Benefits versus Responsibilites Part 2

March 24, 2009

Today I want to continue discussing the benefits (blessings) and the responsibilities of believers.

2. God pours out His blessings – Our responsibility (call) to spiritual warfare.

Many Christian can testify of the blessings that God has poured out in their lives. Many of us could spend hours describing the abundance of grace and mercy alone.  In addition, many believers live a life amazing peace, financial prosperity, maturing & genuine relationships,  and the ability to grow in godliness.

I know I can praise God and thank Him for the blessings of my wife, our children, our church family, and many, many more things that He poured out into my life. I am very thankful!

When someone receives Christ or rededicates their life to following Jesus as their Lord and Savior they begin to experience the blessings that God pours out on His children.

During that same transition period it is important for new believers to understand their responsibility to walk in accordance with His heavenly calling  in Christ Jesus and encourage the body of Christ to maturity in Him.

Even though the Christian is blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), spiritual warfare is still the daily experience of Christians while in the world. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

The spiritual world is real and it makes an impact on more than is obvious to most believers. Paul offers insight and direction for not being taken unaware in the midst of the invisible battle around us.

Many times we struggle with things that are hard to explain or have a rough day at work, or just feel that intense pressure or weight on our shoulders, yet seemingly nothing is really wrong or needed to be done.  Not all, but many of these instances in my life have been due to spiritual warfare, and a need to go to my prayer closet and seek God.

In Ephesians 6 Paul describes the weapons of warfare that I  have turned to during these times.  Paul offers insight and wisdom in these verses, and describes the weapons of prayer, and God’s Word. It is in the tongue that brings power and life to the Word of God. I will read scripture out loud or quote some verses that pertain to my situation. The spoken Word of God has power to change things.

Then in my prayers I will seek God and ask Him for the breakthrough or victory that I need, while thanking Him for the victory that was won on the Cross.

I will close with this, His Word coupled with our Faith — changes things — it changes everything!

Next time you are experiencing one of the amazing blessings from God, remember to spend a few moments thanking Him and praying for other situations in your life, and for those struggles in others lives.

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Tuesday Night Reflections

March 18, 2009

Just a few thoughts before heading off to bed…

  • LONG week… Why is it the weeks that we think are going to be easy and enjoyable turn out to be a pain, and the weeks I dread or think will be difficult are never as hard as I thought!
  • The week ended with a lot of meetings.
  • Friday night the team and I got to look around the building we are planning on using as a new location for our Sunday Services and community outreach.
  • The weather has been beautiful the last few days and our family cannot get enough of it.
  • We have been enjoying long walks, cool breezes, and the grill!
  • “If you cannot be tested, then you cannot be trusted”
  • Trials and tribulations will come, so we must ensure our attitude is one that embraces the trials as opportunities.
  • Many Christians say that God would never test us or allow us to go through trials
  • Umm… please read Gen 22, Matthew 4, and James 1, 1 Peter and get back to me.
  • The last seven days have been a pretty down time for me and the family. My family needed the rest time and a little more family time.
  • I put in 8 or 9 hour days instead of the normal 11 or 12.
  • I also took  most of Monday off and we went out to lunch and to Monkey Joe’s play center.
  • It may sound  a little contradictory to say that the week was long, and restful at the same time.
  • The warfare and pressure this week was immense for me, but Ashlee and the kids needed my attention more and needed me around more during the last few days.
  • So through out this restful and enjoyable time, there was some intense times of prayer and warfare.
  • Don’t Get it? That is okay. When someone is working full-time, raising a family, and church planting the roles and days seem to get very mixed and very complex.
  • Today I broke through some of the warfare and I feel much less discombobulated. PRAISE GOD!
  • I don’t get the NCAA selection Saturday process, but at least NCAA basketball has a play off system. The NCAA should glean some information from basketball to set up a football playoff system.

Enough Random thoughts for tonight!

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Tuesday Night Reflections

February 25, 2009

Here are a few thoughts before I head to bed!

  • On Thursday I took the girls to Milwaukee for the day, and to have Adalee’s tooth fixed.
  • We decided to go to the Betty Brinn’s Children’s Museum with the kiddos.
  • The museum was a lot of fun and the girls had a blast in the hands-on areas.
  • It makes me wonder why the church does not step up their game. Many of the things in the museum were not that detailed. The church should have a vision to WOW kids as they enter the children’s area.
  • I am excited that Overflow is having a new website developed. I got a sneak peak at it on Friday, and it looks amazing. Thanks Nate!
  • Our Saturday Night Life Group launched on Saturday night with 10 people attending. I was very excited about the turn out.
  • The feedback was that everyone enjoyed the group. We also heard from a couple of people they were stretched.
  • Continued preaching through the Gospel of John on Sunday morning with “The Message Part 2:LOVE”.
  • The message really emphasized the love of the Kingdom and the Father through the passages in John.
  • There are some things beginning to take shape here at Overflow.
  • We need to pray for a location to facilitate our growth.
  • Please continue to pray for those far from God to be reached through our ministry.
  • I am still praying for people to join our team.
  • I am looking at some universities to continue my studies. I want to work on a Master’s in Ministry Leadership or Master’s in Transformational Leadership. God is calling me to take this step, to prepare for parts of my vision that are starting to take shape even now. I need to be prepared for those things fully.

