Tuesday, September 27, 2011

IGNITE is Almost Here

I know that I have posted this before but I just can't help it.  I am SOOOOO excited about this.  Ignite is coming, October 1 (this Saturday) from 5-8pm at PFB Church (601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767).  If you can't join us in person, join us online at www.pfblive.tv.

If you get here at 4:30, you can actually get some free grilled-cheese sandwiches and be eligible for some sweet giveaways.  Check out the video of the last IGNITE in April.


Monday, September 26, 2011

Prayer for this Week


Hey Prayer Team,
Here is how you can be praying for me this week.

1. Tonight I will be in LA for Azusa Pacific University. I am a part-time chaplain for APU and tonight I will be speaking to the graduate students that I am responsible for on APU's LA campus.

2. On Wednesday night at FLOOD we will be continuing our series called, “UPGRADE". The topic for this week is impact. Last week we were able to see a college student surrender her life to Jesus (read about about it here). We are praying for that, and even more, for this week. Please come out and join us if you can. It would be great to see you there.

3. On Thursday night I'll be teaching in a small group Bible study on the topic of the Holy Spirit. Again, as I felt while teaching on the topic of the Holy Spirit at FLOOD during the month of August, I am intimidated. Please pray for me as I prep, pray, and lead the discussion.

4. Please pray for IGNITE. It is this Saturday. I cannot put into words what we experienced last time, and I am expecting and anticipating the same and even more for this time. We finish up the planning tomorrow night. Please pray for that time. Please also pray for me and my cousin, Megan, as we prep, pray, and preach the messages on Saturday. Click here to go to the ignite website and see the pictures from the last IGNITE event back in April.


Thank you for praying. It will be a busy week but I'm excited.

ASSEMBLED CHALLENGE: Week 3

SEPTEMBER 26-30 — UNPACK
When we humble ourselves to seek God and to reveal the condition of our hearts, other people may be involved (confession, forgiveness, restoration, thanks).  Take inventory of what God shows to you and what may be required.  Write down these things and be prepared to repent and restore (Matthew 5:23-24).

ARE YOU IN?
This may be very difficult for some of you, but as I've preached so often lately: God wants you to be truly free.  If you commit to "unpacking" this week and joining us for prayer this Friday night from 7-9pm in C101 of the worship center, write your name below on the comment section of this blog, or email Calli (calli@pfblive.tv) and tell her that you're committing to week three of the Assembled Challenge.

I am so thankful for you.  Get ready for what God's about to do.

Friday, September 23, 2011

You Will Find What You Seek After


I sought the LORD, and he answer me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4 (ESV)

It takes effort. It takes effort to follow Jesus. It takes effort on our part to grow in intimacy and relationship with our Savior. It is not about merely praying a prayer and then expecting God to do everything else while we sit back and do nothing. David is very clear in this verse. He told us that he sought the Lord and that God answered. He sought the Lord and God responded. So I'm thinking that the opposite can be said: if he had not sought the Lord, then God would not have answered and would not have responded. But look at the verse again: he sought God and God responded.

Are you experiencing God's response? It blows my mind that, first, God would even allow us to approach him with anything. But it blows my mind even more to know that God will respond to me when I seek after him. But I have to seek. You have to seek. He even gives this promise to the prophet Jeremiah to share with the people of Israel when he says, “then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord,…” (Jeremiah 29:12-14a).

So if you are seeking after God, you can be sure that he will and is responding. However, if you are not seeking after God, then you cannot blame him for not “showing up” whenever you feel like he should. It is about a relationship with God, not a relationship with the waiter.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Do You Like To Party?

Jesus did the miraculous last night at FLOOD. The worship time was intense, a time when Jesus was truly exalted as the greatest. We had a guest music artist as well, Dana Jorgensen who blessed us and ministered to us. He was so well received and did an incredible job.

I spoke on the topic of weakness and strength out of 2 Corinthians 12:7–10. It is the passage where Paul talks about the fact that he will boast in his weakness so that Christ's power may rest on him. The humbling truth is that Paul would rather embrace pain and suffering in order that he could experience the power of Christ over not having any suffering but not experiencing Christ's power and strength. I sure do have a long way to go. :-)

I called people to a commitment to Jesus, inviting them to surrender to him and receive him as Lord. Devon stood up. She stood up and the place went nuts. Devon surrendered to Jesus last night, and her eternity is forever changed. We saw the greatest miracle that anyone could ever witness last night at FLOOD.

