game night
Thursday, February 26, 2009
We are having a game night at our church tomorrow night. I know some people probably think there is no room for games in the church and I agree, it just depends on which kinds of games in the church you are talking about. I am not talking about a certain video game, I am talking about the game of church politics some poeple like to play. Back to game night. We are having a few sunday school rooms set up for a xbox 360, a wii and a room for little kids to play and color. The adults will be in our fellowship hall/Life Kids room playing old peoples games. Just kidding. We will have a bunch of snacks and games for those who aren't going to play the video games. Not only is it important to get together as a church body and have fun, but it also ushers in community. You may have a chance to sit down and play a game with someone who you don't usually talk to at church. I think it is absolutely vital to a church to have fun together. Now, are we going to be playing xbox360 during sunday morning services, not so much. Not at this point. This is also an environment for someone to come and bring a non believing friend. Most non believers would come to a game night, who would never think of coming to a church service at this point. It could be a great entry point for a person to get connected to the church. We really hope people bring their kids because if they bring their kids, their kids will have fun and say "I liked that mommy, I want to go back". We want to do whatever we can do on our end to extend the Kingdom of God in this community. This is one way for us to do that. Please pray for the event.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:14 AM,
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love
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
So this past month we did a series on Love. In my personal opinion this was the best series I as a pastor have ever done. The Lord has really been revealing things to me and I think it came out in the messages. I felt like every message really hit home well, was very practical and most importantly was very biblical. I am realizing as a pastor I don't need to get up and give my own recipies for life, I just need to get up and read and share what the bible says. The bible is pretty clear to how we must live our life. So my job as pastor is to get up and present the bible to people. The bible is relevant. The bible is practical. So many times in the past and I am not saying I never will again, but I have thought it was about sharing the everyday things with people, which they do need, but the bible is so clear that it speaks for itself on how we should be living. I fully understand I am learning and growing as a communicator, but as I have looked back over this last month, I am proud of myself and really feel like I hit a great stride last month. Who knows how long it will last, but I am going to keep presenting what God has laid on my heart in similar ways to last month. I really am grateful for everything I learned at the Desiring God Conference. I have sensed in my heart over the past 6 months that God is taking our church to another level, and I feel as though last month was the jumping off point. We are tackling the book of Titus in March, and this first week is going to be awesome. See you at New Life.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 12:18 PM,
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suffering
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Recently I was reminded of a scripture that is very uplifting. The verse is Romans 8:18 and it says "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us". There are a lot of times when we think we are suffering down here on earth. Whether it's financial, job loss, marital or even loss of a loved one, we all go through things. Sometimes those situations seem unbearable. Here is what I am realizing:
- People will always be hurting
- People that are suffering like to make other people suffer
- What I am going through now, won't last long (eternally speaking)
- What I will get to experience in heaven makes it all worth it
Just like the average person, I don't like to go through situations like this. No one does. I am choosing to keep my head up and my eyes fixed on the One who gave everything for me. He suffered as well, but did it for the glory of God. Lord, please let that be our attitude.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:05 AM,
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Nice people go to heaven
Monday, February 23, 2009
All nice people go to heaven right? That is what it seems like to me and this has probably gone on a lot longer than I have been alive. Actually, I think everyone goes to heaven. I need to try to find out why everyone believes that all people go to heaven and certainly the nice ones. At what point did the church teach this? At what point did this become truth (it is not really true, but it is to some people)? Could it be that we are too afraid to tell people the truth about themselves. I accept people when they come into my life. There is no doubt about that. I don't tell them what they want to hear all the time though. I have got to tell people the truth. Now, I don't bash people over the head with it, but it is important that I am honest with them. Here is the thing, some people don't want to know the truth and I touched on that yesterday here at New Life. How have we as a church got so far away from telling people that if they are not born again that it's ok? It's not ok. You must be born again. Now that we live in a completely politically correct world we are more concerned with not hurting peoples feelings, than we are with telling them they may not make heaven their home. I am no soap box preacher or gloom and doomer by any means, but people need to know the truth. Nice people go to hell. Mean people go to hell. People claiming to be Christians will go to hell. People who hate Christians will go to hell. They only way for someone to make it to heaven is to be born again and to live a changed life according to what scripture teaches us. The church needs to stop lying to people. Lord, never let me preach a message or live my life in such a way that let's people think that anything other than complete commitment to you is acceptable. Lord, give us all grace. We love you!
posted by Pastor Potter @ 10:43 AM,
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The devil made me do it
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Just kidding on the title. Just wanted to post my message from earlier today. It was all about the devil who is the worlds biggest liar, but somehow he convinces us otherwise on a constant basis. Listen to the message here.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 10:11 PM,
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The First 48
Friday, February 20, 2009
My wife and I love crime shows. We love CSI, 48 Hours Mystery, Manhunters and The First 48. I am sure there are a few more we watch, but those are the ones that we watch pretty often. (Oh wait, I forgot about forensic files) Anyhow, we watch these shows and it is amazing at how little people value life. A lot of the murders are over the most ridiculous things. It is so crazy to me that these people don't realize or at least stop and think that they are taking a life. They are affecting so many people by their senseless murders. They usually don't realize this until they get caught and some of them still don't get it.