I cannot think anymore. I am exhausted, and about to relax a little before hitting the sack. Research and writing will come at 5.

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Where are You? (part 1)

February 24, 2009

Here at Overflow Church we focus heavily on discipleship and provoking believers to a level of maturity that allows them to function as a hearer and a doer of the word.

In the last few messages here at Overflow, I have used these examples on a couple of occasions. Reading a couple of different blogs today made me think, I should touch on these topics on my blog. I know I have brought them on Sunday morning, but not everyone reading attends our church.

Hebrews 5:12-14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This is such an interesting passage of scripture, because Paul uses natural example of maturation and growth to explain a spiritual condition.

When a child is a newborn we feed them they are nursed, or given formula through a bottle, and eventually take on whole or regular milk. During this time the mom or dad holds the child, holds the bottle and carefully feeds the child watching every meal with intensity.

In the next stage of life, a parent begins to introduce some solid foods. In the first few feedings the parent may feed the child and help them take bites, eventually leading up to the point where the child can feed themselves as long as a plate is placed in front of them. In this stage the parent still watches the child during every meal with a high level of interest and concern.

The final stage of the child’s ability to eat is when they come to the mom or dad and tell them they are hungry. The parent tells them there is food in the refrigerator, therefore the child runs to the fridge grabs something and beings to eat. The parent is aware of the child eating, but is not particularly focused on the child eat.

These are the same stages that Paul is discussing in Hebrews concerning a believer’s spiritual condition. You see many Christians ought to be teachers by now, at least ministering to people around them, yet they still don’t get the basics of following Christ.

In a believers journey to maturity they go through the same steps and stages as a newborn baby.

In the first stage the new believer needs milk and nourishment in the word. The pastor, life group leader, or friend walks them through simple messages of love, new beginnings, grace, mercy, and such. They are getting the milk. A taste of what God has for them and it is satisfying.

In the next stage, the believer is not satisfied with the milk any longer, and they want some more solid food to chew on and process. In this stage the believer is coming to church and the plate is being placed in front of them. On Sunday morning the pastor is helping those taking bites through the preaching of the Word. Then the believer can process the food or take some bites of their own by asking questions of their pastor, life group leader, etc… One thing to remember in this stage is just like the child that a parent is helping feed their first few solids, sometimes the new believer takes in the milk into their mouth and spits it out. Then the pastors (parents) have to clean up the mess and continue to feed them.

In the next stage, definitely not final stage of a believer’s life, the believer begins to enter into some maturity. The believer is able to grab his/her Bible, open the Word and feed themselves. Sometimes the hunger comes from a word preached on Sunday and they want more, or something they hear on the radio. It is just like when the mom or dad says there is food in the refrigerator.

It begs the question: If you honestly looked at your life, and were only disclosing this information to yourself, where are you in the stages of maturing as a believer?

