Here's another good Sunday report! Our AC held on, and we had a great time of worship this morning!
Dewey preached a powerful and sobering sermon about religious hypocrisy from Matthew 3. I know many of our folks were away traveling, and I hope you will take some time to listen to his message online--it was really terrific (you can find all our sermons by clicking the Sermons, Etc. menu button at our website, NewHopeConnection.com). We also shared in communion as a church family. Cassie and I sang a song I wrote called All Because, and you can hear our live rendition online as well.*
And this afternoon our softball team evened its record at 2-2 by beating one of Creekside's teams in a fun game! The lead went back and forth, and we held on to win 11-9. We play Creekside's other team next week, and I hope some of you will come cheer us on after enjoying our after-church barbecue!
Once again, it's a privilege to serve with a gifted teacher like Dewey, an awesome group like the New Hope Band, and a wonderful church family like New Hope Christian Fellowship. I look forward to meeting again next week!
*By the way, did you know I have a professionally recorded CD with some of the songs we sing on Sunday mornings? My friend Hank (who comes to play sax for us every once in a while) and I put together a CD that includes All Because, The House of the Lord, He Is Lord of All, Our God Is Worthy to Be Praised and six other theologically-based modern worship songs. They're only $10, and I've got some on hand at the church, or you can email me and I'll get them to you!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Sharing "The Four Circles"
There have been a number of evangelism tools over the years to help us simply share the good news (e.g. The Four Spiritual Laws or the Bridge Diagram). Today I read an interview with James Choung of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a college campus ministry.
Choung has developed with IVCF a new tool for sharing the gospel, and I found some of their reasoning very intriguing. Maybe this approach would help you feel more comfortable and confident in sharing--check out From Four Laws to Four Circles.
And for a description of the "Circle of Belonging" diagram you can click here.
Choung has developed with IVCF a new tool for sharing the gospel, and I found some of their reasoning very intriguing. Maybe this approach would help you feel more comfortable and confident in sharing--check out From Four Laws to Four Circles.
And for a description of the "Circle of Belonging" diagram you can click here.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Praying for college students
I think it's really fun living in a college town of sorts, and I'm so glad for the group of students in our New Hope family (and I miss them during the summer)!
Back in May we shepherds invited folks in our church to send us prayer requests, and then we spent a whole shepherd meeting just praying for those requests. We did it again in June, and those have easily been my favorite meetings as a New Hope shepherd. One thing that struck me in those two sessions was how many requests we received from college students. While collegians make up around 15% of our Sunday morning attendance, the percentage of prayer requests from students is easily higher.
With that in mind, I was very interested to read an article by Becky Tirabassi called Candid Observations of the MySpace Generation. I encourage you to take a look. It may help you see our students in a new light and perhaps inspire you to minister to them in a fresh way.
Back in May we shepherds invited folks in our church to send us prayer requests, and then we spent a whole shepherd meeting just praying for those requests. We did it again in June, and those have easily been my favorite meetings as a New Hope shepherd. One thing that struck me in those two sessions was how many requests we received from college students. While collegians make up around 15% of our Sunday morning attendance, the percentage of prayer requests from students is easily higher.
With that in mind, I was very interested to read an article by Becky Tirabassi called Candid Observations of the MySpace Generation. I encourage you to take a look. It may help you see our students in a new light and perhaps inspire you to minister to them in a fresh way.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Brittany Inman, New Hope Missionary to Kenya
Last Sunday we got a chance to hear from Rebecca Hardin, who is our missionary serving in Indonesia. Well, this summer we have another New Hope member, one of our college students, who is leaving soon for a short-term mission to Africa!
Brittany Inman is at home in Washington during the summer break, so last week I emailed her some questions about her upcoming trip. Here are her responses:
1. What city/country will you be in?
I will be in Eldoret, Kenya (see map below)
2. What dates do you leave/return?
I leave the 28th of June from Portland and I return around July 14th.
3. Are you going with an organization? How many are in your group?
I am traveling with Open Arms International. I'm not sure the exact number in my group, I know some from the UK are meeting us in London during a plane change.
4. Can we reach you by email while you are gone?
I don't think I will be able to reply to emails. I'm not really sure what to expect internet-wise, but I do know that one person who lives in Eldoret is responsible to send updates to friends and families. I was allowed three email addresses to include so I included Dewey as one of the three contacts, and he is more than welcome to forward any updates he receives to people that are interested.
