All I know about Kevin Hester is that he is the pastor of The Sanctuary Baptist Church in Coloma, Michigan and he launched this campaign in 2008 in which he challenged his church to not gossip for 8 days! Since they are Baptist, some of them may have had to take an oath of silence! (Smile, it’s ok…) Anyway, it has gone from 8 days to an entire campaign! May God give us more campaigns like this!
Gossipfree.org Website - check it out!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
A Very Merry Christmas Wish for Our Trinity Family...
I know tonight you have much more important things to do than read this blog… But I wanted you to know that the Everson Family wishes you a very Merry Christmas! We love you and count it a joy and honor to serve you. We have seen God work in incredible ways this year and you have truly made this an easy to place to call home. Thank you for your kindness throughout the year, thank you for all the cards/gifts, support and thoughtfulness you have showed not only during this Christmas season, but throughout the entire year. WE LOVE YOU and count it a blessing to serve alongside you!!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
A look ahead
As Christmas is drawing near and everyone is officially in "holiday mode" this week with work and school schedules - I have a confession to make....about now is the time that I begin longing to get back to a "normal" schedule and kick things into gear! The whole months of November and December are so different and scattered seemingly, that I can't wait for things to settle down and be "normal" again! I can’t think of anything that moves me towards that like focusing on the things that are in store for our Trinity Family. So go ahead and open your planner, your outlook, your calendar and mark these dates down:
January 4: G.R.O.W begins with the G-Team!
January 6: AWANA starts back
January 10: New classes and Children’s Choir begins at 4:30
February 21-24: Bill Stafford will be in Revival with us. Our first 4 day revival!
March 28: Victory Sunday! This will be when we as a church will make our commitments towards our debt retirement. This will be an amazing service!
May 16: Sunday evening “Calling Levi” will be in concert. You will be blessed in an amazing way by this wonderful group.
June 13-18: Vacation Bible School
October 17: One Day Revival with David Miller
There are many other ministry opportunities among individual ministries, but these events will impact the entire church. Please make every effort to be at these life changing events. Expect God to move in amazing ways in 2010!
January 4: G.R.O.W begins with the G-Team!
January 6: AWANA starts back
January 10: New classes and Children’s Choir begins at 4:30
February 21-24: Bill Stafford will be in Revival with us. Our first 4 day revival!
March 28: Victory Sunday! This will be when we as a church will make our commitments towards our debt retirement. This will be an amazing service!
May 16: Sunday evening “Calling Levi” will be in concert. You will be blessed in an amazing way by this wonderful group.
June 13-18: Vacation Bible School
October 17: One Day Revival with David Miller
There are many other ministry opportunities among individual ministries, but these events will impact the entire church. Please make every effort to be at these life changing events. Expect God to move in amazing ways in 2010!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Most Controversial Blog
I remember as a child on Christmas listening for Santa on the roof of my house. I remember the joy of waking up excited to see what presents were waiting for me under the tree - and I remember not understanding why my parents were so tired on Christmas morning! Then, I became a parent…and then I couldn’t believe how difficult Fisher Price made it for “Santa” to put together a child’s toy! I couldn’t believe how tired I would be on Christmas Day after only getting a few hours of sleep - because it took my boys so long to go to sleep and I couldn’t begin “Santa Duties” until the boys were fast asleep. Growing up, both Michele’s family and my family enjoyed Santa Claus, and we did the same with our children. One of my dearest friends in all the world - who happens to be our Children’s Minister - never did Santa with his children. I believe that “Santa” is an individual family’s decision, and Bro. Jeff’s children never told my children any different. Now for the shocker…If I had it to do all over again, I would not do Santa with my children. Now, in family this would probably call for a collective gasp at this point, and let me state I don’t think a parent is wrong regardless of their view of Santa…but I do look back and see some difficulties in the way we handled things with our boys.
