tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82866708523103552772024-03-05T15:37:52.768-08:00Peyton's PlaceA blog about me - what I think about stuff, what my family and I have been up to, what I think about religion, worship, politics, sports,etc.David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-89628678631289403812012-02-08T13:45:00.000-08:002012-02-08T13:53:45.053-08:00God is Doing Something New!Well, after 13 amazing years of leading worship, I am transitioning into something new! While I will remain here at First Baptist Church, I will take on a new position called Community Pastor. In this position I will have the pleasure of seeking ways our people can reach out into the community and serve. I will have opportunity to participate with our Missions Committee planning and leading mission trips and I will also be growing Mosaic, our adoption and foster care ministry. This is such a very exciting time for me as I have felt God's call on my life to engage in the world wide orphan crisis for several years. This change will also give me the chance to grow a new ministry to protect the orphan. More on that part as it grows, but for now I am excited to get to work in our community! I covet your prayers, as I mourn over what I leave behind. I mean, I love leading worship! But God said so - who am I to argue!<br />FirstCommunity already have several things planned; <a href="http://www.firstmansfield.com/fm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=241&Itemid=176">check it out here</a>!David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-50049277688536886852010-02-14T12:21:00.000-08:002010-02-14T12:37:17.802-08:00Never a Dull Moment!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy-vTsJEr8sM8_rJHqK0P1oU23HIc1AJWV_EgjaA6DhrUuLHziNXkwr-hKWAG0n9JS2lE5DGMiYYU_CxxYxkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here is a video that gives an idea of what it's like to watch tv at my house these days. Everyone plays long and hard and they are all learning how this whole thing is going to work. Everyone is having fun, that </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZgXpo-n1UyOnAP9GkgTgx0LN9rdTRkCfHPOAlhr3BHXRWa8Auubeg6TvMPZtyXt7xendXxA8-pQHNKbmdNTT9iWNlvCSOGXELj8ADTKpVb0ZBBoDQNCU81uir1fMY_4Bk1_KOua6CHK2/s1600-h/Braids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZgXpo-n1UyOnAP9GkgTgx0LN9rdTRkCfHPOAlhr3BHXRWa8Auubeg6TvMPZtyXt7xendXxA8-pQHNKbmdNTT9iWNlvCSOGXELj8ADTKpVb0ZBBoDQNCU81uir1fMY_4Bk1_KOua6CHK2/s200/Braids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438200187973159090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">is for sure.<br /><br />Wendy worked on Marie Ange's hair for a long time a couple of days ago, thinking how hard it was going to be </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">to keep up with that. Then, this morning, Marie Ange brushed it all out and braided it ALL herself! I guess that's a load off. Now Hannah is trying to get MA to braid her hair. No success yet...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Jameson got his firs</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRPX5mWPklag9EUDh303PYyShi14j2JDMJAdhK3vBlCatfR-KHy1pdhK41VoWFyQTP1Si-6YDeTK3rUhKqhPxpvtit8kXdAqcTXaSJaeghTD5kU5JLGTladoj6jcnEWmupOsFPVKeE52x/s1600-h/Jameson+after+Haircut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRPX5mWPklag9EUDh303PYyShi14j2JDMJAdhK3vBlCatfR-KHy1pdhK41VoWFyQTP1Si-6YDeTK3rUhKqhPxpvtit8kXdAqcTXaSJaeghTD5kU5JLGTladoj6jcnEWmupOsFPVKeE52x/s200/Jameson+after+Haircut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438200451892363202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">t haircut y</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">e</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">sterday and we got him the "Michael Jor</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">dan" - one can hope! Anyway, things are going well, and everyone is adjusting well. Praise the </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lord!<br /></span></div>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-79686760080485049882010-02-09T07:28:00.001-08:002010-02-09T07:28:39.185-08:00From my wife Wendy's Blog:<h2 class="date-header">Monday, February 8, 2010</h2> <a name="768105401131255196"></a> <h3 class="post-title"> <a linkindex="8" href="http://wrpeyton.blogspot.com/2010/02/shoes-who-needs-them-anyway.html">Shoes? Who needs them anyway.</a> </h3> <p>So we are still trying to work out all the kinks of having a household of 7. I have been organizing and reorganizing trying to make things more efficient. It can take some time just trying to get everyone out the door. This morning was H's morning to go to TAFA for her drama and choir classes. For some reason I thought it started at 10 but in actuality it started at 1o:30. We were rushing around and I asked H to start getting the kids loaded in the car. It is pouring down rain so that was going to slow us down a bit. We finally get on the road and are about 2 miles from the house when C announces that he doesn't have shoes. Seriously? How could he get from the house to the car with no shoes? Apparently H carried him but forgot to tell me I needed to grab him shoes. I am just glad we figured it out before we got to the school:)<br /><br />This must be the day for shoe stories because the funniest thing happened at Wal-Mart this afternoon. I had the 4 younger kids with me to do some grocery shopping (that is another story in itself). We had finished up the shopping and headed to the check-out. I noticed while we were unloading the cart that C had taken off his socks and shoes. He managed to put his socks on but was struggling to get the shoes put back on. I looked at MA and in the broken Kreyol- fragmented English- hand gesturing thing that we have been doing I asked her if she would help C put his shoes on . Guess I still need to work on it because the next thing I know I turn back around and MA is taking off her shoes and telling J to do the same thing. They are both standing at the check-out in sock feet bewildered as to why I would ask them to do such a thing. I am sure they are thinking that about A LOT of things that we do!</p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-88265345036536079702010-02-06T21:05:00.000-08:002010-02-09T20:14:29.735-08:005 Kids on the Boat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3d2IP_R0EkwwwGjCX_2ymsYJRbq4uyNsk73Cck8VUIcDmIsIoEnNnlCugEdtvVU5ihdawknlXIc4q_eaaa6wJ7AYW0FwFrfEgtPS76-Hbw0elZuXB8U1MDsSIugU6sepT0FV_ceyj_jw/s1600-h/DSC02703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3d2IP_R0EkwwwGjCX_2ymsYJRbq4uyNsk73Cck8VUIcDmIsIoEnNnlCugEdtvVU5ihdawknlXIc4q_eaaa6wJ7AYW0FwFrfEgtPS76-Hbw0elZuXB8U1MDsSIugU6sepT0FV_ceyj_jw/s320/DSC02703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435363690360768018" border="0" /></a>Marie Ange and Jameson are finally home! We are getting the hang of things and learning how to live together, all is very good. These are great kids and they are eager to please - they just don't always quite know how! We have had an amazing first week together, including a huge 50's birthday party for Hannah's 10th birthday. MA and J will think all Friday nights will hold such frivolity! They will so disappointed next Friday! Today, I took the kids out to ride bikes. I had no idea what to expect, but MA hopped on her bike and she was gone - no training wheels or anything! Jameson was having a tough time, even with training wheels. He kept running into the walls, curbs, etc at one of the schools here in town. Finally, he came whining to me, pointing at the training wheels. I thought, "fine, I'll take them off, but you'll regret it!" I did take them off, but he did not regret it. He hopped on and was then HE was gone, too! I couldn't believe it! I have no idea oif they had access to bikes at the orphanage or what, but I was duly impressed. Today they also enjoyed Lasagna, grilled cheese sandwiches and s'mores for the first time. They're almost Americans already!David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-85534722171981342832009-06-29T09:27:00.000-07:002009-06-29T09:47:50.462-07:00Injustice Towards Children Has Broken My Heart!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU41NcnDdX6jhPi9qqMugk6VI3BPlGHqKOSmt92PBwSeCw3QiEQqUQWn6lx5zpWaF4tuLURaEOwWlMAFkcIDVOVXPf6jVAxXXWfs-pLRxIFYJMtu6f6RXj_RILtwJ8b7dF9Mnnv6yzKYXU/s1600-h/Little+Shoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU41NcnDdX6jhPi9qqMugk6VI3BPlGHqKOSmt92PBwSeCw3QiEQqUQWn6lx5zpWaF4tuLURaEOwWlMAFkcIDVOVXPf6jVAxXXWfs-pLRxIFYJMtu6f6RXj_RILtwJ8b7dF9Mnnv6yzKYXU/s320/Little+Shoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352792238083202274" border="0" /></a><br />While my plan was to go to the Enter Conference at New Life Church in Colorado Springs for training, challenge, and refreshing for my service as Worship Pastor, God had other plans in mind. One organization represented at the conference was <a href="http://www.iempathize.org/">iEmpathize.</a> This group has a very powerful and shocking gallery of images and artifacts that speak very clearly the horrors of sex and slave trafficking world wide. As I made my way through the exhibit, God worked me over pretty hard. I was struck by the lack of respect for human life and the decency that should be afforded every child. I was sickened by the realization that our world has largely turned its back on the most innocent and helpless of victims.