Hey Guys,
Tonight is the Christmas Party! I hope you will all come out and enjoy some fun, fellowship, and food! Be at the Brown's from 5-7 PM! I hope to see you all there!
Brad
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Hello
Well, here we are! This is the official Christmas season! I am so happy! This is my favorite time of year even when there is no money! I will tell you why. Because the focus of the season turns back to Christ! Jesus created us to be apart of His family. And if he was never born then we would not be able to be apart of his family. That is why I love this time of year. I am so thankful for Jesus birth, death and ressurection. I am also happy as the focus turns to family. I love family. I really love having my own family...Sam, Kibwe, and myself!! But I also love spending time with Sam's and my parents. Being with family in this season reminds me of how important it is to have a church family that cares and loves you. I am so glad that at New Life we have that exact kind of family. I am also thankful that in Christ we have that family all over the world! Many blessings to you this Christmas season. See Jesus in every aspect this year!!
Brad
Brad
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving week!
Well here we are! Thanksgiving 2008 already! Time is flying. I just want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving week and remember how thankful we need to be because of what Jesus has done for us! Praise God. I hope that you can see many things to be thankful for this week. I am thankful for first of all Jesus and his sacrifice for my sin! I am also very thankful for my beautiful wife. I am thankful for a loving and determined church. I am thankful for my family and for my in-law side family. God is so good. Have a fantastic week!
Brad
Brad
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday Post 11.21.08
Welcome to the Friday Post.
It has been a crazy past few weeks! I was very sick last week so I had time to kind of relax and think about the upcoming holiday/CHRISTMAS season. I am preparing for the craziness that will ensue. But I was just wondering, what are your schedules looking like this Christmas season? Are you making sure you are making time for God first? Are you putting His desires and His will before your own. Or are you getting caught up in the commercialism of the season? I am reminded especially with the crumbling economy, that this season is not about getting more stuff, but rather giving more of yourself to God and His work. You may be wondering what can you give... well... time, talent, and treasure! Give the very best to God that he may be able to use your gifts for His glory and that people may know that you are followers of Jesus! Praise Jesus for the wonderful gift of Himself for our sins. When this world ends, all that will remain is God and His kingdom! Keep that in mind as you celebrate Jesus this Christmas season!
Brad
It has been a crazy past few weeks! I was very sick last week so I had time to kind of relax and think about the upcoming holiday/CHRISTMAS season. I am preparing for the craziness that will ensue. But I was just wondering, what are your schedules looking like this Christmas season? Are you making sure you are making time for God first? Are you putting His desires and His will before your own. Or are you getting caught up in the commercialism of the season? I am reminded especially with the crumbling economy, that this season is not about getting more stuff, but rather giving more of yourself to God and His work. You may be wondering what can you give... well... time, talent, and treasure! Give the very best to God that he may be able to use your gifts for His glory and that people may know that you are followers of Jesus! Praise Jesus for the wonderful gift of Himself for our sins. When this world ends, all that will remain is God and His kingdom! Keep that in mind as you celebrate Jesus this Christmas season!
Brad
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Power of the Word
So last weekend I attended the Youth Specialties conference in Pittsburgh. It was an awesome time of relaxing, engaging worship, and challenging teachings! I am really excited to dive into preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the world of teens and adults! May God bless you as you continue to seek Him!
Brad
Brad
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Belated Friday Post 11.2.08
Hi Everyone,
So I appologize for not having the Friday Post written on Friday or even Saturday. But here I am on Sunday AM writing to you because I am so excited about what God is doing!!! :) God is moving in my life right now in an awesome way. I have been and still am attending the Youth
Specialties conference in Pittsburgh, Pa and it is just an amazing event for any time of leader that works with youth. I really enjoy these conferences because they get you pumped up, but this one is truly challenging my thinking and the way I do ministry! I am so excited to come back and begin getting even more serious about what God wants to do with my life. I have been in waiting and I think this weekend (along with meeting some old friends and sharing vision) has really revitalized my passion and heart for students and worship! God is going to begin to do some awesome things at Relevant and New Life, not because of me, but because of what He is doing in and through my life. My prayer is for you that if the Bible has become an old boring book that is dry and tastes like paper, that God would ignite that paper and cause you to burn for Him and His word digging deeper into who He is. Causing you to become so passionate about Him that you can't help but live out His word in your life!!! How do we do this exactly?? More on this in the coming weeks. But I am so pumped to be a follower of Jesus and can't thank Him enough for his sacrifice!
Peace Out!
Brad
So I appologize for not having the Friday Post written on Friday or even Saturday. But here I am on Sunday AM writing to you because I am so excited about what God is doing!!! :) God is moving in my life right now in an awesome way. I have been and still am attending the Youth
Specialties conference in Pittsburgh, Pa and it is just an amazing event for any time of leader that works with youth. I really enjoy these conferences because they get you pumped up, but this one is truly challenging my thinking and the way I do ministry! I am so excited to come back and begin getting even more serious about what God wants to do with my life. I have been in waiting and I think this weekend (along with meeting some old friends and sharing vision) has really revitalized my passion and heart for students and worship! God is going to begin to do some awesome things at Relevant and New Life, not because of me, but because of what He is doing in and through my life. My prayer is for you that if the Bible has become an old boring book that is dry and tastes like paper, that God would ignite that paper and cause you to burn for Him and His word digging deeper into who He is. Causing you to become so passionate about Him that you can't help but live out His word in your life!!! How do we do this exactly?? More on this in the coming weeks. But I am so pumped to be a follower of Jesus and can't thank Him enough for his sacrifice!
Peace Out!
Brad
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Friday Post 10.24.08
The Kindness of Others.
In the past two weeks Sam and I have experienced the most amazing acts of kindness towards us. When God's people really believe and act on what God tells them to do they offer so many amazing blessings to others. Well these past two weeks I have experienced the blessing end. I can't thank any of you enough for what you have done for both Sam and I! You are all amazing followers of Jesus and I just want to affirm that what you have done has indeed helped in advancing God's kingdom. I would really like to thank Pastor Chris for all his help and guidance. I would specifically like to thank Him and Emmy for building our front steps. Chris is an amazing carpenter! And Emmy is right there too! Thank you guys so much for everything.
The point of my sharing this with you in the Friday Post is that I am so thankful that I want to turn around and help others using the gifts God has given me! I can see God's people working through New Life and I get so excited about that! God is so good even in times of despair (seemingly our economy). We must continue to trust in Him and rely on His guidance and Word. When we do follow through we bless others and cause them to want to bless others as well! What a great way to share God's love. My challenge to you this week is to "Pay It Forward" (yes taken from the movie by the same name) When someone does something nice for you, go and do something nice for someone else! Do it though, with the love of God as your driving force. For God gave everything to be with us, let us not forget Him and thus forfeit the most important realitonship of all.
