ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

SO GLAD THAT OUR GOD IS A HANDS-ON GOD!  He’s always been that way, you know.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light,”  “God saw that the light was good …”.  God said … God said … God said … and each day for six days what He spoke into being came to be, including the man He created in His own image … “male and female He created them.”   God blessed Adam and Eve and instructed them to increase and rule over the creatures of the earth.  Hundreds of years later, the Lord’s call came to Abram and He told him, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.”  Much later Joseph in Egypt revealing to his brothers who he was, urged them not to be distressed or angry with themselves that years ago they had sold him into slavery.  “ … because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”  Fast forward and there stands Moses glued to the sight of a burning bush.  Out of that bush, Moses personally receives his call to rescue the nation of Israel from their suffering.  “Moses! Moses! … So now go.  I am sending you to Pharoah to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”  I love how God gave Moses step-by-step instructions during the season of the ten plagues that He sent upon the Egyptians; things like:  “Go to Pharoah and say … Stretch out your staff … Get up early in the morning … Take … and toss … Confront Pharoah … Tell the people … put the blood on the doorframes of the houses … and when I see the blood, I will pass over you“.  When we think we cannot do something God is calling us to, He always gives us exactly what we need to accomplish His purpose – even if it takes detailed instructions!  Even back then, our God was a hands-on God and He led His people through the thick and thin of life – to victory!  There was just one catch, though.  Yup, they had to follow those instructions and actually do them!  Do you think there is some correlation here between the example of what God did – and what He expects us to do?  He is our God – and we are His people.  He is the Teacher – and we are His students.  He is our Father – and we are His children.  Do you see the relationship emerging?  I have a sense that if God is hands-on in how He deals with people and with circumstances; He also wants us to be that way with the people we encounter in our journey on this earth so that His kingdom purposes might be accomplished.  When struggles were thrust upon the children of Israel, God took action.  When life’s struggles come against us, God is prodding us to take action.  We are NOT to just sit back and take what comes our way!  We have a much greater calling than that, you see.  What does He have for us to do?  His final words before ascending into Heaven were that we should “go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey all of His commands.”  The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “we must pay careful attention … to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”  We are to fix our thoughts and our eyes on Jesus and not harden our hearts.  Scripture tells us to encourage each other every day and to hold firmly to the faith we profess to have.  What are we professing?  It should be the true gospel message that Jesus suffered and sacrificed for our sins once and for all when He offered Himself on the cross.  (Hebrews 7:27b)  We need to draw near to God and hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  We are to “be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” – for that is what faith really is.  We are to throw off everything that hinders us, as well as the sins that so easily entrap and entangle us.  We are to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Consider what Jesus did so you will not grow weary and lose heart!  Further, we are to make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.  “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”  (Hebrews 12:28-29)  These instructions from scripture barely scratch the surface when it comes to focusing on what God did down through the ages – and what He is still doing as He seeks to engage us in hands-on service for His kingdom on earth!  Are you ready and willing to put on your gloves and go to work for God?!  We’ve got some unfinished business that God has called us to take care of!  



WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK . . .

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Virginia and to Jenna who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God bless you!

THIS SUNDAY, SEP 22:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
(See Debbie for available Women of Faith tickets today!)

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY BIBLE "DOING" / SEP 25-26 / 7:00 P.M.
WED - Digging into Hebrews chapter 1 at the church
THU - Continuing in I Peter chapter 3 at 905 El Dorado Street SE

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Calling all ladies to consider attending this year’s Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul just four weeks from now!  Set aside a Friday afternoon/Saturday to “Believe God Can Do Anything!”  You will experience music that moves, stories that strengthen, and teaching that transforms!  It’s almost time to head to the Xcel Energy Center and bond with your sisters in Christ!  This is also a perfect opportunity to invite someone who does not know Christ personally – they will definitely meet Him there!  See Debbie for a short meeting following worship today to go over final details and to have your questions answered!

REMEMBER . . . “If you experience God’s love at your lowest, you’ll know it has nothing to do with your condition – and everything to do with God’s amazing grace!” ~ Unknown  


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .


Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

HAVE YOU PUT MUCH THOUGHT INTO “THE INVITATION”?  Remember, the one I talked about last week?  The invitation to follow Christ in helping complete the crucial assignment He gave to us in the Great Commission?  How do you feel about committing to change the world and at the same time discover God’s real purpose for your life?  This brief message will continue to draw from the true meaning of Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20 along with the passion of author Rich Stearns in his book, Unfinished.  I encourage you to read last week’s message and refresh your mind and heart before you go any further with this one.  Most of us do not fully grasp the meaning of the Kingdom of God as Jesus referred to it when He was on earth.  You see, we live in this world as we know it.  Its rules and regulations as instituted by man and government are what we know.  We live our lives mostly based in this setting.  We could easily just explain it by saying, “It is what it is.”  But, is that all that God had in mind for us?  To settle for whatever elected officials of our nations put into place?  No, His Kingdom on this earth is an entirely different story that is not limited by or in any way comparative to this world’s kingdom.  God had a plan, a purpose in mind when Jesus said that we were to go and make disciples of all the nations … teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded us.  I love how Rich Stearns explains this:  “It was a call to action to join God in His intent to form a new kind of kingdom that would become a blessing to all nations – one based not on land, politics, power and dominion but on God’s truth, love, forgiveness and compassion – a kingdom within kingdoms.  It was not a call to give up on the world, holding our “tickets to heaven” firmly in our hands and retreating into our churches.  It was a call to go into the world to reclaim, reform, and restore it for Christ.  It was a call to launch a revolution that involved nothing short of the overthrow of the prevailing world system.  And before Jesus left, He commissioned His church to lead this revolution, promising that the very gates of hell would not prevail against it.”  Let’s get a glimpse of what was taking place in the lives of the disciples as they heard the call to action by Jesus.  God’s Word tells us and history confirms that those first disciples were on fire!  Author Stearns comments that “nothing could stop them.”  He relates that within 300 years, they turned the Roman Empire and then known world upside down for Christ.  “Their radical lifestyles were characterized by a sense of urgency and divine purpose.  Nothing was more important and no price was too high to pay.”  And you’ll remember that many of those first disciples were martyred for their faith, and it seemed their blood stirred up others to rise up and take up the cause of Christ.  But, here we are, like the author states, 2000 plus years later – and what has happened to the urgency of the Christian movement?  “Affluent, comfortable, and distracted, Christians today seem to have lost the fire to change the world.  The work of God’s Kingdom lies unfinished, and God’s people seem to have lost their very sense of purpose in the world.”  How sad – for God.  And how sad – for us.  “There is something terribly disturbing in this … what happened to the revolution?”  Stearns goes on to say, “There seems to be a direct connection between the unfinished work of God’s Kingdom and our sense of feeling incomplete in our Christian faith, because there is a connection between our story and God’s story.  If we are not personally engaged in God’s great mission in the world, then we have missed the very thing He created us to do!”  Example:  God wants us to see that “we are like birds meant to fly – but we end up living in a cage.  We are like fish meant to swim – but we just flounder on the beach.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  We can live in the unique purpose for which God created us.”  Like Stearns says, “I love that God doesn’t coerce us – He invites us.  He offers meaning, fulfillment, and significance in our lives but always gives us the option to decline, and sadly, many do.”  But why?  “To change the world, we don’t have to go overseas, or be brilliant, or wealthy or influential or a spiritual giant.  You do have to say “yes” to His invitation!  You do have to be available, willing to be used and to pay the price that comes with following Jesus and changing the world – because that isn’t easy and it doesn’t come cheap.  We accept the call to forsake all else and follow Him.  Only then will we become completed people – people living according to God’s deepest purpose for our lives!”  Stearns wraps this summary of the Great Commission up by writing, “We can rediscover this great calling upon our lives and reignite the revolution.  The 21^st-century church has everything required – the resources, the knowledge, the scale, the mandate, and the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  All we lack is the will.  It’s time to finish the job!”  Will you accept Christ’s invitation to help Him change our world?  

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Brooklyn and to Katie, who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God bless you!

 

THIS SUNDAY, SEP 15:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHUCH

 

WED/THU BIBLE "DOING" / SEP 18-19 / 7:00 P.M.:

WED - Digging into the book of Hebrews at the church

THU - Continuing in the book of I Peter at 905 El Dorado Street SE

 

FRI, SEP 20:

7:00 P.M. - LADIES NITE OUT / enjoying a bon-fire & great fellowship!

Plan to bring an enjoyable outdoor snack to share!

