Thursday, March 31, 2011

Can You Help Get the Word Out?


For those of you who are part of FLOOD or have been to Ignite this year and are coming back, could you do me a favor and start to publicize it on your Facebook status? There's a buzz going around about this year's Ignite event and I want as many people to hear about it as possible.  Here are some links on Facebook that you can go to and share on your profile, adding your own information after you hit "share".

Ignite Facebook Group Page
Ignite Art Piece #1
Ignite Promo Video

Here's the key info for Ignite:
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011; 5-8pm (doors open at 4:45pm)
Pomona First Baptist Church
601 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA. 91768
If they can't be there in person, they can watch it live online (www.pfblive.tv).
The cost is FREE!!!!!
Ignite Website is: www.igniteusnow.com

Bible teachers: Megan (Fate) Marshman and me, Big B Holla
Worship lead by Ryan Hall and Jarret Lemaster

If you have any other questions, go ahead and call Ashley at 909-938-4737.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

What God Won't Stop Doing

"If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips." - Psalm 89:30-34, ESV

Just let me point this out: God's love for you is not based on your conduct but upon his character. The warning of discipline that comes with disobedience is given, but the promise of faithfulness is emphasized and never taken away.

Thank you, Jesus. You're amazing!!!

Please Be Praying...

Thank you for your constant prayers. Here's how you can be praying this week for me:

1). Wednesday night at FLOOD I am team teaching with my cousin, Megan (Fate) Marshman. She is an absolutely incredible communicator. I'm excited about getting to partner up with her.

2). I get to speak at the Christian Club at Glendora High School on Thursday. This is always such a great time.

3). This Saturday is IGNITE. I am so excited about this three-hour worship event (I get to teach with Megan; worship led by Ryan Hall and Jarret Lemaster). If you can make it, please join us (5-8pm). This will be our third Ignite event. The first one had about 90 people. Last time (in October, 2010), we had about 300 show up. We are excited to see what this one will be like.

Thank you for praying.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

FLOOD: Let's Meet "TOGETHER"


Hey FLOOD,
We meet again tomorrow for "TOGETHER."  We're looking at the second week of "Oikos."  This is a whole-church movement to help us reach and equip people to change their world for Christ.  If you have never come to "TOGETHER", please come tomorrow.  If you have, we will see you then.

Place: PFB; Room G102
Time: 9:45am

And then don't forget: we're hanging at m home on Sunday afternoon into the evening.  The purpose: to live life together.  We're serving spaghetti.  Write a comment below if you have any questions.  Thanks.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

TO FLOOD: Thankful for You

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, but whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." — 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, ESV


This passage was part of my reading plan this morning, and you all came to mind.  I just wanted to let you know, and remind you, of some sweet things according to this passage.

1).  I am so thankful for you.  Seriously.  I can't tell you how thankful I am to get to do this life with Jesus with you.  You are such an amazing blessing to me.  Thank you.

2).  I am so thankful that God's grace is evident in your.  I know that some of you who are reading this have not come to a saving knowledge of Jesus yet.  I am still thankful for you and praying for you.  But I am so thankful that so many of you live in and according to the grace of Jesus.  You are striving to live a life that is set apart for Jesus, reliant upon his grace that is ours.  Keep going.  You make me proud.

3).  I want to remind you that you are not lacking.  Every spiritual gift that is needed to live for Christ is ours.  Jesus does not supply half-way.  Rather, he supplies completely.  If you're at a point where you feel like you don't have enough, I want to encourage you to keep seeking after Christ and his supply.  And this leads me to my last point...

4).  God is faithful.  Some of you are going through some really tough stuff.  As I read this passage this morning, I felt like I needed to remind you of this: God is faithful.  I know how easy it is to lose heart when the junk of life seems more real than the grace of God, but that's when you need to push past the feelings and look to God's promises.  He is faithful.  He will not leave you.  He will not forget about you.  He does not know how to fail.  He is faithful.  You will make it.

I love you all.  Thanks for letting me be your pastor.


                What a ride,

Monday, March 21, 2011

Please be praying...

Hey prayer team,
Here is how you can be praying for me this week:

1).  Tonight I am driving out to APU's LA Campus and speaking to the graduate students there.  I am one of the APU Chaplains for graduate students, and the students at the LA Center are my responsibility.  Looking forward to meeting with all of them all together.

2).  Wednesday night I am teaching at FLOOD here at PFB as we continue to teach through the book of James.  I'm very excited about this.

3).  On Thursday morning I am speaking to the high schoolers of Upland Christian Academy.

4).  On Sunday morning, I get to hang with and teach the young adults of TOGETHER.  This community life group is going well.  I am so excited about what is happening in this group.

