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Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:09:58 -0700

Marathon Crew from NewSpring after the race.

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Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:08:46 -0700

Suzanne and I right after Marathon

NewSpring in Prison

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:11:49 -0700

We get a lot of emails and letters that we respond to at NewSpring.

How can I show my wife I love her?

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:13:17 -0700

Several months ago I did a series of posts on practical ways that a man can serve his wife. In light of Perry's message at NewSpring today, I thought it would be appropriate to share those ideas again.

Here are the posts...

Practical Ways A Man Can Serve His wife - part 1

Practical Ways A Man Can Serve His wife - part 2

Practical Ways A Man Can Serve His wife - part 3

Practical Ways A Man Can Serve His wife - part 4

Practical Ways A Man Can Serve His wife - part 5

Q&A - 1 Samuel 18:25-27

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:41:49 -0700

Every so often, I get a question that just makes me smile because of the subjects it brings up. This is one of those questions. It was based off of this passage...

1 Samuel 18:25-27

Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.' " Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

Q: Why did Saul tell David he wanted 100 foreskins? What is the point of the foreskins?

A: Thanks for your email. That is an interesting question. King Saul didn't really want the foreskins. He was manipulating David to go fight the Philistines again in the hope that David would be killed in the battle. Saul was jealous of David and his popularity and was trying to find a way to get rid of him. He had already promised his daughter to David and instead of David paying a dowry (a gift for his daughter), he asked for 100 foreskins of his enemies the Philistines. The purpose for the foreskins is that this was the only proof that David could bring back that he had actually killed that many male enemy soldiers (The Israelites were already circumcised, the only place to get foreskins was from their male enemies). David brought back double the number and Saul's plan obviously failed. Please let me know if I can help answer any more questions for you.

Q&A: Is it wrong to have hobbies and possessions?

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:46:34 -0700

Q: Here's a subject I would like to know more about... Just about everyone has something they collect or some other type of hobby. As long as the sports memorabilia, antique car, golf outings, or whatever the case, is not higher in priority to a person than Jesus, is it OK to have money tied up in these things instead of giving more to the church? Is there a fine line where having "life more abundantly" ends and greed begins?
A: That is a great question. This is something that a lot of people struggle with. Hobbies or collecting things are definitely not wrong and not sin as long as they do not become a misplaced priority. Obviously we are not talking about activities that are in and of themselves sinful or lead others into sin.

Jesus tells us that he desires us to have life and have it to the full. The problem becomes when we feel like we have to have these things or hobbies to have a full life. Things don't make you happy, and they don't satisfy. You will never find the acceptance and love and satisfaction you desire in the things of this world. You are an eternal being and the things of this world are finite. And if you fill your life with finite things, you will always want and desire more. I think that is why we see so many unsatisfied people in this world. We all are in the constant pursuit of more to fill up our lives. But you can't fill up an infinite soul with something finite. God is infinite and he is the only thing that can satisfy your soul. God wants you to understand that this life has purpose and meaning and it is this...God has placed you on this earth to discover who Jesus Christ is and to live a life radically devoted to him. Until a relationship with Jesus is the focus of each human being's life, we will seek to fill our lives with other things and not be satisfied.

I also think that it is ok to spend money, time, and energy on our hobbies, as long as those things are not what we worship. We are all worshipers. Everyone on this earth is going to worship something. What we devote our time, energy, money, and focus to is what we worship. I think it is a healthy thing to examine what we are pouring our lives into on a regular basis and seeing if our priorities are in check. If God is our focus, and we are not neglecting what He is calling us to do and we love our family the way He tells us to, then having a possession or hobby is not wrong. If the hobby/thing is becoming a priority above God or our family, then it is time to refocus our attention onto the right things.

To answer your question about how much money to give to the church and where does the line leading toward greed start, I believe that God has specific instructions on that.

In Malachi 3:8, God's word says...Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings."

I believe that each of us should tithe, and after that, we should give offerings that are above the tithe as He lays it on our heart. After that, we should seek Him in how we spend the rest of our income that He has gifted us with. It all belongs to God and we should seek Him on how to spend all of our money. I believe that greed starts in the heart and it starts with the attitude of "I deserve..." Part of surrendering to Christ means handing over our checkbook as well and trusting His leading on how to spend our money wisely. My good friend Joe Sangl has a great blog that talks every day about what it means to honor God with your money and how to be wise with what God has entrusted to us.

Here is a great article I found on Materialism.

Q&A - Suicide

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:31:44 -0700

NewSpring's Premarital Class is starting next week!

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:09:58 -0700

Are you getting married? NewSpring is teaching a 5 week class for engaged couples or couples close to getting engaged, to help them be better prepared for marriage.

