When Tragedy Strikes

Yesterday, I officiated the funeral of Kristi Perrotto. She was 46 years old and died of cancer. As I stood before her husband and three children ages 14, 12 and 10, I couldn't help but think of how difficult life will become for them without a wife and growing up without a mom.

For many, her death seems like a tragedy. Of course, for Kristi, it's a victory. She is with Jesus. But when death, tragedy and loss occurs, what should we do? Let me share five things that we should focus on in any tragedy.

First, release your grief. Why? Because death, tragedy and loss can create strong emotions. Deal with those emotions. Don't push them down, deny them, repress them or rehearse them. Release your true feelings about the tragedy to God. (Read Matthew 5:4)

Second, receive from others. To make it through a crisis you need others' support, encouragement and presence. (Read Galatians 6:2)

Third, refuse to be bitter. Happiness is always a choice. To prevent the tragedy from making you bitter remember - you must accept what you cannot change. You focus on what remains, not what's lost.

Fourth, remember what is important. Your relationship with God, your relationship with your family, your relationship with others - these things can never be taken from you. Even in death you have the memories of the person. Possessions, careers, health - all can be lost but not our relationship with God. (Read Romans 8:38-39)

Last of all, rely on Christ. He is our rock, shelter, shepherd, hiding place, stabilizer and so much more. Even in our darkest hours, rely on Him. (Read Psalms 23:4)

Blessings,

P.S. This Sunday we will be talking about ways to keep love alive! We are in Acts 19 this week - you won't want to miss it! See you then!

Mother's Day is Coming!

There is not a more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother. As significant as political, military, educational, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers. Their words are never fully forgotten, their touch leaves a treasured impression, and the memory of their presence lasts a lifetime. I ask you, who else is anywhere near that influential?

If you were blessed with a good mother as I was, you will reap the benefits the rest of your days. The words of Abraham Lincoln ring true: "No one is poor who had a good mother."

Mothers, Grandmothers, Expectant mothers, Great Grandmothers - On behalf of all of us at First Free, we salute you. I hope you have a very happy Mother's Day.

Searching through the Scripture I came up with several things we should be thankful for relating to all a mother does. Spend some time with your mother this Sunday and talk about these things. Look up the passages together and at the end of the list say, "Mom, thanks for all you do and have done, I love you."

A mother conceives - John 16:2

A mother cooks - 1 Kings 17:2

A mother clothes - 1 Samuel 2:18-19

A mother coaches - Proverbs 6:20

A mother covers - Matthew 23:37

A mother consecrates - 1 Samuel 1:9-11

A mother converts - 2 Timothy 1:5

A mother considers - Luke 2:18-19

A mother cares - Isaiah 49:15

A mother comforts - Isaiah 66:13

Blessings,

P.S. Mothers, we have a couple of surprises this Sunday to honor you at our 9:00 & 10:30 worship services. You won't want to miss it!

Have you ever had a bad experience while visiting a church? Do you think people have had a bad experience while visiting First Free? It's one thing to get people in the door once, but to get them to come back or to call First Free their church home, that's much tougher.

The experts who study churches and ask people why they don't come back a second time have found some common denominators. Let me share ten of these and please take a moment to evaluate First Free in light of the list.

1. Offer no easy way to plug into community - is it easy for people who visit to get involved in life groups?
2. Doesn't feel welcoming in the parking lot - people make up their minds about the church before they enter through the doors. If you see someone you don't know in the parking lot, go out of your way to greet them.
3. Don't acknowledge I'm in the service - visitors want us to know they are there.
4. Acknowledge me too much - visitors want us to know they are there but don't want to stand, speak or raise hands.
5. Don't give much thought or care to kid's ministry - safety is king today.
6. Pass the offering bag twice.
7. Don't share the Gospel or challenge me spiritually - people checking a church out want to be spiritually challenged.
8. Asked to share their email address and then spammed with emails - they don't want to be bombarded with every bit of news from every ministry in the church.
9. Visit me at home; random stop by's are a no-no to today's generation.
10. Pastor disappears as soon as he finishes preaching.

If you want our guests to return, we all must be warm and inviting. We must challenge them to grow and offer various opportunities to plug in and serve. How are you doing?

Blessings,

P.S. Ever feel like the bad guys are winning? Ever think that you're not eloquent enough for God to use your story? Join me at 9:00 and 10:30 Sunday morning as we attempt to answer these questions!

A Paul, A Barnabas, and a Timothy

I can picture my favorite professor in seminary whom we nicknamed, Prof, saying "Gentleman, every one of you always needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in your life." Little did I realize at the time how true that statement really is.

Every one of us needs a Paul - someone who is mature in the faith investing in our lives. Someone who is teaching us the ins and outs of living the Christian faith.

We also need a Barnabas - someone who constantly encourages us and stands by us through the failures, hardships, and difficulties of the Christian experience.

And, of course, we need a Timothy - someone we are investing in and helping develop their Christian walk.

God has always provided each of these three kinds of people in my life since I was in grade school. But I talk with a lot of you who haven't been as fortunate. Ask most people, "Who is your Paul? Who is your Barnabas? Who is your Timothy?" You get blank stares and many claim they just don't know where to start.