And what added to the blessing was when her cousin came up, excited beyond belief, because she was there to witness the salvation of her cousin. It brought joy to my heart.

Thank you so much for praying. God is on the move. Again, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for you.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Please Be Praying...


Hi there,
here is how you can be praying for me from this week with the opportunities that God has given me to teach his word:

1. Tonight, I will be preaching at the graduate Chapel at Azusa Pacific University. It is a new chapel that APU is trying to get going in order to make a spiritual impact on their graduate student population. We had our 1st one last week, however, only one person showed up. We had a great time of prayer with him, but we are asking for God to provide even more people tonight.

2. On Tuesday night, I'll be preaching to the graduate students at the LA campus of Azusa Pacific University. Please pray that God makes it very clear what I'm supposed to preach about.

3. This Wednesday night at FLOOD, we are looking at the 3rd part of our series called, “Upgrade.” The topic for this Wednesday is strength. The key passage that we will be looking at is 2 Corinthians 7:7–10, where Paul confesses that when he is weak then he is truly strong. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to confess our weaknesses so we may truly boast in the strength of Jesus.

4. This Thursday I'll be speaking at the chapel of Western Christian high school. I absolutely love getting the opportunity to teach the students that go there. Please pray for my prep, my planning, and my preaching on that day. Please pray for the students, for many of them are attending Western “studying abroad” and do not know Jesus.

Thank you so much for praying. It will be a busy week, but I am excited about what it is that God will do. I'm so thankful for you.

ASSEMBLED CHALLENGE: Week 2

SEPTEMBER 19-25 — UNLOAD
Be aware of what we eat or drink (1 Corinthians 10:31).  If our bodies are a temple, are we bringing our very best to the alter? God may call you to a fast during this time.


ARE YOU IN?
If you are accepting this challenge and committing to a week of fasting from food or drink that God may be calling you to give up, sign your name below in the comments section, or email Calli (calli@pfblive.tv) and let her know that you are committing to week two of Assembled Challenge.

I love you all.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

God Still Speaks...


“These are the words of God, the God of Israel, to you, Baruch." - Jeremiah 45:2, ESV

I remember reading this verse and it struck me. It is probably something that we overlook so very often when reading the Bible, but it stood out to me in such a strong way that I believe that it was God reminding me of this simple, yet profound, truth: God still speaks to me, personally. God still speaks to you, personally.

Look at the verse again. This was something that God wanted to pass on to one individual. Throughout most of the book of Jeremiah, God spends most of his time passing along his message to the people of Israel through his prophet, Jeremiah. It was a message for all of the people to repent and turn back to God. However, in this one verse, God has a specific message for one person: Baruch.

Please understand me when I say this: God is still in the habit of speaking personally to his people by his Holy Spirit who lives in each follower of Christ. God has specific messages for specific people and has not turned mute just because he finished writing his Bible. However, I am convinced, that God gave us the Bible as a way for us to decipher his voice from all of the other “voices” that cross our minds. The Bible is the filter by which we decipher and discern every thought to make sure that we are in line with God's will. But, do not miss out on the personal conversations that God is desiring to have with you because of your unwillingness to listen to his personal message for you.

As I said before, I read this verse and was immediately convicted, encouraged, and excited about the fact that God:

1). Sees me as an individual within a community, and
2). God wants to speak to me personally.

Oh how I pray that you, too, are blown away by the fact that the God of the universe is passionately personal with you. Be blessed.

God,
Speak, for your servant is listening.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

HEY FLOOD: Some Spurgeon To Spur You On

Nicole Padilla passed this message on to me.  I wanted to share this with you.

"Awww man this is sooooo good! It reminded me of our call at FLOOD and our purpose on earth."
                — NICOLE PADILLA, FLOOD Owner — 

"And when they could not come night unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they led down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." — Mark 2:4


"Faith is full of inventions.  The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before him.  If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones.  It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some properties.  Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven.  O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try to-day to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.  The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen his face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt his healing power in our souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus.  All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls.  If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts.  O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards." 


                        — CHARLES SPURGEON —

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

GHOST: Part 3

Here's the last part of the GHOST series - a study of the Holy Spirit.  I pray you're blessed.


