Last Saturday was my first ever mini, mini, mini triathlon. In this event you swam for 10 minutes, biked on a stationary bike for 30 minutes, and ran for 20 minutes. My whole goal was to just finish without loosing breakfast.
When I got there I was placed in a group with a certified triathlete. He was completely ripped. How discouraging it would have been to have to compete next to him by myself.
You know what made the race easier for me? I competed with two other friends – Dave Smith and Kris Eggehorn. Biking, swimming, and running can be tough on your own, but when done with others it can actually be enjoyable. I’m looking forward to our next race.
Two are better than one. We’re better together. To do the Christian life you need teamwork. Are you trying to live the Christian life on your own? If so, you’re in for an uphill battle. If you’re feeling overwhelmed it may be God telling you to find a friend.
#4 – Pastor Charles Green – Saturday, May 1st @ 10 AM and Sunday, May 2nd at 9:15 and 11 AM.
Pastor Charles is in his 86th year but he is still as sharp and on fire as he has ever been. Pastor Charles spent most of his ministry pastoring Word of Faith Church in New Orleans, raising it up to well over 3,000 members. He also served on the Board of Regents at Oral Roberts University. Saturday’s meeting will be a brunch and a time teaching for all of our volunteers. What a privilege to have this great man of God with us.
#3 – The Jared Anderson Concert – Sunday, April 11th at 6 PM
May be you’re saying, “So. Who’s Jared Anderson?” Jared’s songs have been recorded and performed by the likes of the David Crowder band. His worship songs are sung around the world. He’ll be at Victory’s Crossing for a FREE, that’s right, FREE concert. Seating is limited, so get there early.
This service will remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. An inspiring message will help us see what the cross means for you and I today. There will be communion, worship, and a reenactment of the crucifixion.
#2 – Easter Celebration Services – Saturday, April 3rd at 7 PM and Sunday April 4th at 9:15 and 11 AM
These will be three identical services. That means this year you can celebrate Easter on Saturday night! Each service will feature a dramatic production called Stories that really makes Jesus resurrection come to life. Number 3 and 4 to come tomorrow. Stay tuned….
There will be times in ministry when we, like John Wesley, feel defeated, lethargic, powerless, and dead. We can choose to quit or settle for the status quo. I believe what we need many times is a fresh experience with the Holy Spirit as Wesley had.
In the Old Testament Israel’s first king Saul also faced a season of defeat at the beginning of his reign. No one believed in him. Many despised him. In times of crisis no one went to him for help. All of that changed when the Holy Spirit rushed upon him. It was the turning point from ineffectiveness to effectiveness as a leader though it was short lived. In 1 Samuel 11:6 we read, “And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.”
What we need many times isn’t more leadership insights, or counseling, but to wait on God and to call upon Him for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18-19 – 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart
John Wesley was not always on fire. In fact there was a time early in his ministry when he considered himself a complete failure. He was lethargic, tired, powerless, and he wanted to run and hide. He was a defeated Christian, a defeated leader.
He found this out after being ordained a minister in the church of England. He took a mission trip to Georgia to evangelize the Indians. He arrived in Georgia in 1735 and was stoked about the prospects of ministry, but his mission to the indians would be a complete and utter failure. He became so depressed he quit and took a ship back to England. Worse still, the ship he was on went through a terrible storm and he discovered that he, the man of God, had a terrible fear of death. Defeated he would write this upon his return to England, “I went to America to convert the Indians, but oh, who shall convert me?”3
That could have been the end of John Wesley’s ministry. He could have retreated and said, “I will always be defeated in ministry.” But things changed. Knowing he needed more of God, he went to a worship service at a Moravian Christian Church on Aldersgate Street in London. While listening to the introduction to Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans, Wesley said he felt his heart “strangely warmed.” On that day the Spirit of God rushed upon Wesley and transformed this sickly leader into a flaming evangelist for God.4
What can you and I learn from this experience? To be continued…
3 Bill T. Arnold, 1 and 2 Samuel : The Niv Application Commentary from Biblical Text– to Contemporary Life, Niv Application Commentary(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003), 183.
When John Wesley died in 1791 it was estimated that there 72,000 members in the Methodist movement alone in England, and that’s not counting those in North America. The impact of the Weslyan revival was huge bringing a much needed reformation to the church of England that had become comfortable, wealthy, and dead. Historians look back now and see that the Weslyan revival that stirred up so much reformation, spirituality and morality probably spared England from the same horrible revolution that toppled France during that same time.2
However, Wesley was not always on fire. In fact there was a time early in his ministry when he considered himself a complete failure. He was lethargic, tired, powerless, and he wanted to run and hide. He was a defeated Christian, a defeated leader. To be continued…
2 Bill T. Arnold, 1 and 2 Samuel : The Niv Application Commentary from Biblical Text– to Contemporary Life, Niv Application Commentary(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003), 183.
John Wesley, one of the great heroes of Church history, and founder of the Methodist Church accomplished amazing things in his ministry. He was a man on the move. It has been estimated that during his life he traveled about 250,000 miles on horseback preaching the gospel out doors to the common people in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. He preached around 40,000 sermons. He worked with some 15 different languages and wrote over 600 works of literature.1 More to come…
Bill T. Arnold, 1 and 2 Samuel : The Niv Application Commentary from Biblical Text– to Contemporary Life, Niv Application Commentary(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003), 183.
What is the most important meeting of the day for you? Is it your staff meeting? Is it the casual meeting around the coffee pot with co-workers? Is it the meeting with a mentor that you greatly admire? Is it the meeting around the dinner table with family after a long day of work? Maybe you’re in an entrepreneurial season of your life and are hoping to find people to connect with. Any meeting would be great.
The most important meeting of the day for the Christian is our time with God. That’s our chance to connect with the One who has all wisdom. He knows the way we should go and has the strength to get us there. The great thing is we don’t have to schedule a time. We can meet with our greatest mentor, the most powerful boss, our truest friend, the One who can open doors no man can shut any time we turn our hearts to him. Don’t forget about your most important meeting of the day.
Jared Anderson is one of the leading worship artists in the church today. His songs, such as “Rescue” and “Amazed”, are sung in churches around the world. Jared was a student at Oral Roberts University when I was on staff there 10 years ago as the Director of Music Ministries. I knew he was extremely gifted back then but I couldn’t see at that time the great plans God had for his music.
I received a surprise call from Jared yesterday. That blew me away, but what he had to say next really knocked me over. He and his band asked if they could come to our church for a worship concert Sunday night, April 11th. I said, “Most definitely!”
Help us spread the word about this upcoming night of music ministry. We hope to pack the house out. This will be a FREE concert event. Check out Jared’s music video below and visit his website at jaredanderson.com.