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

 

BIBLE DOING!  “What in the world is that,” you ask?  Well, it is a different type of Bible Study than you’ve ever been to before!  For most of our lives, attending Bible Studies came out of a desire to know God’s Word better – to get to know HIM better.  Both are good and godly goals.  But if that is all we accomplish, then we are missing out on one of the most important reasons for learning and understanding more about God and what He has to say to us.  You see, if we miss out on DOING something with what we’ve read and studied – then it’s pretty much about just us.  When we take what God is teaching us and we DO something with it, it becomes more about God and others!  We encourage you to become “doers” … and see what God will do!  You won’t be disappointed in how He uses you!  Remember the Great Commission!

 

REMEMBER . . . God’s Word instructs us:  “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  I John 3:18 

 

 Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

YOU ARE INVITED!  Don’t you just love invitations?  Well, most of the time?!!  Quite some time ago, my husband and I came across an article in a Christian magazine, WORLD, and a full-page graphic with some profound words on it have gripped us mightily.  In fact, we feel it is so life-changing as based on Christ’s words in the Great Commission, we sense God calling us to make this the foundation of everything we do as we kick-off our new fall/winter/spring ministries here at Elevation North!  No … not the article.  No … not the author.  Yes … the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.  Yes … Jesus’ words.  His command!  Sometimes God uses one of His servants to help us see a bit clearer just what Jesus meant when He said what He said!  Rich Stearns, author of the best-selling book, The Hole in Our Gospel, has written a new book titled, Unfinished.  Allow me to share a very brief book report to help you see why we are so excited about what we are getting ready to embark on as God leads us.  Here is my summary and excerpts of just a few of the highlights.  When talking with people everywhere in recent years as we hear their stories, if we really listen - we hear a longing in them for a deeper sense of purpose and significance in their walk with the Lord.  They want to discover that one thing that God is calling them to do.  They long to feel that they are doing something important for God and that their lives really count for something.  Many of them express that they feel incomplete, as if something about their lives is unfinished.  It doesn’t matter who they are; they all desire the same thing – to live in ‘the zone’ of God’s calling and purpose for their lives.  We need to face the pure, simple fact that this purpose is not found in any job, any relationship, or any accomplishment.  Get this:  the meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God’s purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ.  In other words, it is not anything we do, nor is it anything we have that brings purpose to our lives.  Rather, the author says, it is the purpose of our lives that brings meaning to everything else.  And we find the purpose of our lives only in Christ.  Jesus said in John 10:10:  ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  So then why is it that so many Christians feel like they are living totally unfulfilled lives?  The bigger part of the story is that often we cannot see the forest for the trees.  And just what does that mean?  It means that as Christians, many of us have become people who are so absorbed in the things right in front of us that we lost a sense of the bigger story within which our lives take place.  Think about your life.  The things that occupy most of your waking hours – your job, your marriage, your kids, your daily struggles – they are the ‘trees’ of your life.  What about your church life?  That isn’t so different, either.  We go to church, sing some songs, listen to a sermon.  Perhaps we even pray before our meals, read our Bibles daily, participate in Bible studies.  While all are good things to do, they can become just more ‘trees’ in our lives already cluttered with ‘trees’.  So what happened to the forest?  And what happened to the bigger story?  How long has it been since you asked yourself, who am I?  Why am I here?  Where am I headed?  And where do I fit into God’s big story?  Yes, these questions are important.  Because if we are ever truly going to find purpose and meaning in our lives, we first have to rise above the trees to rediscover the forest – we have to understand what God is doing in the world and how we fit in.  We do have a God-given role to play, you know.  A very specific role.  Different than Mary and Joseph, or Peter, Paul, Luke, and John – but they, too, had a God-created role – and they played their parts.  But now, 2000 years later, we have become so absorbed by the ‘trees’ of our everyday lives that we have lost the plot for God’s unfolding story.  God’s Word suggests that if we are His followers, then we still have some unfinished business in our world:  ‘And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’  (Matthew 24:14)  When we have played our part in making this happen the way God has in mind, the end will come – and that will be a good thing!  Everything Jesus promised will come into place and He will establish His wonderful Kingdom forever and ever.  But before all of this happens … Jesus called His followers to complete a crucial assignment He gave to them just before He left.  That assignment is what we know as the Great Commission, and we have an invitation to follow Christ in this revolutionary vision and mission to reconcile humankind to God’s purposes through His unique Kingdom on earth!  There’s more to come … all I can say is – do not miss the on-fire message from God’s Word this coming Sunday here at Elevation North!  God is up to something!  You see, it’s only when we say “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to change the world that we discover real purpose for our lives!

