Growing Larger and Smaller

I am so excited today as we start our second week of Life Groups. We have several life groups going on during the week for everyone. One of our philosophies of ministry is to grow larger and smaller at the same time, yes, we want to grow in numbers but we also want to grow relationally through our Life Groups and the relationships they provide.
Acts 2:41-42 is a great reflection of the church growing both larger and smaller. It states, "Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all. They joined with other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and Prayer.
I pray as we continue our groups that we get "Joined with other believers" and devoted to Jesus and one another as we share our lives together. If you haven't joined a Group as of yet, we pray that you get "joined". If you need more info on Life Groups feel free to call the church @ 601-238-2808.

I love being your pastor,

Pastor Franko

The Power of a seed

I am excited about a new series we will begin Sunday March 4th called "Supersize Me". The first part of the series will be called "Seeds of Greatness". In Genesis 1:28 God blesses mankind and says to him be fruitful and multiply...which were the words given to man to ensure his success in life and the process of increase over him.

We are all created by God to succeed and anything that we succeed in always begins in seed form. God created everything with seed in it, which is his incubus to our success. Genesis 1:11-13(NIV) Then God said, "Let the land produce vegatation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds." And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the third day.

This scripture illustrates the power of the seed that out of the first plants and trees great forests arose throughout the world. I love the part that shows us that God put "seed in it" in every plant he created. I also believe that God placed his seed in every human being on the earth--seeds of greatness. The question is " How can this seed turn into our seed of success.
Here are some keys to greatness in the seed God has given us:

1. Let go of it--plant it. You will never grow until you learn to let go. (John 14:12)
2. Don't eat your seed--eat the fruit of the seed. As you continue to plant your seed multiplication is the result.
3. Wait on the Lord--Be patient. Seed cycles are never automatic but always produce it just takes time. Remember the due season of Psalms 1. There is always a process to "seedtime" and "harvest".
4. Don't manipulate the seed. Once the seed is planted don't dig it up to check it out. A farmer never uproots a seed after planting: he works the ground, fertilizes it, waters it but he never tries to do the miraculous job of growing the seed. The power of growth and multiplication are already in the seed don't manipulate it let the miraculous happen "all by itself" Mark 4
5. Remain Expectant--Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Remember: no expectation; no harvest.
6. Stay faithful--keep by the "rivers of living water" our position is what's most impacting to our production. No faithfulness; no fruitfulness.
7. Reseed--Once the harvest comes you'll have more seed. Keep the cycle of blessing going by eating the fruit and extravagantly planting more seed.
8. Keep a sower's mentality--Look for opportunities that will allow you to sow.

Secret Santa

I was listening to the Dave Ramsey Show on the radio today and heard the story of "Secret Santa". A man who started giving to others who looked like they needed a hand in order to make a difference in their lives. The man was born in a small town in the Mississippi delta and grew up very poor not having a lot while growing up. He told the story of how he had been " down on his luck" and not having any money while living out of his car. He had decided to go into a diner and get breakfast and then lie and say he "lost his wallet." He finished up his breakfast and went up to the counter to give his false story. He was waiting to talk to the manager when one of the cooks noticed him, walked up to him and said," Here son you must of dropped this" and handed him a twenty dollar bill. The young man was blown away and said a little prayer telling God, "Lord, if I ever get to a place of wealth I will do this for others." Years later while in a small diner he noticed his waitress wearing a light, tattered coat that looked a little too light for the frigid temperatures and decided he would give her all the change left over from the twenty he would use to pay for the bill. The lady came over to get the money and he said to keep the change--the lady was blown away and said,"Sir, you don't know what this means to me". With this act of kindness God reminded him of the vow he had made many years before. This one man has continued the legacy of giving through being a "Secret Santa" and has given over one million dollars away.
His story has inspired me to give to those who are truly needy and to be an example as Jesus was of whom the Bible says," He (Jesus) went about doing good and healing all those oppressed of the devil for the Lord was with him". Christianity is not only the supernatural but also the practical, small, good deeds that we do everyday. I challenge you to be a "Secret Santa" to someone who needs you. Don't allow the focus of your Christmas to be on your receiving but on giving to others in need. Remember, Freely you have received, freely give! You're not truly living until you learn giving.

