effective people

2010 OC alone...

2011-06-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here is troubling news, last year 58 kids between 12 and 17 lost their lives to accidental overdose in OC, CA.

Behind the Orange Curtain

2011-06-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

http://performersacademy.blogspot.com/2011/06/documentary-behind-orange-curtain.html?spref=fb

Behind the Orange Curtain is a documentary film that will focus on the current prescription drug abuse problem with teenagers in South Orange County. This film will raise the awareness of the problem that is causing the deaths of numerous young boys and girls. The problem is now at a epidemic level. Where are these drugs coming from and why are they so readily available in Orange County High Schools?

Please get the word out...

Detaching With Love

2011-05-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Addiction, Co-Dependency

Often people get stuck in patterns when it comes to these cycles, and this can cause problems with those around them. You don’t need to suffer, if you have tried everything and they just don’t want to stop their addictions or you are in a bad relationship there are things you can do.

When you make the decision to detach you need to follow through. This does not mean that you don’t love them, it just means you cant take their problems anymore or have the constant struggles that go with it. Detaching with love means that you can live a healthy life and your loved one might see that they need to change and might seek help.

Co-dependency is a problem that a lot of people in these situations face. The loved one does not operate unless you are there doing everything for them, and this can be tiring and destructive to you. Enabler means that you allow something to go on or in certain terms you can even get the object of the addiction for the person using them, and this can be a problem because you are actually helping them cause the problem.

There are several ways you can detach from someone with these problems if you want to. Some of the ways are:

1. Identifying the problem and what causes it.
2. Think about what in the relationship you don’t want to let go and why you cannot detach.
3. Admit that there is a problem and the person who is harming you or others has a real problem and refuses to seek help.
4. Stop thinking that they will change, if you are enabling them then it definitely won’t change.
5. Let go of the emotional hooks that are keeping you there.
6. Affirm yourself that you are a person to and you are not getting what you need out of this relationship. You have needs also and they should not be ignored either.
7. Start to heal yourself from the relationship.
Detaching from situations like this does not mean that you don’t love the person or that you don’t care, it just means that you are not qualified to help the person in whatever means they need. This is not a problem that you need to combat and in all honesty you shouldn’t. You are a person to and you can get help for the loved one that is stuck in this problem.

Please Pray & Let's Believe in Miracles

2011-04-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

I usually help out at my little one's school on Fridays. I love it. I help the teacher with odd jobs (much needed). I have gained so much respect for our teachers today. I can not believe how much work, love, guidance, and more this teacher shares with our children. It's kindergarten, but they are learning every minute of the day...they are never "not" busy!

I've met some wonderful moms too! One who is now a very good friend. She told me that she was praying to find more Christian friends. We have a lot to share.. She is a wonderful sweet soul and I am so happy that God put our paths together. I am meeting others too, who I care for..who I pray for..who I admire. I love how God works in our lives and shows us life through others.. we are always learning....as long as we keep Him foremost on our hearts and minds.

One of the moms shared with me today that it was her first day of chemo. She looked wonderful, I was amazed. She said she was really tired, and heard that the start of chemo isn't too bad. She is a tremendously bubbly woman with 2 boys that are all boy. My heart broke for her, knowing what she is going to be experiencing in her life in the near future. I don't know how bad the cancer is, but I do have friends who have been through chemo. She is a mom..mom's don't have time for chemo..they only have time for those in front of them and barely enough time for themselves.

I ask you all today, if you can find it in your hearts, and on your busy plates to pray for Amanda. Please pray for Amanda, and her husband and her boys. I don't know what Our Lord has planned for this family, but I pray that she would be surrounded by loving family, friends, helpers..That the Lord would bless her with no pain, a lot of energy when most needed. That her spirits would be up, that fear would be down..that she would seek her Heavenly Father with her whole heart and soul.

Please pray for Amanda..please keep our moms, our families, our marriages, our health, our teachers and our relationship with Our Lord ever strong.

Thank you Lord for being the One Who carries us in times of trouble. Who sends His Holy Spirit to us for comfort. Who loves us with an unconditional and never ending love. Thank you Lord...and I praise you for all you will do in the lives of this family and all of those we will carry up in prayer to you daily.

May God bless your evening...hold family and friends tight and near and remember to say your evening prayers :o).... He is listening...He will always be listening. Let's believe in miracles...They happen every day!!!

Landon Cole Matthys

2011-03-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

Please help us to Welcome
Landon Cole Matthys
~ parents - Clayton and Allison Matthys.

Two tiny feet
That wave in the air
Two tiny hands
That tug at your hair
Cute bottom for patting
Adorable face
A bundle of joy
To love and embrace

Praise God In All Things

2011-03-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

God delights in the praise of His creation! Psalm 149:3-4 says, "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people…"
When we praise, we are being obedient to God. Psalm 150:2 says, "Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness."

Praise helps us see and understand God in a deeper way! We take our eyes off of our circumstances and put them on the Creator of all things! Psalm 150:1-2 says, "Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness."

Praise puts the credit where it belongs. When we fail to praise, we often take the credit instead of giving that credit back to the true Source of all blessings. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
Worship brings peace. Fear can not survive in praise and worship! We remember that we are God's child and He is in ultimate control of our lives! 2 Corinthians 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…"

I pray that you can echo Psalm 71:14, which says, "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

2011-03-09T10:16:00.001-08:00

2 Timothy 1:9

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

Rest in Peace Henry

2011-03-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

The passing of my dear friend Henry Kalisiak...
posted by: mxdad100

It is with much sadness that I inform you that a dear friend passed away this weekend. Some may remember Henry as the Father of Tyler Kalisiak, and others will remember Henry as being a fellow racer and friend. There will be services in Southern California at the Life Church near Hwy 5 and Irvine this coming Saturday the 12th at 11:00am. Please say a prayer for Julie, and their children, Kelli and Tyler. Henry and Tyler were regulars in the NorCal Motocross scene until Henry and Julie moved the Family down South about 10 years ago. Always quick with a wisecrack, and a smile...he will be sorrily missed. Henry raced with the OTHG, and Tyler qualified for many a Lites Class main while riding for KTM. Henry was always the guy that wanted to GO BIGGER at Club Moto...
God Bless...

Memorial Service will be Saturday March 12th at 11:00.

SOAK

2011-03-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

This Friday, March 11th at 7:00 pm until 9 pm. Praise and Worship..Prayer...Fellowship and Food.. A wonderful night to relax and Soak in the Lord. All are welcome!

Please Share

2011-03-07T14:30:00.001-08:00

Do you have anything to share with us? A story, an a ha, a verse? Please do..

A New Day!

2011-03-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

I am grateful for a new day of breathe, of life, of the gifts that I find all around me. I am so truly blessed. I have been re~awakened by the life of a friend who has passed and do not want to take one minute for granted! I will give more hugs, eye contact is a must, and smile at all I come in contact with. They might think I'm crazy..but that's ok... I'll just keep smiling!

What are you grateful for today???

Patience and Hope

2011-03-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

Bible Readings for the Week Ahead:
Monday: Psalm 37:7-9

Tuesday: Isaiah 40:31

Wednesday: Proverbs 15:18

Thursday: Romans 8:24-25

Friday: Romans 12:12

Saturday: James 5:7-8

Sunday: Psalm 40:1

Prayer

Teach me patience Lord. Patience to endure hard times and loss. Patience to see that difficulties draw me nearer to You. Bring me to a higher level of relationship with You through the tough times in life. Amen. ~ Julie Clinton

Giving Thanks!

2011-03-06T18:06:00.000-08:00

For those of you who do not live in Orange County, CA. all that I can say is I am so sorry! The day could not have been more beautiful!

We had a memorial service last night for Matthew Pack. I am not prepared to comment on it, because I'm feeling a little weepy right now. I've been holding back the tears and they are just there..at the edge...I'll have my time, alone, to cry..but not yet. I am still in denial, that he will not be here with us, just so thankful that he was here with us, even for a little while. More later...

This morning our praise and worship was beyond real...so angelic..Thank you Lord..it just took me away..and so many others too. We were there at your feet and feeling your presence so strongly today. Your Spirit is strong and covered us all...and I still feel you with me so strongly. You envelope us with your love and warmth and how can we ever feel less than grateful and blessed?

Thank you my husband, Pastor Dave for your message. I love how God takes all of the moments of your week and prepares you to make a relevant and moving message for us all. Today..Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz transported is visually to show us how we all have a journey..a walk to walk.. here on earth. We all need to do this to grow..to find God and who God wants us to be...if we do not move, we do not meet the people along the way that God intends for us to meet..He places them on our path to make a difference in our lives.. we are never the same. I love how God uses you Dave!

Please..if you did not make it to church today....watch for Dave's message on our website..coming very soon!

And, now..I leave you with this.. also from church today.

So live your life that fear of death can never enter your heart.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.

Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the light,

for your life, for your strength.

Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks,

the fault lies only in yourself.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those

whose hearts are filled with the fear of death,

so that when their time comes they weep and pray

for a little more time to live their lives over again

in a different way.

Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

Shawnee History ~ The Teaching of Tecumseh

God Bless you!!!

Matthew Pack - We miss you!

2011-03-04T17:39:00.000-08:00

Memorial Service at theeffect, Saturday, March 5th at 4:30pm. Come and share and celebrate Matt's life. So many memories, laughs and just wonderful moments! Love you Matt!!

theeffect
Capistrano Business Center
27122A Paseo Espada #904
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
http://www.theeffect.org/
949-218-2228

Climbing...always climbing

Matt and family, sooooo close!!!

Nature lover to the max!

Solitude

Family Pack

Just had to have this!! Mexico Adventures!

Matt in his element!

School life - Concordia

A giver always! Matt in Mexico working with the children

The smile that will live on in our hearts forever!

These are just a few pics..there are so many more. Matt lived his life so fully. He didn't miss a moment. He always had a smile and a hug and is dearly loved by all. A void is left behind...we're right behind you Matt! Can't wait to see you again!!

2011-03-04T17:31:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Frank and Ehren! A fun night at Farrell's!

2011-03-04T12:48:00.001-08:00

Ehren... Happy Birthday- March baby

Greg Shaw and Frank Billman..Frank's Birthday too!

Thomas Mc!

Lisa Jones

Frank Billman enjoying his ice cream!!

Ehren being a frog? :o)

Frank got the chicken balloon! Fun!

Pastor Dave having fun!

