THE SCARLET THREAD

Sunday mornings at Emmanuel Fellowship Church

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

1418 Hailey Street

Sweetwater, Texas

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SUMMER SERMON SERIES

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THE UNSTUCK DELUXE!

Our journey together since Easter has been phenomenal.  Every area of church life seems to be experiencing an Unstuck Adventure!  This Sunday we conclude our Unstuck Sermon Series by exploring how to get Unstuck in your Future.  I hope you will be able to join us for a dynamic morning of worship and ministry!

If you have missed any of the Unstuck Sermon Series, here is the Unstuck deluxe list of dates and topics.  Click to listen.

• April 8, 2012 – Unstuck in your Faith (Easter Sunday)
• April 15, 2012 – Unstuck in your Feelings
• April 22, 2012 – Unstuck in your Friendships (Youth Led Sunday)
• April 29, 2012 – Unstuck in your career Field
• May 6, 2012 – Unstuck in the Fight
• May 13, 2012 – Unstuck in your Family (Mother’s Day)
• May 20, 2012 – Unstuck in your Future!

Get Unstuck with us this Sunday, at Emmanuel Fellowship Church (1418 Hailey Street) in Sweetwater at 9:00AM or 11:00AM. 

On the Radar

·         Mother’s Day Out now enrolling for the 2012-13 school year!  For more information, or to register your child, click here.

·         Senior Recognition Sunday – We are excited to recognize our graduating Seniors in this Sunday’s worship service.

·         Lifegroup Parties – Only two weeks of lifegroup left until the Summer break.  Our end of semester parties are scheduled for next Wednesday, May 30.  Children’s ministry will be provided at the church.

 

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APRIL ART SHOW AT THE LIBRARY

I had the privilege this week of viewing the prophetic art on display at the Sweetwater County-City Library from some of our EFC artists. The beauty and significance of the art on display was breathtaking. 

Each Sunday morning, we are blessed to worship our King in a creative environment where live music and artistic expression work together to create a life-giving atmosphere.  The prophetic art each Sunday is more than a “neat thing we do,” it is an expression of prayer and faith.  It is an invitation to experience God’s presence among us through a visual medium. 

One of the most amazing aspects of prophetic art is its lasting impact.  Long after a Sunday service is over, the art produced in that service remains, and it invites us to remember and re-encounter the presence of God experienced in the moment in which the art was created.

I encourage you to make time this month to visit the library and experience again the art that was formed in front of us Sunday after Sunday.  As you walk around the room, ask God to remind you of what He was saying and doing in your life on the Sunday in which each painted occurred.  Or, ask God what He is saying to you through the art in the very moment you are looking upon it.  What invitation is He giving you through the creative expression of these faith filled artists?

Special thanks to our artists: Suzan Kennedy, Jay Neal, and Rhonda Wilks for their willingness to share their creative gifts with us!

Podcast

Have you missed a service?  Need to remember part of a sermon?  Click here to listen to recent Emmanuel Fellowship Church messages.    

On the Radar: CAMP TIME!

• Youth Garage Sale this Saturday at the church to raise funds for our youth campers!  Donations can be dropped off at the church offices all week long.
• REMINDER: Brisket Burrito sale immediately following both services to benefit our kids going to kids camp!  Brisket combos are priced at $5.00 and additional burritos are priced at $2.00 each.
• Parents, you can inquire about camp registrations for your children and teens by emailing Pastor Loran (loran@efcsweetwater.com) and Pastor Lolo (lolo@efcsweetwater.com), or calling the church offices at 236-9200.

You Heard it at EFC

1. “Happy Day” by Tim Hughes
2. “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillon
3. “Jesus Paid It All” Chris Tomlin version
4. “Christ Is Risen” by Matt Maher

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, April 15, Pastor Eric will continue the “Unstuck” sermon series.  Come  and bring a friend with you to either the 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM service.  Both services offer the same dynamic worship and vibrant ministry to children.

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EVER FEEL LIKE YOU ARE DROWNING?

I remember when I was a little boy, momma loaded us up and took us to Mineral Wells to the city pool. It was a major event for this country boy, because, for us, “swimming pool” meant stock tank.

If swimming didn’t include brownish-red water, mud between your toes, and having to avoid cow patties on the way down to the water, then I was just a little out of my element… (click to read the rest of the transcript from Pastor Eric’s message “Nothing is Impossible.”)

Podcast

“Nothing is Impossible,” Pastor Eric’s final message from the “Dance of Grace” sermon series is available online.  Click to listen.

On the Radar

• Friday and Saturday, February 24-25: Marriage Conference featuring Dr. Mark and Alison Rutland at FountainGate Fellowship Church in Abilene.  Register by February 10 to get the early bird rate!
• Identity Weekend: February 17-19.  If you are interested in participating in the weekend of spiritual growth and healing, contact Curtis Ward at curtis@rootsbythestream.com.