Michele and I always agreed if our boys ever point blank asked “Is there a Santa?” we would not say yes. However, we did present Santa to them as Omniscient (all knowing), one who rewards us based on our actions, one who can do the impossible, and so on. We take them to see Santa, we talk about Santa, we read stories about Santa - but then on Christmas Eve we talk about Jesus to them while they are anxiously awaiting Santa. Now, I do not feel my parents, nor most parents are “lying” to the children - they are just allowing the innocence of a childhood imagination to run wild. This is fun, it is fairy tale land, however, there is really no other fairy tale that we ask our children to live out or act upon and have faith in like Santa. Then, on top of this, there are many churches across our land that will have Santa come to Children’s Church, putting those parents who do not want to play Santa in a very difficult position. Now, while it is up to each family to make their decision if they will “do the Santa thing”, I don’t believe it should be answered with an easy “of course” as Michele and I did. If I had thought through the questions my children would ask, and thought through the confusion it could have caused, in all honesty I probably would have let my kids be kids and enjoy their toys, and their pretending and all the joy of the cartoons during holidays… but I would have passed on Santa.
I write this knowing some will get more angry about me “Rethinking Santa” than if someone were to actually speak negatively about their brother and sister in Christ (oops, sorry most don’t get very upset about that). But, it would do all believers well to understand that there really is someone who sees them when they are sleeping… and knows when they are awake….knows every action (bad or good, right?)…but even more, knows our hearts – and loves us with an unfailing love….
Here is another wonderful article by Noel Piper that ponders this issue: http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2141_thinking_about_santa/
Have a very Merry Christmas!!
Michele and I always agreed if our boys ever point blank asked “Is there a Santa?” we would not say yes. However, we did present Santa to them as Omniscient (all knowing), one who rewards us based on our actions, one who can do the impossible, and so on. We take them to see Santa, we talk about Santa, we read stories about Santa - but then on Christmas Eve we talk about Jesus to them while they are anxiously awaiting Santa. Now, I do not feel my parents, nor most parents are “lying” to the children - they are just allowing the innocence of a childhood imagination to run wild. This is fun, it is fairy tale land, however, there is really no other fairy tale that we ask our children to live out or act upon and have faith in like Santa. Then, on top of this, there are many churches across our land that will have Santa come to Children’s Church, putting those parents who do not want to play Santa in a very difficult position. Now, while it is up to each family to make their decision if they will “do the Santa thing”, I don’t believe it should be answered with an easy “of course” as Michele and I did. If I had thought through the questions my children would ask, and thought through the confusion it could have caused, in all honesty I probably would have let my kids be kids and enjoy their toys, and their pretending and all the joy of the cartoons during holidays… but I would have passed on Santa.
I write this knowing some will get more angry about me “Rethinking Santa” than if someone were to actually speak negatively about their brother and sister in Christ (oops, sorry most don’t get very upset about that). But, it would do all believers well to understand that there really is someone who sees them when they are sleeping… and knows when they are awake….knows every action (bad or good, right?)…but even more, knows our hearts – and loves us with an unfailing love….
Here is another wonderful article by Noel Piper that ponders this issue: http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2141_thinking_about_santa/
Have a very Merry Christmas!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
"Growing" in January
While 2009 is winding down....GROW is gearing up for 2010!!
We have been announcing, praying, discussing, and signing up for G.R.O.W! I am sure you have heard about it in your BFG this past week as the teachers all received letters outlining the teams and week assignments last week. I pray this outreach program will involve more people in personal evangelism that we have ever had previously! There will be times of training for everyone, and then there is a need for some to keep nursery, write letters, and some to visit those who have visited Trinity and, most importantly share the Gospel. So if you have not signed up - yes, you can do so in your Bible Fellowship Group. Your class will be assigned approximately one night a month; you will be giving about 12 hours a year! If you miss your night, you can certainly come on another night - it is our desire to keep your classes together if at all possible so that you have visitation partners and time for fellowship as well. Please don’t just sign up...please make every effort to be involved in this great strategy. We will still be providing a meal and it will still be on Monday nights, but we believe more will be involved by doing it this way, because of the busy schedule that we all have. We have a staff member over each team and they will help you find a partner to go out with and a recommend someone to go visit. If you have never been involved with our outreach at Trinity before please make every effort to be here. If you have been involve previously but had to quit because of work schedule or some other conflict, this is your opportunity to get back involved in carrying out the Great Commission. Let’s see what God does through this in 2010!
