Friday Night Fun

This evening we picked up sub sandwiches and headed to the park with some friends. It was fun to just hang out with the Ellis’, Yandells’, and Summers’.

After dinner we played baseball with the kids.  My boys can hit, but i realized i need to work on their catching.  It was good to toss the ball around and watch the kids have fun.  Man, i wish i had their energy!

While we were playing, two other families from Palm Valley came by. It was good to see them, and i know it’s always odd for them to see me outside of church. I really can’t go out without seeing Palm Valley’ers, and i wouldn’t have it any other way.  I love that we’re having an impact in this community!

Good Nap

The last few weeks have been very draining.  Easter is always busy for a pastor, but this season has been wheels-off.  God has been blessing PVC so incredibly, and Satan has stepped up his attacks accordingly.  Today, i realized i’m just plain tired and worn out.

Don’t get me wrong, i love what God has called me to do, and i count it a privilege to be the Pastor of Palm Valley Church.  It’s what i want to do with the rest of my life!  Last weekend alone we had 65 new visitors to Palm Valley, and 10 people visited the Fresh Start table to indicate that they had invited Christ into their life during one of the services!

However, i’ve also had to deal with a lot of crud (that’s a biblical term). As a community of believers who are not perfect, we all carry alot of baggage.  Sometimes, that baggage pops open and causes damage in our lives, and the lives of others.  I’ve seen a lot of open bags these last few weeks, and it’s not been fun, it’s plain drained me.

So, today i did the most spiritual thing i could think of.  I took a nap!  Lori cleared out the kids for me (thanks honey) and let me get a couple hours of rest, it was wonderful!  I woke up feeling better, and beginning to look forward to the weekend at Palm Valley!  I think i’ll put it on my schedule to take more naps.

Date Night

For date night this week Lori and i broke our own rule.  We never double date!  Double dating went out with the prom   However, last night we went our with Ryan and Adrienne.  Adrienne’s got a b-day this weekend, so we wanted to celebrate with them. 

We had a cool night.  Went to Ah-So for dinner.  We love the sushi and teppanyaki style cooking there.  It was great food!  If you head to Ah-So, i highly recommend the steak & chicken, it’s incredible.

After dinner, we all went for a workout at Lifetime.  I went an hour on the ellyptical,  worked off all that dinner!

He’s A Really Good Tipper

Last Sunday a gal came up to me after second service.  I know her from a local restaurant i frequent (i’m very loyal).  She said when i came on stage to teach, she was surprised to see me.  I had never told her that i’m the pastor of PVC.

Her friend, who had brought her to church, said she leaned over and said “i know him, he comes in to the restaurant all the time.” The gal from our church asked her what i “am really like“.  She replied “he’s very nice to everyone, and he’s a really good tipper!”.

It made me feel good to know i had left a positive impression on this lady.  Our testimony is the community is essential as we seek to share Christ’s love with people who don’t know him.  Maybe we need to think about that before we leave a crummy tip next time?

Sunday’s Coming

I’ve received a ton of questions about the video we used Easter weekend called “Sunday’s Coming”.  It used the audio from E.V. Hill’s famous sermon, with incredible graphic support.  The video is awesome, and rocked the service!

Many have asked where to get the video.  You can purchase and download it online at www.worshiphousemedia.com, here’s a link to the video

Student Ministries Podcast

Our Student Ministries team is putting out a weekly Video Podcast.  It’s geared to keep the teens and parents of teens informed about what’s going on at Palm Valley Church.

I konw i’m biased, but i love our youth team.  Every one of them was in my youth group years ago, which makes it a lot of fun for me to watch them lead their own ministry now.  They do a great job!!!

Check them out here…

Heelies are cool

My boys have heelies, they’re cool.  In case you don’t know, “heelies” are the shoes with roller skates built in. If you see the kids in the mall cruising around, they’re wearing heelies.

Anyways, it sure seems to make walking around more fun for them.  When i walk from point A to point B, it’s boring.  It’s work.  For my kids, it’s an opportunity to cruise by.  They’re smiling.  They’re laughing.  I’m jealous.  I want heelies!

What if the world looked at Christians like that?  What if they looked at us and thought, “boy, life sure looks fun for them”?  Or, “they’re cool, they’re just cruising along”.  I think it’d be cool if the world looked at Christ-followers with jealousy, and wanted what we have.

You know, i think that’s what Jesus intended us to be like.  However, so often we make walking through life look boring, like it’s work.  How could we live life “to all it’s fullness” as Christ intended?  What would that mean to your life?  I want to be a part of a movement of people trying to live that out…

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) 
    You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. [15] Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Above and Beyond

I’m continually amazed at people who go above and beyond the call at Palm Valley each weekend.  These are people who understand, who “get” the mission and vision we’re called to.  They give of their time, talents, and treasure to build the Kingdom.  They amaze me, and i love them for it…

Dick and Linda Davis — Greet at all 3 services each week, always with a smile!
Misty Gale — Last week i saw her serving as a worship host at all 3 services, and then running chairs during tear-down!
Anthony Riaza – Set-up, serving in kids, helping with tear down!
Scott Wunderlich — 5 years on tear-down team, and counting!
Bob Rohlinger — I know he’s my dad, but man, he helps from set-up thru tear-down, doing everything necessary!
Micha’l Larson — Sang 4 services during easter weekend, changed shoes, and ran chairs during tear-down, she’s awesome!
Parking Lot Guys — You’re the real deal!

There’s so many more, these are just off the top of my head. It takes over 300 volunteers each weekend to do what we do at Palm Valley.  I’ll keep giving shout-outs in the coming weeks, just want every volunteer at PVC to know, “YOU MATTER”

Sunday Night Thoughts

Today was awesome!  As i taught about forgiving people who have hurt us, I really sensed God was working in people’s hearts.

At the end of the message, as i asked people to raise a clenched fist as i prayed for them, i saw so much healing take place in the room as people released their fist, signifying the forgiveness they were releasing to those who had hurt them.

So many people came up to me on the patio and shared their “forgiveness stories”.  It was such an encouragement to hear how God used the message in their lives!  I love being in a place where God is at work!!!

Sunday Morning

I love weekends at Palm Valley.  I woke up excited this morning because I know God is going to be there!  I’m not being arrogant, i’m just claiming the promise of Scripture…

Matthew 18:20 (NIV) — “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

I love knowing that today people will grow closer to Christ, others will meet Him for the first time, families will be brought back together, and some will release hurts and burdens they’ve carried for far too long.

It’s 6:30 am, and i’m pumped.  That’s not natural, which is cool.  It reminds me every week, this is a God thing!