Archive for the ‘Pastor’s Blog’ Category

Jesus with skin in Papua New Guinea

Posted April 24th, 2012 in Pastor's Blog
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Hey folks,

We continue to financially support Mason and Kim Lockwood and their four children.  They visited us a little more than a year ago and shared their work to create a written language for the Pal people of Papua New Guinea. New Tribes Missions is the organization that has sent them. They are getting closer to fully learning and recording the Pal language for the first time in this people’s history! After this arduous task they will begin to translate the Scriptures into the Pal language so they can teach the people both how to read and write while presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a task of a magnitude and longitude that is hard for our instant “microwave” culture to comprehend. They are truly being Jesus with skin to the Pal people!

I continue to be in regular contact with them and in recent months they were faced with a frightening medical emergency. Their family had to return to the States due to a mysterious condition threatening Mason’s health that could not be diagnosed there. I cannot imagine the stress they faced in the midst of this crisis and all this with baby Brayden! Upon their return to the States Kim was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo surgery. The needs of the Lockwoods have been a regular part of the Tuesday night prayer time. This week I have received an encouraging and amazing update from Mason sharing his responses to four frequently asked questions:

1. How is Mason? Mason was diagnosed four weeks ago with a systemic fungal infection. We are so thankful though that as he has followed through with treatment and stayed with a strict diet (temporarily) we have seen a huge improvement. We are excited to see him getting better. He still has some symptoms on some days, but is able to live normally and walk and talk just fine. Please pray for the last of this to heal.

2. Are you going back to Papua New Guinea? Lord willing, yes. We changed our tickets to leave in early August. We came home thinking Mason may never walk or talk again…and we have seen healing. I was told that I had cancer and we were thinking that we were not heading back….and once again we were blessed to find me completely healthy once again. So here we are are, thrilled and thankful about what God has done. We took some time and considered not going back, but we feel that God has made it abundantly clear to both of us that we are to continue down the road of bringing God’s word to those who do not have the chance to hear.

3. Why August? We have round trip tickets and that is as late as we can go without re-buying the tickets. It also gives us time to recover physically and financially from the past few months. We are praising the Lord already for providing Mason with a teaching job for the next few months here in one of our supporting churches – that should help to cover a lot of the expenses we have in getting back to PNG. Always fun to watch the Lord provide.

4. How are Kim and the kids? I am finally starting to feel normal. It feels so good! The kids are doing great.

We are so so thankful for each of you who pray for us, write us, and support us. Amazed at His blessing,

Mason, Kim, Ian, Andrew, Isaac and Brayden

You may subscribe to the Lockwoods’ blog to keep updated on how to pray for them. I marvel at God’s grace and the power of his grace in our lives! I am humbled by their example of trusting obedience. May we bring the same passion and intensity as we strive to be Jesus with skin in Everett!

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

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What has God promised me?

Posted April 18th, 2012 in Pastor's Blog
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Hey folks,

Building off of this weekend’s sermon, Doubting Laughter to Joyous Faith…

When Abraham and Sarah celebrated the birth of Isaac they had no doubt about what had just happened. God had kept his promise told some twenty-five years before. In retrospect they were able to see that His promise came in the perfect way and in the perfect time. How foolish they must have felt as they considered their moments of impatience and past attempts to hurry God’s plan along. In Genesis 21.1-2 we read that everything in their life suddenly came together with amazing clarity.

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Their experience can feel a bit disconnected from our own, however. This is because we look with longing at these sacred moments recorded in the Scripture and yearn for this. We want to see God’s promise to us fulfilled in His perfect way and in His perfect way. We long to say that like Abraham and Sarah that the God-given dream came true in our life. We await the day when God comes through in the way others doubt He can or will. What’s taking Him so long to come through? Is there a problem with God – with us? I think that in most cases we await our desires and hopes rather than God’s promises. Waiting for God to come through with my wish list or my perceived needs has proven to be a very, very long wait. Enough of the waiting for the wrong thing – let’s consider what God has promised us…

He has promised to never leave us or abandon us… Hebrews 13.5

He has promised to meet our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus… Philippians 4.19

He has promised rest for the weary and burdened for his burden is light and easy… Matthew 11.28-30

He has promised to empower us to be His witnesses in all parts of the world… Acts 1.8

He has promised to save us and grant us life eternal… John 3.16, Romans 10.13

He has promised to give us true peace that is different the world’s offer of peace… John 14.27

He will bring good from all things… Romans 8.28

He has promised to forgive us when we confess our sins and make us clean again… 1 John 1.9

In addition, I think there are times when the Holy Spirit speaks specific promises to individuals and churches. These are unique moments and discerning these can be difficult and these should be tested against Scripture and confirmed with other Spirit-filled believers. Obviously, this “specific” promise opens up the possibility of abuse and serious disappointment if misunderstood. But I know through personal experience and the testimony of many others that God speaks and makes promises to His people today!

And these are only a few of God’s promises. If only we would trust Him in these I think that we, the people of Christ, would be a much more joyous people!

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

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The “family” sermon

Posted April 10th, 2012 in Pastor's Blog
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Hey folks,

It was a special weekend celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! After a weekend of Community Groups and then the men’s retreat weekend, we were all eager to be together as a church family. Those of you who were there know that things looked and felt a bit different. Pastor Max led the time of music and worship, we had a teaching skit, and then  I presented the “family” sermon. Thank you for coming and participating and serving!