Links

Pastor Mindy has begun a marriage-building countdown to Valentine’s Day on her blog, Treasure the Ordinary.  Log on to invest in your spouse!   www.treasuretheordinary.blogspot.com

As a follow up to our Budgeting Class, here are the links Pastor Loran referred to for those of you who want to budget electronically.

• Cell Phone Envelope App
• Budgeting Worksheets and Calenders
•  Easy to Use and Understand Resources

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “We Cry Out” by Brian Johnson
2. “Your Love is Everything” Chris Quilala version
3. “Healer” Hillsong Version
4. “Our God” by Chris Tomlin

Sunday Preview

This Sunday, February 5, we begin our Marriage Coach Sermon series.  You don’t want to miss a single Sunday of this series as Pastor Eric reveals his top four keys to a healthy marriage.  Whether you are married or single, The Marriage Coach will provide you with tools and resources to strengthen any relationship.  Find out more at www.themarriagecoach.us.

 

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NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

I remember when I was a little boy, momma loaded us up and took us to Mineral Wells to the city pool.  It was a major event for this country boy, because, for us, “swimming pool” meant stock tank.

If swimming didn’t include brownish-red water, mud between your toes, and having to avoid cow patties on the way down to the water, then I was just a little out of my element.

To tell you this truth, I still get a little uncomfortable if I can see my feet when I’m in the water.  It just throws me off.  I didn’t learn to swim in crystal clear water, and that may explain why my trip to the pool almost ended in disaster.

With my momma resting in the shade and my older brother playing around the diving board, I was having the time of my life in the shallow end of the pool…looking at my feet!

About that time, a boy decided to befriend me and let me ride on his little boogie board floaty.  I hopped on while he pushed me around, but then, suddenly, without any notice, he said, “Now are you ready to go into the deep water?”  And as I shook my head “no,” he laughed and gave me a shove toward the deep end of the pool.

I remember holding onto that boogie board, panicked and paralyzed as it floated over the rope signaling that I had just crossed into the deep water.  My knuckles were turning white as I held on.  And, as the board continued to float into deeper and deeper water, I realized that I had to do something.

So, to avoid getting into any deeper water, I jumped off of the board.  That was my safety plan: to bail out.

And I jumped off of that board right into water that was over my head.

I sank to the bottom of the pool, pushed off, and resurfaced just in time to see that I was situated right under the life guard stand.

I gasped for air, sank back down, hit the bottom, pushed off, and came back to the surface.

I remember looking at the life guard as he sat on his perch in yellow shorts with a big glob of sunscreen on his nose.  I literally made eye contact with him, mustered up all of my courage, and let out a little whimper of “Help.”

And as I fought to float, sputtering, he just looked at me and then looked away.  And I sank to the bottom of the pool for the third time.

And it was when I hit the bottom of the pool that third time that a thought was planted in my mind, a dangerous thought, a damaging thought: “You are all alone.  No one here is going to save you.  If you are going to get out of this mess, it is up to you.”

I pushed off the pool, surfaced again, took a breath, sank back down and became the architect of my own rescue as I gradually began to bob my way toward the shallow water.

In a pool full of people playing and having a good time, with lifeguards stationed all over the place, with my mom resting in the shade and my brother off playing somewhere, I saved myself.

The boy came up asking about his floaty, and I gave him a piece of my mind about almost killing me and stormed off.

But, guess what.  That seed stayed with me, “You are all alone.  No one is there to save you.”

And throughout life, many other experiences only reinforced that lie.

And the painful reality is many of us have bought in to some version of that lie: I’m all alone; I’m all I have to depend on; It’s up to my paycheck; It’s up to my hard work; It’s up to me to get myself out of this mess.

Me, me, me, I, I, I, Alone, Alone, Alone.

If the enemy can get you to buy into that one lie, he will have you tied in knots because you will feel you have no one to turn to and nowhere to go when you are in trouble.

You will carry your burden all alone, and the weight of it will crush you.

At our church in Sweetwater, TX, we describe our fundamentals of faith in what we call our Pillars of Faith.  We believe:

• God is Good
• We Live from Heaven to Earth
• Everyone is Significant

And our fourth pillar of faith is the fact that:

• Nothing is Impossible

But if you have believed the lie I just described, if you have come to believe in your heart, “I am all alone.  I am all I have to depend on.  I am the architect of my own rescue.”  Then you will never believe this truth.

When we are limited to depending only on ourselves, we live in a world full of impossibilities.  And it leads us to feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

When life is up to us, many things are impossible.

