I came to church last Sunday morning with a little fear because I knew the lesson I was about to teach was going to be an important one. Not that every other week isn't important, Brent and I work hard to honor your time when we stand before you. But last week I felt God's presence in my own life in an unusual way. As we spoke of what happened the day of Pentecost with the newly formed church I was aware that God might be do something special in our service. He did.
We were able to pray for people to be healed, for relationships to be restored, for people who had lost the fire of their faith to be renewed, and one young man prayed to receive Christ as his personal savior. It is an understatement to say God visited us, but that's exactly what happened.
Many people shared with me experiences in the past where they were healed. Powerful stories. Sometimes, even most times when we pray for physical healing it doesn't happen. I don't know why that is. John Wimber said once that sometimes when he prays for people they are healed other times they are not. The one thing that is clear is when we don't pray for people to be healed they never are. That is a very good thought. So while we don't have all the answer about healing we do know that God wants us to continue to pray for it. So we will.
The staff is in the midst of an ongoing dialogue about this series on the book of Acts and what God is wanting to say specifically to Silver Creek Family Church. I want to ask you to join us in regularly praying for the outpouring of God's Spirit among us when we are together. The staff meets on Tuesday mornings for a time of prayer for our church and our people. As we pray, we ask you to remember the church in your private times of prayer and devotion. Let's dedicate ourselves to be the people God wants us to be.
I often end my emails or notes with a statement like "Expecting Gods' Best!" or "Great Days Ahead!" I have never believed that more than I do today.
Hope you have a great week and, see you in church.
Great Days Ahead!
Pastor Steve
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Now What...
For those of you who don’t know me, you may recognize me as the guy who plays bass or guitar or mandolin on most Sunday mornings. In the past few months, I have begun the process of becoming more involved at Silver Creek, in the capacity of an internship. I will be taking on roles as a need arises, but I am really using this opportunity to sort-of test the waters in a long debate I’ve had with myself and, sometimes, God.
One of the first things I can remember wanting to “be when I grow up,” was a children’s pastor. Primarily, this urge came from a fantastic relationship with my children’s pastor throughout my grade school years. I saw a man who loved what he did and was, without a doubt, striving to fulfill God’s desire for his life. And it was infectious to me.
As I grew, I swayed back and forth between a call to ministry, but what I knew for sure was that I wanted to be in the center of God’s will for me. The big trick was figuring out exactly what that was.
I’ve struggled and wrestled and lost sleep over wondering whether or not God wants me to pursue full-time ministry, and if I was to say that I felt one-hundred percent confident that that was the case, I’d be lying to you. But what I can say with great certainty is that the more I pursue this call, the more I am reassured that, at least right now, I am where I am supposed to be.
I tend to be skeptical about miraculous signs. Not because I don’t believe in them, but because I don’t want to be a sucker, seeing things that aren’t there. But a while ago, I think I saw a proverbial “burning-bush.”
I repair computers, usually in people’s homes, for a living. As a result, I drive. I drive a lot. Sometimes a hundred miles in a day. So, needless to say, I have a lot of time by myself in the car. During the past season of Lent, I gave up listening to the radio for a week, and committed to pray in the car. After being distracted time and again, I resolved to try praying out loud. It was weird at first. And I imagine that people next to me on the interstate thought I was a bit crazy, talking out loud with no one else in the car, but after a while, I got comfortable with it. It was strangely liberating. At one point, on a drive to Tacoma, I was asking God to show me his plan for me. I prayed, “God, if I can’t know your will for my future, then I pray you would show me your will for me in my present. Make my next steps clear.” And then I got greedy and asked God for a sign. A sign as to whether I am supposed to go into ministry. When I got to the customer’s house in Tacoma, I began to work on his computer. In the middle of working on it, he came up to me and asked me, out of the blue, “So are you going to become a minister or what?” True story. If that wasn’t the greedily-requested sign I asked for, then I don’t know what else would qualify.
