FREEDOM SPLASH 2010

When the idea to close the main building and have everyone head out to Captain Ron's for church was first discussed, it seemed like a neat option....one of those out of the box things that fit PH. As the date slowly approached, second thoughts crept in allowing fears and doubts to add an element of worry. A few offered warnings that it might not be a good idea. To top it off, Sunday morning's weather looked ominous at best.

As I drove north on 5 with my windshield wipers wisking away the "liquid sunshine", God and I had a talk. I told him that I couldn't believe He was doing this. After all our prep and prayer, it is raining and will probably keep many from coming out...and even let the nay sayers condemn the decision more vocally..." I tried to tell you"... The last thing I remember saying was "God, this is your day. I believe this was your idea to have this BIG event on the beach on the 4th of July. If you want it to rain, let it rain. If you want it to clear up, so be it. But I am going to head to the beach and worship YOU no matter what. And if there are only a hand-full of folks that show up, those are the ones you wanted this for."

Well, I am soooo glad that He is God and I'm not. His day was BETTER than any one of us could have scripted. The rain stopped, the light cloud cover kept it cool and unbelievably pleasant and hundreds showed up to celebrate our FREEDOM. The number of "new" faces nearly out numbered the familiar and God used the music, message and multitude to lead at least one young person to take Jesus into his heart and make Him Lord.

Thanks Potter's House for understanding that the church is not a building and for your willingness to take church to the beach. Did FREEDOM SPLASH 2010 spur any ideas for other venues or opportunities? Let's GROW some more.....

God-honoring obedience

We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don’t know Christ. To reach people no one is reaching, we’ll have to do things no one is doing.

The above statement is one of the values that we believe God has called us to live out at the Potter's House. You'll be hearing more on "The Code", a collection of 13 values honoring God's direction for TPH, in a series in late July entitled I Love My Church.

Today we witnessed how God is blessing our obedience as a church through that value. As of 9 AM Sunday morning, 15 people had registered to attend the Intro to Membership Class. So we prepared for 20. Well.....God did His thing and BAM! 36 showed up. Unbelievable. We have not had a membership class that large since we moved into our new building. (God also stretched the deli tray for 16-20 so that EVERYONE was fed! Remember the story of the loaves and fish...this time it was turkey and wheat bread.)

GREAT work PH! Keep living out the faith in community and inviting those that cross your path to experience a weekend service. Your staff is committed to staying the course of creative and innovative worship and God is growing His KIngdom through the efforts of all involved. The mission He has called us to is being fulfilled, one transformed life at a time!!

Have a Blessed week! And don't miss next week...BAPTISM Sunday!!! It's going to be AWESOME...the BEST Sunday yet!

LOVE GOD LOVE OTHERS SERVE THE WORLD

EASTER AT TPH AND CAPT RON'S

Easter Sunday was a landmark day for Potter's House once again. Not only did God bless us with a record number of folks (563) at the Launching Pad (the name we have given our main campus) but we also had a record number of people (110) at the second annual Easter service on the beach at Captain Ron's Bar and Grill in Sunrise Beach.

God continues to lead us to things that no one else is doing and our prayer is that we are reaching people no one else is reaching with these efforts.

At the main campus, our adults saw a beautiful painting take life right before their eyes as the service progressed. This use of the arts touched hearts and drew people to a place and to an emotion that only visual art can. At Capt Ron's, the beach setting (God's creation) provides a backdrop that also evokes emotion and draws our attention to God's Grace as nothing else can. I am so thankful that our church understands and supports these kind of "out of the box" ministries for God to use in growing His kingdom.

Do you have any ideas or inspirations for other God venues or experiences? I'd love to hear them!! We are always looking for new ways to share the old stories of Jesus and His love!! Have a GREAT week as we continue to celebrate the empty tomb. He's Alive!!

Orange Sunday

WOW!!!! What a day!! Our third Orange Sunday may have been the best one yet. If you missed it, I'm not sure how else to explain what happened except to say God blessed us with His presence and families were inspired to pass along the stories of God's provisions, especially that of a Saviour, to the next generation. We witnessed 24 families come forward to dedicate their child/children to the Lord and commit to raising them up in the faith....making the home the place where spiritual growth and biblical grounding takes place. Congratulations to all who made that commitment. Know that as a church, we stand committed to help you as you take your role as spiritual leader in your family to fulfill what Moses instructed:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. Write them down, and tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Easter Sunday this week. It is going to be the best Sunday ever!! Invite a friend, neighbor or family member to join you as we will worship and celebrate the Risen King!!

RUT OR RELEVANCE

This week, Pastor Tom's message speaks to vocation and attitude in our day to day jobs or responsibilities. To often we lose sight of the fact that God has us uniquely positioned to accomplish His will in His Kingdom. Thursday evening, our small group watched a talk by Andy Stanley entitled 'He STILL has the whole world in His Hand". Do we live each day in that assurance? And is that belief supported in our words and actions on Monday through Friday?

Many times we fall into "the rut"...the day to day things that turn our jobs and responsibilities into nothing more than routine. A means to a paycheck.

What if we believed that every interaction with someone else was God-appointed? That God Himself was who we were working for and our responsibilities were a direct reflection of Him? Would it change our attitude or how we went about our business?

God's purpose for our lives is always one of relevance. He hasn't given you today just to make it through it. He doesn't have you at Wal Mart just to get that bar of soap or gallon of milk. You're not working along side a fellow employee just to earn a living. It is a God appointment and how you treat your assignment will determine your understanding of The Blessed Life for which He has created you. See you Sunday! It is going to be the BEST one yet!!

Our Bodies are God's Temples

Chris and I got to sit in the hospital for a couple of days this week. Bradley had some scary symptoms and was really sick so at 1 AM Thursday morning we were off to the Emergency Room. He is home now and recuperating. (BTW-We appreciate all the prayers, texts, visits and calls that we received. We love our church family and you displayed your love for us. Thx!!)

But after multiple tests and 36 hours of observation, there really are no definite reasons he experienced the pain and symptoms he did. The doctor's parting words were "we may never know what caused this but he looks to be getting over it".

As I reflect on those words, it is clear that God's design for our bodies is so amazing. Brad no doubt was sick and somewhere in his body was a severe infection. His white blood cell count on the first check was 23000. Normal, we were told, is between 700 and 1100. Recalling from my high school and college educational years (yes, back in the day...) the body uses white blood cells (wbc) to fight infection and produces them on a need basis. The body was treating itself.

One of Tom's points in his message this week is taking care of the body through rest and down time. The time Brad spent in a hospital bed allowed his body the healing time it needed to take care of itself. God's amazing design worked and it took about 36 hours or so of down time and rest to let it do what it does.

This week as we look at the physical side of the BLESSED LIFE, know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and if we take care of it and treat it as God desires of us, it will last us for as long as is needed... until He calls us home.

What do you need to pay attention to starting this week to care for your body? It's speaking to you. Are you listening?