2011 Post!

2011-03-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

I can not believe that I have not posted to our Blog since last October! Well, let me explain.

It's been a tumultuous year, to say the least! Coming from a Pastor's wife that must sound horrible, right? Surely, I being a Pastor's wife, have all of the tools necessary to ride the waves of life and keep a smile planted firmly on my face and, of course, I have all of the right words to say at any given moment!? OK, time to kick the Pastor's wife off of the imaginary pedestal and realize she's just like everyone else :o) ... please!

While feeling sorry for myself, and feeling like absolutely "no one" was reading this Blog..and the words were just traveling through the circuitry we call the Internet...into no where... I abruptly stopped writing. And, when no one mentioned that they noticed. I realized.."I was right" no one was listening...reading...sharing.. so the Blog just quietly disappeared...no more mention on the enews that Pastor Dave sends out. No more pictures to take at church.. it just went away.

Then...tonight...as I sat with the most wonderful family. The Pack family. I found out that I had "one" follower. Now, our one follower didn't say he liked the Blog, or disliked the Blog. He did say that he shared some things...but I don't know if that was meant as a compliment or not... he's such a funny guy :o) ... but, our one and only follower, reinvigorated me to start up our Blog again!!

Actually, I have missed it. It had been like a journal for me. Sharing the days, thoughts and friends we have made at theeffect over the years. I can still look back at pictures taken so very long ago. Friends who have come, passed through, gone home to states across the nation. Friends who have gone on to fight the good fight and friends we have lost along the way. All memories that I will forever hold close to my heart.

It took me a long time to accept theeffect. I, myself, was married to an alcoholic, 20 some years ago. He was a wonderful man. An accomplished man. Funny, bright, handsome and he actually fell in love with me :o).. well, there is no accounting for taste :o).... We had a whirlwind romance and within 6 months were engaged to be married! During the following 6 months we planned for our marriage! I moved in and life was bliss. I didn't know he was an alcoholic! I had no clue. I thought he partied too much..but hey, he would outgrow that, right? There were days I came home from work and he was passed out..but when he came to, he would share what a stressful day he had and I totally understood! We married, and shortly thereafter the walls came tumbling down. Did you know that an addict can have a plateau period if something eventful is happening in their lives? My husband had a plateau period..and it ended when we got married. Life changed drastically after that. I won't go into all of the details, but I will say that I was not prepared...at all...
I tried Al Anon...but, I wanted to fix "him" .. there was nothing wrong with me! or so I thought! He would not go to AA because he felt he could control his drinking..and even after 2 rehabs...he still could not really admit that he had a problem.

He had a disease by the name of alcoholism. 20 years later..I have finally found the help that I needed to be a stronger me. 20 years later, I have met many men and women who have realized that they had a problem...that they needed help and are a part of our effect family now. Do they slip up sometimes...sure...but they know what life is like sober now and they hop back on. Those chips are cherished!! Believe me!! I have seen marriages grow stronger..I have watched them end. I watch men and women come to our Al Anon meetings and share their good moments and their bad. I see all of our AA family grow stronger all of the time. Our Tuesday night meeting is nothing short of a miracle! Young, old, men, women, families, spouses, friends...all getting a handle on life..one day at a time.

My 1st husband did not make it. Alcoholism took his life at a very young age. Too young, much too young. I would like to believe and I do..that he finally had a hold of his disease. He was desperately trying to detox himself. But, he was stubborn, and this time too stubborn. He tried to detox himself and his esophagus ruptured. He died in his town home, alone.

My heart is still broken, to this day, for the "what ifs". He left behind a beautiful daughter, who looks just like him. Who's mannerisms mirror his so very often. Thank goodness she has his intelligence! Thank goodness, she does not have his disease. I left him a few years into our marriage. I wasn't strong enough to keep going. I see other women who have been strong enough. I was not strong enough, I was not strong enough.
I was fortunate that God gave me another chance at love...My husband today, David, ..has a heart for all who are recovering from something..anything.. actually, we all are aren't we??? It wasn't until years into our marriage that he became involved with "The Bridge" in Capo Beach. He became very involved in Recovery...and wanted his ministry to go in that direction..He felt pulled, tugged and just flowed in the direction of recovery . With the help of Jeff Jones and Bob Beachamp theeffect was created. We now had a new church, a new fellowship..a new addition to our family. In the beginning I fought this internally.. I've gained 30 pounds.. I've gotten grayer... the lines on my face are finally showing my age. Darn it! I thought.."God, why???" Of all of the ministries in the world...couldn't you have thrown me over to China to hand out Bibles?? Wouldn't that have been easier for me? But, this wasn't about me, and yet a big part of it was.. What better way to heal from a major hurt, than to walk right through the fire you came out of and back in and out the other side???

Now, I love theeffect. With a passion! I still keep hoping we could have some normalcy...like a great children's program..or a women's program..but, I am finally getting it.. It is what it is supposed to be. A place for all who are recoverying from something...to find a place where they feel completely accepted. You should see our church... we have old and young, tattooed and shaved, beautiful and homeless, families and friends. Recovering addicts...those just out of rehab..trying to learn to live again. We have those who have been in recovery for 30 years... sharing their wisdom with grace, laughter and sometimes a few choice words. We have a message every Sunday that is relevant for everyone today.. We are not religious.. but we are spiritual. We are not fundamentalists..but we are non-denominational. We are raw..open...and seeking... all of us.... yearning to hear our Father's voice. We pull together when life becomes tough. We keep in touch with our our of staters...because they will always have a piece of our heart. We have lost beautiful people...who have added so much to our lives and will always be a part of us all.

We are theeffect.

And, if there is anyone out there...reading this.. and you know theeffect, have been to theeffect.. please share your thoughts of what theeffect has meant to you. It would mean so much!!

OK...the Blog is back.. even if I don't hear from you. I realized tonight that I will do this to keep theeffect alive with memories, pictures of people passing through, thoughts and tears and everything that theeffect evokes. There is no other place like it. It is one of a kind. It should be copied and planted everywhere...but it is so unique..just how we could do that I don't know. I will leave that one up to our higher power... If he can keep us going...he might want a few more out there.

God bless you all.. Seek your higher power.. Serenity Now!
If you are having a hard time tonight..call your sponsor please! Go to as many meetings a week as you can handle. check out our website for all of our meetings throughout the week. Go to AA online and check out all locations!! And for all of you who think you do not need Al Anon..take it from one who finally "got it" 20 years later! I am going now..and it is helping me now..and I don't even have an alcoholic in my life right now. besides the many who are around me throughout the week :o) !!! Go...run...to your nearest meeting.. if the 1st one doesn't wow you..go to another.. and another and another! Go at least 10 times! If, after 10 times you feel it doesn't work for you..ok..stop..but find counseling. You don't think you need it..but ..let me tell you from experience..you really do!

Good night! Peace Out! Sobriety works..you are worth it!

Bible Study Suggestion

2010-10-06T10:49:00.001-07:00

Bible Readings for the Week Ahead:

Monday: Psalm 91:14

Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 2:9

Wednesday: Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Thursday: Deuteronomy 7:9

Friday: Proverbs 8:17

Saturday: John 14:21

Sunday: Ephesians 6:24

Love's Identity Crisis

2010-10-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

"[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:7

Do you know that the Sanskrit language has 96 words for love? The ancient Persian language has 80 words, the Greek language has four, and English, one!

It is no wonder our culture has this whole “love” thing mixed up. Posted all over the headlines are stories of actors, actresses, athletes and singers falling in and out of love, week after week.With only one word to describe love Americans are confused. Relationships fail as people simply “fall out of love.” Many report not “feeling” the same way as they once did. Their passion runs dry.
As I look back on my relationship with God I cannot help but reflect on the times I have been unlovable. Yet through those times God chooses to love me and stick with me, encouraging me through my good days and my bad days. True love is to love others when they are unlovable, to persevere no matter what you may be feeling toward them. Kids and husbands included.

God calls us to display His love to others. Put your own feelings aside and persevere with somebody. Show them the same love that God has shown to you.

Love is a decision. God’s dream for you is that you would choose to love!

Julie Clinton, MA

Prayer

Dear Lord, in gratefulness for Your love to me, help me to love others more deeply, more consistently, more unselfishly. Let Your love shine through me in every aspect of my life. Amen.

2010-08-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

God’s grace knows no boundaries. It can flow through prison bars and over church pews. It covers those in cancer wards and school yards. It softens the hearts of the runaways and the throwaways and calls to those who refuse to join in the celebration too. It is love. God’s grace is love-felt. It is the outstretched arms of God that catch us when we fall. -Sheila Walsh

2010-08-03T11:19:00.001-07:00

The Whisper of God Thought for the Day: “Never underestimate anything you do. Even the smallest act of kindness can bring God into someone’s life. You are God’s ambassador, represent Him well.” Have a sensational day today my friends! – Elmer Laydon

I Wrote and the Young Answered

2010-07-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

I was having a bit of an attack this morning. Ok, let's call it Spiritual. Just feeling down and apart from God. It happens to us all, yes, even a Pastor's wife!

I wrote "Sometimes life feels like a puzzle we are meant to put together but we don't have all of the pieces, and yet we are meant to complete the puzzle."

A young sweet girl that I love dearly wrote back to me that she felt the same way until she met Jesus. He was the missing piece of her puzzle.

I took this thought right away and took my prayer to Jesus. She was right. I had blocked this missing puzzle piece and found it... now my day feels more complete...with a sense of direction and peace.

Love you my sweet friend.
Praise God!

God is so much more than a Donut and Coffee :o)

2010-07-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Come and share Donuts and Coffee with us every Sunday morning. There will be so much more you will take away with you. Take a little bit of Jesus with you for the week ahead and help us celebrate and praise Him for a little while. He gives us His all, let's give Him what we can.
God bless you throughout your week.

Praying for you

In His Name

Lost Emails

2010-07-02T16:18:00.001-07:00

A glitch on my computer took all of my email addresses over a month ago. I have lost all of you. If you would like to be on the Women's Ministry email list, please forward your email addresses to Marian@theeffect.org. Thank you!!!