Last year, I had the privilege of teaching NewSpring's first premarital class to 25 engaged couples. We are getting ready to begin this 5 week class again, starting on Tuesday, April 1st. (yes I know that is April Fool's day, and no its not a joke...we really are having the class.)

The first 2 sessions we have had of this class have been a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it again. If you or anyone you know is getting married, we would love for you/them to join us.

During the sessions we will discuss many subjects, including God's plan and purposes for marriage, marital roles and responsibilities, communication skills and conflict resolution. We will also be discussing many expectations people have for marriage including...how to fight fair, how to meet each others needs, dealing with in-laws, daily life (yes ladies, we will tell him he has to help you around the house), children, how to grow spiritually together, work expectations, how to deal with money,and wedding and honeymoon expectations

Date: Begins Tuesday, April 1st
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Cost: $25
Register: Email Lanna Coates, Assistant to Pastor of Care Ministry, at lanna.coates@newspring.cc

Random thought Tuesday

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:53:40 -0700
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Q&A - What does scripture say about engagement?

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:37:27 -0700

Q:

Discipleship - The Painful Process

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:54:59 -0700

As I have been meeting with people over the last several months, many of those conversations have turned into a discussion of the discipleship process that God is taking every believer through.

My preschooler speaks the truth about sinners

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:09:36 -0700

My son, Peyton, is 4 years old. A couple of mornings a week he goes to a preschool program in town. Yesterday when I picked him up to go to lunch, I asked him about what he did at preschool that morning.

He said his favorite thing was playing in "centers." Centers are where they get to rotate through several activities and play in different spots. The problem was that instead of pronouncing it "centers" it sounded like "sinners."

So here is how the conversation about preschool went yesterday...

me: "Peyton, what happened in your class today?"

Peyton: "We had sinners in my class today!"

me: "You did?"

Peyton: "I like it when we have sinners."

me: (while laughing uncontrollably) "oh really?"

Peyton: "Later when I get home, I'm going to have sinners in my room."

me: (While continuing to laugh and trying not to drive off the road) "I don't know if that is such a good idea."

Peyton then proceeded to tell me that I was silly and wanted to know what I was laughing about. I told him that it sounded like he was saying "sinners", and explained to him how that word was like the word "sin."

Then Peyton said..."Daddy, your silly. I already know about sin. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin."

I love talking with Peyton...he is one of the smartest people I know.

Unleash is this week!

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:44:56 -0700

The Unleash Conference is this Thursday! I have already heard from some of the folks that deal with care ministry at other churches that will be here this week and I can't wait to hang out with them.

The care staff and I are finishing up what we are going to be sharing at our breakout session on care ministry and the membership process at NewSpring. We will be talking about how the care ministry developed at NewSpring, the practical things God has taught us in being effective with care ministry, how our membership process works, and offer you a lot of the materials that we use to help minister to the people at our church. If you are involved in Care Ministry at your church as a staff member or volunteer and you are going to be here this week, we would love to meet you and hang out with you at the conference. Shoot me an email and let me know you are coming. We hope to see you at Unleash!

God's Enemies

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:31:25 -0800

If you have not read Sydney Olin's blog yet...you should! Sydney is one of the best friends that Suzanne and I have and we consider her as a part of our family. She is not only a great friend, she is also someone who listens to God's voice, and someone that God is giving an amazing amount of wisdom and perspective.

I was blown away by this post that she wrote on loving enemies. I hope that as believers, we always remember that we were once God's enemies and deserved his wrath. But because of His choice to love us first and radically save us, we have the privilege of being a part of God's family. God may we never forget the magnitude of your grace and favor that we don't deserve. Thanks for the perspective Syd!

Q&A - Is it ok to be Angry

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:18:40 -0800

Q: I was studying a bible passage and I was wondering if you could help me understand it. John 2:13-16. I am wondering about anger. Do you think Jesus was angry in the passage? I came to the conclusion that maybe turning the tables over Jesus was trying to get
their attention. Did Jesus get angry?

A: Thanks so much for your email. I definitely think Jesus was angry when he turned over the tables. Many times people view anger as only negative. Emotions are not moral or immoral, they are amoral. Anger is a natural response to a given set of circumstances. It is what you do with that anger that determines whether or not it is sinful. Scripture doesn't teach that we shouldn't ever be angry it tells us in Ephesians 4:26,"In your anger do not sin." In other words, feeling angry because of a set of circumstances we are faced with is ok. What is not ok is to remain that way, to dwell on those thoughts and withhold forgiveness because we do not work through our anger in a proper way.