Please Be Praying

Hey all, Could you please be praying for me on Thursday night? I'm going to be teaching on the topic of the Holy Spirit to a small group of people from PFB Church. I just finished teaching on the Holy Spirit at the end of August, feeling completely inadequate to be teaching about him. Well, nothing has changed. I still feel the same inadequacies.  I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much. 

Monday, September 12, 2011

Teaching Opportunities For This Week - Please Pray

Hi there,
Thank you so much for praying.  I know that I say it every week but it's true and really all that I know to say, so thank you.  Here's how you can pray for me this week.
  • This Wednesday night we are in week-2 of "UPGRADE".  The topic: greed.  Greed affects us in more ways than just money.  I'm praying for freedom and an ability for us to do what Paul penned in Philippians: "...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (Philippians 4:11, ESV).
  • On Sunday morning I get the opportunity, once again, to hang with the people of TOGETHER!!! 9:45 at PFB Church in G102.  If you're between the ages of 18 and 25, please come join us as we continue studying the book of Mark, and get to know each other even more.
  • Also, please be praying for IGNITE (www.igniteusnow.com).  It is coming up on October 1st.  We are in the final phases of planning for it.  I would love to invite you out to join us if you would like to join us.  Here's the promo for Ignite to give you a quick glimpse of what to expect WHEN you come. :)

Thank you so much for praying.  God is on the move.  

ASSEMBLED CHALLENGE: Week One

September 12-18 — UNPLUG:
Minimize interactions and use of TV, internet and technology that may be a distraction from your focus on God (Matthew 6:22).  When our eyes and minds are occupied with anything other than the things of God, his voice cannot be heard.


ARE YOU IN?
If you are accepting this challenge and committing to a week of fasting from technology that takes you away from time spent with Jesus, sign your name below in the comments section, or email Calli (calli@pfblive.tv) and let her know that you are committing to week one of Assembled Challenge.

I love you guys.  I'm getting so pumped about what is coming.  Get ready!!! As I always say, I say again: the best is yet to come.

REMEMBER: Our SOLEMN ASSEMBLY (prayer) time is Friday, September 30th, from 7-9pm in C101 at PFB Church.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

A Call to a Solemn Assembly

HEY FLOOD,
This is for you from one of you.  This is not something that I brought about on my own.  This is one of you emailing this and challenging us to do this.  And you know what: he's right.  As God is beginning to do new and amazing things within FLOOD, we need to prepare ourselves by being people of PRAYER. Here's what he is challenging all of us with, and what I am agreeing and signing my own name to:

"'...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.  For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever.  My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.' — 2 Chronicles 7:14-16, ESV — 
"Dear FLOOD,
"As we come nearer to the day of IGNITE on Oct. 1, our expectation should be nothing less than a direct and personal encounter with the living God.  This should terrify us.  If it does not, I humbly submit that you do not yet grasp the truth and consequences of His Holiness.
We must be united in prayer and humbly submitted to completely turning over our hearts to Him who saved us from the pit of hell.  We are at war for the souls of men.  Divided hearts cannot claim the power, nor realize the promised victory we have in Christ Jesus to reach the lost.
"God cannot accept anything less than our complete submission.  His Holiness and the work of Jesus on the cross will not accept the stained sacrifice of partial obedience.  Make no mistake, such an offering is detestable in the eyes of God. 
"Read Deuteronomy 17:1-5 
"The truth of this passage will reveal the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).  To those whose hearts are His, abundant thanks and fearful joy will fill your soul.  Any sting of conviction should prayerfully considered and brought before the throne of Grace. 
"On Friday night September 30 in the Main Sanctuary from 7-9 pm, we are calling a Solemn Assembly to prepare our hearts and clear the way for the Holy Spirit to baptize our service and sanctify our hearts with His presence on Saturday night.   In the days leading up to our time together, we are issuing a challenge.  It is intended to prepare us for what will be a time of Holy Communion with our Lord.
 "PREPARE OUR HEARTS."
 I would like to apply this prayer time for IGNITE as well as for FLOOD.  We must be people of prayer.  We must be people who worry more about spending time with God in prayer than spending time with each other trying to think of the next clever sermon series title or graphic.  This is a call.  This is a challenge.  On Monday, September 12th I will send out part one of this challenge.  I will then send out another challenge on the next two Mondays leading up to IGNITE.

