Giving of the Thanks...

Yes, Sunday was a day of gratitude. I was glad to share some of the things I'm grateful for in the life of our church family, and grateful for the way the message landed on some folks. God is still up to something good in the life of FBC Poky, and I'm excited to see where this is all going.

Yes, Lord willing, I'm going to be eating at my mother's table on Thursday, watching football on my father's TV, and hanging out with my siblings that I haven't seen in over a year. Lots of nieces and nephews to hang out with, lots of fun for my kids, and the potential of a Linfield College playoff game on Saturday all loom large in my thoughts today.

And Yes, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for good health, for a great family, for a church family that I belong to that is doing good ministry in difficult times, and for friends who love me in spite of my obvious imperfections. My heart is full of things to be thankful about, and I hope that yours is, too.

I'll be back and get ramped up for Christmas, it will be a great message series on the Gifts of the Magi, Gold, Frankinsense and Myrrh, and what they mean for our relationship with the Christ of Christmas. I can't wait to get there, but I've got to go and come back first.

See you in December!

Help Against Temptation

As I promised on Sunday, here's a post of some Bible verses that can help you in the fight against some specific temptations. These are not magic bullets, but if you put them in your mind, as Psalm 119 say, hide them in your heart, they can be one way of resisting temptation. If you have more to add to the list, feel free to post (anonymously if you wish) so others can benefit. Here are a few:

Help with thought life:

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 1 Cor. 10:5

Help with bad influences:

Do no be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Cor. 15:33

Help with sexual temptations:

Run away from sexual sin! 1 Cor. 6:18

Help against looking at porn:

I will set before my eyes no vile thing. Psalm 101:3

Help against gossip:

Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. Proverbs 26:20

Help with too much alcohol:

Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the holy Spirit fill and control you. Ephesians 5:18

Help against temptation to cheat on your wife:

Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:18

Help against causing arguments:

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Proverbs 20:3

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

Help dealing with anger:

"In your anger do not sin": do not let the sun go down while you are still angry Ephesians 4:26

Help with stealing:

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

Help with cursing/lying/gossip:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Help with eating issues:

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Here's a few, add some more, and let's help each other defeat temptation in our lives!

One Lesson From New Orleans

It's been a long week, and my emotions and thoughts have been all over the map and back. This is my first attempt to communicate them outside of my head, so bear with me.

I'm so grateful that when we asked for feedback from our Community Groups about the financial situation and the announcement about staffing cut backs that so many of the groups took the time and made the effort to share their thoughts and feelings. We have received a tremendous amount of feedback, and for all of you who shared, I want to say, "thank you!" As difficult as it was to read some of it, it had to have been difficult to share, so again, thank you very much for making the effort. I believe God is going to use this to benefit all of us.

One of the whispers I heard from God while in New Orleans last week seems to relate to what we've been experiencing here in our FBC family. When I started in on the project to clean up and prepare the fireplace mantle, someone walking by stopped and said, "Remember, you need to go with the grain of the wood." At first, I was startled by that, since there were so many layers of paint on the mantle one could hardly tell that it was even made of wood, much less see or think about the grain of the wood. However, there was much truth in what they said. Getting the cracked, mildew stained paint off was not the only thing that needed to happen to restore the mantle to it's former beauty. We could take off the paint, but if we tore up the wood underneath, we'd ruin the whole project.

As we slathered paint stripper compound on, then worked to pull off the paint layer by layer, I kept hearing that whisper in my head: "Work with the grain." After several hours, I began to realize that it wasn't just my new friend's good advice about the project, it was God's good advice about our church family. There is a grain in the wood of our church, and while it's not always visible, tangible or directly noticeable, nevertheless it is there. And no matter what the hoped for outcome of the work, when we go against the grain, we risk damaging the wood.

Despite my best intentions and my best efforts, I believe I have led in some areas that have gone against the grain of the wood here at FBC. For that I must apologize. There will need to be some repair work done in relationships, and there will need to be some more apologies given, but I want you all to know that I'm sorry for any damage I've caused, and I'm working on how we repair it. Your feedback, whether it was meant to blister or to bless, has been very helpful. Together, I believe we can continue to build what God wants built here in the Portneuf Valley.

See you on Sunday!

Glad We Did That

Prayer Labs were last night, and despite cold temps and wind (what happened to fall?), we had nearly 40 people participate in the prayer times at locations around the city. It's a risk to ask people to pray in a public place, and I wasn't sure if anyone would show up, but thank you to all who did! Our prayer time at Highland High was good, even if we punctuated each request with a sniffle.

When we got back, I felt like we needed to share what, if anything, God might have said to us while we were praying. I was really glad I asked, because there were several important messages people received about prayer. Praying for the government more often, praying on location more regularly, just lots of encouraging messages about prayer.

Praying for the Church in the Portneuf Valley and for FBC in particular was also very good, a reminder that we are not alone in our mission here, and that we need to pray for the other churches and their effectiveness right along with ours.

Lastly, praying for the team going to New Orleans was a blessing. I know there is an adventure waiting for us down there, and I'm glad there are people praying, both now and during the trip, for our success in ministry and our safe return.

I'm glad we took the time to pray. It's important that we do it, and important that we do it together as a church family. Again, thanks to all who participated, and if you missed it, we'll do it again sometime.

See y'all when I get back from New Orleans!!

PRAYER LABS TONIGHT!!!

Don't forget that we're meeting around the city to pray at 6:00 tonight, then gathering back at FBC for prayer together at 6:45.

The meet sights are:

• Alameda Center
• Highland High School
• Irving Middle School
• ISU SUB - Canoe Room
• School District Offices
• Indian Hills Elementary School
• Pine Ridge Mall - Inside in front of Party Palace

Hope to see you there!!

