Thursday, 31 July 2008 18:05 by
ronnieIsaiah said, "Lord Here am I, send me." It has to be one of the most radical prayers a person could pray. On an elevator ride at Capitol Hill a man from the back of the elevator said, "Wintley Phipps, I want you to know that your music has been a blessing to my life." It was Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas. "Tomorrow in the Rotunda," he continued, "we are giving Mother Teresa the congressional Gold Medal. Would you come and close the program tomorrow with 'Amazing Grace'?" It was probably the last time Mother Teresa heard the hymn. She died not long afterward. Wintley will never forget seeing Mother Teresa beckon her aide and come over to hug him and thank him for singing that song. It filled his heart with joy. Radical joy. I don't know, but maybe it's not coincidence that radical joy comes after a radical prayer, and a radical life lived for God. Today God continues to bless the life of Wintley Phipps. What God can do with 1mm of a life!
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 06:37 by
ronnieGod use me! Is there a more powerful prayer? It takes a ton of courage to throw down so little in the face of someone so great. Yet that is exactly what Wintley Phipps did. Through the years God has arranged many opportunities for Wintley to provide counsel. One such instance presented itself during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. God impressed Phipps to send President Clinton a message, "Mr. President, read Psalm 69." Some time later Wintley attended another function at the White House and one of President Clinton's cabinet members called him aside and said, "You don't know what happened, do you? The president read that psalm. He called a few of his closest cabinet members together and shared with us from Psalm 69. Then President Clinton went to his room and wrote out the first speech that he would give the the American people admitting he had sinned." Wintley was asked to be in the audience a the White House when President Clinton presented that speech. That day Phipps remembered the Lord's promise to him many years before He would take his life down an unusual path and that he would speak truth to powerful people. God I like Wintley Phipps don't have much to offer, but use me!
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Tuesday, 29 July 2008 06:45 by
ronnieYesterday I began talking about the power of a 1mm mustard seed; the power of one life. I want to continue with the story of Wintley Phipps. Wintley prayed a radical prayer, "God what ever you want me to do, I'll do it" It began an incredible journey that shows the power of what God can do with one simple life; with just a 1mm seed of a life that was willing to be planted. The following day two men walked up to him and said, "Are you Wintley Phipps? We are from a singing group called the Heritage Family, and we would like you to travel with us. Wintley was speechless as God impressed Him with this thought, If you can just be faithful, I'm going to allow your life to go down an unusual path. It will allow you the opportunity to speak truth to those in power, an I want you to prepare to articulate the issues of religious freedom. Wintley remembers a phone call that he received from the father of Stephen Oake. Stephen had been a British police officer that a terrorist had stabbed to death in Manchester, England. His death rocked the whole nation. Oake's father called Wintley and asked him if he would sing at his son's funeral.. Representatives from the royal family were there. Prime minister Tony Blair sat on the front row. Wintley had the privilege of ministering to all present. During a visit to Viti Levu, the main island of the Fiji islands, Wintley was standing in a hotel lobby in Suva when two men walked up to him. "Are you Wintley Phipps?" they inquired. "you sang at the National Prayer Breakfast last year. We were there as representatives of our country." Later they phoned Wintley at the hotel and said, "The prime minister would like you to come over to his home." It was his father's birthday, and they asked Wintley to sing for the occasion. The power or a radical prayer, "God whatever you want me to do", had begun. The story gets even more amazing. But we'll talk about that tomorrow. God wants to begin to use your 1mm seed today in a powerful way. God whatever you want today, I will do it...
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Monday, 28 July 2008 06:48 by
ronnieA mustard seed is 1mm in diameter. It is said to be the smallest of seeds. Jesus used the seed in an illustration about the kingdom of God. One of the number one issues that face us as humanity is our smallness; our feelings of insecurity; our inadequacies to make a difference. Most people are pre-wired to believe they are insignificant; to see themselves as failures facing monsters that never appear. But what if? What if Jesus is right? What if we took the smallness of our life and planted it in the fertile soil of God's grace and believed that the impossible could happen through us. Wintley Phipps imagined traveling to faraway places. As a teenager his dreams turned to music. When he was about 15 years old, he actually got to meet Sly Stone and Tom Jones. (if you don't know these guys I just dated myself) It was a profound experience for him, but also a terrible disappointment as he realized that such musical performers weren't happy. These men had everything materially, but they had no peace or contentment. A turning point in Wintley's life came when he was a 16-year-old boarding student at a Christian school in Ontario, Canada. One day he went to the dean and said, "I'm sorry. I can't take all these rules and regulations. I'm leaving this school."Is that what you really want to do?" the dean asked. "That's right," Wintley replied. Then the dean turned to him and said, "Why don't you do for once not what you want to do but what God wants you to do?" Those words drove Wintley to pray, "God what ever you want me to do, I'll do it" It began an incredible journey that shows the power of what God can do with one simple life; with just a 1mm seed of a life that was willing to be planted. What does God want to do with you? The key is to be willing to be planted. More on Wintley and his phenomenal story tomorrow...
