40 Days Begins Today!

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Today we (as individuals and as a church) are beginning 40 Days of asking God to bring a Holy Uprising. Without Him we are destitute and lost. With Him we are a force that changes the world.

I plead with you to join us in pleading for God's mercy, forgiveness, and hope in these 40 days.

Practically speaking below are the opportunities to join with us:

- We will have a second Corporate Worship Time on Good Friday (the first one was last night on Ash Wednesday) again at 7pm that evening. It will be a time to close out our 40 Days and to celebrate what God has done. It will also be a time to pray for our community as our Easter Festival will be happening that next day.

- Daily Devotionals – These will be available every day on Creek Living Water which can be accessed on the front page of the Oso Creek Website underneath the video player (This is where Kim G. has faithfully been posting daily devotionals for two years now). Click here to access the devotional.

Every day there will be a new devotional posted early in the morning that will help guide you through the process of Reflection, Repentance and Renewal.

I ask you to covenant with us to spend 15, 20, 30 minutes every day - whatever it takes - seeking God.

- Fasting – Fasting, in the strictest biblical sense is giving up food and/or drink, for the purpose of having more time to focus on God. As well as being a constant, physical reminder of our spiritual needs through feeling our physical need.
In a broader sense fasting is eliminating anything in our life that may distract us from our relationship with God, or opens up more time to spend with God.
Remember that the point is to focus more on God. So for instance, if you give up cookies – and then just eat ice cream or brownies instead ---- that really misses the whole point.

How will you join us in fasting for these 40 days?


- Daily Times at the Building – We want to provide you with a safe haven to reflect and pray . . . Individually or as a group – maybe your Life Group or your family or another group who is important to you.

The building will be open during these times:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 6:30am-8am
Tuesday & Friday - Noon-1:30pm
Saturday - 7:00-8:30pm


Come with us these 40 Days . . . Help us God to discover your Glory in a refreshing way!

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19-20

The Whole World Is In Our Building

There were nearly a hundred International Students from A&M CC at our building on Saturday night celebrating the Lunar New Year with the Vietnamese Students.

I met students from Thailand, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Taiwan, and most were from Vietnam. North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Central Vietnam.

These are students who are from prominent families in their culture (As one student told me when I asked if it was difficult to come to school in America - 'Not if you have lots of money.')
The point is that these are young people from all over the world who will go back to their countries and be the difference makers.

When I asked them if they would be interested in connecting with normal American families - hanging with them and learning more about life in America - they ALL responded enthusiastically 'YES!'

We have an awesome opportunity here to be light. They are familiar with Oso Creek. They want to know more about our culture and economy and families and religion. They are seeking.

Who wants to be sharing? Please reply to this blog or email me if you're interested in being light to these international students.

How Can We Not?

"If my people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14)

I want to see God move. No, honestly I'm desperate to see God move. In my life. In Oso Creek.

Next Wednesday - 17th - at 7pm we will have gathering at Oso Creek to kick off 40-Days of seeking God and asking Him for a Holy Uprising.

Click here to go to our website and find out more . . .

Come and seek His Kingdom with me on Wednesday night.

Good Stuff

Some times all of us just need a fresh word, some new insight spoken into our lives. I wanted to pass along a couple of other bloggers and posts that spoke to me in the last few days . . .

I played baseball with this guy in college and this is a great word about what kind of fame we are seeking on this earth: Click Here

This is a new guy I just found with a blog called Leadership Freak . . . All his recent posts about living in our passions and helping others to do the same were awesome! Click here

Bob Roberts continually challenges me about my thinking about the world and what it looks like to build the Kingdom. He is ON! Click Here.

Enjoy . . .

Miss Peggy

That's what I called her. Out of respect and love. I think she was the best hugger on the planet.
And I know that she loved (loves!) Jesus with all her being.

I'm happy for her being in the presence of the King, but hurt for Clarence, their family, and all her friends.

Tomorrow night (Thursday - 11th) we are going to have a Celebration of Peggy Moore's life at Oso Creek at 7pm.
I know that this is quick but it worked best for all the family who are in town from Tennessee.

Come remember and celebrate with us.


"O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and Rom. 4:15; 5:13; 7:5, 8, 13

">the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, [Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4]

">who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Does this mean I'm just human or a full-on hypocrite?

Recently I read the following by Francis Chan that captured some of how I've been feeling the past few months:

I wonder if the inconsistency in my walk with God has anything to do with the fact that I can lead a . . . church in America without being in love with Jesus. I’m sure I could blame American church culture, my position, or a busy schedule for my lack of reverent intimacy. The truth, however, is that my sin and hypocrisy is a result of me. It’s not like I don’t want to.

In fact, when I’m deeply in prayer, it’s clear to me that there’s no place I’d rather be. I know that I love God. When I sit and think about Him, I’m filled with intense feelings of adoration. I’m convinced that He means more to me than my wife, kids, or anyone else on the planet. I just forget to love Him.

I'm aware that many (read, 'all') of us struggle with these same feelings. It just seems extra egregious since I'm a pastor. But it does no good to hide or pretend - from others or God.

As many of you know, I've been dwelling a lot on the Kingdom of God and what it means to really live in the Kingdom. As Paul said: 'The Kingdom of God is not about fancy talk, but living in God's power!' How much of the time do I use fancy talk (or 'pretend living') as a cheap saccarin substitute for living in God's power? Too much.

I spend too much of my life caring about what other people think. Too much time living under the inertia of life, without inhaling from the Holy Spirit. I know that the answer is Jesus. Jesus is Lord. And life in Him is abundant and powerful!

I am so tired of substitutes. I'm sick of how they suck life out of me. I'm ashamed of how they make God look weak and tired.

I'm tired of forgetting. I want to fully display His glory! Help me Jesus that I would learn more and more about seeking you first. And that you might increase . . .

Angels

Is your dead relative an angel? Do individuals have angels? Are angels purely spirit beings? Do they have unlimited power? What's the role of angels in God's plans?

These are some of the issues that David Jeremiah takes on in Angels - Who They Are and How They Help. What the Bible Reveals.

What I love about David Jeremiah is that he is all about God's Word and Truth. So, if you're confused or curious about the Truth on angels -- you can Click here to order Angels.


And now the disclaimer that I'm required to give you :)
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Much Bigger Than We Can Imagine . . .

One of the really cool things about our involvement in Vietnam is the immensity of it all!

We are involved in something so much bigger than us! And not just spiritually (even though that is SO true) . . . But it goes way beyond the 6 folks who just went in January and Ban Ho.

It goes way beyond the 3 0r 4 churches involved in development in the Lao Cai province. Through Glocal Ventures it spreads all over the country in countless domains.

And then through other partners of GVI, it spreads through the entire fabric of a nation in need.

We are not part of a trip here or there. We are woven into a movement that is going to transform an entire nation of people of which there are many cultures!! That's awesome and exciting!

Check out this article on the GVI website written by Kim Lindell that summarizes our trip and shows it in the context of this movement! (Click her for article)

Great job Kim!!

And great job Creekers!