5. In just a sentence or two, what will you be doing there?
I will be working some of the time at a village that the organization has built for Orphans, particularly whose parents died from AIDS. The other part of the time I will be traveling with a medical clinic in the slums, providing prayer and Children's ministry, most likely to the children waiting to be seen by the doctors. : )
6. Do you have any prayer requests you'd like the church to know about?
When I heard about this trip I felt God pushing me to go, and for the first time in my life I felt God speaking to me fairly clearly. Now at times, I feel that I am unprepared, or not good enough to be a messenger of God to these people. I am trying to get closer to God before I go, but I have found myself distracted with work and with preparation for this trip (packing wise, not spiritually). I really want to do what God wants me to do while I am in Kenya, but I am afraid that I will be scared or not know what to do. Also I know that what I am going to see during parts of my trip is going to make my heart ache and I want God to help me deal with that, I want to be able to push my feelings aside and really throw myself into this work so I don't come home regretful because I could have done more. The organization people also suggested that I request prayers for adjusting back to life in the US after having seem so much poverty/suffering and hopefully amazing miracles : ). One last thing that I am worried about is not being about to give food/money to the people there; we are instructed not to do that, but that many people who need so much will ask, I know that I will have trouble with this : (
Be sure to pray for Brittany as she leaves this Saturday. If you are a student of world events, you may know that there has been a lot of violence in Kenya the last few months over a dubious presidential election, so pray for her safety as well. I'll try to update you if I hear any news from the field!
View Larger Map
Brittany Inman is at home in Washington during the summer break, so last week I emailed her some questions about her upcoming trip. Here are her responses:1. What city/country will you be in?
I will be in Eldoret, Kenya (see map below)
2. What dates do you leave/return?
I leave the 28th of June from Portland and I return around July 14th.
3. Are you going with an organization? How many are in your group?
I am traveling with Open Arms International. I'm not sure the exact number in my group, I know some from the UK are meeting us in London during a plane change.
4. Can we reach you by email while you are gone?
I don't think I will be able to reply to emails. I'm not really sure what to expect internet-wise, but I do know that one person who lives in Eldoret is responsible to send updates to friends and families. I was allowed three email addresses to include so I included Dewey as one of the three contacts, and he is more than welcome to forward any updates he receives to people that are interested.
5. In just a sentence or two, what will you be doing there?
I will be working some of the time at a village that the organization has built for Orphans, particularly whose parents died from AIDS. The other part of the time I will be traveling with a medical clinic in the slums, providing prayer and Children's ministry, most likely to the children waiting to be seen by the doctors. : )
6. Do you have any prayer requests you'd like the church to know about?
When I heard about this trip I felt God pushing me to go, and for the first time in my life I felt God speaking to me fairly clearly. Now at times, I feel that I am unprepared, or not good enough to be a messenger of God to these people. I am trying to get closer to God before I go, but I have found myself distracted with work and with preparation for this trip (packing wise, not spiritually). I really want to do what God wants me to do while I am in Kenya, but I am afraid that I will be scared or not know what to do. Also I know that what I am going to see during parts of my trip is going to make my heart ache and I want God to help me deal with that, I want to be able to push my feelings aside and really throw myself into this work so I don't come home regretful because I could have done more. The organization people also suggested that I request prayers for adjusting back to life in the US after having seem so much poverty/suffering and hopefully amazing miracles : ). One last thing that I am worried about is not being about to give food/money to the people there; we are instructed not to do that, but that many people who need so much will ask, I know that I will have trouble with this : (
Be sure to pray for Brittany as she leaves this Saturday. If you are a student of world events, you may know that there has been a lot of violence in Kenya the last few months over a dubious presidential election, so pray for her safety as well. I'll try to update you if I hear any news from the field!
View Larger Map
Monday, June 23, 2008
A Nice Sunday
Yesterday was just a really nice day!
I counted 167 of us in church worshiping together, which was a pretty full number for late June! I was also encouraged to look around and see a number of new faces. I got a chance to talk to one of the visitors after the service, and even though our band was somewhat stripped down, he was just thrilled with the worship and the teaching and the friendly people. What an encouragement!
Then in the afternoon I got to play softball with our New Hope Hitters. We lost 5-3 in a close game, but it was fun as always. Even though we're 1-2 on the season so far, it's been a blast playing with the team, and I'm always proud of the cheerful attitudes and good sportsmanship they show whether winning or losing.
I went ahead and continued the nice day by taking my kids to the park and riding bikes in the perfect weather. Sometimes I'm just sure the Garden of Eden was a lot like Oregon in the summertime!
We are blessed with a wonderful church family in a wonderful place. I hope your week is blessed as well, and I look forward to seeing many of you again this Sunday!