We have been announcing, praying, discussing, and signing up for G.R.O.W! I am sure you have heard about it in your BFG this past week as the teachers all received letters outlining the teams and week assignments last week. I pray this outreach program will involve more people in personal evangelism that we have ever had previously! There will be times of training for everyone, and then there is a need for some to keep nursery, write letters, and some to visit those who have visited Trinity and, most importantly share the Gospel. So if you have not signed up - yes, you can do so in your Bible Fellowship Group. Your class will be assigned approximately one night a month; you will be giving about 12 hours a year! If you miss your night, you can certainly come on another night - it is our desire to keep your classes together if at all possible so that you have visitation partners and time for fellowship as well. Please don’t just sign up...please make every effort to be involved in this great strategy. We will still be providing a meal and it will still be on Monday nights, but we believe more will be involved by doing it this way, because of the busy schedule that we all have. We have a staff member over each team and they will help you find a partner to go out with and a recommend someone to go visit. If you have never been involved with our outreach at Trinity before please make every effort to be here. If you have been involve previously but had to quit because of work schedule or some other conflict, this is your opportunity to get back involved in carrying out the Great Commission. Let’s see what God does through this in 2010!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Big Event for 2010
In no way do I want to rush 2009 out of here - I love the Holidays, being with family, and playing with my boys! But I want to use this space to give some understanding about a monumental event in 2010 for Trinity Baptist Church! We will begin a debt retirement campaign that will aggressively chip away at what we owe on our auditorium. God has blessed us with wonderful facilities, but we would be poor stewards of what He has given us if we spend over 200,000 a year making minimum payments until my grandchildren celebrate the payoff! The missions and ministries that money could be used for to glorify God, is being sent to a bank each and every month. This has been hanging over the head of Trinity for a while now, and we now have the opportunity to cut most of it down in about 3 years. The day I came, many of you expressed a desire to pay off this debt and that is a wise and realistic goal - so begin praying and planning how God will use YOU, and each member of Trinity as we sacrifice to pay off this building. As we enter into 2010 we will begin to explain in greater detail the process that we will be going through, but the chief motivation for this should be (as in all things) to glorify God. There are some who are already praying and are involved in the preliminary planning...and they will begin sharing with you, and explaining more in detail as we get into the New Year. As for right now, our prayer is that each member will make a commitment to be used of God and to give in a sacrificial way. This will be a spiritual journey to a glorious end! Please be in prayer regarding this great task for the New Year!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Don't Forget.....
Please don’t forget this coming Sunday evening - the choir will be doing a special Christmas service and we will be celebrating Happy Birthday Jesus. This service will be very similar to the way we did our "Operation Christmas Child": at the end of our invitation we will take up our offering, and at this point if you have children in the nursery and want them to come down to the altar with you to give your Happy Birthday Jesus offering, this would be the time to go get them. I want to encourage you to involve them in this celebration. Allow them to make a card, participate in giving their own offering - but by all means involve them! As believers we are usually the ones who lament the fact that the Christmas season really is about everything else except Christ, but we are as guilty as the world in the overindulgence of our children and ourselves during this time of year. Look at your budget and notice how much you will give your children and how little we give to Christ - and then make this celebration a priority for your family this year. Much of the reason we are doing this is to really celebrate in a fun way, but also to get our children’s attention focused on what matters most and that is giving not getting. We will then go to our Family Life Center and "sugar everyone up" on birthday cake! Much of this can serve as great discussion and teaching for our children on celebrating the fact that our Savior was born on this earth to die for our sin. Use this as a fun time to worship the one true God.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
December 6th...A Very Special Night!
On Sunday evening December 6th Bro. Jon Rushing will be doing something he has never done in a Trinity Worship Service…PREACH! That is right! And no, don’t be afraid - I promise I won’t be singing that night...
Some time ago I asked Bro. Jon to do a sermon on "Worship". I remember speaking with Bro. Jon the first time and hearing his heart and passion for worship! What amazed me most is that he understood worship not from an emotional standpoint (although worship and singing can be and should be emotional at times)... but he was so different because he understood worship from a theological standpoint. To be quite blunt, I have never been on staff with a Worship Pastor who understood theology! Many want to smile, wave their hand and sing songs. Bro. Jon longs to Worship and is wonderfully gifted in teaching the Word of God - and for this I praise the Lord. I have shared with you before, as the Lord allowed me the honor of building a staff here at Trinity, I had the chance to re-evaluate how I have selected staff members in the past. In truth, like most Pastors I looked at resumes, I asked friends, and wanted to know what kind of skills they had. If they passed all these tests then we would discuss theology, methodology and, if I thought he could mesh with the church and the existing staff, I would hire him. Through this and by God’s grace, I had some wonderful staff members that I am close to and who are wonderful godly men - one of which still serves alongside me here at Trinity! But to be honest, many times I would swing and miss - this was because of my wrong thinking and hiring men the way I have watched other Pastors hire men.
