Hello E-News Friends,
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving getting together with some family and friends. Maybe you had to remember a time or two that love is patient and you applied it. If you did, I am sure that today you can look back and see how that was a “win” in the love column. Applying love the way God designed it always wins even though at the time it often doesn’t feel like the thing to do. Trust in it! It never fails!
Here is a phrase we want to apply to our love lives. I think it holds the key to us loving one another the way God wants us to. Here it is… “Love is more action than affection.” Read it again. Say it to yourself. Say it aloud.
I feel affection for Kathy. That is a good thing. I show her I love her by how I act towards her. That is a better thing. That is a God thing. Love is patient. Apply it! That is how it wins.
This week we continue our LOVE WINS series as we learn more about this love that never fails. You won’t want to miss any of this series. It is just too important to your life and the people you come into contact with. I hope to see you Sunday!
A Fellow Love Doctor in Training,
Tom
PS I have been trying to stay near 2000 calories a day to maintain or possibly lose some poundage. After Thanksgiving (and five pieces if pie), I can’t eat for the next 8 days to make up for it. It was great though! Thanks mom!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
E-News from Tom: 11/20/09
Hello E-News Friends,
Thanksgiving is a great holiday! Not just because of the turkey and football, although those are good, but just the main idea of expressed gratitude to God. Saying thanks to Him for the many things we take for granted. It is good for your heart, mind and soul! It honors our Heavenly Father—something He fully deserves!
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.“ Psalm 100:4
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
You won’t want to miss this Sunday’s Thanksgiving Service! It is packed with gratitude and love! What a combo! This service is sure to stay with you for a long while! How about showing some love to a friend by inviting them to Oak Bridge this weekend. Maybe God has a divine appointment scheduled with them. You just never know!
Kathy tells me she will have some Pumpkin pie available to all that want to get a jump-start on Thanksgiving Day! Oak Bridge and food, they seem to go together!
Let’s bring grateful hearts to our Father and pour them out in song and thought this weekend as we prepare for the coming Thanksgiving holiday. See you then!
In His Grace,
Tom
PS How about bringing a pie this Sunday for our friends from The Towers downtown. Many are disabled and need a little kindness this time of year. Remember our saying “LOVE WINS”. Let’s show them some. It makes a difference!
PSS New OBCC videos are posted at http://www.youtube.com/blptv4u
Thanksgiving is a great holiday! Not just because of the turkey and football, although those are good, but just the main idea of expressed gratitude to God. Saying thanks to Him for the many things we take for granted. It is good for your heart, mind and soul! It honors our Heavenly Father—something He fully deserves!
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.“ Psalm 100:4
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
You won’t want to miss this Sunday’s Thanksgiving Service! It is packed with gratitude and love! What a combo! This service is sure to stay with you for a long while! How about showing some love to a friend by inviting them to Oak Bridge this weekend. Maybe God has a divine appointment scheduled with them. You just never know!
Kathy tells me she will have some Pumpkin pie available to all that want to get a jump-start on Thanksgiving Day! Oak Bridge and food, they seem to go together!
Let’s bring grateful hearts to our Father and pour them out in song and thought this weekend as we prepare for the coming Thanksgiving holiday. See you then!
In His Grace,
Tom
PS How about bringing a pie this Sunday for our friends from The Towers downtown. Many are disabled and need a little kindness this time of year. Remember our saying “LOVE WINS”. Let’s show them some. It makes a difference!
PSS New OBCC videos are posted at http://www.youtube.com/blptv4u
Friday, October 30, 2009
E-News from Tom: 10/30/09
Hello E-News Friends,
Sunday starts a week of big-time celebration for us. Obviously, we have the morning worship (I will talk about the scariest verse in the Bible.) followed by an “always great” Baptism Service at 4:00 at the OBC. Small Groups and the Toolbox make up some mid-week excitement. We’ll have our first ever “Night of Worship” on Saturday, November 7. (Bring a canned good to get in!) The doors will open at 6:45. That night the Oak Bridge Center will offer a variety of beverages and desserts for purchase to help support our young adults. (Kathy will have her amazing carrot cake. It is great and has absolutely zero calories!) Can it get any better than that!
It all concludes with our 6 Year Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, November 8! You don’t want to miss it! It is going to be a great service of stories and celebration!
