SEVEN REASONS WE GET STUCK
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Open the Eyes of My Heart—Sonicflood
Like a Lion—David Crowder* Band
Unashamed Love—Jason Morant
You Revive Me—Christy Nockels
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
A Letter to Celebrate Recovery
Hello, my name is Nick; I’m a grateful believer in Jesus who’s celebrating recovery from codependency and pride.
LAST WEEK:
One word: AWESOME! Andy, thank you for sharing your story, your testimony of HOPE! Thank you for being real; for allowing us to step into your life and share your experiences and struggles. As Steve said, it’s easy to share the stuff we experienced way back, but to share our recent mess, that’s tough. I pray God continues to give you strength, wisdom, and encouragement as you take each step on this journey of recovery.
And that’s just it, it’s a journey. Andy’s story on Friday was such a good example of working the program, setting up accountability, and NOT GETTING STUCK! He didn’t give up. He didn’t stay put. He reached out. He connected with friends. He applied the 8 Recovery Principles and worked the 12 Steps. Together, we have hope. Together, we have family. Together, we have recovery.
THIS WEEK:
I’m so EXCITED for this week at Celebrate Recovery! It’s been a few months since I last shared a lesson, a few months since I last stood on the stage and hung out with friends and family. This week I’ll bring a close to the 2012 year by sharing the 7 Reasons We Get Stuck (could probably make that 8 and include New Year’s Resolutions to the list…just sayin’).
That’s right. We could probably flip that title around to say 7 Ways to Ensure a Healthy Hope-filled Year, because if you apply these 7 principles, 7 struggles, 7 things, 7 reasons to your life, you WILL get better. It doesn’t matter what your issue is…
Drugs
Alcohol
Sex
Pornography
Overeating
Undereating
Overspending
Anger
Depression
Fear
Gambling
Smoking
People Pleasing
Divorce
Anxiety
Physical/ Sexual/ Emotional Abuse
Doubt
Self-Image
Self-Injury
You CAN be set free! You DON’T have to remain stuck! You’re not the mistakes you’ve made! You’re not past regrets! You’re not the things you do! You are a child of God and when He made you, He looked at you and said, “It is good.” God uses words like MASTERPIECE and SON and DAUGHTER to describe you. God uses words like HOPE and PROSPER and LOVE to describe His plans FOR you.
Don’t settle for less.
NEWS & UPDATES:
CR, here are 4 things I want to share with you…
#1 God is GREATER—seriously, that should say it all. Put that phrase after whatever your current struggle or circumstance.
I can’t stop eating. God is GREATER!
My husband cheated on me. God is GREATER!
My son is killing himself with drugs. God is GREATER!
Now that may sound cliché and it may sound oversimplified…but that’s because IT IS! It’s not rocket science, it’s faith. It’s believing in the unseen. It’s believing in the unknown. It’s believing there’s a Creator God out there who reigns above all, is in total control, and isn’t taken by surprise. God doesn’t have an oops moment. Whatever it is you’re facing, whatever it is you’re going through, God is GREATER than it and He’s ABLE to bring you through it! You can’t do it on your own, but HE CAN!
He can help you OVERCOME your overeating.
He can fill your heart with FORGIVENESS and help RESTORE your marriage.
He can RESCUE your child from addiction.
Believe.
#2 Celebration Station and The Landing are HERE—isn’t that AWESOME? I can’t remember the last time I was this PUMPED for anything! I can’t wait until the day when my kids come home from school and share with me that kids in school are talking about what they’re LEARNING and DISCOVERING about themselves AND God through these two programs. As a child I didn’t have that somebody to discuss my anger, my unhealthy view of sex (let alone talk about the sexual abuse), or the desire to hurt myself or even end my life. I didn’t turn 18 or 21 and all of the sudden struggle with drugs and alcohol and pornography and sex…no…I was 7 (pornography)…I was 15 (sex)…I was 18 (smoking, drugs, & alcohol).
Celebration Station will provide a safe, encouraging environment for children grades PreK5-5th.
The Landing will open the doors to students grades 6th thru 12th.
Remember, just because you don’t know about it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Don’t let your naivety kill your kids.
Each program OFFICIALLY launches Friday, January 4 from 7-9p.
#3 New Year is Upon Us—with the 2013 year coming up in a few days (wait…did you hear that? I thought I just heard someone said something about the Mayan calendar…anyways) our CR Leadership T.E.A.M. working alongside the leadership teams from both Celebration Station and The Landing, will be planning and preparing the schedule for the ENTIRE upcoming year (Lessons, Testimonies, and Special Nights).
Have you written your testimony? Would you like to share it? Let me know.
Are you interested in sharing your testimony? Don’t know how to write it? Let me know.
Never thought about sharing your testimony? The thought of it scares the crap out of you? Let me know.
I want you to be a part of the healing process, not just for yourself, but for OTHERS. I want to see our building flooded with people seeking HOPE and HEALING. If you’d like to be involved, whether it’s sharing a testimony, greeting people, setting up chairs, teaching in Celebration Station, or cooking in our CR BBQ…let me know.
Let me know and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you plugged in!
#4 Some Things to Pray For—as many of you know, especially those who have ever walked the streets of downtown Martinsburg, we live in an area full of HURTING people and many of those people are WITHOUT transportation. Join me this year and pray doors open up for us to get our hands on some vans OR (and even BETTER), doors would open up for other churches in the downtown area to start HOSTING Celebrate Recovery. I don’t care where it is. I don’t care who’s doing it. I just want to see our community get BETTER!