Encouraging Each Other

2010-06-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

We are the hands and feet, the eyes and ears, here on this earth for our Lord. I pray that we would pray continually to know how He would have us use our gifts to edify, lift up and encourage our brothers and sisters. We are all a family, we are all related through Christ our Lord. Let us treat each other with respect and admiration, for our paths may cross for just a little while. Let us thank God for putting people on our paths that he may use us for, and for those that are there to help us also.
If we see someone hungry, will we feed him?
If we see someone crying, will we comfort them?
If we see someone bleeding, will we get help?
If we see someone with need, our Lord will provide, but most of the time, that is "through us." Let us all be The Good Samaritan.

Lord I pray, that as we pray daily, unceasingly, we will hear your whisper, we will feel your nudge, we will understand and have discernment for our brothers and sisters. You love us so completely, please show us how to love our brothers and sisters as you love us.

God Bless you all!

We Will Miss You Vanessa

2010-06-18T18:01:00.001-07:00

Vanessa Corielle Porter passed away on Wednesday, June 16. She was just 22 years old.

She will be so very missed!

Please keep Vanessa's family and her friends in your prayers.

The Elephant in the Living Room

2010-06-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Bobby: "Psssst. Don't tell anyone. It's our secret! There's an elephant in the living room, but we're pretending it's not really there and it's not really an elephant."

Billy: "But it smells and it's enormous!"
Bobby: "Just ignore it. Maybe it will go away."

Sounds pretty silly, doesn't it? Ignoring an elephant in the living room. How could anyone ignore an elephant in the living room?

Just think for a minute what it would be like. An elephant would take up most of the room. It would be difficult to see the television, out the windows, or each other. Carrying on a conversation with an elephant in the living room would be tricky. And think what an elephant could do to the carpet! If the floor would even hold it, that is. And if it didn't rear up and knock a hole in the roof.

How can you think of much else except how to clean up the mess the elephant makes? What do you do when company comes -- put a doily on it? How can you even have a telephone conversation when there's an elephant trumpeting in the living room? And how do you convince the children, your friends, your family, and yourself there's not an elephant there?

Okay, so no sane person would have an elephant in their living room.
But, now think about living with alcoholism in the home... isn't it just like having an elephant in the living room?

Try as you may, it won't be ignored. It continues to make messes, continues to dominate the house, and continues to drive you crazy despite all your best efforts to ignore it.
The elephant's there. It's real and it's not going away. So why tell the children it's a secret? Alcoholism screws children up. Lying about it makes it worse.

Admitting the elephant is there is what we in recovery call getting out of denial.

Admitting we're powerless over it and need help can start us on the road to recovery.

Instead of it being the end of the world, acknowledging the elephant is often the beginning of a new life.

And, ironically, once you admit the elephant is real, you'll probably discover everyone around already knows about it anyway.

From a Believer ~ How Would You Answer???

2010-06-04T17:08:00.001-07:00

Over the years, I have really been hurt by people in my church, and also people at my job as a teacher at a Christian school. Now I realize that we are human and make mistakes. Sometimes we hurt others without even realizing it! But I have experienced some real doozies of hurtfulness which have been deliberate and callous by those who claim to be very righteous. I'm not talking about romances that didn't work out, either. I'm talking about "friends", coworkers, and people in the ministry. It has really caused me to examine my own heart. Have I ever done this to someone? Have I deserved it? Am I somehow "reaping what I've sown" and yet not able to discern what I've done to deserve it? While I am examining my own heart, I also have to admit...my heart is broken by these experiences. And instead of having my faith strengthened through the adversity, I feel I'm becoming more scarred and less trusting...even bitter. I'm terrified of being bitter! I'm taking it all to the Lord, but I'm just wondering....anyone else out there with the same experience?
How would you answer this? This happens so often. I have noticed that a lot of people who come to our church have been hurt so deeply by other churches. It happens in all denominations. If we are truly walking with Christ, how can this happen? When the Bible tells us “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

What would you say to this person?

1 John 4:18 Do Not Be Afraid

2010-06-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Thomas Merton Prayer

2010-06-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- from Thomas Merton "Thoughts in Solitude"

Does God Punish?

2010-06-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Does God punish people while they are living (if they do wrong) or does He just chastise Christians when they do wrong, or does Jesus' death prevent Christians from being punished.....or does He bless and we suffer our own consequences to our own mistakes? or just what do you think????? AND REMEMBER, we can all have opinion, so let's respect everyone's opinion with an open mind PLZ.

Found this somewhere: In Jesus we see a God who is caring, healing, redemptive and reconciling. We do not see a God who punishes, but rather a God that seeks to restore us to our full humanity. We see a God who is more interested in blessing than punishing, more inclined to raise up than strike down. Our human propensity to misuse power distorts our humanity, sometimes to the point where it is unrecognizable. The result of this separation from our full humanity—the humanity God created us to have—is that we suffer, and then we tend to call that suffering God's punishment rather than taking responsibility for it ourselves. It is not God who punishes us, it is we ourselves.

As the cartoon character Pogo once put it, "We have met the enemy and they is us."

—The Rev. C. Douglas Simmons

NOTHING Can Separate us from the love of Christ ~ Romans 8:39-39

2010-06-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

This point comes from the magnificent closing verses of Romans 8 when Paul summons all creation to witness to the security of those whom God has called to salvation. The list would appear to be exhaustive:

Neither death nor life,

Neither angels nor demons, Neither the present nor the future,

Nor any powers,

Neither height nor depth,

Nor anything else in all creation.

None of this-or all of this taken together-or any of it gathered in small parts-can separate the true believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Abundant Blessings - 5 Steps To Enjoying More of Them - By Rob Marshall

2010-06-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

God loves us and wants to bless us abundantly, but we often choose to suffer instead of enjoying His blessings. We live in a sinful world and suffering is a part of life. But that doesn't mean that God wants our lives to be full of pain and constant struggle.
The Bible tells us that Christ died so that we could have life and abundance. (John 10:10) But God never forces His blessings on us, instead He tells us how we can choose to receive them.
Choosing God's blessings

In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy we read about the blessings and curses that God would bring on the Children of Israel. Chapter 28 lists all the blessings that would come on them for obeying God, and all the curses that would happen if they didn't. In Chapter 30 we read that if the curses have come on them, and they remember the blessings and repent, then God will again bring His blessings upon them.

Before we can enjoy God's blessings we have to choose them. Deuteronomy 30:15 says, "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." The choice is ours, and making the decision to obey Him and receive His blessings is the first step.

To whom much is given

I think that most people would take God's blessings without a second thought if they were simply dropped in their lap. But they usually come along with greater responsibility and that scares them. The servant who received only one talent was afraid to lose it, so he hid it, and because of that he lost a lot more than just one talent.

When we choose to enjoy God's blessings, we are also choosing to accept the problems and responsibilities that come with them. Jesus said, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48) So the second step to enjoying God's blessings is to be willing accept the responsibility that comes with them.

Are you trustworthy?

An important step that we can take in preparation for greater blessings is to be faithful, or trustworthy, with what we currently have. How faithful are you when it comes to giving of your time, talents, and treasures? Jesus said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

God wants to be sure that His blessings will be properly handled. When God plants a seed He expects it to grow and multiply. It's the same with His blessings. He gives them to us so that we can share them and multiply them. The next step to enjoying God's blessings is to be trustworthy with what we have, sharing our blessings with others so that they increase.

Do you remember God?

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about how some of the seed was sown in the midst of thorns. The thorns choked those seeds and they didn't bear much fruit. One of the "thorns" that He talked about was the "deceitfulness of riches." If we are to enjoy much fruit and enjoy God's blessings, then we need to be careful to avoid being deceived by riches.

Deuteronomy 8:10-11 says, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day."

Riches deceive us whenever we fail to remember that it is God who gave us the ability to get them, even if it's just the riches we enjoy from our current job. Whenever we believe that we did it on our own, we choke the fruit and can't enjoy His blessings. One of the most important steps for us to take is to remember that all we have, and all that we will receive, comes from God and we are to always praise and thank Him for it.

Are you waiting for the bad news?

Some people are afraid of good things happening in their lives because they are convinced that bad always follows good. Have you ever caught yourself thinking, or saying, "Things may be good now, but it can't last."

There are those who believe that the universe is perfectly balanced. That there is up and down, right and left, as well as good and evil in equal portions. And we learn from Job that we need to be willing to accept both good and bad in life, but we have to remember that God is good. His promise to us is that all things will work together for good. (Romans 8:28)

Just like the heavens are greater than the earth, God's blessings and goodness are more abundant than the pain and suffering that we see in life. The final step to enjoying His blessings is knowing that above everything else, God is good. In our lives we will experience more good than bad, and God will even use the bad things for our good.

When we follow these steps, and believe in His love and goodness, we will enjoy His blessings.

God wants to bless us, but He never forces us to accept His blessings. There are five steps we can that will help us enjoy all the blessings He wants to give us.

Rob Marshall is the author of "Taking On Goliath - How to Unleash the David in All of Us." Learn how you can unleash your faith and overcome any "Goliath" that may stand between you and your dreams. Get two free chapters from "Taking On Goliath" when you sign up for our free newsletter. Just visit:

http://www.TakingOnGoliath.com

Sunday, May 30th.

2010-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THEEFFECT

2010-05-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

3 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH... FROM THE OCEAN TO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND STILL MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU LORD. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR. LET OUR CELEBRATION BE PRAISE IN YOUR NAME~

Al Anon

2010-04-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ingrid Paulicivich (thank you, thank you, thank you :o) ), it looks like we will be starting an Al Anon meeting very soon. We are hoping to have our meetings on Thursday evenings to run concurrently with the AA Meeting in the Sanctuary. We would have our meetings on the store side meeting room. So, we are looking at 6:00 pm on Thursdays. This is a tentative date. I will let you know when it has been confirmed!

I am just so excited that this is finally happening here. I have been praying for this since we started our church. It's is all in God's timing!

I am a firm believer that if an addict seeks healing, the whole family should seek healing also. Living with an addict can make a family sick, co-dependent, non-trusting, hopeless.... we need to know that there is hope for us to bind the family together again... or better yet, to all be healthy individually!

Thank God for his timing, which is perfect, and for his guidance, and to Ingrid for being open to His call. He is incredibly loving to all!

2010-04-26T15:50:00.001-07:00

Al Anon

2010-04-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Would really love to start an Al Anon group at theeffect, but have yet to find someone who could lead it. I would, but one needs at least 2 years with Al Anon to be approved.

If you, or someone you know would like to start a group in San Juan Capistrano, CA, at theeffect, please let us know.

Thank you so much!!!
Praying that God will bring the right person to our door!