Trying To Tie Up Loose Ends

So things have been a little complicated around here lately, and I'm feeling like I need to communicate a little harder, so here are a few issues I want to make sure everyone is up on:

• Prayer Labs are THIS THURSDAY NIGHT!! We are meeting at locations all over town for a time of prayer, then meeting back a the worship center to pray together for our valley, and to pray for our team going to New Orleans next week.
• The meeting locations for the Prayer Labs are - Highland High School, Irving Middle School, the Alameda Center, The School District Offices, Indian Hills Elementary School, The ISU SUB (meet at the Canoe Room), and the Pine Ridge Mall (meet inside in front of Party Palace). We'll gather at 6:00 pm for prayer, then head to the church at 6:45.
• Yes, the New Orleans trip is a go. Smaller crowd than we had planned, but still a gung ho group of Christ followers going down to help people in need. The word is we're going to be helping build a ramp for someone in a wheel chair and other such stuff. Sounds like fun!
• The 40 Days of Prayer series is going well. People are responding, and the questions and conversations are about deep stuff in people's lives. I can't wait to see what God does the rest of the way with this. Keep praying for God's will to be done, and for us as a church family to do it!
• Just got done planning the Christmas series, it should be amazing! "Thoughtful Gifts" will focus on the three gifts of the Magi and what they meant at the time, and what they mean today. You are going to want to bring friends to hear this series!!

Just trying to keep the lines of communication open!!

Quick Hits

Some things in the air:

• The Lions (3-3) finished their season on a sour note, losing their final game to Blackfoot 37-18. Mac played with a serious cold, having run a fever the two days before, and still had 12 tackles and two passes defended. He was a trooper. Proud dad moment.
• That said, football is over at the McCready house (except for some watching, of course), and just as the schedule starts to slow down, Rachel starts basketball practice TONIGHT!!
• Good feedback from the first message in the 40 Days Of Prayer series. People needed to know or be reminded that God is a loving Father and Friend, so we can be real and relational when we pray. Hope that it will change people's prayers to remember that.
• I stuck my head in on the Student Ministries Leader meeting - THERE WERE 12 PEOPLE THERE!!! God is up to something big in our church when there are a dozen people who want to be a part of changing the lives of teens. LOVE IT!!
  
• Stayed home with a sick girl Monday and Tuesday - Rae was running a fever, so no school for her. She's better today, and fired up for her first practice tonight.
• Had an amazing staff meeting today. I love this staff! They are dedicated to Jesus Christ, to this church family, to each other and to the work that God has called them to accomplish.
  
• Because giving is not keeping up with our expenses, there are going to be some hard things happen in the life of our church family. Please pray for people's hearts to be moved toward giving, and that the blockage about finances in this church would be removed.
• There will be a direct discussion of the finances this Sunday before the message. I hope it will be heard, and I hope it will not take away people's attention from the message on prayer.
  
• Sunday's message will be life changing for someone, perhaps you. My world is being rocked by the thought of praying to a holy, holy, holy God. GOD IS BIGGER THAN MY PROBLEMS, AND HE'S BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS, TOO!!
• Getting the final details nailed down for the New Orleans trip. Looks like 5 of us going, and I can't wait! Wish I was there now...
  

Stay tuned for more on any and all of the above, but I wanted to get you caught up.

Off To A Great Start!

Our opening event for the 40 Days Of Prayer last night was amazing! We had a nice turn out, and a lot of good energy toward this campaign from the jump. We've given out over 175 Journals so far, and we've had a bunch of new folks jump into Community Groups for the series, so we're getting set up to see God move in a big way.

Big thanks to Aaron for leading a great worship time, and for teaching us a cool new song.

I'm excited for the potential this campaign has to help us throw off the guilt that gets attached to the issue of prayer for most Christians, and at the same time, blow up some myths about prayer that some folks might have. It doesn't have to be complicated, it doesn't have to be 'perfect,' and it doesn't have to be 'right' to be prayer. God just wants to hear from you because He loves you!

I'm working to finish the message for Sunday, and it's going to be a great first step on the journey after Paul Austin showed us the way forward last week. Bring a friend and get a journal for this 40 Days Of Prayer, it's going to be a great ride!

Seasons Rolling Along

The weather has certainly made a statement the last few days, and the calendar at my house is saying the same thing: the seasons are changing. Mac has his last regular season football game this Saturday (still in it for the playoffs, GO LIONS!!), and I just signed Rachel up for basketball that starts in a week or two. I'm looking in my closet for sweaters, and the kids were both telling me that they need new snow boots. There is change in the air.

The season of focusing on prayer in the life of our FBC family has begun. Paul Austin did a great job of leading off our 40 Days Of Prayer campaign with his message on Sunday, and the Kick Off event will be Wednesday night at 7 in the Worship Center. I am looking forward to this campaign for lots of reasons, but mostly, because I have felt God calling us to reach to the next level as a church, and no matter what that looks like in the ministry we do, it will be dependent on God moving, and God moves when His people pray. So the logical place to start is prayer.

I will put this out for you to prayerfully test - God wants to do more than we can imagine, He loves us and the people of our valley more than we can imagine, and He wants to work in and through us more than we can imagine, so one place where we need to see God begin to shape the future in us is in our imagination. What do you imagine God doing in your life in the next 6 months? What do you imagine Him doing in your Community Group during that time? Between now and Easter, what do you imagine God doing in our church family? In the Portneuf Valley?

As we start into the 40 Days Of Prayer, I'm asking you to pray for God to expand your imagination and mine. If God can help us to imagine a better future for ourselves, our church and our community, then He can begin to work in and through us to make that future into our present. Pray for big imaginations, big dreams, big and powerful hope to take over and lead us to where a big God wants to take us. Pray big prayers, and lets see what a Big God can do.

See you Wednesday night!!