Cardboard Testimonies (Week 3)

This is the video that was shown at all 4 services this weekend at Charter Oak Church. It contains the cardboard testimonies of members of our church family. What a powerful testimony it is to the work of God in our midst...Once again, to God be the glory for the things He has done.



Grace and Peace to you.

Amber wrote...

...this, and you should read it. She inspires me.

Grace and Peace

Blown away (For the Heart of Your King)

While I haven't been as frequent in posting here as I usually am, it's not from lack of trying. Believe it or not, I've sat down at my computer several times over the course of the last two weeks and stared down at the empty text-field on my blog page with full intentions of sharing my perspective on all that is going on with my ongoing sermon series here at Charter Oak Church...And, in spite of my best effort, I simply haven't been able to capture something that comes even remotely close to what is going on in my heart right now.

Over the past two weekends, I've received over a hundred different pieces of cardboard containing a written testimony of the difference that Jesus has made in someone's life, and, frankly, in many ways it's just left me speechless. These cardboard testimonies tell stories of salvation, liberation from addiction, the triumph of grace over failure, reconciled relationships, provision, and the impact of Agape love. Oh how He loves us...

And while my first intent of blogging about this sermon series was to recount the blessings and remember the "lessons", my greater aim at this point is to simply marvel at Jesus. While just three weeks ago, I was a follower of Christ. Now...well, now I don't even know how to say it...maybe lover of Christ is better, or bond-servant of Christ as Paul once put it...but still there seems to be so much more that those words fail to capture when facing the challenge of describing what's going on in my heart. I am with "I AM" right now in a way that I've never before experienced...that's all I know to say.

I, perhaps smugly, thought that the opportunity to teach this series was about getting to share the Word and Love of Christ with Charter Oak Church from the pulpit on three consecutive weeks in August, but I've been blown away with the awareness that God is using this sermon series, and His work in the people of Charter Oak Church, to give me new revelation regarding His Word and Love, new fellowship with Him. He's such a BIG GOD, and His love is unfailing.

This weekend marks the finale of this series. It's a message on perseverance. I hope that you'll come and worship with us. I'm anticipating great things. In the meantime, FIGHT FOR THE HEART OF YOUR KING!

Grace and Peace be unto you.

Cardboard Testimonies

This video shares the "stories" of the cardboard testimonies shared by our church family last weekend. To God be the glory for the things He has done.



Grace and Peace

Breath-taking

I fell in love with my wife again tonight. I walked out into my backyard and saw her playing with Izzy in our pool. The sight of her and our baby in such utter bliss with one another took my breath away. Praise God my camera was close by.

Grace and Peace

I've learned a valuable lesson today.

Last night at CHILL, a student who regularly brings homemade cookies offered me a "cookie"...I love the student's cookies, so I was eager to eat this "cookie"...This, however, was a homemade "ex-lax cookie"...I did not know this, so I ate the cookie...I've become better friends with my toilet today...ex-lax really works...

Grace and Peace to you.

Week one is "in the books"

This past weekend kicked off the first of a three part sermon series that I'm teaching here at Charter Oak Church. You may have read about it in some of my previous posts. The general thesis of this series is that we need to make the transition from "faith in the seated position" to "faith in action". That being said, here are some of my favorite moments from the weekend:

- hearing the Saturday night crowd burst into applause when they saw Amber's cardboard testimony which read, "partying, sex, self-loathing ATHEIST...forgiven, free, loved FUTURE PASTOR"

- seeing Ms. Ethel and her 12 boys in attendance at the 9:30 service. They all beamed with joy as I told her story.

- on Saturday afternoon we realized that we built the backdrop too tall for the projection screen to be used on that side of the stage...so a pair of students volunteered their time to paint new "flats" late Saturday night, and Tony Harding volunteered to meet me at 5am on Sunday morning to install them once the paint was dry. The flats got painted, and Tony and I got them installed before the sun even came up on Sunday morning. To Tony, Katie, and Mallory...you guys made my weekend! Thank you so much.

- there was a woman who was so moved by the 9:30 service that she begged to be a part of the cardboard testimony presentation at the 11 o'clock service. Cindy Jonczak pulled me aside after the 11 o'clock service had already begun and asked if that was possible. I said, "Of course it is." What was interesting, however, is that I didn't know who this lady was or if she was was even going to find her way to the right place at the right time. Well, behind the scenes, their was a collective effort of several people to get her where she needed to be, and everything went off without a hitch. She walked on stage as she was cued and shared her testimony while smiling radiantly. As she walked off the stage, our eyes met for the first time. We shared a "thumbs up" at one another. It was a moment of pure joy for both of us.

- seeing a young woman who had been molested as a child write her cardboard testimony. It read, "Silenced and controlled because I was molested...tears of pain turned to tears of joy thanks to the Lord." Whoever doesn't believe that Jesus is a healer needs to speak to that woman. Glory to God!

- hearing my wife sing at all four services

I'm excited about week 2! I hope to see you there.

Grace and Peace to you.

For the Heart of Your King

This weekend marks the kickoff of my first ever sermon series preached to the entire congregation of Charter Oak Church. It's something that I've put a lot of prayer, study, and work into. Needless to say, I'm excited.