We look at these people and wonder how they can do that, yet when we sin we affect others. We don't like to admit it and then we use the excuse that "everyone is responsible for their own actions". That is true, everyone is, but it totally eliminates us from having to feel like we were part of it. Parents are shaping the way their kids will act in the future. How they may or may not pay bills. How they treat others. How they relate with others. There are so many things parents teach their kids because of what they say and do. The truth is all of us will be held accountable for our own actions, but the bible does say it would be better to have a millstone tied to your neck and thrown into the sea if we become a barrier for people coming to him. We must live our own lives for the glory of God with holiness. People are watching. People will be affected. Let's affect them in a way that points them towards Christ, not away from Him. Remember - Our choices DO affect others. So let's make the right choices.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 1:09 PM,
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fired up
Thursday, February 19, 2009
I didn't watch too much of it so don't make fun of me, but I did turn on the Daytona 500 this past weekend. The fans gets so fired up over this. It is an exciting time for them, especially when their driver is in the lead. The crowd went nuts when Dale Jr. got the lead (for 1 lap). Anyhow, when I was growing up I used to always hear my Dad talk about how sports fans get all fired up for their team and yet people who have been saved by God's mercy and grace never really get fired up. I used to always think "whatever, sports is so much more exciting than church". At that point in my life it was. Don't get me wrong, I love sports and I do get excited about them, but I will never be more excited about my team winning the superbowl, world series, college national championship or whatever game they may win more than I am when someone has a life change towards Christ. There is nothing that gets me more fired up then when someone changes to become more like Christ or when someone gives their heart to Christ. I could not be more fired up right now about the things of God. I know this sounds super spiritual and anyone who knows me, knows that I try to be super spiritual (year right), but I am seriously falling deeper and deeper in love with God everyday. Yes, everyday. He has really set my heart towards him, and my eyes are fixed. I can't take my eyes off him. Who could? Stand firm my friends. Stay fixed on our King.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 2:59 PM,
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Recovering
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I am recovering from a nasty cold, and to be honest I am not all the way over it. Recovering from something takes time. It takes a toll on your mind, your body and those around you. I feel bad for Melissa because she was sick as well and pregnant. She actually recovered quicker than I have so she is putting up with me now. It is all a process though of when you feel it coming on, to trying to take medicine, to trying to get sleep, throw kids in the mix and you are in a world of hurt.
It is good to be back up at the church today. I am going to lead bible study tonight. I don't think that will be a problem at all. We are doing a series called "crazy love" based off the book by Francis Chan. It was an amazing book and the DVD has not disappointed. It has opened my eyes up over the past few months to see God in a completely different way. Now as a pastor to say that people must think I had a pretty bad view of God and I don't think that is true, it has really opened my eyes up to more of God and who He is, and how He works. I really think that says a lot for a person who was raised in a church all his life. Now, that doesn't mean that the churches I was raised in were not good, it means God is revealing this to me at this time because I think I am able to have it revealed to me and I can grasp it now. I talked a lot about this on Sunday, but lately it has become my passion to see God rightly and biblically, because if we don't we are seeing things wrongly and unbiblically if those are even words. It is so important to be seeing them correctly. When we do, His fullness can be released to us. I cannot wait to have Him reveal more and more as I seek Him more and more. He is good.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 12:26 PM,
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sick
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I have not blogged since last Thursday. I have been sick ever since. I am just now starting to eat and feel better. I just wanted to write this quick because I know so many people just can't go on if I don't blog. Right. Just kidding. I do count it an honor to write my thoughts down and share them with others. I really hope it brings joy and encouragement to your heart. Have a good week and hopefully I will be back in full blogging mode by tomorrow. God bless.
My message from this last Sunday can be listened to here.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 3:14 PM,
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headed for Des Moines
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tomorrow (thursday) morning Melissa and I are headed to Des Moines. I am going to my Next Generation Leader Meeting and Melissa is going to hang out at Jordan Creek for a while then get lunch with Lori Jacobs. After that Melissa and I are going to stay in Des Moines overnight on Thursday and come home Friday. I probably won't blog the next two days as we will be gone and spending time away together. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and a great Valentines Day. We will see all you New Life folks at church on Sunday. God bless and be prepared for something awesome to happen on Sunday.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 10:33 PM,
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Messages
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
So I wanted to post the link to all the messages I heard while I was at the Desiring God Conference, so here is the list. I would really recommend Matt Chandler's talk about A Shepherd and His Unregenerate Sheep. Good Stuff
posted by Pastor Potter @ 1:01 PM,
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Dear Church Parents
Yesterday I talked about parents who really don't give a rip if their kids come to church. Today I want to talk to parents who do bring their kids to church. I am so thankful to parents who have made it a priority to bring their kids to church. This is the best thing you can do in raising your kids. This does not mean that they will serve God all their lives, but it is a very important step towards that. There are many people who are not children that come to church that really don't get it. There is no life change. Amazingly enough, those who you rarely see any fruit or life change from their kids seem to be reaping what their parents are sowing. There are kids who talk just like their parents, they have the same attitudes and same behaviors all of which are not very godly. If there is one thing that concerns me it is a person or people who actually do more damage to people's future than help it. This goes across every age range. So while I applaud parents who bring their kids, I also say make sure that the other 164 hours of the week you are with your children you are acting as godly as you do on Sunday mornings. Because if you are not, it comes out through your children. So what can you do? What do we plan to do when we have kids?