<br /><br />The statistics are, of course, sobering.<br /><ul><li>It is believed that over 27 million poeple are enslaved aroound the world today.</li><li>UNICEF estimates that over 1.2 million children enter into the sex trade every year</li><li>Approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood to sexual exploitation over the past 30 years.</li><li>Up to 300,000 prostituted children live on the streets of the U.S.!</li></ul>One display of the iEmpathize exhibit rocked me to the core. There was a small pair of shoes (pictured) that was found at a Brothel overseas. I was so broken by the small size of the shoes that I cannot get it out of my head. These shoes were smaller than Abigail's shoes (my 5 year old daughter). This experience has changed me - when I went to learn more about worship, God taught me more about the need of innocent victims in our world and He is calling me to be a voice; to do something about it. I don't know what yet, but God is all over me about this. My life must count for orphaned and exploited children in the world - it just must.David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-83466019983017864192009-01-27T07:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:06:39.504-08:00I Just Learned About...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvxFO-5XAFwoq7M4dyECALbyFbq5QmYMnT9qkDLUrN6fknKQQqfpLSRYtjvXh4kkF4UhV_ii3gaQC0tsdTB_8p82r-Ix3iDuFTaI9O1DbKl-LBt_rewulx-BJMMKT4M5QkakhsMAxR1lh/s1600-h/World+Orphans+Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 24px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvxFO-5XAFwoq7M4dyECALbyFbq5QmYMnT9qkDLUrN6fknKQQqfpLSRYtjvXh4kkF4UhV_ii3gaQC0tsdTB_8p82r-Ix3iDuFTaI9O1DbKl-LBt_rewulx-BJMMKT4M5QkakhsMAxR1lh/s320/World+Orphans+Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296020893448380978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://worldorphans.org/">World Orphans</a> is an incredible ministry with a great idea. I had always thought of adoption as THE answer for orphans in the world. I still believe that, where it is possible, it is the best answer for a child to be raised by a Christian mother and father and taught the ways of Jesus. The reality is that adoption cannot be the ONLY answer. There are simply too great a number of orphan children world wide to think they will all be adopted into a family. In fact, the vast majority of orphan kids are not even adoptable. The legal process breaks down when there are no parents to terminate parental rights, when there are no governmental agencies with information on the kids, when there are no orphanages to house them. So, every night, millions of kids go to sleep on sidewalks, under bridges, or in garbage piles, with no one to watch out for them.<br /><br />Enter World Orphans. It is the goal of this ministry to have churches in the culture and community where the problem exists provide solutions for small groups of children. The idea is to have an indigenous church build a small orphan home on the church property. Children live in small, gender specific groups, of 10 - 20 children. The home is staffed by members of the church, often widows from the community, who raise the children in the knowledge of Christ. Check out more about how this works <a href="http://worldorphans.org/solution/index.htm">here</a>. Paul Myhill, the President of World Orphans, has written an essay called<a href="http://worldorphans.org/problem/mega.htm"> The Mega Issue</a> in which he seeks to solve a list of interlinking problem by rescuing orphans. The orphan problem is at the root of so many other issues. He writes:<br /><br />Do you desire to assist the poor and crush poverty? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you wish to combat HIV/AIDS and other heinous diseases? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you hope to prevent pedophiles from abusing young children? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you want to stamp out prostitution? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you yearn for the end of drug dealing and addiction? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you crave to uphold the worth and significance of women? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you long to stop violent extremism and the placement of children into radical schools? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you dream to crush illiteracy? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you aspire to eliminate child labor? – Rescue orphans.<br />Do you seek to eradicate the recruitment of child soldiers and atrocities they are forced to commit? – Rescue orphans.<br /><br />You see, the orphaned children in a particular society are the ones on whom predators prey. They are the week, the easily persuaded, the abused. They are also the ones who, as they grow, will perpetuate the problems listed for the next generation. But if the orphans are reescued, not only is the cycle broken, but those same children are raised in a christian home and sent back into their culture to make a difference. To let people know of the hope and love found in Christ; these will be trained up as an army of missionaries.<br /><br />To accomplish these goals, World Orphans has a most admirable plan: To partner churches in the west with indigenous churches world wide. To give American churhces the chance to be a part of the solution, to invite them on mission through giving and going, to impact the eternity of the children for whom they provide and all of the people those children will touch in the future. What an incredible idea and a God given vision! Please follow the links to the <a href="http://worldorphans.org/">World Orphans</a> website and find out more about them; they have an incredible ministry.David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-65859989672230410232008-10-29T09:34:00.001-07:002009-01-15T13:43:24.604-08:00Mosaic to Kick off at First Baptist Church, Mansfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_umjZIbKr5QfjFe8fTRm1H39w2OSqSG06FHX_wMdyNBtR0knrgGfP2ZLrAKDqvasbGNCZNnscES3bnFf2FQZlVVjha9ShuGpfl-gb1jWLck3N1qs8OUeuswfsoIJuXclLv2q-SDuTtfcA/s1600-h/Mosaic3.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_umjZIbKr5QfjFe8fTRm1H39w2OSqSG06FHX_wMdyNBtR0knrgGfP2ZLrAKDqvasbGNCZNnscES3bnFf2FQZlVVjha9ShuGpfl-gb1jWLck3N1qs8OUeuswfsoIJuXclLv2q-SDuTtfcA/s320/Mosaic3.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262620845362309282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.firstmansfield.com/">First Baptist Church</a>, Mansfield, kicked off the Mosaic Adoption and Fo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMYqdj9kwC6-9o7JYwACLwqgyF4OF1Q0HP1RBW34mx0D5ROcmYLm7Tjk-RZoRDz6FrOcj2A8eW8xbauSAyXURnHjXEH66yNZU0SWrh9id8QJdExpU1CW46qksuXFhgT5SK1pyx7Y4xySS/s1600-h/Mosaic+picture.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMYqdj9kwC6-9o7JYwACLwqgyF4OF1Q0HP1RBW34mx0D5ROcmYLm7Tjk-RZoRDz6FrOcj2A8eW8xbauSAyXURnHjXEH66yNZU0SWrh9id8QJdExpU1CW46qksuXFhgT5SK1pyx7Y4xySS/s320/Mosaic+picture.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262618581054333986" border="0" /></a>ster care ministry at a very special service on Sunday, January 11th. We had a great day of worship and collected over $500 for our Mosaic adoption fund with <a href="http://lifesongfororphans.org/">Lifesong for Orphans</a>. We had representatives from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.buckner.org">Buckner International</a>, Covenant Kids, and information from Lifesong for Orphans for the enlightenment of our congregation. We heard a strong message from our pastor, Dr. Johnny Dickerson, about the likeness of God's children being adopted, with full sonship, into God's family, just as His people would adopt an orphaned child. It is the heart of Mosaic to see more orphaned children in Christian homes, where they will know love and protection, as well as receive a clear path to choose Christ. Mosaic will seek to touch the lives of orphans, minister to adoptive families, mentor children, lead mission trips to orphanages around the world, and help to fund adoptions for families wanting to change the lives of orphaned children. Please pray for Mosaic as we seek to do our part in impacting orphaned children in our world.David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-66027325904185646342008-10-29T09:28:00.000-07:002008-10-29T09:33:42.093-07:00Lifesong for Orphans tackles Barriers to Adoption<p><a href="http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/"><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 250px;" src="http://lifesong.squarespace.com/storage/AFundlogo.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1225249800900" alt="" /></span></span></a><br /><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><br /></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/">Lifesong</a> and the Mosaic Ministry or First Baptist Church of Mansfield are working together to create an <a href="http://www.familiesofpromise.org/id25.html"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Adoption Fund</span> </a>that would remove the financial barriers that prevent so many children from being adopted – through Adoption Matching Grants.