To all of you who take Luke 10:27 seriously...may God richly bless you as you serve Him by serving your neighbor!
Thank you.
Brad
In the past two weeks Sam and I have experienced the most amazing acts of kindness towards us. When God's people really believe and act on what God tells them to do they offer so many amazing blessings to others. Well these past two weeks I have experienced the blessing end. I can't thank any of you enough for what you have done for both Sam and I! You are all amazing followers of Jesus and I just want to affirm that what you have done has indeed helped in advancing God's kingdom. I would really like to thank Pastor Chris for all his help and guidance. I would specifically like to thank Him and Emmy for building our front steps. Chris is an amazing carpenter! And Emmy is right there too! Thank you guys so much for everything.
The point of my sharing this with you in the Friday Post is that I am so thankful that I want to turn around and help others using the gifts God has given me! I can see God's people working through New Life and I get so excited about that! God is so good even in times of despair (seemingly our economy). We must continue to trust in Him and rely on His guidance and Word. When we do follow through we bless others and cause them to want to bless others as well! What a great way to share God's love. My challenge to you this week is to "Pay It Forward" (yes taken from the movie by the same name) When someone does something nice for you, go and do something nice for someone else! Do it though, with the love of God as your driving force. For God gave everything to be with us, let us not forget Him and thus forfeit the most important realitonship of all.
To all of you who take Luke 10:27 seriously...may God richly bless you as you serve Him by serving your neighbor!
Thank you.
Brad
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday 10.17.08
Well tonight is the last home game for Knoch and it is going to be a bit chilly! Make sure you grab your coats and come out and join us. I have been doing a lot of working on the play at Knoch this week as well as band and it is just a blast! I am really excited for the show in November. (Make sure you come out and see it as it will be a really great show!) Anyway, simple Friday Post today. Nothing to crazy today. I have been so busy that it has certainly been a struggle to keep up with life! But God is still God and I am still a follower of Him! I love Him and I love working as His servant. My prayer is that someday you will all enjoy working as God's servants fully devoted to Him! Have a great day everyone!
Brad
Brad
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Friday Post 10.10.08
Hi Everyone,
I am preaching at New Life this Sunday so I have decided to share with you a part of my message for Sunday. (A sort of preview!!)
My biggest prayer is that we will step up to the microphone (to use the words of the Newsboys) to live out our faith daily! Anyway, here is a snippet.
Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Colossians 2:7 states: Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
When we allow Christ’s teaching to become the foundation of our lives we are guaranteed that our faith will grow strong and we will overflow with thankfulness. Today we are going to study what happens when one of those building blocks is missing or somehow was taken away from the foundation.
The verse in Colossians 2:7 is a foundational verse for us to live on when it is partnered especially with Mathew 7:24-27. After studying Jesus best sermon ever for 20 weeks we must not let it fade from who we are. We must make his teaching the very essence of our being. I am not trying to be all mythical and mysterious, not at all. What I am saying is that it is time for God’s church to take seriously the call to live a life that is built and rooted in the bedrock of His word and not the “ideas” of our time. That is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 7:24-27.
When we look at the very nature of the builders in Matthew 7:24-27 we can see many similarities. They both desired to have a beautiful home. They both desired to live in the same area (based on the context of the scripture). They both wanted a place for their families to be protected and safe. There is one key difference though. When we look at the passage we see that the wise man thought through his decision to build his house. He took the time necessary to pray and dream and then plan for his house. The foolish man, on the other hand, did not. The foolish man could only see the end result in his mind. He just wanted to get the house up and worry about the rest later. The wise man must have not only read the Bible but also Andy Stanley’s insightful book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry because he understood what it took to build a lasting home. Stanley’s book deals primarily with ministry but it has real application to our lives as well. In Stanley’s book he talks about clarifying a win and thinking steps to get to that win.
The result for the wise man was joy and thankfulness as he built upon a solid foundation that never moved allowing his house to stand firm against the storm. While the result for the foolish man was hopelessness and despair as he lost everything. I don’t mean to make a teaching of Jesus sound so gloomy and sad but the reality is that if Jesus isn’t the foundation of our lives then we will not stand against the storms of this life. Some may turn to something other than the solid foundation that will only be washed away in the storm causing their lives to be that much more desolate.
But the truth today is that Jesus is the solid foundation. God’s word is our solid foundation. When we do the things that Jesus tells us to do and allow our roots to grow down deep into God then we will have a solid foundation on which to stand against the trials we face in life.
For more and two great illustrations you really don't want to miss, be at New Life this Sunday at 10:00 AM!
See ya,
Brad
I am preaching at New Life this Sunday so I have decided to share with you a part of my message for Sunday. (A sort of preview!!)
My biggest prayer is that we will step up to the microphone (to use the words of the Newsboys) to live out our faith daily! Anyway, here is a snippet.
Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Colossians 2:7 states: Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
When we allow Christ’s teaching to become the foundation of our lives we are guaranteed that our faith will grow strong and we will overflow with thankfulness. Today we are going to study what happens when one of those building blocks is missing or somehow was taken away from the foundation.
The verse in Colossians 2:7 is a foundational verse for us to live on when it is partnered especially with Mathew 7:24-27. After studying Jesus best sermon ever for 20 weeks we must not let it fade from who we are. We must make his teaching the very essence of our being. I am not trying to be all mythical and mysterious, not at all. What I am saying is that it is time for God’s church to take seriously the call to live a life that is built and rooted in the bedrock of His word and not the “ideas” of our time. That is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 7:24-27.
When we look at the very nature of the builders in Matthew 7:24-27 we can see many similarities. They both desired to have a beautiful home. They both desired to live in the same area (based on the context of the scripture). They both wanted a place for their families to be protected and safe. There is one key difference though. When we look at the passage we see that the wise man thought through his decision to build his house. He took the time necessary to pray and dream and then plan for his house. The foolish man, on the other hand, did not. The foolish man could only see the end result in his mind. He just wanted to get the house up and worry about the rest later. The wise man must have not only read the Bible but also Andy Stanley’s insightful book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry because he understood what it took to build a lasting home. Stanley’s book deals primarily with ministry but it has real application to our lives as well. In Stanley’s book he talks about clarifying a win and thinking steps to get to that win.
