I am really excited to share with you an article that I wrote for Rethink Monthly. This is a regional magazine from the Portland area that is fairly new. I summitted an article which is a mixture of several of my recent blogs. It spotlights our homework club and being in the community. Feel free to read it on their blog or read the actualy magazine online(pg 30).
This is a web resource review I didn’t orinally for foursquare.org (http://www.foursquare.org/articles/785,1.html).
LifeChurch.tv’s Open is a site where churches can access, download and use the creative content of LifeChurch.tv weekend services. Craig Groeschel in Edmund, Okla., is founding/senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, author of IT, Confessions of a Pastor, founder of oneprayer.com, and now has LiveChurch.tv campuses across the nation.
The material includes message/sermon videos in HD, artwork, small group materials, talk notes and handouts. Basically, everything they produce for their weekend gatherings, they have made available to use for free—with no strings attached. As long as you are proclaiming Christ, they don’t mind how you use the material. Because everything is in high-definition, an HD projector will show your church a crystal-clear picture. The videos are large files, so prepare yourself for the time it will take to download them—and be sure you have enough hard drive space to store the messages on your computer.
As a small church pastor, this has worked perfectly for my midweek adult service, as I can pick and choose series and all the supporting materials that are the most beneficial for my community. I will also use their material OnePrayer for the month of June on Sundays, to expose my church to great teachers.
Whether it be for personal growth or for a public service, this material is top notch both in content and quality of production.
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Reviewed by Joseph Fehlen, pastor, South Everett Foursquare, Everett, Wash.
Joseph Fehlen – The One and Only – April 26th, 2009
From the five part series “The Sinai Code”
I had the privilege to attend a banquet for the volunteers that participated in the Snohomish County United Way Free Tax sites. As many of you know our church, South Everett Foursquare, was one of the three host sites. We got to hear some great news like $2,073,130 (that’s million) was refunded back to families in our community with an average adjusted gross income of $22,375. At our tax site specifically $705,504 was refunded to 494 of our neighbors as well as $265,208 in Earned Income Tax Credit (I am told that is big. I don’t really understand all the numbers
The more interesting non-stats were the stories of lives being changed in other ways. These are some hard core volunteers that showed up daily to not only help with taxes but encounter the harsh realities of our community. They spent time with a lady dealing with domestic violence to get her help. They listen to numerous families on the verge of foreclosure. They played with kids while the parents cried over not having enough resources to get through the week. Real people real stories.
I personally thanked those that volunteered at our site for being such great representatives of South Everett Foursquare and the Snohomish United Way. For over 20 hours a week they were there and were truly great. Some would say that we have more non church happening at our building than church related activities. I want to thank you for seeing that our community is our church (no matter if they show up on Sunday or not) and our doors and our arms are open to welcome all to come.
On a completely funny, as in a 3 seconds of fame, note. South Everett Foursquare got mentioned numerous times throughout the ceremony. The first time being the most pronounced. We got thanked as a sponsor and South Everett Foursquare was mentioned in the same breath as Boeing and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I guess that means we are running with the big dogs now.
Seattle King 5(NBC) January 26 news feature: (our church in the video)
Seattle King 5(NBC) February 24 news feature: (our church in the video
Just a reminder we are starting a new series tonight called “The Vow.” Yes this is marriage series but yet so much more. Tonight we are looking at the vow of priority. As we put God first and then our spouse (or significant other). Wednesday nights are about learning but more importantly about community. Each and every one of you have so much to offer each other. This will be a great topic for that fact to become a reality as we come together.
Also this last weekend’s service was one of the best message the pastor has ever shared. Trust me I am his worst critic. If you missed it … the Ten Commandments were not given as conditions of a relationship with God but rather as confirmation of a relationship He had already established with us.
The audio and some reflection questions have been posted to the website. I thank Pastor Andy Stanley and Pastor Ron Mehl for their thoughts on the Ten Commandments and these questions. Check them out at http://southeverett.org/rules-of-engagement.
Join us this weekend as we look at the first two commandments a little closer. Most people only know the last five but it’s the first two that are key to understanding the rest. God wants to be front and center in your life, and He will not be downsized or marginalized.
