if He were not the reason we are doing what we do.

I know the next years in this building are going to produce amazing things. We saw Sunday how things have gone to a HNL.  We must always remember we are doing what we do for the glory of God and not men. We want to be used by Him and honor Him in all we do. I have a dream that the next years in this building are going to be even greater than we could ever imagine. We are trusting Him "to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.” He is doing that before our very eyes.

Almost There!

We only have one more Sunday at our current campus. In just a few days we will be calling the new building our current building. Out with the old, in with the new. I keep reminding everyone, in the words of my Filipino pastor friend, “Buildings don’t go to Heaven, people do.” Though much of our time has been on the construction of the new building and the finishing touches, our focus must continue to be on the souls that will be reached and the lives changed because we followed God on this journey.  I know many are tired, stressed, anxious and exhausted. However, this is simply a season that will soon be past.  It is all worth it as we move to a new campus and see God once again do the incredible.  Be encouraged for your work is not in vain.  Lives are being changed even before we enter the building.

"Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans." Colossians 3:23 (GW)

13 weeks

In thirteen weeks we will be entering our new place of worship. Pumped, oh yea! It has been an incredible journey as we have seen hundreds of volunteers work tirelessly on this project. It has been estimated that we, along with hundreds of volunteers outside our church, have saved the church over a half a million dollars by doing the work ourselves.  I stand in awe of so many who are so willing. Every nail driven, mud spread, paint applied, insulation installed, tile laid, grid placed, floor swept, room cleaned, wire run, light installed, pipe jointed, door hung, jam leveled, unit installed, wall sanded, supplies picked up, truck unloaded, carpet laid, wall sprayed, job completed has been for the glory of God. Lives will be changed in this building. All the glory goes to the One who called us to do the work.  The people heard, obeyed, followed, gave and trusted.

There is still more work to do but with His help, we will make it and it will be great.  We must remember that it is not about a building but a Savior. As my friend Lemuel said: "Buildings don't go to Heaven, People do."  The reason we have worked for almost a year and a half is for His purpose and His Glory.  It won’t be long now!!!!

3 Services Rocked The House!

I know God is doing the work here because we can't do this ourselves.  Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated our 5th anniversary at NSC. It seems like just yesterday we began with one morning service. (April 16, 2006)  It was awesome with 356 in attendance.  On May 8, 2011, we launched our 3rd morning service with 735 in attendance. We were ecstatic. I will have to be honest, I was on pins and needles just like on our first Sunday. It wasn't because I did not think it would work or that it was not a God thing.  I knew God led us to this step and that He was going to do something great. It was because I could not wait to see how God was going to work on that launch day. I was so pumped and excited.  It was awesome!  I am so thankful for all our volunteers who work so tirelessly each weekend to do the ministry He has called them to do. I am also so thankful for the countless numbers of people inviting others to attend our weekend services.  They are awesome.  I better go for now, I am about to work at our new  building with more great volunteers.

Easter 2011

I am so excited, as I write this blog, knowing what God has done in our services this weekend. It began weeks ago as people were praying for a great outpouring of God in our church.  He had already been doing some pretty Radical things in and through the people at NorthStar.  The final count is around 65 people who gave their hearts to Christ. These not only raised their hands indicating they prayed to receive Christ but they also gave us their names so we could follow up with them. We praise God for still saving the hearts of men.  Every aspect of our services rocked for Christ during these four services. From the parking lot to the seats, from the babies to the teens, from the café to the compass center, from the stage to the door, the presence of God was inevitable.  I am so thankful for the 100 plus volunteers who serve so faithfully at the Star. You guys rock!!

Radical

Someone asked me a few days ago, "What are you all doing to see such success at NorthStar?"  My answer is, "I don't know."  All I know to say is that God is moving and building His church here. It has been and continues to be an incredible ride.  Everyone here works hard and we strive for excellence, but we fully realize it is not us that is making a difference. We know the difference is being made by God.  He is doing things we could not possibly do.  The lives that are being changed are being changed by Him.  We  know it is by His grace that change comes.  Our attendance has been incredible and the weekend services are extraordinary. I see how God, these last few weeks, is challenging His people to be radical. It is exciting to see His people take Him up on His challenge.  Radical things are happening at NSC and I am so thankful to be a part. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do this week!

I Love My Church

I Love My Church Series was awesome as we looked at what the Bible says about the church. The church is the called who come out publicly.   I am so thankful for my church and how God is at work here. I see firsthand, not from a distance, God touching the lives of people here and bringing eternal change to their lives.  I am so thankful for my church because it is a place where sin, repentance, love, forgiveness, restoration, change, maturity, service, ministry, devotion, commitment, missions, mission, evangelism, fellowship, sacrifice, vision, worship, and eternity are talked about openly. I am thankful for my church because it is here that worshipers come from all over each Sunday to experience authentic worship.  I am thankful for visionaries that lead this church.  I am thankful for faithful servants who give sacrificially, love unconditionally, and serve tirelessly.  I am thankful for God’s guidance and direction for His church.  I Love My Church!!