What Do You Think?

As a regular reader of Freshly Bru’d, you may have gathered that I love to read about trends, directions, and tendencies of churches. I came across an interesting article written by Phil Cooke who is a media producer and strategist. He says that as he looks at the direction of the culture and the shaping of trends, here are some things we can look for in 2016. As I list these ask yourself ‘What do I think about this?’
 

• First, people in churches will be looking for deeper answers to their lives rather than how-to and self-help messages. More pastors are speaking for an hour going verse by verse. What do you think?
• More people will be looking for a local church. They don’t want to drive 30 miles to the mega church but want a church that is part of their local community. What do you think?
• Polarized Politics will be the perfect opportunity to offer a better way. Cooke claims that as the left goes further left and the right further right, people will get more disenchanted with the answers offered by the government. This gives Christians the opportunity to tell people where the true answer of life is found. What do you think?
• It is time to get serious about social media. Churches must make an impact online because social media is here to stay no matter how much we like or dislike it. You will be able to have tremendous influence upon people through this medium. What do you think?
• People want more theological and distinctive teaching than has been experienced in the last few years. Accommodating our theology into the culture will no longer be popular. If we, as Christians, are no more distinctive than the Kiwanis Club, then what’s the point? What do you think?
• Themes of freedom in Christ, overcoming fear, joy, building better families will become very popular in 2016. What do you think?

Blessings, 

P.S. Ever wonder where you could find some additional money in your current budget? Ever feel trapped in debt and don’t know how to get out? Come this Sunday at 9:15 or 11:00 and experience the road to financial freedom.

What Drives You?

What drives you? No, I’m not talking about a car or other forms of transportation. I am referring to what guides your life- what directs your life- what controls your life? Is it circumstances? Is it values? Is it emotions? The five most common drives are:

1. Guilt- Some people spend their entire lives running from regrets, hiding their shame, are manipulated by memories, or imprisoned by past mistakes. This drive will sabotage any hope for success.

2. Resentment- Some people hold on to hurts and pains. They clam up and internalize their anger or blow up and explode. Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent. You simply are unable to move on in life because you are stewing in the past.

3. Fear- People are driven by fear because of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, or failure. These people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to venture out. They are trapped in the safety of their insecurities, avoiding risks at all costs.

4. Materialism- For some, the desire to acquire becomes the goal of their lives. These people live with the misconceptions that having more will make me ‘happy,’ ‘secure,’ or ‘important.’ They often find themselves bored until something newer, bigger, and/or better comes along. This drive creates a miserable existence.

5. Approval- This drive is when you are constantly trying to earn the approval of parents, spouses, children, teachers, and friends. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God’s best for your life.

All of the above ‘drives’ lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life.

Every one of us needs to look past the problems, and challenge ourselves to reach the fullness of the potential God desires for us. We need to discover and embrace His purpose for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 affirms ‘For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, plans to give you a future and a hope.’

God’s plans for us are always for our good. He gives our life purpose. If we patiently and obediently wait for Him, He will most certainly fulfill His promises to us and purposes for us in a way that’s above and beyond all that we ask or imagine.

Romans 8:29 states God’s purpose for your life. ‘For those whom He foreknew, He also predestines to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.’

Becoming more like Jesus is God’s will and purpose for you. This is what should drive us, control us, guide us, and direct us. This will give your life motion, meaning, and delight. Live your life with purpose.


Blessings, 

P.S. Is your financial life in trouble? Would you like a plan to create more financial freedom? Do you want to discover how to be a faithful steward pleasing God with your finances? Join us this Sunday at 9:15 or 11:00 AM as we discover how to get unstrapped, unstuck, and financially free.

Engage!

Happy New Year! The first edition of Freshly Bru’d in 2016 is committed to Bible Engagement. 90% of church goers in America desire to please and honor Jesus in all they do. Yet, when asked how often they personally (not as part of a church worship service) read the Bible:

• 19% say every day
• 26% say a few times a week
• 14% say they read the Bible once a week
• 22% say once a month or a few times a month
• 18% say rarely/never

Bible engagement has an impact in just about every area of spiritual growth. You can follow Christ and see Christianity as your source of truth, but if that truth does not permeate your thoughts, aspirations, and actions, you are not engaging the truth.

Take a look at the above categories. Where would you place yourself? Remember you simply won’t grow if you don’t know God and spend time in His word.

Since a new year is a time of resolve, why not join me in the resolve to read God’s word daily? Why not be part of the 19% category? If you missed the last few days, start today with a new resolve.

What helps me personally is to set a designated time each day, go to a quiet place, pray ‘open my eyes that I might see wonderful truths from your word’, and begin reading. Currently, I am reading through the Gospels.

Whatever you read, get started today.


Blessings, 

Pastor Mark Brunott

P.S. Feeling strapped financially? Are you still climbing your way out of debt because of the holidays? Do you think you’re doing pretty well in the management of your money? Whatever you’re feeling, don’t miss Sunday’s message on “Strapped: Walk Before You Run”. Service times are 9:15 and 11:00 AM. Bring a friend with you!