I counted 167 of us in church worshiping together, which was a pretty full number for late June! I was also encouraged to look around and see a number of new faces. I got a chance to talk to one of the visitors after the service, and even though our band was somewhat stripped down, he was just thrilled with the worship and the teaching and the friendly people. What an encouragement!
Then in the afternoon I got to play softball with our New Hope Hitters. We lost 5-3 in a close game, but it was fun as always. Even though we're 1-2 on the season so far, it's been a blast playing with the team, and I'm always proud of the cheerful attitudes and good sportsmanship they show whether winning or losing.
I went ahead and continued the nice day by taking my kids to the park and riding bikes in the perfect weather. Sometimes I'm just sure the Garden of Eden was a lot like Oregon in the summertime!
We are blessed with a wonderful church family in a wonderful place. I hope your week is blessed as well, and I look forward to seeing many of you again this Sunday!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Superhandles
There was a nice lead story in the sports section of Saturday's News-Register featuring our own Jon "Superhandles" Hildebrandt! The article highlights the video series on basketball drills that Jon is producing. You can read it online here.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Valedictorian
Our own Shelby Zachary was valedictorian at Newberg's C. S. Lewis Academy, and I recently found a little blurb about her acheivement in the Oregonian. Check it out here.
Way to go, Shelby!
Way to go, Shelby!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Marketing Christianity
I recently read a Christianity Today interview with Tim Keller, pastor of New York City's Redeemer Presbyterian Church. I thought I'd share a quote that struck a chord with me:
You reject marketing apologetics like, "Christianity is better than the alternatives, so choose Christianity." Why?
Marketing is about felt needs. You find the need and then you say Christianity will meet that need. You have to adapt to people's questions. And if people are asking a question, you want to show how Jesus is the answer. But at a certain point, you have to go past their question to the other things that Christianity says. Otherwise you're just scratching where they itch. So marketing is showing how Christianity meets the need, and I think the gospel is showing how Christianity is the truth.
You reject marketing apologetics like, "Christianity is better than the alternatives, so choose Christianity." Why? Marketing is about felt needs. You find the need and then you say Christianity will meet that need. You have to adapt to people's questions. And if people are asking a question, you want to show how Jesus is the answer. But at a certain point, you have to go past their question to the other things that Christianity says. Otherwise you're just scratching where they itch. So marketing is showing how Christianity meets the need, and I think the gospel is showing how Christianity is the truth.
C. S. Lewis says somewhere not to believe in Christianity because it's relevant or exciting or personally satisfying. Believe it because it's true. And if it's true, it eventually will be relevant, exciting, and personally satisfying. But there will be many times when it's not relevant, exciting, and personally satisfying. To be a Christian is going to be very, very hard. So unless you come to it simply because it's really the truth, you really won't live the Christian life, and you won't get to the excitement and to the relevance and all that other stuff.
If you'd like to read the rest of the interview, you can click here.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Pray for New Hope
The Bertolinis sent out an email to all of us in the New Hope online directory, and I thought it would be great to share here on the Connection, too. Let's ask God to really bless us for His glory!
Hello everyone!
One of the privileges we have as a body of believers is to pray for each other and to pray for our church. Since we know that we are not smart enough, cool enough, or cutting-edge enough to grow any church by ourselves, we must totally depend upon the grace of God to enable us to ever touch a heart, reach a soul, or change a lifestyle.
We desperately need the prayers of our people pleading with God on behalf of our church to make a difference in our community – and frankly, to keep ourselves from hurting, sinning against, and destroying one another – because that’s what our enemy has in mind for us. Therefore, we implore you to pray for our church every day – and here is a plan to help you do just that. Seven requests for seven days of the week. Will you covenant to pray for one each day?
1. Please pray for our facility. As you may know, after August we have a month to month lease. Pray that we will be able to use this building for as long as we need it. Pray that we can find a better place if God wills. Pray that everything will continue to work as it should – the air conditioning, heat, the plumbing. Pray that we will know how to configure things in the Fall when inevitably we run out of space once again.
2. Pray diligently for our children and youth. Pray for our teachers and helpers as they work with our kids, that God will give them passion and skill. Pray that we will be able to raise up a generation of students that love God and are committed to serving him. Pray that they will truly enjoy coming to church and that they will be protected from injury.
3. Lift up our leadership in prayer that they will be able to make wise decisions for our church. Pray that each one would be becoming more like Christ every day, and that they would be kept strong in the faith and holy. Pray that they might truly be able to lead others in righteous living through personal example. Pray that God would be raising up others from our congregation to take places of leadership.
