Project ONE: The Moody Miracle League

If you haven't signed up yet...WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?!?! This weekend is the last chance to participate in the Moody Miracle League portion of our PROJECT ONE mission endeavor this fall. Ask anyone who has been involved thus far...It's not something we will soon forget! Here is a slide show of some of the action from this past Saturday. If you are interested in finding out more, contact your Care Group Leader, or our Directors, Rhonda and Jason.

PICNIC

Our class picnic will be next Sunday, October 14th at the church at the playground area. Bring your blankets, chairs, dinner and drinks at 4:00.

We will have an activity for your children to do while you are there - they are going to decorate our goodie bags that we will be giving the kids involved with the Moody Miracle League and the Ronald McDonald House.

Sign up here if you will be attending!

If we get rained out, we will still have our picnic inside in the seminar room (by the nursery).

Sunday's Gonna Be Huge!

This Sunday, October 7th is going to be huge day for our Family Ties family. We will be signing up for our Project One Mission project with the Moody Mirable League and the Ronald McDonald House.

We need everyone to participate in some form or fashion, whether it is being a buddy for a boy or girl at the Moody Miracle League, helping with their end of the season party, donating snacks, preparing a dish to carry to the Ronald McDonald House, serving a meal at the RMH, donating $$$$$$, or donating household items. Please prayerfully consider how your family would like to serve. This is definitely a family affair, so you don't have to worry about what you are going to do with your kids!

If you are still confused about what Project One is, click on the following video made by our very own resident movie maker, Brandi Caldwell: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3456024963006910706.

If you will out of class on Sunday, please let either myself or your care group leader how you would like to serve!

See you all on Sunday!

Care Group 1 Breakfast Sign Up

This Sunday is our Sunday for Breakfast. Let us know what you will be bringing so we don't have duplicates. This Sunday is also our Sign Up for our Project One Missions Project. Hope to see everyone this Sunday!!

So This Is What It's All About?

This past Sunday, we began our six-week series called "Lord of the Rings". In this first lesson, Perry spoke about what marriage is and how God ordained it Genesis 2. We learned that success in marriage is followed by a surrender to scripture. At the end, we were given a homework assignment. For review, here it is:

1. Schedule a date by the end of this month. A date is a night that you and your spouse go out WITHOUT kids and leave your Nextels and PDAs and all that other stuff at home and keep a cell phone ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES!! An emergency in NOT calling to check up on the kids. If you need to check on the kids, that probably means that your sitter is completely incompetent OR you're having a problem with letting go of the kids for a couple of hours!! Remember this: It's better to spend a few bucks on a babysitter now than spending thousands of dollars on divorce attorneys later.

2. Pray together out loud with your spouse. Remember that prayer is simply talking to God. If you have problems talking to God, then you probably have problems talking to your spouse. This may be weird for you because you have never prayed out loud with your spouse. Try it. You'll love it!! You'll be amazed at how much better your verbal communication with your spouse will be when your verbal communication with your Heavenly Father is strong!! Oh yeah -- saying the blessing at the dinner table DOES NOT constitute praying out loud with your spouse.

3. Study the Bible together. This one will take some work. Take some time this week and go through God's Word and find a verse or passage in the Bible that can be your theme verse for your marriage. Don't be surprised if when you are exploring Scripture, you discover a whole lot more than a theme verse for your marriage. Be careful, you just may fall in love with God's Word!!

Now if you missed the first lesson, please don't give up!! You can get caught up in a matter of one hour. There are 168 hours between 9:30AM on Sundays. You can certainly find one hour that you can get away from sports, drama, reality TV, or the news and get onto NewSpring Church's Resource Page, scroll down, and click on Lord of the Rings. The lesson name was "So This Is What It's All About?" (at the bottom of the page). You can watch the video or get the audio, your choice.

Remember, next week we'll learn about "Two Myths About Sex". That'll bring in a crowd!!

You Will NOT Want to Miss This Sunday!!!

Many of us want to ignore the "pink elephant" in the room and not bring attention to it out of fear that someone may get hurt or offended. Well it is time that we take on this "pink elephant" head to head. "What is this 'pink elephant'?" you may ask. This pink elephant has marital struggles, sexual miscommunication, infidelity, financial worries written all over it. The name of this pink elephant is divorce. All of us have been effected by divorce in one way or another. Maybe it was your parents. Maybe a sibling. It could have been a co-worker or a close friend. Maybe it was you. Maybe you're considering it. Maybe you're in the process of it.

