Reflecting on Christmas: Join the Conspiracy!
Ok, I have a confession. I love Christmas! One of my favorite all time holiday movies is Christmas Vacation. Clark Griswold became my hero at a very young age and I always wanted to have more lights on my house than he did on his. Some years I think I almost succeeded. He set unrealistic expectations. He spent money he didn’t have to make his family happy and love him more, when really all they wanted was him. Clark wanted to have everything perfect for his family and friends so that Christmas would be a 10. In the end what they really wanted was him. Unfortunately many of us labor under this illusion, that if we do more, schedule more, spend more, decorate more that we will somehow experience the illusive dream of a perfect Christmas. The opposite of that is the Scrooge. Where is a meaningful medium? The good news is that this year we have a better plan and an opportunity for you to find new meaning, fulfillment and make a difference for someone else.
This morning I woke up to the terrifying reality that there are only 20 more shopping days left until Christmas. For those of us including myself, who have been putting off all the things on our holiday to do list, this strikes terror in our hearts. But this year many of us are resolving to celebrate Christmas in a different way; without all the stress, the debt, guilt and exhaustion. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that we are not going to give presents or become the new Grinch. We are simply going to refuse to be swept away and buy into unrealistic expectations. We are going to seek to focus on the things that are really important. That is at the heart of what the Advent Conspiracy is all about: worship fully, spend less, give more and love all. I want to challenge you to think about how you will live out each of these in a way that enriches your experience of the Christmas season. VISIT OUR NEWHOPEPDX WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
This week, I want to challenge you in two specific areas this week.
Give More: Relational Giving
I am excited about the adventure of doing Christmas different this year. I love the phrase “relational giving” which implies giving something much deeper than material gifts. It means giving our presence and not just presents. I want to challenge you to explore what relational giving can look like for you this Christmas. More than anything it is giving the most important gift we can give to someone we love, TIME. It used to crack me up when my kids were little and they would say to me, “Dad, let’s spend some quality time together.” I am not sure if they had a clue as to what that phrase actually meant, but I did know they wanted to be together and wanted my undivided attention. We adults sometimes use quality time as an excuse for not spending quantitative time with our loved ones. Quality time means spending quantity time too. It means being present and emotionally available when we are with the people we love. How will you give yourself in a relational way this Christmas?
Love All
To love as Jesus loved means to love and care for the least of these. In the Advent Conspiracy we resolve to spend less and resist the compulsion of having to go in debt to try to make Christmas meaningful. What if we just bought one present less or spent 10% less? What would happen if we would take part of that and invest it in people in a way that literally could save their lives? As we resolve to spend less this Christmas, let’s take part of it and give it away in an expression of love to the least of these. We will share more about the projects we have for our Christ’s Birthday Offering this year that will literally transform lives of the least of these. Each week in the Advent Conspiracy we will be sharing how together we can make a difference. Last Sunday we adopted the Angel Tree for children of inmates. It was amazing that we ran out of angels on the tree before the morning was over.
Food for the Hungry
Starting this Sunday and for the next four weeks, we will be collecting food for local organizations that provide food for those in need right in our own backyard. All food collected will be shared with Esther’s Pantry in Milwaukee, which serves those affected by AIDS, and the Clackamas Service Center on SE 82nd, a religious group we partner with that serves the homeless and low income families in Clackamas County. There will be well marked Advent Conspiracy food barrels in the lobby. Here’s what we are collecting:
Boxed and canned meals
Pasta (dry or microwaveable)
Rice (dry or microwaveable)
Share Your Ideas with Us
I would love to hear your ideas on how you will make Christmas more meaningful this year. These will be helpful for our whole church family. Please click here to share them with us.
SOME GREAT NEWS!
Congratulation to the New Hope Kid’s who just raised over $1,600 to help build our Habitat for Humanity House. Wow kids, that is a lot of money. The kid’s choir will be singing on Sunday December 14th and they will be presenting a check to Habitat that Sunday.
One hundred small group leaders and hosts were appreciated and honored at a luncheon at the Aerie Club House on Sunday November 23. We salute this incredible team.
Pastor Mike reported that 44 young marrieds attended The First Married Life event for this age group two weeks ago.
The final results for our First Fruits Offering are now approaching $75,000. Thank you Lord and our New Hope family! This was especially amazing on a fourth Sunday of the month, which is usually our lowest.