 

Credit:  Summary and excerpts taken from Unfinished, by Rich Stearns 

 

 IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 A SPECIAL WELCOME to Ellouise who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  May God bless you! 

 

TODAY, SUNDAY, SEP 08:  FALL MINISTRIES KICK-OFF!
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHP / COMMUNION 
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH - beginning our walk through the Bible! 
11:30 A.M. - CHURCH LUNCHEON/MEETING to follow service 

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY BIBLE "DOING" / SEP 11 & 12 at 7:00 P.M. -
WED - Digging into the book of Hebrews at the church 
THU - Continuing in the book of I Peter at 905 El Dorado Street SE 

SATURDAY, SEP 14: 
9:00 A.M. - LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER
("The Prayer That Changes Everything - The Hidden Power of Praising God!") 
9:00 A.M. - BARNABAS TEAM MEETING 

NEXT SUNDAY, SEP 15:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP 
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

This Sunday as part of our Fall Ministries Kick-off, we have a new set-up for KidZone classes for all ages beginning with nursery through high school!  The classrooms are ready and teachers are in place – and we are excited about ministering to our little ones and our young people!  There will be Bible lessons, music and singing, puppets, crafts and activities, Our goal is to provide solid teaching with learning experiences in an exciting atmosphere that points the children and youth to Christ!  If you have any questions or comments, or would like to help in some way with this awesome ministry, please see Verla, our Christian Ed Director. 
 

 REMEMBER . . . THE GREAT COMMISSION:  “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,’  Amen.”  ~ Matthew 28:18-20 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

REFLECTIONS!  The passing of time somehow motivates one to reflect on yesterdays, today, and yes, even our tomorrows.  Within days – a flip of the daily calendar page will burst into a celebratory tune announcing to me that I am a year older.  I will happily retort back and say that I am really just one day older!  At the moment I am running an instant replay of our summer months because they’ve just about filled the DVD of memories – there is only a tiny bit of blank recording space remaining.  I thought it would be good to take a sneak peek review of what filled the time on that disc.  Sometimes we feel like we could summarize it all in a few words, such as:  we worked, we ate, we slept.  That, of course, would not be very interesting.  The truth is that God has infused an abundance of living into these summer days of ours.  Lest I confuse anyone with a mere rattling off of events and happenings, I am underlining the fact that a thread of God’s love and faithfulness is stitched in a continuous line through each moment of each day.  We could not have … would not have wanted to live these days without His blessings and favor and injected joy!  As the last few days of wintery spring hung on with a vengeance, we were filled with great anticipation of less hectic, more relaxed days to come, and I remember asking something of God.  “Lord, our hearts long for more ministry.  I know we have all these jobs to help support ourselves, but Lord, just bring more ministry to us.  Use us more than ever before!”  Asking, I had no idea how God would answer.  Our days were already filled with work and ministry and keeping connected with our long-distance families.  We would write-in time with each other and with God, knowing that if we did not purposely commit to those sacred times they would cease to exist.  And then the most important things in God’s plan for us would become just a distant memory.  And so, we leaped into the dawning of summer with excitement and expectation!  What did God bring to us?  More than we could have imagined or hoped for!  Without a clue that it was coming, suddenly God poured into both of our lives requests for one-on-one counseling, and we embarked on a rich time of leaning on God for needed wisdom and discernment.  What we had hoped to sow into the lives of those who came to us, turned around and blessed the socks off of us.  Those times of prayer and study and research birthed transformations that not only brought godly change in the lives of those who came, but in our own lives!  We could hardly wait for the next session!  Then there was a morning that God placed a distraught man in front of us.  He stated that he was going to take his life and described exactly how he was going to do it.  Pleading with him to give us a chance to help, offering him the kind of real hope that comes from a loving Father in Heaven … we began bringing others on board to help him see that he did have a future.  It has taken all summer, but tomorrow he will begin living “day one” as a free man – literally.  The beauty of it is that though he has lived behind locked doors for years now, transformation came the moment we re-introduced him to the Jesus he had known as a child at the feet of a godly mother.  Suddenly he could see that God had actually carried him all these years … that God walked him down the hallway to the place where his destructive plan of suicide was intercepted.  Saved, not just physically, but spiritually – for eternity!  Yes, we could write a book about the people God has allowed to cross our paths this summer.  We have even been blessed to open our home to several delightful, precious people who needed a place to stay – for a night … or a week … or a weekend.  I think God frequently recalls that once upon a time we told Him that our house was really HIS house, and we wanted to use it and share it for His purposes.  He loves ringing our front desk and letting us know that someone will be coming to check in.  Again, I think we are more blessed than those who come to stay – because Jesus is always a part of the visit!  And summer would not be complete without the fun visits with our own children and grandchildren – times to cherish and hold close to our hearts.  We pack the hours with everything we can think of – including those times of infectious laughter, childhood stories, and the quieter, sitting around moments, and finally tucking the little ones in with bedtime stories and prayers to Jesus. We speak love and affirmation into each other’s lives, and love seeing how God is using these next generations to follow.  There is much to praise our Heavenly Father for as we listen and share our hearts.  Stories of divine leading, incredible favor, special protection – and more, remind us that we are not only family – but we are a family in Christ, and God continues to be at work in each of us!  Reflecting on what God has done this summer is a powerful springboard that propels us into this next season and year to come!  Struggles – did we have any struggles?  Oh yes, some crazy, super difficult ones!  But that thread of faithfulness ran right through those dark times to victory – because we refused to accept and hang on to hurt and anger and defeat.  We’ve gotten a glimpse of how God sees our times … and that’s how we want to live them out!  Hey, go get a pen and paper – and start reflecting on what God has done in you, for you, and through you this summer!