Workers. Leaders. Volunteers! Our Celebration Station team is sitting at 6 committed leaders who are passionate about our kids, our children being introduced to healthy coping skills for all of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups and I CELEBRATE these 6 individuals! Future generations are going to know what it means to live a healthy life because of the time, effort, and, most of all, love they’ve invested. I want this number to jump to 10-15. I believe this year we’re going to run out of room. Our workers will be unable to sustain the growth. Do you have a heart for kids? Then I got a heart for YOU! Be praying for and about this program: leaders and kids.
Speaking about room and space…we’ve already reached the point of…where the heck do we put everyone? As attendance continues to grow, as new Open-Share Groups emerge, as Celebration Station and The Landing launch, space is LIMITED at best. Be praying God gives us WISDOM in how to best manage…wait…no…not manage, but ORGANIZE our space to what is most EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE. We can meet in the bathroom for all I care, if people are meeting Jesus and discovering hope is REAL and overcoming hurts, habits, and hang-ups…does it really matter? Pray. Pray. Pray.
THE END:
CR, y’all are seriously some of my favorite people in the world. NOTHING excites me as much as Friday nights. NO OTHER PLACE makes me feel like I’m at home than Friday nights. NO OTHER PEOPLE inspire and motivate me more than those on Friday nights. Jesus IS the hope of the world and CR is where you can find him!!! I love you and look forward to spending some time with you this Friday at 7p.
LAST WEEK:
One word: AWESOME! Andy, thank you for sharing your story, your testimony of HOPE! Thank you for being real; for allowing us to step into your life and share your experiences and struggles. As Steve said, it’s easy to share the stuff we experienced way back, but to share our recent mess, that’s tough. I pray God continues to give you strength, wisdom, and encouragement as you take each step on this journey of recovery.
And that’s just it, it’s a journey. Andy’s story on Friday was such a good example of working the program, setting up accountability, and NOT GETTING STUCK! He didn’t give up. He didn’t stay put. He reached out. He connected with friends. He applied the 8 Recovery Principles and worked the 12 Steps. Together, we have hope. Together, we have family. Together, we have recovery.
THIS WEEK:
I’m so EXCITED for this week at Celebrate Recovery! It’s been a few months since I last shared a lesson, a few months since I last stood on the stage and hung out with friends and family. This week I’ll bring a close to the 2012 year by sharing the 7 Reasons We Get Stuck (could probably make that 8 and include New Year’s Resolutions to the list…just sayin’).
That’s right. We could probably flip that title around to say 7 Ways to Ensure a Healthy Hope-filled Year, because if you apply these 7 principles, 7 struggles, 7 things, 7 reasons to your life, you WILL get better. It doesn’t matter what your issue is…
Drugs
Alcohol
Sex
Pornography
Overeating
Undereating
Overspending
Anger
Depression
Fear
Gambling
Smoking
People Pleasing
Divorce
Anxiety
Physical/ Sexual/ Emotional Abuse
Doubt
Self-Image
Self-Injury
You CAN be set free! You DON’T have to remain stuck! You’re not the mistakes you’ve made! You’re not past regrets! You’re not the things you do! You are a child of God and when He made you, He looked at you and said, “It is good.” God uses words like MASTERPIECE and SON and DAUGHTER to describe you. God uses words like HOPE and PROSPER and LOVE to describe His plans FOR you.
Don’t settle for less.
NEWS & UPDATES:
CR, here are 4 things I want to share with you…
#1 God is GREATER—seriously, that should say it all. Put that phrase after whatever your current struggle or circumstance.
I can’t stop eating. God is GREATER!
My husband cheated on me. God is GREATER!
My son is killing himself with drugs. God is GREATER!
Now that may sound cliché and it may sound oversimplified…but that’s because IT IS! It’s not rocket science, it’s faith. It’s believing in the unseen. It’s believing in the unknown. It’s believing there’s a Creator God out there who reigns above all, is in total control, and isn’t taken by surprise. God doesn’t have an oops moment. Whatever it is you’re facing, whatever it is you’re going through, God is GREATER than it and He’s ABLE to bring you through it! You can’t do it on your own, but HE CAN!
He can help you OVERCOME your overeating.
He can fill your heart with FORGIVENESS and help RESTORE your marriage.
He can RESCUE your child from addiction.
Believe.
#2 Celebration Station and The Landing are HERE—isn’t that AWESOME? I can’t remember the last time I was this PUMPED for anything! I can’t wait until the day when my kids come home from school and share with me that kids in school are talking about what they’re LEARNING and DISCOVERING about themselves AND God through these two programs. As a child I didn’t have that somebody to discuss my anger, my unhealthy view of sex (let alone talk about the sexual abuse), or the desire to hurt myself or even end my life. I didn’t turn 18 or 21 and all of the sudden struggle with drugs and alcohol and pornography and sex…no…I was 7 (pornography)…I was 15 (sex)…I was 18 (smoking, drugs, & alcohol).
Celebration Station will provide a safe, encouraging environment for children grades PreK5-5th.
The Landing will open the doors to students grades 6th thru 12th.
Remember, just because you don’t know about it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Don’t let your naivety kill your kids.
Each program OFFICIALLY launches Friday, January 4 from 7-9p.
#3 New Year is Upon Us—with the 2013 year coming up in a few days (wait…did you hear that? I thought I just heard someone said something about the Mayan calendar…anyways) our CR Leadership T.E.A.M. working alongside the leadership teams from both Celebration Station and The Landing, will be planning and preparing the schedule for the ENTIRE upcoming year (Lessons, Testimonies, and Special Nights).
Have you written your testimony? Would you like to share it? Let me know.
Are you interested in sharing your testimony? Don’t know how to write it? Let me know.
Never thought about sharing your testimony? The thought of it scares the crap out of you? Let me know.