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Blessed Girl

February 19, 2009

Blessed Girl by guest blogger – Ashlee Bradford

This blog has been brooding in my spirit for a few days, and I’m not really sure I can adequately express what is in my heart…but honestly…God is so good! We have lived in Wisconsin for over 3 years now. The first two years were miserable — we were in the wilderness — confused at what exactly God was doing, attempting to be obedient, and struggling. I think I grew up more in those 2 years then any other time in my life. We could have turned away from ministry entirely and to be honest, I’m not certain anyone would have cared that we were throwing our destinies away. But, we pursued God anyway. It was so hard some days. We talked incessantly about what we felt God calling us to do in this region. We didn’t feel released to move forward. Then in Aug of 2007 after we went to The Call in Nashville at Titan Stadium we started the Flood House of Prayer and shortly thereafter our Life Groups. In June of 2008 we started having regular Sunday services. We are still small, but God is bringing shape to the vision he gave us and bringing us the right people in His timing. Sometimes I’d like to rush things along but I think God is building our church, carefully…with thoughtful preparation. I used to be so jealous of those who seemed to be handed ministry on a platter…that was all they had ever done. On the other hand, Kevin has been bivocational for so long…and sometimes gone to school at the same time as well…and at times it’s been a challenge. But, in retrospect (and Kevin is still bi-vocational as I write this) it’s grown us up too, made us more passionate, made us more appreciative of the authority and opportunity that God gives us. At times, we’ve had chances to walk away and take the easy way (a full-time paid ministry position) but God always answers with, “Is that what I’ve called YOU too?” I’m so thankful we have stuck the course, because I see God doing something awesome and had we left He would use someone else here. I’m sure eventually Kevin will leave his “day job” as we call it, but in the meantime God has brought contentment. Sometimes I worry about how hard it is on our kids, but Kevin is so intentional to spend quality time with them that I think they actually get MORE attention then many kids whose parents only have one job. On top of it, I’m home with them during the day, doing school, hanging out, playing games, etc. I’m so thankful we chose to home school as well, they are learning, growing, and changing everyday…and I don’t miss a minute of it! A little over a year ago, I read a book called Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren. It really changed my mind in regards to how I think about a lot of areas of my life. Since putting some of my previous attitudes in check, it’s amazing to see what God has done. It seems that with my attitude in the right place (not being terribly concerned over material goods, free of jealousy, etc) God has really opened up the floodgates of heaven. We have been paying off debt. We have a nice home, van, and moped. In January we got new furniture…and last weekend we were finally able to buy the girls a new play set for the backyard. We now have the extra cash for fun things like getting my hair done, taking the girls to the girly salon, going on a date, etc. God has been extraordinarily faithful! You cannot out give God! Lately, over and over again I am so awestruck by God’s goodness. How much He has grown us up, how blessed we are, how excited I am to see what He wants to do in Appleton! It’s not that there aren’t needs, questions, and struggles — there certainly are — but I have a calm confidence that God is working it out and that He is bringing His Kingdom here! Praise God!

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Tuesday Night Reflections

February 18, 2009

A few thoughts from the last week.

  • Thursday Night I took the family out to Disney on Ice.  It was a blast. We went to dinner at Margarita’s in Green Bay before hand. The entire experience was a lot of fun, and my girls were so excited and cute.
  • Saturday was filled with errands, building jewelry boxes with the girls, and birthday parties.
  • Our service Sunday was powerful. Many people were ministered too, and several people were responding throughout the message.  In the end three people gave their life to Christ, and a couple renewed their commitment to Christ.  Amazing!
  • God has continued to bless our family with some amazing stuff the last several days. We have been able to buy gifts for people we care about, pay for the things we needed, and put some money in savings.
  • God is still pouring out revelation at a rate faster than I can find places to preach or teach it.
  • Our House of Prayer “The Flood” was very powerful on Monday Night. The best night of prayer and intercession this year hands down. God really showed up. Two women in particular were ministered to in a very personal way.
  • I still cannot believe we have a new sound system, a worship pastor who plays guitar (she did not 3 months ago),  and some partners becoming more committed.
  • I have been begging God for some Young Men and Women to join our church that were already walking with Him, to help round out a team for growth. I believe God is starting to do that very thing.
  • We have a young man that is quitting his day job, and heading to Appleton to help us advance the Kingdom. YEA GOD!
  • Some young couples that have become interested in Overflow, and some high school & college students will be attending Life Groups for the first time this week.

Well that is all I have for tonight, probably much more I should include, but…

Leadership Lessons Via Dora 3 coming in the next couple of days, along with a special guest blogger.

In His Favor

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Mustard Seed Church

February 17, 2009

In early January when I was in Texas, I began to process and pray through what God had planned for Overflow in 2009. While I was there I had the opportunity to hear someone preach a sermon on The Parable of the Mustard Seed.

During that sermon and the following days, God began to speak to me about Overflow Church, our 09 goals and vision.
Overflow Church is a Mustard Seed Church.

Matthew 13:31-32
31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

In Luke 13:18-19 it says that the mustard seed turns into a large tree.

The principle here is that the Kingdom of God starts out small and insignificant, but it does not stay that way! A Mustard Seed Church is one that has the kind of faith, that you have the faith for the big when only the small is visible.

I believe that Overflow Church is a mustard seed church. We are a small church but have faith in the Kingdom. If we have mustard seed faith then we are not going to stay small, we are not going to stay the same. We will grow and become more significant!

I do not believe that we have to be a mega-church to do something significant, or have a major impact on a community. We will expand and spread to cause something significant to happen in this community! It is this passage that God used to speak to me about our 2009 goals and vision, and that is why I am so excited about 2009 for Overflow Church, and for our future as we continue to grow!

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Sunday Night Thoughts

February 16, 2009

God is so good!

Our church service this morning was amazing. God really showed up and some powerful things happened at Overflow Church this morning. The worship was great, and then setting in our Worship Leader as a pastor at Overflow will be a thing to remember for a long time.

Then I preached the sermon “The Message” and I think I did an okay job presenting the Gospel! An elder in Texas were I was a pastor once told me that if people get touched and people respond during ministry time, then it was a good message and presentation.

Well, today people responded. We had at least three people receive Christ during our service today, and some renew their commitment to Jesus.