I want to take you to the cross for a minute.  I want to reintroduce you to a man who was beaten beyond human recognition.  An innocent man hanging naked between two thieves as those who passed by mocked Him.  A man who’s blood had been spilled out into the dirt below for hours and who’s lungs had slowly been filling with fluid.  A man at the breaking point of suffering and mental and physical exhaustion.

That man hung on the cross because you are not alone, because you are not the architect of your own rescue, because you can’t depend upon yourself in this world.

No matter what you have believed in this world, the truth is you have a hero.  You have a rescuer, and His name is Jesus.

And as He hung on that cross, on the brink of death, he somehow mustered the strength to push against those nails in his feet, to pull himself up by the nails in His wrists.  Through the excruciating pain he drew enough air into his lungs to utter one last word before He died.

“Tetelestai!”  It is finished.  Paid in full.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  John 19:30 (NIV)

There is a precious song I remember that describes this event perfectly.

He paid a debt, He did not owe.

I owed a debt, I could not pay.

I needed someone to wash my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song,

Amazing grace, all day long.

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

But what is the little boy in the pool still trying to do?  He is still trying to rescue himself, still scrambling, still grasping for air.  He is still living in a world filled with fear and impossibilities, because it all depends on him, and he just isn’t enough.

My friends, before you come to understand that truly nothing is impossible, you must come to peace with the finished work of Christ.

When Jesus paid your debt, it left you with nothing to pay.  When Jesus covered your shame, it left you with no reason to hide.  When Jesus forgave your sin, it left you with no need to earn your forgiveness before God.

All there is left to do is believe it is true and receive it for yourself.

Consider Paul’s introductory words to the Corinthian church.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  1 Corinthians 1:26-30 (NIV)

I love the way verse 30 reads in the NASB

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption… 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NASB95)

When you were drowning in this world, overwhelmed by sin and its devastating consequences, when you could not save yourself, He became your rescue!

And once you embrace this fact, once you embrace the astounding reality  that you may have gotten yourself out of some tight situations in life, but the truth is you have no capacity to save yourself, then nothing will be impossible for you.

Because it will no longer depend on you, but on the God of your salvation.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”   Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

Let me conclude with a quote from evangelist Reinhard Bonnke:

God is our secret. He raises the threshold of our ability so that we can do His will. He doesn’t come just to make us famous or great, but only great enough to do what He wants us to do. True greatness is to do what God says.

God never asks us to do anything without Him, and with Him we can do anything, He says. God and I can do literally anything together!

The Africans have a story about an elephant that crossed a bridge with an ant sitting behind its ear. When they reached the other side, the ant said, “My, didn’t we make that bridge shake!”

Imagine: Jesus and YOU in 2012 will “make the bridge swing.” REINHARD BONNKE

God and I can do literally anything together!

What impossible bridges are you and God going shake this year?

Nothing is impossible,

Pastor Eric

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LET THIS ONE SOAK

Hey Friends,

Our Famous Failures sermon series has taken us deeper than I first expected, and has touched on some very delicate aspects of our faith.  In Sunday’s message, I challenged our congregation by saying, “The most dangerous thing we can do in our faith journey is interpret God’s will through our failures.”

Statements like this need to be digested.  They are not “one and done” thoughts.  In fact, they rub against some of the lies that have been deeply ingrained in our hearts about God.

I strongly encourage you to follow the link and listen again to Sunday’s message.  I actually wish you would listen to it twice.  As you listen, ask the Holy Spirit if you have misunderstood God’s heart and His will for your life because of some of the heartbreaks and failures you have experienced.  Ask God to reinterpret those events through the lens of His amazing love and the truth of His Word.

Here at EFC, we emphasize four simple truths we describe as our “Pillars of Thought.”  We have intentionally established these Biblical statements as tools to help us interpret what God is doing in and around us.  These pillars define our approach to understanding God and protect our hearts from misunderstanding His character.

I pray these principles will come to define your understanding of the heart of God as well, and may they give you courage to rise up from any failure and continue to pursue His glorious purpose for your life.

Much love,

Pastor Eric

The Pillars of Thought that define the revival culture of Emmanuel Fellowship Church are:

GOD IS GOOD

It is our adamant belief that the fundamental nature of God’s character is goodness.  When Moses requested to see the glory of God, our Lord responded by saying, “I will cause all of my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence.”  (Exodus 33:18-19) The glory of God is His goodness.