I want you to be a part of the healing process, not just for yourself, but for OTHERS. I want to see our building flooded with people seeking HOPE and HEALING. If you’d like to be involved, whether it’s sharing a testimony, greeting people, setting up chairs, teaching in Celebration Station, or cooking in our CR BBQ…let me know.
Let me know and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you plugged in!
#4 Some Things to Pray For—as many of you know, especially those who have ever walked the streets of downtown Martinsburg, we live in an area full of HURTING people and many of those people are WITHOUT transportation. Join me this year and pray doors open up for us to get our hands on some vans OR (and even BETTER), doors would open up for other churches in the downtown area to start HOSTING Celebrate Recovery. I don’t care where it is. I don’t care who’s doing it. I just want to see our community get BETTER!
Workers. Leaders. Volunteers! Our Celebration Station team is sitting at 6 committed leaders who are passionate about our kids, our children being introduced to healthy coping skills for all of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups and I CELEBRATE these 6 individuals! Future generations are going to know what it means to live a healthy life because of the time, effort, and, most of all, love they’ve invested. I want this number to jump to 10-15. I believe this year we’re going to run out of room. Our workers will be unable to sustain the growth. Do you have a heart for kids? Then I got a heart for YOU! Be praying for and about this program: leaders and kids.
Speaking about room and space…we’ve already reached the point of…where the heck do we put everyone? As attendance continues to grow, as new Open-Share Groups emerge, as Celebration Station and The Landing launch, space is LIMITED at best. Be praying God gives us WISDOM in how to best manage…wait…no…not manage, but ORGANIZE our space to what is most EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE. We can meet in the bathroom for all I care, if people are meeting Jesus and discovering hope is REAL and overcoming hurts, habits, and hang-ups…does it really matter? Pray. Pray. Pray.
THE END:
CR, y’all are seriously some of my favorite people in the world. NOTHING excites me as much as Friday nights. NO OTHER PLACE makes me feel like I’m at home than Friday nights. NO OTHER PEOPLE inspire and motivate me more than those on Friday nights. Jesus IS the hope of the world and CR is where you can find him!!! I love you and look forward to spending some time with you this Friday at 7p.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Worth More Than a Bird...Really?!?
What does it matter?
What difference does it make?
Who cares?
Who’s going to notice?
Today, you might feel tiny, small, insignificant. Today, you might feel as if nobody sees you, nobody hears you, nobody knows you’re there. Today, you might feel like the world has already ended.
The crazy part, the part I don’t like, is knowing that no matter what I say, what I write, no matter how much I reassure you, tell you I love you, hug you, call you, text you…I can’t change your mind. I can’t fix it. I’m not the remedy (though every ounce of my being wants to be…codependency, HELLO!).
But, I know the remedy. I know the answer. In fact, I know him personally. I know him by name and he knows mine. He’s been there for me in my darkest moments. He’s been there for me when I felt like this world, this life simply wasn’t worth it anymore. He’s been there for me when I felt on top of the world and he’s been there when I felt like the world was on top of me.
His name is Jesus.
What does it matter? Everything.
What difference does it make? Eternal.
Who cares? He does.
Who’s going to notice? He already has.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 NIV84
I love these verses because upon first glance my response is, “So what! What the heck do sparrows have to do with me?” Exactly. We place value on things that have little or no value at all. Things. Stuff. God wants you to know He values you MORE than anything you have or can think of. Gods wants you to know you matter. God wants you to know He loves you. You’re not forgotten. He hasn’t let you go. He loves you.
He loves you.
You matter.
Don’t take my word for it; trust His.
What difference does it make?
Who cares?
Who’s going to notice?
Today, you might feel tiny, small, insignificant. Today, you might feel as if nobody sees you, nobody hears you, nobody knows you’re there. Today, you might feel like the world has already ended.
The crazy part, the part I don’t like, is knowing that no matter what I say, what I write, no matter how much I reassure you, tell you I love you, hug you, call you, text you…I can’t change your mind. I can’t fix it. I’m not the remedy (though every ounce of my being wants to be…codependency, HELLO!).
But, I know the remedy. I know the answer. In fact, I know him personally. I know him by name and he knows mine. He’s been there for me in my darkest moments. He’s been there for me when I felt like this world, this life simply wasn’t worth it anymore. He’s been there for me when I felt on top of the world and he’s been there when I felt like the world was on top of me.
His name is Jesus.
What does it matter? Everything.
What difference does it make? Eternal.
Who cares? He does.
Who’s going to notice? He already has.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 NIV84
I love these verses because upon first glance my response is, “So what! What the heck do sparrows have to do with me?” Exactly. We place value on things that have little or no value at all. Things. Stuff. God wants you to know He values you MORE than anything you have or can think of. Gods wants you to know you matter. God wants you to know He loves you. You’re not forgotten. He hasn’t let you go. He loves you.
He loves you.
You matter.
Don’t take my word for it; trust His.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A Letter to Celebrate Recovery
Hello, my name is Nick; I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with codependency and pride.
LAST WEEK:
O-M-G (with the G standing for “goodness”…of course)! Last week was off the hook! Seriously! The CR Band blew it up! Tracey was hilarious! Steve was so on point with his recap of this past year and a glimpse of what’s to come! It all fit together so nicely. As we celebrated 3 years of this life changing, life-giving program, it was so good to see some old faces mixed in with all the new. It was like a family reunion (and I’m talking about one that you WANT to attend!). This past year we’ve seen 33 decisions for Christ and 17 baptisms…I can’t WAIT to see what 2013 has in store for us!!!
THIS WEEK:
It’s TESTIMONY night! Yes! This week we’ll be hearing from Andy as he shares his struggles AND victories from this past year. Such a GREAT testimony of God’s grace and how we, as His children, can overcome our insecurities by learning to see ourselves as He sees us…His sons and daughters, His workmanship, His masterpiece!
