ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FUEL YOUR ADVENTURE!  Without enlisting the services of a travel agent, we are all on a “last-days” adventure … and believe me, it is going to be an itinerary that will outshine all others we’ve ever been on!  Road-trips, cruises, mountain-climbing, flights high in the atmosphere, wilderness hiking, hot-air balloon rides, river-boat excursions – none will begin to compare with what we are embarking on in these days!  The adventure is all around us!  Don’t you just love being in the middle of it all?  God has been giving us a sneak preview now and then – but every day we are seeing more and more of His side-trips taking place!  We would have to be blind not to see and recognize that God is up to something!  We not only get to witness what He is putting into place – but we get to sign on for active duty for what lies ahead with the dawning of each new day’s agenda!  The big event is not here yet … but God has it all planned out – down to the most intricate, yet powerful detail!  The date, the time, the crescendo of the trumpet sound announcing His arrival, the armies of heaven standing at attention in rapt wonder as they will suddenly see the Son of God descend in the twinkling of an eye to rapture His church and bring us Home!  Oh, how exciting that will be!  That is, for those who will be ready for the trip through space ~ from earth to heaven.  Talk about time-travel like it has never been experienced before.  Talk about breaking the sound barrier.  Traveling that incredible distance in the mere twinkling of an eye is not even fathomable by human minds or scientific design.  And I am not alluding to a science fiction movie about some time way out in the future – some millions of years yet to come.  There are signs all around us that are pointing to a soon-to-be, never-before-experienced event of such huge proportions that the world will not know what to do with the chaos in the aftermath of the Rapture.  But in those moments there will not be a doubt that Jesus Christ is who He said He was – and that He did what He said He was going to do:  RETURN for His bride – the bride who is beautifully pure without spot or blemish.  That’s US, His Church … at least that who we are supposed to be!  It’s time to take an honest look in the mirror and see if we truly reflect our Lord.  It’s time to evaluate and review how we spend our time – and how much of it is spent with Him, our coming Bridegroom.  It’s time to recognize that the things of eternal value are probably not the things we are striving for here on earth.  It’s time to wake up to the fact that what we can hold in our hands will most likely sift right through them like sand; but the things that we allow God to do with our hands to help others will become gifts to lay at the feet of Jesus when we finally see Him face to face.  Gifts for our Bridegroom – if you will.  I suggest that we get busy.  The right kind of busy.  Too many kinds of busy are but a tool of the enemy to just keep us away from God.  Busy can look and feel Godly and good – but if all those wonderful “busies” are not what God has called us individually to be busy with – then we had better re-think our involvement.  I say this with acknowledgment that I still have not achieved the measure of Godly success that I long for, when I state:  “The true success of what I am doing is shown by how much time it affords me for God and my family!”  Believe me, how well I know the struggle for balancing life in a fallen world with all of its demands and responsibilities – and living above all of that in the reality of “the Kingdom of God” that we are a part of.  Needed reminder:  we are NOT of this world, we are just traveling through (another of God’s choice adventures for us!).  But while we are here, may we live like He planned for us to live, not missing one deep valley, one treacherous mountain, or any of the rocky, twisting trails in between.  For it is in those places that His work is done, where lives are changed, and victories are won.  Sometimes it’s working until we’re fatigued.  Or giving until we have nothing left to give.  Sometimes it’s just putting our arms around someone and caring in hands-on ways that allows them to see a ray of hope and a shred of belief – even just a tiny bit, that Jesus must be real.  He sent YOU to them, after all!  See how you get to be a direct part of what God is doing?  While it’s exciting to think about heading Home to Heaven, there is still lots that needs to be done, with the ultimate task being that we take as many people with us as we can!!!  And what’s the best way for that to happen?  Is it knowing and being able to recite every scripture in the Bible?  Most people could care less about that, sad to say.  But living a life that allows them to see Jesus in us, is the key to introducing them to a new life in Christ and the promise of an eternity with Him!  Max Lucado has penned an incredible quote about a man and a woman that goes like this:  “A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”  I think it is timely to paraphrase it to say this:  “The mission and heart of the Church (that’s us!) should be so hidden in God that the world has to seek Him just to find us!”  When that’s who we are … we will see people coming to Christ en masse because what they see will be genuine.  In the Bridegroom’s eyes ~ a bride worth coming for to take to Himself!  Let’s fuel our adventure before He returns for us so that we will be ready and pleasing to Him!

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK . . .

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Nicole, Peyton, and Noah who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God’s best to all of you!

TODAY, SUN, OCT 20:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

WED/THU,"BIBLE DOING", OCT 23-24 / 7:00 P.M.:

WED - Join us in the book of Hebrews at the church

THU - Join the group at 905 El Dorado Street SE 

FRI, OCT 25:

7:00 P.M. - LADIES NITE OUT ~ see "Spotlight" below 

SAT, OCT 26:

9:00 A.M. - LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER at the church

9:00 A.M. - Barnabas Team Meeting at the church

   ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

An extra event for our women will be held at the home of Shelly – one of our friends from another church who loves to host our women at her place!  This Ladies Nite Out will offer one last outdoor bon-fire of the season - with games and refreshments inside her nice, warm home!  This evening will be an opportunity for those who attended the Women of Faith Conference to chat about that and to enjoy fellowship with other gals that perhaps were not able to be there.  Plan to bring a snack to share with the ladies … and plan on a great time together encouraging each other in a fun setting!  YOU are invited:  DATE – Friday, October 25^th / TIME - 7:00 p.m. / WHERE:  Call for the locations! See you there!

