RESONATE IN SC

LIFE AS USUAL!

2012-02-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

So after a week in Mexico...I'm back in the states. I'm back to life as usual. I'm not sure I like that. Don't get me wrong I was so glad to be home with my family. I'm so glad to be back in the office this beautiful Monday at the amazing church that God has called me to serve at. I am not however glad to be back to life as usual. Let me explain...

When you go on a foreign missions trip of any kind you get a first hand glimpse of the poverty and desperate needs that most of the world lives in. In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico the average worker earns 5-7 american dollars a week. At the exchange rate of 12.80 pesos per dollar thats 89.60 pesos a week. A gallon of milk was 4 pesos. Do the math and you will see that these people live in extreme poverty.

They don't have a government assistance program. The only help they get are through missions organizations like the one we went down with. These organizations plan medical missions trips to help with health needs. They pass out bags of beans and rice on a regular basis to help families survive. They open feeding centers where kids, families, and widows can get at least one hot meal a day.

When you are over there, and you are surrounded by such need, you get what I like to call PERSPECTIVE! Life really is about more than me and my wants, needs, desires. $7 dollars a week? Really? We spend that on a latte. We spend double that on a movie ticket. That is what these people live off of.

So being there you start to count your blessings. You start to see how truly good you have it. You don't for a second even think about complaining. You are focused on one thing...being the hands and feet of JESUS...bringing HOPE to a dark place. Your mind is completely off yourself.

Then I came home...

It did not take long as I heard of two men fighting at the Delta check in...they were fighting because there was limited standby seating for the plane we were getting on and apparently both of them got there first.

Then we are on the plane and the man next to me says there is a guy on the Ravenell Bridge in Charleston that says he has a bomb and he is going to kill himself...that all the traffic is being routed off the bridge. Then the man said something that sent chills down my spine..."if he is going to kill himself why does he need to tie up the bridge to do it...just kill yourself and get it over with." Then reading the newswire and the facebook posts about the event and seeing similar comments...I got really discouraged. Is this the state of our nation? Is this the American way of life, that we care more about being delayed and sitting in traffic than we do for this man? That man...crazy as he may be...was created by God in the image of God. That man was reaching out for help...granted in a weird and dangerous way...but if that was your loved one would you be so calloused?

Then I got home and had to pay the bills because it's the first of the month...when I got done paying everything...I was disgusted. I went around complaining about how it's always something that comes up, and how raising six kids and providing all that they need is tough. I complained about the house that needs a ton of repairs that I don't have the money for. I complained about the fact that I have little or no savings and don't even ask me about retirement plans...I complained and complained and ...I AM NOT HAPPY TO BE BACK TO LIFE AS USUAL!

Oh how quickly I forgot...how blessed I was. Oh how quickly I forgot my brothers and sisters in Mexico who struggle to survive while I have more than enough. Then on Sunday I found out one of the mothers we ministered to that had a little 3 month old baby in her lap in the front row on Wednesday night was grieving the loss of that baby Friday morning as the child died from a brain aneurism. Something that could have been prevented with the proper treatment I'm sure...treatment she could never have afforded. Suddenly the high cost of caring for six kids and my wife and I doesn't seem so daunting anymore.

GOD FORGIVE ME! GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME! I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIFE AS USUAL!

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

(Matthew 25:31-46 ESV)

ARE YOU READY?

2012-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10 ESV

Daniel stood alone. Although he knew about the law against praying to anyone except the king, he continued to pray three times a day as he always had. Daniel had a disciplined life that was fully devoted to God. Let's face it our life and our prayers are not usually interrupted by threats, but simply by the pressure of our schedules. We have to be radical about not letting threats or pressures cut into our life and devotion to God . We must Pray regularly, no matter what. Worship regularly, no matter what. Serve regularly, no matter what.

It was during his first visit to Britain that Dwight Moody heard the words which set him hungering and thirsting for deeper Christian experience. Words that would mark a new era in his life. The words were spoken to him by Mr. Henry Varley, the well known evangelist, as they sat together on a seat in a public park in Dublin. The words were these: "The world has yet to see what God will do with, and for, and through, and in, and by, the man who is fully consecrated to Him." "He said 'a man'" thought Moody, "he did not say, a great man, nor a learned man, nor a 'smart' man, but simply 'a man.' I am a man, and it lies with the man himself whether he will or will not make that entire and full consecration. I will try my utmost to be that man."

What about us...are we ready to be that person fully devoted to Him?

TURN!