- Pray every night for our child
- Read our child bible stories
- Be a godly example to our children
- Put our child in a place to succeed spiritually
- Model the behaviors a follower of Christ should have
It is worth repeating, if you are a parent who brings your child to church, I am so thankful. Model what being a follower looks like. This will put your child in the best situation to succeed spiritually. If you have adult children not following God, continue to pray for them everyday.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 9:25 AM,
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Dear Parents
Monday, February 09, 2009
I am writing this letter to let you know that we are in desperate need of your assistance. It has come to our attention that your child has not been involved in church. We value your child and your child's future so we thought we would contact you. If you were not aware of this, many children if not educated or cared for properly at an early age, they will be at greater risk to come to know the Lord.
This is the nice version of a letter I wish as a pastor I could send to people. It is one thing to care less about yourself going to hell, but to let your kids go, not cool. There are parents all over who were taken to church by grandma or their parents whatever that do not have the same urgency to take their kids to church. YOU ARE SETTING YOUR KIDS UP FOR SPIRITUAL DISASTER! Now I know this may seem dramatic to you, but I am deeply concerned not only of your salvation, but even more so of the children who don't have the same option that you do to get off your butt and drive to church. If there is one thing you do as a parent, it should be to get your kids to church. Now, I am not writing this letter at anyone. I am writing it because I see a generation of kids being raised outside of the church. Parents, you will be held accountable for that. The bible says that if that is the choice you make, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with millstones tied around your neck. Yikes. It's time to get real parents. I will address those who do bring their kids to church tomorrow. Please understand I am not writing this to condemn people, I am writing it out of genuine concern for kids who are at a disadvantage because of your actions.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 10:11 AM,
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My problem
Sunday, February 08, 2009
I will admit it: Sometimes I have a hard time loving others. That is probably not that great since I am a pastor, but I am being honest. I don't think loving God and loving others is easy. I believe Christ says these are the two most important because they are the most difficult. My message today was all about that. Listen to it here.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 7:04 PM,
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Imitation
Friday, February 06, 2009
Have you ever ate the imitation brand of food? It just never seems to taste the same. Occasionally and very rarely the imitation actually tastes better than the real thing. I remember when I went to school in Florida I used to always drink pop called Chek Cola which was from Winn Dixie. I made myself believe it was good enough to drink because I knew I couldn't afford Pepsi. Isn't funny we are willing to settle for less than best because we don't think we can afford or really aren't will to pay the cost of the real thing. How many times have we settled for what we think is God and it really isn't? I would say this is common in a lot of peoples lives and churches. Here is my point. We shouldn't settle for anything best in our marriages, relationships with God and people. When we have access to God why settle for anything less?
posted by Pastor Potter @ 4:46 PM,
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Desiring God Conference
Thursday, February 05, 2009
So on Monday morning I set off with my friend Erik to Minneapolis. We had a great conversation on the way up and our passion for God was not lacking. We got up there and were met by Mark, who is another friend from high school. We were soon joined in the lobby by our friends Jon and Luke, who are brothers. So here we are 4 pastors and one missionary to be. All of us went to the same high school and at that point, none of us thought we would be pastors. God does some awesome things. (like you need to be told) We had a great time of fellowship. I will do a recap of the messages and some things I took away, but for me the trip was mostly hanging with my old high school buddies. All of our lives have been radically changed by God. Both nights before bed all 5 of us gathered in a hotel room and poured our hearts out before God and before each other. We prayed for each other, our families and our needs. It was an experience I will never forget. I am so blessed and humbled by God. I will post more later on this, but here is a picture of all of us. It's me on the far left, then Luke Wiest, Jon Wiest, a banner :) Mark Oberhauser and Erik Bird. Love these guys.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 1:02 PM,
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Headed to Minneapolis
Monday, February 02, 2009
I will be heading to Minneapolis for the next 3 days. I am going to a John Piper Conference. I am going to be hanging out with 4 guys from high school who ended up being pastors. What a cool thing huh? I am going to be taking off within the hour to drive up. We have 1 Assemblies of God minister (me) 2 Baptists and 2 Weseleyns (sp). What a great group. All working for the Kingdom. I am really excited about seeing Matt Chandler from The Village Church. I saw him at Cataylst back in October and have been listening to his podcasts ever since. Pray for me to have a safe trip and to get a lot out of the conference. I am really excited. I will keep you posted on the conference throughout the week.
We had a great service yesterday. Listen to the sermon by clicking here.
posted by Pastor Potter @ 11:04 AM,
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