I don't want to give to much away regarding the nature of the experience this weekend, but I feel confident in saying that you'll be blessed by coming and taking part. And, in the meantime, I would just like to ask again for your prayers regarding this sermon series. My family and I have come under a great attack in the past two weeks...everything from dealing with another kidney stone to my normally-incredibly-pleasant-infant-son being a screaming mess for days on in...just to name a couple...but I'm learning to laugh at the enemy...greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

Thanks for your prayers...I'm looking forward to the weekend!

Grace and Peace to you.

The story behind "How He Loves"

Get your tissues...



Grace and Peace to you.

Have you seen this?

I love this song! I catch myself singing this song all the time. I hope it blesses you.



Grace and Peace to you.

Prayer and Cocoa Puffs

This morning began just like every Thursday morning has begun over the summer months. A group of 13 students gathered for what has affectionately become known as "prayer and cocoa puffs". At "prayer and cocoa puffs" we begin the morning having cereal together (many of these students have just rolled out of bed), and then we spend an hour in prayer together. We pray for the church, the Student Ministry, and then each of us write a personal prayer request sheet that we pray for. It sounds kind of funny to say, but "prayer and cocoa puffs" has been one of the driving forces of our Summer ministry...in fact, it's done more to build depth in relationships than anything else we have ever done before. That being said, below are some of the personal prayer requests that were mentioned this morning. As you read them, you will begin to understand the vulnerability with which these students have begun to share. Would you help lift these requests up to Jesus?

"Coming to grips with having to move to a new state, making new friends, finding a new church, and fitting in at a new school."

"To not live ashamed anymore...Jesus has set me free from my mistakes."

"4 months today without cutting myself!" (what a praise!)

"I need help developing a better self image"

"I'm just feeling very distant from God right now."

"I'm going through a war with myself right now. the mature side that knows what is best vs. the selfish side that knows what he wants"

"making the college transition"

"I'm taking off my 'mask'. I admit that I am not strong. I am afraid. I have doubts. But in admitting this the last few days I've remembered what life was like without Jesus...it's awful." This same student later wrote, "Jesus, don't let me go. I cannot live without you."

"I feel unlovable. Nobody seems to have time to just sit down and love me."

"LUST...may I hunger only for Jesus."

"My best friend is moving across the country, and I'm heartbroken."

"I talked to my dad for the first time in four years yesterday, and, more than anything else, it's got me on the verge of falling apart."

"Abandonement issues"

"I'm just exhausted."

"I am under a huge spiritual attack this week."

"I have perfect peace right now. I want to keep it."

"that I would learn how to love Jesus"

"for all of the new students that have been hanging around...that they would find a home here"

Thank you for helping us cover these items in prayer. Grace and Peace to you.

Promo video revision

I worked with my creative team today to make a revision to the end of the promo video for my upcoming sermon series "For the Heart of Your King". Here's the finished product:



It's only 2 weeks away now, and I'm getting excited!

Grace and peace to you.

A difference maker

Many people I meet say that they want to change the world, and I resonate with them because I, too, would like to see change. But every once in a rambling moon I meet someone who is a real "difference maker". Today was one of those days.

My family and I went with a group of Charter Oak Church's Students to spend an evening serving together at The Hunger Garden where, upon our arrival, we met Mrs. Lynn (see picture). Mrs. Lynn is the keeper of The Hunger Garden and a true modern day saint. Her life's work can be found on a farm in Madison, PA...with nothing more than acres of vegetables and a vision, she is putting a dent in the population of hungry families in Westmoreland County. You see...The Hunger Garden is the largest provider of fresh vegetables to The Westmoreland County Foodbank, and Mrs. Lynn shared with me tonight through tears of joy that her farm was responsible for providing over 22,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to the hungry of our community every year.

My family and my students and I worked for about 3 hours tonight picking bushels of beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchinis as part of our ongoing efforts to make our Student Ministry, as well as our own personal walk with Jesus, something that is truly incarnate of all that Christ has called us to with regards to caring for the poor and the needy. And even though it was hot and dirty, and there were bugs everywhere (even some mice and snakes), we had a blast! You can see some pictures of our experience here

This trip to The Hunger Garden wasn't just a "one-time" deal, by the way. My family and several students and I will be going back to serve every Monday night throughout the remainder of the Summer. I tell you that because I'd love for you to join us. Do you have some free time on Monday nights and are looking for an "out-doorsey" way to follow the call of Christ? If so, then you should consider tagging along with us. I promise you this...you'll sweat, you'll laugh, you'll pick vegetables, you'll meet some sincerely remarkable people, and you'll have a great time serving Jesus by being an instrument of feeding the hungry. Think about it.

Grace and Peace to you.

A got a new guitar!!!

Dude!!! I got a new guitar, and it is amazing!!! It's craziness. I had been saving money to buy this exact guitar when all of a sudden someone showed up at my house today and said, "Here you go. God told me to buy this guitar for you. This is now yours." How cool is that!?!

And this is not just any guitar...it's a whole bunch of guitars wrapped up in one. Watch the video below to see what I'm talking about.



One more thing...this guitar is currently unavailable in the United States. The guy said that, when God told Him to do it, he had to go all the way to Canada to find one. Needless to say, I'm blown away!!!

Grace and Peace to you.