The result for the wise man was joy and thankfulness as he built upon a solid foundation that never moved allowing his house to stand firm against the storm. While the result for the foolish man was hopelessness and despair as he lost everything. I don’t mean to make a teaching of Jesus sound so gloomy and sad but the reality is that if Jesus isn’t the foundation of our lives then we will not stand against the storms of this life. Some may turn to something other than the solid foundation that will only be washed away in the storm causing their lives to be that much more desolate.
But the truth today is that Jesus is the solid foundation. God’s word is our solid foundation. When we do the things that Jesus tells us to do and allow our roots to grow down deep into God then we will have a solid foundation on which to stand against the trials we face in life.
For more and two great illustrations you really don't want to miss, be at New Life this Sunday at 10:00 AM!
See ya,
Brad
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Friday Post 9.26.08 No. 5 Obj. #1 Cont...
Welcome back to the Friday Post everyone!
This week we will be discussing three attributes of God and how they relate to the existence of evil and suffering. (Again this comes from the book: The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.)
Attribute #1 God is All-Powerful
To say that God is all-powerful is to say that he can do everything that is meaningful, everything that is possible, everything that makes any sense at all. Strobel then asks Kreeft a question: "So there are some things he can't do even though he's all-powerful?" Kreeft answers "Precisely because he is all powerful, he can't make mistakes." When we examine the all-powerful God agains the problem of evil, the question always arises: "If God is all-powerful then why doesn't he stop evil and suffering?" Well first of all we have to examine where evil and suffering began. Evil and suffering wasn't created by God but God created the possiblity for evil and suffering because he created humans with free-will. Logically you can't have free will and no possiblity of evil! When God created humans he gave them the free-will to make their own choices. That is when sin entered the world and why there is evil and suffering all over the world. All because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, by their own free-will, and thus chose not God but the world and with it sin.
So then, why didn't God create a world without human freedom? Kreeft says because then there wouldn't be any humans. Kreeft argues that that kind of world would be one without hate, without suffering, but it would also have been a world without love, which is the highest value in the universe. The highest good could have never been experienced. Real love must have a choice involved.
If I might go off track here for a minute, this is Brad speaking, and take a look at this concept: God didn't want robots he wanted people! That is why he created a world where people would choose whether or not they would love Him even though He loves us before we know Him! The Word of God says in 1 John 4:8 and 4:16 that God is love. So if love is the highest value in the universe and God is love, then God himself is what people long for! Each of us was made with a God shaped hole in our heart designed to be filled with God and His love. He values each of us more than we can know. He is our creator. We are made in His image. Therefore, the thing that we desire the most is the love of God and His direction in our life. You may not know it yet but God wants to lead you through your life so that you can experience exactly what God has for you. Even though sometimes the path leads through pain and suffering, ultimately good comes form those things! We will examine this more throughout next week! I am going to be posting attributes two and three throughout the week next week so that you can chew on attribute one now!
For Christ's Cause,
Brad
PS... In Case you didn't notice, this is going to take us a little longer than 8 weeks. I hope that this is beneficial information to you and that you will use it for God's glory and to learn to defend your faith in Jesus Christ! We will finish when we finish!
This week we will be discussing three attributes of God and how they relate to the existence of evil and suffering. (Again this comes from the book: The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.)
Attribute #1 God is All-Powerful
To say that God is all-powerful is to say that he can do everything that is meaningful, everything that is possible, everything that makes any sense at all. Strobel then asks Kreeft a question: "So there are some things he can't do even though he's all-powerful?" Kreeft answers "Precisely because he is all powerful, he can't make mistakes." When we examine the all-powerful God agains the problem of evil, the question always arises: "If God is all-powerful then why doesn't he stop evil and suffering?" Well first of all we have to examine where evil and suffering began. Evil and suffering wasn't created by God but God created the possiblity for evil and suffering because he created humans with free-will. Logically you can't have free will and no possiblity of evil! When God created humans he gave them the free-will to make their own choices. That is when sin entered the world and why there is evil and suffering all over the world. All because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, by their own free-will, and thus chose not God but the world and with it sin.
So then, why didn't God create a world without human freedom? Kreeft says because then there wouldn't be any humans. Kreeft argues that that kind of world would be one without hate, without suffering, but it would also have been a world without love, which is the highest value in the universe. The highest good could have never been experienced. Real love must have a choice involved.
If I might go off track here for a minute, this is Brad speaking, and take a look at this concept: God didn't want robots he wanted people! That is why he created a world where people would choose whether or not they would love Him even though He loves us before we know Him! The Word of God says in 1 John 4:8 and 4:16 that God is love. So if love is the highest value in the universe and God is love, then God himself is what people long for! Each of us was made with a God shaped hole in our heart designed to be filled with God and His love. He values each of us more than we can know. He is our creator. We are made in His image. Therefore, the thing that we desire the most is the love of God and His direction in our life. You may not know it yet but God wants to lead you through your life so that you can experience exactly what God has for you. Even though sometimes the path leads through pain and suffering, ultimately good comes form those things! We will examine this more throughout next week! I am going to be posting attributes two and three throughout the week next week so that you can chew on attribute one now!
For Christ's Cause,
Brad
PS... In Case you didn't notice, this is going to take us a little longer than 8 weeks. I hope that this is beneficial information to you and that you will use it for God's glory and to learn to defend your faith in Jesus Christ! We will finish when we finish!
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Friday Post 9.19.08 No. 4: Are you Following?
Hi Everyone,
The Friday Post is a little different today. Due to various issues this week such as power outages etc. I am going to share with you the reading from Oswald Chambers book My Utmost for His Highest for today 9.19.08. Read through the devotional and ask yourself: "Am I following Jesus like I should?" As I read this this morning I was really challenged by that question. How about you?
For Christ,
Brad
From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
September 19
"Are You Going on With Jesus?"
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" ( John 6:66 ).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on "outside the camp" ( Hebrews 13:13 ). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, "FollowMe" ( Matthew 4:19 )
The Friday Post is a little different today. Due to various issues this week such as power outages etc. I am going to share with you the reading from Oswald Chambers book My Utmost for His Highest for today 9.19.08. Read through the devotional and ask yourself: "Am I following Jesus like I should?" As I read this this morning I was really challenged by that question. How about you?
For Christ,
Brad
From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
September 19
"Are You Going on With Jesus?"
