- First here is Bill’s message from today. 168-Hour Energy.
- Had a great week in Williamsburg, VA on vacation.
- Kind of weird though since the city was without power for much of the week.
- Thankfully our resort had power all week long.
- Guess you see where priorities are. :)
- Saturday we drove to WV to spend the night with our friends Bill and Nicole.
- Andy and Gayle came down as well and we celebrated Andy’s birthday.
- Really it was just an excuse to eat Gayle’s mom’s cupcakes!
- Today we went to church at New Life Christian Ministries.
- I got saved at New Life, discipled there, went on staff there and eventually became a pastor there.
- They were one of the 30+ churches that supported us as we launched 10 1/2 months ago and they have a part in the now 100 salivations that have taken place. Thanks NLCM.
- It’s been 8+ years since I left staff so there are now far more people there that I don’t know than I do.
- It’s always good though to see some familiar faces.
- Especially good to see the founding and Senior Pastor of New Life, Ken Harris.
- PK next to my wife Lisa has probably been the greatest spiritual influence in my life.
- When it comes to my love for Jesus and His Word, you can look no further than him.
- Through the years our ministry styles have greatly differed but even in that, he helped influence one of our core values which is, “It takes all types of churches to reach all types of people”.
- It was great to be back in their new facility they moved into last year and see the growth they’re experiencing even with it being a holiday weekend.
- Pastor Ken apologized when we walked in that they were doing a retro day music wise.
- However, I liked it because it meant all songs I knew so it was nice to be able to worship without having to look at the screens.
- New Life likes to worship and after 40+ minutes of music and their extended greeting time, PK began his message on persecution.
- As always it was a good message…here are a couple of quotes I wrote down in my notes.
- “People point out the wrong in you so they feel better about the wrong in themselves”.
- “It’s hard to grow a garden but it’s easy to grow weeds”. This was said in the context of it’s easy to do the wrong thing but often hard to do the right thing.
- “One of the best ways you can witness to people is to clean up your dirty mouth”.
- After this quote, PK told a story of how he recently posted a scripture on Facebook (can’t remember which one) about watching your language. He said he put it as a witness to unbelievers but had about a dozen Christians comment saying they were guilty. This doesn’t read funny but it was when he told it. Regardless, hope people take it seriously…and as I’ve said recently myself, abbreviating it Facebook is just as wrong.
- “It’s more important to win someone to Christ than it is to win an argument with them”. That’s good preaching.
- Ok now for the funny part…or at least the part I found funny.
- PK likes to preach…I mean an hour+.
- He himself used to joke that the week after vacation was the worst because he had 2 weeks of talking to get out. :)
- In any case, his outline today was 4 points. Point 3 had 4 subpoints.
- The funny thing was I preached an entire 30+ minute message on just 2 of those sub-points just a 2 weeks ago.
- I kept thinking…”Kenny you’ve got an entire series in just today’s message…save it man, save it”. :)
- Again though our styles are really different and for that I’m grateful. As the old saying goes, “If two people are exactly alike then one of them is not necessary”.
- The really funny part was in my message I actually told a story of his about how he used to get raises at work when nobody else did. Then today he tells the same story. Weird.
- In any case, the message was really practical. New Life’s motto is, “Learning Real Christianity in a Real World”.
- Persecution is definitely a real thing and PK gave some great advice on how to deal with it from a biblical perspective.
- Afterward we stuck around and talked to as many people as we could…until finally getting kicked out.
- So I got kicked out of church today…how about you?
- Wait is that persecution for being friendly? :)
- Double wait…did I just use myself and the word friendly in the same sentence? What is this world coming to?
- Ok seriously, I can’t wait to get back to work this week.
- Next Sunday for 9-11 we’ll be doing a special look at the hope that was found in the tragedy through a film called, “The Cross and the Towers”.
- Invite as many people as you can to take part in this special event unlike anything we’ve ever done.
- I’ve created a Facebook invite for you to share on your wall.