This Sunday will mark a turning point in your life and in the life of our Bible Study group. This Sunday, we will be introduced to a series that will completely change the way you look at God and your spouse. It's entitled "Lord of the Rings" and you will not want to miss it.

Maybe your marriage is great. You will NOT want to miss it!! Maybe you're just going through the motions of marriage with no purpose or meaning. You will NOT want to miss it!! Maybe you're about to pack your bags. You will NOT want to miss it!! Maybe you're about to get married. You will NOT want to miss it!!

I encourage each one of you to begin right now to sincerely seek the face of God and desperately beg Him to work miracles through this series. I am a firm believer in the miracle of reconciliation. Please pray separately and as couples that God will pour out His spirit on this series. Pray with EXPECTATION that His power that saved us from an eternal damnation in Hell will rescue those going through the mire of struggle, separation, and divorce.

We need to invite everyone that we can think of to this series!! Let's not let Satan win another battle. We have the Lord of the Rings in our corner!!

550+ Students at CrossPoint Tonight!!!

We quit counting at 550. There was no well known guest speaker or big name band. There is, however, an Almighty God who desperately wants to save the lost -- He showed up!! Prayer warriors, please continue to lift up our student ministry. It is much needed. Revival is here!!! Captives are being set free, chains are being broken, and people are crossing the line of faith!! To HIM alone be the glory!!! There were quite a few salvations and well over 150-200 re-dedications!!

Care Group #1 Breakfast

Hello Care Group #1!! It's our Sunday for Breakfast!! Please leave a post and let everyone know what you will be bringing to help cut down on duplicate items. Thanks! Dianna

How we worship

I read this wonderful post on a blog I subscribe to called Eyes Right. Dean Shareski put things in such a scriptural context. Having been raised in a traditional Baptist church, I had never done anything but be quiet and reverent in worship to God. I know that God accepts our praises any way we give them, but there are times when I feel the need to raise my hands in worship. But why??? I am copying some of his post here and will link to it as well. Thanks for this insightful post, Dean.

So here’s why we lift our hands in worship and what it means:

• To remind us of our covenant with God.
• Genesis 14:17-23
• Lifting of hands in courts of law signifies an oath

• To show our reliance on Him.
• Exodus 17: 8-16
• We need to physically see and demonstrate our reliance on God to each other
• He likes it
• Psalm 134 :1-2
• If God likes it, why wouldn’t we do it?
• To show surrender
• Psalm 141:2
• When someone is captured, they often are asked to put their hand up in surrender

So this isn’t about what church you go to or what style of worship you prefer, it’s something God has asked us to do because he desires worshippers. So the next time you raise your hands in worship, perhaps, if you’re like me, you’ll know better why you do it. If you don’t, why not?

Eyes Right

Girls Night In

Hey, ladies!

Our next Girls Night In is scheduled for Friday night, September 14th at my home. I have asked the photo jewelry person to come, so bring your favorite pictures!

Please bring your favorite appetizer and we will have a snacky supper. You can start coming at 6:00. We'll eat around 7:00. Please note that Shea (the jewelry lady) will be leaving around 8:00, so if you want or need to come late, don't be too late or you will miss her!

I am all ears as far as suggestions go for what else to keep us occupied, so if you have any ideas, let's hear them! You do not have to purchase jewelry to come to the Girls Night In! That is only a small part of the evening!!!

Respond here to let us know if you are coming and what you plan to bring.

Mawwaige...

I cannot help but hear this voice in my head when I hear the word "marriage". Enjoy this clip from my husband's favorite movie, The Princess Bride:

Marraige Quiz

As we prepare for this next study, I have been looking for interesting facts and information regarding marriage. I found this little quiz. See if you know the answers to these questions about your mate:

1. What does your spouse do at work? Be specific ("he's an executive" isn't enough, give specifics, duties).

2. What is your spouse really good at?

3. Has he or she won any awards, commendations, trophies? For what?

4. What is your spouse's favorite comfort food, when growing up?

5. What is your mate's dream job?

6. What did your spouse want to be when he or she was a child?

7. What is you mate's top goal in life?

8. What does your spouse see as his or her greatest accomplishment thus far?

9. How many cousins does your husband or wife have?

10. What is the name of your spouse's high school best friend?

11. What is your mate's favorite color?

12. What is your spouse's favorite sport or hobby?

(http://marriage.families.com)

Prayers O' Plenty

Thanks to all you prayer warriors who have prayed for our student ministry over the past couple of weeks. Just a few things in review:

• 12 salvations last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 5 recommits last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 275 total in attendance (middle and high school) last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 400 +/- in attendance Friday night at the Daniel Bashta concert (thanks Jonathan and Jenny B. for your sacrifice in making it happen!! You rock!!!!!)
• 200+/- in attendance for D-Now weekend
• 26 salvations on Saturday night (Aug. 18)
• 1 wild 10:45 service that was nothing more than the passion that our students have ALL THE TIME, not to mention 1 hacked off pastor that got his house annihilated by toilet paper in the wee hours of Sunday (Chris Howell's son was a willing and proud participant).