4. Don’t forget to pray for every time our church has an opportunity to impact our community and the world. Pray for our Awana program and the many students that come from un-churched homes. Pray we will show Christ-like attitudes on the softball field. Pray for our upcoming Christmas Dessert Theater and all who are invited that they will come to know God. Pray for our annual foray into the Alien Parade. Pray for our church family around the world, representing our Lord in foreign countries.
5. Pray for our Bible Studies in action throughout the week. Pray that our people will be taught the truth of the Word of God and that it will help them to grow strong in Him. Pray for our teachers to be empowered by God, for the conversations that come from the study be helpful, and for many to participate in these opportunities for real body life. Pray for direction for the Women’s Studies in the Fall.
6. Please pray for our financial needs as a church. Pray that we will be wise in the way we spend money for ministry. Pray that we will be able to meet our obligations. Pray that our membership’s giving will be faithful and sacrificial and a cause of great joy as they participate in God’s work. Pray we will know what to cut if we are not able to make ends meet.
7. Pray for the needs of our individual members to be met – spiritually, relationally, physically. Pray for the service on Sunday morning, that the teaching and the worship will touch hearts right where they are at and prompt us all to a closer walk with God. Pray for those of us that have bodies that are not working as they should to be able to cope and even thrive. Pray that we will all be looking after the interests of others and we will encourage, uplift, and bear each others burdens.
Hello everyone!
One of the privileges we have as a body of believers is to pray for each other and to pray for our church. Since we know that we are not smart enough, cool enough, or cutting-edge enough to grow any church by ourselves, we must totally depend upon the grace of God to enable us to ever touch a heart, reach a soul, or change a lifestyle.
We desperately need the prayers of our people pleading with God on behalf of our church to make a difference in our community – and frankly, to keep ourselves from hurting, sinning against, and destroying one another – because that’s what our enemy has in mind for us. Therefore, we implore you to pray for our church every day – and here is a plan to help you do just that. Seven requests for seven days of the week. Will you covenant to pray for one each day?
1. Please pray for our facility. As you may know, after August we have a month to month lease. Pray that we will be able to use this building for as long as we need it. Pray that we can find a better place if God wills. Pray that everything will continue to work as it should – the air conditioning, heat, the plumbing. Pray that we will know how to configure things in the Fall when inevitably we run out of space once again.
2. Pray diligently for our children and youth. Pray for our teachers and helpers as they work with our kids, that God will give them passion and skill. Pray that we will be able to raise up a generation of students that love God and are committed to serving him. Pray that they will truly enjoy coming to church and that they will be protected from injury.
3. Lift up our leadership in prayer that they will be able to make wise decisions for our church. Pray that each one would be becoming more like Christ every day, and that they would be kept strong in the faith and holy. Pray that they might truly be able to lead others in righteous living through personal example. Pray that God would be raising up others from our congregation to take places of leadership.
4. Don’t forget to pray for every time our church has an opportunity to impact our community and the world. Pray for our Awana program and the many students that come from un-churched homes. Pray we will show Christ-like attitudes on the softball field. Pray for our upcoming Christmas Dessert Theater and all who are invited that they will come to know God. Pray for our annual foray into the Alien Parade. Pray for our church family around the world, representing our Lord in foreign countries.
5. Pray for our Bible Studies in action throughout the week. Pray that our people will be taught the truth of the Word of God and that it will help them to grow strong in Him. Pray for our teachers to be empowered by God, for the conversations that come from the study be helpful, and for many to participate in these opportunities for real body life. Pray for direction for the Women’s Studies in the Fall.
6. Please pray for our financial needs as a church. Pray that we will be wise in the way we spend money for ministry. Pray that we will be able to meet our obligations. Pray that our membership’s giving will be faithful and sacrificial and a cause of great joy as they participate in God’s work. Pray we will know what to cut if we are not able to make ends meet.
7. Pray for the needs of our individual members to be met – spiritually, relationally, physically. Pray for the service on Sunday morning, that the teaching and the worship will touch hearts right where they are at and prompt us all to a closer walk with God. Pray for those of us that have bodies that are not working as they should to be able to cope and even thrive. Pray that we will all be looking after the interests of others and we will encourage, uplift, and bear each others burdens.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
My Father's Day Prayer
God, thanks that I get to be a dad. I know there are moments when I'm not so sure, but all in all I know I am so blessed to have my kids. I know there are plenty of men out there who want to be fathers but for whatever reason don't have the privilege I do. Thank you.