</p> <p>Here are the <strong><em>Top 3 Barriers</em></strong> to churches creating Adoption Funds...and <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/">Lifesong's Solutions</a> to overcome the hurdles.</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong>1. Barrier:</strong> Church staff “plate is already full” to administer fund </p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution:</span></em></strong><em> Lifesong will manage/facilitate the Fund & carry the administrative load on behalf of church, using mutually agreed upon criteria (reviewing applications, accounting, donor receipts, disbursing funds on behalf of adoption, etc.)</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong>2. Barrier:</strong> Church feels uncomfortable/awkward approving/denying their own families (viewing financials, etc.)</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution:</span></em></strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>Lifesong will provide all the screening, reviewing, approving/denying as a ‘partner’ on behalf of the church, using mutually agreed upon criteria for those decisions</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong>3. Barrier:</strong> Adoption Fund is unfamiliar territory</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution:</span></em></strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>Lifesong has passion, and expertise in adoption funding processes, maximize stewardship, use existing grant/loan procedures, IRS approved, ECFA approved (establishes financial integrity & avoids recreating the wheel)</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><em>And one of the best aspects….Lifesong manages & administers the Adoption Fund - at no cost to churches!</em></p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-21958837642981627942008-07-08T13:03:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:24:32.927-07:00The Worship IndustryThis video is a great reminder of what is really important in worship. To be real with each other and with God; to open ourselves up to what He will do in worship is, indeed, more important than what we do or don't do in worship.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNpRFiCSLu1GDnvwUpC0vZjAlDapumWBTEMGkP3sgosNIYNdjWYKkNFOnUhoClHnsElNrPuUiJ42-ZEoFRXg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-16181275711717702008-07-08T12:50:00.000-07:002008-07-08T12:56:44.112-07:00IBESR!In our long and tiring adoption process, we have already moved from "First Legal" into "IBESR". I don't really know what those titles mean, but I do know that it is progress, and that's what we're looking for! Stephanie, our adoption agent with <span style="font-style: italic;">A Love Beyond Borders, </span>called me to let me know that we'd moved on to this step on FATHER'S DAY! Can you beat that? What a blessing that was. <br />Wendy and I are anxiously awaiting our next trip to Haiti to see our kids in August and it cannot come fast enough! In fact, we are just wishing that it was this trip we were bringing Marie Ange and Jameson home, but it will still be a while for that. So, we wait and pray that God will expedite everything as only He can.David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-19453811025082052902008-03-12T09:44:00.000-07:002008-04-03T08:04:43.661-07:00Our Haiti Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaLNGet2B9Qo5G_5e8FwNECD7Y-NFlwnTMxvlYlPsWYBEz8prFZBtlCn4mKglhkbFpLNy3FekF6GTOOCKNTgqnWk8GU2zS-CxlkePGIsFgWTSDF0QK5dyWRKdJscoT_xcxsEIOdEJs8yH/s1600-h/DSC00444.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaLNGet2B9Qo5G_5e8FwNECD7Y-NFlwnTMxvlYlPsWYBEz8prFZBtlCn4mKglhkbFpLNy3FekF6GTOOCKNTgqnWk8GU2zS-CxlkePGIsFgWTSDF0QK5dyWRKdJscoT_xcxsEIOdEJs8yH/s320/DSC00444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185028140605372050" border="0" /></a>What an amazing trip Wendy and I had in Haiti! We experienced so many amazing things and saw God move in amazing ways! We had the opportunity to pass out Bibles to the workers at the orphanage and at the guest house to all of the adult workers. The cool thing was that these were bibles given to us by Brian Lundy, who has worked with the Olympic Bible Project at the Olympic games, and were in the Haitian language of Creole. There are very few books written in this language and these precious people were so excited to see any book; let alone a bible, in their native language, that on several occasions they sat down and began to read the bible immediately! It was a huge blessing. Our primary reason was, of course to meet two children in particular whom we'd been asked to pray about adopting. So- meet Marie Ange and Jameson.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurttIOtMKOtNuIQi9CaoLLkbYiENdGM99835KBERMqhEXb4muyXGAFPrCxXSyG182GXovesbnvRffdGvdA5PDZm06_tR1Y4gKjdgo1vKwpYV37sdRWHGmGZDFRoSk3pYaVMPlWIRYpE21/s1600-h/DSC00422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurttIOtMKOtNuIQi9CaoLLkbYiENdGM99835KBERMqhEXb4muyXGAFPrCxXSyG182GXovesbnvRffdGvdA5PDZm06_tR1Y4gKjdgo1vKwpYV37sdRWHGmGZDFRoSk3pYaVMPlWIRYpE21/s320/DSC00422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185029875772159650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Marie Ange is a happy, healthy 7 year </span><span style="font-size:100%;">old girl in Port Au Prince, Haiti.<span style=""> </span>She is bright, loving and caring and, though she and her </span><span style="font-size:100%;">brother have been orphaned by their parents </span><span style="font-size:100%;">for over 18 months </span><span style="font-size:100%;">now, she is very well adjusted.<span style=""> </span>Marie Ange has the biggest, best dimples in the world when she flashes her smile! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jameson is Marie Ange’s 5 </span><span style="font-size:100%;">year old brother.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">During our visit to the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">orphanage, he </span><span style="font-size:100%;">showed himself as a natural born athlete.<span style=""> </span>He loves balls; shooting them, t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">throwing them, catching them, spinning them– you </span><span style="font-size:100%;">name it (he and Caleb will get along fine!).<span style=""> </span>Jameson has a quick and beautiful smile and is amazingly happy </span><span style="font-size:100%;">and easy going. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN77M6-__eRscpwGdrZpl3Lanf1KeMtvRfXTq7PwtJyx3beQgXrpLoh4H4hrrt3VVSVPl9zGKbjulSjhpPAkvC-efQBczlra1afZH4L7sXAHHpk-zeup-TUF_RIXY78pX1JpBE1-qnpaH/s1600-h/DSC00537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN77M6-__eRscpwGdrZpl3Lanf1KeMtvRfXTq7PwtJyx3beQgXrpLoh4H4hrrt3VVSVPl9zGKbjulSjhpPAkvC-efQBczlra1afZH4L7sXAHHpk-zeup-TUF_RIXY78pX1JpBE1-qnpaH/s320/DSC00537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185032298133714610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">The attitude and disposition of th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ese kids is nothing short of miraculous.<span style=""> </span>When you consider what these precious kids have already faced in life, it is very humbling to see their joy in the face of it all.<span style=""> </span>I will never doubt the truth of<span style=""> </span>Psalm 68:5-6: <span style="font-style: italic;">a father of the fatherless and a champion of the widows is God in His holy dwelling. God provides homes to those who are deserted. </span>Our trip was amazing and we definitely fell in love with our new kids! We have about a 10-12 month process left before we will actually bring these kids home, but the Lord is good and will sustain us! Thanks for all of your prayers and please remember the dire circumstances in Haiti and the orphans of this place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-60121163516430136112008-01-31T20:15:00.000-08:002008-02-12T07:36:44.561-08:00Reaching One Child...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdpeRhozluGGgp6nx5D51JAARSVuX4CDgq4ZfCY5oRtAtHeAV2ILIwes65JZS7kyKo4N286TxZq1YDc-ZQ8gJMYSKLIBtvVTwwKBeblI-xNbbtigw3hXuE8iDohGJfK1gqlD6QtQbJSYg/s1600-h/florena-w.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdpeRhozluGGgp6nx5D51JAARSVuX4CDgq4ZfCY5oRtAtHeAV2ILIwes65JZS7kyKo4N286TxZq1YDc-ZQ8gJMYSKLIBtvVTwwKBeblI-xNbbtigw3hXuE8iDohGJfK1gqlD6QtQbJSYg/s320/florena-w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161861991566784578" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">As you may already know, Wendy and I have begun the process of adopting a child from the country of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>Our family is very excited about this endeavor and wanted to let you know a little about our process and plans.<span style=""> </span>First, I want you to know that we feel a clear call from the Lord to do our part in fulfilling God’s command to look after orphan children; as given in James 1: 27:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">world.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This a call that Wendy and I have taken very seriously, and know beyond any doubt that He is calling us to open our home and family to an orphan child.<span style=""> </span>In this way, the Lord will use us to change the life and future of one child.