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!
Friday, October 30, 2009
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!
Friday, September 18, 2009
E-News from Tom: 09/18/09
Celebrate!
It is amazing to see all the people who volunteer at our church! This past week we saw three ministries “hit the ground running”! People of all ages were using their time and talent to bring glory to our God. This is just not normal, but something to certainly celebrate! Only God can cause this selflessness in people’s hearts!
KidStuf came back strong after a well-deserved summer break. 210 people showed up to break our previous attendance high of 180! Wow! Young and old-alike were engaging children to hold high the value of wisdom. Simply incredible what is done weekly by all the KidStuf volunteers!
Small Groups had a roaring start as 200 adults signed up and met up in homes around the area. There is power in “together” and it will be a joy to watch what God does in all those who serve in and get served by this powerful ministry of followers sharing their lives in community…just like Jesus and the apostles!
The Wednesday Toolbox kicked off as well. Over 90 people came to sing, pray and learn about sharing their faith, prayer and the book of Matthew. It was the first of many great Wednesdays together at the Oak Bridge Center!
None of this would happen without all the volunteers who have faithfully offered their time and talents for God to use. You are an amazing group of people helping to build an amazing church! It is a privilege to serve with all of you!
I can confidently tell people I run into who are down on church “One visit to Oak Bridge and it will change how you think about Church”. And that is a great thing to be able to say!
Celebrating you and our great God!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. If you haven’t yet experienced any of these ministries it’s not too late. We still have some Small Groups with room. KidStuf and The Toolbox are always ready for more people. They are all great next-steps!
P.S.S. Invite a friend to Church this week. See what God does with that! You never know.
It is amazing to see all the people who volunteer at our church! This past week we saw three ministries “hit the ground running”! People of all ages were using their time and talent to bring glory to our God. This is just not normal, but something to certainly celebrate! Only God can cause this selflessness in people’s hearts!
KidStuf came back strong after a well-deserved summer break. 210 people showed up to break our previous attendance high of 180! Wow! Young and old-alike were engaging children to hold high the value of wisdom. Simply incredible what is done weekly by all the KidStuf volunteers!
Small Groups had a roaring start as 200 adults signed up and met up in homes around the area. There is power in “together” and it will be a joy to watch what God does in all those who serve in and get served by this powerful ministry of followers sharing their lives in community…just like Jesus and the apostles!
The Wednesday Toolbox kicked off as well. Over 90 people came to sing, pray and learn about sharing their faith, prayer and the book of Matthew. It was the first of many great Wednesdays together at the Oak Bridge Center!
None of this would happen without all the volunteers who have faithfully offered their time and talents for God to use. You are an amazing group of people helping to build an amazing church! It is a privilege to serve with all of you!
I can confidently tell people I run into who are down on church “One visit to Oak Bridge and it will change how you think about Church”. And that is a great thing to be able to say!
Celebrating you and our great God!
In His Grace,
Tom
P.S. If you haven’t yet experienced any of these ministries it’s not too late. We still have some Small Groups with room. KidStuf and The Toolbox are always ready for more people. They are all great next-steps!
P.S.S. Invite a friend to Church this week. See what God does with that! You never know.
Friday, September 11, 2009
E-News from Tom: 09/11/09
Hello E-News Friends,
Some things just go together. Like, you can’t make a chocolate chip cookie without chocolate chips. Duh…I know you know this. It’s a no-brainer so to speak. But here is a tougher thought for you. (These two go together.) What always accompanies your steps as you move closer to God? It runs throughout the scriptures. You can’t take a step towards God without this. Jesus even wrestled with this right before the cross.
You can’t move forward with God until you choose to be obedient to God. “Not my will but thy will be done.” Taking steps with God and obedience go together just like cookie dough and chocolate chips go together for a chocolate chip cookie.
Every step you take in your journey with God takes obedience somewhere.
God says trust me. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says believe and be baptized. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says forgive as I have forgiven you. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says love, as I have loved you. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says serve one another. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
All these take obedience. The list could go on and on. It is obedience that always leads to good, to right.
What is the next step you know you should take with God? You know it’s a no-brainer. You have seen it impact other people. You know it’s your next step. Small groups, serving, Bible study, Sunday attendance, giving, time with God, prayer, community with other followers…
There is an old song that sums it up pretty well for each of us. One of the main lyrics says, “Trust and obey. Trust and obey. To be happy in Jesus you must trust and obey.” We can’t move forward with God until we choose to be obedient to God. They go together don’t they? Always have, always will.
Looking forward to my next step of obedience (and yours),
In His Grace,
Tom
PS Kid Stuf starts this Sunday at 9:30! Great time! You will love it! Be there!
Go Rams! Tailgate time this Sunday @ OBC. It should all be fun!
Some things just go together. Like, you can’t make a chocolate chip cookie without chocolate chips. Duh…I know you know this. It’s a no-brainer so to speak. But here is a tougher thought for you. (These two go together.) What always accompanies your steps as you move closer to God? It runs throughout the scriptures. You can’t take a step towards God without this. Jesus even wrestled with this right before the cross.
You can’t move forward with God until you choose to be obedient to God. “Not my will but thy will be done.” Taking steps with God and obedience go together just like cookie dough and chocolate chips go together for a chocolate chip cookie.
Every step you take in your journey with God takes obedience somewhere.
God says trust me. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says believe and be baptized. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says forgive as I have forgiven you. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says love, as I have loved you. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
God says serve one another. (Obey or disobey?) A step with Him or not.
All these take obedience. The list could go on and on. It is obedience that always leads to good, to right.
What is the next step you know you should take with God? You know it’s a no-brainer. You have seen it impact other people. You know it’s your next step. Small groups, serving, Bible study, Sunday attendance, giving, time with God, prayer, community with other followers…
There is an old song that sums it up pretty well for each of us. One of the main lyrics says, “Trust and obey. Trust and obey. To be happy in Jesus you must trust and obey.” We can’t move forward with God until we choose to be obedient to God. They go together don’t they? Always have, always will.
Looking forward to my next step of obedience (and yours),
In His Grace,
Tom
PS Kid Stuf starts this Sunday at 9:30! Great time! You will love it! Be there!
Go Rams! Tailgate time this Sunday @ OBC. It should all be fun!
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