WE LIVE FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

Paul teaches that “our citizenship in is in heaven.”  (Philippians 3:20)  We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Therefore, we live according to the government, culture, atmosphere, and economy of heaven.  We live from Heaven to earth, recognizing that what is invisible is a superior reality to what is visible.    We will live according to the truth Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  (Matthew 6:10)

EVERYONE IS SIGNIFICANT

We see the fingerprints of God upon humanity.  We will live lives of honor toward one another.  We live to see people saved, healed, and delivered from the effects of sin, to help them identify their God-given personality, gifts, and purpose, and to see them actively invest themselves in the work of the Kingdom.  Knowing that everyone is significant leads me to understand that I am significant.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

Really.  The Bible says this.  We believe it.

Podcast       

“Why Couldn’t I?” Part 2 of the Famous Failures Series is available online.  Click to listen to this challenging message.

On the Radar

Community Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 20, at First United Methodist Church.  You are invited to join with our community at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of worship and Thanksgiving.

Mark Your Calendar

• December 18 @ 11:00am:  Christmas Pageant at the City Auditorium
• December 18 @ 6:00pm: Church-wide Christmas Party at Camp Booth Oaks

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “I’ve Found A Love” Bethel Live version
2. “Furious” Bethel Live version
3. “A Little Longer” by Jenn Johnson
4. “You’ll Come” by Hillsong

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, November 20, we will continue our Famous Failures sermon series.  You are invited to join us each Sunday in November as we learn from mistakes of Biblical proportion.

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FAMOUS FAILURES

“The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception and response to failure.” – John Maxwell

Sundays in November we tackle a new sermon series, “Famous Failures,” at Emmanuel Fellowship Church in Sweetwater.  Join us at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. as we discover God’s invitation to move beyond our failings.

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

Theadore Roosevelt

“Citizenship in a Republic,”
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”  –Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)

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NEHEMIAH: THE CHALLENGE

The challenge Nehemiah faced to restore justice to the people of Jerusalem is similar to frustration expressed through the Occupy Wall Street movement.  Click here to read Pastor Eric’s comparison Rebuilding the Wall and Occupying Wall Street, or follow the podcast link to listen to Sunday’s message.

Podcast       

“The Challenge,” part three of the Building Together sermon series is available online.  Click to listen.

On the Radar

LIGHT THE NIGHT October 30, at Emmanuel Fellowship Church!  Join us Sunday evening for an amazing evening of fun, games, and prizes for families.  This year we are very excited to host Fletcher Runyan as part of our Light the Night entertainment.  Fletcher is a nationally recognized acrobat who will perform amazing low wire stunts throughout the evening!   PLEASE BRING CANDY DONATIONS TO THE CHURCH FOYER if you’d like to help with the event.

Mark Your Calendar

• November 11&12 – Spiritual Freedom Weekend
• November 18 &19 – Youth Thirty Hour Famine
• December 18 – Church Christmas Party!

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “You Are Good”
2. “Our God”
3. “Here I Am to Worship”
4. “Revelation Song”

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, October 30, we will conclude our Building Together sermon series with a look at the characters God united to bring His people home from exile.

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ADJUST YOUR COURSE!

Here is a video rendition of the opening illustration from Sunday morning’s message.  Enjoy!

Links

Click here to learn more about the Native American Buffalo Jumps Pastor Eric referenced in Sunday’s message.

“No man can make me submit!” Click here to learn more about David Louseau, the UFC fighter Pastor Eric mentioned Sunday whose courage inspired his faith and prayers one night in a hospital room.

Podcast       

“The Call,” part two of the Building Together sermon series is available online.  Click to listen.

On the Radar

LADIES’ TRIP TO FREDERICKSBURG on Saturday, October 22!  Cost is $30 and includes both lunch and a prime-rib buffet supper at the lovely Inn of the Hills in Kerrville.  The deadline for your $15 deposit is this Sunday, and you can pay it at the display table in the foyer.  The other $15 will be due the day of the trip.  We’d love to have you join us!

LIGHT THE NIGHT October 30, at Emmanuel Fellowship Church!  Join us Sunday evening for an amazing evening of fun, games, and prizes for families.  This year we are very excited to host Fletcher Runyan as part of our Light the Night entertainment.  Fletcher is a nationally recognized acrobat who will perform amazing low wire stunts throughout the evening!   PLEASE BRING CANDY DONATIONS TO THE CHURCH FOYER if you’d like to help with the event.

Mark Your Calendar

• November 11&12 – Spiritual Freedom Weekend
• November 18 &19 – Youth Thirty Hour Famine
• December 18 – Church Christmas Party!

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “Counting on God” by Desperation Band
2. “Your Love is Everything” Chris Quilala version
3. “One Thing Remains” by Matt Redmand
4. “When I Think About the Lord” Shane and Shane version

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, October 16, we are very excited to welcome back a special guest to EFC.  Due to the sensitive nature of his ministry, we cannot mention his name online.  Join us this Sunday for a powerful and challenging message.

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