Keep Pointing

The world is watching...

Hey, in case you missed it, this past weekend we hit week two of our series called FOLLOW.  We hit relationships pretty hard from Philippians 2.  Here's the bottom line: when there's no room for you, then there's plenty of room for Jesus.  We have got to do relationships differently.  The world is watching...

Remember to keep reading through Philippians 2.  Use your notes, use the online sermon curriculum, and memorize your verses.  This week's verse is Philippians 2:3-4 ...

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others."

Keep praying.
Keep inviting.
Keep giving...let's reach Iowa together!

Will you FOLLOW?

Before we take a look ahead, let me tell you about last night:

I'm blown away by the "controlled chaos" of nearly 400 people eating together on Wednesday nights before our FX ministry! What a blessing it is to see these families: moms and dads with kids, grandpas and grandmas with kids, aunts and uncles with kids...who are here because their desire is to learn together and be on the same page with their kids. Remember, we do it different at Prairie Lakes and we refuse to warehouse kids or have a drop-off ministry. We get kids and their parents in the same room, singing the same songs, hearing the same stories and learning the same virtues. We also give them tools to take home and carry it out throughout the week, so that learning about God and following Him is truly a family matter. Is it harder to do it this way? Yes. Is it a little riskier? Yes. But the reward of equipping parents to spiritually lead and guide their children is worth all that effort.

Now for the weekend:

We're going to hit Philippians 2 and I'm going to talk about "No Room For You". This is a don't-miss weekend if you want to live out your relationships differently. So many of our headaches and hassles and problems are relationship based. And this weekend, we're going to FOLLOW the example of Jesus and how to do relationships differently. Get to your campus this weekend with somebody on your arm!

GPS

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

One of my many quirks is that I have a strong need to get my bearings in any location that is unfamiliar to me. I need to know where North, South, South East, North West, etc are, and I like a visual in my mind.  I love globes and maps because they can give you the full picture and your vicinity in relation to all that is around you.  Hence, I have not been a big fan of GPS.  I would rather see the full map and then go by recollection.  So, then, when I mix this quirk with my pride of thinking I know where I'm going, it's not usually a good thing! (Quirks and pride are not good teammates!)

Last weekend Shane and I were in the Twin Cities visiting Karly at her college Family Weekend. Late at night when the three of us were trekking back through the cities, we had this "GPS vs. location recollection" discussion.  I voted for attempting to get back to the college on my own sense because I wanted to have a grasp of the bigger area if we are going to be spending significant time there in the next four years.  My kids, however, wisely said "That's silly, Mom; if we have the GPS app available, why not use it? It's a great tool." If I had listened to them and not attempted to make it on my own knowledge base and pride, we would have arrived sooner and no doubt with a lower anxiety level!

I have been thinking about that in relation to God's Word.  His word is readily available to us in America and has detailed GPS directions and navigation.  When we embark on our day or week without consulting it first, thinking we can rely on our own navigation skills, we are at much greater potential of getting side-tracked or lost.  When we delve into God's word, refer to it often and heed the directions, how much more likely are we to stick to the most optimal route? The Bible is a GPS we deeply need and would be "silly" to neglect.

Whatever Happens

In case you missed it…

• We kicked off our new series, Follow, a five-week journey through Philippians.  I’m really excited about walking through this book together that leads us up to the Advent season.  So, be reading through Philippians, take good notes, and use the online curriculum.  Let God use this book to help you grow and take next steps.  This past weekend we learned that whatever happens, God’s got it...so don’t waste it.
• 35 people were voted in as new members at Prairie Lakes Church – Praise God!  I encourage you all to keep taking next steps.  What are yours?
• There were four car loads of people from Grinnell at our Waterloo Campus this weekend, watching and observing.  Very cool!

Alright, Prairielakers, do everything possible to bring someone to church with you this weekend.  Read Romans 10:14-17 and ask God, "Who do you want me to bring?"  (Thanks, Perry Noble.)  If that's a little uncomfortable, check out this great article by Jeff Henderson for some tips on inviting someone to church.  And remember...it's about eternity.

...DRUMROLL... Please!!!

WOW!  Praise God!  Your pledge cards for A Better Story have been counted. (And there still some to process, and still more coming in...)  I am humbled and excited to tell you that so far, the total amount pledged across all campuses is $3.1 million!  For those of you haven't pledged yet, don't worry, you still can.   Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this 26-month journey.  You can pledge online or pick up a pledge card in the lobby at your campus this weekend.  What a blessing each of these pledges are -- they're allowing us to take a giant leap forward in our mission to reach Iowa! 