There have been regular times in the year when I have chosen to gather the whole church, children included, for the sermon time. I have called this a “family” sermon and have made some efforts to make it more concise and appeal to all the ages present – not an easy thing to do! It is part of our intergenerational approach to church life. This weekend the whole church heard my sermon “What happened when Jesus died?” We considered a text that focused on the defining and greatest moment of Jesus’ life on earth. I wasn’t quite sure how it was received and understood by the kids present.

On Sunday evening my family was gathered for bedtime devotions. Quite unexpectedly my kids all chimed in about how much they like hearing my sermon. Usually they are in the breakout classes during that time so it was a fresh experience for them. I was surprised because I thought they were going to say that they thought it was boring. One of my children asked me, “Dad, did you really mean everything you said?” I laughed at her question and assured her that I did. When I inquired about her question she wondered if the best moment of my day is when she told me that she loved me. Oh yes it is! She thought that was awesome. This illustrated the main application of my sermon – expressing our love and adoration to our heavenly Father.

EFC launched on April 7th, 2007. Saturday was the start of our sixth year of church life and ministry. I have discovered worship is essential to a healthy church and faithfully walking with God. It is the bread and butter of our Christian life. It happens in the corporate gatherings, church prayer times, personal devotions, and in every daily interaction. This was the essence of the “family” sermon this weekend. When Jesus died we could begin to freely and personally tell our perfect Father in heaven that we love Him. And He has the best moment of his day every time we do!

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

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Getting ready for Easter

Posted March 30th, 2012 in Pastor's Blog
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Hey folks,

We are in the midst of preparations for the “Super Bowl” of Gatherings for Everett Family Church. Easter is coming and the EFC Family Gathering on Saturday, April 7th (5pm) will be a special one as we reflect and celebrate on the risen Christ. Pastor Max is working with the worship team to lead some new music and there will be a teaching skit and family sermon followed by a dessert social. Invite  your friends!

Pastor Max also shares…

I’m sure that many of you are aware that Easter is coming up soon! We’re a little more than a week away, and I cannot tell you how excited I am about it.

Easter is the most important date on the Christian calendar, and for me it’s filled with tension- it’s truly bittersweet. Bitter because I remember that my sin crucified Christ, and sweet because I reflect on the fact that because of Christ’s willing death, I have been saved.

Easter is also the largest attendance day for churches, with many new visitors (80% of people who are invited to Easter services will attend– it’s a great time to invite people! hint hint ;) . Because new visitors are likely to show up, I want to make them feel as comfortable and at home as possible- and many of them won’t know the songs we sing. It’s a lot easier to feel comfortable though, if everyone else knows the words and can sing along with the songs.

In fact, at our Easter service (4/7/12) I want to introduce a couple of songs that are incredibly powerful, and I want to make sure that everyone is familiar with the songs. If you’d like to listen to them, I’m including the links so you can check them out.

Death In His Grave, John Mark McMillan-

Revelation Song, Kari Jobe/Jesus Culture/Phillips Craig and Dean-

I hope you all enjoy the music- and I want to encourage you to read, reflect, and even pray through the lyrics in these songs.

Maxwell Mooney

I look forward to our time together as a church family celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and our new life!

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

Let’s Lead Our Homes!

Posted March 13th, 2012 in Pastor's Blog
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Dear folks,

The text from Saturday’s sermon, Tired of waiting for God to come through? addressed the consequences and complications that come when we pursue God’s promises through our own efforts. We were introduced to El Shaddai, the God who is capable and willing to fulfill His perfect plans in our life. In my conclusion I addressed both the men and women who were present. Men, you heard me say, LET’S LEAD OUR HOMES! We are responsible for the health and vitality of our marriages, families, and church. They will rise and fall as we seek to truly know God and lovingly, uncompromisingly lead. There is a way we can better prepare for this responsibility.

We are preparing for our annual men’s retreat at Lake Retreat, March 30th to April 1st.This weekend will further prepare us to lead their homes. All men who come will be challenged to grow, enjoy a time of replenishment, and be encouraged in healthy relationships with other men. Pastor Jim Wright will be our speaker again this year and comes ready to explore what things will look like if Christ is at the center of our lives. We are asked to come prepared with a small assignment before the retreat.

Read over (and over) 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 2:20. Internalize them until you got them well in your mind, maybe even memorized! Then write out on 1-2 pages on what it means to you to have Christ as the center focus of your life. What does this mean to you? How do you do this? What are expected outcomes? What might be unexpected outcomes? Where are the obstacles for you? How would your wife (if married) know that Christ is the center of your life? Your kids? Your employer (ees)?

Give thought to this prior to the retreat, even take time to read your paper to your wife for their response. Write down her response and bring it to the retreat.

Pastor Jim has also provided a task for the wives who are willing to help their husband prepare for the retreat.

Do a similar assignment and interact with your husband on what you have learned. But please don’t take over for your husband in this assignments. Let your husband lead. What would it look like for Christ to be at the center of our marriage? What habits or practices would we need to do regularly to walk together as a couple with Jesus Christ? What changes would we need to make? What old things would need to go? What new habits would we need to practice?

If you have not registered I need a $25 deposit from you for the retreat. The cost is $80/person. EXTRAS – $20 for paintball and bring some snacks to share!

We will carpool down and meet at Lake Retreat on Friday evening about 6pm. Our first session begins at 7pm.

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

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