So here I am, seeking God’s will for me, and for Ashley, on a day to day basis. And, just like we’re talking about on Sunday mornings, asking God “Now What?” at each juncture I come to. I am confident that He will continue to be faithful to reveal and help me discern each step, if nothing else, one moment at a time; and I am confident that one day, I will look back and see His hand guiding me the whole way.
Travis Gingrich
One of the first things I can remember wanting to “be when I grow up,” was a children’s pastor. Primarily, this urge came from a fantastic relationship with my children’s pastor throughout my grade school years. I saw a man who loved what he did and was, without a doubt, striving to fulfill God’s desire for his life. And it was infectious to me.
As I grew, I swayed back and forth between a call to ministry, but what I knew for sure was that I wanted to be in the center of God’s will for me. The big trick was figuring out exactly what that was.
I’ve struggled and wrestled and lost sleep over wondering whether or not God wants me to pursue full-time ministry, and if I was to say that I felt one-hundred percent confident that that was the case, I’d be lying to you. But what I can say with great certainty is that the more I pursue this call, the more I am reassured that, at least right now, I am where I am supposed to be.
I tend to be skeptical about miraculous signs. Not because I don’t believe in them, but because I don’t want to be a sucker, seeing things that aren’t there. But a while ago, I think I saw a proverbial “burning-bush.”
I repair computers, usually in people’s homes, for a living. As a result, I drive. I drive a lot. Sometimes a hundred miles in a day. So, needless to say, I have a lot of time by myself in the car. During the past season of Lent, I gave up listening to the radio for a week, and committed to pray in the car. After being distracted time and again, I resolved to try praying out loud. It was weird at first. And I imagine that people next to me on the interstate thought I was a bit crazy, talking out loud with no one else in the car, but after a while, I got comfortable with it. It was strangely liberating. At one point, on a drive to Tacoma, I was asking God to show me his plan for me. I prayed, “God, if I can’t know your will for my future, then I pray you would show me your will for me in my present. Make my next steps clear.” And then I got greedy and asked God for a sign. A sign as to whether I am supposed to go into ministry. When I got to the customer’s house in Tacoma, I began to work on his computer. In the middle of working on it, he came up to me and asked me, out of the blue, “So are you going to become a minister or what?” True story. If that wasn’t the greedily-requested sign I asked for, then I don’t know what else would qualify.
So here I am, seeking God’s will for me, and for Ashley, on a day to day basis. And, just like we’re talking about on Sunday mornings, asking God “Now What?” at each juncture I come to. I am confident that He will continue to be faithful to reveal and help me discern each step, if nothing else, one moment at a time; and I am confident that one day, I will look back and see His hand guiding me the whole way.
Travis Gingrich
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Breakfast
I've now been a father for 11 and a half years ago. In that time God has blessed Julie and I with two more kids who are 9 and 7 years old. During those early days of parenting, it seemed that lots of people had lots of advice. Much of the advice was helpful, there was plenty that didn't make sense and I tried to forget it and then I got some of the best advice I've ever received.
The senior pastor at the first church I worked at was a tremendous man and incredible father. I told me how each year on his kids birthday's, he'd let them pick the location and then take them our for breakfast. His kids were in late elementary and jr high at the time. He'd tell me about the deep talks, setting of new goals for the upcoming year and the high level of gratitude his kids would have after the annual ritual.
My youngest two kids have both celebrated their birthdays in the last month. I gave them the privilege of choosing where we'd eat for breakfast and I made big plans to start talking about establishing goals for them to think about. When they both selected McDonald's for our dinning location, I should have known the level of conversation would follow the same level of quality.
Let me hereby warn those who are considering challenging 7 and 9 year olds to establish goals for their next year of life, proceed with caution. If you're not careful you may either pull out most of your hair or discover one of kids has a goal of eating cookies at every meal this next year. Once I realized my efforts were not going to produce any monumental goals set for either kid. I settled down and enjoyed my breakfast burrito.
My kids weren't worried about the year ahead of them or how to make themselves better. They both just wanted to enjoy breakfast, hang out with their dad and anticipate their special day. Living in the moment and getting the most out of it was their plan. As I've reflected on those times with my kids, I've settled on a new personal goal for this year. Do my best to enjoy each moment, cherish those I'm spending time with and be excited for the day that God has allowed me to live.