Here's how you start: First, pray that God would bring these kinds of people into your life. Second, cultivate these qualities in yourself. To have a Paul, become like Paul - mature in your faith. To have a Barnabas, be an encourager. To have a Timothy, be faithful, be available and be teachable. Third, get involved in First Free's Five Years of Focus. Become part of our disciples making disciples ministry. Help us train the next generation and pass the baton to them. Ask someone to be a Paul to you and serve our community together. If you need additional help, call me.

Who is your Paul? Whom are you a Paul to?

Who is your Barnabas? To whom are you a Barnabas?
Who is your Timothy? Who can become a Timothy to you?

Blessings,

P.S. Ever wrestle with what God's will is for you? Does God's will seem mystical to you? Need some help with decisions in your life? Come to the 9:00 or 10:30am service this Sunday as we address some of these things. Oh, and bring a friend with you.

An "engaging" challenge

Recently, I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit through my preparation of the sermons on Sunday morning. The early church had leaders like Paul and Barnabas who knew how to create opportunities to talk about Jesus rather than creating conflict. They were very good at engaging the culture of their day.

Many Christians like myself know that it is important to engage those in the culture around us with the message of the Cross, but we don't know to start. It seems a little intimidating to hang out with those who aren't followers of Jesus and it's just more comfortable to do things with our Christian friends - it feels safer just to stay in our "holy huddles".

The Apostle John wrote "greater is He who is in you, than he (Satan) who is in the world." We need to recognize that the power of God is greater than the power of the enemy. Let's all begin, if we haven't already, to overcome the commitment to do nothing and start engaging our culture. Below are eight things I am striving to do to accomplish this. Why not join me and fulfill our calling to be lights to our world?

1. Start conversations - with your neighbors, the person you're in line with at the grocery store, your waitress, your barista - just start talking to people.
2. Hang out with people who enjoy the same things you do - book clubs, sport leagues, PTA, service organization, etc.
3. Volunteer somewhere - local school, sports team, Matt Talbot kitchen, Lincoln Pregnancy Crisis Center, Friendship Home, adoption agency, People City Mission, City Impact, etc.
4. Tell stories - about your life, your faith, etc.
5. Pray with others - if someone has an issue, stop and pray with them - even unbelievers will appreciate this.
6. Invite others to join you - engage the culture with another Christian friend.
7. Get to know your community by asking questions - What matters to people? What frustrates them? What do you love? What would you like to change? Listen and ask questions.
8. Address the physical and spiritual needs around you - just meet needs.

Start small - do one thing this week. You just have to start somewhere.

essings,

P.S. You won't want to miss this Sunday, April 21st! The pop-rock band, Everfound, will be with us for Sunday morning worship and again at 6:30pm for a concert at the church. The band consists of 4 Russian brothers who credit their passion for music to their Christian faith. See you there!

What is the mission?

God is at work in the world, and He wants you to join Him. This is what we call mission. Mission is your service to unbelievers in the world. Ministry is your service to believers in the Body of Christ. God created you to accomplish both. Your mission gives your life meaning. What is this mission?

Jesus said "Go to the people of all nations and make them disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them everything I have told you."

That's your mission and that's my mission. We all have the same mission and this mission is mandatory, not optional! You may be unaware but the truth is that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers around you. This mission is not given just to Pastors but to every follower of Christ. In fact, the word "mission" comes from the Latin word for "sending". We are all sent out into the world as a representative of Jesus Christ.

What a privilege we have to work with God and represent Him to our sphere of influence. Not only does this mission have eternal significance for us but it impacts the eternal destiny of others. The magnitude of living out your mission will last forever.

If your neighbor, coworker, or friend had cancer or AIDs and you knew the cure, it would be criminal to withhold that lifesaving information. Even worse would be to keep secret the way to forgiveness, purpose, peace and eternal life. May we never forget how hopeless and lost people are without Jesus.

May I encourage you and you encourage me to be urgent about our mission. The clock is ticking down on your life mission, so don't delay another day. Get started on your mission of reaching out to others now! We have all of eternity to celebrate with those we've brought to Jesus, but we have only our lifetime in which to reach them. Invest your life in unbelievers now.

Right now.

God bless,

I am utterly amazed of how many of us (yes, myself included) cannot move on to the future that God has for us because we are dominated by the mistakes and sins of our past.

 We must always remember that if we don’t let our past die, then it won’t let us live. So many Christians forget that. They forget that once they trust in Jesus their identity is not in what they have done but in what Jesus has done for them.

You can’t find your identity in who you used to be but rather in who you are in Christ. If you're ever going to move beyond your past, you need to accept three unleashing truths found in the Bible.

First, in Christ you are completely forgiven. Don’t let the enemy convince you that there is some sin that can’t be completely forgiven. If Jesus has forgiven you from the sins of your past, so should you.

Second, in Christ you are valuable. The value of something is determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you – His life. That's how valuable you are to Him.

 Third, in Christ you are unconditionally loved. Remember how Paul said nothing – death, life, demons, fears, worries, powers of hell – nothing can separate us from the love of God.

 

I may not be the person I need to be, but I am not the person I used to be. Jesus Christ has set me free from the prison of the past and He can do the same for you.

 

P.S. Ever wonder if God truly can use you for His service? Do you ever ponder why God chooses to use you? Get ready for an action-packed Sunday as Ricky Kennedy unpacks these questions!