My preaching style was toned down in order to present the Gospel through the scriptures in John chapter 3.

I am so thankful that I serve a powerful, loving God who wants to breath life on those so that they may have life, and it more abundantly.

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The Message!

February 10, 2009

I am very excited about this Sunday’s Celebration Service here at Overflow Church!

We have some special things going on this weekend, and I have been pumping this service to our Life Groups and our friends around the area. One of the things I have been doing is casting the vision that this particular Sunday will be pivotal to us reaching our goals & vision for 2009! The team and the people in our Life Groups have caught that vision.

We are a church of 20 people! We have approximately 24 vocal commitments to attending this Sunday’s Celebration Service titled “The Message”.

Those numbers are right. This Sunday at church we will have more visitors in our body than we will partners in our church! PRAISE GOD!

You see we have been working diligently to get this set up and ordered the way that God has been speaking to us about. Last week we set up our NEW Sound System (first one actually). We have now have a full audio/video package working with the projector, and the wonderful audio components in place.

I am very excited about this weekend, and it will be one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, messages I have every preached! Hence, the title “The Message”!

This will be a very powerful kingdom-minded presentation of the gospel. I believe that it will touch/rock those people that are far from God, or simply do not attend church for one reason or another that will be attending.

If you are in the Appleton area your invited to Overflow Church’s presentation of “the message”. If your not from the Appleton area, and you believe prayer changes things, it changes everything, then please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in power and love during this week of preparation. Please pray that all those who answered yes, will come and bring friends and/or family. Please pray that the Holy Spirit really blows through our service on Sunday in a wonderful, awe inspiring way.

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Lessons Via Parenting

February 9, 2009

Glad to be back after a few days preparing for Design for Life 1.3 (final message in that series…God Rocked it out on Sunday! Praise God!

About two weeks ago my youngest daughter (Addie) was sitting in her recliner (a child sized one for 50 lbs or less) talking to me about random things. Then she heard Ash and I start to discuss dinner.

So Addie said, “We have enough food, right?”. I said, “Yes sweetie”. She said, “We always have enough food, right?” Again I said, “yes, God takes good care of us”.

Third times, a charm. She says, “Dad, we have enough food right?”

So I walked over to her recliner and knelt down to rub noses with her, and said, “Sweetie, come over to the couch and chat with me.” So we walked over to the couch and I pulled her up into my lap and rested my cheek on the top of her head. As I did this, I began to explain that mommy and daddy discuss how much money we want to spend on things, because we want to be a good steward. I then explained that God blesses us by taking care of our needs. Finally, I spent a few minutes building her up and praising her for how good she has been doing in dancing, cleaning her room, and learning new things. Then as I was putting her back down on the ground I told her beautiful and smart she was, and that God had such a wonderful destiny for her life as she grew into a smart, intelligent, beautiful young women! She said, “When I get bigger, right?” (A common discussion at my house)

Well, later that day I was in my office talking with God about something’s. That is when God reminded me of my discussion with my daughter earlier that morning. I immediately, was reminded specifically about how the conversation ended. It ended with me speaking life over my daughters future, and her receiving it without question. Well, she did question if it was when she got bigger, sort of. (She ends 80% of things with ,Right? )

During this time, I just began to understand that God wanted me to accept somethings He had been explaining to me in the same way Addie accepted my words of live over her future. I was supposed to accept it without question, not knowing when or how, but the fact that FATHER said it. You see Addie does not question if I am right or not, she simply wanted to know is this now or the future? “When I am bigger, right?”.

Jesus describes this type of situation in Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Jesus is describing that we should receive the Kingdom of God in the same manner as a child. Not that we should become like Children, but that we should receive the Kingdom of God like children.

Sometimes God wants to sit us in His lap and just tell us about His plans for us, and to listen to Him talk about His Kingdom. Basically to act like a 3 year old girl listening and reacting to her Earthly father, when our Heavenly Father is speaking to us. Here are the things God showed me through Addie.

  • Trusting that what is being said is 100% true with out doubt!
  • To be straightforward with our questions. Addie did not care about money or cost, she just wanted me to tell her there was enough food. Sometimes we get carried away with the why and how. Addie did not care about that, and when Father God tells me something, I should not be either.
  • Addie obeyed my every word fully. When I called her to me, she ran expectantly to sit with me. It started though with me getting down on her level and rubbing noses. You see Father God is trying to pour out His love on you. Are you rubbing noses back or turning away?
  • To live life with a sense of Awe and Wonder! You see, Addie was tuned into every word I was saying. She was in awe of the words I was speaking. I was speaking life over her, and she was taking in what her daddy was saying for all it was worth. Are you?

My final thought is this: I expect my children to act this way when I want to speak with them to speak life over them, why should I think that God would expect anything less of me?

Is there something God is trying to teach you through your children?
Has God taught you something recently through a child’s eyes?

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