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" ( John 6:66 ).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on "outside the camp" ( Hebrews 13:13 ). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, "FollowMe" ( Matthew 4:19 )
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Friday Post 9.12.08 No. 3 Objection #1
This week we really begin to go deeper into what it means to be able to defend our faith. The very first chapter or objection that Strobel brings up in his book The Case for Faith is probably one of the toughest questions that Christians are asked or more accurately told is "Since evil and suffering exist, a loving God cannot..." Strobel's goal in finding answers to this question is to journalistically seek out interviews with the brightest and most intelligent professors, teachers, speakers of the Christian faith and ask them these tough questions. Strobel asked the following question to Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, after reading an excerpt from his interview with Charles Templeton: How do you respond to Templeton's discourse about a poor African woman holding her dying baby all because there was no rain in their land for months. God could have caused the rain to come but he didn't. Templeton's exact phrase was "considering the plagues that sweep across parts of the planet and indiscriminately kill..and it just became crystal clear to me that it is not possible for an intelligent person to believe that there is a deity who loves."
Kreeft responded that you must focus on the words "is not possible" because to say that there is no God who is infinitely more than you or I is intellectual arrogance. Basically what that means is that to say that there is no God is to place yourself as the highest level being! Kreeft says this in explanation "How can a mere finite human be sure that infinite wisdom would not tolerate certain short-range evils in order for more long-range good that we couldn't foresee?" Kreeft uses this example to further his explanation: "Imagine a bear in a trap and a hunter who, out of sympathy, wants to liberate him. He tries to win the bear's confidence, but he can't do it, so he has to shoot the bear full of drugs. The bear, however, thinks this is an attack and that the hunter is trying to ill him. He doesn't realize that this is being done out of compassion. Then, in order to get the bear out of the trap, the hunter has to push him further into the trap to release the tension on the spring. If the bear were semiconscious at that point, he would be even more convinced that the hunter was his enemy who was out to cause him suffering and pain. But the bear would be wrong. He reaches this incorrect conclusion because he's not a human being."
Kreeft went on to ask "Now, how can anyone be certain that's not an analogy between us and God? I believe God does the same to us sometimes, and we can't comprehend why he does it any more than the bear can understand the motivations of the hunter. As the bear could have trusted the hunter, so we can trust God."
Kreeft also points out that evil can in turn prove God's existence. Not because God created evil, because he didn't, but because there is a standard of good which determines what evil is! God is the standard of good. God made the standard of good. Kreeft also uses this example that if he is grading students' papers and he gives one student a 90% and another an 80% then there must be a standard that lays the foundation to receive a 100%.
Kreeft also uses this example to show how evil proves God's existence. If there is no Creator and therefore no moment of creation, then everything is the result of evolution. If there was no beginning or first cause, then the universe must have always existed. That means the universe has been evolving for an infinite period of time--and, by now, everything should already be perfect. There would have been plenty of time for evolution to have finished and evil to have been vanquished. But there still is evil and suffering and imperfection--and that proves the atheist wrong about the universe.
Stobel explains that Kreeft goes on to prove the existence of a loving God by showing that God didn't create evil, he allowed for the possibility of evil. Which means that he gave us free-will to choose. By nature of choice we have two choices: good or evil. We, therefore, are the ones who allowed evil to happen because we chose evil in the beginning by disobeying God's commands! Thus sin entered the world and ever since we have been cursed by the evil of our wrong choice. Think about this: The point to remember is that creating a world where there's free will and no possibility of sin is a self-contradiction--and that opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of the pain in the world is caused by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.
Next week we will continue to discuss this very issue further. For now I think you have a lot to think about and maybe respond to. Next week we will discuss further the three attributes of God and how they line up logically with the way we think! I hope you will take some time each week to read through The Friday Post. These issues are not easy but they do challenge us to grow deeper in our faith with our all-powerful, omnipotent, glorious, and loving God! See you next week where the conversation continues!
For Christ's Cause,
Brad
Kreeft responded that you must focus on the words "is not possible" because to say that there is no God who is infinitely more than you or I is intellectual arrogance. Basically what that means is that to say that there is no God is to place yourself as the highest level being! Kreeft says this in explanation "How can a mere finite human be sure that infinite wisdom would not tolerate certain short-range evils in order for more long-range good that we couldn't foresee?" Kreeft uses this example to further his explanation: "Imagine a bear in a trap and a hunter who, out of sympathy, wants to liberate him. He tries to win the bear's confidence, but he can't do it, so he has to shoot the bear full of drugs. The bear, however, thinks this is an attack and that the hunter is trying to ill him. He doesn't realize that this is being done out of compassion. Then, in order to get the bear out of the trap, the hunter has to push him further into the trap to release the tension on the spring. If the bear were semiconscious at that point, he would be even more convinced that the hunter was his enemy who was out to cause him suffering and pain. But the bear would be wrong. He reaches this incorrect conclusion because he's not a human being."
Kreeft went on to ask "Now, how can anyone be certain that's not an analogy between us and God? I believe God does the same to us sometimes, and we can't comprehend why he does it any more than the bear can understand the motivations of the hunter. As the bear could have trusted the hunter, so we can trust God."
Kreeft also points out that evil can in turn prove God's existence. Not because God created evil, because he didn't, but because there is a standard of good which determines what evil is! God is the standard of good. God made the standard of good. Kreeft also uses this example that if he is grading students' papers and he gives one student a 90% and another an 80% then there must be a standard that lays the foundation to receive a 100%.
Kreeft also uses this example to show how evil proves God's existence. If there is no Creator and therefore no moment of creation, then everything is the result of evolution. If there was no beginning or first cause, then the universe must have always existed. That means the universe has been evolving for an infinite period of time--and, by now, everything should already be perfect. There would have been plenty of time for evolution to have finished and evil to have been vanquished. But there still is evil and suffering and imperfection--and that proves the atheist wrong about the universe.
Stobel explains that Kreeft goes on to prove the existence of a loving God by showing that God didn't create evil, he allowed for the possibility of evil. Which means that he gave us free-will to choose. By nature of choice we have two choices: good or evil. We, therefore, are the ones who allowed evil to happen because we chose evil in the beginning by disobeying God's commands! Thus sin entered the world and ever since we have been cursed by the evil of our wrong choice. Think about this: The point to remember is that creating a world where there's free will and no possibility of sin is a self-contradiction--and that opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of the pain in the world is caused by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.
Next week we will continue to discuss this very issue further. For now I think you have a lot to think about and maybe respond to. Next week we will discuss further the three attributes of God and how they line up logically with the way we think! I hope you will take some time each week to read through The Friday Post. These issues are not easy but they do challenge us to grow deeper in our faith with our all-powerful, omnipotent, glorious, and loving God! See you next week where the conversation continues!