Our 10 Commandments, Still Valid for Today?

2010-04-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Stealing:

I realize that it is number 8 on a list of 10. Putting it down there towards the bottom, well maybe that makes us feel that it isn't really up there with #1... but you will see even number 7 is down towards the bottom. Does that make it any more less applicable? Hmmmmmm.

I think we have all had our moments... we work in an office and take a few paper clips. We work in a food establishment and take a little extra home. It isn't really stealing is it? Well, yes. We are all guilty to some small degree of some of these offenses. If you have never taken a paper clip from your work place put a few extra Splenda's from the restaurant in your purse...please come see me.. we must talk! :o)

Do we all keep the Sabbath Holy?

When I was a little girl, at a Catholic School, I went to confession regularly. Our teachers made us go. We all lined up ad waited our turn. I was always nervous. Why? Because I was so sinful? No, because I was a little girl and couldn't think of anything I had done wrong. (I was mean to my sister, I fed my pork chop to our dog lady..just didn't feel "bad enough") If only the teachers had primed us...given us some ideas of what was sinful for 9 year olds before we went, I would have been better prepared. But this one day, that resides in my head as if it is a piece of history and belongs there permanently... I took my turn at confession and confessed to the priest that I could not always make it to Sunday mass. I thought he would be understanding. Of course, I always attended mass with my class weekly. But, guess what? That was the day that I found out that not going to mass on a Sunday was a Mortal Sin. Yes, Mortal! I explained to the priest that we lived so far away and if my parents weren't driving to church I couldn't come. He told me to ride a bike, I told him it was still to far. He told me to come with friends, I told him my friends who attended our school lived too far away. He was so apparently exasperated with me. Sent me out to kneel and pray my penance. It was something like 100 Our Father's and 50 Hail Mary's. While I was still praying my class was done and returning back to class and I was still praying, and crying... feeling like the biggest 9 year old sinner on this earth!

Why am I bringing this up?

Because some sins seem too small to count. Others too big to handle. I agree, my punishment was too much for a young child my age that couldn't make it to church because she had not transportation. I, over time, realized that the priest must have been having a horrible day and I was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is so good to grow up and to be able to see the light, isn't it?

Those other sins listed...well, some of those do deserve a punishment. Some of those hurt others, sometimes many people. I do believe that some people commit sins with the idea that they aren't hurting anyone, so they truly believe that what they are doing is ok. Maybe an affair, that a wife or husband doesn't know about. Maybe magazines that shouldn't be looked at... Maybe they feel they deserve whatever they are indulging in. Maybe they took something... they worked hard and weren't compensated properly. Understandable...but you know what..sometimes you just have to ask for what you want and people will give you what you feel you deserve. You don't need to resort to stealing.

How about honoring our father and mother. No matter what. How about making idols. Do you know that this is "anything" that we put before our God? I could most likely say that we are all guilty of that (momentary lapses of judgement). How about "Do not misuse the name of God." How many times a day do we hear this happening? Could we do something about it? If they were taking our daughter's or son's or spouse's name in vain..wouldn't we stand up for our loved one? Do we love Jesus enough to say something?

Why am I writing all of this? Because I am so afraid that so many Christians are falling away from the most basic realms of Christianity. What do we hold sacred? How strong is your faith? How strong is your love of God.

Do you realize that if you have a personal and loving relationship with God our Father you would never even consider commiting a sin, especially those listed above. Why? Because the love is so strong, the feeling of trust, of God's protection, of peace that surpasses understanding is a real thing... We would never want to hurt someone we love.

Do you remember the song, "They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love", Can we all look in the mirror and call ourselves Christians on a daily basis? There are a lot of "Christians" out there giving our faith a very black eye. Would you choose to buy a car from someone just because they claim they are Christian, rather than look elsewhere? I know some people that have done that only to find that they didn't purchase a car from a very "loving" or even "honest" Christian.

What is the one thing that God asks of us?

Jesus answered, “The most important [commandment] is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:29-30)

I believe that what causes us to sin the most is pain, resentment, bitterness. These are all signs that we have fallen off of the path...we have fallen away from God. Remember, HE NEVER LEAVES US. It is we who leave Him. He is waiting, like a patient Father for us to come back to Him. It is ok that we sinned, it is ok that we are dirty at times, it is ok that we walked off the path for a bit... But getting back on the path and turning from our sins and running to our Lord is the best thing we can do for our hearts, minds, souls....and our lives. Do you need peace in your life? Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to release pain? God is waiting there with open arms, just waiting for your return. Don't even give it another thought, run, run, run to Him like there is no tomorrow. He is your Now...He is your Fututre...He even supplies a Comforter and Guide for you. His love is never ending. Make this choice and stay with it and it will be the best choice you ever make.

God loves you with everything He has. Let Him transorm your life into something beautiful, to what it is meant to be. You will not be let down...as long as you stay on His path... Please don't blame Him, when you step off.

May God rain down His love on you today like a gentle warm and soothing raing. My He take away your sorrow, your shame, your hatred, your bitterness, your resentments, your deep seated hurts. May He bring you back to the time you knew Him. Even if that was when you were a small child...just so you can feel Him again. I pray these things for you all, in Jesus' name, His Shem, His Being. Amen

Resurrection Picture

2010-04-06T19:37:00.001-07:00

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/MW131v2_WS

He has Risen! He is Always With You!

2010-04-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

When the world has got you down

remember who you are
You are a child of God.
You are most loved.

You don't feel Him?

Ask for Him.
Pray to Him.

He has not walked away from you.
He is waiting for you to come to Him.
You are never alone.
We are all a family. We are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children.
We are all one with God.

May God bless your day and days ahead with much love.

BRAVO BURGER

2010-03-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

The wonderful management at Bravo Burger has offered our church a wonderful surprise. All meals on Sunday are 15% off!!! All that you have to do is bring in your effect flyer that is handed out at church on Sundays and the meal is discounted!!! I'm in! How about you!!?

Thank you so much Bravo Burger!!!

PLEASE PRAY

2010-03-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

For our friend, Gene Spann, our valuable friend, Children of the Americas Volunteer and effect helper. We can not get along with out him! :o)

Gene had back surgery this week and will be away for a month or so.

Please pray for a fast recovery and a painless healing. Our hearts and prayers are with you Gene!!!

Palm Sunday / Good Friday / Easter Sunday

2010-03-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday!!! A beginning to our Easter celebration. Be with us on these special days and let us celebrate, commemorate and Praise our Lord together!

What a beautiful community of people we have at theeffect! We love you all!

2010-03-21T22:02:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Scott Komie (Monday, March 22) Thanks for all of your help!!! You are much appreciated!

If you would like to wish someone a Happy Birthday (belly button or sober) just let me know!

Don't Forget

2010-03-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Daylight Saving Time - 2010

In the US and Canada

Daylight Saving Time always begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.
This means that, on March 14, 2010, at 2:00 a.m. - you set the clocks ahead one hour. (Spring forward)
And on Sunday, November 7, 2010, at 2:00 a.m. - you set the clocks back an hour. (Fall back)

For all of you...

2010-03-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

So much has happened in such a short timeframe. I don't know where to start. I am sure that a lot of people in our community are reeling right now. I know that I am. This is where our prayers are needed most.. when we just don't understand.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

It brings it all to the one truth...we are all human beings. Not perfect in any sense. It also brings it all to the ultimate truth. We can do nothing without our God. We need to lean into Him... and to pray without ceasing. He must be on our minds at all times. He is our Truth, our Guidance, our Saviour...and the only one Who can save us from ourselves. He is our Best Friend.

Without constant prayer, you will never learn to hear His voice. You will never know when He is wanting to guide you. Prayer is simply convesation with your Father, silently in your mind. Turn the radio off and thank Him for the beautiful day. Open your eyes and notice all that is around you that He has given you. Prayer is simply conversation. And, yes, He does answer. Not always and almost never in audible ways, but you will know, you will know.

We must look forward, not backwards.. Each day is a chance for transformation, for new life. As we focus our thoughts on our Abba Father...or to those that can not do that....our Higher Power. Without God, there is no breathe, no thoughts, no life. He has our life in our hands. Unfortunately for so many, He gives us Free Will, Freedom, to make our own decisions. We, being weak, see a fork in the road and sometimes take the wrong turn, even though the lights are flashing for us to go "His Way"... we mistakenly see the other road as the easier road to take, and it creates havoc and consequences in our life that we sometimes can not repair. God will always be there to take us back, but our human family has a more difficult time. It's hard being human in a world of flesh and bone, temptations and lies.

For those who have been hurt, I pray for God's peace upon you. I pray for His Wings of protection to cover you to protect your heart, your mind and your body. I pray for repentance for those who have strayed. Remember, repentance means to simply turn from your sin and come back to God asking Him for forgiveness, showing Him your are remoresful, knowing fully well that like the Prodigal's son, your Father will be there with open arms waiting for your return. You don't need to clean yourself up or wait until you feel better. Go now! He will clean you up and make you feel better!!!

If you have never really known the Father's love. Please call us. Please call a pastor. Speak to someone you know that has been trying to talk to you.

Consider a life where, although trials and struggles come your way and the waves are too high to sail, God will give you peace and carry you through it. If you don't go through it you will not grow. You will watch others run (sail) ahead and you will stay planted where you are, with no growth, no peace, no rest. Grab the sails and move forward. God is at the other end, no matter what you go through. You will find peace, you will grow stronger, you will find rest.

May God's love shower over you all this week and always. May you find your prayer voice this week and the desire to speak with your Father...Who is there waiting for you, longing for you, crying out to you, to come to Him. Sit with Him, Climb into His lap. Cry with Him. He will carry you. He will carry you through the most impossible times.

God loves you, yes you!! It's time to believe that fact and to live the life He has promised to you.

Please keep our effect friends and families in prayer. Much needed, and much appreciated! Thank you!!

Gratitude

2010-02-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

-–Melody Beattie

Praise Him For He is Faithful

2010-01-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name,

Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Wing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face continually.

Remember His wonderful deeds which He had done,

His marvels and the judgements from His mouth.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

A NEW YEAR PRAYER

2009-12-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

A New Year Prayer

Holy Father,

God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.

We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.

Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.

Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.

To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.

To teach others to love by loving them.

Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.

So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.

That we could share Love with others.

Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,

in the chriping of sparrows in our backyards,

in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.

Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,

so that we may know You better and better.

We rejoice in the world You loved into being.

Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.

We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.

Forgive us for falling short this past year.

We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year knowing You will go with us.

We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..

I say it again, we rejoice!

In Jesus name,

Amen.

2009-12-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

DAWN FARM

Wonderful site for Recovery items, gifts, etc.

RECOVERY GIFTS.

More gifts and items for recovery!

FRIDAY VOLUNTEERS?

2009-11-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has someplace fun to go on Thursday, if not with family then with good friends. If you are available on Friday we have a wonderful ministry you can participate in. We are going to feed the homeless and the needy in History Town Center Park in SJC. If you can participate please call Terry G at 949.573.8514. If you have food to donate please call Tony S at 949.726.2423. We need servers, loaders and people to pray with or just talk to the folks we serve. Hope to see you there.

Frank Billman

PRAYER REQUEST

2009-11-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

One of my very best high school friends contacted me this week to share some terrible news with me and to ask for prayer. Her young nephew was in a car accident this last week. He was intoxicated and hit a car. 2 people in the other car were killed.

Until that night, his life was going forward in a beautiful way. He was getting his AA and in December was going off to San Luis Obispo to continue his education. He had never been in trouble before. A good person, a good friend, a wonderful son to his parents. This choice he made, this one decision to drink and drive has changed the path of his life. Dave and I watched a show tonight where someone said "Your life can turn on a dime". We can blink and everything we know has changed. This is what has happened for Ricky, for his family, for his friends...and I haven't even touched upon the family in the other car who lost 2 family members instantly!

Only God knows what will happen from here. The pain that these two families will endure will be excrutiatingly painful. There will be the long drawn out process of court, and then a sentence.

Even Ricky's family knows that he must be punished for this crime. Two lives were lost. A family has lost loved ones, and the pain must be unbearable.

Please, with me, keep these two families in your prayers. The boy who caused the accident is Richard Rodriguez. You can google his name and find the story posted to the news. It happened in Goleta I believe.

All we can all do is ask God to be merciful, and just, and compassionate to all involved. We know He will.

This has made the family of Ricky really search out God and pray. They have gone to church and have sought the prayers of others.

Please, again, help me to continue these prayers for all of those involved.

Thank you.

God Bless you... Please remember to hug and kiss your family, your loved ones, your friends whenever you see them. Don't pass up the opportunities that come your way to let people know how you feel about them. It is so important to live in the moment at all times. How hard this is to learn, I know... but our lives can turn on a dime, with the blink of an eye. Forever changed.

Hugs and blessings to you all!!!

John 3:16

2009-11-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner,

the people were in and out of the cold.

The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said,

"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy

could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?

You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and

down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight.

Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You

go down the street to that big white house and you knock

on the door. When they come out the door you just say

John 3:16, and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the

door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,

"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom

rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went

off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:

John 3:16 . I don't understand it, but it sure makes a

cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry ? "

He said, "Well, just a little.. I haven't eaten in a couple of

days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,"

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table

full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat

any more.. Then he thought to himself:

John ! 3:16 .Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure

makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub

filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a

while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16

I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy

clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my

whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in

front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him.. She took him to a room,

tucked him into a big old feather bed , pulled the covers

up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out

the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the

window at the snow coming down on that cold night,

he thought to himself: John 3:16 ...I don't understand it but

it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him

down again to that same big table full of food. After he

ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom

rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up

a big old Bible.

She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.

"Do you understand John 3:16 ?" she asked gently. He

replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't.. The first time I ever heard it

was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"

She opened Th e Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain

to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,

he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there

and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it, but it sure

makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either,

how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how

Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand

the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as

they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense

love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end.

I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living..

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should

not perish, but have everlasting life.

Reader's Digest Joke of the Day

2009-10-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

It seemed that all our appliances had broken in the same week, and repairs were straining our budget. So when I picked up the kids from school and our Jeep started making rattling sounds, I decided that rather than burden my husband, I'd deal with it. I hadn't reckoned on my little tattletales, however. They rushed into the house with the news: "Daddy, the Jeep was breaking down, but Mom made the noise stop!"

Impressed, my husband asked, "How did you fix it?"

"I turned up the volume on the radio," I confessed.

Remember... we can pray for big things and little things. God listens!

Alexander Writes

2009-10-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

I found a new Blog that I really like... thought I would share it with you all. We can never have enough inspiration!!

Quote of the Day

2009-10-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't talk back.

- W.K. Hope

“God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”
Timothy 1:7

God vs Science

2009-10-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Words can clarify, prove, confuse, destroy, be helpful, wound etc. etc.. In our search for God, and our understanding of faith, words can be all these and more. Ultimately, as human beings we are finite, and when it comes to God, we need to walk humbly and in awe.

Enjoy!

‘Let me explain the problem science has with religion.’ The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?’
‘Yes sir,’ the student says.
‘So you believe in God?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Is God good?’
‘Sure! God’s good.’
‘Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?’
‘Yes’
‘Are you good or evil?’
‘The Bible says I’m evil.’
The professor grins knowingly. ‘Aha! The Bible!’ He considers for a moment. ‘Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?’
‘Yes sir, I would.’
‘So you’re good…!’
‘I wouldn’t say that.’
‘But why not say that? You’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.’
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. ‘He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?’
The student remains silent.
‘No, you can’t, can you?’ the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
‘Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?’
Er … yes,’ the student says.
‘Is Satan good?’
The student doesn’t hesitate on this one. ‘No.’
‘Then where does Satan come from?’
The student falters. ‘From God’
‘That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct?’
‘Yes’
‘So who created evil?’ The professor continued, ‘If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.’
Again, the student has no answer. ‘Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?’
The student squirms on his feet. ‘Yes.’
‘So who created them?’
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. ‘Who created them?’ There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. ‘Tell me,’ he continues onto another student. ‘Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?’
The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. ‘Yes, professor, I do.’
The old man stops pacing. ‘Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?’
‘No sir. I’ve never seen Him.’
‘Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your Jesus?’
‘No, sir, I have not.’
‘Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?’
‘No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.’
‘Yet you still believe in him?’
‘Yes’
‘According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?’
‘Nothing,’ the student replies. ‘I only have my faith.’
‘Yes, faith,’ the professor repeats. ‘And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.’
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. ‘Professor, is there such thing as heat?’
‘ yes.
‘And is there such a thing as cold?’
‘Yes, son, there’s cold too.’
‘No sir, there isn’t.’
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. ‘You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.’
‘Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.’
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
‘What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?’
‘Yes,’ the professor replies without hesitation. ‘What is night if it isn’t darkness?’
‘You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word.’
‘In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?’
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. ‘So what point are you making, young man?’
‘Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.’
The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time. ‘Fl awed? Can you explain how?’
‘You are working on the premise of duality,’ the student explains. ‘You argue that there is life and then there’s death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought.’
‘It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.’
‘Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?’
‘If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.’
‘Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?’
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
‘Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?’
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
‘To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.’
The student looks around the room. ‘Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?’ The class breaks out into laughter.
‘Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.’
‘So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lecture s, sir?’
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. ‘I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.’
‘Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,’ the student continues. ‘Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?’
Now uncertain, the professor responds, ‘Of course, there is. We see it everyday It is in the daily example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.’
To this the student replied, ‘Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.’

The professor sat down.

(This is said to have been attributed to Albert Einstein, but I checked Snopes.com and that is false. Although, Einstein was not an atheist as some believe.)

Famous Scientists Who Believed in God

2009-09-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Ps 121:7-8 NIV

F.R.O.G.

2009-09-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

F.R.O.G.

Shared via AddThis

SOMEBODY

2009-09-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

SOMEBODY wrote this...I like it. Liked it when I read it years ago, like it still! This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. For all of the Somebodies, everybodies, anybodies that help us at church. THANK YOU SO MUCH...TEAM EFFECT ROCKS!

2009-09-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

Spirituality improves as we increase our response to God's spiritual nudges. A slow response will result in lower spiritual perceptions

John Paul Jackson

2009-09-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love."

Mother Teresa

How to PracticwLectio Divina. Centering Prayer

2009-09-17T15:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Catholic/2000/08/How-To-Practice-Lectio-Divina.aspx

C.S. Lewis

2009-09-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the son shines on it.

C.S. Lewis

Prayer Request

2009-09-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

I have had a request for prayers.

Scott Turner, who is a wonderful part of our Faith Community, has been offered two jobs... yes, that is so good, but one is up north and the other is here in our local area. He would much rather stay here, but needs a job soon! Please pray that God's will will be loud and clear for Scott. That doors that need to be shut, will be. Doors that need to be open, will be. That God's will, will prevail for Scott.

Also, I have spoken to a few families that are experience similar situations. Job loss, cut hours, behind in mortgage payments and afraid of losing their homes. The stress that this puts on a family and an individual is tremendous.

I pray that God's hand be on our people. That all needs are met in a timely manner. That faith would be strong and that we would all lean upon our Lord for our needs. I pray that God will speak loudly to all of us.. that He would send His Spirit, our Teacher to be with us always.

I pray for a peace that surpasses understanding for all. Know that you are truly in the hands of God. May his will be done.

Meetup.com

2009-09-14T11:22:00.001-07:00

We are now registered with Meetup! If you join either the Blog, or Meetup, you will always know what is going on with theeffect Faith Community!

http://www.meetup.com/theeffect-community

If you would like me to send you an invite link to Meetup, just email me at mbrisbin@cox.net!

Spread the word...let's grow our Faith Community. We are relevant for everyone today. God has his hands on us..we can just feel it!!

May God bless your week with a rich abundance of peace and joy!

Prayer Request

2009-09-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share that I have just learned that a friend's dad was diagnosed with Cancer in his pancreas and Liver. It is terminal. If you could all please put her Dad, Fred Hulse and his wife Carol and Michele and their whole family in your prayers they would greatly appreciate it... Thank you so much.

Prayer Requests Always Welcome

Prayer Needed

2009-09-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Most of you have heard the saga that has been transpiring over this past week. Our church got together to help the non-profit, Children of the Americas, in stuffing backpacks with school supplies for needy children in Mexico. We had a wonderful turnout of over 40 people!! The group put together over 500 backpacks that were to be delivered to Mexico in 2 trips.

In the past, we rarely had problems going over the Mexican border and delivering food, school supplies, toys at Christmas and making special trips when needs arose, such as a house needing to be rebuilt due to fire, children needing shoes or blankets during the winter months. After 9/11 this all changed, but more so over the last 4 years.

