The Plaza

Whether you were able to join us for the Fat Tuesday potluck last night or not I want to welcome you to join in the dialogue.  Over the next 40 days I and many of your leaders will be sharing their “God thoughts” and we would love to hear yours.  I will kick things off with a journal entry from yesterday’s reading:

“But, We Just Got Here!”

Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on.  Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.  So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses. (Numbers 9:21-23 NLT)
Just imagine waking up in the morning and finding out that you need to pack everything up and move.  Now, imagine if you had just finished unpacking the day before.  Would you be excited about the move?  In our calendar driven, appointment taking, planning-in-advance culture, the idea of not knowing what’s coming next is unthinkable.  To be able to move at a moments notice whenever God says would require a great simplification of our lifestyles.  We would need to hold on to only that which is vital for living because it’s all going to be carried on our backs and horses and we don’t want to be left behind.  We aren’t told how much time they were given to pack, but the language “as soon as it lifted” speaks of rapid movement.  But what about my flat screen and Blu Ray player?  What about our dish sets for every season of the year?  What about all of our extra clothes and our leather couch? God seems to like to keep His people light on their feet and unencumbered by the the trappings of this world.  Look at how Jesus instructed His disciples when he sent out the twelve: "Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light. "When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. (Matthew 10:9-11 MSG). What I love about both of these pictures is that when God is leading He is calling us to obey together.  It wasn’t just half of the twelve tribes that had to pack up and move, but all of them.  It wasn’t just half of the twelve disciples that had to head out to the villages by faith, in His power, it was all of them.  It’s never going to be convenient to follow God, but it will always be worth it and it will be together!
Lord, I pray that this season of Lent would be a time for me cut off all of that which so easily entangles.  I want to be free to run with You.  To stop on a dime and move at a moments notice.  I often wish there was a cloud by day or fire by night so that it would be very obvious where I was supposed go and when, but You are in me.  The same way You moved the people of God in Scripture is the same way You are moving the people of God now!  May I be personally obedient to Your lead no matter how inconvenient it may seem at the time.  I pray that you would cause us as a church to move together.  That no matter where we are all at in our walks with You we would surrender our schedule over these next 40 Days and follow You!

Ash Wednesday

Ashes were used to signify a place of repentance of humility and repentance.  There are few things more humbling then fasting.  The first thing we realize when we give up something for a greater focus on God is how strong our flesh is and how much control we have given it.  I would love to hear what God has called you to fast for the next 40 Days starting on this Ash Wednesday:  a day of humility and repentance.  As we move forward together as a family of faith keep in mind that every Sunday leading up to Resurrection Sunday will be a “mini-Easter”.   So instead of fasting (dying to ourselves) on Sunday’s we will celebrate (living to Christ)!

The Burgess Bunch fast:

Jon & Cyndi- fasting our evening shows and social media (outside of this of course!)

Elijah & Aden- Sugar

Benjamin- playing games and watching movies on Ipad & Iphone

Justice & Jaxon- Sugar (by default :-)

I really felt the confirmation of the Holy Spirit this morning as I shared the dream God had given me and the emphasis for our pursuit of Jesus in 2012.  As I told the services this morning, I will list the contrasts between the two rooms in the dream here in the hopes that it will help stir you to a new openness to the Spirit’s move in you lives.  For those who were not able to come this morning due to the snow, here is a brief recap of my dream:

And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe-people and things, animals and atoms-get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. (Colossians 1:18-20 MSG)
When I read this description of how Christ leads the church and who He uses to lead it I couldn’t help but smile.  It reminded me of a dream I had the day before my 37th Birthday in October.  I was standing in gym up on a stage with Cyndi and watching as streams of people came in through the doors.  I’ didn’t recognize any of them but knew in the dream that they were Christians from many different churches.  They were looking for direction as they gathered together and I felt that I needed to have them break up into groups of ten and pray for one another.  I challenged them to pray with expectation and humility and that if they did so there wouldn’t be a single person that would walk out of that room without hearing God speak to them and through them.  Then I looked at my watch and realized I was late for some kind of meeting.  We rushed though the groups of praying saints to adjoining staircase that brought us up into an ornate chapel.  The staircase itself was very small really only allowing one person to go up or down at a time.  The chapel was filled with people very quiet and crammed into rows of pews of one aisle down the middle.  As is usually the case when you are late to church there was only room at the very front of the chapel.  So as soon as Cyndi and were fit snugly into the pew a minister with a clerical collar came up and offered us communion elements.  This is where it got interesting.  Along with the juice he offered us different favors of crackers.  I only specifically remember cheese flavored and sesame, but there was at least one or two more options all in boxes.  In fact that is what it felt like.  I felt like it was a “what flavor of Jesus do you want?” and that I was stuck in this religious box.  I was there out of obligation, but I wanted to be back in that gym where it wasn’t just about celebrating what Jesus had done, but also about what Jesus was doing right then in that moment.  It’s at the point of the crackers that I woke up with a distinct feeling that God had just given me a picture of His church and the contrast between the organic move of His Spirit through every one of His people and the constricting control of boxed, pre-packaged Jesus facilitated by the religious professionals.  Then as I read this morning of the spacious and roomy way God wants His church to feel I thought of this. 