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 A SPECIAL WELCOME to Jessica and family, and to Michael – who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God bless you!

 

 

THIS SUNDAY, SEP 01:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

NEXT SUNDAY, SEP 08:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / COMMUNION

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

11:30 A.M. - CHURCH LUNCHEON/MEETING to follow service . . .

Invite someone to come and share the morning in church with you ...

they might just find Elevation North to be the church home they have been searching for!

 

 ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

 MARK NEXT SUNDAY on your calendar!  September 8^th will be our FALL MINISTRY KICK-OFF as we highlight the ministries for the upcoming 2013-2014 fall/winter/spring schedule!  God is growing us in every way, and we long to go deeper with Him.  Our heartbeat is to be the church that God has planned for us to be – so be in prayer about how He would want you to be involved this coming year!  How can you serve Him?  Plan to join us for praise and worship, for the church luncheon that follows (see sign-up sheet for the food list), and for the short, informative meeting that will take place during the meal-time.  Each of you are important to God … and to the life of Elevation North!  We are excited about what God is doing!  See you there!

 

REMEMBER . . .”And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:18 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!  In today’s society, being different is probably a lot more difficult than it would have been years ago.  Several decades ago, most everyone “looked” pretty much the same.  There were not too many radical fashion styles – nor were there very many radical lifestyles.  Being different stood out at o glance.  Now you look around and there is no norm.  There is nothing to compare to.  Everyone is different – and supposedly everyone fits in, no matter how radical their chosen looks or lifestyle is.  Being different a long time ago, when measured by society’s rules, was often associated with being shunned.  Today, the more extreme, the better.  The greater the shock value, the better.  I’d like to chat with you for a bit about another type of different.  What if God’s people moved into action with an attitude that they would dare to be different – as God instructs them to?  What if they stood out in a crowd, not so much because of their outward appearance (though I will touch on that, too!), but because of their inward heart-devotion to God?  What if our very demeanor – even our facial expressions, drew people to us, and ultimately to our God?  What if we actually lived out the Golden Rule and treated people with the respect, kindness, and love that we long to receive from others – but often don’t get?  What if our words were affirming, rather than condemning?  Not of someone’s sin or weakness, but of them as a person.  What if we came alongside the dirty, the sinful, the not-so-beautiful, the down-and-out, the broken, the incarcerated … and actually showed them the love of Christ, as well as ours?  How do you think they would respond?  Probably with disbelief – at first.  Probably with some distrust.  Why?  Because experiencing people who treat them that way – would be different.  Let the dirty, the sinful, the not-so-beautiful, the down-and-out, the broken, and the incarcerated walk through the doors of many churches – and the typical response in today’s world would be an assortment of ignoring them, shunning them, or telling them point-blank that “their kind” does not belong there.  Wow!  Where did we ever get that?  Not from God’s Word, I can assure you!  Alright, let’s tackle the “outward appearance” for a few moments.  Without having to look “old and stuffy and outdated”, we can accomplish presenting ourselves in a way that would be pleasing to God and yes, pleasing to people.  You would be surprised how many people are much more comfortable with someone who dresses in a godly manner – than with someone who is just about half undressed!  Choosing our outward appearance to bring glory to God definitely sets us aside as different – but refreshing!  Doing things differently according to how God instructs us affects every facet of our lives, even the physical.  Take a look at Daniel in the Bible, and the young men who were in training to serve the king with him.  They made the choice to only put into their bodies the types of food that would make and keep them healthy.  Daring to be different, they stepped out and took a stand not wanting to go back on their commitment to keep themselves strong and healthy before God.  When assigned specific food and wine from the king’s table, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself this way,” and he asked for permission in a respectful way - “Please test your servants for ten days:  Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”  They were granted permission and God’s Word states that at the end of the test period, “they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”  (from Daniel, chapter 1).  And so Daniel and his friends were given the food of their choice from that day forward and God showed them unusual favor with those in authority because they dared to be different!  I challenge you this day … dare to be different … for God!  It’s a quality that will make you a leader for Him!   