The border guards started pulling us over and asking us for written authorizations for the items we were bringing over. We did this with the right officials following those requests, but the guards continued to periodically pull our cars over, and even with written authorizations they would sometimes confiscate items, or tell us that there were some things we were not allowed to bring over. Sometimes it was a certain type of food, other times a certain type of toy. The authorizations were not working anymore.
This back pack trip was the trip that finally frustrated me enough to try and contact officials in Mexico. I have written to Hispanic media outlets. I have written to Feinstein and Calvert to seek help. It has been days and I have not received a response from anyone.

The border patrol guards not only kept our backpacks this trip, they also detained our volunteer for over 12 hours and confiscated our van. They told us they would give us the van back for $1,200. Needless to say, our volunteer did not have $1,200. with him, so Pastor Dave drove to Mexico to pick him up and bring him back home, after waiting 4 more hours before they would let them go.

Our volunteer came back the following day, hoping to get our van back. The guards now told him it would now cost us $2,200. to get the van back and would not even comment on our backpacks and school supplies.

I don't know what else to say or do at this point, except to ask anyone reading this to join us in praying for our non-profit, to pray for this situation and to pray for our two countries as it seems relations are becoming more strained as time goes on.

Please also pray for the children that this non-profit reaches out to. Without our presence there will be no more breakfast homes to feed the 300 children breakfast in the mornings. There will be no more school supplies and help with tuition. There will be no more toys at Christmas, blankets in the winter and shoes for the children who have outgrown the old shoes... these are the poorest of the poor. These are the destitute of a country that seems to have forgotten them.

Their neighborhoods are loving. Their schools embrace them. The families embrace each other, and they have become our family too. We are one in Christ.

I am not writing to provoke anger, but rather prayers. We can not fix all that is broken. Some things are too damaged for mere humans to fix. But we can pray, without ceasing during our days, and all that I ask is when you are praying that you bring this to mind and offer this up to the Lord.

In peace and wisdom, I pray the outcome will benefit the children and all concerned. And I thank you for joining us in praying. A conversation with our Lord is good for all.

Thank you!
Blessings to you and yours!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 1:17)

The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:13-20)

We're Stuffing BackPacks Tonight!!

2009-08-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Come to church and be blessed!

500 back packs are ready to be stuffed with the wonderful donation of school supplies that we have received!

We will have an assembly line of volunteers who will make sure that every piece of supply is in each back pack. Oh.. and did I mention pizza? :o)

www.americaschildren.org for more info on the org we are helping tonight!

Please Share "Your" Thoughts

2009-08-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

Do you have any questions for theeffect?
Any suggestions?
Any praise reports?
A desire to be more involved?
A need? Spiritual or other?

I have learned, from my past experiences with churches, that often, people have things they want to share. They possibly have a desire to do more. They might have a need, a burden, but are afraid to speak out. And, unfortunately, their desires, burdens, etc. are not met with attention or help from their church.

We want to be there for you. We just need you to share with us.
If you have a burden, please do not keep it inside.
If you have a need, please let us know.

May God Bless you with His abundance of Love, Wisdom and Peace, today and always!

We are all one body: 1 Corinthians 12

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire[e] the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

2009-08-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

No more white knuckling life! The Lord will always be there and continue to be there always. He will guide you to your destination, and fulfillment! Just lean into Him. All He wants is your attention. A personal relationship. Spend time with Him, in prayer, in conversation....constantly... and you will see that work being done in your life, and you will know He is with you.

Blessings to all!

Thank you Frank Billman for this comic!

Are you a Hermit Crab? Let's hope not.

2009-08-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

King David, the author of so many Psalms, grew weary of his struggles. He was so tired in soul, so embattled and beset by troubles, all he wanted was to escape to a place of peace and safety: “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me…. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest…. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (Psalm 55:4-8).

A lesson from nature reveals what happens when we trade the good fight for an easier way and walk away from our struggle. I recently read a biologist’s study on crabs, creatures that live in a rough, dangerous environment among jagged rocks. Crabs are dashed about daily by waves and attacked on every side by creatures from deeper waters. They battle continually to protect themselves, and over time they develop a strong shell and powerful instincts for survival.

Amazingly, some in the crab family give up the struggle for life. Searching for a safe haven, they take up residence in the cast-off shells of other ocean creature. These crabs are known as hermit crabs. Settling for safety, they retreat from the battle and escape into secondhand houses that are ready-made.

But hermit crabs’ “safe houses” prove to be costly and ruinous. Through their lack of struggle, crucial parts of their bodies deteriorate. Even their organs wither due to lack of use. Over time the hermit crab loses all power of motion, as well as vital parts needed for escape. These limbs simply fall off, leaving the crab out of danger but useless to do anything except exist.

Meanwhile, crabs that continued the struggle grow and flourish. Their five pairs of legs become meaty and strong from resisting the powerful tides. And they learn to hide from their predators by skillfully scuttling under rock formations.

This law of nature, too, illustrates the law of the Spirit. As believers, we get tossed and pounded by wave after wave of difficulties. We face vicious predators in Satan’s principalities and powers. But as we fight on, we grow stronger. And we come to recognize the devil’s wiles when he employs them against us. We discover our true refuge, the “cleft in the rock,” by trusting in Jesus. Only then are we truly safe in the midst of our battle.

Information for Upcoming Women of Faith Event

2009-08-20T11:54:00.001-07:00

From: Women of Faith
Date: 8/20/2009 3:09:21 AM
To: mbrisbin@cox.net
Subject: Before You Go...Information About A Grand New Day

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

Anaheim, CA
September 11 - 12, 2009 - Honda Center

5. IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
We still have seats available for your friends and family. Send them to womenoffaith.com or have them call 888-49-FAITH to register.

4. WHERE AND HOW MUCH?
Click here for a map, directions, parking prices, special needs, and more.

3. HUNGRY?
We’ll break for lunch at approximately:
Friday: 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
Saturday: 12:30 PM 1:30 PM
Concessions will be open both days
Arenas generally do NOT allow any outside food or beverages. Some exceptions may be made for medical reasons. Check with the arena for details.

2. GET YOUR ZZZZZ’S
View a list of discounted hotels. You may not sleep much, but you’ll need a place to hang out with your friends

1. PLAN AHEAD
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (You’ll probably climb stairs at some point.) Layers are always a good choice.
Say ‘No’ to bulky accessories. Security will search them and there’s no place to stash them anyway.
Pick a place (in advance!) to meet in case you get separated from your group.
Although outside beverages are prohibited, you can usually bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain inside.
Come expecting to have a grand time!

Women of Faith | 820 W. Spring Creek Pkwy. Suite 400 | Plano, TX 75023

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KING DAVID & YOU

2009-08-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Nothing has changed in people since King David. We are all alike. No one is perfect. We are human and we need God. Seek Him and He will show you He is always there for you!

After exalting God’s Word at length, David concludes Psalm 119 with this verse: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant” (verse 176).

David is saying, in essence, “Please, Lord, seek me out, the way a shepherd searches for a lost sheep. In spite of all my biblical knowledge, preaching, and long history with you, somehow I’ve strayed from your love. I’ve lost the sense of rest I once had in you. All my plans have failed. And now I realize I’m totally helpless. Come to me, Father. Seek me out in this awful, dry place. I can’t find you on my own. You must find me. I still believe your Word is true.”

David knew he’d strayed from God’s rest. He knew the Lord’s love should have been imprinted on his heart during his previous crises. But now, once again, he had forgotten about God’s love for him. So he cried out to the Lord, begging him to seek out his lost servant.

Now the shepherd had come after David again. And as David heard his name called, his heart was comforted. He realized, “My shepherd knows me by name.” David found himself being led down the hill into the green valley. And once he reached the green pasture below, Jehovah Rohi (the Lord my Shepherd) said to him, “Lie down now. Go to sleep, and rest your weary soul. Don’t worry—I’ll be at work, taking care of everything.”

It’s important to note here that David’s circumstances hadn’t changed. In fact, Scripture says the enemies who troubled David had increased (Psalm 3:1). But David had been restored to God’s love. Now he could say, “Salvation (deliverance) belongeth to the Lord” (3:8).

He testified, “No more self-made plans. No more sleepless nights, trying to work things out. I eagerly enter into my shepherd’s love. I welcome his open arms toward me. And I’m going to lie down in his rest. I am going to sleep peacefully in his unconditional love for me.”

David Wilkerson

Input from Frank Billman, Men's Ministries

2009-08-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

Frank sends out emails to the men each week. Thank you Frank for letting me share this with everyone!

Thought for the Week

Last night in Dave's class we had a lively discussion about what we thought was the most compelling part of our faith. It started when a gentleman in the group stated that he thought it was very important for each of us to help spread the gospel to all nations. ( Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost....also known as the great commission). Another person in the room countered with their thought that we were to love God foremost and others secondly in our own way (Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment, And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.) So, what do you think? Who is right? Or maybe they both got it wrong....I think it's also very important that we teach each other how to walk with the Lord on a daily basis. As I thought about this discussion on the way home I became convinced that what we had just experienced was a "clash" of spiritual gifts. Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. We are all drawn to serve the Lord in different ways according to the talents/gifts that we possess. But here's the rub. As humans we feel very compelled to defend our viewpoint. What's right for me must be right for others, right? I mean, I've spent a lot of soul searching trying to determine how the Lord would use me so, once I find it that must mean that what I've found is the right path for all of us, right? You can see where I'm going with this. I'm happy to report that while our discussion was spirited it was also very respectful of each other. I was just reminded once again of how easy it is for us to try and judge others by what is right for us. So, resist the urge to measure others faith by what is right for you. The second part of the lesson is this: We were each given spiritual gifts for a reason....to use them!!! We need to be contributing to the body in one way or another. 1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. This passage comes right after a listing of spiritual gifts and the intent is obvious, we each have a role to play and each role is equally important. The only wrong answer is not playing/participating.

Have a great week,
Frank
949.547.8635
frank@theeffect.org

Whatever Happened to Joy?

2009-08-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

We had a discussion at our Wednesday night Bible study last night that was very spirited. It was very good. The desire to go deeper and to know the Lord was so strong. The only thing that bothered me about the discussion was that I sensed fear, in the sense that "maybe we aren't doing things correctly, maybe we don't believe correctly, if we don't cross the T's and dot the I's will we still go to heaven?

