-Connecting with God’s family!

-Fellowship breakfast! (Doughnuts)!

-Teaching about the importance of God’s Word!

-Hearing the ridiculously funny things little kids say!

-Good conversations!

-Watching kids be excited about learning and connecting with God!

-Trying to come up with words for James to fit into his sermon! (It’s fantubulous when he says Mt. Dew)!

-Afternoon nap!

-Playing games with the youth group!

-Sharing in the Lord’s Supper together!

-Laughter!

-Awesome awards!

-Being used by God to help shape and change lives for his glory! Awesome…and humbling!

I hope to connect with you again next Sunday!

tim

Prayer is one of the primary ways in which we grow in our relationship with God—it’s how we connect with Him! James preached a great sermon on prayer this morning, and here are some of the things that really stuck out to me:

-Prayer is crying out to God (Psalm 142:1)

-You can complain to God in prayer (Psalm 142:2)

-Prayer is confession (Psalm 142:3)

-You can pray to God because he cares for you (Psalm 142:4-5).

-Prayer is a call for rescue (Psalm 142:6-7).

One of the best ways we can learn how to pray is by looking at examples found in God’s Word. I’d encourage to open up your Bible to Psalm 142 and use it as a guideline for praying this week.

tim

Can you believe it we are only 3 days until the fair. Today the fair association is doing last minute preparations at the fair grounds. There is a lot of buzz with people talking the events they can’t wait to see. As you know the fair is FREE to get in and FREE to park. There is also FREE entertainment in the Farm Bureau Free Entertainment Tent.

The entertainment in the tent kicks off on Thursday, July 9th part of Youth Day:

5:00pm – Exkalabrr Band

Friday is Heritage Day again the Farm Bureau Free Entertainment Tent is filled with all sorts of fun entertainment:

Saturday events:

11:00am – New Horizon Band

12:30pm – Michael Reed

3:00pm – Sunday Afternoon Band

6:30pm – Dave Paris Band

Sunday entertainment:

10:00am – Sunday Morning Worship

Noon – 4-H Youth Council Ice Cream Social

3:00pm – 4-H Share The Fun Talent Show & 4-H Fashion Show

4:00pm – LogHoggers Chainsaw Carving Auction

Special thanks to Farm Bureau and KZIA for making it possible for the association to have the Free Entertainment Tent. We hope to see you out there enjoying the free entertainment!

For more details go to www.thelinncountyfair.com.

“I have never known mercy so tender”

Ever since I stepped into this role as Artist Development for a worship label I have been somewhat a fish out of water. Don’t get me wrong…worship is dear to my heart…over the past year worship has saved me…given me peace…held me together…I have a respect for worship music like I have never had before.

There is just a word that I hear often in my meetings and from people within the worship industry and its the word “Congregational”. It bugs me. Every one keeps asking if this song is “Congregational” or…is this group really “Congregational”. I am sorry, but can I ask you a question…what is a CONGREGATION? Don’t really know? Let me help.

Congregation – “an assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.”

I understand part of the goal for worship music as a business is to get people to sing your songs, but I also feel this has been part of the problem. A lot of worship today is stale to me….sounds the same….says the same things….and is so controlled and pushed to fit into what people “THINK” it should be that you end up exchanging it for what it really is.

Worship to me is about singing to God not just about God. Its about exposing His greatness and mercy…rejoicing in His goodness. Worship leaders should lead people into a state of worship, but then join in the worship….. not keep it separated by a stage or your cool hair and outfit. So my challenge is this….Find your congregation and speak to it. Find that assembly of people that resinate with your soul and your style of worship and stop focusing on making it something its not. Be Well.