ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

MOST PEOPLE DON’T LIKE OTHERS TALKING ABOUT THEM.  Period.  Because in today’s world, if they are being talked about, it’s not usually good things that are being said.  And … people are not always present to defend themselves.  But most often, if they are being talked about, it means they are alive.  Once gone from this earth, not too many people will jump on the bandwagon to say much about the deceased.  I can just about hear you saying, “Alright … so the point is?”  The point is:  these days I am hearing lots and lots of talk about Jesus.  By:  lots and lots of people.  That would follow suit that He, of course, is alive.  No one keeps conversations about someone else going on for decades or centuries if they know they are dead.  The timeless fact is that people for centuries have talked about Jesus.  They may have talked about whether He is dead or alive.  The might have even said that He is dead – or that they just don’t believe in Him – or that He was just a man and a great teacher.  Others have talked about Jesus and stood behind their words of affirmation with their very lives.  They believed.  They were martyred for their faith … some, centuries ago – and others, just hours ago.  But the talk goes on.  The life of Jesus and His story cannot be put on a bookshelf with other history books to just collect dust.  His story is not only the most read ever – but it is told more than the story of any other person on earth – ever.  Living or dead.  And because He is WHO He is … that was all part of His plan.  He wanted to be talked about.  He still wants to be talked about.  But His plan takes the talking to a different – much higher level.  Just talking about Him with others who know Him, while that can be wonderful and inspiring, is not enough.  Part of God’s Kingdom plan is that we who are His children, will take our talking about Jesus into the marketplace and beyond.  Out of our homes and yes, out of our churches.  And into the schools and universities.  Into the stores and offices.  Into the streets and every place we go.  Preaching while on the clock?  No!  I did not say that!  Talking through how we live speaks volumes to others.  It gets their attention – and many times, they will come seeking YOU out! THEY will be the ones making statements and asking questions that lead right into the perfect opportunity to tell them more about Jesus!  I love how our young missionary family in Australia has become involved in street witnessing late at night in the big city.  They take their love for Jesus to the busy streets filled with noisy night-life.  When they first appear on the scene, they don’t “talk” about Jesus – they LIVE Him!  They hand out bottled water and strike up a casual conversation.  You can picture the typical scenario.  Boozed up and drugged up, many are astounded that a great-looking young couple who seem to have it all together – would take time to even look their way or stop to talk.  Some are bent over, heaving out their insides because they’ve had way too much of what they should not have had – and here are our missionary friends coming alongside them to make sure they are alright.  They are Jesus’ hands and feet and heart when they hand that bottle of water to them and strike up a conversation.  I believe that’s what God was talking about when He gave the Great Commission to His disciples … I believed He envisioned every possible scenario and place for us to “talk about Him” to others.  And I don’t believe there was any situation so repulsive or any person so lost, that He would not have wanted us to go there to them and share His love.  Will we r-e-a-l-l-y need His protection sometimes?  Um-m-m, don’t we always?  Look at God’s people down through the ages:  talking about Jesus and living for Him is not always easy – once upon a time in the coliseums, Christian’s names were up in lights at sporting events – it was them against the lions.  And you know who the event promoters said were the winners.  But they didn’t realize that it was really the Christians who won.  They won for Eternity ... and the sacrifice of their lives created an unstoppable story as their bravery and refusal to renounce Christ went viral in those ancient circles.  Even in dying, they talked.  Someone named Tom Stoppard has said, “A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others.  Be a carrier.”  I have revised it to say, “A sharing Jesus lifestyle is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others.  Be a carrier!”  Remember, Jesus talked and walked His message everywhere He went during His three years on earth.  When Jesus’ disciples urged Him to eat something, He told them, “My food … is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”  (John 4:34)  He is our example to keep talking … and taking … the Gospel to everyone we can!  The time is short, and there is still unfinished work to be done.  Precious children of God … let’s talk about Jesus … and be carriers of His message!


WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK . . .


THIS SUNDAY, OCT 06:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / WORLD DAY OF COMMUNION
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY BIBLE "DOING" / OCT 9-10 / 7:00 P.M. -
WED - In the book of Hebrews at the church
THU - In the book of I Peter at 905 El Dorado Street SE

SATURDAY, OCT 12:
9:00 A.M. -LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER
10:30 A.M. - BARNABAS MEETING

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

So what does a Pumpkin Patch church family outing have to do with living out our faith?  Well, this fun fellowship time out in the country on an autumn Sunday could be just the perfect place!  While we are talking with each other, someone might just overhear our excitement at being a part of God’s family.  God just might bring someone to cross our paths in the cornstalks or on the hayride or sitting around the fire-pit!  At any rate, be sure to sign your name to the list if you are meeting us next Sunday, October 13^th, at 1:30 p.m. out at Oakview Nursery. Call for more details! And … it’s Grandparents Day at the Pumpkin Patch – so don’t think for a minute that this event is just for kids!!!  There’s LOTS to see and do!  See you there!