Here's a quick look ahead to the weekend:

• We're starting a new series called, "Follow: A Journey through Philippians."  Read Philippians 1 before you come to service, and think of this phrase, "Whatever Happens..."
• A special Business Meeting is being held at 10:20am on the Cedar Falls Campus, for the purpose of voting on new members and proposed bylaw changes.  If you're a member, don't forget to vote, either by absentee ballot or by the electronic ballot sent to your email.
• Remember, this is the last weekend to bring your boxes back for Operation Christmas Child.  Speaking of OCC, check out this story about how one of our PLC gals decided to be Jesus with skin on and GO to the children in need, showing them a tangible expression of Christ's love.

As always, invite!  Who from your circle will you invite to come with you this weekend?  Who needs you to invite them?  Go get 'em!

A Better Story...

When our kids were little, John and I discovered that they loved it when we told stories. It seemed that no matter the time of day or night, they would beg for a story. John often told Jimmy and Joey stories, and I would make up stories that played off a situation that they were currently in that was semi-realistic, and we would insert their names in the story. They relished being part of the story. There would usually be a point of tension in the story, but always a happy ending. 

Like our stories told, we have the opportunity to insert our names into the real-life story of what God is doing across Iowa and even into Sudan, Cambodia, and Kenya! Wouldn’t it be fun to someday re-count the stories to our children and our children’s children the details of the horrible conditions for those in Sudan with no clean water, but how God used the funds from A Better Story in Iowa - to bring them clean water and what it was like that first moment when the Sudan children drew water from their clean water supply! With each story we will re-count, there will no doubt be frustrations, hurdles, and even times when the listener is about to give up hope.  But, then, will come the break-through when we tell how God accomplished unthinkable things because the characters in the story didn’t give up! 

The stories of our lives have huge potential to become greater and greater, as we team with God to be part of what HE is doing. Road-blocks, disappointments, and hurdles are to be expected.   But the hope lies in that the final chapter will conclude with a Happy Ending – a changed life – another soul that will get to spend eternity in Heaven, never to be separated from God! That’s a story we want to be part of!  

A Minute-Twenty with Pastor John

 

Can't see the video?  Click here.

Don't Settle. Just don't...

Whoa!  This weekend is going to be awesome!  Do everything you can to be here this final weekend of writing A Better Story.  The worship experience at all of our campuses this weekend is going to be a Jesus-centered celebration that you will never forget.  Those of us who walked through this 8 years ago at the Bible Conference grounds still remember the moment when we banded together to do something beyond what we could do on our own - starting a campaign for the Cedar Falls facility we’re blessed with today.

Please be going to God in the next couple days about your pledge for A Better Story.  Don't just take the easy route, don't settle for "somebody else will do it", and don't let this spiritual adventure pass you by.

On another note:  Last night at theRock and theRoad (our Jr. High and Sr. High ministries) our students stepped forward to pledge and sacrifice things in their lives for the next 26 months so we can reach Iowa and around the world.  The students focused on five parts of A Better Story that were pretty relevant to them:  building a school in Kwambekenya with 410 Bridge, providing clean water in Sudan with Samaritan’s Purse, trafficking prevention in Cambodia with Samaritan’s Purse, reaching children in Grinnell, and providing chairs to reach Waterloo -for the Waterloo campus. 

 

Students pinned prayers across a map of Iowa, and by the end of the night, the map was covered with prayers to reach the lost in Iowa. 

 

The students pledged towards the children's ministry in Grinnell – they’ve caught the vision, and are excited about writing A Better Story.

 It was an awesome night!  Think what these students are learning at this age - on this spiritual adventure.  It gives me chills to watch God work.  I'm looking forward to this weekend and all that God has in store -- make sure you get to your campus.  And remember, don't settle...

A Burning Desire

In case you missed it:

• Watch Pastor Chip's two-minute recap of this weekend's message on commitment.
• One of the things that grabbed me in the message was Nehemiah's burning desire to see that wall completed, because within me is a burning desire to see A Better Story across Iowa.  I'm excited about this coming Celebration Weekend -- do everything you can to get to your campus!
• Remember, if you have questions, visit writingabetterstory.org

Be praying for your circles, and go get 'em.  You may be the only Jesus they see...

Generosity from one of our gals...

First of all, WOW!  What an amazing night last night at the Fall Festival!  We encouraged you to invite your friends and neighbors -- and you did!  There were so many guests and visitors, it was incredible.  Way to go, PLC!  Praise God!

On another note, I'm looking forward to this weekend!  Pastor Chip will be teaching on commitment, and what that looks like in writing A Better Story.  As always, make it a priority to get to your campus this weekend...with a friend on your arm!

A thought from the week...
It's one thing, as a Pastor, to cast vision.  It's another thing, as a Pastor, to see the church embracing that vision.  That's exactly what I was able to experience this week.  I received an email from one of our gals who is using her God-given gifts and talents, to earn money, and help write A Better Story.  You can read part of Dana's email on Gabe's blog -- and be sure to visit her etsy store!

So, have you caught the vision of generosity?  How are you planning to help write A Better Story?