Some people are surprised to discover that I wear eye glasses to see far distances. Years ago I discovered that I could see clearly up close, but things far away went out of focus and became blurry for me. The solution? A pair of eye glasses prescribed perfectly for my eyes.
The direction of any organization, including our church, can be like my experience in many ways. We tend to see things up close real clear, but things out in the distance are foggy to us. The solution? VISION from God!
A few weeks ago I shared with you in a message some of the vision that God has given to us as a church. It is easy to identify the purpose of Jesus - to save sinners. But when it comes to the purpose of His body, the church, we at times miss the “main point” of why we are here.
In High Springs and Alachua, there are 8,213 nonchurched people. That is why we are here - to impact that 8,213 as much as we can. I am excited and overwhelmed when I hear Jesus tell us in Matthew 16:13-19 that the church is to plunder Hell to populate Heaven and that we get to be a part of that eternal endeavor!
How are we going to impact the 8,213? We are a place where real relationships begin. A real relationship with THE Real God, Real People, Real Purpose, and Real Change.
Next week I will unpack the dynamics and some specifics of HOW we are going to be a place where real relationships begin!
Seeing Clearly,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
What Did I Learn From Drag Racing?
I had an amazing experience recently. I went to the Gatornationals. This was my first time ever to experience “live” drag racing. All I can say is WOW!!! Let me share what I learned from drag racing that relates to life...
First, it is not how you start, but how you finish. I was amazed to see that in some races, the car that got off the line first, still got beat. Even in a race of less than 4 seconds, I witnessed some cars “catching up”. If a dragster can “catch up” in less than 4 seconds, in life, so can you!
Second, even though there is only one driver in the car, it is still all about the team surrounding that one driver. Even after the “burnout” of each car and seconds away from the start of the race, the team was still making adjustments to the car. In life, you may feel like you are going at it solo, but don’t be deceived, let a group of people be a “team” around you to ensure your success in life.
Third, drag racing is not a passive spectator sport. If you are in the stands, you FEEL it as the cars rumble by at 300+ mph! A friend of mine who won the Gatornationals in the Alcohol division of Dragster’s years ago said it this way - “it feels like the car is going through you as it passes by.” Life is no different, feelings were given to you for a reason. Life is meant to be “felt” both in the positive and negative.
Finally, drag racing was something new that I had never experienced before, but sure am glad that I did - I now can’t wait till next year! Life is no different. Every day we have the opportunity to experience new things, especially if we are followers of Jesus! Say yes to the new experiences Jesus brings your way today and everyday.
Jeff Powell
First, it is not how you start, but how you finish. I was amazed to see that in some races, the car that got off the line first, still got beat. Even in a race of less than 4 seconds, I witnessed some cars “catching up”. If a dragster can “catch up” in less than 4 seconds, in life, so can you!
Second, even though there is only one driver in the car, it is still all about the team surrounding that one driver. Even after the “burnout” of each car and seconds away from the start of the race, the team was still making adjustments to the car. In life, you may feel like you are going at it solo, but don’t be deceived, let a group of people be a “team” around you to ensure your success in life.
Third, drag racing is not a passive spectator sport. If you are in the stands, you FEEL it as the cars rumble by at 300+ mph! A friend of mine who won the Gatornationals in the Alcohol division of Dragster’s years ago said it this way - “it feels like the car is going through you as it passes by.” Life is no different, feelings were given to you for a reason. Life is meant to be “felt” both in the positive and negative.
Finally, drag racing was something new that I had never experienced before, but sure am glad that I did - I now can’t wait till next year! Life is no different. Every day we have the opportunity to experience new things, especially if we are followers of Jesus! Say yes to the new experiences Jesus brings your way today and everyday.
