A Few Reasons To Get Stoked

Our amazing God has been doing some amazing things at NP. If you agree just pause and say either "amen" or "whooohooo"--whatever makes you feel good. We have seen our Savior save several lives, mend broken hearts, and rescue a few couples over the past few weeks. Wow!! What an amazing Savior we have.

Let me list a few things that I am really stoked about:

• This coming Sunday is week three of the marriage series and I have seen God work in an incredible way---can't wait till Sunday!
• March 28th is "Friend Day." Just think if everyone brings a friend. If your friend attends another church faithfully, invite them anyway and then pay them back by going to church with them one Sunday---just one though.
• April 4 is EASTER and we are going to have a blow-out Sunday. We are going to be having three (3) services on Easter (8:00, 9:15, and 10:45am). Let's fill up NP. There is no greater day to bring a friend or family member who needs Christ than on Easter Sunday....we are going to exalt our Lord and worship Him in an exciting way. It's going to be phenomenal.
• The month of April is "Get Ready" month. The three Sundays following Easter I am going to be preaching on the 2nd coming of Christ---that's why we are all wearing the orange wrist bands that say "Get Ready." If you don't have one you can pick one up this Sunday at the coffee shop.
• Starting in May I am going to be taking us through the book of Romans. This series will last 18 weeks. I am major stoked about this one. Romans is the theological pinnacle of the Bible. We are all going to learn much.
  

I have been in the ministry now for nearly 21 years and I have never been a part of such an awesome church as NP. God is continually adding to us. Let's keep praying, studying His Word, being faithful to worship and Community Groups, and let's stay on the great task that our Great God has given us.

I love being your pastor

Who The Marriage Series Is For!!

I am pumped about the upcoming series starting this Sunday entitled, "Secrets For A Successful Marriage." We attempt to carve out one month a year and focus on marriage--as we should. For it is the institution of marriage that is an image of Christ and the Church (Eph. 5:21-33) and this world is desperate to see such an image. Also, marriages are so challenged by an apathetic culture that offers the antitheses to marriage, that is, separation and divorce. Did you know that in one day’s time, 3,000 couples divorce; 65% of all new marriages end in divorce and of the remaining 35%, 10% of the couples say they are miserable. Therefore, I believe with all my heart that the Church must address and hold to a high standard the sanctity of marriage.

HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS MARRIAGE SERIES---WE ALL NEED IT.

Who is this series for:

• Everyone.
• Students. One day most all of our teenagers will either be getting married or at least entertain the notion of marriage. They need to learn how to use Scripture as the standard of marriage and not their peers or the culture. Now is the time for them to start listening.
• Those with a challenged marriage (a marriage in turmoil). This is a time for those couples who are struggling to show up at NP with a Bible and a notepad and beg God to teach, challenge, and change their marriage to be a marriage of "happily everafter," "For better or worse," and "till death do us part." THIS MONTH IS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE.
• Divorced people. You may have plans for another marriage---maybe you don't---maybe God has plans for you and you just don't know it yet. DON'T MISS THIS SERIES---IT'S FOR YOU! It's time that you show up and take copious notes to pass on to a future spouse on how you should be treated and how you will treat them according to God's Word. Also, if you have children, I'm sure you don't want them to go through what you have been through. Now is your time to be a parent/teacher. Sit with them and discuss the sermon/teaching with them and challenge them to hold high the Word of God and the sanctity of marriage.
• Single people. You are not exempt. You have no idea what God has in store for you. I pray that you will take this series serious and one day if you do enter into marriage, your Biblical expectations will be high. If the church does not hold marriage to a high standard and teach the expectations of it---no one else will. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SERIES.
• Older couples. You are much needed in this series. You may be thinking, "we don't need this, we have been married for 40+ years." I say, "YES YOU NEED IT AND WE NEED YOU." If your marriage is so perfect that you can't be challenged to be a better spouse, then now is your chance to pray for your pastor (ME). There are so many couples that are desperate to watch the godly example(s) of a seasoned couple and who desperately need to put down pride and be challenged by the Word of God---they need prayer. Don't you wan them to have what you have. You know things about marriage that we haven't learned yet--and we are destined for mistakes unless you teach us. PLEASE HEAR THIS: IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS FOR YOU, THINK ABOUT ALL THE YOUNGER COUPLES WHO ARE IN THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR LIVES---SHOW UP AND PRAY FOR THEM AS THEY ARE BEING CHALLENGED BY GOD'S WORD.
• Widows and Widowers. You are not being left out. Some of you had an amazing marriage and it should be your desire that those married experience what your marriage did with Christ in the middle--show up and pray--NP needs you and many marriages do to---do you really understand the power of prayer---cover your pastor and saturate the worship center with prayer. I promise you this, our enemy will be there because he hates what you had and wants no one else to have it. PLEASE PRAY. You may be a widow/widower that had a very unhappy marriage. I know you don't want any young lady or young many to go through what you went through. NOW IS A WORTHY MOMENT FOR YOU IN GOD'S KINGDOM. Begin praying now.

I will see everyone Sunday....Be in prayer and be ready to worship...it's going to be an amazing month.