<span style=""> </span>More importantly, there will be a pathway presented to this child to come to know Jesus as her Lord, which otherwise may not have happened.<span style=""> </span>That possibility excites me to no end!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I want to introduce you to our future daughter.<span style=""> </span>Florena is a happy, healthy 4 year old child of color in Port Au Prince, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>Her mother made the difficult decision to release her to the orphanage there after realizing she was not equipped to care for Florena.<span style=""> </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a terribly poor nation, with rampant disease and malnutrition among its people.<span style=""> </span><st1:country-region st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region> is, in fact, the poorest country in the <st1:place st="on">Western Hemisphere</st1:place> with 75% of the population living below poverty level (as determined by World Bank). Unemployment is about 60%, and the literacy rate is about 55%. One in five children will die before their 5th birthday from malnutrition or disease.<span style=""> </span>Out of this kind of difficulty, the Lord will use us to save Florena.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First and foremost, Wendy and I ask for your prayers.<span style=""> </span>As the mountain of paperwork grows and the documents gather, pray that the Lord will help us keep our focus on the goal; to get Florena home.<span style=""> </span>Please begin to pray specifically for Florena as significant changes are imminent.<span style=""> </span>We are not diluted about the adjustment that our family will have to make nor about the effort it will take to make Florena feel comfortable as a part of our family.<span style=""> </span>These are big changes for us and for her, so please join us in praying for her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The process of adopting internationally is, of course, an expensive one.<span style=""> </span>Wendy and I have sold one vehicle to free up some money for these expenses, but we realize that we cannot handle all of these ourselves.<span style=""> </span>We have partnered with an organization called <i style="">Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries,</i> whose mission it is to help adoptive families raise funds to adopt children out of difficult circumstances.<span style=""> </span>Through this ministry, individuals can make tax deductible donations to specific adoptive families to help lessen the cost for the family.<span style=""> </span>In this way, you can partner with us in changing Florena’s life for the better.<span style=""> </span>You will have the blessing of knowing that your help contributed to providing Florena with a loving family (with great sisters and an awesome brother), a warm home, and the opportunity to meet Jesus in a saving way.<span style=""> </span>I absolutely hate to ask my friends and family for this kind of help, so I would just ask that you pray about involving yourself with us in this ministry. <span style=""> </span>If you feel it would be a blessing to you, please make a contribution; rest assured it will be a blessing to us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN">We will keep all of our contributors up to date on our process by email and provide you with a photo of our completed family once we get Florena home. If you are interested in helping us out and have any questions please call us at home or email us. Also, the Kingdom Kids staff is available to you Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time.) Please contact them at (509) 465-3520 or email them at Ministry@KingdomKidsAdoption.org. Their website is <a href="http://www.kingdomkidsadoption.org/">www.KingdomKidsAdoption.org</a>. Donations should be sent directly to Kingdom Kids at 1417 N Lincoln St, Spokane, WA, 99201. </span><span style="" lang="EN"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN">If you decide to assist us in our fundraising and wish to do so by check please <b>DO NOT include our names anywhere on the check.</b> Internal Revenue Service regulations do not allow for a tax-deductible donation to have any name other than the tax-exempt organization written on it. Please enclose a note with your check to indicate that you wish your donation to go toward our grant. Thank you so much.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Christ Alone,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">David and Wendy Peyton</p> <p class="MsoNormal">817/453-9682</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:david.peyton@firstmansfield.com">david.peyton@firstmansfield.com</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:wrpeyton@sbcglobal.net">wrpeyton@sbcglobal.net</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-58346813178488440872007-09-19T14:59:00.000-07:002007-09-19T15:02:31.940-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK5DRaLyiKNGkamPr4YeYo2EyvIuhM-cKKFXczB0IVeJkY8uMsaZ6RKU95lkK0oGXdL13kWzNsmRCd0sYyzwbBioiJSUUs6RtOGsvYOFS6JhD7uOMxZ6rhYAYI6-O8r_9HXPIi2sztIaY/s1600-h/GP_Photos6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK5DRaLyiKNGkamPr4YeYo2EyvIuhM-cKKFXczB0IVeJkY8uMsaZ6RKU95lkK0oGXdL13kWzNsmRCd0sYyzwbBioiJSUUs6RtOGsvYOFS6JhD7uOMxZ6rhYAYI6-O8r_9HXPIi2sztIaY/s320/GP_Photos6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112039030652835634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo5sFdTjDTsBIF3FdRaS7Sble_Ji_CzEZ0MVJD_mH2KufCHBd70ciC4PP5-LALlUrJfmi1HnfzdHpG8ZcB_gemyZho561CETdDkdlXRopXYKTxVjk369ERVorIISViXxDLVohZOgRDTbq/s1600-h/RossP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo5sFdTjDTsBIF3FdRaS7Sble_Ji_CzEZ0MVJD_mH2KufCHBd70ciC4PP5-LALlUrJfmi1HnfzdHpG8ZcB_gemyZho561CETdDkdlXRopXYKTxVjk369ERVorIISViXxDLVohZOgRDTbq/s320/RossP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112038940458522402" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b><u>Encounters with God: The friendship and the fear</u></b><br /><i>Glenn Packiam and Ross Parsley - May 10, 2006</i></p>The old man walked slowly toward the tent. The people watched as he bent his well-worn frame to enter. They had seen him approach the tent many times, but each time they stood to watch. His wrinkled hands, still strong, parted the canvas as he stepped inside. And then it happened, as it always did. A large cloud, shaped liked a massive pillar, descended from the sky and positioned itself at the doorway of the tent. All the people stood in awe and began to worship. They knew what was taking place. They called it the "Tent of Meeting", for there a man could go to inquire of the Lord and meet with Him. But with Moses it was different. It was no mere "meeting"; with Moses God spoke face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (Ex. 33:11). And now as they watched the cloud-pillar at the entrance of the tent, they knew that God was with His friend.<br /><br /> Worship folks love that story! You probably get goose bumps just thinking about it. I mean think of it: a man speaking with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend. I love the fact that we can be friends of God. It is one thing to call Jesus our best friend; it is quite a different thing for Him to call us His friend. We like knowing that He is always there, that we can call on Him anytime; but certainly, it is more amazing for Him to call on us to do His work, to share His heart with us. Yet this is the very thing that awaits us-the joy of being His friend. I am so grateful for the wonderful way that different ones in the Body of Christ have helped us recapture the childlike innocence in our approach to God. We have learned how to call Him Father, and to crawl up on His knee, so to speak, and let Him whisper His affections to us. I am thankful for the freedom we have rediscovered in our approach to God. In a personal and meaningful way, prayer and worship have become our conversation with God. Aspiring to be like Moses, we have learned to call Him our friend and to allow Him to make friends of us.<br /><br />But there is one crucial point to bear in mind: Moses' relationship with God did not begin face to face. Do you remember the story? In Exodus chapter three, the young Moses, strong and well-built, trembled in the middle of the wilderness. As the voice boomed from the fiery bush, the grown man tried to hide his face. Quickly, he unfastened his sandals, placing his bare feet on the hot desert sand. God had required him to remove his shoes by way of introduction. This was the prologue to a life-long journey of walking with God. There the former "prince of Egypt" stood, shaking and afraid. He hid his face. Why? Because he dared not glance upon the living God. Here we don't see friendship, or intimacy. This isn't "running through the field with Daddy God". This is fear, terror, awe. This is "O God, You are so holy....I'm nothing like You...Please don't strike me down!"