2012-01-25T05:02:00.000-08:00

6 "Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near; ISAIAH 55:6 (ESV)

Isaiah tells us to call on the Lord while he is near.

God is not planning to move away from us, but we often DRIFT far from him or place BARRIERS between ourselves and him. Don't wait until you have drifted far away from God to seek him.

The scripture is clear that we have a decision to make everyday...we can chose to live for ourselves, or we can "chose this day to serve the Lord".

I know I have several times in my walk with God felt like God was a million miles away. Looking back at every one of those times I now see that the opposite was true. In those moments when God felt distant I was the one drifting and God stayed "closer than a brother".

A wise friend once told me you can take a million steps away from God but it only takes one step to get back to Him...Turn around!

DO GOOD!

2012-01-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

[27] Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. [28] Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

(Proverbs 3:27-28 ESV)
Delaying to do good is inconsiderate and unfair, whether it is repaying a loan, returning a tool, or fulfilling a promise. Withholding destroys trust and creates a great inconvenience.

Be as eager to do good as you are to have good done to you.

This weekend is group link where we all are encouraged to plug into community life through small groups. We have to remember however that we are called to constant community.

We are the light of the world and we have to active in doing good to others.

We have to be committed to doing good to our neighbors, co-workers, family and friends be sharing our time, testimony, and treasure as we live the mission of

Connect, Grow, Serve.

Never get's old

2010-07-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

I have been doing youth ministry now for a little over 12 years now and since the average term of a youth pastor is 6 months I guess you could say I am a veteran...haha. In all these years I have experienced the good and bad that comes with ministry in general and in ministry to youth. There are a lot of ups and downs in dealing with people in general, sometimes it can be incredibly rewarding and other times it can rip your heart out. One thing however never gets old and that is seeing youth surrender to the Lordship of Christ and grow in their relationship with Him. This last Sunday night we had the band "With lifted hands" all the way from Kansas; (well except for Paulthe lead singer who is from Southern California; that's for you Paul...haha.) First let me say that if you are a youth pastor or in ministry period you would do well to have "With lifted hands" come to your church or event. They have a heart for ministry and are more concerned with God's glory than their own, which in today's time is a welcome sight. Anyways back to the point...I rarely get to sit back and watch as a spectator my kids respond to the call to follow Christ and it for me was a beautiful sight. I absolutely love watching God move in the heart of a young person and seeing them sell out completely and surrender to Him. I tell you what if you are in ministry I am well aware that there can be dry times when you feel like giving up. I know there are times when it seems like everything you do, all your energy and all the prayers all the study comes to nothing. My advice to you is not to give up. Gos did not give up on us but gave us Christ and the glory of our salvation. When we were all but lost, He found us and brought us home. Make no mistake God wants to move in the hearts of your people and just when you think it's not going to happen, He blows your mind. Wait and watch and pray because seeing your young people respond to a God who loves them and cares for them...well that NEVER GETS OLD!

Wow!

2009-08-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

All I can say is wow! I just read some comments a high school friend of my wife's and his friends made on facebook, and I am shocked! This guy is always posing questions in his poll of the day for people, to as far as I can tell argue over. I know awesome stuff right!

Today was a doozie of a question. Here it is..."Can the seeker sensitive church movement be reconciled with scripture?" In other words, are churches that seek to be sensitive in their approach to outsiders going against scripture?

The responses floored me...overwhelmingly the people who commented were not just opposed to seeker sensitive methodology, but it seemed opposed to anyone that was not like them.

I went on to read comment after comment that said everything from , the church is for believers only, not outsiders. The people who try to be sensitive to seekers are not Christians. My personal favorite was any church that follows a seeker model is just entertaining sinners on their way to hell.

Wow! All I could say is wow! Now I know why Jesus prayed so hard and prayed the prayer He did before His death. Jesus prayed for us to be one just as He and the Father were one. Jesus prayed for our unity.

The crazy thing is I agreed with some of what they were saying. I believe that the Word of God should be preached and not watered down, I believe that no method or practice will ever bring anyone to Christ. I believe that no comes to salvation unless the Spirit of God draws them. All these things are true but I also believe that Jesus died and shed His blood so that we could be free. I believe that we are all sinners in need of Gods grace on a daily basis and I am shocked that some believe they don't. Even to talk about the seeker church is entertaining sinners... Did I miss something because I thought Romans 3:23 said that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. I hope I never arrive at some spiritual high were I see myself so different from those apart from Christ that I have nothing to do with them and build walls to keep them out.

