WholeHeartedLife

Say What You Need to Say

We learn so much by example.

Many men have been taught (or shown by example) that we shouldn't get too expressive. Maybe you were told to "Keep your emotions to yourself" or that "Men don't cry". Maybe your dad didn't show you physical love or easily tell you his love for you and that example has made it hard for you to express your feelings.

In this past Sunday's message, Pastor Dennis, made a really great comment in speaking about "strength". He said, "the strongest Being in the whole wide world (God) has repeatedly said that He loves us". When you take into account all of the promises that God speaks to us about His plans and blessings for us, well... God loves you alot. 

Being strong doesn't mean being silent - being strong normally means doing the thing that is the hardest - for many people the hardest thing that they could possibly do is express their heartfelt feelings, getting vulnerable and saying what needs to be said to a loved or appreciated one.

If I could sum up Pastor's message: if you and I are going to love completely, the way that God desires us to, we are to "Say it now, Show it now, Share it now and Forgive them now". With that in mind...

You have no idea how much I appreciate all of you... to allow me to be part of your life, to trust me to lead you spiritually, to speak the Words of life into your life... I am so not worthy. For those of you who show your love TO me - Thank You - I may not show my appreciation as freely as I should but I LOVE YOU. For those who serve with me (and sometimes for me): what would I do without you? I praise Jesus for your imput and participation into my life. For those who encourage me - DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW "ON TIME" YOU ALWAYS ARE? You do now... I need your encouragement more and more each day. Who knows how much time we all have... I'm gonna say what needs to be said...

I LOVE YOU ALL.

(this song was playing in my head the whole time I listened to Pastor preach Sunday... may we all be people who say what needs to be said while there is still time to say it)

 

 

What's In-Store

I am really excited about this weekend as we continue our series, "30 Days to Live". I believe that this series is going to help many of us to live lives that count!

Last week's message, "Passion", was a challenging look at the fact that most of us live our lives as if our days are expendable - we waste days in our lives thinking nothing about it. The Psalmist says to God, "Lord, teach me to number my days"; notice, not my years (as most of us do), but days. Why? Because everyday is precious. If you missed last week's service I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST that you check out the free download or podcast here prior to Sunday morning - you won't be sorry!

Also this weekend is the 2nd weekend of our new schedule - just in case you've been in the land of no-communication, here's our schedule:

We have Services and Bible Fellowship Groups at both times. For a complete listing of what time specific classes meet go here.

Lastly, I'm looking forward to once again being part of the "iServe" team this Sunday! "iServe" is our revamped First Impression team - they are headed by Josh Shelley with team leaders Chuck Smith, Travis Pait, Dominique Brooks, Dolly Rhode, Toni Bryan and David Lovett. "iServe" is working hard to make Sunday the Best Day of your week. If you are interested in becoming part of this team you can sign up after worship in room WC101 (the room behind the Worship Center) or contact Josh directly.

See ya Sunday!

iServe - WhoServe - UServe

I shared with you yesterday everthing that you needed to know about the Sunday and why it's a weekend full of "Firsts" but I had one more thing I just had to share with you that I didn't yesterday:

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUNDAY!!! Why?

We have been working hard over the past month on evaluating and revamping the Sunday hyde park experience, mainly our volunteer ministry - iServe. My man, Josh Shelley (iServe Coordinator) has really been working to ensure that Sunday is the best day of everyone who drives on our campus.

With that in mind, I believe that you will notice some great changes / improvements this Sunday as you drive into hyde park - I don't think that you'll find it hard to see all of the hard work that's gone into the planning for this weekend (and every weekend after).

You know what makes iServe so important? You. We believe that every hyde park attender needs a place where they connect, a place where they serve.  iServe is all about "WhoServes" - there is no iServe if there's no uServe. Without you iServe is one volunteer down - it's you that fills a much needed position. If you are interested in being part of making Sunday the best day and want to be an important part of the iServe team, contact Josh.

(and just in case you forgot - new schedule begins Sunday (9 and 10:30am), new classes begin Sunday and our life-changing series, "30 Days to Live" begins Sunday.)

Michael Jackson, Death and Friends

This has seemed to be the "week of death".

It began with Farrah Fawcett, the iconic female that many of my male readers had that famous poster on their walls (you remember, the one with the short-shorts, right?) passing last week. I wasn't shocked as I had heard that she was fighting cancer.

It then moved on to the death of Michael Jackson (of which I WAS surprised) on Thursday. For me, Michael had been out of sight, out of mind for a long while - I fully expected to see him again in the news, if not for a "comeback tour" or another wierd happening. I didn't expect that my next thoughts of him would be driven by a 24 news cycle capitalizing on his death.

On Sunday we heard about Billy Mays, the guy who sells cool, quirky things on TV. He is always pushing products that aren't quite needed enough to make me buy BUT ARE cool and intriguing enough to make me watch the commercial (or maybe it was the man filming the commercials - either way, I watched).

Finally, on Monday I get the news that a guy that I grew up with, went to school with and have basically known all my life had passed. The first thought was, "wow... he's my age" - you know, although I know this isn't a truth it sure does feel like "we're" too young to die. My second thought was about all of you who read me - that thought was, "are you prepared to die"?

The bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 9, verse 27 and 28, 

²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

You know, we're all sinners (Romans 3:23), those of us who don't believe it are only fooling ourselves. We all need forgiveness for that sin therefore God has paid the price through the death of Christ on the cross. You receive that forgiveness by opening your heart to Him and, well, receiving His forgiveness:

⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."^[e] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Friends, just because Jesus died for all sins does not mean that all is well with Him - don't believe it, check out Jesus' words to a very religious man in John 3. Do you understand that you can be religiously "lost"? With that in mind I ask, have you received His forgiveness?  Have you humbled your heart to Him? Have you admitted your prideful heart and the fact that you have lived for yourself? I would plead with you that you would call on His Name while it is still today for none of us are promised tomorrow.

With the fact in mind that none of us are promised tomorrow, we must LIVE TODAY! Beginning next weekend, July 12th, we will start a new series, titled, "30 Days to Live". Not only should this series be an eye-opener but hopefully an encouragement that there are many reasons that God has placed us here - may we not demean those reasons by living beneath their calling.

(By the way, if and when you pray to receive Christ how about letting me know - I would love to celebrate with you as well as send you some free info that deals with the next step in your spiritual life)