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Investing Time
There are two words that can adequately summarize life: TIME and INVEST. Every one has been given the same amount of TIME. It has been said that TIME is the greatest commodity we possess. We love those who cherish our TIME, we resent those who waste our TIME. What we do with TIME is called INVEST. We don’t spend TIME. We INVEST TIME. Everything that we do in life with the TIME we have is an INVESTMENT. We have made both good and bad INVESTMENTS with the TIME we have been given! Here are four INVESTMENTS I think every person should make everyday with the TIME they have:
1. INVEST spiritually. Take TIME to read God’s word. Take TIME to pray. Take TIME to listen and receive from God.
2. INVEST physically. Take TIME to get the rest your body needs (on average, 8 hrs. sleep per night). Take TIME to eat the right foods. Take TIME to engage in some form of regular exercise. INVEST physically because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19).
3. INVEST relationally. Take TIME with other people, those that you love and those that are closest to you. Possessions fade and break, people last!
4. INVEST ministerially. Ministerially? Yes, take TIME to minister to (serve) someone. You will be known not by what you have, but by what you have given to others - INVEST TIME serving people!
INVEST TIME in your relationship with God, your physical needs, your meaningful relationships, and your opportunities to serve others - you won’t regret it!
INVESTING TIME,
Jeff Powell
1. INVEST spiritually. Take TIME to read God’s word. Take TIME to pray. Take TIME to listen and receive from God.
2. INVEST physically. Take TIME to get the rest your body needs (on average, 8 hrs. sleep per night). Take TIME to eat the right foods. Take TIME to engage in some form of regular exercise. INVEST physically because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19).
3. INVEST relationally. Take TIME with other people, those that you love and those that are closest to you. Possessions fade and break, people last!
4. INVEST ministerially. Ministerially? Yes, take TIME to minister to (serve) someone. You will be known not by what you have, but by what you have given to others - INVEST TIME serving people!
INVEST TIME in your relationship with God, your physical needs, your meaningful relationships, and your opportunities to serve others - you won’t regret it!
INVESTING TIME,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Don't Get Offended!
Jesus is the central figure of Christianity. No matter how many times I have read the Gospels, I still come away from them challenged and renewed. Recently I was pondering on the healing Jesus performed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. Here is what I have taken from this passage:
1. When God asks us a question, He is not looking for information. His questions are meant to teach us and to reveal things to us. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well and the man gave Him excuses as to why he could not get into the pool. Jesus asked him a “yes” or “no” question, the way the man answered says to me that there were issues going on beyond his crippled situation.
2. Jesus tied sickness to sin. Jesus later saw the man he healed and told him to stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. All sickness and disease originates from the fall when Adam and Even sinned. This does not mean that every time you are sick, it is a personal sin issue on your part. However, it also does not mean that every time you are sick, it is NOT a personal sin issue on your part. It may or it may not be directly tied to our personal, immediate sin. Regardless, repentance and righteousness are good antidotes for everyday living!
3. Harboring offenses will destroy the life and healing of Jesus. After the man that was healed is confronted by Jesus concerning sin, he tells the religious leaders (who were against Jesus) that it was Jesus that healed him. He got offended and then took action against Jesus.
In summary, God’s questions to us are meant to teach us, our personal sin may be the cause of our sickness, and harboring offenses destroys the life of Jesus in us.
Amazed by Jesus,
Jeff Powell
1. When God asks us a question, He is not looking for information. His questions are meant to teach us and to reveal things to us. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well and the man gave Him excuses as to why he could not get into the pool. Jesus asked him a “yes” or “no” question, the way the man answered says to me that there were issues going on beyond his crippled situation.
2. Jesus tied sickness to sin. Jesus later saw the man he healed and told him to stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. All sickness and disease originates from the fall when Adam and Even sinned. This does not mean that every time you are sick, it is a personal sin issue on your part. However, it also does not mean that every time you are sick, it is NOT a personal sin issue on your part. It may or it may not be directly tied to our personal, immediate sin. Regardless, repentance and righteousness are good antidotes for everyday living!
3. Harboring offenses will destroy the life and healing of Jesus. After the man that was healed is confronted by Jesus concerning sin, he tells the religious leaders (who were against Jesus) that it was Jesus that healed him. He got offended and then took action against Jesus.
In summary, God’s questions to us are meant to teach us, our personal sin may be the cause of our sickness, and harboring offenses destroys the life of Jesus in us.
Amazed by Jesus,
Jeff Powell
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