I sometimes receive emails from David Wilkerson (an American Christian evangelist, most famous for his book The Cross and the Switchblade). Today his message spoke so loudly to me. It was as if he was in the room with us last night. I would like to share this with you.

I know that we all do not agree on all things. Does that make us wrong, uninformed, unforgiven? What do you think? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

_____________________________________

From: devotions@davidwilkersonglobal.org
Date: 08/06/09 04:46:47
To: mbrisbin@cox.net
Subject: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JOY?

The Holy Spirit yearns to bring God’s people back to serving the Lord with joy and gladness. How grieved heaven must be to witness the wet blanket of despair and sadness that has fallen upon multitudes of believers.

The Psalmist declared, “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15).

Isaiah said, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

When the Holy Spirit began to deal with me on the matter of serving him with joy, I had a difficult time facing the seriousness of the subject. I did not fully understand God’s attitude. I wondered how important it could be compared to all the heartbreaking problems in the world today.

Few Christians have the knowledge of the truth about liberty and the life-freeing sacrifice at Calvary! They have never allowed the cross to set them free from all fear and bondage. We cannot rejoice and be exceedingly glad in our relationship with the Lord when we have a poor or limited knowledge of what happened at the cross.

You need not understand all the doctrines of atonement, reconciliation, propitiation, grace, sanctification, etc. All you need to know in order to live joyfully unto the Lord is this one foundational truth: GOD WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS!

It was all that was needed! God now willingly—joyfully—forgives all who repent.

To not rejoice in Christ’s forgiveness is to doubt his full payment of our sins! Let the Spirit give you an understanding of this truth—we are called to liberty. God wants us to have an abundance of joy, a joy that is full and complete. Pressed down and running over!

God’s Word makes it perfectly clear that he yearns to be enjoyed by his saints.

“That they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves…” (John 17:13).

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

Baptism Sunday, This Sunday, August 9th

2009-08-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is Baptism Sunday. (The second Sunday of every month). If you wish to be baptized please call one of our pastors at 949-218-2228.

A Quote by Beth Moore:

2009-08-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

"I believe that as it did in the life of Abraham, obedience to God causes many of those imputed blessings to become imparted blessings in our walk here on Planet Earth. As we walk in obedience to God, our final testimonies will prove that we have been blessed in every way. Without exception, every area of my life has been affected positively by a growing intimacy with God. When we seek to be fully His, blessing overflows the walls of our compartmentalized lives."

2009-07-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Is the Lord making theeffect your Spiritual Church Home? If He is, we welcome you with open and loving arms. Please know that all ministry leaders are available to speak with and you can contact us through www.theeffect.org . We would appreciate your communication with us, your thoughts, prayer requests and getting to know you.

If you are just visiting us for a time, we still welcome you with open and loving arms. There are times that God has us move, to learn more, to share what we have learned with others.

We love that you are all on theeffect's path. We love growing in faith and knowledge with you, as God is constantly teaching and growing us all individually! We are blessed to call you our church family!

Bless you!

10 Best Work At Home Jobs

2009-07-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

With so many people out of work, I thought that this article would be so good to share!
So many good ideas!!

WORK AT HOME JOBS

SATURDAT, AUGUST 8, Christian Surfers Movie Night

2009-07-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

I want to let you know about a really cool thing happening in the O.C.
Sat. Aug. 8th at 6pm at Huntington Beach High School.
Joey Buran is having a movie night with a lot of FREE giveaways.
A friend of mine met him last Friday at the walk of surfers as he was having his
hands, and feet pressed into the cement.
He is a Pastor!
FREE food! LOL!
I am SO there! LOL! ; P
The event is being put together by Christian Surfers.

The address is 1905 Main Street.
Off the 405 at Beach go down to Main Street, and turn right.
Go down Main, on the school is on the right hand side.
It is so big, you can't miss it.
Hope you can make it! It will be fun! Yes it will!

MOVIE NIGHT - THIS SATURDAY! July 25th

2009-07-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

"The Body"
- a deeply philosophical film (2001)

6:00 pm Dinner will be pot luck. Please bring your easiest dinner you can share...or Please bring a dessert :o)

The movie will start at 7:00 p.m.

Child care provided

You might want to plan on staying a bit after the movie for discussion.

Thank You Pastor Chuck Jr. and theeffect Ministry

2009-07-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you for gifting us time time to be a family for a bit. We could not have done it without you! Thank you to Tony Salas and the Reynods family for being so generous!! Thank you worship team for going on without Dave. Thank you to all of our weekly angels who make things work and for always being there!!!

Pastor Dave Brisbin and family are home! We were gifted with a wonderful cabin for a few days up in Big Bear. We had been pouring ourselves into so much over the last few years and realized when this gift came that we had not had a family vacation in many years!

We were able to rest, and be a family.. the kids had so much fun. We spent a lot of time on the lake. The kids rode sea doos, Dave and I took the boys out on the pontoon boats. Our 13 year old was our captain, and I haven't seen him smile like that in ages! He was "made" to be a captain! Our 4 year old giggled for days and ran around like he had too much sugar (it was joy), and our 19 year old and her friend Serenity were able to put their cares of their quickly coming college days aside and be kids for just a little bit more... and Dave.... he actually relaxed! I haven't seen him do that in ages. And, when he relaxed, I was able to relax! What a blessing!!!

This trip was truly needed.. and just in time! There are so many stories about Pastor's kids becoming rebellious and Pastors burning out. I know of Pastor's wives who are in therapy.

This has made me question, in the past, the scripture 1 Corinthians 10:13,
(the Message)
13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it."

I do believe this. I don't think it is God that heaps more duty upon our plates, but that we do it to ourselves. We take on too much. We see a need and we fill it. AND, it is not just Pastor's and their wives who do this!! So many Christians believe that we must be all to all and give of ourselves constantly. But, there is only so much that one person can do, which is why God brings us only what we can handle.

Maybe I am speaking to someone directly right now. You are working so hard, you are volunteering your time, taking care of your children, being there for everyone you can be there for, and yet, you are tired, spent, weary and maybe even angry. Just remember.... God First, Spouse, Children, Family, Work, Friends, and everything else... There really is meant to be a flow to our lives, a good flow. AND, if you are not flowing :o) ... something is wrong. It is time to take time for yourself! Don't forget to take time for you. If you are not happy...no one around you will be...remember that!

If we truly put God first, everything flows the way it is supposed to. He will give us the stamina to handle what He gives us. Our spouses and children will not feel neglected and our home will feel harmonious. We will put our work into a healthy perspective and do what needs to be done. Our friends, our true friends will be there for us to minister to, and to minister to us. All of the other things are fillers.

************************************************************************

Have you ever seen the example of the jar and the rocks?

Big Rocks Prioritisation Theory
This is a story with a moral:
planning is the key to time management - and stress reduction.
It appears in many forms - always reported as true!

“First Things First” Stephen Covey describes a story that one of his associates experienced on a seminar. In the middle of the lecture the presenter pulled out a wide-mouth jar and placed it on the table, aside to some fist-sized rocks. After filling the jar to the top with rocks he asked, “Is the jar full?” People could see that no more rocks would fit, so they replied, “Yes!

”“Not so fast,” he cautioned. He then got some gravel from under the table and added it to the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks. Again, he asked, “Is the jar full?” This time the students replied “Probably not.”

The presenter then reached a bucket of sand below the table, and dumped it on the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks and the gravel. Once again he asked “Is the jar full?”“ No!”, the students shouted.

Finally, he grabbed a pitcher of water and filled the jar completely, asking to the public what they could learn from that illustration.

One of the participants answered, “If you work at it, you can always fit more into your life.”“No,” said the presenter. “The point is, if you don’t put the big rocks in first. . . would you ever have gotten any of them in?”

This little story can be applied to all aspects of your life.

The question then becomes: out of all your activities, what are the big rocks? More importantly, are you making sure that they are going first into the jar?

The professor then produced two cafe lattes and proceeded to pour them into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces between the rocks, pebbles, and the grains of sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.“

The rocks are the important things – your family, your health, your children, and your close friends - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else. The ‘small stuff.’ If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks.“

The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness:
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out dancing.
There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, and fix the disposal.
Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter.
Set your priorities; the rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the latte's represented. The professor smiled; “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of lattes! ”Now what can you glean from this for yourself?

What are your big rocks?
What do you care about in life?
What are your top priorities?

What do you want?
What goals do you have in connection with your family, your friends and your life partner, your career, your health?
If you don’t currently have a romantic partner, are you making the time to meet new people?
Is optimal fitness important to you?
What about spirituality, community service, politics or finding new ways to make a contribution to society?
What about having fun, seeing the world and enjoying new adventures?

Take a minute right now to jot down what you consider the big rocks in your life.
After you finish writing down the five, six or ten areas that are a top priority for you, think about how much time you are spending in each area. Is your life balanced, or has one area of pressure taken over your time?

Are you willing to make a commitment, right now, to putting those big rocks in the glass jar of your life? To make a positive change now?

The point is: unless you put the big rocks in first, you won't get them in at all.
Plan time-slots for your big issues before anything else, or the inevitable sand and water issues will fill up your days and you won't fit the big issues in (a big issue doesn't necessarily have to be a work task - it could be your child's sports-day, or a holiday).

the moral of the story?

Put the Big Rocks First and be blessed!

SOAK NIGHT AT THE EFFECT THIS FRIDAY, JULY 7

2009-07-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

It's this coming Friday!! We had to wait sooo long!
Bring your slippers, jammies, blankets, beach chairs, pillows...whatever makes you feel the most comfortable!

If you would like to munch afterwards, please bring something to share. Snacks are welcome! We will supply the coffee and water!

See you there!!!

4th of July

2009-07-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

As I sat in the back yard of a very dear friend this 4th, I got to celebrate the wonderment of the 4th with a great group of people and my husband and 4 year old son. Between good conversations, and the best food on earth :o) .. the evening was perfect. We waited patiently for the fireworks to begin. From Frank's back yard we could see (between 2 big trees :o)) San Clemente's fireworks. You could even see Oceanside's in the far distance. But it was a little later when the Dana Point fireworks started that everyone became memsmerized by the beauty and excitement of these spectacular shows. Off the hills that were surrounding us, you could hear the echo of the cannons that shot these bright and beautiful displays, and you could hear the cheers of many people from the homes around us, and I believe we could even hear the cheers and whistles of some in Doheny Beach!