NEWS AND UPDATES:
Here are 3 things I want to share with you…
#1 Celebration Station—I am EXCITED OUT OF MY MIND for this program to get kicked off! Let me tell you why…our children are going to be learning healthy coping skills (something I never knew) so that sometime in the future (or possibly present) they will know how to respond to a particular situation or put a voice to a hurt. That’s why it’s called PRE-covery!!! There are currently 6 leaders committed to launching this program and that’s AWESOME! I want to see this number DOUBLE by Spring 2013! With 10-12 leaders, we’ll be able to open up the nursery for children birth thru 4 years old. Celebrate Recovery will truly be available to ALL people (with age no longer being a limiting factor). 10-12 leaders. That seems like a lot and that’s because it is. That’s a God-sized number, a God-sized goal and I’m believing God will move and inspire the right people to become agents of change for our younger generation. Are you interested in helping? Email me at celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org and let me know!
#2 The Landing—For those of you who don’t know, The Landing is Celebrate Recovery for students (Grades 6-12). In other words, it’s been translated from adult to student. It’s more interactive. It’s more engaging. It’s more fun. It’s more Skit Guys. It’s more fun. There’s probably a chance it’s a tad bit louder as well. I see a crazy amount of potential in this program to bring in a wave of healing and hope to the streets of our community. Our students are hurting. Our students are searching for an outlet, a safe place to share hurts, habits, and hang-ups, a place where they can discover they’re NOT alone. Again, if you’d like to be a part of this energetic, dynamic team email me at celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org and let me know!
#3 Cardboard Testimony Video—Were you able to see the video this past week at CR? Wow! It was such an incredible story of life change and HOPE! If you missed it, don’t worry, we’ll be showing the video again this week! Oh! If you were in the video I’m putting together a Media Release Form that, if signed, will allow us to make the video public! We can air it over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. etc. What a GREAT way to get the word out about Celebrate Recovery! Hold me accountable! Don’t let me forget!
THE END:
I LOVE YOU! Seriously, I do. This is one area that God has specifically changed in me over the last 3 years. I once believed I didn’t like people or need people and that I was unable to truly care for others due to my own selfishness. I was SO wrong! God has shown me what it means TO LOVE and BE LOVED! He taught me first the importance of loving MYSELF…overcoming the lies of guilt and shame so I could experience grace and forgiveness. Gradually, as my heart softened towards myself, I learned how to love OTHERS as well. Now, there’s a passion inside me that burns to see people set free from life’s hurt, habits, and hang-ups and somewhere in the mix of things, I’ve learned to love people for WHO THEY ARE, not who I want them to be.
I love you CR and can’t wait to see you this Friday!
LAST WEEK:
O-M-G (with the G standing for “goodness”…of course)! Last week was off the hook! Seriously! The CR Band blew it up! Tracey was hilarious! Steve was so on point with his recap of this past year and a glimpse of what’s to come! It all fit together so nicely. As we celebrated 3 years of this life changing, life-giving program, it was so good to see some old faces mixed in with all the new. It was like a family reunion (and I’m talking about one that you WANT to attend!). This past year we’ve seen 33 decisions for Christ and 17 baptisms…I can’t WAIT to see what 2013 has in store for us!!!
THIS WEEK:
It’s TESTIMONY night! Yes! This week we’ll be hearing from Andy as he shares his struggles AND victories from this past year. Such a GREAT testimony of God’s grace and how we, as His children, can overcome our insecurities by learning to see ourselves as He sees us…His sons and daughters, His workmanship, His masterpiece!
NEWS AND UPDATES:
Here are 3 things I want to share with you…
#1 Celebration Station—I am EXCITED OUT OF MY MIND for this program to get kicked off! Let me tell you why…our children are going to be learning healthy coping skills (something I never knew) so that sometime in the future (or possibly present) they will know how to respond to a particular situation or put a voice to a hurt. That’s why it’s called PRE-covery!!! There are currently 6 leaders committed to launching this program and that’s AWESOME! I want to see this number DOUBLE by Spring 2013! With 10-12 leaders, we’ll be able to open up the nursery for children birth thru 4 years old. Celebrate Recovery will truly be available to ALL people (with age no longer being a limiting factor). 10-12 leaders. That seems like a lot and that’s because it is. That’s a God-sized number, a God-sized goal and I’m believing God will move and inspire the right people to become agents of change for our younger generation. Are you interested in helping? Email me at celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org and let me know!
#2 The Landing—For those of you who don’t know, The Landing is Celebrate Recovery for students (Grades 6-12). In other words, it’s been translated from adult to student. It’s more interactive. It’s more engaging. It’s more fun. It’s more Skit Guys. It’s more fun. There’s probably a chance it’s a tad bit louder as well. I see a crazy amount of potential in this program to bring in a wave of healing and hope to the streets of our community. Our students are hurting. Our students are searching for an outlet, a safe place to share hurts, habits, and hang-ups, a place where they can discover they’re NOT alone. Again, if you’d like to be a part of this energetic, dynamic team email me at celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org and let me know!
#3 Cardboard Testimony Video—Were you able to see the video this past week at CR? Wow! It was such an incredible story of life change and HOPE! If you missed it, don’t worry, we’ll be showing the video again this week! Oh! If you were in the video I’m putting together a Media Release Form that, if signed, will allow us to make the video public! We can air it over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. etc. What a GREAT way to get the word out about Celebrate Recovery! Hold me accountable! Don’t let me forget!