For Christ's Cause,
Brad
Friday, September 5, 2008
Friday Post Vol. 1 No. 2--9.5.08
Hi Everyone!
Welcome back to The Friday Post! This week is going to be an overview of what we are going to be studying over the next 8 weeks. I am simply posting the 8 topics we will be discussing. These topics again come from the book: The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel. I also want you all to be aware that these topics are very tough questions that have been picked apart by Strobel who took a journalists perspective and came to the conclusion that faith is an extremely necessary part of our life. In fact that's what we were made for! An abiding relationship with God! So read through these 8 topics and think about them. Write down any questions you might have and then post a comment when we we get to that topic. God is real. God is good. But these questions are tough. However, God is bigger than any of these questions and seeking him out for them only makes us stronger in Him. I hope this journey leads you to a stronger faith as well as a stronger sense of defending our faith!
Topics:
1. If there's a loving God, why does this pain-wracked world groan under so much suffering and evil?
2. If the miracles of God contradict science, then how can any rational person believe that they're true?
3. If God really created the universe, why does the persuasive evidence of science compel so many to conclude that the unguided process of evolution accounts for life?
4. If God is morally pure, how can he sanction the slaughter of innocent children as the Old Testament says he did?
5. If Jesus is the only way to heaven, then what about the millions of people who9 have never heard of him?
6. If God cares about the people he created, how could he cosign so many of them to an eternity of torture in hell just because they didn't believe the right things about him?
7. If God is the ultimate overseer of the church, why has it been rife with hypocrisy and brutality throughout the ages?
8. If I'm still plagued by doubts, then is it still possible to be a Christian?
Like I said, these questions are tough questions. But believe me there is no reason to beat around the bush. God is bigger than any of these questions and Strobel will help us to understand God's perspective on each of these very issues! I pray that you will begin to think and write down questions so that you may learn along with us as we endeavor to answer the tough questions. God is good and He will guide us through the next 8 weeks!
Until next week,
Brad
Welcome back to The Friday Post! This week is going to be an overview of what we are going to be studying over the next 8 weeks. I am simply posting the 8 topics we will be discussing. These topics again come from the book: The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel. I also want you all to be aware that these topics are very tough questions that have been picked apart by Strobel who took a journalists perspective and came to the conclusion that faith is an extremely necessary part of our life. In fact that's what we were made for! An abiding relationship with God! So read through these 8 topics and think about them. Write down any questions you might have and then post a comment when we we get to that topic. God is real. God is good. But these questions are tough. However, God is bigger than any of these questions and seeking him out for them only makes us stronger in Him. I hope this journey leads you to a stronger faith as well as a stronger sense of defending our faith!
Topics:
1. If there's a loving God, why does this pain-wracked world groan under so much suffering and evil?
2. If the miracles of God contradict science, then how can any rational person believe that they're true?
3. If God really created the universe, why does the persuasive evidence of science compel so many to conclude that the unguided process of evolution accounts for life?
4. If God is morally pure, how can he sanction the slaughter of innocent children as the Old Testament says he did?
5. If Jesus is the only way to heaven, then what about the millions of people who9 have never heard of him?
6. If God cares about the people he created, how could he cosign so many of them to an eternity of torture in hell just because they didn't believe the right things about him?
7. If God is the ultimate overseer of the church, why has it been rife with hypocrisy and brutality throughout the ages?
8. If I'm still plagued by doubts, then is it still possible to be a Christian?
Like I said, these questions are tough questions. But believe me there is no reason to beat around the bush. God is bigger than any of these questions and Strobel will help us to understand God's perspective on each of these very issues! I pray that you will begin to think and write down questions so that you may learn along with us as we endeavor to answer the tough questions. God is good and He will guide us through the next 8 weeks!
Until next week,
Brad
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Friday Post Vol.1 No.1 8.29.08
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the first edition of The Friday Post! I am really excited to be posting each week on topics that deal with life and God. My prayer for you all will be that you take some time and read each post, think about them, and then respond using the comment link underneath this post. I have unlocked the comment feature so that all who read this post can respond. The only way you can post a comment is if you click on the title of the post which is found at the top of the post (For example: this one is "The Friday Post Vol.1 No.1 8.29.08"). You will then be redirected to the posts own page where you will go to the bottom of the post and click add comment. Please be courteous and respectful with your responses. I review all comments before they are given permission for posting. I desire for you to respond with questions about the post, maybe ideas you have about this topic, or if you don't agree tell me why. I WILL RESPOND to all comments, questions, etc. via the comment tab or email if you so desire. So if you are seeking to go deeper in your faith in God or if you are curious about faith in God then read these posts, think, and respond so that your brain can connect the dots to faith and you can begin living your life to its fullest potential in Christ your creator!
With that being said welcome to the first Friday Post:
We will be discussing the book The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel over the next couple of months. Each Friday I will post a summary from this book for you to read, think and respond to beginning today. If you are unfamiliar with this book, it is a book about making a case for faith in God. Lee Strobel is a journalist who seeks to investigate the toughest objections to Christianity. The first part of this book from the introduction through the first chapter lays out the foundation for this book. Strobel uses the examples of two very predominant men whose profession was writing and speaking. The first being that of Rev. Billy Graham who we all know so well as the faithful evangelist preaching God's Word to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. The second person being Charles Templeton who followed God's calling on his life into evangelism alongside Billy Graham.
Strobel shares with us the different paths these two men took shortly after their coming together to spread the gospel. Templeton began to have doubts about faith and whether a loving God actually existed in a world with so much pain and suffering. Billy Graham, after discussing these matters with Templeton, sought after God through prayer, studying God's Word, and waiting on God for His direction in these matters in the stillness of the San Bernadino Mountains in Southern California. The two men came to two very different conclusions. Templeton's conclusion being the end of his evangelistic career and in fact the end of his ministry and faith in God. Graham's conclusion being the beginning of an amazing and influential journey of trusting God with everything. You see the two conclusions of these men differ so much because Templeton just could not get away from the doubts that were so pressing in his eyes, whereas Graham after seeking God in the mountains came down with the conclusion that though some of these tough philosophical and psychological questions couldn't be answered in human terms that God's Word must be accepted through faith.