God loves us! Jesus proved it! God guides us! Jesus is His pathway! God changes lives through His Son. We are carriers of that truth! Thank you God!
Let’s all celebrate these truths together!
In His Amazing Grace,
Tom
PS Don’t forget to turn your clocks back before you go to bed Saturday night!
Sunday starts a week of big-time celebration for us. Obviously, we have the morning worship (I will talk about the scariest verse in the Bible.) followed by an “always great” Baptism Service at 4:00 at the OBC. Small Groups and the Toolbox make up some mid-week excitement. We’ll have our first ever “Night of Worship” on Saturday, November 7. (Bring a canned good to get in!) The doors will open at 6:45. That night the Oak Bridge Center will offer a variety of beverages and desserts for purchase to help support our young adults. (Kathy will have her amazing carrot cake. It is great and has absolutely zero calories!) Can it get any better than that!
It all concludes with our 6 Year Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, November 8! You don’t want to miss it! It is going to be a great service of stories and celebration!
God loves us! Jesus proved it! God guides us! Jesus is His pathway! God changes lives through His Son. We are carriers of that truth! Thank you God!
Let’s all celebrate these truths together!
In His Amazing Grace,
Tom
PS Don’t forget to turn your clocks back before you go to bed Saturday night!
Friday, October 16, 2009
E-News from Tom: 10/16/09
Hello E-News Friends,
My hat is off to all of you who have taken the your next step towards Christ either through baptism, small groups, Toolbox, more consistent Sunday attendance, or signing up to use your giftedness to serve. I know your relationship with God is on a forward movement direction! You will be amazed by your growth in Christ and what it means to your life! It changes (for the better) so many things!
This Sunday we will look at a big “growth stopper”. It impacts all of us to one degree or another. But the good news is that we can do something about it. The problem is most of us are not even aware of how this “growth stopper” is working. And that is a danger to each of us.
It’s a great Sunday to bring a friend. We’ll supply the fresh fruit, bagels, doughnuts, and coffee. You send out the invite. (Tell’em it’s all you can eat.) That would work for me!
See you on the best day of the week!
In His Grace,
Tom
PS I hear a rap is going down in the E-Service, and Married Life Live is gonna be a “Off the chain”! I can’t wait to see both!
My hat is off to all of you who have taken the your next step towards Christ either through baptism, small groups, Toolbox, more consistent Sunday attendance, or signing up to use your giftedness to serve. I know your relationship with God is on a forward movement direction! You will be amazed by your growth in Christ and what it means to your life! It changes (for the better) so many things!
This Sunday we will look at a big “growth stopper”. It impacts all of us to one degree or another. But the good news is that we can do something about it. The problem is most of us are not even aware of how this “growth stopper” is working. And that is a danger to each of us.
It’s a great Sunday to bring a friend. We’ll supply the fresh fruit, bagels, doughnuts, and coffee. You send out the invite. (Tell’em it’s all you can eat.) That would work for me!
See you on the best day of the week!
In His Grace,
Tom
PS I hear a rap is going down in the E-Service, and Married Life Live is gonna be a “Off the chain”! I can’t wait to see both!
Monday, October 5, 2009
E-News from Tom: 10/05/09
Hello E-News Friends,
Fall is here. The air is cool and crisp. The leaves are falling off the trees. You can smell the occasional outdoor fire. Apple cider is plentiful in all the stores. Football games are on every channel. The Cardinals are still playing and the Cubs are going home.
Sweatshirts are making their appearance. A new season is in full swing.
Spiritually speaking, a new season is in full swing as well. Time to take some fresh new steps towards Christ. I am upping my time I spend in reflection. Asking myself questions like: What am I going to spend time on today? Who can I express love to more clearly? Am I looking for the hand of God in nature? Can I be the hand (or mouth) of God to someone? Am I taking steps towards Christ that make sense? Who can I learn from today? It’s made a difference and feels great.
Are you starting a new season that moves you closer to Christ? You can you know! Try out The Toolbox. Apply a teaching from Sunday’s message. Memorize the key Bible verses. Read a book from the Grow store. Go walking with some great praise music playing in your earphones. Sign up for the next class. Get baptized. Invite someone to go to Church with you. Get involved in serving. Go to a Small Group. Read your Bible. Pray for your love factor to grow. Attend Church with more regularity.