THE END:
I LOVE YOU! Seriously, I do. This is one area that God has specifically changed in me over the last 3 years. I once believed I didn’t like people or need people and that I was unable to truly care for others due to my own selfishness. I was SO wrong! God has shown me what it means TO LOVE and BE LOVED! He taught me first the importance of loving MYSELF…overcoming the lies of guilt and shame so I could experience grace and forgiveness. Gradually, as my heart softened towards myself, I learned how to love OTHERS as well. Now, there’s a passion inside me that burns to see people set free from life’s hurt, habits, and hang-ups and somewhere in the mix of things, I’ve learned to love people for WHO THEY ARE, not who I want them to be.
I love you CR and can’t wait to see you this Friday!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Set List 12.14/16.12
3 YEAR CELEBRATION
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Silent Night—MercyMe
How He Loves—David Crowder* Band
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)—Casting Crowns
Show Me Glory—Jesus Culture
Give Me Jesus—Jeremy Camp
Marvelous Light—Charlie Hall
Your Love Never Fails—Jesus Culture
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, & 11:15a
Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth—Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Noel—LifeChurch.tv
Born is the King (It’s Christmas Time)—Hillsong
The Friendly Beasts—Sufjan Stevens
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Silent Night—MercyMe
How He Loves—David Crowder* Band
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)—Casting Crowns
Show Me Glory—Jesus Culture
Give Me Jesus—Jeremy Camp
Marvelous Light—Charlie Hall
Your Love Never Fails—Jesus Culture
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, & 11:15a
Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth—Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Noel—LifeChurch.tv
Born is the King (It’s Christmas Time)—Hillsong
The Friendly Beasts—Sufjan Stevens
Friday, December 14, 2012
3 Things I Want to Share With You
I’m so excited and overwhelmed right now that I can barely sit down to write. I have a million ideas and tasks racing through my brain that I’m struggling to focus (even more than usual!). So, here’s what I’m going to do…I’m going to write a few thoughts down that I’d LOVE to share with you…
#1 Celebrate Recovery 3 Year Anniversary—this happens TONIGHT (7p at New Life). Don’t know where that is? The address is 4102 Tabler Station Rd., Inwood, WV 25428. It’s going to be such an AMAZING night! Potluck dinner. Intense worship. Cardboard testimonies. A brief look at what’s happened this year, as well as, a look ahead at what’s the come! I want this happening RIGHT NOW, but have to wait until 7p tonight (6p for the potluck). There’s even a few surprises planned for tonight that’ll have you laughing hysterically! I can’t wait!
#2 Community—I’m believing more and more that we (you, me, everyone) fulfill the notion of being created in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God when we are TOGETHER! I’m not interested in a theological debate; I’m interested in KNOWING you, BEING AROUND you, and doing this thing known as life WITH you. God created THEM in His image and likeness…THEM = more than one…THEM = people, not person. People matter. Get in a LifeGroup. Get in a Step Study. Come out to Celebrate Recovery. Start serving. The WHERE doesn’t matter, the WHO does. Open up your life to others and discover what it means to be in community.
#3 Kids Singing in Costumes = Somebody’s Gonna Cry—this Sunday, at New Life, our kids will be leading worship for the first time in…well…probably the first time since I’ve been here…and it’s going to be AWESOME! Be sure you arrive early. Be sure you clap LOUDLY. Be sure to take pictures. Support and encourage our children as they sing their little hearts out in celebration of the birth of little baby Jesus. Let’em know they matter! Let’em know you care! And who knows, maybe we’ll do it again sometime soon. Remember, kids are our future, they’re our RIGHT NOW!
Ok. Those are the 3 main things whirling around in my head and I already feel a little bit better sharing them with you. Thank you for letting me share.
#1 Celebrate Recovery 3 Year Anniversary—this happens TONIGHT (7p at New Life). Don’t know where that is? The address is 4102 Tabler Station Rd., Inwood, WV 25428. It’s going to be such an AMAZING night! Potluck dinner. Intense worship. Cardboard testimonies. A brief look at what’s happened this year, as well as, a look ahead at what’s the come! I want this happening RIGHT NOW, but have to wait until 7p tonight (6p for the potluck). There’s even a few surprises planned for tonight that’ll have you laughing hysterically! I can’t wait!
#2 Community—I’m believing more and more that we (you, me, everyone) fulfill the notion of being created in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God when we are TOGETHER! I’m not interested in a theological debate; I’m interested in KNOWING you, BEING AROUND you, and doing this thing known as life WITH you. God created THEM in His image and likeness…THEM = more than one…THEM = people, not person. People matter. Get in a LifeGroup. Get in a Step Study. Come out to Celebrate Recovery. Start serving. The WHERE doesn’t matter, the WHO does. Open up your life to others and discover what it means to be in community.
#3 Kids Singing in Costumes = Somebody’s Gonna Cry—this Sunday, at New Life, our kids will be leading worship for the first time in…well…probably the first time since I’ve been here…and it’s going to be AWESOME! Be sure you arrive early. Be sure you clap LOUDLY. Be sure to take pictures. Support and encourage our children as they sing their little hearts out in celebration of the birth of little baby Jesus. Let’em know they matter! Let’em know you care! And who knows, maybe we’ll do it again sometime soon. Remember, kids are our future, they’re our RIGHT NOW!
Ok. Those are the 3 main things whirling around in my head and I already feel a little bit better sharing them with you. Thank you for letting me share.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
God's Plan is Spelled: C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Thank you for saying ‘hello.’”
“Thank you for calling.”
“Thank you for the card.”
“Thank you.”
What happened when God saw Adam all by himself? No, He didn’t shout, “PARTY!” Nope. He looked at Adam and saw he was alone. God watched him there, in the garden, with nobody to turn to, nobody to help him, nobody to stand beside him, to talk to, interact with…and He said, “This isn’t good.”
In other words, God was saying, “Nobody should have to live this way. Nobody should be alone. Everybody needs a somebody.” So, He made Eve.
