It has been awhile since I used one of these Minister’s Minutes to talk specifically about our church, but I am so excited about it right now I cannot help myself! Do you have any idea how much this church has grown in less than 2 years? Our membership has grown by 156%! The number is staggering and it testifies to the Spirit’s work in this place. Our Wednesday Night Suppers and Bible Studies are now averaging over 70 people. Can you believe it?! I remember the first bible study I led and we had 7 people including me. This year alone we have added 33 new members, and we have another 4 months before the year ends. And that does not include all of the people who are family in this church, but have not joined!
But the numbers are only a part of the story. Children’s church now exists as a wonderful children’s ministry setting the foundations for our children’s faith. You will discover later in this newsletter that the Second Saturday Snack Sack has become the Saturday Samaritan Missions… in fact the life of one man has been forever changed by the work of God being done on Saturdays. He now has a job, transportation, and best of all hope and joy exemplified by the wonderful news that he has decided to join this church! We are volunteering weekly at the Salvation Army helping serve dinners and raise funds to buy food. We have members working weekly with Meals-on-Wheels. We went into the one of the “worst” places in Albany with school supplies and declared to those who would keep it bad we will fight evil with love. We have a family that has left us for a year to do mission work abroad – and I am told that we are forming a team that will go work with them for a week. We have another individual who is headed to Africa for several weeks to do God’s work. This is just a sample because new ministries are in the works. God’s work is being done outside the walls of this church to ensure that hope and joy is planted where we step foot. And in following and believing in that vision we are changing lives through the power of and for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ!
I have had people come up to me after services and say, “I cannot leave church without feeling like God is calling me to make my community better.” Someone else came up to me after a bible study and said, “For the first time in my life, I felt the love of God tonight.” Numerous people have told me that when they visited our church they felt accepted, invited, excited, and best of all welcomed as though they were family. A fellow minister stopped by the other day and walked with me around the church explaining, “I cannot believe what has happened here… God is good.” I responded the only way I could, “All of the time.”
The wave of the Holy Spirit has swept this place into frenzy of hope and joy and many are riding it! If you do not feel as if you are riding this wave yet, I invite to stand in the way of it. Finally make it to that bible study for which you claim there is no time, because that is nonsense we all need that time with God’s Word to mature in our faith. Join a ministry team or committee and use the gifts God has given you, and soon you will find more gifts you never knew you had. Begin a new ministry or mission because your heart tells you it must be done. Do not sit back and wait for the Spirit to take you, jump into the wave and let the God take you where you are suppose to be. If you do I know you will be filled with an excitement that will make God smile… well, and you smile too!
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
When Stress Melts Away
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV)
What do you worry about? Have you tried giving those worries to God? Have you experienced the peace of God? Does it surpass all understanding? Who have you met who lives with this peace? What does it mean to have a heart and mind guarded in Christ Jesus?
I read that recent studies have demonstrated stress changes our brain chemistry and our behavior. Those who are “always” stressed are prone to habitat formation. By forming routines and habits we attempt to put ourselves on automatic pilot, and in that way the hope is that we can better focus on the crisis at hand. However, what is actually happening is our brain is rewired in ways that keep us stressed. The automatic pilot does not help stress go away, it keeps us stressed out. Constant stress has also shown to hurt our immune systems, raise blood pressure, stiffen arteries, and make us miserable among other things.
Thankfully, according to the study, such changes in the brain are reversible. What does it take to change it back to normal? Relaxing.
One of the finest gifts of prayer is its ability to help us relax, to exist in the moment with our God who is in control. When we are on autopilot we are always trying to stay one step ahead, to figure out what comes next, and the consequence of that is stress and worry. Also it seems autopilot has no room for prayer. Jesus said, “You cannot add anytime to your life by worrying about it,” and maybe it is time we start believing him! Life is a precious gift. By living we get to experience love and beauty, friendship and nature, sunrises and thunder storms, the feel of water hitting our bare skin and a well needed hug, even in the midst of pain and strife. Think of all the reasons to pray to God with thanksgiving right now. Now pray with that thanksgiving, and perhaps you may feel the peace which surpasses all understanding as the stress melts away.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What do you worry about? Have you tried giving those worries to God? Have you experienced the peace of God? Does it surpass all understanding? Who have you met who lives with this peace? What does it mean to have a heart and mind guarded in Christ Jesus?
I read that recent studies have demonstrated stress changes our brain chemistry and our behavior. Those who are “always” stressed are prone to habitat formation. By forming routines and habits we attempt to put ourselves on automatic pilot, and in that way the hope is that we can better focus on the crisis at hand. However, what is actually happening is our brain is rewired in ways that keep us stressed. The automatic pilot does not help stress go away, it keeps us stressed out. Constant stress has also shown to hurt our immune systems, raise blood pressure, stiffen arteries, and make us miserable among other things.
Thankfully, according to the study, such changes in the brain are reversible. What does it take to change it back to normal? Relaxing.