Over 100 people have signed up to sing in the Community Choir for the Christmas Candlelight Services. Pastor David Boots is directing it.
We are averaging over 4,000 unique visitors to our web site each month.
Almost 100 people have bought tickets for our Second Wind Christmas Brunch this Sunday December 7th at 12:30 pm. There is still time to get a ticket. Call the front desk, 503-659-5683 or get a ticket Sunday morning for $11 per person. Jay Barber will be the guest speaker, beautiful traditional Christmas music, door prizes and a whole lot more. It is open to everyone.
Thanks to whoever made the incredible, warm chocolate chip and walnut cookies for me this week after I encouraged people to make homemade gifts – and unashamedly (I should have been) mentioned those were my favorite.
Have a great week. We have a very special day planned for you this Sunday in our Advent Series as well as celebrating communion. Pastor Brent will be preaching.
I would love to get you feedback and comments on the ipastor blog!
See you Sunday.
Pastor Ray
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
I Am Thankful For Indians
This past week my six year old son Blake came home from Spring Mountain Elementary with a painted craft turkey. Any parent or grandparent knows exactly what I am talking about. Blake was asked to write what he was thankful for on the turkey’s belly. He wrote: “I Am Thankful For Indians”.
Like Blake, most of us learned in grade school that the Pilgrims first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621 in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. Originally 102 of them sailed here from England on the Mayflower, but only 56 of them survived their first year. The Pilgrims realized, when their first harvest was so bountiful, that they could not have made it without their Indian friends and decided to celebrate with a feast. I guess my 1st grader got it right!
Two years later in 1623, Massachusetts was experiencing a severe drought (our nations first economic downturn?), prompting Governor William Bradford to ask for the Pilgrims to pray. The Pilgrims prayed and it rained the very next day, ensuring another bountiful harvest. A grateful Bradford, without delay, ordered a day of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was not celebrated again for fifty-three years.
In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Upon further study I have learned that it was a woman who had more to do with our country’s decision to celebrate what we recognize today as Thanksgiving. It wasn’t George Washington she had to convince, but Abraham Lincoln, who in 1863, 74 years and 15 presidents later, decided to declare a day of Thanksgiving. Even then, it took Sara Josepha Hale , a magazine editor, forty years to write enough letters and editorials to convince a sitting American President to set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
Every American President since Lincoln has signed proclamations commemorating Thanksgiving. Interestingly, the holiday has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year since 1941 even though President Franklin Roosevelt did agree on one occasion to move the day from the last Thursday in the month of November to the next-to-last Thursday. Guess Why? You got it: To create a longer Christmas shopping season . If the devil’s not in the details, I don’t know who is!
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. Thanksgiving is more than a day off. Thanksgiving is more than turkeys. Thanksgiving is a perspective.
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 95:2)
This Thanksgiving I am grateful for my life in Christ, and you my precious church community. Like Blake and the Pilgrims, I Am Thankful For Indians (family and friends) that I could not have made it without. Let me encourage you to take a moment and thank God for the things that no one can take from you. After all is said and done, it really is Him to whom we should pause and give thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Brent
Continue Reading
Like Blake, most of us learned in grade school that the Pilgrims first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621 in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. Originally 102 of them sailed here from England on the Mayflower, but only 56 of them survived their first year. The Pilgrims realized, when their first harvest was so bountiful, that they could not have made it without their Indian friends and decided to celebrate with a feast. I guess my 1st grader got it right!
Two years later in 1623, Massachusetts was experiencing a severe drought (our nations first economic downturn?), prompting Governor William Bradford to ask for the Pilgrims to pray. The Pilgrims prayed and it rained the very next day, ensuring another bountiful harvest. A grateful Bradford, without delay, ordered a day of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was not celebrated again for fifty-three years.
In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Upon further study I have learned that it was a woman who had more to do with our country’s decision to celebrate what we recognize today as Thanksgiving. It wasn’t George Washington she had to convince, but Abraham Lincoln, who in 1863, 74 years and 15 presidents later, decided to declare a day of Thanksgiving. Even then, it took Sara Josepha Hale , a magazine editor, forty years to write enough letters and editorials to convince a sitting American President to set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
Every American President since Lincoln has signed proclamations commemorating Thanksgiving. Interestingly, the holiday has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year since 1941 even though President Franklin Roosevelt did agree on one occasion to move the day from the last Thursday in the month of November to the next-to-last Thursday. Guess Why? You got it: To create a longer Christmas shopping season . If the devil’s not in the details, I don’t know who is!
