Keep Pointing in Cedar Falls

Summer Groups and Classes

If you've been around PLC for any length of time you've heard us talk about small groups. In a church this size one of the best ways to get plugged in and experience community is through a small group. This summer we are going to try small groups in a silghtly different way from how we usually do. Starting in June we will have summer small groups that will meet for eight weeks. These groups will meet once a week to have intentional Bible study time and fellowship. There will also be times during the eight weeks where your group will serve together out in the community. 

We'll be kicking off these summer groups on Sunday, June 3, 4-6 p.m., in the Café. 
Follow this link to get signed up! 

We are also having a Financial Peace University class over the summer. This summer session of the class will be 10 weeks long instead of 13. It will be an afternoon class, so it's the perfect opportunity if you who can't make it to the evening sessions in the fall. Whether your finances just need a tune up or a complete overhaul, this is a great class for you to take. You can sign up for FPU (and fill out a scholarship appication if you need to) here. 

Helpful Links

As promised, here are a couple links for some resources on the FAQ questions Pastor John answered this weekend on Hell. Check them out if you want some more information.  

http://carm.org/what-happens-those-who-have-never-heard-gospel

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/becoming_a_christian/is_christ_the_only_way/what_about_those_who_have_never_heard.aspx

 

 

After Risky Obedience

Pastor John had a great message last weekend on the need for us to be obedient to whatever God is asking of us. If you missed the message, check it out here.
I was reminded last Sunday afternoon of what comes after risky obedience. In my own life I have had times where I've hesitated to follow what God is asking me to do. I've tried to stay safe and comfortable. But then, once I've finally made the decision to be obedient, it can be just as challenging. Sometimes in many ways, more challenging. The big, risky, obedient step is kind of fulfilling and exciting. People pat you on the back. They say things like, "Wow...I wish I had the faith to do that." But a week later or three months later, you are still living in the reality of the risky faith step you took, and the costs are starting to mount a little.

Pastor John encouraged us to read Nehemiah last week. When Nehemiah first talked to the people about building the wall, they all jumped in. They knew it was going to be hard, but they were ready. Then you get to this verse, "Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, 'The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.'" (Nehemiah 4:10). The work was hard. Enemies were threatening. Friends were saying it's not worth it.

Then they had a choice. Do they continue on being obedient, or do they give up? They chose to keep going and as a result God did something amazing through them that nobody thought was possible. Why? Because they were obedient to get started and endured the inevitable challenges along the way. 

Check out what it says in Nehemiah 6:15-16. "So the wall was completed...in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God."

If you are in a season following a risky step of obedience, stay faithful. Don't let yourself get discouraged. God will honor that first step you took and all the other ones along the way!

Promise Keepers

Going to try again...I forgot to put the code for Promise Keepers event in my last post. That's what I get for not letting someone proofread my blog this time!!

Promise Keepers is coming to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on July 13th and 14th. Promise Keepers is a ministry for men. Check out their website for more information.

You can use the code below to register as part of the PLC group and save $20 off registration. Here is the code: 0712-PRLC.

If you want to volunteer, you can sign up online for that as well.

FAQ Resources and Promise Keepers

As promised yesterday, here are some resources you can check out if you have some questions you are wrestling with. Pastor Chip's blog has a good list. Like he said, these links are good, but I can't vouch for everything on the sites. So as always, approach it with prayer and discernment. 

Resources

Also, Promise Keepers is coming to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on July 13th and 14th. Promise Keepers is a ministry for men. Check out their website for more information. You can use the code below to register as part of the PLC group and save $20 off registration. Here is the code: 0712-PRLC. If you want to volunteer, you can sign up online for that as well. 

 

Do you have a question?

This weekend we're kicking off our FAQ series. If you've been here for the past couple of weekends you've probably seen that we're asking you to give us your questions for this series. If you haven't sent in your question yet, there's still time! You have three ways you can get your questions(s) submitted:

• Text it to 319-804-9725
• Submit it online
• Write it out on a postcard at the Connection desk and drop it in the box on the desk

Couldn't be easier! I'm looking forward to hearing your questions and answering as many of them as we can from the platform. 

