Baggage Recap

Baggage has been the most incredible series we’ve done at Palm Valley Church. God has used this in such an incredible way to bring people to Himself, change hearts, and release people from their hurts, habits, and hang-ups in life. Our attendance increased by 20% during this series, and 53 people invited Jesus into their hearts. I love that each one is being followed-up with by one of our Fresh Start team, and that we will do everything we can to help them grow in their new faith.

The highlight of Baggage had to be last weekend, when people came streaming forward to place their baggage from life on the cross, and release it to Jesus. It was awesome just to see the relief and release on people’s faces as they caught a glimpse of the freedom Jesus purchased for us on the cross. This weekend we will be giving everyone a card with a picture of the baggage on the cross on the front, and my main points from last week’s message on the back. We hope this will be a visible reminder for the rest of your life that this baggage is no longer yours.

Guitar Hero

Last week the staff came over for dinner and some fun. We had a blast eating, laughing, and trying out our skills on GuitarHero II. If you don’t know, GH is a game you play by strumming the guitar to 80’s rock songs, while scoring points for each correct note played. Not only is our whole staff addicted to this game, now they’ve hooked my wife and boys on it also. I think I need to take them all back through the baggage series to help them find their freedom again

Anyways, you’d expect Derrick (our worship director) to rock at this game, and he did. However, I was surprised by the mad skills that Mark (executive pastor) displayed. Now, Mark is an old 80’s rocker, he even had a mullet back in the day, but he rocked. Here’s some proof… (Click on the thumbnail to see Derrick and Mark in their full glory!)

Phone No Work

Couldn’t find my phone all morning, until my baby daughter came walking in with it. Only problem, it was dripping wet. Apparently she decided to wash it for me

Oh well, what are you going to do. She’s just too dang cute to be mad at. So I guess I’ll be a few days without a cell phone. Hmmm… might be nice.

Great Surprise

Went out this morning to 78 degrees weather with a nice rainfall. What a great morning! Not that I don’t appreciate 110 and sunny, but this was a great surprise!

lion vs. buffalo

During this weekend’s message I referred to a video that’s going around the web. It shows a pride of lions trying to take down a baby buffalo, until the herd decides to rescue their own. It’s a very cool illustration of what the church could be. Imagine if we cared so passionately about each other that we wouldn’t allow people around us to be picked off by the enemy, but that’d we’d risk our own hides to rescue them?

Check out the video…

I’m An Idiot!

As I was walking on stage to preach during our 8:30 service this morning, I opened the door, and WHAM!, split my forehead open and nearly knocked myself out.

The medical team was right on it to butterfly bandage the cut, but I went on stage with a huge band-aid on my forehead. They barely got the bleeding stopped so I could teach. People were calling me “Nash” based on the playoff game.

Anyway, I have a huge knot on my head with a giant gash running down the middle, as well as a nice little headache.

In case you were wondering, it’s official, I’m an idiot!

Baggage Week 1

This weekend was without a doubt the most powerful response to any service we’ve ever done. I could just sense God at work, ripping open people’s hearts and dealing with their baggage. It was awesome!

I talked about acknowledging our baggage, assessing the damage it’s done, and allowing God to check it.  You can watch it here Monday evening.

At the end of each service we offered people the opportunity to bring their baggage forward so we could put it on the cross, allowing Jesus to take the baggage from our life. Every service people streamed forward. I was moved to tears many times throughout the weekend, just seeing the freedom in people’s eyes as they “checked their baggage”.

Some other thoughts from this weekend…

• The graphics and video were right on. Michael and Julie did a great job with the look of this series.
• The staging was incredible, complete with real airline seats and baggage. Great job Karina!
• DLO and the worship team nailed it. “Set Me Free” got people pumped, and “Amazing Grace/My Chains” are gone engaged every person and had many in tears.
• Alvin and his team, Mike on the sound board, great job, you guys hit it!

I truly believe this series is going to be life-changing in incredible ways. If you missed week 1, make sure you’re at Palm Valley Church next weekend, and bring friends!