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. Thanksgiving is more than a day off. Thanksgiving is more than turkeys. Thanksgiving is a perspective.
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 95:2)
This Thanksgiving I am grateful for my life in Christ, and you my precious church community. Like Blake and the Pilgrims, I Am Thankful For Indians (family and friends) that I could not have made it without. Let me encourage you to take a moment and thank God for the things that no one can take from you. After all is said and done, it really is Him to whom we should pause and give thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Brent
Friday, November 21, 2008
Reflecting and Drinking some Coffee
Hello New Hope Community,
I’m sipping my second cup of coffee, watching the rain fall from the overcast Portland sky and contemplating what I should write about in this week’s iPastor. My mind immediately journeys back to last Sunday’s weekend worship service which had incredible music, inspiring stories of life-change expressed through baptism, and the fact that hundreds of New Hopers recommitted their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
For the past four weeks we have been challenged to ‘Mind Our Own Business’ …which means we are running God’s Business (because its all his stuff anyway!). Many of you have made the hard decision to dump credit card debt and start ‘Acting Your Wage’ by paying CASH for your everyday living expenses. Others have accepted the 3 Month Tithe Challenge to literally test God and see if the Lord holds true to His promises of blessing in our lives.
ma’aser
Did you know that the word "tithe" is derived from the Hebrew word ma’aser and it literally means a tenth? Ten percent of everything belongs to the Lord. In Malachi 3:10-11, God says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” The 'storehouse' is the Old Testament picture of the New Testament church. So as New Testament believers, we worship the Lord with the tithe; or the ten percent.
As a tangible and faithful act of worship, this weekend our entire community will be giving a First Fruits Offering by bringing a tithe. Remember, God doesn't need our money. He owns everything. But we give first because it takes faith to give first and God wants us to trust Him. He tells us in Proverbs 3:9-10 to “honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops and then your barns will be filled with overflowing.” We give first and the blessings of God follow.
* 10% of this weekends offering will go toward fulfilling New Hope’s Habitat For Humanity Faith Build Commitment & replenish New Hope’s Families In Crisis Funds to help families in our church during these tough times.
This Sunday
Dr. Jay Barber will be teaching this weekend at New Hope. For the past 12 years Dr. Barber has capably served as the President of Warner Pacific College, in addition to holding positions with the Murdock Foundation, etc… President Jay will be continuing our Leadership America Needs Series with his message aptly entitled … “Lessons I Have Learned Along The Way”. New Hope is blessed to have Jay on staff in his part time pastoral leadership capacity. You DON’T want to miss this weekend …trust me!
Next Series
Next Sunday the 30th of November Pastor Ray will be kicking off our Advent Conspiracy Christmas Series. This weekend you will be hearing more about our plans for Christmas and how you can ENTER the STORY!
November Survey
As the Pastors and Leaders of New Hope continue to pray and plan for an exciting new year, we want to hear from you. We have created an on-line survey which will give you an opportunity to join the dialogue. Bottom line… we really care about you and want to hear from you. Please take a few moments to complete this quick survey and let us know what you think.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Brent
Continue Reading
I’m sipping my second cup of coffee, watching the rain fall from the overcast Portland sky and contemplating what I should write about in this week’s iPastor. My mind immediately journeys back to last Sunday’s weekend worship service which had incredible music, inspiring stories of life-change expressed through baptism, and the fact that hundreds of New Hopers recommitted their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
For the past four weeks we have been challenged to ‘Mind Our Own Business’ …which means we are running God’s Business (because its all his stuff anyway!). Many of you have made the hard decision to dump credit card debt and start ‘Acting Your Wage’ by paying CASH for your everyday living expenses. Others have accepted the 3 Month Tithe Challenge to literally test God and see if the Lord holds true to His promises of blessing in our lives.
ma’aser
Did you know that the word "tithe" is derived from the Hebrew word ma’aser and it literally means a tenth? Ten percent of everything belongs to the Lord. In Malachi 3:10-11, God says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” The 'storehouse' is the Old Testament picture of the New Testament church. So as New Testament believers, we worship the Lord with the tithe; or the ten percent.