Connectedness

Dartmouth Medical School did a study concluding that children’s brains are “hardwired to connect”. The report states that “more kids than ever suffer from depression, anxiety, and attention deficit and conduct disorders”. The report went on to say that “the lack of connectedness in society” is partially to blame.

I believe the same is true for adults. Without close relationships in our lives, stress and anxiety levels are more likely to increase. Yet, in our technological society, close relationships are becoming harder and harder to maintain. We smile when we see people sitting at the same table buried in their iPhones rather than talking; then we realize that sometimes we do the same thing.

Meaningful and balanced relationships are essential to living a healthy life. When these relationships are broken, the impact on everyone is enormous. God created us for relationships; we are created for a relationship with God and relationships with others.

While we all appreciate the tremendous advances in our technological society, one of the down sides is that human touch and relationships may suffer. It is a must, especially in our hectic-paced world, that we take time, quantity and quality, to speak to each other face-to-face, pray together, play together, have meals together, and serve with each other.

Apart from your family, Life Groups provide you a positive relational connection. Simply put, we need each other. People to talk to face-to-face, serve together, interact with about life and faith, pray together, have fun together. Our Savior came into the world of failures, dysfunction, and loneliness so that we could know and love God but also love one another.

In our high-tech world we need to be in high-touch. Relationships are first learned and then modeled in the home. Are you struggling in your relationships? If you are I want to encourage you to do three things.

First, be honest about your relationships. Do you have a support base of those you talk with, share with, serve with, and have fun with? Remember, be honest with yourself.

Second, ask God to give you the power to strengthen your relationships beyond your family. Let others know how much you appreciate them, plan to spend time with them beyond texting. Remember, be in high-touch.

Third, get involved in a Life Group. In January 2016 there is another opportunity for you to join a Life Group. You may have to try several before you really connect with people, but you must try. Your goal is to have relationships which are mutually joyful and enriching, and which don’t depend on an iPhone. Remember, Life Group sign-up is in January. Let’s fulfill what God created us for- relationships.

P.S. Why did Jesus come to earth? What we think Jesus’ purpose was and what it really was might be a little different. Join us Sunday at 9:15 or 11:00 to consider 4 reasons Jesus came that you might not have thought about before. Bring a friend with you!

Do you need a tech diet?

Someone changed the words to the familiar “Jingle Bells” to fit our modern day culture. Here are the new words:

                           Dashing though the snow with a high-def touchscreen display;
                           O’er the fields we go, tweeting and texting all the way.
                           Bells on smartphones ring, making bandwidth bright,
                           What fun it is to stare and cling to a virtual world tonight

We have replaced tinsel and mistletoe with smartphones, tablets, computers, and social media. My two year old granddaughter knows how to turn on my iPhone (Yes, I have one- Jesus would too if he lived on earth today.) and play games on it.

72% of children ages 8 and younger have used a mobile device with 17% using the device daily. Technology itself is not dangerous, and can be an important tool for our children’s education. But my concern is when we allow technology to get in between our parenting and relationships; then there will be problems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement saying children are “spending more time with media than they are in school… more time with media than any activity other than sleeping… media has taken over the primary role of teaching kids from schools and parents.”

The AAP says the average 8-10 year old nearly spends 8 hours a day with a variety of different media. They go on to note that excessive media use has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, school problems, aggression, and other behavior issues.

Let me pause to emphasize: I am not knocking down the value of technology in education, parenting, or in business. I am not saying we shouldn’t use the technology available to us. What I am saying is: watch your media diet, especially this time of year.

What might that diet look like? First, plan ahead for family time. Instead of hours of phones, tablets, and computers, do things as a family. You can decorate the tree, take a hike, prepare a meal together, play a game, do a puzzle, or shop and wrap gifts- turn the equipment off for a while.

Second, plan ahead for tech time. I am not asking you to go on a starvation diet, just limit your time on the computer. Don’t let technology replace your presence with family and friends.

Third, reach out and touch someone, literally. Touch is a vital human need. Talk to your children, friends, spouse with eyeball to eyeball, uninterrupted (no technology) communication. Talk about life, Jesus, Christmas, family issues, school, or work.

Time, touch, and talk; let’s implement these things this Christmas.


Blessings, 

P.S. Christmas is a joyful, fun, and celebrative time for many, but a depressing, lonely, and sad time for others. How can you discover the balance of Christmas? Join us this week and discover “The How.” Worship with us at 9:15 or 11:00. Bring a friend- it’s Christmastime!

Last Friday, I watched in horror the terrorist attacks on Paris. I had flashbacks to the horror of 14 years ago when terrorists attacked our own nation- America. I think it’s hard to disagree that this will be a decades-long struggle with radical Islamists.