If it were not for God's grace and unmerited favor I would still be the sinner on my way to hell. Thanks be to God that He loved me enough to bring people into my life that shared Christ with me.

As shocked and disappointed as I was to read all these comments, that to me sounded like modern day pharisees, keeping the law but missing the point. I went from being disappointed to moved with compassion for these people. I know I don't know everything there is to know about God, and I am not foolish enough to believe that I have it all right. One thing I do know, however, is that God called us to love each other. Jesus said the world would know us by the love we have one for another. My prayer tonight and I hope your prayer too if your reading this is that the church of Jesus Christ will stop finding ways to divide itself and keep people out and that we would be united in our love for Christ, our love for each other, and our love for the lost.

Jesus paid a high price for His body of believers... namely His broken body and shed blood. May we honor that sacrifice by living for Him and loving like Him.

Seeing really is....

2009-08-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

BELIEVING! Wow! I am on a high that I have not felt in a really long time. I have been doing youth ministry for a little over 12 years now and have seen quite a bit! I have watched God do miracles and change lives right in front of me. I even witnessed God change a young mans heart over the course of several months who came to youth for the first time and announced he was wican. Every week he would come up to me and tall me a percentage, "I am about 50/50...half Christian and half wican" he would say. Then one week he had taken off the wicca necklace he had worn and replaced with a cross. "I am 100% sold out to Christ", he said. I witnessed another young man lead himself to Christ as I had him read the Romans road out loud and tell me what each verse meant to him, his eyes filled with tears as he prayed to receive Christ. I have seen some amazing things none of which would I trade. Have you ever had the feeling even though things were good that something was missing? I had that feeling with youth ministry except I knew what the something was. I had a heart to see teens own their faith. I really believed in this notion that teens could change the world. I was consumed with this vision of a major youth revival that sparks form a few teens grasping God heart for a lost and dying world and partnering with God to change their generation, one peer at a time. I could just see the explosion in my mind! There was only one problem. No matter how many times I would share this vision or try to manufacture this revival of my mind in the hearts and lives of my teens, it never happened. It seemed like I could never excite a group of teens enough to get them to take ownership of their faith and work together to see real change. Sure a lot of great teens developed a deep faith in God and a good number of them are serving God today. I don't want to discount that in anyway, trust me I know that's huge! I just saw something different in my head. This something different included teens that worked together, loved each other deeply, had a common bond and a common purpose. That common purpose was to make an impact on their generation for Christ.

So what am I getting at you ask? I believe that this vision, this dream that I will even have to admit I was beginning to believe was a pipe dream...might actually be happening!
I was at Starbucks the other night with a group of my teens and one of them spoke up and said I totally believe in this thing you have been saying to us about making an impact on our generation and I want to do it! What? What?...............are you serious? Yes, she was! Then they all start talking about things they could do to make an impact on their generation and the world for Christ. Yes you heard me right, they ALL started talking about it...remember unity, working together...oh is this to good to be true? Then this week we went on a youth trip to the "Big youth thing" and the e-mail I got after the trip from one of my teens floored me...check it out....
(names removed for protection)

Hey Tim!

Carowinds was amazing! Coming to this youth group has really opened my eyes to a lot. I was going through a lot of family problems and collision helped. Thanks for everything.

I want to be more active in the church because as you know i only come for youth. I think tonight i am going to come to service. I hope to see you there!

Oh, i cant forget. ******* and I are looking into soup kitchens and things like that around Summerville/Charleston and we want to try and get involved with that. We as in the youth. When i find out more information i will surely let you know!

HUH! Did you read that? looking into service projects...we as in the youth...OWNERSHIP! I am so excited I am about to jump out of my skin! I would not believe it is I was not seeing it! You know the saying though seeing is believing and what I seeing is awesome! Please don't misunderstand me I am not discounting any of the things I have witnessed God do in the 12+ years I have been doing this as less than. I am just excited to see what could be the start of something huge!

Perhaps the most famous quote of Dwight Moody's life was when he said, "the world had yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated (devoted) to Him." All I'm saying is what would the world see with a group a teens fully devoted to Christ. I hope I get the privilege of seeing it in my lifetime because I believe God wants to do something huge the question is are we ready to let HIM use us?

God, I pray that you continue to pour out your Spirit on these teens and on Your people as a whole, consecrate us, prepare our hearts, speak to us, empower us, use us for Your Glory! A-men!