As a tangible and faithful act of worship, this weekend our entire community will be giving a First Fruits Offering by bringing a tithe. Remember, God doesn't need our money. He owns everything. But we give first because it takes faith to give first and God wants us to trust Him. He tells us in Proverbs 3:9-10 to “honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops and then your barns will be filled with overflowing.” We give first and the blessings of God follow.
* 10% of this weekends offering will go toward fulfilling New Hope’s Habitat For Humanity Faith Build Commitment & replenish New Hope’s Families In Crisis Funds to help families in our church during these tough times.
This Sunday
Dr. Jay Barber will be teaching this weekend at New Hope. For the past 12 years Dr. Barber has capably served as the President of Warner Pacific College, in addition to holding positions with the Murdock Foundation, etc… President Jay will be continuing our Leadership America Needs Series with his message aptly entitled … “Lessons I Have Learned Along The Way”. New Hope is blessed to have Jay on staff in his part time pastoral leadership capacity. You DON’T want to miss this weekend …trust me!
Next Series
Next Sunday the 30th of November Pastor Ray will be kicking off our Advent Conspiracy Christmas Series. This weekend you will be hearing more about our plans for Christmas and how you can ENTER the STORY!
November Survey
As the Pastors and Leaders of New Hope continue to pray and plan for an exciting new year, we want to hear from you. We have created an on-line survey which will give you an opportunity to join the dialogue. Bottom line… we really care about you and want to hear from you. Please take a few moments to complete this quick survey and let us know what you think.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Brent
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
HOW ABOUT SOME GOOD NEWS?
I like good news! I am always encouraged when I hear about people growing and taking next steps. I have some very good news that I want to share with you today as well answer a question about our new development a lot of you have been asking.
Sunday afternoon a young couple stopped me at the mall because they wanted to share their excitement about what God was doing in their lives.
They had been a listening to the messages about “Minding Your Own Business” and had decided to take a step to financial freedom and to tithe. They were anxious to share with me what God had already done in their lives this last week and how helpful the messages are. I have been so encouraged to see people taking next steps in getting out of debt, becoming financially free and putting God first in their lives. Both Pastor Brent and I have been getting a bunch of feedback from people about what God is doing and the courageous decisions they are making.
The good news is that we do not have to live “the normal (average) American lifestyle,” deeply in debt, full of anxiety and fear, and living from paycheck to paycheck. In fact, I believe that we can be abnormal (interpreted above average) and live in financial peace and freedom. I will be conducting a Financial Freedom Seminar tonight at 6:30 pm at the church and next Wednesday night also. I will give you practical hands on ways to get a financial plan, start budgeting, saving, getting out of debt and investing. These tools are from Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial. There is no better time than the present to start. We also have financial coaches available for you.
You will receive in the mail this week a letter about our Thanksgiving First Fruits Sunday November 23. We are encouraging everyone who has made a commitment to begin tithing (10%) or giving to start on Thanksgiving Sunday November 23. We are also encouraging those who are already faithfully tithing to bring it that day. We will be giving a tithe (10%) of this offering to meet our goal of $15,000 for our current Habitat For Humanity House; also to restart our Families in Crisis Fund for New Hope families going through financial difficulty. If you did not get to fill out the Three Month Tithing Challenge with God’s guarantee, there will be one in the letter that you can fill out and bring back this Sunday.
Some more good news is that we had over 1700 last Sunday in church.
The week before, 46 new guests visited New Hope. Over the last three months we have had 429 new and returning guests. Wow! These are just the ones who are registering. Our return rate of third time guests to first times guests has been 75% over the last three months. On a recent Sunday morning we had eight new families just in Waumba Land at the 9:00 am service. Pastor Brent will be sharing more exciting news about all this with you on Sunday.
Many of you have been asking how the current national financial crisis is affecting our new project. I have been in meetings for the last week trying to determine exactly how this will affect us. The short answer is that we know it will delay us by 6-12 months and possibly longer, depending on the length of the credit crisis. The good news is that the project is still moving ahead and the start date will depend on God’s timing. We are still involved in the entitlement and zoning process and that is all proceeding nicely. I will keep you posted.
If you have stories about financial next steps or how God is working in your life in your giving, financial planning or getting out of debt, please share them with us on this blog. We would love to hear from you.
