South Carolina 16, Tennessee 15

What? South Carolina wins? Are you kidding me? What a game t in Knoxville! Steve Spurrier had an unbelievable coaching game. The players played great! The offensive freshmen stepped up huge – Sidney Rice (8 catches for 112 yards, 2 touchdowns), Kenny McKinnley. Blake Mitchell (22-of-36 for 242 yards, 2 touchdowns) played like an upperclassman! Ko Simpson laid some huge hits on the UT players! Josh Brown kicked a 49 yard field goal to wn the game! The defense stopped UT each time they needed to! Great win! Offically in sole position of 3rd place in the SEC East! Great job Gamecocks!

If any body has the video of the game, please post a comment to let me know! I was unable to watch because Deanna and I were working on our new home (painting, sanding, etc.) What a great game to listen to on the radio!

Lick a foot?

Last night at FUSE, we had a great night! We had 135 students and 28 adult leaders there! It was a great night. Perry Noble came and gave a great message! He laid it down and the kids were so in tune with it!

Before we got the night started we played a game of "EAT or DON'T EAT." Basically we show a close up picture of something and then ask "EAT or DON'T EAT" One of the pictures was of a blistered foot! It was gross!!! The most unbelievable thing was that we had a girl take the challenge that she would lick the foot! YES, she licked the blistered foot! WOW! I still can't get that picture out of my head!

What a great night! Lots of fun!

IGNITE

Wow! What a night we had last night at IGNITE! The energy was through the roof, kids were bouncing off the walls! Leaders were interacting with the students, we had guests observing, new students attending for the first time, and so much more.

For the message, I shared a gospel message with the students of IGNITE and the Spirit was moving. We had 19 students raise thier hands to accept Christ! I was blown away! Afterwards, I was at the back of the the room and got to see so many of our adult leaders sharing with the students who accepted Christ. My heart was moved by this opportunity for the leaders to minister to the students on a personal level and to see students come into the kingdom of God!

Thank you Jesus for allowing us to experience you in a great way last night!

Save the world!

John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world thorugh him."

Now when I read this scripture I wonder if the emphasis should be "NOT" (with a little bit of raised voice when you read it!). God's focus was not condemation, but salvation of the people out of His GREAT love for us. Which makes me ponder, what should be my focus in life?

Last night, I shared the gospel with our High School students at FUSE and used John 3:16 as the focal passage. We were blessed to have a young lady accept Christ love for her for the first time! Thank Jesus!

Community

First of all, I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted on this blog. No excuses; except, we have had some internet problems, really busy, etc. Great news in that everything is going smoothly with the home purchase. So far, there have been no glitches in the home inspections, things are being fixedp and put in place to close on Oct. 28th! Deanna and I will spend the week painting and doing some little things around the house. On Nov. 4, Ellis Transfer and Strorage will bring all our stuff up to move in!

Well, the post title said community, but I had to give a little update! Tonight, I am teaching at FUSE on Biblical Community, as we prepare to start LIFE Crews. LIFE Crews is the small group ministry of the puzzle at FUSE. Our theme verse for LIFE Crews is 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you onto only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Here is our logo for LIFE Crews:

Tonight is going to be fun, so please be praying for me that I speak straight from the heart of God and that they hear the importance of fellowship with each other!

Lectio Divina

Last night at FUSE, we did something a little different. Jonathan taught the students the spiritual discipline of Lectio Divina, meaning "a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God."

Below you will see the steps for Lectio Divina, but allow me to say that last night was powerful! Not only to see students looking to God’s word to speak to them, but to hear over 120 students and over 25 leaders praying together was awesome! The best way to describe it was a holy roar or holy rumble! I praise God that he is sooo big that He hears all our prayers and knows us by name! Thank you God, for loving us so much that you desire to communicate with us through prayer and your Word!

Here are the steps to Lectio Divina for a group setting:

Listening for the Gentle Touch of the Word

1. One person reads aloud (twice) the passage of scripture, as others are attentive to some segment that is especially meaningful to them.

2. Silence for 1-2 minutes. Each hears and silently repeats a word or phrase that attracts.

3. Sharing aloud: [A word or phrase that has attracted each person]. A simple statement of one or a few words. No elaboration.

How the Word speaks to ME

4. Second reading of same passage by another person.

5. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on "Where does the content of this reading touch my life today?"

6. Sharing aloud: Briefly: "I hear, I see..."

What the Word Invites me to DO

7. Third reading by still another person.

8. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on "I believe that God wants me to . . . . . . today/this week."

9. Sharing aloud: at somewhat greater length the results of each one's reflection. [Be especially aware of what is shared by the person to your left or right.]

10. After full sharing, pray for the person to your left or right.

NEW LOOK....NEW VISION

Check out the website for more info on the vision and look of NewSpring Student Minsitry!

Pic

Here is another pic of the side of the house. Deanna loves the window to the side - which is a part of the kitchen! Also the deck on the side it awesome!

HOUSE....