New Life

2009-06-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Well my newest edition Brennen arrived Monday weighing in at 7pounds 2 ounces and 21 inches. I am so proud of the new little man God has given to me and my wife. If you had told me when I was in high school that I was going to marry the most beautiful girl in the world and have 5 amazing boys I would have laughed at you. God has a way of making the laughable reality. We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

I wanted to write a short blog to talk about the emotions I felt that first ten minutes after Brennen was born. As they passed that wrapped up little fellow from his mommy to me I was overwhelmed with emotion. The first emotion of coarse was extreme joy that God had given this little guy to us and entrusted us again with one of His creations. The second thing I thought about was how cool it was to hold this child on his first day of life and to think about all that he will experience in the months and years to come and of coarse all that he could be. Which made me think, Is that how God felt when Brennen was born? Is that how God feels when all of burst forth from the womb? Is He (God) full of joy and excitement? Does He take pleasure in knowing all that we will become through His grace. We were made for His pleasure so I have to believe the only reason I felt those things when Brennen was born was that I like all of us; have been made in His image and that I felt those same emotions that came from Him!

A lot of us forget that God takes pleasure in us. He loved us enough to die in our place. He loves us in spite of the times we fail Him and mess things up. He instructs us through His word to transform us into what He made us to be and do.

I looked at little Brennen and saw someone that is totally dependent on his parents. He needs us for care, nourishment, shelter, love and eventually instruction. It's no wonder Jesus said that those who come to Him (God) must come to Him like a little child. When we give our hearts to Him we are entering into a "New life" and just like little Brennen the adventure is just beginning!

No Salt....ugh!

2009-05-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Alright so I am on day three of a veggies only body cleanse. I can eat all the steamed and raw veggies I want but here is the kicker...NO SALT!....ugh....ugh...

I never used a lot of salt before but no salt is ick...

It made me think of the scripture where Jesus refers to us as "the salt of the earth". He said if the salt losses it's saltiness it is worth nothing. It really brought it home for me. Are we being the salt?

Does this earth have an ick...taste in their mouth because of the way we act or the way we treat each other. I think it's time we ask God to make us salty again. To make us more like Him. Those veggies needed some flavor and this world needs the power of the cross.

Are you salty?

Your Will or His?

2009-04-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

I think it's interesting this time of year as we are about to celebrate Easter reading the gospel accounts of Christs life. You are always drawn back to exactly what happened thousands of years ago in the very first passion week.

This weekend I got the privilege of speaking at all three services for "the Brook". Yea that what I'm calling it now...trying to create a catchy buzz name for Summerbrook, let's see if it catches on. Anyways I spoke on Mark chapter 11 which most pastors do on Palm Sunday, but instead of focusing on the "Triumphant Entry" I focused on the the chapter as a whole and talked a lot about the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple and all the prophesies that were fulfilled in that chapter...way cool stuff if you ever study it in depth.

The thing that really grabbed me though was the theme of the chapter and message. Do we want things our way or His way? The people of the day wanted it their way. They wanted Jesus to ride in on a stallion the horse of war...not a donkey. They wanted Him to be their political king not a suffering servant. They wanted a savior but not a savior from their sins but of their circumstance. They cried out "Hosanna" which literally means "save us now" because they wanted Jesus to establish a kingdom on earth to rescue them from the Romans rule. Of coarse He did nothing of the sort because He was here for something much bigger like ....dying for sins of the world, forgiveness for all who would believe, you know that stuff!

It made me really think though are we much different? Do we want Jesus to accomplish His will in our lives no matter the cost to us? Or do we want Him to make heaven on earth? When we pray do pray that He would do what He wants or do we beg and plead for our wants? Don't get me wrong I believe we can make our request known to God the Bible says so but how often do we pray "not my will but yours be done"?

It has made me really think and I hope it will make you think too.

Do we want our will or His?

Tales from the Past...

2009-03-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

Ahh... memories are great! I just got a visit from one of my past students from youth group long.... long.... long... ago.... in a galaxy far far.... OK, you get the point. It was awesome talking with him and thinking about the GOOD TIMES!

Sometimes I look back on the early years of ministry and I think how painful. A lot of stuff happened to me early on that left bad tastes in my mouth and created scars. I know all that was necessary and that God used it to mold and shape me... I see that now! I thank God that He uses even the painful experiences in our life to bring us closer to Him.

However the visit and looking back over old photos form that age caused me to see something else a different way. Even while some of the painful things were going on some great things were happening too.

That group of teens that I cut my teeth on so to speak will always be special to me. A lot of great memories and good things for Gods glory happened in those first years and I thank God for every second of it.