 

 

 

 IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

THIS SUNDAY, AUG 25:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M.  KIDZONE CHURCH

 

NEXT SUNDAY, SEP 01:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

PLAN A SUMMER VISIT:

with someone you've been wanting to get to know better - whether they are a part of Elevation North, or a neighbor, or just an acquaintance!  It's the perfect opportunity to reach out and start a new friendship that can benefit both them - and you!  Be a blessing; and you will be blessed!

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
 

OUR FALL MINISTRIES KICK-OFF SUNDAY is just around the corner!  And we want YOU to be a part of this exciting time in the life of our church!  We are implementing a new format for our worship service, and that week will be the beginning of the new weekly schedule which will include 2-3 Bible Studies and plans for growth of existing ministries and the birthing of some additional ones.  We encourage you to pray about who you can invite for Sunday, the 8^th of September, for worship and Communion, for sharing about ministries, for the noon potluck luncheon, and for some great fellowship!  It’s going to be a Sunday you will NOT want to miss!!!   Let’s reach out and “dare to be different” – sharing Jesus with everyone we can!!!

 

REMEMBER . . . God’s Word says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~ Romans 12:2 

 

 

 Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WE’LL NEVER GET OUT OF SCHOOL, WILL WE?  It’s that time of year again – and off our little ones – and not-so-little ones go to school!  Pre-schoolers move on to Kindergarten.  And those kindergarteners in their little caps and gowns go on to 1^st grade.  Then we just move the numbers up one after another – all the way through 12^th grade when suddenly … we see our grown-up seniors don adult size caps and gowns as they receive their diplomas.  College students climb the ladder of degrees until there is no higher degree to achieve – but perhaps another degree in another specialized field.  You get the picture!  Some schools have started this week – while others will wait a few more weeks until after Labor Day.  Even in the church realm, we focus on plans for teaching and learning and classes and ministries – which is a great thing!  I LOVE LEARNING ~ even though sometimes the Master Teacher sits us down in a class that we really wouldn’t have chosen.  It’s not to our liking, but our Teacher knows what the end result will be – and He knows we’ll love that part, provided we put in the study time and whatever it takes to learn the lesson He wants to teach us!  You know how sometimes God gives extra understanding and knowledge – where before there was only a blank space or a brick wall?  Suddenly, we see it!  Suddenly, we get it!!  I “got” something this week through someone else’s teaching.  It was so very powerful; I believe it will enable me to understand others, especially believers, to a degree that I’ve never understood this before.  Now how do I explain this to you?  Well, let me run for my Bible, and I would invite you to run for yours.  First of all, though, we need to return to the day that we said “yes” to Christ – the day that we became a new creature in Christ.  God’s Word says that our names were written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and I believe each of us got a new name to match our new direction, our new purpose in life … our Kingdom purpose!  I have little space to share with you what I learned, so I need to condense and simplify.  So here goes!  Check out the second half of Genesis chapter 32.  Remember Jacob in the Old Testament?  He WAS named Jacob in his natural, human, sinful state.  But at a point in time after stealing the birthright blessing from his brother, Esau, and after growing wealthy through the cunning, deceitful ways he dealt with his father-in-law, Laban … now Jacob finally finds himself alone with a man he wrestles with all night and recognizes as God.  All his life he has struggled and strived to be blessed – now in the presence of Almighty God, Jacob finally realizes that his blessings must come from God and not man.  Once Jacob gets it right and recognizes God as his source of blessing, then God turns around and crowns Jacob with a new name.  That’s quite a reward in itself, I would say!  Listen in:  “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.’”  And then God blessed “Israel” right then and there.  