Yesterday, we saw a house that we were really excited about! We oput an offer down and we found out this morning, after a couple of counter offers, that it got accepted! We are so excited! God has been watching over us so faithfully! Thank you to all of you who faithfully prayed for us in our transition to Anderson! Here is a pic of the front view:

We will post more pics later, as we get them! Right now, the closing is set for the end of October! In the meantime, we will go through inspections, appraisal, etc! So, if something changes, we will post it! PRAISE THE LORD!!

UPDATE....

We have some EXCELLENT news! NO, Deanna is NOT pregnant! On Wednesday Deanna had a second interview with a local insurance agent. The interview went really well! Actually, it went so well, that the agent offered Deanna a job with the agency. Deanna accepted the position Thursday morning! The agency, Renea S. Rowland Agency, is in Belton, SC. Renea is a Nationwide Agent, which is the parent company that Deanna worked with in Florence at the Michael Newton Agency. Deanna will begin her new job on October 3! PRAISE THE LORD! Thank you to all of you who read my blog and have been praying for Deanna to find the right job! She is so excited about working again, especially in something that she knows and loves doing!

Today we also went to look at a house for sale! Well, we liked it! We actually put an offer on the house! It is great and if everything goes well, I will post some pics of the house very soon! Thanks for your prayers!

ENGAGE.....

Tonight I was reading in the book of Acts, Chapter 17. I was struck by something that has challenged me in my walk with Christ and in my desire to share the gospel. Paul is speaking to the Aeropagus, meaning Council, about the one true God. First of all, Paul was a student. Paul spent much of his time reading, thinking, meditating, and reasoning through the scriptures. He learned from others, such as Gamaliel. Needless to say, Paul knew his stuff. He was well grounded in his faith! Paul not only knew the scriptures, but he knew the culture around him that he was called to minister to!

In verse 28, Paul says, “For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Paul quoted the poets of that time and of that culture. In reading that it spoke to me that Paul spent time learning and knowing the culture of that time, so that he could ENGAGE the people. For me, that has challenged me to learn, to investigate, and to be acquainted with the culture of today’s student, so that I can ENGAGE them! Our student ministry at NewSpring is and will continue to ENGAGE today’s students to reach them for the kingdom of Christ.

I challenge you to always be aware of the people that you have been given the task to minister to. God has called me and placed me to Student Ministry. A ministry to students grades 6-12. I need to spend time learning and knowing their culture, so that I can ENGAGE them! Take time to learn the culture, spend time with them, and build relationships with the people, so that you can ENGAGE them with the gospel. Example: We do not sent missionaries to Americanize other countries and then tell them about Jesus? NO!!!!! We learn the culture, the people, and then we ENGAGE them where they are! ENGAGE those around you with the gospel! The gospel is the best news this world can hear, so the time spent studying is well worth it!!

Suffering.....

Yesterday at NEWSPRING, Clayton King spoke on "Suffering." He made a statement that really stuck with me,

"We must stop asking why and start asking what!"

Here are his points of the sermon:
1. Participation - We suffer with Christ. 1 Peter 4:12-13
"He who fears to suffer, cannot be His who suffered." Tertullian, 2nd Century
2. Purification - We are tried, tested, and cleansed. 1 Peter 1:6-7
The stronger the flame, the deeper the cleansing!
3. Dependence - We learn humilty and trust. 1 Peter 4:19
4. Growth - We become more like Jesus. Romans 8:17

Be sure to go to NEWSPRING (click on current series on the main page) and download the message for 9.18.05! It will bless you!!

//GOD'S LOVE....WOW//

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

Theses verses speak loud and clear!

SERIOUS QUESTION.....

If you know the answer to this, please let me know!!

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

FAMILY.....

First of let me say that I do not know a lot of things! I am actually sort of dumb. I did graduate with honors from Anderson College, but I am still wondering how all that happened!

Deanna and I have been looking at a particular house and I decided to get my brother-in-law, Matt Knotts, to go with me and check the house out. (You know a house can be like a good book, looks great on the outside, but is a dump on the inside. The book could have a great look, great couple of chapters and then fall apart after that!) Well, needless to say, I wanted someone who I trust to give me their honest opinion; if there is anyone to that it is Matt. Let me first of say this, Matt is smart! The man is going to college at night after a hard day’s work, come home and is a great husband and father, then stays up studying for his classes. By the way, he has a 4.0 GPA! (Yes, he is sort of related to me!!) So needless to say, I felt very comfortable with his advice. He is also the modern day Mr. FIX-IT. It goes to say that anybody who knows Matt will say the same thing! Case in point: When Deanna and I bought our first home in Florence, we had some things that needed to be fixed (a legal size page full of little fixes that take up time). Matt took some vacation days and came down and took care of the whole list in 2 DAYS!!! I said, 2 DAYS!!! What are you kidding me! When we sold out house, it sold very well, because of Matt’s help!!