Tonight we start our 6-week series called "EPIC: SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF". We are anticipating a crowd of 350+ tonight alone. If you have time to read this, please close your eyes and pray for the lost souls who will enter our doors tonight. It's going to be huge!! It starts at 7pm if you want to check it out!! More updates as God continues to move in a mighty way.

UPDATE:

We had 332 people Wednesday night (August 22) and there have been 10-15 salvations that I know of at random times this week just because our students are sharing Christ with their friends before, during, or after school!!! We are expecting 450 +/- next week (August 29) as our students will see the most clear and creative presentation of the gospel that our student ministry has EVER DONE!! To Him be ALL the glory!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!

Guys Night Out

Come on, guys! I know it is hard for you to respond, but I know you can do it!

Guys Night Out scheduled for Saturday, September 8th - Dinner of your choice and bowling to follow. Respond here if you are interested!

Casting Crowns in Concert

Casting Crowns, our class's favored group, is coming to town November 2nd. Several of us are going and would like to sit as a group. If you are interested in going, tickets go on sale on August 24th. I will be purchasing our group's tickets on that date for anyone who is interested and has paid. Tickets are $26 a piece (including estimated processing costs). Please comment here if you are interested in going together.

Daniel Bashta In Concert!!!

If you have never heard this guy, you are in for it!! If you like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Hillsongs United, Jars of Clay, U2, or Dave Matthews Band, you need to make it here this Friday night. You can check him out at www.myspace.com/danielbashta This guy comes from Colorado Springs and studied under Ross Parsley(sings "I am Free"). Daniel has a huge song out called "Dry Bones". If you want to hear the next Chris Tomlin in this rare opportunity, you need to be at CrossPoint at 9PM this Friday night. We pushed it back so everyone can go to the "Meet the (fill in your favorite high school team here)". We'll take a $5 donation at the door and a love offering will be taken. This is cheap considering the next time you are able to hear him, you'll have to buy a $20 ticket.

Please see the flyer below an do your best to tell everyone about it.

Care Group #2

Breakfast this week - August 12th.

Comment here to let everyone know what you are bringing.

Bill Cosby Himself Video

Thanks to Scott for the lesson on discipline yesterday. He also played a clip from "Bill Cosby Himself", and I was able to find that particular clilp on YOU TUBE today, so I hope you enjoy.

SKATE PARTY

For those of you who missed the "Back To School Skate Party" you missed out on lots of fun! We all had a blast! Thanks to all who planned it, and we look forward to doing it again! Here are a few pics of our evening:

August LC Notes

Hey, guys, I know that most of us were at the Skate Party (whoo fun!) So while Jenny and Jonathan and I went to Leadership Community I took a few notes.

Ryan talked out the grand opening of our new building and if you hadn't already taken a walk through at the picnic, we were allowed to go and see it. It is quite a sight when you go through those doors. It's impressive. On a GOD sized scale. I wonder if I will ever "get used to" seeing what God can do.

Ryan focused on John 13:1-17. This passage centers on Jesus washing his disciples feet before they share a meal together. Ryan reminded us that when we receive salvation through Jesus Christ, we are cleansed of every impurity of each sin that we commit past, present and future. He explained that Jesus gives us the oppurtunity to come to him daily and let Him wash our feet; to be cleansed by spending time with Christ when we have gotten dusty and grimy from the time we spend in the world. Ryan pointed out that we are servants in the Kingdom of God. Ryan pointed out that Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet because this lowly, commonplace taske had been neglected by their host. Jesus didn't go to the host and ask "Who will you send to wash their feet and mine?" Instead Jesus did what servants do, he saw a job that needed to be done and he did it. This was a job no one else wanted to do, a dirty, lowly job and Jesus did just because it was what needed to be done.

Hope this keeps ya'll in the loop since we played hokey and went skating ;)

See you all soon and have a GREAT week!