It is interesting, though, that after that mind-boggling face-to-face experience, with his name changed and his life blessed, the next chapters again refer to him as “Jacob”.  Why?  Because “Israel” reverted to Jacob’s antics of fear, deceit, and lingering where he should not have been, and in those points in his life, he was again, “Jacob”.  Read chapters 33 and 35 and you will see God’s name present.  Read chapter 34 – and there is no mention of God’s name.  Why?  God chose to be absent from these awful events.  You see, when we act in our human name, we wrestle with men and often end up in sin.  Rather, we need to be living in our God-given name, wrestling with God and overcoming sin as we hang on for His blessing.  Suddenly, this journey that we are on as God’s people, makes so much more sense to me.  All along, we’ve heard others ask – and we’ve even asked these questions ourselves:  “How could so and so do this – or that?  I thought they were above that – or at least I thought they knew better than that!  I am so disillusioned by their actions!”  Well, do you get it now?  You can have the most powerful believers … even an Old Testament patriarch … live victoriously in their new name as an overcomer – and then turn around and blow it by spewing ungodly words or making horribly wrong, sinful choices – so bad, that God, in fact, just is no where to be seen.  And, then we, like Jacob, find ourselves alone again with God – wrestling all night long just to get things right with Him - again, to be in right relationship, so that we can finally live in His blessing once more, and then we hear those most sought after words, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel …”.  My heart and soul sees two life lessons here:  1)  While we are human and not perfect, and will sometimes fail – we should not be content bouncing back and forth from Jacob to Israel over and over and over.  God longs for us to live in the overcoming power He gives us as we wrestle with Him “until daybreak”.  He wants to call us “Israel”.  2)  This portion of scripture is proof that God does not give up on us as “Jacob” and He continues to shape us and use us, drawing us back to the “altar at Bethel”, where He instructs us to come and talk with Him and purge ourselves of everything foreign and distractive to godliness.  If God gives us a second chance, then should we not give others that same opportunity to be drawn close to God once again, rather than judging them harshly and writing them off? What an example our God is – we can learn so much from Him!  What name does God know YOU by?  YOUR name?  Or by the one HE has given you?  (Grateful thanks to T.D. Jakes for lighting my heart on fire with the thoughts for this message!)  



IN A NUTSHELL . . .

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Eva and her family who worshipped with us this past Sunday!  We were so blessed to have you join us again!


THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 18:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
11:30 A.M. - CHRISTIAN ED MTG for all willing to help with KidZone
Plan to join Wayne & Verla and let them know of your interest and/or commitment level!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23:
7:00 P.M. - LADIES NITE OUT at the church
Be sure to bring a baby photo of yourself for part of the evening's fun ...
and plan to bring a snack for munchies as we fellowship!

NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 25:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

WOMEN OF FAITH … God is calling you out to be just that!  Often we feel as if we cannot go even one more step – or one more day!  Life can just about engulf us – but then someone reminds us that we need to “Believe God Can Do Anything!”  And that is the theme of this year’s conference in St. Paul on Friday night and all day Saturday, October 18^th & 19^th.  You will be inspired, encouraged, and blessed as you drink in all that God has for you through the speakers and the worship!  Plus, we have our motel rooms reserved already, so get ready for a truly great time of fellowship with your sisters in Christ!  See Debbie for the event tickets, and for more information & details!  Invite a friend today to go with you!  She will never be the same!  And if you cannot go, consider blessing someone else with the gift of a ticket so they can go!

REMEMBER . . .”No matter what our past may have held, and no matter how many future days we have, God stands beside us and loves us.”  Gary Smalley and John Trent  



Serving Christ Joyfully . . .  


Pastor Doug and Debbie