We all went home stuffed from our fabulous pot luck and bbq!! Brennan, our son, spoke of the fireworks on the way home..as he was fading a bit from all of the excitement.
It was a perfect night and one that will be remembered!

Now, I sit here and I remember that not once did it enter my mind, why we were celebrating. I was too caught up in the event and people and watching my son watch the event in awe. I'm sure that many of us were unaware of past or future, but we were living the moment, which was a very good one.

I remember being with my family at Legoland one 4th of July. It was after 9/11. We found a patch of grass to sit on with hundreds of other people and watched a spectacular display of fireworks in the sky above us. The demonstration was choreographed to music. The song "America" song by Ray Charles, "Proud to be an American", by Lee Greewood, and so many others, brought tears and sobs from the crowd. People stood with hands over their chests. I sat on a blanket and cried. (We weren't far from Pendleton, there were military in our crowd, just there to enjoy the day with their families) It was still fresh in our minds, the people lost and our brave soldiers now fighting a war. It wasn't long before that Desert Storm was upon us. It was still during that time that when a convoy of soldiers drove down the freeway towards or away from Camp Pendleton that I didn't cry a little bit more, as I sat in my car watching these young men and women in uniform drive by us. I knew what they were preparing for and I knew that they were doing what they felt they needed to do to keep us all safe.

I still have a wonderful time this 4th, but I know that these memories came back to me by something or someone bigger than me. I am listening now, I am remembering.

To all of our soldiers, now and then, to our civilians working on behalf of our freedoms, to those in our government fighting to keep our freedoms intact, to Americans keeping the dreams alive, I thank you!

I pray for all of you, and for our children and for our children's children, that they will know an America that is free of tyranny and that they will know the innocence of childhood as we did, growing up here in this beautiful country!

God Bless America!!! God Bless you all! (click here to hear "Proud to be an American")

FRIDAY - HELP NEEDED July 3, 2009

2009-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys
I need some help with a move on Friday. Should be a fairly easy job if
we have a decent crew. It will be at 1:00 and we should be done by about 3.
Please call or respond back to Frank@theeffect.org
Thanks
Frank

Gratitude

2009-06-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

http://community.beliefnet.com/gratitude_circle
In September 2000, Beliefnet user dariaMcB started a gratitude prayer circle to give thanks for the end of the Montana fires and for cooler weather. It didn't take long for others to join the circle. This year, Beliefnet welcomes you to join us in giving thanks in a new gratitude circle--a place for sharing stories, photos, and videos. Connect with each other in this special group dedicated to honoring that simple expression, 'Thank You.'

I thought I would share this...
When we are in a grateful frame of mind the world becomes
so much more beautiful.

Hey It's Matthew

2009-06-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

Matthew took a train to Canada and rode his bike back home!! Here in So.California! He did this to raise funds for Children of the Americas. Matthew, you are our heroe and we can't wait to see you this Sunday!! I can't wait to sit with you and hear all about your trip! What an adventure!! So glad you are back...safe!!

Blessings and many thanks to you!!

ACQUIRE THE FIRE!

2009-06-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.acquirethefire.com/index.cfm/pageid/1757/index.html

Coming to San Diego, March 2010... a great experience for teens!!! Please put this on your calendar!!!

Introducing Pastor Darryl!!

2009-06-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

2009-06-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

http://effectwomen.blogspot.com/ Please bookmark this site

New blog for theeffect women. Please visiti often for information pertaining to the effect women's ministries.

You can be notified of updates if you sign up for them. Otherwise, the updated information will be on the blog and announced at church.

PLEASE SIGN UP TO FOLLOW THIS SITE.... THEN YOU CAN BE SURE TO RECEIVE ALL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO EFFECT WOMEN!!! DON'T MISS OUT!! WE WANT YOU WITH US!!

Blessings!

effective women

2009-06-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

After giving it much thought, I have decided to discontinue the yahoo group for our effect women. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theeffectwomen/message/47

I will be passing a clip board ( :o) - yes, another clipboard ) to take down emails from all women who would like to receive information regarding effect women ministry updates and news.

You will all continue to receive effect updates via Pastor Dave's effect news. If you are not on that email list, and you would like to be, please email Pastor Dave at Dave@theeffect.org.

Blessings to all! Have a wonderful week! See you at theeffect!!
Marian Brisbin

http://www.theeffect.org

mbrisbin@cox.net

marian@theeffect.org

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He (she) will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

The Lord Bless and Keep You in All Your Ways

2009-06-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

From: David Wilkerson

Recently I reread the life story of George Muller who, in the mid-1830s, cared for over 2,000 orphans in England – all by faith in God. Muller was a known as the man who got answers to his prayers. Before he died, he had listed in his journals over 50,000 answers to prayer.

When asked how he determined the will of God on any matter, Muller listed the following steps he believed were necessary:
1. “I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.”
2. “I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions. That can make one open to great delusions.”
3. “I seek God’s will through, or in connection with, his Word. If you look to the Spirit without the Word, you open yourself to delusion.”
4. “I consider providential [God-controlled] circumstances.”
5. “I ask God in prayer to reveal his will to me.”
6. “I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.”
7. “Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious mistakes.”
8. “I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on God with faith.”

Those who walk by faith, seeking only God’s perfect will, are often sorely tested and tried. More and more in my own life, I am finding out how important diligent prayer and Bible reading are. Sadly, not many of God’s people pray diligently nowadays. Instead, there is much TV viewing and very little of waiting on God.

When I give myself to prayer, my faith rises. And when I feed on God’s Word, my confidence in his power to lead and help me increases. The Lord becomes my banker, my advisor, my attorney.

May you find him doing the same for you.

2009-06-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."
- Albert Einstein

This reminds me of something someone said to me once... God wants to guide you, but you need to start moving so He can guide your direction. If you park yourself like a car, nothing will change.. So get up.. start moving, and feel God nudging you in the right direction! Live!!!

I have a friend who's friend was out of work and sat on his couch every day watching his aquarium. When she asked why he wasn't looking for a job, he said he was "praying" for one and waiting for God to make something happen. Hmmmm. Is there something wrong with this picture? :0)

2009-06-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Praying for:
Pastors Dave, Bill, Jeff and Daryl

Wisdom Scripture:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. -James 1:5

Prayer: Lord You created the heavens with a word and fashioned the earth with Your voice. You have more wisdom in one thought than in the entire universe.

Lord, I thank You for Your promise to give wisdom to us when we need it. With the challenges that Pastors Dave, Bill, Jeff and Daryl faces today, they need wisdom. Lord I present them before Your great throne and ask for Your wisdom to be poured out to them right now. A generous portion according to Your word. That divine wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, full of mercy and good fruit.

Fill Pastors Dave, Bill, Jeff and Daryl Lord with wisdom that will honor You, give them solutions that will bless the good, confound the wicked, strengthen the weak, and break the yoke of injustice.

Clear the channels Lord, between Pastors Dave, Bill, Jeff and Daryl and Your throne, and let Your wisdom flow like a river.

In Jesus name, amen.

No Worries...

2009-06-01T09:58:00.001-07:00

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall seek for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Who are You?

2009-05-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

A CHILD OF GOD
click here

Prayer Central

2009-05-30T14:31:00.001-07:00

Please pray for our pastors.
This might help!

http://prayers.prayercentral.net/?page_id=5&cat=20&target=the+Pastors+in+my+community&pronoun=group

Pastor Dick Reeve

2009-05-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Dave and I went to a memorial service yesterday. It was for the pastor who raised us up in our faith for many years. Pastor Dick Reeve of Christian Mission Church.

Dick was larger than life and loved everyone he came in contact with. I don't mean just "loved" but, agape loved.. it was an all encompassing love. He knew and remembered everyone that came through the doors of his church and if he got your phone number you would, of course, be called by this man!

He was loud "when I first met him" boisterous and fun. He knew every sport like the back of his hand and loved to hunt. He was charismatic and joyful and made an impression on everyone he met. I don't think there were many people in Orange County that did not know Pastor Dick. His service held hundreds of people and there were so many familiar faces for Dave and I to see and reminisce with.

His memorial service was wonderful. It was exactly what Pastor Dick would have wanted. He was with us surely through the whole service! His son, Dave, asked him what he wanted his service to be like and Dave Reeve delivered his father's passion and message so beautifully!

My Dave had been planning a lunch with Pastor Dick for months. I had asked Dave to include me in the lunch... and that we should have Donna join us, but Dick's failing health made that hard to schedule. Dick was in remission for a short while, but the disease of cancer came back and with fury. (His family did pray that either he be cured or that God would take him quickly from his pain. God delivered... He took Dick quickly and ended the pain of his cancer!)

My intentions to go to lunch with Dick and Donna were to share with them how much they meant to me. To tell them that they had given me so much over the years. I wanted them both to know how much I loved them and appreciated what they did for me and for so many others. What did they do? They simply loved us! But it isn't that simple. Their love for Jesus came through their pores and through their lips and in their hugs. It wasn't a passing love, but a enduring love.

My point here is to say that we (man) lost a great man, and God gained an incredible man. I know that Dick will be waiting for us all. AND, I do mean us ALL! He touched so many people. He grew up and raised so many pastors, he was a good and faithful servant who served God lovingly, willingly and with so much joy.

Another point I am trying to make is that........ we shouldn't put off to tomorrow what we really want to do today! I will never have the chance to tell Dick, verbally, what he meant to me, although I bet he already knew. I hope he knew.

And....sometimes we really don't know what gifts we have had until they are gone!

If you love someone...pick up the phone right now. Sit down and write a letter. Or visit that person today. We don't know what tomorrow will bring us. But, we do know that "today" we can make something happen, tell someone we love them and make a difference in someones life!

Don't let the busyness of life stop you from connecting to those people you love. I let that happen... I will do my very best to not let that happen again!

There is a saying that says to practice kindness. I say, practice the love of Jesus, wherever and whenever you can! Make a difference, just as my pastor Dick Reeve did. Just like his own family is doing now and just like my husband Dave does every day of his life. Love one another. Don't let the sun go down on your anger. Practice forgiveness and grace. Change your life and you could change someones else's life.

Dick, may you rest in peace! Although, I know you are dancing and catching up with your Father in heaven, and with past sport's legends.... and today for you is pure bliss!

God First,
Family
Then Everything Else!

My love and blessings to you all!

In Jesus' Name ( in His essence) Amen