<br /><br />You see, I don't think we can really know the friendship until we know the fear. We only truly understand and appreciate God's mercy and grace in the light of His awesome and terrible holiness. That is why when God initially reveals Himself the response is usually terror. In Exodus 19 we find God "introducing" himself to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. Billows of smoke, peels of thunder and lightning strikes are His expression of choice. The people are so frightened that they begin to back away. Moses pleads with them, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Sadly, they didn't understand and rejected the invitation that God had extended. The book of Romans follows a similar progression in presenting the Gospel to us. (Remember the "Romans Road"?) Paul begins by stating that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. He goes on to add that the wages of sin is death. Then he marvelously outlines the plan of God and the miracle of the salvation that has come to us through "one Man's obedience", and how by faith in Christ we share in His life. Salvation is only meaningful when we realize what it is we have been saved from. Actually, almost every Biblical account of an encounter with God chronicles the mortal human falling to his knees and hiding his face to avoid locking eyes with the One Who is called Holy. And almost every account shows God or the heavenly messenger reaching out to the human, calming his fear and calling him to relationship.<br /><br />There is a kind of fear and awe that turns to love and grateful devotion when friendship that would otherwise be preposterous and presumptuous is suddenly offered. Let me illustrate. You would never dream of a friendship with the President of the United States or the Queen of England. This is because we hold a certain amount of fear and respect toward them. Yet were they to offer their friendship to us, we would gladly accept, and would quickly become their most devoted and loving companion. This is also because of our fear and respect for them. We are devoted because we value the friendship; we value the friendship because we never thought it possible; we never thought it possible because we respected them so much that we thought them to be too great for us. When something we never dreamed possible becomes a reality, it is of infinite value to us. We were never worthy to be God's friends, but He offered it to us: at the expense of His own life, while we were His enemies. Think of it.<br /><br />For our worship experiences to rival the Biblical encounters, we must make the fear of God the foundation of our friendship with Him. To drain the awe of God's holiness from our worship experience is to ultimately cheapen the intimacy of His love. To understand His transcendence is to appreciate His imminence. Psalm 25:14 says it best: "The Lord confides in those who fear Him." When God looks to share His heart with someone, He goes to the ones who fear Him. Just as it was in the life of Moses, so it is with us: the friendship begins with the fear.<br /><br />----------------<br /><br /><br />----------------<br />Now playing: <a href="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/ross+parsley/track/my+savior+lives" title="'Ross Parsley - My Savior Lives' - open on FoxyTunes Planet">Ross Parsley - My Savior Lives</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-size:10;" >via <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/" title="FoxyTunes - Web of music at your fingertips">FoxyTunes</a></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-size:10;" >via <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/" title="FoxyTunes - Web of music at your fingertips">FoxyTunes</a></span>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-59135022522575483332007-08-23T08:13:00.000-07:002007-08-23T08:32:15.537-07:00The Greatness of Mark Roach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVvG7QwoinnOUmMyFAbmBD9bS_M5sp2KlaQ19Og73YLs9BCRyP92jJ7OqwdPXJQPaAVfxxWW_9G1g2-EZFgik3fhAnEzV4N5-DTiwrjk5HkKk30zB1zeNdogn1YCqYfK9Xt_XOaGqkPh/s1600-h/Mark+Roach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVvG7QwoinnOUmMyFAbmBD9bS_M5sp2KlaQ19Og73YLs9BCRyP92jJ7OqwdPXJQPaAVfxxWW_9G1g2-EZFgik3fhAnEzV4N5-DTiwrjk5HkKk30zB1zeNdogn1YCqYfK9Xt_XOaGqkPh/s320/Mark+Roach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101918105808043826" border="0" /></a><br /> I had the pleasure of meeting a new-comer in the Christian Worship Music scene back in February at the re:create conference in TN. Mark Roach is a worship leader at Morning Star Church in MO and an anointed song writer. His stuff is theologically sound, heartfelt, well written and meaningful. In a word, this guy is <span style="font-style: italic;">GOOD. </span>I want you to go and check out his <a href="http://www.markroach.com/">website</a> and learn more about him. Mark's debut CD is titled <span style="font-style: italic;">Every Reason Why<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>and there are nothing but winners on this recording. You can pick up the CD through <a href="http://www.myrrhworship.com/myrrh/products/details/?id=8a0af8121398e5c20113fa2c650c076d">Myrrh Records</a>. This guy's even got a video on YouTube - go check it out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/markroachmusic2">here</a>.<br /> So - if you have a conference, camp, or special event for which you need a top-notch worship leader, contact Mark Roach and see what the Lord will do through him. Mark my words, the Lord's hand is on this guy and He will use Mark to accomplish great things for His kingdom.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-53889843148785379812007-08-09T08:39:00.000-07:002007-08-09T08:41:22.422-07:00Breakthrough Prayer: A Conversation with Jim Cymbala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro4dXfVAHxzFDTTQDkphyphenhyphenewqXjw-lxYczzFiS8nxKlyW5HywbmY5qXQCR5H80Y2Lm9WopnOI2ybHLJ8a-Ke_b5aVy6PnPl4uBgkHsZsdnSOMq_N4ZZPSqoSU_u-pLxIp2v4kHXpKLpOix/s1600-h/Jim_Cymbala_MD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjro4dXfVAHxzFDTTQDkphyphenhyphenewqXjw-lxYczzFiS8nxKlyW5HywbmY5qXQCR5H80Y2Lm9WopnOI2ybHLJ8a-Ke_b5aVy6PnPl4uBgkHsZsdnSOMq_N4ZZPSqoSU_u-pLxIp2v4kHXpKLpOix/s320/Jim_Cymbala_MD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096726344734609490" border="0" /></a><br /><h1><br /><!-- #EndEditable --></h1> <h5><!-- #BeginEditable "author" -->By Matt Vilkas and Scott Ross <br /><i>The 700 Club<br /> </i><!-- #EndEditable --></h5> <br /><!-- #BeginEditable "body" --> <span class="source"><a href="http://www.cbn.com/">CBN.com</a> – </span><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>Jim, this is a basic question. I don't want to be simplistic, but define prayer. <p><b>JIM CYMBALA: </b>Prayer is the opening of the heart so we can receive all these good things that God has for us every day. It's like sitting down at a table that God has prepared for us. He says, 'I have everything you need today - all the grace, all the wisdom, all the provision that you need - but sit down at the table and eat. Don't be so rushed and so busy and try to live without My supply.'</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>Is there anything we should <i>not</i> pray about? What should we pray about?</p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA: </b>Well, the Bible says if we ask anything according to His will, we know the Lord will hear us. So one of the things we have to check on is, are we praying in the spirit and the will of God as revealed in Scriptures? To go and pray, 'My boss insulted me yesterday. God, I pray that he comes down with a disease,' or something like that, this is not a thing to be praying about. We're to pray according to God's will. Then when we pray according to God's will, we don't have to be wondering, 'I wonder if God will hear this? I wonder if He's in sympathy with what I'm asking?' We are to pray according to God's will as revealed in Scripture.</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>What do you do when you've been praying, you've got all the formulas down, if I can use that term, done everything right, still don't get an answer - I think the phrase you use in your book is 'when the mountain won't move'? What do you do when the mountain's not moving, and you're fasting, praying, binding, loosening, casting in, casting out, doing everything you know to, but it ain't happening? </p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA:</b> One of the things you have to do is pray for insight and discernment and spiritual understanding about what's happening while you're praying. Now, one of the things you have to remember is that when you pray, you don't automatically get that answer in the time frame you want. The hardest part of the prayer of faith is waiting. As my friend Dave Wilkerson and I were once saying - I think he's the one who told me - the hardest part of faith is the last half hour. In other words, you're praying and you're waiting and God says, 'Now, wait on.' That's why David says in the Psalms, 'Wait, my soul, upon the Lord.' Don't get discouraged. Don't give up because it hasn't come in your time, because many times in my life God has answered later than I wanted, but when He answered, I saw the wisdom in what He was accomplishing by waiting. God does all things well.</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>What should we <i>not </i>do in prayer?