REMEMBER . . . “And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”  (Romans 10:14b, 15b)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .


Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

“I CAN’T BRAG about my love for God because I fail Him daily, but I CAN BRAG about His love for me because it never fails!” ~ (unknown) There’s an old song that says in its last stanza:  “Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry, Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Tho’ stretched from sky to sky.  O love of God, how rich and pure!  How measureless and strong!  It shall forevermore endure – The saints’ and angels’ song!”  (lyrics written by Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai)  What a beautiful picture of how we should feel about God’s love!  That song is a picture, indeed, of us writing with more ink than we can fathom on more parchment than we can visualize, with more pens than we can hold in our hands to write with – our whole life long!  While perhaps we cannot dip our pen into an ocean of ink, yet our love for our God should be so deep that His love should be our song every day!  All day long … unendingly … into eternity where we will sing praises to Him forever and ever and ever!  It’s so true that God’s love never fails.  Just about when we think we are at the end of our rope in a situation or relationship, God’s love comes walking in and takes our slipping hand and pulls us up to safety.  His love rescues us and restores what’s gone bad.  His love redeems us from what we so deserve and it covers a multitude of our failures and our sins.  Just when we think we’ve been at something for such a long time and we feel as if nothing is ever going to change … God’s love comes walking in and things start happening!  New things come into place, foundations are built upon, seed that’s been planted begins to sprout and suddenly grows like crazy!  God’s love brings people right to us and it becomes second-nature to just share His love with them.  A love like His is not hard to share, after all!  It should be the easiest thing in the world, because after all … we know what it did and does for us, even though we cannot fully fathom it!  What others do with that love then, is ultimately up to them.  But they’ve been gifted with the opportunity to make the most important decision they will ever make – accepting, or rejecting the love of God.  A love like God’s makes us feel valued in a world that holds little value for life or anything sacred.  While the world tells us we are nothing … God’s love says that we are everything to Him.  Sending His only Son for us is proof of just how valuable He thinks we are!  God’s love reveals to us one more piece of His heart the closer we get to Him.  Our response to that amazing love brings His invitation to draw ever closer.  So close that we begin to see and understand things about God that we never actually grasped before.  We not only experience that unfailing love, we begin to sense His very heartbeat for humanity.  A love that would go to the ends of the earth and back, namely, Calvary, to save mankind from themselves and ending up in the pit of hell for all of eternity.  A love that has never diminished down through the ages.  Kingdoms have risen and fallen, but His still moves forward.  The very essence of His love cannot quit on us, give up on us, or push us away.  His love compels Him to pursue us, captivate us, and hold us in His embrace.  In that closeness, His love engages us in joining Him on His quest to finish what He started so long ago.  His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as in heaven – that’s what He wants.  And He wants us to want it to!  Things are changing, people are searching.  They are hungry and thirsty for more than the world can offer.  That’s where we come in: to make ourselves available and active in helping God with the unfinished business of His Kingdom work that still remains to be done.  It’s time, dear people!  It’s time to start bragging about the love of God!  (In the good sense of the word, you know!)  It never fails!


WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK . . .

TODAY, SUNDAY, SEP 29:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M, - KIDZONE CHURCH

WED/THU BIBLE "DOING", OCT 2 & 3 at 7:00 P.M.:
WED - Delving deeper into the book of Hebrews at the church
THU - Continuing in the book of I Peter at 905 El Dorado Street SE

NEXT SUNDAY, OCT 06:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / WORLD DAY OF COMMUNION
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

COMING UP:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th at 1:30 p.m. - Our ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH CHURCH FAMILY OUTING
at Oakview Nursery - call us at (507) 363-3099 for more details!

 ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

In our current emphasis on the Unfinished Kingdom work that God has called us to help Him with, we are encouraging EACH ONE to REACH ONE!  For the past few weeks, many of you are catching that vision and inviting others to church with you!  A few weeks ago, a lady invited her cousin.  Now that person has invited her daughter to church and to the upcoming Women of Faith Conference!  And, she is going to invite her sister to the conference, as well!  See what happens when EACH ONE – REACH ONE takes place?  God’s unfinished business on earth starts to get accomplished!  It’s an exciting thing to be at work where God is at work, isn’t it?  Again, we challenge all of you in the body of Christ here at Elevation North … EACH ONE – REACH ONE!  Remember the Great Commission?  Let’s do our part – and see what God will do! 

REMEMBER . . . “God loves us, not because we are lovable but because He is love; not because He needs to receive but because He delights to give." ~ C.S. Lewis

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

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