REMEMBER . . . Scripture tells us this about Christ coming back for us: “Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.  Oh, we’ll be walking on air!  And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master.  So reassure one another with these words.”  I Thessalonians 4:17-18

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

                                                 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

READY. SET.  GO.   Remember shouting those words when you were a child playing games?  It was your cue to do something.  Or maybe it was ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!  Then there was this announcement . . . READY OR NOT – HERE I COME!  Sometimes it was just game time – and yet we wanted to win.  Who wants to lose?  Other times we knew we were in a competition and we sensed the weight of the outcome … was at least partially on our young shoulders.  Yes, times were simpler then; at least for us as children.  Yet the concept of “ready, set, go” was influencing our mindset for far greater things to come.  As grounded on the Rock as I’d like to think I am, there are days when the swirling waves of tasks just about suck me under.  Just above the noise of the constant swishing, I hear tomorrow’s deadlines taunting me:  “Ready or not – here I come!”  Sure, I love challenges.  And yes, I can work well under pressure.  But there are times that little ‘ole me just doesn’t want to hear the “ready or not” part one more time!  Like Peter walking on the water, I cry out, “Help me, Lord!  I’m sinking!  Save me!”  I love this account in the last part of Matthew chapter 14.  But it actually starts hours before Peter’s cry for help.  The disciples had been busily serving along with Jesus ministering to the crowd with compassion and healing them.  They had been witnesses and participants of the “catering miracle” of fish and loaves as Jesus instructed them to feed the five thousand men, plus the women and children who had sat separately as dictated by Jewish religious rules.  Now Jesus makes the disciples get into the boat and head out across the lake before Him while He bids farewell to the large crowd.  Once the people have all left, He is there by Himself by choice.  He has just poured Himself out in visible ways, caring and healing and feeding - that this multitude might experience His love. And now He does what is necessary:  He makes His way up a mountainside to pray.  He understands the necessity and value of pulling away from the noise of the crowd to the rendezvous with His Father in the solitude of the night.  The hours pass by with the deepening darkness covering the lake.  By this time the disciples’ boat has drifted quite a distance from the shallow shore.  It was beginning to be bounced around on the waves that the wind was whipping up.  Things were getting a bit rough out there.  Have you ever wondered why Jesus “made them” get into the boat and head out alone?  I think He wanted them to escape the noise of the outdoor sub shoppe on the hillside that had its grand opening and closing all in the same day.  I think He wanted them to sort through the ministry, the miracle, and the message.  Would they “get it?”  Would their faith that had just witnessed this amazing miracle now be as real to them in the throes of a topsy-turvy boat on the dark waves of danger?  Jesus, having been with the Father for hours – now into this fourth and last watch of the night which was between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. – heads out across the water to his disciples being tossed about.  Walking on the water.  Yes.  At this unexpected sight, the memory of the miracle takes flight and they think they are seeing a ghost.  It is not until they hear Jesus’ voice saying, “Ready or not – here I come!” – that they calmed down.  No, He didn’t say that – but He could have.  Instead He spoke instantly to their fear:  “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  Then Peter, like us, has to question a bit more.  He’s not sure if this is Jesus, so he is going to find out.  Jesus lets Peter question, but demands some action from him.  He wants Peter to put his faith into action, so He says, “Come!”  And Peter did:  he got out of the boat and stepped down on the water … and began to walk.  Yes. Walk on water.  Toward Jesus.  Just like Jesus.  Well, that is until Peter looked at his surroundings, like me with my endless lists.  Waves for Peter, lists for me.  We both begin to sink.  I love how God’s Word records that in the moments of greatest fear and despair, twice Jesus “immediately” does something:  He speaks peace – and He reaches out His hand and catches Peter.  Immediately.  And in that rescue operation, Jesus chides Peter (and me):  “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  I’m not sure what Peter’s answer was, but all I can say is, “I’m so sorry, Jesus!  I was ‘ready’ (I’ve got YOU!) … but I wavered on the ‘get set’ part (keeping my eyes on YOU instead of my never-ending deadlines!) before I started ‘going’ by faith (facing them one wave at a time with my hand in Yours!).  At the end of the account when the wind and the waves have dissipated, together Peter and I shout in unison, “Truly You are the Son of God!”  Sometimes we feel like we’re in the fourth hour and Jesus has not shown up yet … but then He comes – and what an entrance He makes, just for us!  O how He loves seeing us ready … and set … and going out in full-fledged faith to do whatever it is He has called us to do!  His promise?  To be with us:  “immediately!”  And always!

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK . . .

TODAY, SUNDAY, OCT 13:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

1:30   P.M. - PUMPKIN PATCH OUTING at Oakview Nursery 

All Church Event / Grandparent's Day at the Patch!

WED/THU, BIBLE "DOING" / OCT 16-17, 7:00 P.M.:

WED - Hebrews / at the church

THU - I Peter / at 905 El Dorado Street SE

FRI, OCT 18:

6;00 P.M. - MEN'S STEAK FRY at Pastor D's (875 Brook Lane NE)

FRI/SAT, OCT 18-19:  WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE!

1:30 P.M. - Ladies, meet at the church to carpool to this exciting event!

All monies for tickets/hotels/meals are due on Sunday, October 13th - see Debbie!

                                      ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

MEN’S STEAK NITE is set for Friday night, October 18^th, at 6:00 P.M. at Pastor D’s house at 875 Brook Lane NE – the same weekend the women will be attending the Women of Faith Conference!  Plan on coming out for an evening of great food and awesome fellowship all in a relaxed setting!  Check out the sign-up sheet to see what you can bring to help round out the menu for the night.  The steaks and fresh home-baked bread will be furnished.  If there is someone you feel led to bring, be sure to invite them!  This fun night can also be an opportunity to live out our faith and come along side each other in support and encouragement!  Don’t miss this awesome men’s event ~ we’ll see you there!

REMEMBER . . . “We never have to feel lost in our struggles but always can trust that God walks with us.” ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

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