When I began to search for staff/elders here, I began with their doctrine, what type of men would recommend these staff members, what they believed about the church, what authors they read, who they loved to hear preach, and could they teach the Word of God? If they passed this level, then we would work through the other areas. I learned that everything must begin biblically, and that means more than “do you believe the Bible is the Word of God” - they need to be able to articulate their doctrine. It is through this focus that God brought together men that I love, respect, and enjoy serving alongside as their Pastor. It is because of this, that I have a man on my staff who can sing, can lead worship, can lead a choir - but I have the utmost confidence in giving him my pulpit and entrusting him not only to sing doctrine, but to teach it! I love you Bro. Jon and believe God will use you greatly Sunday night!
Some time ago I asked Bro. Jon to do a sermon on "Worship". I remember speaking with Bro. Jon the first time and hearing his heart and passion for worship! What amazed me most is that he understood worship not from an emotional standpoint (although worship and singing can be and should be emotional at times)... but he was so different because he understood worship from a theological standpoint. To be quite blunt, I have never been on staff with a Worship Pastor who understood theology! Many want to smile, wave their hand and sing songs. Bro. Jon longs to Worship and is wonderfully gifted in teaching the Word of God - and for this I praise the Lord. I have shared with you before, as the Lord allowed me the honor of building a staff here at Trinity, I had the chance to re-evaluate how I have selected staff members in the past. In truth, like most Pastors I looked at resumes, I asked friends, and wanted to know what kind of skills they had. If they passed all these tests then we would discuss theology, methodology and, if I thought he could mesh with the church and the existing staff, I would hire him. Through this and by God’s grace, I had some wonderful staff members that I am close to and who are wonderful godly men - one of which still serves alongside me here at Trinity! But to be honest, many times I would swing and miss - this was because of my wrong thinking and hiring men the way I have watched other Pastors hire men.
When I began to search for staff/elders here, I began with their doctrine, what type of men would recommend these staff members, what they believed about the church, what authors they read, who they loved to hear preach, and could they teach the Word of God? If they passed this level, then we would work through the other areas. I learned that everything must begin biblically, and that means more than “do you believe the Bible is the Word of God” - they need to be able to articulate their doctrine. It is through this focus that God brought together men that I love, respect, and enjoy serving alongside as their Pastor. It is because of this, that I have a man on my staff who can sing, can lead worship, can lead a choir - but I have the utmost confidence in giving him my pulpit and entrusting him not only to sing doctrine, but to teach it! I love you Bro. Jon and believe God will use you greatly Sunday night!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Our Holiday Schedule:
I wanted to take a moment and give you the schedule at Trinity during the Christmas and New Year times. I know this will be in our Worship Guide but I wanted you to be able to have in front of you in another place. So look below and please take time to mark these dates on your calendars.
December 13th: In the evening service our choir will be leading as they worship with us in the Christmas musical. Following that, we will have our "Happy Birthday Jesus" offering and then celebrate with cake in the Family Life Center.
December 20: In the evening service we will partake of the Lord’s Supper as a church family.
December 23: An abbreviated Christmas worship service at 6pm.
December 27: No Bible Fellowship Groups/Sunday School nor evening service. Only 10:30 Worship Service.
December 30: No Wednesday activities.
December 24 and 31: Church office will be closed.
January 3: All services will be back to normal.
January 10: Sunday evening 4:30 classes and Children’s choir will start back.
As you make note of these changes, let’s remember not to worship the season but to worship the Savior!
December 13th: In the evening service our choir will be leading as they worship with us in the Christmas musical. Following that, we will have our "Happy Birthday Jesus" offering and then celebrate with cake in the Family Life Center.
December 20: In the evening service we will partake of the Lord’s Supper as a church family.
December 23: An abbreviated Christmas worship service at 6pm.
December 27: No Bible Fellowship Groups/Sunday School nor evening service. Only 10:30 Worship Service.
December 30: No Wednesday activities.
December 24 and 31: Church office will be closed.
January 3: All services will be back to normal.
January 10: Sunday evening 4:30 classes and Children’s choir will start back.
As you make note of these changes, let’s remember not to worship the season but to worship the Savior!
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