One of the finest gifts of prayer is its ability to help us relax, to exist in the moment with our God who is in control. When we are on autopilot we are always trying to stay one step ahead, to figure out what comes next, and the consequence of that is stress and worry. Also it seems autopilot has no room for prayer. Jesus said, “You cannot add anytime to your life by worrying about it,” and maybe it is time we start believing him! Life is a precious gift. By living we get to experience love and beauty, friendship and nature, sunrises and thunder storms, the feel of water hitting our bare skin and a well needed hug, even in the midst of pain and strife. Think of all the reasons to pray to God with thanksgiving right now. Now pray with that thanksgiving, and perhaps you may feel the peace which surpasses all understanding as the stress melts away.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
What A Friend!
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. – Psalm 116:1 (NRSV)
Do you love God? If you do, why? How does that love show in your life? Have you called to God? Has God heard you when you called? How do you know? Do you live with the hope imbedded in the words of the psalmist? Read the rest of Psalm 116 and find out.
The following story is from – John C. Maxwell and Dan Reiland, The Treasure of a Friend (J. Countryman, 1999).
Jim and Phillip did everything together when they were kids. They even went to high school and college together. After college they joined the marines together. They were both sent to Germany, where they fought side by side in one of history’s ugliest wars.
During a fierce battle, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip hadn’t returned with the others. Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide.
Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms. The commanding officer shouted at Jim for his outrageous risk. “Your friend is dead,” he said. “There was nothing you could do.”
“No sir,” Jim replied. “I got there just in time. Before Phillip died, he said, ‘I knew you would come.’”
With God no matter how bad the situation, if we call out, we can be assured that God will come! Why would God come into any situation with us? Because God loves us! That is why we can love God, and talk to God all of the time. Too many of us claim we do not know how to pray, or worse yet do not have time to pray. The great old hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” says it best, “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We must pray to our God, talking and sharing, because then we will be in a relationship and together all of the time. That same hymn needs to be quoted again, “Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our Refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.” If we are in any need, call to God, and when we discover God arrive we can with faith in our friend proclaim, “I knew you would come.”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you love God? If you do, why? How does that love show in your life? Have you called to God? Has God heard you when you called? How do you know? Do you live with the hope imbedded in the words of the psalmist? Read the rest of Psalm 116 and find out.
The following story is from – John C. Maxwell and Dan Reiland, The Treasure of a Friend (J. Countryman, 1999).
Jim and Phillip did everything together when they were kids. They even went to high school and college together. After college they joined the marines together. They were both sent to Germany, where they fought side by side in one of history’s ugliest wars.
During a fierce battle, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip hadn’t returned with the others. Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide.
Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms. The commanding officer shouted at Jim for his outrageous risk. “Your friend is dead,” he said. “There was nothing you could do.”
“No sir,” Jim replied. “I got there just in time. Before Phillip died, he said, ‘I knew you would come.’”
With God no matter how bad the situation, if we call out, we can be assured that God will come! Why would God come into any situation with us? Because God loves us! That is why we can love God, and talk to God all of the time. Too many of us claim we do not know how to pray, or worse yet do not have time to pray. The great old hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” says it best, “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We must pray to our God, talking and sharing, because then we will be in a relationship and together all of the time. That same hymn needs to be quoted again, “Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our Refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.” If we are in any need, call to God, and when we discover God arrive we can with faith in our friend proclaim, “I knew you would come.”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Always Praising God
I will praise the LORD at all times; his praise is always on my lips. My whole being praises the LORD. The poor will hear and be glad. Glorify the LORD with me, and let us praise his name together. – Psalm 34:1-3 (NCV)
How do you praise God? Have you ever thought about what praising God at all times would be like? What would it be like? Are the poor glad when they are around you? How will you glorify the LORD today? Who will praise his name with you?
The following story is from Leslie Boling a member of First Pres Albany.
My Mama was diabetic and suffered from congestive heart failure. In the early part of 1996 she had gotten to the point that she could not remember if she had tested her blood sugar or if she had given herself insulin. Her mind was sometimes foggy. My Daddy would not learn to administer the insulin so we came to a point that we had to put her in a nursing home so that she would receive proper medical care. When the time came to tell her, she was in the hospital and my brother, my parents’ pastor, Harold and I went to tell her. She did not want to leave her home or her husband and was shaken about it at first but then she said, “This will be an opportunity for me to be a witness to someone who doesn’t know Jesus”. While she was there she befriended many people who were alone, and always poured forth the love of Christ. She died 7 months later, but those were 7 months well spent praising God!
No matter who we are, what we do, how old we are, how young we are, our inexperience or anything else we can praise the Lord at all times, and we must! It is easy to praise God because God is so great, and because God is with us no matter what we can discover reason for joy even in pain. Let us make the world better by praising God at all times, glorifying Jesus by how we live, and watch others rejoice as they see us living in praise and then come to praise Jesus’ name with us!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How do you praise God? Have you ever thought about what praising God at all times would be like? What would it be like? Are the poor glad when they are around you? How will you glorify the LORD today? Who will praise his name with you?