</p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA: </b>One thing we can't do in prayer is have a spirit of anger or resentment or unforgiveness toward another person because the whole philosophy of prayer, the whole approach to the throne of grace, is that I'm only there, sinful as I am, I'm only there and can pray in Jesus' name because God has been so merciful to me and to you. The thing about prayer that reaches God's ear is that it comes from a sincere heart that wants to walk in the light and is looking to God in faith.</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>Let me contextualize this a bit and put it in historical perspective. Recent history, September 11, you guys are right there in Brooklyn. You look across the river where two towers once stood. A number of your people were in those buildings. I know thousands of you folks prayed for your folks. Some lived; some died. Why?</p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA: </b>Because God is sovereign and there are mysteries that I won't understand until I get to see Jesus. We lost more, I think, than any church in New York City - four people we lost. Dozens of others just got out of the area in time. Why some perished and went to be with the Lord and why others escaped, until I see the Lord, I won't understand. But I'm still going to have faith in the fact that God does all things well, and His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. There comes a point in life, as you know yourself, you just have to leave it with God and say, 'God, I don't understand this, but then again I'm living in a finite body and a finite mind. When I see You, You'll explain this whole thing to me.'</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS: </b>Are we doing what we're supposed to be doing as the Church?</p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA:</b> In Acts 4, when Peter was released, the first persecution of the church, they prayed. Paul says in 1 Timothy, 'First of all, then, I want men and women in the church to pray.' I don't think it's our 'first of all' priority. I think we've pushed teaching and the music and worship to a place that it doesn't really hold in Scripture. Not that those things are not important. And we've lost the element of prayer. In other words, how many churches in the cities of the listeners and the viewers here today, how many churches in these cities have prayer meetings attended by the pastor, where corporately everyone comes together and says, 'Wait a minute. If these promises are true in the Bible - 'Call upon me and I'll answer you,' 'Ask and you shall receive' - well, let's do it.</p> <p><b>SCOTT ROSS (reporting): </b>In May 2003, Jim Cymbala and his congregation did just that. A member's niece was kidnapped in Trinidad. She had been held prisoner for a week. They knew they needed a miraculous breakthrough.</p> <p><b>JIM CYMBALA: </b>They were asking half a million dollars. This is a rampant thing now going on in Trinidad and Tobago. She brought it on a Tuesday night, with great faith and urgency, to the front of the church. I let her take the microphone and tell the story to the people who were gathered here to pray. When we found out that her niece was being held, and God knows what was going on there, and could die, could be sexually abused, we began to call on the Lord like Paul said, 'I travail like a mother giving birth till Christ be formed in you.' I mean, our church became like a labor room. It was incredible. People began to cry out to God in prayer and with faith. Out of nowhere, the next day the call comes from Trinidad. The kidnappers just looked at her, put her in a car, drove her down the road, tossed her out, unhurt, unharmed, no ransom paid. God still answers prayer, and nothing is too hard for Him. So viewers that are watching today, whatever the problem is you're facing and you say, 'God could never do that,' you're wrong. With God nothing is impossible.</p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-69245955956376017352007-06-06T11:44:00.000-07:002007-09-05T14:11:34.454-07:00Easy Four-Step Evangelism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoUihfbDrMz3u0eQU_e0-0QxciVKyB6L_Bbz1ljYxdA6Pe3lsVmGOhkX_GbWdUwkJ2U0E7IwjDFl8NXFkOhJ2esV4Gq0SN7gWoIG0ISP0rRWbGF6Yl_AxiU0-ugu8a4J7sXA30-skkSXP/s1600-h/Rick+Warren.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoUihfbDrMz3u0eQU_e0-0QxciVKyB6L_Bbz1ljYxdA6Pe3lsVmGOhkX_GbWdUwkJ2U0E7IwjDFl8NXFkOhJ2esV4Gq0SN7gWoIG0ISP0rRWbGF6Yl_AxiU0-ugu8a4J7sXA30-skkSXP/s320/Rick+Warren.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106830723760947010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >In church, we often challenge our people to tell others about salvation through Jesus. We encourage them over and over to be open with their faith. The problem is that we do not always equip our people with the tools they need to do this. I found the following plan at </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pastors.com/">www.pastors.com</a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >, a website filled with great tools developed by Rick Warren, Pastor of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.saddleback.com/flash/default.htm">Saddleback Church</a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > in Lake Forrest, CA. This is a simple, non-threatening plan to share the good news with another. Check it out or, better yet, try it out today!</span><br /><br /><br /><p><b><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >An easy method for sharing your faith</span></b><br /> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >by Rick Warren</span></p> <p> <!--insert article image if available --> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > <table align="right" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="215"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div align="right"><em> </em><hr style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-size:78%;" align="center" > <em><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/69659C88-C6E2-46E9-B4D8-CFC3D6E6EE90/0/openquotes.jpg" border="0" width="20" />It’s just like when a baby is born into a family. That baby doesn’t understand everything. That’s the purpose of a church family – to help babies grow<img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/764C2488-B3B5-4D62-9644-13FFFB7B7C9B/0/closequotes.jpg" align="right" width="20" /> spiritually.<br /></span></span></em><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Rick Warren</span></span></span></div> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>You’re going to Heaven because someone cared enough to tell you about Christ. </p> <p>Who have you cared enough to tell? Who are you taking to Heaven with you? </p> <p>If you just have a vague idea in your mind, it’s never going to happen. You need to get specific. </p> <p>One way to do this is to write down the names of six people you want to take to Heaven with you. They may be friends, family, or co-workers. They’re people you care about, people you can invite to church, or people you can share the Good News with. </p> <p>George Gallup did a survey that said in America there are 34 million people who said, "I would go to church if somebody invited me." Do you think you might know one of those people? Probably!</p> <p><strong>The world is far more ready for an invitation than we are ready to invite.</strong> So take the challenge. Write down the names of six people. Then pray and ask God to give you an opportunity to invite them. </p> <p>Your first thought might be, "I don't know what to say!” Below is a simple four-step tool to help you. </p> <p>Then at the proper time when you’re talking with someone who wants a purpose for living and the hope of Heaven – but hasn’t a clue how to get either one – you can ask, "Have you ever established a spiritual base for your life? These are the four things you need to do to get into Heaven.”</p> <p><strong>B – Believe<br /></strong>You must believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and showed he was God by coming back to life. </p> <p>Do you believe that? If yes, then you’re one fourth of the way there already. </p> <p>A George Gallup poll said that 87 percent of Americans believe this. That’s why Christians celebrate Easter. Do you believe? Then say, "I believe Jesus was who he said he was – God – and he proved it by coming back to life.” </p> <p><strong>A – Accept</strong><br />You need to accept God’s free forgiveness for your sin. </p> <p>Would you like to accept that? I don't know anyone who’d reject it. </p> <p>Why would you? If you’ve got this one, you’re half way there. Do you agree, "I have sinned, and I need to accept God’s free forgiveness for my sin”?