5).  IGNITE is in a week and a half (April 2nd).  The line-up: Ryan Hall and Jarret Lemaster leading worship.  I get to team up and teach with my cousin, Megan Fate Marshman.  It's going to be an explosive evening.  I would love to invite you to come out and be part of it.

Thank you so much for praying.  God is at work.


              What a ride,

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

FLOOD: Starting Point

Hey FLOOD,
This is just a quick reminder to tell you that we have our FLOOD: Starting Point class tomorrow at 6pm in H107 here at PFB Church.  This is a class set up for those of you who have recently come to Christ and want an overview of what the Bible says.  If you have any questions, contact my assistant Calli and she can help you out (calli@pfblive.tv; 909-629-5277, ext. 3044).

Monday, March 14, 2011

I Fell Down And You Did Nothing



Today I was at Cal Poly, Pomona, hanging with students.  It is finals week and the Campus Crusade group there formed a prayer group to meet all day throughout finals week.  So I went today for an hour.  After that, I was walking to the Cal Poly library to meet up with another student and it happened.  You know, it. I have really bad ankles.  And my right one had something to say to me today.  I was walking along and it just rolled.  I wish I could say that I rolled it on a rock or a twig or even a crack in the sidewalk.  Nope.  It just rolled.  As I began to fall to the ground, I dropped my phone to the ground so that I could catch myself with my right hand.  As I leaned there, I shared some of my concerns with my right ankle.  I slowly walked over to pick up my phone and proceeded to stand up expecting to have some great applause from the whole campus.  But nothing.  Not one person.  And honestly, I was relieved.  However, I was a little ticked off with the one guy who saw me go down.  As I stood up I could see him looking straight at me.  There is absolutely no way that he didn't see me.  And do you know what he did: NOTHING!!! He didn't check to see if I was okay.  He didn't stop and stare.  He didn't even laugh.  He just kept going.  I was shocked.  And before my brain told my mouth to shut up, I said, "No, I'm good.  Thanks for checking." :) (I need to work on that filter that is supposed to run from my brain to my mouth).

As I met the student at the library, humiliated and embarrassed, I started to think about it (I know. I have such amazingly deep moments :).  I thought about how numb we have become (and notice that I included myself in this).  That one guy could have reacted in any way, even with laughter, but he didn't.  He didn't say, "Hey Mister, are you okay? Do you need me to get you a new cane to help you with walking?" But nothing.  He just kept going.

Jesus, please do not allow me to become numb to the needs of the world.  Please do not allow me to became plain and neutral when it comes to people and the pursuit that you have for them.  Please let my heart always be connected to yours, and for you to see your heart in me by the things that I do.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Teaching Update...

Hi Prayer Team,
Thank you so much for praying last week for me.  It was a whirlwind of a week.  Here's how you can be praying for me for this week.

1).  I'm speaking at the Graduate Chapel tomorrow night at Azusa Pacific.  This is a chapel set up for graduate students that meets once per month.

2).  On Wednesday night I pick back up in the book of James as I teach at FLOOD.
Follow FLOOD on:      twitter    |     facebook

3).  On Sunday morning, I get to teach and lead our discussion at "TOGETHER", our community life group that meets at 9:45am at PFB for young adults.

4).  On Sunday evening, I get the opportunity to speak at Living Waters.

5).  Please start praying as we get closer to IGNITE.  It is on April 2nd, 5-8pm at PFB Church.  Last year we saw around 300 people come and worship Jesus for 3-hours.  This year we plan to see the roof come off of the building (and we may be talking literally here).
Follow Ignite:     website     |     twitter     |     facebook

Thank you for praying for me for this week.



              What a ride,

So Excited About TOGETHER


Hey FLOOD,
I just wanted to share that I am so excited about what is going on at TOGETHER on Sunday mornings.  This past weekend I was up in Big Bear for the Post-College Retreat (which was a total blast).  While I was gone, Randy & Shelley Allison filled in for me at TOGETHER.  There were about 23 that showed up this week for our young adults community life group (that's up 6 from last week).  This is really starting to take off.

If you haven't joined us on a Sunday morning yet, please do (Sundays at 9:45am in G102).  The whole purpose is to build community within the amazing things that God is accomplishing within FLOOD.  If you have any questions, contact my assistant (Calli - calli@pfblive.tv or 909-629-5277, ext. 3044) and she can help you.

For those that are coming, keep coming.  I'm so pumped up for the community that Jesus is building.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Don't Forget

This is just a friendly reminder. Tomorrow we lose one-hour of sleep because of clock change.