It’s a new season! Go for It! God is waiting!
Take a step towards Christ. You can do it!
This week we will learn about our talents and how God can use them if we choose to allow Him. The message is titled “You Got What It Takes?” I think it’s a topic God wants us all to understand.
Remember it’s a new season. Take some steps towards Christ!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. The Toolbox is Wednesday @ 7:00 at the OBC. (A great next step!)
Fall is here. The air is cool and crisp. The leaves are falling off the trees. You can smell the occasional outdoor fire. Apple cider is plentiful in all the stores. Football games are on every channel. The Cardinals are still playing and the Cubs are going home.
Sweatshirts are making their appearance. A new season is in full swing.
Spiritually speaking, a new season is in full swing as well. Time to take some fresh new steps towards Christ. I am upping my time I spend in reflection. Asking myself questions like: What am I going to spend time on today? Who can I express love to more clearly? Am I looking for the hand of God in nature? Can I be the hand (or mouth) of God to someone? Am I taking steps towards Christ that make sense? Who can I learn from today? It’s made a difference and feels great.
Are you starting a new season that moves you closer to Christ? You can you know! Try out The Toolbox. Apply a teaching from Sunday’s message. Memorize the key Bible verses. Read a book from the Grow store. Go walking with some great praise music playing in your earphones. Sign up for the next class. Get baptized. Invite someone to go to Church with you. Get involved in serving. Go to a Small Group. Read your Bible. Pray for your love factor to grow. Attend Church with more regularity.
It’s a new season! Go for It! God is waiting!
Take a step towards Christ. You can do it!
This week we will learn about our talents and how God can use them if we choose to allow Him. The message is titled “You Got What It Takes?” I think it’s a topic God wants us all to understand.
Remember it’s a new season. Take some steps towards Christ!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. The Toolbox is Wednesday @ 7:00 at the OBC. (A great next step!)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
E-News from Tom: 09/30/09
A Hard Question
There is a question that scares me. Jesus asked it of some of his closest friends. It echoes in the back of my mind during some of the “hard” times in my life: times when I want to do what I want to do, times when I’m physically tired or emotionally worn out, and times when I don’t have an answer for life’s problems. This question’s answer can change your life in a totally different direction. And it’s not a good direction either.
Jesus was giving a true but difficult teaching to his followers. You can read it in John Chapter 6. It was hard for many of his followers to understand. To others it was offensive. So they left Jesus. They quit following him. They picked up their stuff and went away. He then looked at his closest friends and asked them “the question”, “Do you want to leave too?”
Sometimes it seems easier to leave Jesus rather than stay and follow him. Acknowledge some sin in my life. Leave him. Make a hard decision regarding my pride. Leave him. Give up a comfortable lifestyle. Leave him. Change some of my friendships. Leave him. Stop an addictive behavior. Leave him. Be totally honest with myself. Leave him. Rearrange my work or social schedule. Leave him. Something tragic happens in my life. Leave him. It could go on and on.
I’ve never seen anyone who quits following Jesus improve his life. Most people just regret it silently or live it out bitterly, but they are never better for it. Their family and friends are never better for it.
I have heard it said many times by people who do not follow Jesus that the Christian faith is just for people who are weak and “need a crutch”. I find it to be just the opposite. Sometimes following Jesus takes every ounce of courage and strength you have. I’ve observed it and experienced it enough times to know that it is always the right choice. Not the easy one but the right one.
What is going on in your journey with Jesus? I’m guessing you are running into some pretty hard teachings, some that may even offend you. Don’t be weak! Don’t be a quitter! Push on and keep following him. Persevere. Hang in there!
A follower of Jesus once said perseverance builds character and character builds hope. Stay the course. Hope and character are around the corner.
Eleven of the twelve he asked the question to stayed, one eventually left. His name was Judas. It didn’t work out so well for him. He regretted his answer and decision.
Keep taking steps towards Jesus. Stay with Him and His followers. It is always the right decision!
Together with you in His grace,
Tom
There is a question that scares me. Jesus asked it of some of his closest friends. It echoes in the back of my mind during some of the “hard” times in my life: times when I want to do what I want to do, times when I’m physically tired or emotionally worn out, and times when I don’t have an answer for life’s problems. This question’s answer can change your life in a totally different direction. And it’s not a good direction either.