So the next time you face a painful or difficult situation look for the good around you so you don't miss it, and thank God for even the pain because change is coming.... change in YOU!

By the way shout out to some of the old crew...

Andrew B

Andrew W

Chris P

Maggie D

Nicki H

Rachel H

Dan B

Nate B

Dan Fro

and many many many more....I LOVE YOU ALL!

Loud is proud!

2009-02-21T06:57:00.000-08:00

Psalm 4:4 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

This verse came up in a study I'm hosting for church and I think it is something we all need to think about.

God is saying here there are times to be angry. In fact Jesus was angry when He fashioned a whip and kicked butt in the temple.

He had a reason to be angry because the people had made the temple a place for worship to God into a thrift mall for profit.

Jesus had righteous anger. No I don't mean surfer 'righteous' like catching a big wave. I mean righteous as in anger for what is right.

A lot of times we feel anger because we know that things around us are not right or in a disagreement we know that we are right and the other person is wrong.

When these things happen we feel anger and God's word is saying that's Ok... but, don't you hate it when there is a but in a statement?

God is telling us ok...be angry but do not sin!

Umm....Guilty as charged! I have been angry about the right things before but wrong in how I dealt with it.

Emerson Eggerich is the author of 'Love and Respect'' which is the coarse I am hosting. Emerson puts it this way, "We can be right but wrong at the top of our voice".

When I read that along with this verse so things changed in me. Think about the times we are right in something we say to our kids or spouse or friends and co-workers but in the manner we say it we are wrong.

How many times have I crushed people with my tone or harsh words just because I knew I was right...man why can't we be born with this type of wisdom?

I think it comes down do pride...that's why I titled this blog 'Loud is proud'' because when we get angry in a situation that we know we are right and we "get loud" it is usually because of our pride that we can't let it go.

Yes Jesus did fashion a whip and kick butt with righteous anger but He was also God and had the authority to punish. Something I have definitely learned through-out my life is that I am not God!

Even though we have been called to correct sin and to stand for what's right we have been called to speak the truth in love!

So something to think about the next time your angry!

Loud is proud!

Can't wait to grow up!

2009-02-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

I am the proud parent of 4 boys with a 5th boy on the way...I know...I know... pray for my wife! I was thinking deeply this morning as I was being jumped on and having scotch tape but on my back while I was trying to sleep, how I can't wait until the boys are older! I can't wait until they are teenagers and want to sleep in...because they are in for it! Oh that's right what goes around comes around, I'm gonna jump on them and scotch tape their backs too. All is fair that ends fair right? Anyways that's not really why I can't wait for them to grow up. You see today I will go and watch my oldest two boys first ever basketball game, and I must say I am a little excited. I used to dread my kids growing up, but the more I realize that can't be stopped, the more I have realized there is excitement in there growing up. Like today with the basketball, this is a new opportunity for them. This game is a chance for success and failure to learn life lessons, to have fun and I get to be a part.

I can't help but wonder if this is how God feels. As we grow spiritually, and we understand more about the God we love and serve , the more opportunity's we have to do great things for the Kingdom of God. I'm just speculating, but I think that God takes pleasure in our growth. As C.S Lewis said, "We were created for His pleasure". What a thought! A lot of times we think in just the opposite way that it's all about our pleasure in God. Don't get me wrong. We do find pleasure in God. After all He is "the pearl of greatest price". Who would not be pleased? However, we were created for His pleasure and His glory. I can't help but think that as we grow and begin to live for God that God maybe feels a little like I do today...and I'm a proud dad.

If that's true, and I believe it is...I can't wait to grow up!

I'm a sinner

2009-01-30T16:55:00.001-08:00

I saw a t-shirt today that I want! The front of the shirt said in big letters "sinner" and the back of the shirt said in those same big letters "saved". I thought that was awesome! I don't know if we go around advertising that we have sin but that is just what the Bible has called us to do. The Bible say's to "confess our sins to each other so that we could be healed". Notice that it says that we could be healed... in order to be healed something has to be broken or wounded right? Well I believe this speaks deep to our hearts... a lot of us are wounded broken people dealing with sin and hiding it from everyone around us. I wonder why we do that? Why when the Bible tells us we can be free and healed by being real do we play to game. By playing the game I mean we act like everything is fine. We act like we live in "perfect-ville" and that everything is great, that we don't struggle, we don't sin... we play the game. I want to close with a thought that God gave me when I saw this shirt. The best thing about that shirt was not the front with the word "sinner" but the word on the back... "saved"!