Back to my story, Matt starts looking around and starts saying all these things that I do not understand about building codes. Crawls around under the house, checks out the attic, check the bathrooms, the ceiling, everything! He found some stuff that looked a little shady, which I am so thankful for! Here is a man that does not have to give me advice, but is willing! He cares about his family and extended family (maybe more on that later) so much that he wants to protect them from other problems! God has gifted him to be able to retain a lot of knowledge to be very particular about different things! He allowed himself to be used tonight! What a huge blessing that was for me to see and experience!

I pray that I will be that way, that I will allow God to use me in the areas of my giftedness. I want to be in the ZONE! I want to do the thing that pleases the Leader and Forgiver of my life, Jesus Christ.

Matt you are the man! Deanna and I love you and appreciate you and Dana allowing us to stay in your apartment over garage until we find a house (you would think that he would be saying, just buy any house, it doesn’t matter, just get out of my house!)! YOU ROCK MY FACE OFF!

LONG TIME....

Sorry for my long delay in getting another post up on the blog! It has been mad crazy here at NewSpring! God is doing some great things through the ministry of NewSpring and it is an honor to be a part of it! By the way, NewSpring is donating over $20,000 to the relief effort, on behalf of the over 4,000 people who attended this past weekend. Check out our new webpage to see what else we are doing to help in the relief effort! It is great to be a part of a church that just doesn' talk about doing minsitry, but puts feet to it!

Last night at FUSE was excellent. We saw 143 students at the FUSEBOX! Jonathan shared his testimony, and talked about how we should all be aliens of this world. Earth is not our home, but Heaven is our eternal home!

After FUSE, Amber, Jonathan, Deanna, and I got invited to dinner with some of our youth. We ate Brick City Grille and it was excellent. Laurna, Marissa, and Hoyt, thank you for allowing us to hang out with you guys! We had some great conversation and it was great to hear your thoughts about the Student Minsitry at NewSpring.


Going to look at a home this afternoon! Keep us in your prayers, as we continue our search or a home!

A WEEK OF FIRSTS.....

WOW! This week has been unbelievable. I want to share in the week of "Firsts" with all of you!

• Monday was my first day at NEWSPRING!!!
• Tuesday was the first time that I got to be apart of Creativity Meeting with Perry and some of the other staff! Man, that was awesome to be apart of brainstorming the service with that group of people!
• Wednesday was the first time to meet Jonathan & Amber! By the way, this couple is AWESOME!! He is the man and I am thankful that I get work with him in building the BEST Student Ministry in South Carolina, Southeast, United States, and WORLD!!!!
• Wednesday was our first FUSE! Jonathan and I were introduced by Perry with the awesome Student Ministry Staff doing a hilarious skit/video! Jonathan, Perry and I fielded questions from our students. Let me just say that some of them were TOUGH!! Here are some pix from the night. You can also check out Jonathan's page for the pix as well (I took them from him, I did not have a camera at the time ;)

Perry, Jonathan, and I doing a little Q&A with the students at FUSE!

Student Ministry Staff together for the first time!

• Thursday was Jonathan's first day! It was great to sit down and talk with him and hear him share his heart with me. Jonathan is the real deal and his vision is outstanding! He is the man!
• Thursday was also the beginning of college football with USC Gamecocks defeating UCF 24-15! What a great day Thursday turned out to be!!
• Friday - My first day off! It is crazy, but I could work and not bother me! I LOVE MY JOB!! It is so wild that I get paid to spread the name of Jesus with students all over Anderson, SC!!!! Thank you Jesus, for the best job in the world!

I am sure there will be more FIRSTS, but that is all for now! What a great list! Later.....

GAMECOCKS....SPURRIER

What a game last night? ---- USC 24 - UCF 15 ---- Yes, I know that it was ugly, but the potential that we saw last night was awesome! We know that Steve Spurrier can coach, but if he keeps this up, he will become a legend to change the USC Football Team around! By the way, if you do not like Steve Spurrier, we do NOT care! You must agree that the man CAN coach a football team!

By the way, the black visor looked awesome!

Check out all the details on the game here! USC-24 UCF- 15

THE YOUTH STAFF...SUPER COOL PEOPLE....

Once again, I need you to follow a link. Every Friday, Perry does the SUPER COOL PERSON OF THE WEEK, on his blog. This week it is the Student Ministry Staff of NEWSPRING (No, not me and Jonathan, but the awesome part-time folks (Tyler, Tommy, Caroline, Andrew, Adam, and Pudding) and Susan Claxton.

Please take the time to read and get to know the awesome staff that I am working with!

SUPER COOL STUDENT MINISTRY STAFF!!

I LOVE THE STUDENT MINISTRY STAFF! YOU GUYS ROCK MY FACE OFF!!!!

NEWSPRING...HURRICANE RELIEF

Stop everything that you are doing and follow the link below:
NEWSPRING & HURRICANE RELIEF

I am so thankful that I serve at a church with a pastor with strong convictions. When the Lord speaks to him and our staff, we move, we do not wait around and ask other people (committees), but we do what the Lord told us to do! Thank you Perry! You are the man!

If you are in the Anderson area on Sunday, be at NEWSPRING! See you on Sunday!