If you will join us for prayer on September 30th from 7-9pm in the worship center at PFB, please leave your name on the comment section of this blog.  COME ON, FLOOD!!! This is the first step before God unleashes his FLOOD.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Prayer Grasps Eternity - Leonard Ravenhill

I was given this by a good friend of mine, a member of the FLOOD Lead Team and I had to pass it along.  It made me stop in my tracks and ask where I'm at with this.
"No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be a shopwindow to display one's talents; the prayer closet allows no showing off.

"Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of praver. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.

"The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer. The ministry of preaching is open to few; the ministry of prayer-the highest ministry of all human offices-is open to all. Spiritual adolescents say, "I'll not go tonight, it's only the prayer meeting." It may be that Satan has little cause to fear most preaching. Yet past experiences sting him to rally all his infernal army to fight against God's people praying. Modern Christians know little of "binding and loosing," though the onus is on us-"Whatsoever ye shall bind...” Have you done any of this lately? God is not prodigal with His power; but to be much for God, we must be much with God.

"This world hits the trail for hell with a speed that makes our fastest plane look like a tortoise; yet alas, few of us can remember the last time we missed our bed for a night of waiting upon God for a world-shaking revival. Our compassions are not moved. We mistake the scaffolding for the building. Present-day preaching, with its pale interpretation of divine truths, causes us to mistake action for unction, commotion for creation, and rattles for revivals.

"The secret of praying is praying in secret. A sinning man will stop praying, and a praying man will stop sinning. We are beggared and bankrupt, but not broken, nor even bent.

"Prayer is profoundly simple and simply profound. "Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try," and yet so sublime that it outranges all speech and exhausts man's vocabulary. A Niagara of burning words does not mean that God is either impressed or moved. One of the most profound of Old Testament intercessors had no language "Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard." No linguist here! There are groanings which cannot be uttered."

"Are we so substandard to New Testament Christianity that we know not the historical faith of our fathers (with its implications and operations), but only the hysterical faith of our fellows? Prayer is to the believer what capital is to the business man.

"Can any deny that in the modern church setup the main cause of anxiety is money? Yet that which tries the modern churches the most, troubled the New Testament Church the least. Our accent is on paying, theirs was on praying. When we have paid, the place is taken; when they had prayed, the place was shaken!

"In the matter of New Testament, Spirit-inspired, hell-shaking, world-breaking prayer, never has so much been left by so many to so few. For this kind of prayer there is no substitute. We do it--or die!"  — Leonard Ravenhill —

FLOOD FAMILY...
Be prepared for the challenge.  I'll be posting it on here over the next few days and weeks.  The FLOOD is coming, and it starts by us hitting our knees and calling out for God to revive.  GET READY!!! The best is yet to come.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

UPDATE from FLOOD

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

That's how this update has to start off.  Last night absolutely frickin' BLEW MY MIND!!! We started a new series called, "UPGRADE", with the first topic being forgiveness.  We looked at how we need to receive God's forgiveness, but also how are called to forgive others.  Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Our attendance was back up.  I don't know exactly how many but I would guess that we saw between 250 and 275 at worship last night.  That's about 125-150 more than the week previous.
  • I called people to come forward for one of the following: a). Come forward to surrender to Christ as their Lord and receive his salvation for the first time.  b).  Come forward and confess to God their need for his help in forgiving someone.  Between 20 and 30 people came forward.
  • We baptized four people.
  • We celebrated after the worship service with THE ENCORE - the party that we always have on baptism nights.
  • The high school ministry brought in a ton of new people, and then had a luau after the worship service (and what luau would be complete without the roasted big).
See "Babe" the pig at the bottom of the screen.
I am still absolutely in awe of what I saw happen last night at FLOOD.  I even saw Kristin, Lauren, and Bradley all show up to worship.  You have no idea who these three people are, but I do.  I met them last week when I was preaching at Hume Lake.  They were up there with their parents for something their dad was involved in.  Small world.

Thank you so much for praying.  God is on the move.  Seriously.  There is a momentum building within the next gen ministries at PFB Church that I have not been a part of, but I am so thankful that I get to be part of it now.

IGNITE IS COMING!!!! (Promo Video)


OCTOBER 1st, 2011; 5-8pm (food and giveaways at 4:30)
at PFB Church and live online
601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, CA. 91768; 909-629-5277
www.pfblive.tv

NEEDED: FLOOD Phone Callers

Hey FLOOD,
This is a message just for you.  We are needing some people who can come in to the church office on Wednesday afternoons and do some phone work.  Yesterday, the legendary Matt Donahue came in and made a bunch of phone calls inviting people to FLOOD.  Last night, we saw a whole lot of people.  Part of that is because Wednesday nights over the years usually grow in attendance the Wednesday after Labor Day.  However, I'm also convinced that a big part of that is because Matt worked the phones.