Here is the thought I felt God spoke to me... when we play the game and fail to confess our sin we deny to the world around us and even in our own lives the saving power of God. The world is looking for real people that pursue a real God. we need to be real... broken people that display the mercy and grace and love and SAVING power of our God.

So think about it... are you a sinner saved by grace... are you healed?

Something to think about... you can be healed... the question is will you?

Expectations and reality!

2009-01-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

You have heard it said I'm sure that expectations are hardly ever reality. We expect a lot more sometimes than we will ever get. I know that's true and generally I take a pessimistic attitude into most of my endeavors but recently the economy of God has flipped that statement on it''s head!

Reality has far exceeded expectations!

When we started planning for Saturday services at Summerbrook I expected God would use that service to connect people to Himself...I just didn't know how fast. I am used to stepping out in faith and things taking forever to get going almost to the point that you question whether or not you should have had so much faith! You start to wonder if you heard God or if you just ate to much pizza the night before.

This time however God has blessed and the effort upfront...We had 72 adults attend the first Saturday service and 68 this last Saturday and more and more new faces in every weekend service. I have been at Summerbrook since 1998 and I have always believed in my heart that God was going to do some amazing things here but have never seen what I felt in my heart.

I feel like for the first time I am beginning to see Gods hand move and the process has begun. God is building Summerbrook and if Saturday services are any indication I believe He is going to flip reality on it's head. I'm OK with that! Go ahead God exceed my expectations...you always do!

72 at the launch service

2009-01-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! The first Saturday service for Summerbrook is in the books and we had 72 people attend. Glory to God! God is continuing to build this church and Summerville is going to be impacting for the Kingdom of God. It's amazing to me what God does when we step out in faith and believe Him for the results. God is awesome! Thanks to everyone who prayed, served, and believed that God can do big things...oh and He has only just begun.

Dreaming Big

2009-01-09T21:27:00.000-08:00

I just read a friends blog who said that she had thought about writing into the paper in hopes someone would ask her to write an article...big dream right? I told her to go for it! Then I started thinking, how many of us have dreamed big dreams that we never pursued? How many big dreams could have been a reality but were never realized? Then I had to go and start thinking about faith and how it relates to this...I know I can't help it! I believe that God gives us the ability to dream, the potential to accomplish those dreams and even sometimes plants them in our hearts. I don't remember who said it but some famous person once said, "a statue has never been erected to a man who thought it best to leave well enough alone."

Don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting we be all about fame and fortune and getting a statue in our likeness but maybe just maybe we should dream a little more.

Who knows it might be just the dream that God has been preparing you for all along.

Just a thought...now I'm off to bed to dream a little or BIG!

Launch this Saturday

2009-01-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

Speaking of bold moves...this Saturday is the launch of Summerbrooks Saturday service and I am big time excited. Not just for the continued growth that is sure to come through new people on Saturday or making room for new people on Sunday but for the opportunity to impact more lives for the Kingdom of God. What an amazing opportunity we have to invite our friends and co-workers and neighbors and complete strangers and...ok you get the point! It's an other tool God has given us to impact people for eternity. I don't know about you but I have invited everyone I know to this thing...why because people matter to God! For that reason and that reason alone we should be excited about this bold move and make some bold moves of our own. It's not to late to invite...your move!

Launch...Summerbrook Church Saturday service
starting this Saturday January 10th at 6:30pm
676 Orangeburg Road
Summerville SC 29483.

BOLD MOVE!

2009-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

Recently I read this statement..."If you don't make some bold moves for God eventually you won't make any moves at all!"

I really thought about that. How many times do we make bold moves in other areas of our lives but when it comes to follwing Christ we play it safe.

Why is that? If there was ever anything worth taking some risks for it's the cause of Christ but yet we don't. I don't! Why is it that I am not more

intentional about talking to people about Christ. Why am I not constantly talking to friends and neighbors about the live giving relationship I have

In Christ? I will tell you why...we are scared! Scared of rejection, scared of not succeeding if we step out and do something big.

I asked myself, "Why are you scared Tim"? Then I remembered the words of Christ, :and behold I am with you ALWAYS even until the end of the age."

Wow! God is with me! The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE IS WITH ME! Do you get it? We are missing the boat, if we can just grasp that whatever we do

for God that he will be with us the fear would flee. Adrenaline would fill our veins and we would make some bold moves for Christ. When is the last

time something you or I did required God to show up or it would fail. When is the last time you or I made a bold move?

If we don't make some bold moves for God eventually we won't make any moves at all!

So whats your next BOLD MOVE!