Don’t forget we have some great classes and groups on Wednesday evening's Dig In and Pastor Brent is starting a new SHAPE Class tonight. Click here to find out all that is happening.
Just a quick personal note, my daughter Andria and her husband Jordan will be coming home from University of Chicago this weekend and will be at church on Sunday. Jordan has been invited to be one of the speakers at a celebration at the Portland Art Museum honoring Jay Barber’s retirement. Congratulations Jay and Jan, we are so proud of you and happy to have you on Team New Hope!
Keep encouraged and keep trusting God as you take next steps. Looking forward to hearing from you!
PASTOR RAY
Continue Reading
Sunday afternoon a young couple stopped me at the mall because they wanted to share their excitement about what God was doing in their lives.
They had been a listening to the messages about “Minding Your Own Business” and had decided to take a step to financial freedom and to tithe. They were anxious to share with me what God had already done in their lives this last week and how helpful the messages are. I have been so encouraged to see people taking next steps in getting out of debt, becoming financially free and putting God first in their lives. Both Pastor Brent and I have been getting a bunch of feedback from people about what God is doing and the courageous decisions they are making.
The good news is that we do not have to live “the normal (average) American lifestyle,” deeply in debt, full of anxiety and fear, and living from paycheck to paycheck. In fact, I believe that we can be abnormal (interpreted above average) and live in financial peace and freedom. I will be conducting a Financial Freedom Seminar tonight at 6:30 pm at the church and next Wednesday night also. I will give you practical hands on ways to get a financial plan, start budgeting, saving, getting out of debt and investing. These tools are from Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial. There is no better time than the present to start. We also have financial coaches available for you.
You will receive in the mail this week a letter about our Thanksgiving First Fruits Sunday November 23. We are encouraging everyone who has made a commitment to begin tithing (10%) or giving to start on Thanksgiving Sunday November 23. We are also encouraging those who are already faithfully tithing to bring it that day. We will be giving a tithe (10%) of this offering to meet our goal of $15,000 for our current Habitat For Humanity House; also to restart our Families in Crisis Fund for New Hope families going through financial difficulty. If you did not get to fill out the Three Month Tithing Challenge with God’s guarantee, there will be one in the letter that you can fill out and bring back this Sunday.
Some more good news is that we had over 1700 last Sunday in church.
The week before, 46 new guests visited New Hope. Over the last three months we have had 429 new and returning guests. Wow! These are just the ones who are registering. Our return rate of third time guests to first times guests has been 75% over the last three months. On a recent Sunday morning we had eight new families just in Waumba Land at the 9:00 am service. Pastor Brent will be sharing more exciting news about all this with you on Sunday.
Many of you have been asking how the current national financial crisis is affecting our new project. I have been in meetings for the last week trying to determine exactly how this will affect us. The short answer is that we know it will delay us by 6-12 months and possibly longer, depending on the length of the credit crisis. The good news is that the project is still moving ahead and the start date will depend on God’s timing. We are still involved in the entitlement and zoning process and that is all proceeding nicely. I will keep you posted.
If you have stories about financial next steps or how God is working in your life in your giving, financial planning or getting out of debt, please share them with us on this blog. We would love to hear from you.
Don’t forget we have some great classes and groups on Wednesday evening's Dig In and Pastor Brent is starting a new SHAPE Class tonight. Click here to find out all that is happening.
Just a quick personal note, my daughter Andria and her husband Jordan will be coming home from University of Chicago this weekend and will be at church on Sunday. Jordan has been invited to be one of the speakers at a celebration at the Portland Art Museum honoring Jay Barber’s retirement. Congratulations Jay and Jan, we are so proud of you and happy to have you on Team New Hope!
Keep encouraged and keep trusting God as you take next steps. Looking forward to hearing from you!
PASTOR RAY
Friday, November 7, 2008
A Few Days In The Life Of
A Few Days In The Life Of
I was reminded of a quote recently from John Maxwell: ‘we over-estimate the event and we under-estimate the process.’ For me this is a helpful reminder that becoming a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ isn’t automatic or instantaneous …but it’s a journey.
The Apostle Paul challenged the church in Rome to: take their everyday, ordinary life—their sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Here are a few snapshots on how I attempted to take a few real life steps towards living out New Hope’s mission to: grow in intimacy with God, community with each-other, and increased influence with the world.