Inside Today’s Experience (vacation edition)
- First, I know this is a day late, but I’m on vacation, give me a break!
- Second, I wasn’t at ExponentialChurch.tv on Sunday so I don’t have much to comment on other than from what I hear you had a good day.
- Missed everyone in Harrisburg…but with an off Sunday Lisa and I decided to visit our former church in Chambersburg.
- The day actually started out in WV after having spent the night at our friends, Bill and Nicole’s, house. Had a great time catching up with them.
- Still holding out hope that they will one day join Lisa, Andy, Gayle and myself here in Harrisburg.
- Any way, back to CFCOG…it was great seeing so many people and of course getting the “What are you doing here” questions.
- It’s funny how many people think that pastors never get to get away or are nervous to get away.
- First, Lisa and I make it a priority to vacation ever year and second, we have such a great staff and team that I wasn’t worried at all.
- I was actually surprised how many people got emotional seeing me there. It is nice to be missed, but I know that God has us right where He wants us and I know that things have continued well since I’ve been gone and God has even bigger things in store for CFCOG.
- Many years ago I realized that no one person is bigger than a church if it’s on mission.
- We decided to go to the early United Worship Experience (the two Experiences I led when I was there) but was disappointed that my replacement Kevin was also on vacation.
- Instead it was a recap of the VBS like activities that had happened over the previous week.
- Sounds like Kristy and her team had a tremendous week and 22 kids prayed to receive Jesus!
- I really liked this alternate way of doing VBS and if and when we’re ready to do something at ECTV, this style is something I’ll definitely recommend to Chelsea.
- As for the music and tech for the day, lots has changed.
- Some things I liked, others not so much but I’m glad they are still as passionate as ever to lead people in worship of Jesus!
- To file under Murphy’s Law, all 3 projection screens went dead for 3 of the 4 songs they did.
- However, Brian did a great job of reminding people that we didn’t come to worship technology but Jesus.
- The crowd seemed to know most of the songs because I could hear people singing…so that was cool that people still could sing along.
- I can hear an older person now going, “We never lost the lyrics in a hymnal”. :)
- The other surprise was getting to hear Chrissy Miller speak as a part of the sermon.
- For someone who doesn’t get an opportunity to do much public speaking, she did a phenomenal job…very poised and articulate.
- After a quick 15 minute break, we ended up going over to the sanctuary for the Encounter service.
- Other than music it was basically the same presentation as in United.
- Considering they were using the same people to do all 5 services, they did a great job of shuttling people back and forth and the appropriate times.
- I also got to thinking this means that Earl preached the same sermon (albeit abbreviated) 5 times in the span of about 2 1/2 hours.
- That’s hardcore…just one sermon is a taxing thing physically and emotionally but to do 5 that close together earns him an iron man award for the day.
- It was interesting as well seeing the same thing but in two different venues (multi-purpose room & sanctuary).
- Never realized how much more color “pops” in the sanctuary than it does in the MPR.
- Also, I’m going to have to get on Earl about starting to wear some make-up to cut down on the glisten when they have close-ups of him on IMAG.
- Bet that conversation is going to go over well. :) Earl + make-up= sign of the End of Times.
- The highlight of Encounter for me was seeing Karl lead worship.
- He is one of the coolest young guys you’d want to meet and has such a heart for Jesus. Add on top of that the incredible talent he has and it made for a very cool moment seeing him shine as Jesus shone through him.
- Afterward Kris and Jenny Shifler were kind enough to host a picnic for the old United team.
- It was great catching up with everyone, eating, joking, reminiscing and playing corn hole.
- After that we stopped by my sister and brother-in-laws house for yet another picnic.
- By the time we got there we were stuffed and wore out but we had a good time eating crabs, hanging out and again playing corn-hole.
- Sunday was a great way to wrap-up the first week of vacation…looking forward to 1 more week of relaxing and then it’s back to an all out assault on depopulating hell.
Inside Today’s Experiences
- From the outside looking in, today looked pretty good, but behind the scenes, it was a rough day.