Now listen, don’t get caught up in the semantics of it being a man and woman. Don’t get lost in the translation. I believe there’s more to it than God creating man and woman to be together, it doesn’t say they were married, it doesn’t say they were dating or friends on Facebook, it does say a man and a woman would become one body…but I’ll leave that for another time to discuss (let’s try our best to keep this a G rated blog post).
God doesn’t want us to be ALONE. Not you. Not me. Not man. Not woman. Nobody should be alone. He intended for us to be in community, together, sharing our hurts, celebrating our victories, and so on and so forth.
Isolation = the opposite of God’s plan (outside of brief moments of getting alone with God, but even then you’re WITH somebody…anyways).
So, let’s go back to those first few lines I opened up with today. How often do you hear people say these things? I hear them ALL THE TIME. People want to be NOTICED! We DESIRE community. We DESIRE togetherness. It lifts our spirits. It makes us feel whole, complete, like we’re somehow fulfilling God’s plan and desire for our lives. People matter. You matter.
Someone you know is feeling desperate and alone. They believe nobody wants them. They’re feeling undesirable. You can make a DIFFERENCE simply by calling them, texting them, sending them a card, saying ‘hello.’ BE the difference. Not because I said to…
It’s God’s plan.
“Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Thank you for saying ‘hello.’”
“Thank you for calling.”
“Thank you for the card.”
“Thank you.”
What happened when God saw Adam all by himself? No, He didn’t shout, “PARTY!” Nope. He looked at Adam and saw he was alone. God watched him there, in the garden, with nobody to turn to, nobody to help him, nobody to stand beside him, to talk to, interact with…and He said, “This isn’t good.”
In other words, God was saying, “Nobody should have to live this way. Nobody should be alone. Everybody needs a somebody.” So, He made Eve.
Now listen, don’t get caught up in the semantics of it being a man and woman. Don’t get lost in the translation. I believe there’s more to it than God creating man and woman to be together, it doesn’t say they were married, it doesn’t say they were dating or friends on Facebook, it does say a man and a woman would become one body…but I’ll leave that for another time to discuss (let’s try our best to keep this a G rated blog post).
God doesn’t want us to be ALONE. Not you. Not me. Not man. Not woman. Nobody should be alone. He intended for us to be in community, together, sharing our hurts, celebrating our victories, and so on and so forth.
Isolation = the opposite of God’s plan (outside of brief moments of getting alone with God, but even then you’re WITH somebody…anyways).
So, let’s go back to those first few lines I opened up with today. How often do you hear people say these things? I hear them ALL THE TIME. People want to be NOTICED! We DESIRE community. We DESIRE togetherness. It lifts our spirits. It makes us feel whole, complete, like we’re somehow fulfilling God’s plan and desire for our lives. People matter. You matter.
Someone you know is feeling desperate and alone. They believe nobody wants them. They’re feeling undesirable. You can make a DIFFERENCE simply by calling them, texting them, sending them a card, saying ‘hello.’ BE the difference. Not because I said to…
It’s God’s plan.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A Letter to Celebrate Recovery
Hello, my name is Nick; I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who celebrates recovery from drugs, alcohol, and pornography and currently struggles with codependency and pride.
LAST WEEK:
Wow! Yet another AMAZING Friday night at #CelebrateRecovery (for those unfamiliar with this, it’s called a “hashtag” use it on Twitter to connect with CR peeps all over the world)! It was chip night! Wait, that didn’t quite have the effect I was looking for…it was CHIP NIGHT! And it was one of those nights when we nearly ran out of Blue Chips, AKA 24 Hour Chips, AKA First-Time Guest Chips. So many faces. So many people. So much courage and healing! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if I had the choice of seeing you ANYWHERE during the week, it would be on Friday night at CR. We are learning what it means to live a FULL and RICH life and we’re doing it TOGETHER!
As if that wasn’t enough, the chip celebration was followed up by an awesome testimony from Cris on overcoming life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups, weaving through the lies or the world and finding TRUTH in Christ! “I will not be moved” was the theme of the night as it blared loud and clear after her testimony!
In case you were wondering, one of the key elements of Celebrate Recovery is discovering how to firmly plant yourself on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Why? Because we no longer identify ourselves by the things we’ve done or the labels we’ve been given…no…we learn that in Christ we are a NEW creation, the old is GONE, the new has COME!
THIS WEEK:
I cannot WAIT for this week! I am so EXCITED for Friday’s CR! This Friday we celebrate 3 years! 3 years of lives changing, families coming together, chains being broken, captives set free, great friends, new faces, people crossing over from death to life, baptisms, growing our own band, launching Celebration Station and The Landing (mark your calendars—January 4, 2013), and so much more! This year alone we’ve seen over 30 people give their hearts and lives to Jesus and 20 people baptized! If you add up all the numbers over the last 3 years we’ve had nearly 100 decisions for Christ and about 50 baptisms!!! And it’s only been 3 years! We’re JUST GETTING STARTED!
I anticipate by this time next year those numbers will double as we see more and more people from the community pour in through those doors seeking the hope, healing, and freedom that you and I have experienced! Know how they’ll find out? You. Me. Us, together, taking to the streets and local businesses and schools and doctor’s offices and local churches. It happens by us getting the word out to friends and family and the people we meet. I truly believe THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
So join us. Whether you’ve attended once, fifty times, or haven’t missed a week since day one. Whether you’re still attending or haven’t attending since day one. You’re invited to celebrate with us this Friday night. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together at 6p and then move to the gym to let go of all the stress from the week as we worship together with our outstanding CR Band at 7p. It’s going to be a night to remember!
NEWS & UPDATES:
I’ve only got 1 thing to share with you this week…because it’s THAT important and I do NOT want you to miss it.