The End

There are a couple times a year when I naturally think about what has taken place in recent months. New Years and the end of the school year. Over the past couple of days, as the ministry year comes to an end at Prairie Lakes Church, I started thinking a little more about that. One of the things that spurred me on was talking with my wife about the college small group she is co-leading coming to an end. We were looking back and talking about all the things that God has done in the lives of the young women in her group. Another conversation today I had was with a guy who has adopted two kids in the past five months. As he talked, he described the blessings and the challenges that his family has experienced with the addition of these two. One of the things he said is that every month they make a trip to the doctor for a checkup. They have used that as a mile marker in their lives to reflect on the progress that has been made. He said that day in and day out they miss some of the change, but looking back at where they were when they last headed to the doctor, they can see progress. 

The entire Cedar Falls Campus staff took some time yesterday to do the same thing. It was cool personally for me to think about what God has done this past year. It's been easy to forget some of the ways he's worked in the midst of the day to day ups and downs.

So here's some homework. Take five or 10 minutes today in the car, or before bedtime, or whenever you can, and reflect back on what God has been up to. 

• How has he changed you this past year?
• How has he used you this past year to impact others?
• How have you seen God work in the lives of those in your circle?

Maybe you have some other questions you want to add in, but that should get you started. If you want, share some of what God has been up to so we can all be encouraged. Comment on my blog or facebook if you want others to see it or fill out this form if you want to share the story with me, but not for all the world to see.

Dead and buried...again

Tuesday, at our monthly staff meeting, we had a chance to bury the wood chips from Easter weekend...again. We took a few minutes to pray for what each chip represented, something in someones life that needed to DIE. Then we dug a big hole and buried them together once and for all. It was a big pile that represented a lot of pain, hurt, and sin. But as Pastor John said on Easter, you have to bury it to have new life. Last weekend Pastor John reminded us of the other side of this thing. Sometimes we need to focus on the stuff that needs to die, but sometimes we need to focus on who we are in Christ. Below are a couple highlights of our identity in Christ, but you can go here for the full list. Spend some time reflecting on these if you haven't already!

I am loved. (1John 3:3)

I am accepted. (Ephesians 1:6)

I am a child of God. (John 1:12)

PLC Cedar Falls Volunteer Celebration

If you are a volunteer at Prairie Lakes Church Cedar Falls, make sure you get RSVP'd for the Volunteer Celebration.  Follow this link for details. 

We have a great night planned to thank and celebrate you, our volunteers, for all you do around here. You don't want to miss it!

Lessons from my six year old

This past week has been an interesting week for me. Life has been busy. We just moved. Good Friday and Easter happened. I have homework to do for class. I feel like I've been running at a pretty frantic pace. But when I slowed down enough to see what God was up to, some cool things happened. Here are two examples from my family.

• My oldest daughter (six years old) invited two friends to FX on Wednesday. When she found out that one of them doesn't have a church, she was shocked.  She talked about it all night.  How could someone not have a church to go to? In that moment I realized that I probably take that for granted too often. I am not always shocked or saddened when I find that out about someone. But she was. I need to be more like that.
• Sunday after church my wife had a few small Easter gifts for the kids. One was a book about Heaven. That night I was tired and ready for the kids to go to bed, but they wanted to read the new book, so I took some time to read it to them. We didn't even get through the first page before my four year old son started asking questions about God. That was cool. It's kind of hard to know for sure with a four year old, but I think for the first time he really started to undersand what it means to have faith in Jesus. It was even more encouraging for me to see my six year old daughter started to TEACH my four year old a whole bunch of truths about Jesus and salvation.  The highlight for me was when she told him, "You can't just believe in Jesus. You have to do what he asks you to do".  She said that about five times in five different ways, she wouldn't let it go. Yet another truth that she probably has a better handle on that I do. Believing in Jesus is important, but following his lead is what really matters.

If I hadn't slowed down enough to ask the questions or have those conversations, I would have missed out on what God was up to. 

So this week, after all our invites that resulted in people taking steps with God, and maybe even coming to church for the first time, we have a challenge. That challenge is for us to be willing to engage in what God is up to. Ask the people you invited what God did in their hearts this weekend. Meet them for coffee and intentionally turn the conversation to God. It might be uncomfortable at first, but you'll get over it! You'll probably be surprised at where God takes the conversation from there.