- Pretty fitting though considering that I was preaching about how to go through tough times and grow from it. :)
- Despite a lot of technical difficulties, it was still a fun day.
- I’m sort of sad that we’re done with the medley’s…they were all a lot of fun!
- Don’t know how many people picked up on the Milli Vanilli lip synching gag…oh well at least we amused ourselves.
- Brian and Adam’s dancing was about as good as mine….haha!
- I thought then that the whole team really pulled it together for Loser.
- Brian did a great job of remembering an incredibly confusing song, Adam played the slide on the guitar to perfection and Andy gave Brian some neat effects for the rapping portions.
- At the 9:45 I was really flustered by everything that had happened in the morning and then my mic was causing some weird feedback which never happens.
- I was disappointed, but I’ve had quite a few people tell me that the message really spoke to them.
- At 11:15 then I was able to bring it with a bit more passion.
- I was sharing with a few people that if we ever do a series like this again, I’m scheduling it for the winter…
- All these wigs and costumes I’ve been wearing are very hot…nothing like wearing flannel today when it’s hot and humid out.
- Had some guests tell me that a greeter at the door asked them if they wanted the “smokey and wild” service or the normal one.
- Interestingly enough with a description like that, they still chose to come to United.
- I forgot to mention at the 11:15 that if you’re interested in helping with set-up or tear-down, we could really use your help. Either put it on a Connection Card or e-mail Tony at thediehls@comcast.net
- I’m excited about this up-coming week for two reasons…
- First, Lisa and I will be on vacation in Florida!
- Second, Josh Schlotterbeck is going to finish out the Rewind series by looking at the song Criminal.
- Josh is an awesome young man of God and I promise you’ll not want to miss out on what God wants to speak to you through him.
- This is going to be big-time salvation message, so if you have friends, neighbors, co-workers or relatives that don’t yet have a relationship with Christ, do whatever it takes to make sure they show up next week.
- The following week then I’ll be back with the start to a new series called, Unveil: Revealing God’s Will For My Life.
- That’s a question everyone wants to know so I’m excited to share with you how to discover God’s will.
- Again there are plenty of invite cards in the back, so invite, invite, invite!
- Since I’ll be on vacation, I probably won’t post much, but check back periodically for vacation up-dates.
Random Thoughts on a Friday
- Haven’t done a random thoughts for awhile so let’s see where this goes…
- Why oh why on my day off did I wake up at 6am wide-awake?
- Couldn’t believe the news yesterday about Michael Jackson.
- Thriller was the first album I ever bought.
- Too bad he got really weird because he was an amazingly talented man.
- However, no matter how talented you are, death is coming for all of us and it will sometimes come unexpectedly.
- The moral…you’ve got to be prepared for eternity and the best way to do that is to begin a relationship with Jesus.
- I’m getting back into the swing of things after vacation.
- Working on two huge projects right now…1 is exciting…the other is overwhelming…both will be great when they’re completed.
- Vacation highlights were:
- Spening time with Lisa 24/7.
- Celebrating our 14th anniversary.
- Our dinner at Phillips Seafood in Atlantic City overlooking the beach and ocean.
- Not checking e-mail the entire 2 weeks and truly being able to relax.
- Walking with Lisa hand-in-hand up and down the boardwalk with no cares (ok dodging seagulls but other than that) or agenda.
- Treating my parents to a couple days away in the Pocono’s with us.
- Hiking to Bushkill Falls…beautiful!
- Hacking around a par-3 approach course with my dad.
- Celebrating my birthday.
- Getting a sweet authentic Alexander Ovechkin Caps jersey from Andy and Gayle.
- Getting to hang out with my friends.
- We’ve got some pretty cool stuff coming up for July and August in the Experiences that we’re pretty excited about.
- This week is the last week of the One Prayer series…Perry Noble…can’t wait!
- Then I’m back preaching again…really excited about what God is going to do in the next series.
Inside Today’s Experience (Vacation Edition)
