Can You Have Church Anywhere?

I just had a wonderful yet brief discussion with our worship pastor here at North Pointe and he made the statement of having church anywhere. We were basing our talk on the experience we had at the U2 concert last night in Norman (by the way AMAZING!!). They chose an arrangement of Amazing Grace and Where the Streets Have No Name. It was a powerfully spiritual experience. I felt the power of the H.S. while is was setting in Memorial Stadium. That usually only happens when the Sooners score!! LOL

I realized that Bono had just led me to throne room of God while I was standing watching a concert. For lack of a better phrase we had church there for a moment. It was just a confirmation in my heart that God is so huge and he can show up and do whatever he wants in my life whenever he wants to do it. He also doesn't care who He uses to impact me. Whether it be as simple as something sweet that one of my girls do, or what a 50 year old Irish rocker does from a stage in the middle of a football field.

Obviously being connected to a body of believers is important and vital to your spiritual growth. Unfortunately for some that is the end all be all of there spiritual experiences for the week. People fail to realize God moving in and out of time and space. People He isn't contained to your church on Sunday mornings. Believe it or not God is doing things in other places as well.

I don't know those are just some thoughts after a really good concert where for me... God showed up.

mick

Student Outreach

You know what is one of the greatest things in the world? Seeing students start thinking about ways they can interact with their lost friends. I'm watching a young 7th grade girl right now text a girl that she knows is lost. She is asking her some questions about how she can come to know the world. How call is that. Watching them put their testimonies online. That is cool stuff.

If you are reading this and you haven't ever given your life to Christ there is a website you can check out. www.code2life.com

here's also some simple scripture that you can check out... see how much God loves you

Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 10: 9-10
Romans 5:8
John 3;3
2 Corinthians 5:15
Revelation 3:20

if you don't have a bible google them or go to biblegateway.com

Greatest Decision You'll Ever Make!!!!!!

Good Morning Holy Spirit....

OK.. here we go. I've recently been in a mode that is a little unfamiliar to me. That is one of exploration and wonder. All this is coming from a recent book purchase of mine title "Forgotten God" by Francis Chen. It is an incredible read (of which I'm not finished). How many of us have in say the last year have actually engaged the HOLY SPIRIT. You have felt his presence, you have sought his council, and prayed that he stood in your behalf when it comes to God the Father and Christ the Son. We have to remember they are all equal yet all separate (i.e. the trinity which means three not two.)

It's easy to think about father and son, it's tough to think about mystical third guy known as the spirit. That is what Christ left for us. Not himself, not the father he left the spirit. Check out Acts some time. They disciples are setting around in a room waiting on this "one" that is coming. they didn't know who, where, or what that would look like. When he came though it was a powerful thing. We are talking rushing wind and tongues of fire baby!!!!

How in the world did this rag tag group get it done in the first century. Hello...it was through the spirit. Check out 2 Peter at the end of the first chapter he hits the nail right on the head. This is the working of the spirit through human hands. We can't do this stuff called life and ministry on our own. The H.S. gives us the gumption to make it happen.

Unfortunately we as conservative followers of Christ struggle with the mention of things unknown and somewhat magical in nature. That is what the H.S. is all about. There are people being raised from the dead, being set free from prison, and financial needs being met. Sounds like the new testament, but it things that are happening right now all over the globe. The H.S. is at work all around us, and I think for me and for you it is time that we quit avoiding it and start engaging it. My challenge to you... Get to know the third leg of the trinity. He't pretty cool too.

just some thoughts...
Mick

See You at the Pole

I was in Piedmont this morning at around 740 and I got to see about 65 middle school students pray for their school. You know I had thoughts yesterday about salt and light. Well it is an amazing thing to watch 6-8 graders pray for their school right in the middle of the main parking lot for the whole world to see. There were countless people watching from their cars as they prayed. That is salt being poured out of a shaker. That is light on a hill. On top of it all to see some of the administration out there praying with them. That is awesome. God bless them in all that they do.

just some thoughts....

mick

Ministry and People?

I was listening to a friend of mine last night preach in Wilson, Oklahoma and he brought up an interesting thought. There's the old saying that "ministry would be great if it weren't for the people." As he said in his sermon and as I was reflecting in my mind. That statement couldn't be more far from the truth.
Ministry is all about people. As a pastor I'm called to be about people. Christ has called us all to the ministry of reconciliation [2 Corinthians 5]. To basically (as my good friend stated last night) go give people value again in Christ. Yeah people can drive you crazy. I know guys in ministry that drive me crazy and the last time I checked they are people too.
That was confirmed in my heart this morning as I was looking at Matthew 5. We are called to be salt of the earth. We are go and impact and not be hidden from the people that God has placed around us. I love the quote from a lady named Becky Pippert said many years ago, "unless salt gets poured out of the shaker, it remains a mere table ornament." Now that is the truth. What we have inside of us is not to be hidden away. As Matthew 5 later gets into the fact that we are a light a city on a hill that isn't to be hidden.
Ministry is all about people. It will always be about people. Just some thought this cool and rainy morning.

mick