Golfing in KY.

Ya I just wanted to do some golfing in Kentucky over the Holiday weekend, so the family jumped into the car and traveled 5 hrs to do some golfing over Memorial day... well, not really. Though I did golf in KY, we went to visit some of Casey's family and be with everyone even if it was for just one day! We got back in last night around midnight, but we had a great time with family and it was definitely worth the trip! Even for just a night and a day.

Chicago Trip

A group of leaders and staff from Overflow will be going next week to Chicago for a meeting with "Coach" Wayne Gordon, Pastor of Lawndale Community Church, author and co-founder of CCDA. Really looking forward to meeting Coach and hearing more about the urban ministry that has been taking place for the past 30 years there in Lawndale. Afterwards we will be meeting the Director of Extension Ministries at Willow Creek and taking of tour there as well, and then wrapping it up with meeting with another local Urban ministry in the area. It will definitely be a long couple of days, but we are truly blessed to have this opportunity to learn from others and to hear how God has worked in their ministry settings. Stay tuned...

ReCap on the week...

Well this week was extremely busy as usual, however, it was a great week at the same time. Had great connections this week with lots of people and really just felt blessed by God this week. All week long he was giving me new perceptions and helping me to see things the way he sees!
Simply amazing the way God works these things out. Been planning and preping this week for Sunday, which I'm totally pumped about. This will be my first morning preaching at Overflow, pray that God would use me to speak to people's needs and then most importantly that they walk away with a biblical belief/conviction for their lives.

BREAKING NEWS....

The Johns' Family is having another GIRL!!!!
Stay tuned....a name coming soon!

We are truly blessed and really excited about God's blessings in our lives with what the doctor said today, all looks well and the baby is looking good and healthy and yes it does look like its a girl!!!! I love it, I am completely thrilled that I get to have another daughter, I think cause, Livy is such a Daddy's girl already :)

Mother's Day/Child Dedications

Today was a day of "firsts" for Overflow. This was offically our first Mother's Day celebration as well as baby/child dedications. We had 3 families dedicate their children today at the start of the service and also this was our first service with all of the kids in the worship time with their families.
Needless to say, it was a big day for us at Overflow and we were truly overflowing with families and God's love this morning. What a joy it is to see all the kids and families coming in, some for their very first time in church, others their first time back in a long time. Regardless, we are there week in and week out at Celebration Cinema Theatres sharing the love of God with the people of this city.

6 objections of Christianity

OK. Here is the broad themes of the research done by Barna on the book I am currentely reading UnChristian.

1. Hypocritical. Saying one thing and doing another. The act of being a pretender and acting like they are morally superior.

2. To Focused on getting Converts. This are raises the question of concern..."do they really care" ... "targets rather than people" all in the name of trying to "save us".

3. Sheltered. Old fashioned, out of touch with reality, boring, ect...not willing to deal with the dirt in peoples lives. Seeking simplistic answers to question.

4. Too Political. "overly motivated by political agenda" Right or Left wing?

5. Judgmental. Quick to judge and we are not honest with ourselves with our attitudes and perspectives of others, this brings doubt of our love.

The author states time and time again that we may not agree with these statements/findings of the research, HOWEVER, we cannot ignore them either! Any thoughts?

UnChristian

Started to read this book today, which looks like its going to be a great read! Here's a brief quote "To engage nonChristians and point them to Jesus, we have to understand and apporach them based on what they really think, not what we assume about them."
This book is base on research done over the course of three years through the Barna research institute. Looks like there are going to be some hard core realities to face in the pages ahead, but also a good sobering look at how the unchurched/dechurched view the body of Christ today, which even looks way different then it did just a decade ago. Keep you posted.

Parenting OFFLINE a Generations Growing-Up ONLINE.

A good friend of mine, Jess Bousa, is currently a grad student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary studying for his M.A. in Biblical Languages and NT. While there he linked up with Rich Cortese to help plant Garden City Church in Beverly, MA. Though the church has yet to officially launch, Rich, Jess and a ton of other people are committed to the people of Beverly and seeing them become fully devoted followers of Christ.
I'm excited to see what is taking shape over there through emails and their website (check it out, HERE). I also thought it would be cool to give them a plug here on my blog with all that is going on with them. Along with that I was talking with Jess today and he was telling me about a presentation he will be giving in the community for all the parents who have questions and concerns about what this "myspace" and "facebook" is all about, and what this generation looks like growing up on the web. Sounds really interesting, can't wait to get the lecture/Q&A's on this one. Feel free to visit them if you are in the area...keep an eye on this, I have a feeling this is going to be some good stuff.

Holy Spirit Connections

I was just having one of those mornings were the Holy Spirit was so real and evident around me and in me, of course this is a constant thing, maybe I was just listening more for whatever reason. But Brian and I were talking in the office about the upcoming Sunday and some other stuff, when he pops up with a question that only the Holy Spirit could have laid on his heart about something that God had been dealing with me about for days, it totally through me for a loop. But he was dead on. This was really cool to see and from that time on for the next hour or so we just connected on things with planning and looking ahead on our calendars and how God was working things out...it was simply amazing to see. I don't know how many times we looked at each other with that look, like someone was reading our minds! God was connecting Brian and I in ways that only he can do and so I walked out of the office this morning totally encouraged by how God is doing great and mighty things here and we are being used to bring glory to his name here in South West Michigan. As God Pours in, We Pour out - Overflow Motto!

Word of the Day

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:12-13 NIV).

Being faithful in prayer is what the Lord was speaking into my spirit today. Be faithful and know that I am with you always, every second of the day. Talk to me as you would talk to your best friend for I am here with you, wanting to hear from you and for you to speak to me brings me so much joy, my child. Know that you are loved and I bless you this day!

$5 Blessing Continued....

So, here is a story I thought was worth sharing. If you don't already know our church offices are located in the heart of the marketplace (a mall), and so as you can imagine we have tons of people that stop in for numerous reasons. Over the past year we have made relationships with some of the other store managers and workers. Well, Brian the Lead Pastor, of Overflow was in the office the other day and was thinking of how to bless some people with the remaining money that was left from the Sunday service. The money came from a donation made in which Brain felt that 10% of that donation should be used as a blessing to the community.
So as he sat and pondered he thought it would be nice to bless the workers in one particular store in the mall, and just as he was having the thought, the manager of that store was passing by, so he called them into the office and asked if they would like a free lunch today on Overflow. The manager gladly excepted and then left to start her shift in time. A few minutes went by when a girl came rushing into the office and asked Brian "Do you hear from God?" He was a little hesitant to answer, she said "like in your thoughts and stuff" "ya" Brian replied. She proceeded to tell him how her and her friend that works with her were just talking about how hungry they were but had no money for lunch. They both were totally blown away by this.
A few minutes later the other girl came into the office almost in tears. She told Brian that the night before she got our her Bible for the first time in years and that, that very morning on her way into work, she was praying and telling God how she wanted to start fresh with Him again!!
How amazing is God! What an opportunity to share how God cares and how He loves them beyond their realization. Not sure what is going to come of this, but one thing I know for sure and that is, GOD is on the move big time here with Overflow and I am truly blessed to be a part of this and to be a servant of God in this area of Michigan.

Still planning on blessing all my co-workers tomorrow with some early morning pastries and also taking one person out to lunch next week, just to be a blessing to others. Keep you posted.