</p> <p><strong> <table align="right" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="215"> <tbody> <tr bg="" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"> <td><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color:white;"><strong>C.L.A.S.S. 401</strong></span></span></td></tr> <tr bg="" style="color: rgb(204, 153, 102);"> <td><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><a class="" href="http://www.pastors.com/pcom/class/401.asp" target="blank"><img alt="C.L.A.S.S. 401" src="http://www.pastors.com/pcom/class/i/class401_121x125_t.gif" align="left" border="0" hspace="10" width="95" /></a>Help your church members learn to share their faith effectively through their personal testimony and open their eyes to spiritual lostness in your community and around the world. <a class="" href="http://www.pastors.com/pcom/class/401.asp" target="blank">C.L.A.S.S. 401</a> is the fourth in a <a class="" href="http://www.pastors.com/pcom/class/" target="blank">four-part C.L.A.S.S. series</a>. </span> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table>S – Switch<br /></strong>Switch to God’s plan for your life. That means you’re going to say, “I’m no longer going to do what I want to do. I'm going to live the plan God made me for. I want to know God’s purpose for life and from now on God’s going to call the shots, not me.” </p> <p>When you become a Christian, you put a sign on your life that says, "Under New Management!" Now you’re doing God’s plan for your life. After all, <em>your</em> plan hasn’t worked out too well. </p> <p>If you’re willing to do this, you’re three quarters of the way there.</p> <p><strong>E – Express<br /></strong>Express your desire for Christ to be the director of your life – the manager. The word in the Bible is Lord. </p> <p>Are you ready to express that? </p> <p>After explaining the four steps, ask the person if he or she is willing to take them. If he or she is, and if he or she has never invited Christ into his or her life, lead in this simple prayer: </p> <p><em>“Dear God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins so I could be forgiven. I'm sorry for my sins, and I want to live the rest of my life the way you want me to. Please put your Spirit in my life to direct me. Amen.”</em></p> <p>If you get the privilege of praying that prayer with someone, explain to the person that he or she has just crossed the line. The person has verbally put his or her trust in Christ. Let the person know that even if he or she doesn’t understand everything yet, that’s OK. </p> <p>It’s just like when a baby is born into a family. That baby doesn’t understand everything. That’s the purpose of a church family – to help babies grow spiritually. </p> <p>Then, congratulate the person. They’ve just joined the family of God. </p> <p>Does that seem hard? Do you think you could do that with somebody? </p> <p>I was talking to one of our church secretaries and she said, “I’ve been a Christian for many years, but I’ve never led anybody to Christ.” After I shared this simple technique, she said, “I can do this! My dad is not a believer and we’re not close, but I believe God wants me to call him.”</p> <p>She picked up the phone and called him and explained the four steps, and he prayed that prayer and started crying. He gave his life to Christ. Now her dad is going to Heaven. </p> <p>She told me, “If I hadn’t listened to the prompting of God and hadn’t obeyed what he said, my dad would be headed for Hell.”</p> <p>Who is it that God has brought into your life to share the Good News with? God wants to use you. </p> <p>Our theme at Saddleback for the 21st century is this: “Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind.” </p> <p><em>Have you written those six names yet?</em></p> <p>Until next week,</p> <p class="Normal"><img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/A0107DFC-1271-4EA2-8880-89043195BFA8/1149/rick_sig_trans.gif" height="60" width="100" /></p> </span></p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-53968662342353015892007-05-16T08:24:00.000-07:002007-06-06T12:02:56.661-07:00Enter Conference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee1Kd6CldTL6LyKsnEl2T9l3iO-TBBBh07ckhtnTwR_hsgBg6myaV8k213vJxQbwjyUTdlrl_PHMXIp6G_4d3VzhyphenhyphenBB60VwO14jbwvF6eLLSmcSZxhk0KH7KAtDhRcvAi_eUUtefpCFGL/s1600-h/047+-+0928+P+Kathy+Pershall+-++Pat+Rutland+-+Jen+Albro+-+Dav.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee1Kd6CldTL6LyKsnEl2T9l3iO-TBBBh07ckhtnTwR_hsgBg6myaV8k213vJxQbwjyUTdlrl_PHMXIp6G_4d3VzhyphenhyphenBB60VwO14jbwvF6eLLSmcSZxhk0KH7KAtDhRcvAi_eUUtefpCFGL/s320/047+-+0928+P+Kathy+Pershall+-++Pat+Rutland+-+Jen+Albro+-+Dav.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065182994307501954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This year's </span>[Enter]<span style="font-style: italic;"> conference has been postponed; I leave this post in place to encourage participation next year!</span><br /><br /><br />In September of '06 I had the chance to take a good bit of my worship team from Temple, TX to the <a href="http://www.enterworshipconference.com/">Enter Conference</a> at <a href="http://www.newlifechurch.org/">New Life Church in Colorado Springs</a>. This was an incredible experience on so many levels. The community that a team builds on a trip like this is invaluable, in addition to the training we received at the conference. There were some very practical sessions such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Rehearsing a Praise Band, Audio/Visual Techniques, Song Writing, Choir Leadership, </span>etc. Even more valuable was to spend time in worship with 800-900 other worship team members from all over the country. I had never experienced worship with so many people being so focused and worshipful as this. It was as if everyone was truly there for a common purpose: to worship God and build a unity of spirit with other believers. The song kept coming to my mind; <span style="font-style: italic;">I Will Never be the Same Again,</span> and I am not. This conference experience was truly a spiritual marker in my life and I am changed as a result.<br /><br />Now, to worship the Lord so genuinely has its rewards, and when we ventured out to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Garden of The God</span> (my title; it really is called the Garden of the Gods - but I know who really made it!) and experienced the glory and majesty of God's creation, it was even more sweet. It turns out that the time I spent hiking around in His creation, I found myself genuinely worshiping Him there, too. It was all so BEAUTIFUL! I told some of my team members that when God created Colorado, He was just showing off. In Romans 1:20, the Lord declares:<br /><span id="en-NIV-27936" class="sup"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.<br /><br /></span>Well, I'll tell you this; I experienced the Lord in worship and I've experienced Him in is creation during that great week, and I need no excuse. He is more real to me now than ever before, and that is partially because of this experience that I had with my team in Colorado. If I was to recommend one conference for Worship Leaders and their teams, this is the one! Please check out the conference website <a href="http://www.enterworshipconference.com/">here</a>, and find a way to get there in 2007!<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.enterworshipconference.com/"></a>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-42307786375901096052007-05-15T18:51:00.000-07:002007-05-15T19:00:26.837-07:00Our Trip to California<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzLRaWz1KMbD_13phIrweI9qYzbvn6GiSTv7WIcR70afAfNfQwgeA5vl3boikGCdnnR9qtQaWLmIPhHgYwxjjbSWVnu0qZl99IdlUMgSWgVR7ZIVFFYQPsfalrHiGJFCLQD7lBb7fqVya/s1600-h/PICT1958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzLRaWz1KMbD_13phIrweI9qYzbvn6GiSTv7WIcR70afAfNfQwgeA5vl3boikGCdnnR9qtQaWLmIPhHgYwxjjbSWVnu0qZl99IdlUMgSWgVR7ZIVFFYQPsfalrHiGJFCLQD7lBb7fqVya/s320/PICT1958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064972068463595282" border="0" /></a><br /> We had the opportunity to take a trip to the Saddleback Church in California(you, know, Rick Warren!) to attend a worship conference at the church back in the summer of 2005. The conference was amazing, but we also combined the trip into our family vacation and got to visit Disneyland, the beach, the aquarium, and other fun places. It was an amzing trip. Please check out the pics at <a href="http://peytonsincalifornia.blogspot.com/">www.peytonsincalifornia.blogspot.com</a>. It was a great time!David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286670852310355277.post-18600476752468449532007-05-13T19:12:00.002-07:002007-05-16T13:38:29.179-07:00The Evangelism of Worship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYVb_haGmX0on4qIXFk9-SFCO-K8j2T5l3Pwyv0p-esCEuJ4jck70Vc6LzaDsoJfy0MKoxOx6IW7p2wSDLbQ-x8MwBpELiEmCtDcB8J9RnGQYfRTvogzLfCxyqKNtWgkJFhB-sdDNfoHu/s1600-h/rickwarren.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYVb_haGmX0on4qIXFk9-SFCO-K8j2T5l3Pwyv0p-esCEuJ4jck70Vc6LzaDsoJfy0MKoxOx6IW7p2wSDLbQ-x8MwBpELiEmCtDcB8J9RnGQYfRTvogzLfCxyqKNtWgkJFhB-sdDNfoHu/s320/rickwarren.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064233847482861570" border="0" /></a><br /><p><b><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Deep worship that reaches the unchurched</span></b><br /> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >by Rick Warren</span></p> <p> <!