And thanks for my kids. Molly and Ethan are so great, and I'm awfully grateful. I know when they were born my goal was basically not to mess them up too bad--but look how they're turning out! I'm so proud of them, Lord. And before they were born I practically begged You just that they'd be healthy, and now they're so fit and smart and funny...what a blessing!
And thanks for my kids. Molly and Ethan are so great, and I'm awfully grateful. I know when they were born my goal was basically not to mess them up too bad--but look how they're turning out! I'm so proud of them, Lord. And before they were born I practically begged You just that they'd be healthy, and now they're so fit and smart and funny...what a blessing!Lord, more than anything I want my kids to grow up to love you with all their hearts and souls and minds and strength. Please let me be an example of that to them. I shudder to look at all the great men of the Bible who accomplished great things for You, but ended up with grown children who dishonored You. Please spare me and my kids that pain. Help me make choices and decisions--this year, this week, even tonight--that will help me and my family put You in the center of our lives.
So Lord, thank for this privilege, and help me to live a life worthy of my calling. And Happy Father's Day to You, too.
Amen.
p.s. Sorry I got so grouchy when Ethan spilled Molly's milk everywhere at dinner earlier today. I probably could have handled that a little better...
Friday, June 13, 2008
Reaching Muslims with the Truth
I found this interesting article about Jay Smith, who engages in debate with Muslims in Britain. I was impressed reading about his boldness and diligence in reaching this challenging group. Maybe you, too, will be inspired:After reading the article, I was fascinated to watch a couple videos on YouTube of Smith in action in London's Hyde Park. In the park's "Speakers' Corner" vigorous debate is the norm and it's interesting to see the boisterous interchange!
But Smith's style isn't all about shouting in the public square--you can also see his video dialogues with muslims at PfanderFilms.com where there are (so far) 62 different vlog posts about why he believes Jesus, Christianity and the Bible are superior to Allah, Islam and the Quran. Fascinating!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sermons Online
We've had some techinical difficulties the last few weeks (crashing computers, unavailable equipment, etc.) so we've been running behind on our sermon uploads. But good news! We've just uploaded Dewey's message from May 25 (Jesus' Birth into Herod's World) and Rich's farewell sermon from last Sunday, June 8 (The Church's Ultimate Priority). We should have the June 1 message up soon.You can find all our sermons and more by going to our website and clicking on the Sermons, Etc. menu button!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The Trinity in brief
The way it starts, this article seems at first to be about the controversial novel "The Shack," but it turns out to be a succinct, historical description of the doctrine of the Trinity.If you'd like a Trinity-for-Dummies primer on this complex and fantastic tennet of our faith, I recommend The Trinity: So What? by Collin Hansen.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Congratulations!
My daughter goes to Grandhaven Elementary where Rich Bryson has been working this year, and the school saw fit to put this message up on their sign...
Of course, we at New Hope are proud, too, that Rich received his Doctor of Ministry degree last weekend! Don't forget, this is their last Sunday with us--Rich will be preaching, Dee will share a song, and there will be a potluck lunch immediately following the service so bring some food to eat and share!
Of course, we at New Hope are proud, too, that Rich received his Doctor of Ministry degree last weekend! Don't forget, this is their last Sunday with us--Rich will be preaching, Dee will share a song, and there will be a potluck lunch immediately following the service so bring some food to eat and share!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Chapman Family Tragedy
On May 22nd, the family of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman suffered a terrible tragedy when their 5-year-old adopted daughter, Mary Sue, was killed. In one of those almost-too-sad-to-be-true stories, she was struck in the family's driveway by an SUV driven by her teenage brother.This story has been heavy on my heart for almost two weeks now, and I've been wondering if I should post anything about it on the blog here, but I've been at a loss for words. This week I was reading my friend's blog, and his post included everything I was thinking and more, so I thought I'd provide a link for you.
I worked with Scott for 11 years in West Linn before I moved here to McMinnville, and he and his wife, Marcia, twice lost babies in the final month of pregnancy. He references their personal experience in his post, and I hope that if you have been touched by tragedy his thoughts will provide some hope and comfort.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Over-Parenting
I read an interesting article today about "over-parenting" our kids. Now I have to tell you, any time I read something that sounds very black-and-white or has an edgy tone, I take it with a grain of salt, and this article falls in that category (you can even see it in the title: Over-Parenting and Social Disaster)!Still, I think there is a principle here to be considered, and this piece helps us look down the road to some unintended consequences of hovering over or sheltering our kids too much. You can click here to read for yourself.
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