The following story is from Leslie Boling a member of First Pres Albany.
My Mama was diabetic and suffered from congestive heart failure. In the early part of 1996 she had gotten to the point that she could not remember if she had tested her blood sugar or if she had given herself insulin. Her mind was sometimes foggy. My Daddy would not learn to administer the insulin so we came to a point that we had to put her in a nursing home so that she would receive proper medical care. When the time came to tell her, she was in the hospital and my brother, my parents’ pastor, Harold and I went to tell her. She did not want to leave her home or her husband and was shaken about it at first but then she said, “This will be an opportunity for me to be a witness to someone who doesn’t know Jesus”. While she was there she befriended many people who were alone, and always poured forth the love of Christ. She died 7 months later, but those were 7 months well spent praising God!
No matter who we are, what we do, how old we are, how young we are, our inexperience or anything else we can praise the Lord at all times, and we must! It is easy to praise God because God is so great, and because God is with us no matter what we can discover reason for joy even in pain. Let us make the world better by praising God at all times, glorifying Jesus by how we live, and watch others rejoice as they see us living in praise and then come to praise Jesus’ name with us!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What Compassion Really Is
As he [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like a sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34 (NRSV)
What does compassion mean to you? Who has had compassion for you when you needed it? For whom have you had compassion? Have you ever felt like a sheep without a shepherd? What have you been taught in your moments of need?
My wife meets many interesting characters. Recently she met a woman who is 100 years old. Like anyone who is at the century mark or over, this woman was a treasure cove filled with stories of times, places and people that seem almost foreign. They shared a long and wonderful conversation.
After sometime, my wife asked the woman, “With all your experiences is there one thing that happened in your life that you consider the most special?”
“Oh there are things that I definitely consider more special than the rest,” she responded. “One of the best things that ever happened to me was being able to take care of my husband when he was dying.” She then proceeded to share the story of her husband’s illness and the ways that love poured from her to ensure his comfort and to allow him to know he was not alone at the end. Next she shared more stories of being with people during other illnesses, rough times in life, or times of sincere suffering. She spoke about other people asking her to go into places where people were in pain, because I imagine they hoped she would somehow bring a smile, bring at least a portion of joy, and share a bit of the love of Christ. As this woman recounted the times of her life she considered to be the best times, each was a story of how she was able to be with someone else in their suffering and need, and how she discovered in each of those moments the sacred.
My wife called it one of her favorite conversations of all time!
The word “compassion” comes from the Latin which means “to suffer with.” When Jesus had compassion for anyone that means he wanted and felt the need to suffer with him or her, not necessarily suffering too, but making sure no one was suffering alone. Each of us has suffered and will suffer, and we have all witnessed suffering. I wonder what the world would be like if when we encountered suffering we were like that 100-year-old woman or we were like Jesus, and went to go be with those who suffer? I bet it would be a better place, and I also imagine we would have incredible stories to share about the best times in our lives, those times we were able to bring others hope, joy, peace and love when there seemed to be none.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does compassion mean to you? Who has had compassion for you when you needed it? For whom have you had compassion? Have you ever felt like a sheep without a shepherd? What have you been taught in your moments of need?
My wife meets many interesting characters. Recently she met a woman who is 100 years old. Like anyone who is at the century mark or over, this woman was a treasure cove filled with stories of times, places and people that seem almost foreign. They shared a long and wonderful conversation.
After sometime, my wife asked the woman, “With all your experiences is there one thing that happened in your life that you consider the most special?”
“Oh there are things that I definitely consider more special than the rest,” she responded. “One of the best things that ever happened to me was being able to take care of my husband when he was dying.” She then proceeded to share the story of her husband’s illness and the ways that love poured from her to ensure his comfort and to allow him to know he was not alone at the end. Next she shared more stories of being with people during other illnesses, rough times in life, or times of sincere suffering. She spoke about other people asking her to go into places where people were in pain, because I imagine they hoped she would somehow bring a smile, bring at least a portion of joy, and share a bit of the love of Christ. As this woman recounted the times of her life she considered to be the best times, each was a story of how she was able to be with someone else in their suffering and need, and how she discovered in each of those moments the sacred.
My wife called it one of her favorite conversations of all time!
The word “compassion” comes from the Latin which means “to suffer with.” When Jesus had compassion for anyone that means he wanted and felt the need to suffer with him or her, not necessarily suffering too, but making sure no one was suffering alone. Each of us has suffered and will suffer, and we have all witnessed suffering. I wonder what the world would be like if when we encountered suffering we were like that 100-year-old woman or we were like Jesus, and went to go be with those who suffer? I bet it would be a better place, and I also imagine we would have incredible stories to share about the best times in our lives, those times we were able to bring others hope, joy, peace and love when there seemed to be none.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)