#1 Anniversary Celebration—be there! Friday…potluck at 6p…party at 7p!
THE END:
This is the BIGGEST night of the year for our Celebrate Recovery family! I would love nothing more than to spend a few moments with you, whether over a meal (potluck) or worshiping beside you, or catching up with you afterwards at Crosstalk Café. I hope you can make it. It’s going to be AWESOME!
LAST WEEK:
Wow! Yet another AMAZING Friday night at #CelebrateRecovery (for those unfamiliar with this, it’s called a “hashtag” use it on Twitter to connect with CR peeps all over the world)! It was chip night! Wait, that didn’t quite have the effect I was looking for…it was CHIP NIGHT! And it was one of those nights when we nearly ran out of Blue Chips, AKA 24 Hour Chips, AKA First-Time Guest Chips. So many faces. So many people. So much courage and healing! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if I had the choice of seeing you ANYWHERE during the week, it would be on Friday night at CR. We are learning what it means to live a FULL and RICH life and we’re doing it TOGETHER!
As if that wasn’t enough, the chip celebration was followed up by an awesome testimony from Cris on overcoming life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups, weaving through the lies or the world and finding TRUTH in Christ! “I will not be moved” was the theme of the night as it blared loud and clear after her testimony!
In case you were wondering, one of the key elements of Celebrate Recovery is discovering how to firmly plant yourself on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Why? Because we no longer identify ourselves by the things we’ve done or the labels we’ve been given…no…we learn that in Christ we are a NEW creation, the old is GONE, the new has COME!
THIS WEEK:
I cannot WAIT for this week! I am so EXCITED for Friday’s CR! This Friday we celebrate 3 years! 3 years of lives changing, families coming together, chains being broken, captives set free, great friends, new faces, people crossing over from death to life, baptisms, growing our own band, launching Celebration Station and The Landing (mark your calendars—January 4, 2013), and so much more! This year alone we’ve seen over 30 people give their hearts and lives to Jesus and 20 people baptized! If you add up all the numbers over the last 3 years we’ve had nearly 100 decisions for Christ and about 50 baptisms!!! And it’s only been 3 years! We’re JUST GETTING STARTED!
I anticipate by this time next year those numbers will double as we see more and more people from the community pour in through those doors seeking the hope, healing, and freedom that you and I have experienced! Know how they’ll find out? You. Me. Us, together, taking to the streets and local businesses and schools and doctor’s offices and local churches. It happens by us getting the word out to friends and family and the people we meet. I truly believe THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
So join us. Whether you’ve attended once, fifty times, or haven’t missed a week since day one. Whether you’re still attending or haven’t attending since day one. You’re invited to celebrate with us this Friday night. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together at 6p and then move to the gym to let go of all the stress from the week as we worship together with our outstanding CR Band at 7p. It’s going to be a night to remember!
NEWS & UPDATES:
I’ve only got 1 thing to share with you this week…because it’s THAT important and I do NOT want you to miss it.
#1 Anniversary Celebration—be there! Friday…potluck at 6p…party at 7p!
THE END:
This is the BIGGEST night of the year for our Celebrate Recovery family! I would love nothing more than to spend a few moments with you, whether over a meal (potluck) or worshiping beside you, or catching up with you afterwards at Crosstalk Café. I hope you can make it. It’s going to be AWESOME!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Set List 12.7/9.12
TESTIMONY
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Like a Lion—David Crowder* Band
Your Love Never Fails—Jesus Culture
Sing Sing Sing—Chris Tomlin
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, 11:15a, 12:45p
Angels We Have Heard on High—Relient K
Noel—LifeChurch.tv
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
Unending Love—Hillsong Live
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Like a Lion—David Crowder* Band
Your Love Never Fails—Jesus Culture
Sing Sing Sing—Chris Tomlin
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, 11:15a, 12:45p
Angels We Have Heard on High—Relient K
Noel—LifeChurch.tv
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
Unending Love—Hillsong Live
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Letter to Celebrate Recovery
Hello, my name is Nick; I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with codependency and pride.
LAST WEEK:
Big shout out to Steve (@smparrill) for taking us through one of my FAVORITE lessons of the year…YES!
#1 YIELD myself to God
#2 EXAMPLE is what matters
#3 SERVE others like Jesus did
This is what it’s all about! Isn’t it? Recovery isn’t dwelling on past mistakes. Recovery isn’t holding on to the pain of our past. Recovery isn’t believing we are the names and labels we’ve been given. Recovery isn’t fixing others and ignoring ourselves. Recovery is learning who we are IN Christ…
And this only happens AFTER we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our one and only true higher power. That’s it. End of story. We call him Savior. We call him Redeemer. We find freedom in the shadow of a bloodstained cross. Acknowledging who he IS means we YIELD to his will, we SURRENDER, we wave our WHITE FLAG, we allow him to LEAD the way. We acknowledge his ways are BETTER and that he wants something FOR us, to BLESS us, to PROSPER us. We recognize God as FATHER and believe He will work all things for our GOOD!
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. That doesn’t mean it’s all cotton candy, unicorns, and rainbows. That simply means, I’m gonna mess up, manure is gonna hit the fan, I’m going to struggle, sometimes it’ll feel like my world is crashing down, BUT I know God is in control, He’ll never turn away from me, He’ll never let me go, and He wants what’s BEST for me because ultimately it brings Him glory.
THIS WEEK:
This week is TESTIMONY week! And, on top of that, it’s CHIP NIGHT! For whatever reason I was promoting last week as CHIP NIGHT (most likely because I also schedule the Weekend Experience and that took place in December while Friday was still November…anyways, just sayin’) and it wasn’t last week, it’s THIS week! That means we’ll clap and cheer and celebrate milestone dates for sobriety from all sorts of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we’ll cry, clap, and cheer as we hear a testimony of victory and hope found in Christ! That puts the CELEBRATE in Celebrate Recovery!