In short, Strobel went and interviewed Templeton to ask him why he turned from Christianity to Agnosticism. Templeton explained to Strobel that an Agnostic believes that you cannot know if there is a God and therefore since you cannot know you cannot believe in God. In their interview Strobel asked Templeton about Jesus. Templeton immediately broke down and declared that Jesus was the most moral genius. Templeton began to weep saying he adored Jesus and missed him greatly. Because of Templeton's doubt he could not believe in Jesus when that was in fact what he was longing for the most. Strobel began to search deeply after the interview for the evidence for Christ's divine nature. He then published the book The Case for Christ. After that he began his next endeavor and that being this book The Case for Faith. He explains that this book was written to examine eight (he calls them "The Big Eight") objections that stand between a person and their faith in God. Stobel is a journalist so he is very thorough in his investigation of faith.
This week is more of an introduction to our study. Next week I will post "The Big Eight" to get you thinking and then we will discuss the first one next Friday. This book is a great book to get our brains thinking about faith but specifically your personal faith in God. It is important that we examine the tough questions of our faith. If we do not overcome these obstacles of faith ourselves then we will never be able to fully defend our faith in God. If you don't have faith in God then my prayer is you will check back and read these posts over the next two months and be open to the reality that God exists and we need an abiding relationship with Him. In fact, we were designed for it! More on that later!
Thanks for reading this weeks edition of The Friday Post! Check back next week for more. Don't forget you can respond using the comment link just below this post. God bless each of you.
For the cause of Christ,
Brad
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
YES!
Hi Everyone!
I am so sorry that I have not written in so long. Sam and I went through the craziness of moving and are still living in the craziness of box life. (We didn't move into a box, but there are boxes everywhere in our house!) I am really excited to be down in the area and have really enjoyed chillin with a lot of people since the move. I am so blessed by all of you!
So as Sam and I continue to unpack and get used to the new house we will continue to seek and worship God for all He has done and continue to hang with peeps from the church because it rocks!
I just want to say a special thank you to all of you who helped us move! You are such blessings to us. May God bless you richly for your faithfulness in serving Him!
Well, that is about it for now. I will be writing more frequently now as I finally have an office that has my PC hooked up all the time!!
Take Care All,
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
I am so sorry that I have not written in so long. Sam and I went through the craziness of moving and are still living in the craziness of box life. (We didn't move into a box, but there are boxes everywhere in our house!) I am really excited to be down in the area and have really enjoyed chillin with a lot of people since the move. I am so blessed by all of you!
So as Sam and I continue to unpack and get used to the new house we will continue to seek and worship God for all He has done and continue to hang with peeps from the church because it rocks!
I just want to say a special thank you to all of you who helped us move! You are such blessings to us. May God bless you richly for your faithfulness in serving Him!
Well, that is about it for now. I will be writing more frequently now as I finally have an office that has my PC hooked up all the time!!
Take Care All,
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wait for it...
So these past couple of weeks God has really been teaching me exactly what Pastor Chris talked about last week at New Life: PATIENCE. Some of you may know, but I will fill everyone in: I have been without of my VW Beetle for about 3 weeks now because it has stopped running. Whenever I start it it just shuts back down. After discovering that it is highly likely that it was because of my fuel pump not working, I went and bought a new fuel pump. I ordered it from Advance Auto Saturday April 12, and had to WAIT to get it in last Thursday. So anyway, this Saturday I installed it into my car and as I went to hook up the electrical connection I realized that the fuel pump has the wrong connection and would not plug into the connector. Soooo, I called Advance and they told me that depending on what time of the year my 98 Beetle was built results in a differnt type of fuel pump. As I was on the phone with them I really became frustrated because I really need my car! So now I am waiting until, hopefully, sometime today to get the new fuel pump.
So why am I telling you this??? Because after Pastor Chris's message on Sunday, God opened my heart to the fact that I should not be frustrated but rather trust God and wait on Him! This time without my car has been a great time of just spending time with God and talking to Him about everything. Patience is a very important aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit and as I grow closer to God I see this area in particular is one that I really struggle in. (Just ask my wife!!! :) ) The awesome thing is that after this bout with my car not working and having time to just spend with God has helped me develop a healthy habit where I pray when I feel the stress of not having a car when I need to be somewhere. It isn't just that stress of this situation but to wait on God for everything and be patient knowing that he will take care of any situation as long as I seek Him and ask Him and wait for his timing and his way. His way is not Brad's way. It is a good thing that God is in conrtol (Sovereign), Amen!
1 I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2
Peace,
Brad
Monday, April 21, 2008
What is your favorite T.V. Show?
So what is your favorite T.V. show???
My Top 5:
1. House
2. Law and Order (All of Them!)
3. Spongebob
4. Deadliest Catch
5. Heroes
What are yours? Shoot me an email or post a comment! (Must be registered with blogger to comment!)
See ya,
Brad
The LiveRelevant.com Experiment
The LiveRelevant.com Experiment is a chance for you to get involved in making your Relevant Student Ministry page the best that it can be. So how can you get involved? Send me your ideas! Sit down and put on your creative hat and think about how we can make LiveRelevant.com more RELEVANT for you and your friends. After you have done this, then get up and go to your computer. At this point resist all urges to visit youtube (as this will probably lead to a great distraction) and send me an email with your ideas! You may see one of your ideas hit the page after we re-launch LiveRelevant.com on June 5, 2008. But if you don't, don't be flabbergasted, instead jump up and down and then stand on your head if you can. Then send me another email with more ideas!
This is your chance to totally revolutionize LiveRelevant.com so that it can reach as many people as possible. I hope to hear from you very soon with your exquisitely relevant ideas! We will take ideas through May 20, 2008! We will then launch the new page June 8, 2008! (If you haven't noticed we generally update the page design every season of the year...so your ideas could be put into the next design update!)
Later,
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
This is your chance to totally revolutionize LiveRelevant.com so that it can reach as many people as possible. I hope to hear from you very soon with your exquisitely relevant ideas! We will take ideas through May 20, 2008! We will then launch the new page June 8, 2008! (If you haven't noticed we generally update the page design every season of the year...so your ideas could be put into the next design update!)
Later,
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Tonight at Relevant
Sooooo it is really rainy and really cold! We will be moving the activities inside and playing BUZZTIME!! It is a sweet game retrofitted to the early Nintendo game system (only with wireless controllers!).
So come tonight and have a blast as we play Buzztime together!!! See you then! 6:00pm @ the Browns. Check out www.liverelevant.com for details and directions. Be there... or be a box shaped organism!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
Saturday, April 5, 2008
This Game is UNBELIEVABLE!