--insert article image if available --> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > <table align="right" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="215"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div align="right"><em> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </em></div> <div align="right"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><em><img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/69659C88-C6E2-46E9-B4D8-CFC3D6E6EE90/0/openquotes.jpg" border="0" width="20" />Although unbelievers cannot truly worship, they can watch believers worship. They can observe the joy that we feel. They can see how we value God’s Word and how we respond to it.” </em></span></span></div> <div align="right"> </div> <div align="right"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Rick Warren</span></span></span></div><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><em> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </em></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >At Saddleback we believe worship services can be deep, meaningful, and accessible to the unchurched. Your church members shouldn’t have to choose between whole-heartedly worshiping God and having a place where they can bring their unbelieving friends to have the Gospel presented to them.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >When we speak of worship, we are talking about something only believers can do. Worship is from believers to God. We magnify God’s name in worship by expressing our love and commitment to him. And unbelievers simply cannot do this. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Here is the simple definition of worship that we operate on at Saddleback:</strong></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"Worship is expressing our love to God for who he is, what he’s said, and what he’s doing."</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >We believe there are many appropriate ways to express our love to God: by praying, singing, obeying, trusting, giving, testifying, listening and responding to his Word, thanking, and many other expressions. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em>God - not man - is the focus and center of our worship. </em></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>God is the consumer of worship<br /></strong>Although unbelievers cannot truly worship, they can watch believers worship. They can observe the joy that we feel. They can see how we value God’s Word and how we respond to it. They can hear how the Bible answers the problems and questions of life. They can notice how worship encourages, strengthens, and changes us. They can sense when God is supernaturally moving in a service, although they won’t be able to explain it.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >When unbelievers watch genuine worship, it becomes a powerful witness. In Acts 2 – on the day of Pentecost – God’s presence was so evident in the disciples’ worship service that it attracted the attention of unbelievers throughout the entire city! </span></p> <table align="left" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="215"> <tbody> <tr bg="" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"> <td> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color:white;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">2007 Saddleback Church Worship Conference,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">June 26-28, 2007</span> </strong></span></span></p></td></tr> <tr bg="" style="color: rgb(204, 153, 102);"> <td> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Whether you’re a worship leader, pastor, vocalist, instrumentalist, lead youth worshiper, song writer, or play any other role in developing a weekly worship service, this conference has something for you. Come, learn, experience, participate!</span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenWorshipConference07/07Overview.htm" target="_blank">Learn more >></a></span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </span></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Acts 2:6 says, "... a crowd came together.” We know it was a big crowd because 3,000 people were saved that day.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Why were those 3,000 people converted? Because <strong>they felt God’s presence</strong> and <strong>they understood the message.</strong> </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >I believe both of these elements are essential for worship to be a witness. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >God’s presence must be sensed in the service. More people are won to Christ by feeling God’s presence than by all of our apologetic arguments combined. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Few people, if any, are converted to Christ on purely intellectual grounds. It is the sense of God’s presence that melts hearts and explodes mental barriers. Worship without this yields few evangelistic results.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>I believe there is an intimate connection between worship and evangelism. </strong></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em>In the first place, the goal of evangelism is to produce worshipers of God.</em> The Bible tells us that "the Father seeks worshipers” (John 4:23). When we recruit worshipers, that’s called evangelism. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em>On the other hand, worship provides the motivation for evangelism.</em> It produces a desire in us to tell others about Christ. The result of Isaiah’s powerful worship experience (Isaiah 6:1-8) was Isaiah saying, "Here am I, send me!” True worship causes us to witness. </span></p> <table align="right" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="215"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div align="right"><em> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </em></div> <div align="right"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><em><img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/69659C88-C6E2-46E9-B4D8-CFC3D6E6EE90/0/openquotes.jpg" border="0" width="20" />Few people, if any, are converted to Christ on purely intellectual grounds. It is the sense of God’s presence that melts hearts and explodes mental barriers.”</em></span></span></div> <div align="right"> </div> <div align="right"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Rick Warren</span></span></span></div> <hr align="center" color="#330000" size="1"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>In genuine worship God’s presence is felt, God’s pardon is offered, God’s purposes are revealed, and God’s power is displayed. That sounds to me like an ideal context for evangelism! I’ve noticed that when unbelievers watch believers relate to God in an intelligent, sincere manner it creates a desire to know God, too.</p> <p><strong>Worship with sensitivity<br /></strong>Because genuine worship can have such a profound impact on unbelievers, we need to be very mindful of their fears, hang-ups, and needs when they are present in our worship services. </p> <p>This is the principle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 14:23: Paul commanded that tongues be limited in public worship. </p> <p>His reasoning? Speaking in tongues seems like foolishness to unbelievers. Paul didn’t say tongues were foolish but only that they appear foolish to unbelievers. </p> <p>"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (1 Cor. 14:23 NIV)</p> <p>I believe there is a larger principle behind this advice to the Corinthian church. The point Paul is making is that <strong>we must be willing to adjust our worship practices when unbelievers are present. </strong>God tells us to be sensitive to the hang-ups of unbelievers in our services! Making our worship services accessible to the unchurched is a biblical command. I didn’t think up this concept – Paul did!</p> <p><strong>Making worship understandable<br /></strong>Making a service “comfortable” for the unchurched doesn’t mean changing your theology; it means changing the environment of the service – such as changing the way you greet visitors, the style of music you use, the Bible translation you preach from, and the kind of announcements you make in the service.</p> <p><strong>The message is not always comfortable.</strong> In fact, sometimes God’s truth is very uncomfortable! Still we must teach “the whole counsel of God.” Being accessible to the unchurched does not limit what you say but it will affect how you say it. </p> <p>We must make both the worship and the message understandable. </p> <p>At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit miraculously translated the message into words each person understood. The crowd of unbelievers said, “We hear them telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!” (Acts 2:11 NCV) </p> <p>This caused them to be converted. Even though God’s presence was evident in the service, they wouldn’t have known what to do if they hadn’t been able to understand the message.</p> <p><strong>The unchurched are not asking for a watered-down message.</strong> The unchurched expect to hear the Bible when they come to church. They just want to hear how it relates to their lives. They can handle a clear, biblical message when it is delivered in terms they understand and in a tone that shows you respect and care about them. They are looking for solutions, not a scolding.</p> <p>A clear message coupled with genuine worship will not only attract unbelievers, it will open their hearts to the power of the Gospel. As they feel God’s presence and understand the message they will walk away changed. </p> <p>Until next week,</p> <p><img src="http://www.purposedriven.com/NR/rdonlyres/A0107DFC-1271-4EA2-8880-89043195BFA8/1149/rick_sig_trans.gif" height="60" width="100" /></p>David Peytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725573448591127955noreply@blogger.com0