I am not looking to give you some political ideology or what I believe would be a great military strategy in the fight against terrorism. Rather, I want to give you some Biblical advice on how we, as Christ-followers, respond in the midst of painful times.

The things I am sharing have come from a blog I read last weekend from someone I respect highly. His name is Ed Stetzer, and his advice on a Christian response to terrorism is spot-on. Specifically, as it relates to what took place in Paris, he says:

     1) Pray. Pray for families. Pray for Paris (which we did on Sunday in our church services).
         He then adds: Pray for Muslims. Pray for our enemies. It is not easy, but it is our
         calling.

     2) Love the hurting. Even where we sit, we can love the French and “weep with those who
         weep” (Romans 12:15). It was the French newspaper, Le Monde, that said in the
         aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, “We are all Americans now.” Well, today, we are all
         Parisians.

     3) Love our enemies. This is what makes the Christian faith unique. President Obama
         said it well, “This is an attack on all of humanity.” When you let that sink in, you would
         have to admit that love is not our natural feeling, but love is what we are called to
         anyway. (Read and contemplate Matthew 5:43-45.)

     After the events of last weekend, when a ‘love your enemies’ response is hard to come by
     or when memories of 14 years ago resurface, we have to do more than give lip service to
     the things I’ve listed above. We have to make a commitment to resist certain things.
     There are three things we should not do as Christians:

     1) We should not hate. Our human nature wants to hate those who destroy so many lives.
         We feel an anger towards an evil we cannot control. But the truth is, we are people who
         live with hope and live with a mission. We cannot hate a people and reach a people at
         the same time. Pray that your heart is protected from hate.

     2) We should not take out anger on refugees. The immigrants streaming across Europe
         are trying to escape radical Islamists; they are not the enemy. Of course, we need better
         security knowing that terrorists may very well try to infiltrate such refugees, but most
         refugees want to protect their families. Don’t start placing blame or drawing
         conclusions on innocent people who need protection.

     3) We should not call for war with Islam. What do I mean? I do not think that interfaith
         cooperation is helpful, but multi-faith understanding can be. I do not believe Muslims
         and Christians pray to the same God, but all people need Jesus including Hindus,
         Muslims, and Atheists. That is the part that makes us Evangelicals.

I want to see Muslims come to Christ (just as they want to win me to Islam), and we can’t do that by going to war with a billion people. The vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists. As I said at the beginning- I’m not writing about the appropriate government response- I’m writing about the Christ-followers’ response.

Let’s make sure the responses have been tempered by the fruit of the Spirit instead of human emotion. Don’t get caught up in debates and anger. Let us remember that ‘God is in control’.


Blessings, 

P.S. Are you content? Why? Why not? What would make you content? More money? A better job? How can I be content and happy? Answers to these questions and much, much more are headed your way this Sunday at 9:15 and 11:00.

A Story of Rabbit Hunting

Thirty plus years ago a man named Carlos Montoya was out rabbit hunting in order to provide his family with some extra food. As he was walking around the rocky hillside close to his home, he began to pray. He asked God to give him a vision for the city of Ensenada. He continued to pray daily that God would work so a greater kingdom work occured in his town of 30,000 people. He prayed and waited. And he prayed some more.  
Prayer submits to the source of all power: Christ alone. That is why we typically end our prayers with the words, “In Jesus name.” This reminds us that He is the all-powerful God and works everything after the counsel of His good pleasure.

However, just because we say the words does not mean we have submitted to Christ’s authority. Effective, life-transforming ministry never comes through the power of man, but through the power of God. Man is simply a conduit through which God works.

Prayer- robust prayer – is a tool by which we keep the conduit free of obstruction and full of faith. Author and Pastor E.M. Bounds once wrote, “Prayer puts God’s work in His hands- and keeps it there.”

Truly, you have no ministry if your ministry has no prayer. Did God answer Pastor Montoya’s prayers? Did God honor the prayers of a man while rabbit hunting?

Two churches are still thriving from those prayers. A school to train people to go out and make Disciples is growing. Each year the school trains 80-90 students. They never advertise, and yet people come from all over Mexico to be trained. A weekly T.V. ministry preaches the Good News to the people of Ensenada. A group of pastors gather together weekly to pray for their city (now 750,000 people).

God is at work. Lives are being transformed. Addictions are being healed. Marriages are being restored. And even when there appears to be very little of this world’s goods- God supplies.

Yes- God honored the prayers of Carlos Montoya. What are you asking Him to do through you? Great things He will do when we ask Him. I had the opportunity to witness firsthand how God answered the prayers of Carlos. Pastor Robb and I spent the week there teaching in the school. All I can say is to God be the glory great things He has done! And it all started with prayer.

Blessings, 

P.S. Does some worry have you captured? Are you so stressed that you are overwhelmed? Do you feel trapped and you don’t see any way out? You must come to church this week and bring a friend to discover how to live worry-free and stress-free. See you at 9:15 and 11:00.