Check This:
I am posting to let you all know about the most AMAZING GAME EVER CREATED by Brad French (with a little help from my friends and wife!) The basic game is simple and played at most student ministries around the world. But this game is specifically the best edition. I call it: The Freaking Awesome Capture the Flag--Dodgeball Style. Basically we have combined Dodgeball with Capture the Flag. With a few other changes. The person guarding the flag has a jousting pool noodle. This noodle, convienientlyfound at Target, has too large ends on a normal pool noodle. The person with this noodle is specially trained and can hit anyone trying to "touch" their flag. That person is not out but has to go back to their base to recharge. There are other two people who stand guard in their home area armed with "normal" pool noodles. There job is to joust the other team with the end of the noodle. You cannot smack the noodle you have to jab it using the end. If a person on the other team gets jousted, then they must go to the jail area of the team that jousted them. Next there are two people with kickballs. These people are called the Canobombers. They essentially have the ability to throw the kickballs at people throwing the ball at an arch through the air hoping to hit someone. If the person gets hit by this ball then they are OUT of the whole game (Because if you can't see a gigantic kickball coming at you through the air... well... nuff said.)! Next there will be six three people on each team who each have two nerf balls. This group is known as the Calvary. The Calvary can throw their balls at people and send them to their jail. Then everyone else are the army. Their objective is to touch the flag. Once the flag is touched the team with the touched flag loses and a new game is initiated.
So anyway, this game is going to be awesome once everyone understands all the rules. I am pretty excited about this! If you want to play you should come over to the Brown's home and play with us on Sunday night! Their address along with a lot of other information about our ministry can be found at the Relevant Student Ministry Website: http://www.liverelevant.com/ Check it out! Holla back now ya'll! Peace.
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
New Life Christian Ministries http://www.newlifexn.org/
Relevant Student Ministries http://www.liverelevant.com/
I am posting to let you all know about the most AMAZING GAME EVER CREATED by Brad French (with a little help from my friends and wife!) The basic game is simple and played at most student ministries around the world. But this game is specifically the best edition. I call it: The Freaking Awesome Capture the Flag--Dodgeball Style. Basically we have combined Dodgeball with Capture the Flag. With a few other changes. The person guarding the flag has a jousting pool noodle. This noodle, convienientlyfound at Target, has too large ends on a normal pool noodle. The person with this noodle is specially trained and can hit anyone trying to "touch" their flag. That person is not out but has to go back to their base to recharge. There are other two people who stand guard in their home area armed with "normal" pool noodles. There job is to joust the other team with the end of the noodle. You cannot smack the noodle you have to jab it using the end. If a person on the other team gets jousted, then they must go to the jail area of the team that jousted them. Next there are two people with kickballs. These people are called the Canobombers. They essentially have the ability to throw the kickballs at people throwing the ball at an arch through the air hoping to hit someone. If the person gets hit by this ball then they are OUT of the whole game (Because if you can't see a gigantic kickball coming at you through the air... well... nuff said.)! Next there will be six three people on each team who each have two nerf balls. This group is known as the Calvary. The Calvary can throw their balls at people and send them to their jail. Then everyone else are the army. Their objective is to touch the flag. Once the flag is touched the team with the touched flag loses and a new game is initiated.
So anyway, this game is going to be awesome once everyone understands all the rules. I am pretty excited about this! If you want to play you should come over to the Brown's home and play with us on Sunday night! Their address along with a lot of other information about our ministry can be found at the Relevant Student Ministry Website: http://www.liverelevant.com/ Check it out! Holla back now ya'll! Peace.
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
New Life Christian Ministries http://www.newlifexn.org/
Relevant Student Ministries http://www.liverelevant.com/
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
WOW!
As I look at the past week, all I can say is WOW! God did awesome things! We had so many events happen! From setting up on Thursday for the Good Friday Youth Pizza Breakfast to Thursday night our Seder Meal, to Sunday our 3 services of worship! God is sooo Goood (All the time, Ahhh, Yeeeaaahhh!) Thursday night was awesome. We learned how a traditional Jewish passover reflects the life and sacrifice of Jesus. Friday morning was rockin with 100 students worshipping God and learning more about him from all over the Saxonburg, Sarver area! Friday night we enjoyed worshipping with our friends at Crossway as Pastor Chris brought the word!
Saturday morning we had some crazy set-up and rehearsal time at South Butler Primary School. Being a mobile church, and worshipping in a school, we weren't sure what electric circuits we could pull power from without blowing a fuse. Sooo...we blew a circuit and couldn't find out how to turn it back on! But God is good and gave Evan and I an idea to run the power from the other side of our stage which is divided between the "Cafetorium" (where we worship and it is sweet!) and the Gym. So we ran power from the Gym and everything worked! Why did we blow a fuse you might ask? Well we had an some extra components for our Easter worship time. We borrowed some lights from friends at North Main St. Church of God and they just pushed the limit with the power we had and thus the power went out! But after we hooked it up to two different areas we were good to go! God is sooo awesome! So rehearsal was a little shaky because of that, but it didn't matter. God still came through and it is all about him anyway!
Easter was sweet! Our sunrise service was very, very cold. I couldn't feel my fingers switching between chords as I strummed the song "Lord I Lift Your Name on High". We then went down to the South Butler Primary School (where we meet for worship) and prayed and gave God the day and the services and ran our first service. The drama's were all amazing! The students along with our friend Chris Dickson, totally rocked the "Lifehouse" drama. It touched so many people in a powerful way. Jesus is our Everything and he gave it all to be with us! Hopefully soon you can see the drama on YouTube!!! The dramatic readings were fantastic and the band did a rocking job leading worship! The second service was really rockin' out! I was so pumped to see God show up and use everyone who was involved for his glory as we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus!
After that Sam and I went up to visit our parents and celebrate my brother R.J.'s birthday!
I was just so blessed to see God come through in so many ways this past week! He always does but I just always want to give him the glory for everything. We are nothing and Jesus gives us life! So if you were a part of any of those services I hope you experienced God in a real way! Int totally we set up and tore down 3 separate times in 4 days. Which means we moved all the sound gear and lighting a total of six times in 4 days! We learned how to really pack our trailer full! So in to sum up: Holy Week was AWESOME!
Take Care All!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
http://www.liverelevant.com/
Saturday morning we had some crazy set-up and rehearsal time at South Butler Primary School. Being a mobile church, and worshipping in a school, we weren't sure what electric circuits we could pull power from without blowing a fuse. Sooo...we blew a circuit and couldn't find out how to turn it back on! But God is good and gave Evan and I an idea to run the power from the other side of our stage which is divided between the "Cafetorium" (where we worship and it is sweet!) and the Gym. So we ran power from the Gym and everything worked! Why did we blow a fuse you might ask? Well we had an some extra components for our Easter worship time. We borrowed some lights from friends at North Main St. Church of God and they just pushed the limit with the power we had and thus the power went out! But after we hooked it up to two different areas we were good to go! God is sooo awesome! So rehearsal was a little shaky because of that, but it didn't matter. God still came through and it is all about him anyway!