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 17:01 by
ronnieGreat service today. This Sunday was the last service in our Get Soaked Series. "Go Deep". Awesome service. Two people were baptized. It is awesome to see people go the next step in there walk with Christ. This is what is all about. Micheal and the band again over the top. I really like "Diving In". It was great to have Mark Korsmeier in the service today. Mark is home for two weeks and then heading back to Iraq. Remember to pray for Mark and his family. Also remember to pray for Matt and his family as he is also serving our nation. We are proud of you guys. I can't wait for the next series "Lifepoint at the Movies". Lots of great suprises coming in this series as we gear up for the movies. Hey can't wait unitl September. I beleive it is going to be a pivitol point in the future of Lifepoint Church. I will be giving you more details later. Thanks to everyone who volunteers every week to make it all happen. I ran into one of our childrens workers this morning before the service and they were stoked about getting to work with kids. I cannot tell you how that makes a Pastor feel. We are doing this thing together. Here is a random thought. I can't wait until football season starts. Stay cool this week. It is going to be HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 16:45 by
ronnie
Watching the new batman movie with 12,000 watts of power on a six story screen.
Here are a shot from my iphone. Now that's living.
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Sunday, 20 July 2008 19:59 by
ronnie
Great service today. I have to say it again, I love this "Get Soaked" Series. It is awesome to follow Jesus in his trips to the lake. Some of his most valuable lessons were taught around the water. Today we talked about "Faith-Boarding". Wake boarding has become a huge deal. But Jesus had a jump on as...He walked on the water. The amazing thing about this particular trip is that Peter also walked on the water. The bottom line is Jesus wants us getting out of our boat of comfort and the familiar and take a leap of faith with Him. The band did an awesome job this morning. Andrew filled in for Michael and was great. You guys make it easy every week to minister. It was really fun and relaxing teaching in my board shorts and t-shirt. I think I could get use to that. I appreciate every volunteer who helps make Sundays happen. Peoples lives were changed. Together we are doing it. I know this blog is random, but I'm just throwing out my thoughts. I love my wife...she makes the best guacamole. Don't forget baptism service next Sunday. Can't wait till August "Lifepoint at the Movies".
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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 07:08 by
ronnieHave you ever thought about being a Christian anomaly - An anomaly is a deviation from the norm, a person who is unusual, different, not easily classified. In other words refuse to be a carbon copy. Are you willing to be different? Are you willing to stand up and step out? I'm not talking about being rude, stupid, or doing things that displease God. But maybe you need to break free from your comfort zone, do something you have never done before, step outside of the box, color outside the traditional lines, go against the grain, think a new thought. OK! I hear you, but give me some suggestions. Help disaster-stricken people, buy someones groceries the next time you are in line, buy someones gas, hug your kids until their eyes pop out, kiss your spouse twelve times, forgive someone, don't be so judgmental. Here are a few more - share your faith, begin to build a relationship with some one who isn't in your eyes normal, laugh a lot, do something fun. Rock on... The bottom line is that Christianity often looks all to familiar, Why not be an anomaly...sing off key. I think God loves it when we think outside of the box with our faith.
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Monday, 14 July 2008 07:01 by
ronnie
Following the example of Jesus I sat and taught this one. It is amazing how crazy it feels to not have something in front of you. Naked would be an appropriate word. I am drowning in this "Get Soaked Series". I especially enjoyed this one - "Shoreline". It's incredible when you follow the ministry of Jesus and see the priority that teaching had in his life. I am passionate about teaching. I believe more than anything we need to hear it. Micheal and the band did a great job again, even with the little glitch... hey I led worship for twenty-five years and had many little bumps. You guys are awesome and I appreciate you serving at Lifepoint. Could have had more people, but that is summer. I guess I have to live with it. I will admit I am looking for the day when people press in to hear the teaching of Jesus. Lifepoint Church I love you... may you follow in the dust of your rabbi - Thanks Rob Bell.
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Monday, 14 July 2008 06:32 by
ronnieYou have to read this article I read on Jeremy's blog this morning. It's CRAZY! The last line especially caught my attention - You can purchase anything off the Internet except common sense," Harrison said. "A venomous snake isn't a pet. You don't play with it. If you do, you're an idiot." How many times do we play with venomous snakes?" Here are a few... unforgiveness, judgmentalism, criticism, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, superiority, self-pity, ... just to name a few. I have to agree, if you play with a venomous snake your an idiot. What venomous snakes are you playing with today? I don't know, but common sense tells me to let them go.
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