Jesus was giving a true but difficult teaching to his followers. You can read it in John Chapter 6. It was hard for many of his followers to understand. To others it was offensive. So they left Jesus. They quit following him. They picked up their stuff and went away. He then looked at his closest friends and asked them “the question”, “Do you want to leave too?”
Sometimes it seems easier to leave Jesus rather than stay and follow him. Acknowledge some sin in my life. Leave him. Make a hard decision regarding my pride. Leave him. Give up a comfortable lifestyle. Leave him. Change some of my friendships. Leave him. Stop an addictive behavior. Leave him. Be totally honest with myself. Leave him. Rearrange my work or social schedule. Leave him. Something tragic happens in my life. Leave him. It could go on and on.
I’ve never seen anyone who quits following Jesus improve his life. Most people just regret it silently or live it out bitterly, but they are never better for it. Their family and friends are never better for it.
I have heard it said many times by people who do not follow Jesus that the Christian faith is just for people who are weak and “need a crutch”. I find it to be just the opposite. Sometimes following Jesus takes every ounce of courage and strength you have. I’ve observed it and experienced it enough times to know that it is always the right choice. Not the easy one but the right one.
What is going on in your journey with Jesus? I’m guessing you are running into some pretty hard teachings, some that may even offend you. Don’t be weak! Don’t be a quitter! Push on and keep following him. Persevere. Hang in there!
A follower of Jesus once said perseverance builds character and character builds hope. Stay the course. Hope and character are around the corner.
Eleven of the twelve he asked the question to stayed, one eventually left. His name was Judas. It didn’t work out so well for him. He regretted his answer and decision.
Keep taking steps towards Jesus. Stay with Him and His followers. It is always the right decision!
Together with you in His grace,
Tom
Monday, September 28, 2009
E-News from Tom: 09/25/09
Hello E-News Friends,
How do you own something without paying anything for it? The answer to that is simpler than you may think. I was at a Middle School football game this past weekend.
I went to watch a team I had helped coach the past two years, in a program I helped start ten years ago. As the game was played, I became aware of my lack of emotion to what was happening on the field. Bad play, no big deal. Touchdown, so what. Kid didn’t get in the game, tough luck. I never ever felt that way in the time I served as a coach for this program. I realized I had no ownership anymore.
It is a clear ownership principal. Give time to something and you get the emotional benefits of ownership—more passion, higher levels of satisfaction, greater awareness of needs and a stronger sense of belonging.
I lost that ownership feeling for one reason. I quit serving as a coach. I quit giving time to it. I was now just an observer. That’s a big difference.
Many of you need to have ownership in your journey with God. Serving in His Church is what God recommends. Your passion for God and all the other things I mentioned above will never be what you want (or need) without this step.
Over the next few weeks we will look at giving time and getting ownership through serving. It is extremely important as you follow Christ to understand this life principal.
Know anyone who needs some more passion for God? This is a great time to invite or bring them.
Hope to see you Sunday!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. Remember No KidStuf this weekend. Most of the volunteers are on a weekend retreat. Pray for some sunshine for them!
How do you own something without paying anything for it? The answer to that is simpler than you may think. I was at a Middle School football game this past weekend.
I went to watch a team I had helped coach the past two years, in a program I helped start ten years ago. As the game was played, I became aware of my lack of emotion to what was happening on the field. Bad play, no big deal. Touchdown, so what. Kid didn’t get in the game, tough luck. I never ever felt that way in the time I served as a coach for this program. I realized I had no ownership anymore.
It is a clear ownership principal. Give time to something and you get the emotional benefits of ownership—more passion, higher levels of satisfaction, greater awareness of needs and a stronger sense of belonging.
I lost that ownership feeling for one reason. I quit serving as a coach. I quit giving time to it. I was now just an observer. That’s a big difference.
Many of you need to have ownership in your journey with God. Serving in His Church is what God recommends. Your passion for God and all the other things I mentioned above will never be what you want (or need) without this step.
Over the next few weeks we will look at giving time and getting ownership through serving. It is extremely important as you follow Christ to understand this life principal.
Know anyone who needs some more passion for God? This is a great time to invite or bring them.
Hope to see you Sunday!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. Remember No KidStuf this weekend. Most of the volunteers are on a weekend retreat. Pray for some sunshine for them!
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