Can you help? Can you come in and make phone calls to people that are part of FLOOD, encouraging them to make it worship that night? If so, can you do me a favor and contact the following people:

YOUNG ADULTS: Calli Dye-Schmidt
p: 909-629-5277, ext. 3044
e: calli@floodnow.com

HIGH SCHOOL: Courtney Romero
p: 909-629-5277, ext. 3038
e: courtney@floodnow.com

We need your help.  We want to be all about our vision statement that God has given this ministry:


To reach and equip as many people as possible to change their world for Christ.


This is vital to that.  Thanks.  Love you guys.  I can't believe that I get to partner with you all for Jesus.


What a ride,
Brian
"BigBHolla"

Monday, September 5, 2011

IGNITE IS COMING!!!!

OCTOBER 1st, 2011; 5:00-8:00pm
@ PFB Church (601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, CA. 91768)

IT IS ALMOST HERE!!!

Check out www.igniteusnow.com 
or call 909-938-4737
for all of the details.

IN SHORT:
Worship led by Ryan Hall


The theme for IGNITE IS:

Prayer Update for This Week

Hey all,
I just wanted to thank you for praying for me for last week while I was away at Hume Lake.  In cast you didn't see the updates from my time there, here they are:

It was absolutely amazing to be part of what God is doing up at Hume Lake.  It was a twenty-year dream come true for me.

Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

1).  This Wednesday night at FLOOD we are starting a new series called, "UPGRADE".  We are looking at eight key topics that will change the lives of Christ's followers right now if we actually apply them by the help and power of the Holy Spirit.  I am SO excited for this series.  Join us on Wednesday nights at 7pm if your can (601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona; watch live online at www.pfblive.tv).

2).  This Friday night I am speaking at a young adults/singles event at PFB Church.  

3).  On Saturday I have the honor of performing the wedding of Brett Lemster and "Kate" Hall.  This couple loves Jesus and has honored Jesus in their dating relationship.  This will be such a great wedding to be part of.

4).  On Sunday morning I get to teach the young adults of the TOGETHER community life group at PFB Church.  This group is such a blessing to me.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

PHILLIP ALLEN JR BROUGHT IT!!!

Here's the message that Phillip Allen taught at PFB Church on Sunday, August 21st.  OH MY GOODNESS!!! Get ready to have your face melted off your body.


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Broken And Healed

Tonight I preached on the topic of brokenness: that we as Christian are invited by God to embrace our brokenness so that we may experience true healing. I preached out of Psalm 73, a passage that has become very dear to me in my journey with Jesus.

After the message, I sensed God leading me to ask if anyone wanted to surrender to Christ. I wasn't sure what was going to happen after what we saw happen on Tuesday night. But, God showed me once again that he is never done. I asked everyone to keep their heads up and their eyes open and called people to surrender to Jesus. It was silent for about 10 seconds. I think I could hear everyone's heartbeats until Aaron stood up to surrender to Jesus. The place went NUTS!

But the Holy Spirit had more to do. I closed in prayer and invited people to drop to their knees if they were confessing their brokenness and needed to cry out, "Holy Spirit: help me." As I closed in prayer I walked to the back of the stage and into the green room. I stayed back there about 10 minutes and then walked back out to the chapel to see about 30 students crying out to God for themselves and for each other. I was in AWE!

You would think that after 18 years of youth ministry, and about 11 years of preaching at camps that I would get used to it. I am nowhere close to used to it. This week at Hume has been absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!!

And yet I'm still convinced that as I leave tomorrow morning to get back to FLOOD that the best is yet to come. Get ready FLOOD! I believe the flood is coming.

JUNIOR HIGH ACTIVATE is Blowing Up!!!

I texted Andy Shoemaker, the junior high pastor at PFB, how the junior high outreach went last night. This was his response:

"UNBELIEVABLE!! 130 kids 25-30 decisions. 30 to 40 kids I hadn't seen before!"

UNBELIEVABLE!!! I was so pumped up about this that I had to post it on here. God is moving. BOOM!!!