It is also ok to feel anger toward things that God says are evil and sinful. Jesus was clearly angry at the money changers and merchants who were selling items people needed to worship God at the temple and exploited those people. There is a difference between uncontrolled rage and righteous indignation - although many times both may be referred to by the general term "anger." We must be careful how we use anger because it is a very powerful emotion. In this case, Jesus anger (righteous indignation) was justified toward the injustice and sin He confronted.

Please let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. I hope you have a great week.

Q&A - Do I have to confess my adultery?

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:50:00 -0800

Q:

Q&A - Should Married People have close friends of the opposite Sex?

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:54:59 -0800

Q: I am currently engaged and I have a question. When I get married, do my friendships Have to change? How about friends that are the opposite sex?

A: Thanks for your email. This is a question that comes up a lot when people get married, and it is one that is worth talking through with your fiance and whoever is conducting your premarital counseling. This is something I always talk about with engaged couples in counseling, because it is an area that can cause conflict in a marriage. The question I bring up to couples is this...Will it be ok for your spouse to have his/her own friends? How about friends of the opposite sex?

I do think that it is ok for a spouse to have his/her own friends. Naturally if you work at different locations, you are going to spend time with other people that your spouse does not know as well as you do. To some extent this is unavoidable. I also think that it is ok to have friends of the opposite sex...if, your spouse is also close friends with them. If you have a friend of the opposite sex that your spouse does not know and does not spend time with, this relationship will have to adjust when you get married.

I do not feel that it is acceptable for someone who is married to spend time alone with someone of the opposite sex when their spouse is not present. Many people don't like that stance, but I believe that it is an important boundary for a marriage relationship. This might mean that after marriage some close friendships that a spouse had might have to change after marriage. Marriage changes things, and this is one of them. I think that it is important to talk about what boundaries you will have for other relationships with your future spouse.

Peyton's Tooth

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:53:56 -0800
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Baptism at NewSpring - part 3

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:28:46 -0800

Here is the last part of our baptism facts page. If you are interested in baptism at NewSpring, please see our baptism page on our website.

IV. Who Should Be Baptized?

Every person who has believed in Christ. A Believer is someone who has realized that their sin separated them from God. They have given up all efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They have concluded that Jesus Christ's death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between them and God. A Believer is someone who has decided to trust Christ alone for their salvation. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13).

V. What About Children?

The New Testament shows no example of baptism when the individual did not request it. All instances of baptism followed an individual's decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48). At New Spring, we wait until the child is old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. When a child makes a decision for Christ, we gladly baptize them in the Christian faith.

Some churches practice a "baptism of confirmation" for children. This custom began about three hundred years after the Bible was completed. This is a time when the parents pledge their commitment to raise their child according to Christian values and beliefs. While a very meaningful event, this is not Christian baptism. As the purpose of baptism is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ, it is strongly recommended that every Christian person be baptized as an adult Believer, even though many of us were "confirmed" as children.

VI. What About Infant Baptism?

In the Bible we find parents bringing children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But he did not baptize them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptize them. So it seems more biblical to wait until after a personal decision to trust Christ has been made by the child. For if baptism is a symbol of how Christ has changed us (as the Bible teaches), only people who have received Christ should experience baptism.

If you have not experienced believer's baptism, even though you have experienced baptism as an infant, the full meaning and significance of baptism yet to take place in your life. We strongly encourage you to be baptized as an adult believer in Christ.

VII. When Should I Be Baptized?

As soon as you have believed. "Those who believed were baptized that day!" (Acts 2:41)

"Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, 'Look, here is water! why shouldn't I be baptized right now?' Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' The man answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him." (Acts 8:35-38)

VIII. Does This Mean It Has To Be Immediately?

No, what the Bible teaches is that baptism should follow your decision to become a Believer. There is no reason to delay. It you wait until you are "good" enough, you will never feel ready for baptism.

Baptism at NewSpring - part 2

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:34:02 -0800

Our baptism services are one of the most exciting services we get to be a part of as a church. Our next baptism service is Saturday, February 9th. If you are interested in participating in this baptism service, all you need to do is go to the baptism page on our website and fill out a baptism registration form. This page also has one of Perry's messages that you can listen to on baptism.

Here is the next section of our baptism facts page:

III. Why Be Baptized By Immersion?

A. Because Jesus was baptized that way.

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water." (Matthew 3:16)

B. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.

(for example) "...then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip

baptized him. When they came up out of the water..." (Acts 8:38-39)

C. The word "baptize" means "to dip under water."

D. It best symbolized a burial and resurrection (see Romans 6:1-11).

E. The founders of the major denominations agree:

Martin Luther (founder of Lutheran denomination):

"I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies."

John Calvin (founder of Presbyterian denomination):

"The word "baptize" signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church."

John Wesley (founder of Methodist and Wesleyan denomination):

"Buried with Him" alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church."