>>>>>
Saturday, Nov 1st
Dave Ramsey Live @ The Memorial Coliseum: super fun yet insightful few hours listening to Dave talk about money, culture, and how God’s word can make perfect sense of it all. www.daveramsey.com.
Sunday, Nov 2nd
I continued the ‘Mind Your Own Business’ series by sharing a message out of the book of Proverbs entitled ‘Act Your Own Wage’. I was blown away by the response of our community. Hundreds dedicated or rededicated their lives to honoring God with their time, talents & treasure.
Monday, Nov 3rd
Followed up on connections and emails from Sunday, prepared for Tuesday’s meetings & commitments, planned next Sunday’s worship experience with Josh Lee, met with Student Community Pastor Peter Johnsen (who’s wife Marjie is due with their 1st child any day!).
Tuesday, Nov 4th
7am: facilitated a group of super creative people to envision and begin the implementation process of planning this year’s Christmas Series www.adventconspiracy.org & the Christmas Candlelight Services for our community.
11am: shared a message about prayer at the Warner Pacific College chapel. Enjoyed lunch in the newly remodeled Egvedt Hall with a table full of New Hope college students and staff.
7pm: had a blast with my small group, which comprises of several couples who have relocated to the Portland area within the past year -- and who LOVE New Hope.
Wednesday, Nov 4th
6:30pm: hosted an action packed Membership Class with Pastors Ray & David, while hearing the beautiful sounds of children, students, and adults (singles, women, couples) ‘Digging In’ @ NH on Wednesday night.
>>>>>
Question: What have you done, are you doing, or will you do, to grow in your relationship with Jesus today?
As Ferris Bueller once said: ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’
Remember, becoming a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ is a process …not an event …a journey, not a sprint …a crock-pot, not a microwave. Let me encourage you to take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Don’t miss out on the opportunity that today offers to take another step in your journey to become more like Jesus.
Peace to you,
Brent
Click Here to see whats going on @ NHCC
Continue Reading
I was reminded of a quote recently from John Maxwell: ‘we over-estimate the event and we under-estimate the process.’ For me this is a helpful reminder that becoming a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ isn’t automatic or instantaneous …but it’s a journey.
The Apostle Paul challenged the church in Rome to: take their everyday, ordinary life—their sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Here are a few snapshots on how I attempted to take a few real life steps towards living out New Hope’s mission to: grow in intimacy with God, community with each-other, and increased influence with the world.
>>>>>
Saturday, Nov 1st
Dave Ramsey Live @ The Memorial Coliseum: super fun yet insightful few hours listening to Dave talk about money, culture, and how God’s word can make perfect sense of it all. www.daveramsey.com.
Sunday, Nov 2nd
I continued the ‘Mind Your Own Business’ series by sharing a message out of the book of Proverbs entitled ‘Act Your Own Wage’. I was blown away by the response of our community. Hundreds dedicated or rededicated their lives to honoring God with their time, talents & treasure.
Monday, Nov 3rd
Followed up on connections and emails from Sunday, prepared for Tuesday’s meetings & commitments, planned next Sunday’s worship experience with Josh Lee, met with Student Community Pastor Peter Johnsen (who’s wife Marjie is due with their 1st child any day!).
Tuesday, Nov 4th
7am: facilitated a group of super creative people to envision and begin the implementation process of planning this year’s Christmas Series www.adventconspiracy.org & the Christmas Candlelight Services for our community.
11am: shared a message about prayer at the Warner Pacific College chapel. Enjoyed lunch in the newly remodeled Egvedt Hall with a table full of New Hope college students and staff.
7pm: had a blast with my small group, which comprises of several couples who have relocated to the Portland area within the past year -- and who LOVE New Hope.
Wednesday, Nov 4th
6:30pm: hosted an action packed Membership Class with Pastors Ray & David, while hearing the beautiful sounds of children, students, and adults (singles, women, couples) ‘Digging In’ @ NH on Wednesday night.
>>>>>
Question: What have you done, are you doing, or will you do, to grow in your relationship with Jesus today?
As Ferris Bueller once said: ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’
Remember, becoming a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ is a process …not an event …a journey, not a sprint …a crock-pot, not a microwave. Let me encourage you to take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Don’t miss out on the opportunity that today offers to take another step in your journey to become more like Jesus.