So set your clocks one-hour ahead before you go to sleep tonight.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Misery Brings Comfort

"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck." - Psalm 69:1, ESV


Actually, if you're reading this, read all of Psalm 69.  It is absolutely incredible! And the reason is this: David is hurting and he admits it. I needed to read this passage this morning.  I feel the pressure of life and ministry,  I sense the enemy's unrelenting attacks.  I feel my flesh desiring things that are not of Jesus.  I'm tired.  I'm discouraged.  I'm overwhelmed.

I prayed this morning for God to deliver me from the junk I'm facing.  I prayed that he would just tell me what he wanted me to do.  And then I read Psalm 69.  And here's one of the major reasons why I was so encouraged: David was given the "title" by God himself as a "man after God's own heart."  Here is a man after God's own heart who is going through a really tough time.

I needed to hear this.  I needed to read this.  I needed to be reminded that those who are truly after God's own heart will have times of fatigue and strain during the battle.  I'm so thankful that God kept those parts in the Bible that reveal just that.

The truth is: I'm still beat up.  I'm still tired.  But there is just something twisted about the fact that David's misery brought me a lot of comfort this morning.  Sick, I know. :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Update from FLOOD...

I am so excited to share this.  Last night at FLOOD we took a week off from James to look at the topic of fasting, as the leadership at PFB challenges the people of PFB with this spiritual discipline.  At the end of the message, I asked people to surrender to Jesus.  I have to be honest: I didn't quite expect to see anyone stand to surrender to Christ after a message on fasting.  But it happened.  A young lady named Kimberly stood up and surrendered to Christ.  She then told me that she wanted to get baptized (she told me and every other person that was there for worship).

God is amazing.  Thank you for praying.  Keep it up.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

YOUNG ADULTS OF FLOOD: Together Was Awesome


We had our first young adult Sunday morning community group this past Sunday morning.  It was AWESOME!!! There were about 17 of us that came together.  The purpose behind TOGETHER is found in the name: to be together.  We looked at Acts 2:42-47 and looked at the principles that Scripture shows us concerning how the early church acted as the church.  I love this passage.  Here are the key principles:

They devoted themselves to the following:
1).  The apostles' teaching
2).  The fellowship
3).  Breaking of bread
4).  Prayer

Those four things they would not budge on.  After that, they...
a).  were in awe of what God was doing.
b).  they hung out together.
c).  they took care of each other.

The result: people were being saved daily.

The church, when it is focused on the principles that are found in Scripture, is really as simple as these things.  Some may claim it's too idealistic for me to think this way, but the results of this early church, and their being the church, was people came to Christ, entered into real community, and made a difference in the community around them.  That's what we are looking forward to as well.

So if you're a young adult (college-age and up to whatever young adults age ends) and are looking for a community to belong to, join us on Sunday mornings at 9:45 in G102.  If you have any questions, contact my assistant and she can help you (Calli Dye-Schmidt - 909-629-5277, ext. 3044; calli@pfblive.tv).

Monday, March 7, 2011

Jesus at Whitcomb

I had a great time sharing with 5 students at Whitcomb High School today in Glendora.  The topic: the gospel.  We talked through in detail (at least what I was able to share in 9 minutes) John 3:16.  The students were great and very receptive.  The fact that there were five students that showed up for Christian Club at Whitcomb is a great beginning.  Keep praying.  I'm excited to see what God is going to do next.  On to Wednesday. :)

Please Be Praying...

Hi all,
Thank you in advance for praying for me this week.  Here's how you can be praying:

1).  I'm speaking this morning at Whitcomb School in Glendora at their Christian Club.
2).  Wednesday morning I will be speaking at Crossroads junior high in Corona.
3).  Wednesday night I am teaching at FLOOD on the topic of fasting.
4).  On Thursday I am speaking for Campus Crusade for Christ at Cal Poly, Pomona.
5).  This weekend I am going up to Big Bear with the post-college students of PFB for our retreat.

I didn't know my schedule until I just looked at it.  It's going to be a bit crazy this week.  Thank you again for praying.  I'll update you on what God does throughout it.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Update from FLOOD Last Night...

Well, Jesus did it again. Here is what my prayer is becoming every Wednesday night before FLOOD:

"Jesus, I pray that tonight is the most amazing worship experience in the history of our church. Holy Spirit, anoint this place for your glory. Jesus, manifest yourself tonight in such a way that salvation visits this place."

He did it again. Wednesday night we looked at James 1:12-18, focusing on the topic of trials and temptations. It was a powerful time in worship and listening to Jesus speak to us from his word. And then it happened: two people stood up in front of everyone there and surrendered their lives to Jesus. Everyone went nuts. It was amazing.

After that, we had baptism. One was planned and three were baptized. It was such an amazing night of celebration.

Thank you, Jesus, for what you accomplished. You are absolutely amazing.