Your Pastor

Franko

We all fall down

I am sure everyone is aware of the recent occurrence and allegations concerning Pastor Ted Haggard.Pastor Ted is the senior pastor of New Life Fellowship in Colorado Springs, CO. I won't go into the details of the allegations but would like to make a biblical request for all of us who know him and are aware of all he has done for the kingdom to lift him up and keep him in your prayers.
It always amazes me that when a pastor or leader misses the mark we are all ready to "hang him in effegy" instead of extending a hand of mercy and grace in helping him to be restored. When I first heard of the allegations my heart sank and I was deeply sorry for what happened. Everything has not come out in the wash however, whatever it was it is not going to be good. Many people have been effected and changed by the obedience of Pastor Ted and many will be effected by his alleged shortfall.
I want to remind all of the biblical way to handle such a situation in the church. Galatians 1:1-4 states, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in ths way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to someone else.
In a situation like this our goal should be that of restoration and self examination--we are all human and have our issues that could have a destructive effect on our lives if we yield to them. So at this time let us pray for Pastor Ted and let us humbly remind ourselves that we are also human and are often tempted. The bottom line is that we should never give in to our weaknesses and allow them to put us in a compromising situation--let us "watch ourselves" when these things occur and pray for all affected by this mistake.

Looking inward and reaching outward,

Pastor Franko

Let us Pray

I was reading Outreach Magazine last week and was moved by an article listing the ten qualities of a healthy church. Of the ten articles I read two stood out to me the two were: "evangelistic oriented" and "corporate prayer". I believe that the greatest lack in most churches (as in ours) is the lack of prayer and the need to staying focused on "the harvest" as Jesus quoted in John 4,"..pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest that he would thrust forth laborers." Prayer and evangelism go hand in hand--whenever a church prays according to God's will to see men, women, boys, and girls come in to the kingdom he adds to that church. I am encouraging those in our church to come together and make prayer a force at Life Church.

Prayer Targets for Life Church:

1. Pray for Pastor Frank, Tonia and their family (Hunter, Holden, Haley, and Hayden)

2. Pray for upcoming events in the church and on Pastor's schedule.
a. Faith based leaders initiative Sept 29
b. Church 101 Oct. 1st
c. Men's Victory Weekend Oct. 13,14

3. Pray for 200 people by the end of the year.

4. Pray for the presence and power of God available in everything we do.

5. Pray for souls to come to know Jesus, pray for people by name.

6. Pray for 5 souls per week at the church to be saved.

7. Pray for increase in the church finances--double the tithes and offerings.

Geaux Tigers

I am sitting here pondering the biggest game of the college football season between LSU and the Auburn tigers. LSU is ranked 6 in the AP poll while Auburn is number 3. It is going to be a bigtime game for two powerhouse SEC teams. The problem is---Auburn can't handle LSU. The Auburn tigers will lose this game 24 to 13. LSU looks as good this year as they did in 2003 when they beat Oklahoma for the national championship. These boys are bad! It is tough for a dyed in the wool tiger fan to live in Mississippi and listen to all the whining and crying about the lack of talent and "want to" on the Ole Miss and Mississippi St. football teams. However, all you have to do is turn on the T.V. and tune in to CBS at 2:30 on Saturday and watch how we do it down on the bayou! For those of you looking for a spiritual blog this week--I'm sorry. My passion for LSU football has overwhelmed me for the moment.
GEAUX TIGERS!

Stones of remembrance

Joshua 4:4-7,"So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and sied to them, "Go over before the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jrdan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.

This was a monumental time in the children of Israel's lives--it represented the day they crossed over to the promise land that God had intended for the previous generation, but because of doubt and unbelief they never entered the promise. In Joshua chapter 4 we see the children of Israel creating a monument to honor what God had done for them by stopping the flow of the Jordan to allow them to cross over unhindered. God called them to place a monument at their camp at Gilgal and one in the river behind them--I believe that these monuments represented the faithfulness of God both in the past, in the present, and in the future. Let's look at some principles found in "the stones of remembrance.

1. Their were two monuments in the water and at camp--representing God's faithfulness in making a way in our past and at camp representing what he will do in the future.
2. The reason for the monument was for the future generations--God is always thinking generationally and put the monument for the expressed purpose to serve as a sign to the children--Joshua 4:6," In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean'? tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off...a constant reminder that God is faithful to a thousand generations to those that serve him.
3. That we are to celebrate and ackowledge God's moving in our lives everytime he proves himself faithful.
4. These rocks serve as a sign for us to take time out of our busy lives and reflect on what God has done for us and where we have come from.
5. Remind our children who God is to us and how faithful he has been--this will stir up a desire in them to want to know our generational God.

Reflecting and thanking our faithful God,

Pastor Franko