Hope the rest of your week is fantastic and look forward to seeing you this weekend,
Pastor Brent
The senior pastor at the first church I worked at was a tremendous man and incredible father. I told me how each year on his kids birthday's, he'd let them pick the location and then take them our for breakfast. His kids were in late elementary and jr high at the time. He'd tell me about the deep talks, setting of new goals for the upcoming year and the high level of gratitude his kids would have after the annual ritual.
My youngest two kids have both celebrated their birthdays in the last month. I gave them the privilege of choosing where we'd eat for breakfast and I made big plans to start talking about establishing goals for them to think about. When they both selected McDonald's for our dinning location, I should have known the level of conversation would follow the same level of quality.
Let me hereby warn those who are considering challenging 7 and 9 year olds to establish goals for their next year of life, proceed with caution. If you're not careful you may either pull out most of your hair or discover one of kids has a goal of eating cookies at every meal this next year. Once I realized my efforts were not going to produce any monumental goals set for either kid. I settled down and enjoyed my breakfast burrito.
My kids weren't worried about the year ahead of them or how to make themselves better. They both just wanted to enjoy breakfast, hang out with their dad and anticipate their special day. Living in the moment and getting the most out of it was their plan. As I've reflected on those times with my kids, I've settled on a new personal goal for this year. Do my best to enjoy each moment, cherish those I'm spending time with and be excited for the day that God has allowed me to live.
Hope the rest of your week is fantastic and look forward to seeing you this weekend,
Pastor Brent
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Easter: What a Day!
What can I say! I am speechless! Our Easter FUSiON and Egg Hunts were a prime example of our incredible community at work. Silver Creek Family Church showed up in force on Easter and we made a difference in our community! I am thrilled to report that we had 970 people on campus on Sunday and most of them made it into one of our services. Both FUSiONs were standing room only and the kids area, up front, was packed with all kinds of brand new faces! We had hoped to create a way for people to be drawn to our church, enjoy some fun activities with their family, be exposed to what and who we are at Silver Creek Family, find hope by connecting with a real and amazing GOD and leave with a positive impression and a desire to return.
I believe we accomplished every goal that we set before us! GOD blessed us with more giveaways then we could have ever dreamed of, He brought out the sun to make our jobs just a little easier, he laid on the hearts of 120 of our people the need to reach those that don't know God and countless families said that they were looking for a new church and they had decided that Silver Creek would be their new home. God brought in so many from surrounding neighborhoods that are looking to find God and just didn't really know where to start. Please be praying that many of them will return and we will have the privilege of telling them more and showing them God's authentic love.
We do realize the level of sacrifice that was offered on Easter Sunday. Our people gave so much of their time and energy and many left feeling exhausted. I am so grateful for a church that will stand behind leadership decisions and jump on board. We are truly blessed by so many amazing people! I hope that you too can celebrate in this HUGE successful day!
Our future is bright and I am thrilled to be a part of what God is doing!
Elizabeth Volz
Executive Pastor
I believe we accomplished every goal that we set before us! GOD blessed us with more giveaways then we could have ever dreamed of, He brought out the sun to make our jobs just a little easier, he laid on the hearts of 120 of our people the need to reach those that don't know God and countless families said that they were looking for a new church and they had decided that Silver Creek would be their new home. God brought in so many from surrounding neighborhoods that are looking to find God and just didn't really know where to start. Please be praying that many of them will return and we will have the privilege of telling them more and showing them God's authentic love.
We do realize the level of sacrifice that was offered on Easter Sunday. Our people gave so much of their time and energy and many left feeling exhausted. I am so grateful for a church that will stand behind leadership decisions and jump on board. We are truly blessed by so many amazing people! I hope that you too can celebrate in this HUGE successful day!
Our future is bright and I am thrilled to be a part of what God is doing!
Elizabeth Volz
Executive Pastor
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