NEWS & UPDATES:
Here are 2 things I want to draw to your attention…
#1 The Landing – This week marks the FIRST run through of The Landing. I’m so EXCITED for our launch team to be coming together, growing together, and serving and helping our students learn to cope with the hurts, habits, and hang-ups they’re all facing in our schools, homes, churches, and community at large. Do you have a student that falls somewhere within the 6th grade – 12th grade range? Bring’em! Invite’em! Let’em know they GET TO be a part of something from the VERY BEGINNING, the VERY START! We WANT them to be here, to provide feedback, to help us…in turn help them…which eventually leads to helping many MANY others! This all happens on Friday at 7p.
#2 Anniversary Celebration – Oh dang! It’s that time of year again! 3 years ago Celebrate Recovery invaded the 4 (or more) walls of New Life’s building and we haven’t looked back since. This year we celebrate 3 years of life change, 3 years of getting better, 3 years of growing, 3 years of family, 3 years of recovery. We’ll kick everything off with a potluck dinner at 6p and then some AWESOME worship music and a time of reflection on where we’ve been and casting of where we’re headed! Whether you’re currently attending, have attended in the past, have thought about attending, or don’t even know what Celebrate Recovery IS…I want you to be there. Mark your calendars: Friday, December 14.
THE END:
The end. Just kidding. I love you! I’m excited to see you this Friday! I’m excited to worship with you, pray with you, cry with you, and CELEBRATE with you! See you Friday at 6p!
LAST WEEK:
Big shout out to Steve (@smparrill) for taking us through one of my FAVORITE lessons of the year…YES!
#1 YIELD myself to God
#2 EXAMPLE is what matters
#3 SERVE others like Jesus did
This is what it’s all about! Isn’t it? Recovery isn’t dwelling on past mistakes. Recovery isn’t holding on to the pain of our past. Recovery isn’t believing we are the names and labels we’ve been given. Recovery isn’t fixing others and ignoring ourselves. Recovery is learning who we are IN Christ…
And this only happens AFTER we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our one and only true higher power. That’s it. End of story. We call him Savior. We call him Redeemer. We find freedom in the shadow of a bloodstained cross. Acknowledging who he IS means we YIELD to his will, we SURRENDER, we wave our WHITE FLAG, we allow him to LEAD the way. We acknowledge his ways are BETTER and that he wants something FOR us, to BLESS us, to PROSPER us. We recognize God as FATHER and believe He will work all things for our GOOD!
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. That doesn’t mean it’s all cotton candy, unicorns, and rainbows. That simply means, I’m gonna mess up, manure is gonna hit the fan, I’m going to struggle, sometimes it’ll feel like my world is crashing down, BUT I know God is in control, He’ll never turn away from me, He’ll never let me go, and He wants what’s BEST for me because ultimately it brings Him glory.
THIS WEEK:
This week is TESTIMONY week! And, on top of that, it’s CHIP NIGHT! For whatever reason I was promoting last week as CHIP NIGHT (most likely because I also schedule the Weekend Experience and that took place in December while Friday was still November…anyways, just sayin’) and it wasn’t last week, it’s THIS week! That means we’ll clap and cheer and celebrate milestone dates for sobriety from all sorts of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we’ll cry, clap, and cheer as we hear a testimony of victory and hope found in Christ! That puts the CELEBRATE in Celebrate Recovery!
NEWS & UPDATES:
Here are 2 things I want to draw to your attention…
#1 The Landing – This week marks the FIRST run through of The Landing. I’m so EXCITED for our launch team to be coming together, growing together, and serving and helping our students learn to cope with the hurts, habits, and hang-ups they’re all facing in our schools, homes, churches, and community at large. Do you have a student that falls somewhere within the 6th grade – 12th grade range? Bring’em! Invite’em! Let’em know they GET TO be a part of something from the VERY BEGINNING, the VERY START! We WANT them to be here, to provide feedback, to help us…in turn help them…which eventually leads to helping many MANY others! This all happens on Friday at 7p.
#2 Anniversary Celebration – Oh dang! It’s that time of year again! 3 years ago Celebrate Recovery invaded the 4 (or more) walls of New Life’s building and we haven’t looked back since. This year we celebrate 3 years of life change, 3 years of getting better, 3 years of growing, 3 years of family, 3 years of recovery. We’ll kick everything off with a potluck dinner at 6p and then some AWESOME worship music and a time of reflection on where we’ve been and casting of where we’re headed! Whether you’re currently attending, have attended in the past, have thought about attending, or don’t even know what Celebrate Recovery IS…I want you to be there. Mark your calendars: Friday, December 14.
THE END:
The end. Just kidding. I love you! I’m excited to see you this Friday! I’m excited to worship with you, pray with you, cry with you, and CELEBRATE with you! See you Friday at 6p!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Set List 11.30/12.2.12
LESSON: YES
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
Me and Jesus—Stellar Kart
Love Like Fire—Hillsong Live
All Because of Jesus—Fee
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, 11:15a, 12:45p
Angels We Have Heard on High—traditional
Come Thou Fount—traditional
Here is Our King—David Crowder* Band
Celebrate Recovery: Fridays 7p
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)—Chris Tomlin
Me and Jesus—Stellar Kart
Love Like Fire—Hillsong Live
All Because of Jesus—Fee
SERIES: LOVE LIKE JESUS
Weekend Experience: Sundays 8:15, 9:45, 11:15a, 12:45p
Angels We Have Heard on High—traditional
Come Thou Fount—traditional
Here is Our King—David Crowder* Band
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