Easter was sweet! Our sunrise service was very, very cold. I couldn't feel my fingers switching between chords as I strummed the song "Lord I Lift Your Name on High". We then went down to the South Butler Primary School (where we meet for worship) and prayed and gave God the day and the services and ran our first service. The drama's were all amazing! The students along with our friend Chris Dickson, totally rocked the "Lifehouse" drama. It touched so many people in a powerful way. Jesus is our Everything and he gave it all to be with us! Hopefully soon you can see the drama on YouTube!!! The dramatic readings were fantastic and the band did a rocking job leading worship! The second service was really rockin' out! I was so pumped to see God show up and use everyone who was involved for his glory as we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus!
After that Sam and I went up to visit our parents and celebrate my brother R.J.'s birthday!
I was just so blessed to see God come through in so many ways this past week! He always does but I just always want to give him the glory for everything. We are nothing and Jesus gives us life! So if you were a part of any of those services I hope you experienced God in a real way! Int totally we set up and tore down 3 separate times in 4 days. Which means we moved all the sound gear and lighting a total of six times in 4 days! We learned how to really pack our trailer full! So in to sum up: Holy Week was AWESOME!
Take Care All!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
http://www.liverelevant.com/
Friday, March 14, 2008
Simple Idea...Hard to Follow Through: SURRENDER
Hi Everyone,
I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted. Since Christmas life has been a whirlwind! God has done some awesome things!!! I am so pumped for what He is going to continue to do this year that I can hardly contain it...and in fact I won't!!! God is AWESOME and when you completely surrender to Him He uses you in amazing ways!
Last weekend we held our annual SpringBash! A lock-in chock full of amazing things! Inflatable games, swimming, 3-on-3 BB Tournament, DODGE BALL TOURNAMENT, rockin band, speaker...those things are all well and good and exciting, but the most AMAZING thing...25 students dedicated their life to Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These students stepped out in faith to believe that Jesus died for them and that He is the ONLY way into God's eternal presence and now they can rest assured that they will have eternal life in Heaven! The important thing though is that they don't just stay where they are. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be alive in Him and be forgiven of sins so that we can live free! Students, if you are reading this blog right now I want you to pray and ask God to forgive you of sin and set you free to do his work! Surrender yourself in all areas to God and he will raise you up to do amazing things! (Eph. 2:10)
I am so excited to see what these students will do for God! When we surrender ourselves to God and look to be last in the world, God will put us first in His kingdom! What a reward that is! Students, you have the ability to change the world today! When other students see you changed by God they will want to change too! When you give up the world and all its sin that is harmful, God will lift you up and use you to radically change those around you and possibly change the whole world as a result!!!!
God Rocks.
Give me a Holla!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
www.newlifexn.org
I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted. Since Christmas life has been a whirlwind! God has done some awesome things!!! I am so pumped for what He is going to continue to do this year that I can hardly contain it...and in fact I won't!!! God is AWESOME and when you completely surrender to Him He uses you in amazing ways!
Last weekend we held our annual SpringBash! A lock-in chock full of amazing things! Inflatable games, swimming, 3-on-3 BB Tournament, DODGE BALL TOURNAMENT, rockin band, speaker...those things are all well and good and exciting, but the most AMAZING thing...25 students dedicated their life to Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These students stepped out in faith to believe that Jesus died for them and that He is the ONLY way into God's eternal presence and now they can rest assured that they will have eternal life in Heaven! The important thing though is that they don't just stay where they are. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be alive in Him and be forgiven of sins so that we can live free! Students, if you are reading this blog right now I want you to pray and ask God to forgive you of sin and set you free to do his work! Surrender yourself in all areas to God and he will raise you up to do amazing things! (Eph. 2:10)
I am so excited to see what these students will do for God! When we surrender ourselves to God and look to be last in the world, God will put us first in His kingdom! What a reward that is! Students, you have the ability to change the world today! When other students see you changed by God they will want to change too! When you give up the world and all its sin that is harmful, God will lift you up and use you to radically change those around you and possibly change the whole world as a result!!!!
God Rocks.
Give me a Holla!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
www.newlifexn.org
Friday, January 11, 2008
Relevant University This Week!
The long awaited Relevant University is beginning this week! This week's topic is "The Beginning" an indepth look at the Book of Genesis and it's foundation. I am really excited for this opportunity for you all to get involved with. RU is a great place to learn about God and go deeper in your relationship with Him. This week's instructor is Bill Gebhart and it will be a great time with Him. I hope you come and enjoy learning about God. Don't forget there is an opportunity to win a Nintendo Wii with Guitar Hero III for those who attend as often as they can. If you can't make it on a Sunday please talk to me so that I can get you caught up and give you credit for "showing up" even if you can't! God bless you all as we journey together in God's Word!
Relevant Univeristy
9:00-9:50 AM
New Life Christian Ministries
Every Sunday Morning
Relevant Univeristy
9:00-9:50 AM
New Life Christian Ministries
Every Sunday Morning
Friday, January 4, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year Everyone!
This year is going to be great! We are looking forward to many positive changes for Relevant! As we look at Relevant University (RU) there is an amazing opportunity to grow in your faith each week... and more than that, each day. As we begin RU the time slot for the regular Sunday night activity changes! We have moved the time back a half hour so that we can have more time to do more fun things. The new time will be 6:00 PM -8:00 PM that is changed from 6:30! Please make note of this change as some nights we will be leaving from the Brown's to go to another place! I hope you all had a great holiday season and that your year started off well (as you returned back to school)! I am really excited about this coming year and looking forward so much to getting to know you each so much better! God bless and keep you! See you on Sunday!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
This year is going to be great! We are looking forward to many positive changes for Relevant! As we look at Relevant University (RU) there is an amazing opportunity to grow in your faith each week... and more than that, each day. As we begin RU the time slot for the regular Sunday night activity changes! We have moved the time back a half hour so that we can have more time to do more fun things. The new time will be 6:00 PM -8:00 PM that is changed from 6:30! Please make note of this change as some nights we will be leaving from the Brown's to go to another place! I hope you all had a great holiday season and that your year started off well (as you returned back to school)! I am really excited about this coming year and looking forward so much to getting to know you each so much better! God bless and keep you! See you on Sunday!
Brad
brad@newlifexn.org
www.liverelevant.com
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