A very large part of what I do focuses on the communication of the weekend message. My job description in its simplest form is: preach, pray and cast the vision. I both enjoy and take very seriously all three of those components.

For a moment I would like to focus on the element of preaching.  I love to preach. There are 52 big Sundays a year and every weekend that I preach I desire to flat bring it.  Not only do I enjoy the process of communicating the message but I also enjoy the process of preparing the message.  I have a way that I study that is a basic framework but it also varies quite a bit from week to week.  My study habits and times are pretty set, but I use a wide variety of resources.  Part of the reason I think that I enjoy the preparation is because I enjoy learning and taking what I learn and making it applicable to daily living so that our people are empowered to experience life change. Every time I step in the pulpit it is my desire to give absolutely everything I have – I leave it all on the field. I want to give everything!

But I want to challenge you for a moment. Are you getting anything? No, I am not talking about are you getting anything from the weekend worship service you attend – that is another subject. I am asking are you getting anything for yourself?  When was the last time you discovered a new truth, a deep principle, a powerful passage? When was the last time you got anything for yourself? I am not talking about when was the last time you went through the motion of  Scripture reading. I mean when was the last time the passage leaped of the page, the verse beat you over the head or the principle cut deep into your spirit.  When you go into the Word do you desire to flat get it. I mean, you dive down searching for treasure and are not willing to return without gold.

The best way to experience life change is to utilize both elements – You come to church and I give it and then you go home and you get it. It requires both Give and Get! Oh yea, one more thing – information without application will never bring life change. So it actually needs to be Give, Get and Live! Now let’s go do all three!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I challenged our staff about integrity this week. I asked them, “Is there any area in our church or in our lives that has even a shadow of lacking integrity?” Job 27:5 says,”Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me”. Will you die with your integrity on? How important is your integrity?
If there is anything you would stop doing if you got caught then you should stop doing it! Gaurd your integrity, it is your responsibility. As believers we are held accountable by God and one day Scripture says that every person will give account. Perhaps one way to ask if a situation or action has integrity is – would I invite Jesus to do this with me.
Let me run some scenarios:

You are given extra change – what do you do?
You are not charged for something – what do you do?
You get to the car and realize you forgot to pay for an item – what do you do?
You are given credit for something you didn’t do – what do you do?
Someone starts to gossip about somebody else – what do you do?
Someone tells a dirty joke – what do you do?
Your spouse wrongs you – what do you do?
You are on the internet and stumble accross something inappropriate – what do you do?
It is your integrity – hold it, cling to it, stand for it, demand it – die with it on!

On a separate note, we are still raising funds to adopt JJ and our deadline is Monday, March 2nd. Please pray with us as we seek to raise $4,500 to help the Stauffacher family adopt JJ from the children’s home in Peru. I think we are nearing the $1,500 mark – there is still a long way to go and a short time – we need your help. Pray! and please give if you are able!

I have never met anyone who in their heart didn’t want to help others, In fact, helping others gives us a great sense of purpose and fulfillment, Today I wanted to give you some practical opportunities to reach out and help someone.

* This weekend is a phenomenal weekend to invite somebody to church. The message on healing is going to speak to the heart. So many people need relational, financial, emotional or physical healing! Dr. Bower and Dr. Peterson are going to do a tremendous job communicating some things about healing that you are not going to want to miss! REACH OUT AND INVITE SOMEONE!

* Yesterday I asked everyone to be praying for Tom, Renee and JJ. I trust that you are willing to do that, Today I am going to give you their email. I want you to type a prayer, or note of encouragement and email it to them. tstauffacher@cfl.rr.com

Reach out and experience that sense of purpose and fulfillment!!!!

If you are a Parkview attender, than you probably know Thomas and Renee Stauffacher. You would most be familiar with them because Tom serves as our building project manager and he has given his testimony and a couple updates over the last few months. Tom also has been a key leader in our Christmas Living Nativity since its inception. Renee leads one of our teen girl small groups. They are very active in our church and have been attending for about 5 years.

Last week one of our elders and I met with Tom and Renee. They were asking us for input and guidance in the adoption process that they are in the midst of. I asked them to type out a brief story about their current situation that I could share on my blog (I will share that in a minute). Tom works in the construction feild and due to the economy he was layed off a few months ago. He is working for himself and starting his own business and has already done work for a few families in our church – but it takes time to build up steam and make a living at it.

Long story short, because of a new adoption law in Peru, there is an additional $5,000 needed to complete the adoption. Tom and Renee understand the need for the law, but are not prepared to incur this added expense, as they have already spent several thousand to meet what was already required. The new expense is legitimate, as I am very familiar with the missionaries in Peru who are involved in helping Tom and Renee through this process. Tom and Renee do not want to have to abandon JJ and give up on the adoption. Here is what they need – YOUR PRAYERS! That is what they are asking for and that is something everyone of us can do!!!!!! Below is a little info about JJ to help you pray specifically.

Juan Jose (JJ) is the name of the little boy that we are trying to adopt and he is about 7 years old. He is deaf and lives at EFATA, an American Baptist ministry in Peru. EFATA is a residential school for the deaf that is located in a squatter’s settlement called Villa El Salvador on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. JJ was abandoned by his parents and found sitting in the doorway of a home in Lima. Many attempts were made to find JJ’s parents and try to get them to claim him. Abandonment is a common problem in Peru and is usually done out of necessity of survival. Famine is widespread and unfortunately families have to choose who they are going to feed. Every family member is a working participant. JJ would have been the logical choice because he can not hear and was never taught sign language so he had no way to communicate the first 5 years of his life. Then, God stepped in. The government brought JJ to EFATA when they realized that he was deaf and asked if they would accept them. Of course they did, and the story begins. JJ was brought to EFATA in January of 2007. In June of 2007, two of our church members that knew we were looking to adopt a child asked us if we would be interested in adopting JJ. We prayed about it and began the process in July of 2007. Meanwhile, JJ is in a Christian atmosphere and has learned to communicate through sign. We got to meet JJ in April of 2008. God has prepared his heart and he wants to live with us and for us to be his family. We are at the end of this process now 1 1/2 years later and request prayer that God will provide what is needed to complete the adoption if it is His will.

EVERYONE, PLEASE JOIN WITH ME IN PRAYER FOR TOM, RENEE AND JJ!!!