The Contrasts between the chapel & the gym:

Past tense vs. Present tense
Rows vs. Circles
Ceremonial vs. Spontaneous
Professional vs. Raw
Served vs. Serving

Sitting vs. Standing
Cramped vs. Open
Singular vs. Plural
Removed vs. Accessible
Ornate vs. Common

Late vs. On time
Small vs. Large
Limited vs. Growing
Private vs. Public
Elite vs. Ordinary

Restrictive vs. Releasing
By invitation only vs. Word of mouth
What God said vs. What God is saying
Honoring History vs. Making History
One church vs. Many churches

Let me know what God speaks to you through this! 

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

I highly recommend this workshop with Life Coach

Pam Jackson. This material is transformational.

Cost is 0 (payments options available)

You were created by God for
a unique part only you can
play in his Kingdom. Want to
learn more about your
destiny? Explore your calling
in this interactive coaching
journey, based on the work
of Tony Stoltzfus, a pioneer
in the Christian coaching
field. We’ll cover:
• Misconceptions about calling—
and how finding yours may be
easier than you think!
• Discovering the unique Life
Messages that come out in
everything you do
• Identifying the people you are
called to and the impact you
want to have on them
• Writing a personal calling
statement of the Impact your
Life Message will have on
your target Audience through
a life Task

If you are tired, frazzled, and wondering if there is more to life, this is a great place to start.  Explore God’s rhythm of work and rest!  

This class will be two sessions (with one week in between).

The class will be interactive and will explore the way God set up in His Word for us to rest (cease activity) and to work.  This is going to be very counter-culture, so be ready to open your heart and your mind to some very Biblical concepts that go against the grain.  I’m looking forward to exploring with you.  

The class will be approximately one hour and 15 minutes. It is for men, women and teens.  Just bring your Bible.

Happy New Year New Hope!  I am really looking forward to this next chapter on our adventure of faith together.  To kick things off I want to ask you a simple question:  What’s your 5%?  Over the past couple of years I have brought a similar message to the one I will be bringing this Sunday simply because it seems to put things into a needful perspective for the new year ahead.  

In his book, “The Divine Mentor”, Pastor Wayne Cordiero describes an enlightening reality for all of us:  80% of of all I do, anyone can do.  15% of all I do someone with some measure of training could do in my place.  However, 5% of what I do, only I can do through Christ! 

“It’s this last 5% that each of us will be held accountable in that great and final day.  It’s the last 5% that will determine the depth of influence we will have on the generations after us.  It’s the last 5 percent that will decide how joyful our marriage will be and how genuine our legacy is.”

So, in preparation of this Sunday I want to ask you to prayerfully consider what your 5% is for 2012.  As you pray write down some of your ideas right here on The City so we can build each other up and encourage each other in this new year!  It doesn’t need to be fancy or flowery, just from your heart.  To get your creative juices flowing, here are some examples from members of the New Hope ’Ohana:

So my 5% (or non-negotiables, as I call them):

1. Quiet communion with the Lord

2. Active time with family

3. Health & fitness

4. Business & ministry (these intersect for me)

5. Community building (usually intersects with business/ministry)

- Pam Jackson

1.  For God it means Seeking his Character through Worship and Word.  

2.  For Kami it means Loving her as only I can.  As my Bride. 

3.  For My Family it means Being a Son, a Brother, a Father.  

4.  For My Friends it means Giving to them my time and support.

5.  For My World it means Seeing them as God see’s them.  With Love, Compassion, Mercy, Grace.  

6.  For All of Them it means Strengthening my body and mind in order to Serve him.

- Charlie Wilkins

Moving, stretching, not stagnant – to never grow stagnant in my relationship with God, to keep moving forward in obedience as He leads me

Nurturing my home/family – to provide a safe and nurturing place for my family. To be purposeful when I’m with them, carving out time for one-on-one with both Chaz and Abbey so they feel important and valued

Facilitator of Joy – to connect people in a way that benefits their lives, brings them joy (and brings me joy too).

Influencing – this is mentoring and impacting those that He leads me to directly (often includes my family and friends).

Energized recreation   –   my health, exercise – often combined with spending time with family/friends.

To belong to a movement / community - my church / YWAM involvement – to fulfill the Great Commission and be part of something larger than myself.

-Michelle Tornetta