Peace to you,
Brent
Click Here to see whats going on @ NHCC
Coming Up Soon 11/7/08
This Weekend @ New Hope
Surviving The Holidays – This Saturday, Nov 8
How to navigate the holiday season when you don’t feel the holiday cheer.
10am-12pm @ New Hope
Contact: bev@newhopecommunitychurch.org
Martins Street Faith Build – This Saturday, Nov 8
Contact: danwilliams@gmail.com
New Hope Rocks the (Habitat) House – This Sunday Night, Nov 9
7pm-9pm @ New Hope
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Really Important Stuff
Finances and the economy are on everyone’s mind at the moment. It is driving our national politics, and the concern is world wide. Individually we have questions and concerns about the future, employment, home values, being able to make ends meet and whether the investments for retirement will be there when needed. In spite of the turmoil around us, God has promised us financial peace and financial freedom if we live with our hearts set upon the kingdom.
This last week we heard of several of our families in the church who had lost long standing jobs because of the economy. The new series teaching that Pastor Brent and I are currently starting, “Minding Your Own Business”, will provide timely spiritual direction in navigating these tough times, as well as practical financial insights in managing your resources. These are based on Biblical principles and Dave Ramsey’s and Crown Financial materials. If you missed last Sundays message go to click here to hear it online.
We are also making available excellent resources to assist you. Every Sunday at our front porch during the series, there will be trained financial coaches. There is no charge for this service. You can go online and get resources that will help you in making a financial plan, budgeting, and getting out of debt at www.crown.org/tools
We still have a few discounted tickets available for the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover at the Memorial Coliseum this Saturday, November 1 from 1:00-6:00 PM. They are $24 dollars. Call Darlene at the front desk or Pastor Jerry Schmidt at 503-659-5683 for these. We will be offering a two week financial freedom seminar at the church on Wednesday nights, November 12 & 19 at 6:30 PM. Call Ursula at the church or email Ursula@newhopecommunitychurch.org to register.
Thank you for being such a generous congregation. This last Sunday almost 200 of you offered to be a blood marrow donor to help save the life of one of our own, Sherry Holz. I was so touched by your generosity and response. We have also made a decision to restart our Families in Crisis love offering in November to help church families in need. I will be sharing more about that with you this next month. We will receive a First Fruits Offering on Sunday, November 23, and a part of that will be designated to rebuild that fund.
in the midst of all this, the really “important stuff” that we build our lives on, has not changed. Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you not to worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear.” He goes on to say “But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” There is a way to financial peace and freedom.
Pastor Ray
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This last week we heard of several of our families in the church who had lost long standing jobs because of the economy. The new series teaching that Pastor Brent and I are currently starting, “Minding Your Own Business”, will provide timely spiritual direction in navigating these tough times, as well as practical financial insights in managing your resources. These are based on Biblical principles and Dave Ramsey’s and Crown Financial materials. If you missed last Sundays message go to click here to hear it online.
We are also making available excellent resources to assist you. Every Sunday at our front porch during the series, there will be trained financial coaches. There is no charge for this service. You can go online and get resources that will help you in making a financial plan, budgeting, and getting out of debt at www.crown.org/tools
We still have a few discounted tickets available for the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover at the Memorial Coliseum this Saturday, November 1 from 1:00-6:00 PM. They are $24 dollars. Call Darlene at the front desk or Pastor Jerry Schmidt at 503-659-5683 for these. We will be offering a two week financial freedom seminar at the church on Wednesday nights, November 12 & 19 at 6:30 PM. Call Ursula at the church or email Ursula@newhopecommunitychurch.org to register.
Thank you for being such a generous congregation. This last Sunday almost 200 of you offered to be a blood marrow donor to help save the life of one of our own, Sherry Holz. I was so touched by your generosity and response. We have also made a decision to restart our Families in Crisis love offering in November to help church families in need. I will be sharing more about that with you this next month. We will receive a First Fruits Offering on Sunday, November 23, and a part of that will be designated to rebuild that fund.
in the midst of all this, the really “important stuff” that we build our lives on, has not changed. Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you not to worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear.” He goes on to say “But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” There is a way to financial peace and freedom.
Pastor Ray
Click Here to See What's Coming up at NHCC
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