Posted in Blessing, Children, Prayer, tagged Blessing, crayons, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Mindy von Atzigen, Prayer, School, Sweetwater, Texas on August 22, 2011| 1 Comment »
All the backpacks are lined up by the front door. The first day of school clothes are waiting on their hangers. The crayons are pointed and unbroken.
My birds are asleep in the nest, ready to fly away tomorrow. And it’s this hour that a Mama kneels and prays… (Discover more about how you can pray for your children as they head back to school on Mindy’s blog, “Treasure the Ordinary.”)
Posted in Christianity, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Jesus, Salvation, tagged Emmanuel Fellowship, Mindy von Atzigen, roman road, Salvation, Sermon on August 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
If yesterday’s message left you wanting to close the door of sin in your life— that’s really good. If it left you wanting to put out the welcome mat for God’s presence at the door of your heart— that’s great. If it left you aching to share what Jesus did on the cross with someone you know— that’s tremendous.
Here’s a tool called the “Roman Road” to help you do that. It’s just a road map, really, through the pages of Romans that can keep you focused as you talk through the amazing gift of salvation with someone who needs to hear it. Print it out and keep it handy, jot it down in the back of your Bible, put it in your smartphone, or memorize it completely. But, whatever you do, be prepared to testify about how this journey has changed your life and get ready to see it transform someone else’s.
Posted in Blessing, Children, Family, tagged baggage, Blessing, Emmanuel Fellowship, Generational, Mindy von Atzigen, Sweetwater, Texas on August 8, 2011| 3 Comments »
Have you ever dreamed about opening the mailbox and finding a check written to you for a large sum as an inheritance from some distant, never-met relative? How about a British estate left to you by a long-lost great-uncle?
Those dreams may seem far-fetched, and probably are as far as your hopes of a mailbox treasure go. But, you would be completely within reason to expect an inheritance of a different nature.
“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22).
While most people rightly tie this verse to the handling of personal finances, it should also be applied to spiritual inheritance. Have you ever stopped to consider what was passed down to you from previous generations in the way of Godly heritages and foundations? What did the people who came before you pray for, sow into, and work towards that you are now reaping the benefits of in your own life? Perhaps more importantly, what are you praying for, sowing into, and working towards in order to leave a Godly inheritance for your grandchildren?
Our Bible heroes weren’t perfect, but quite a few of them did a good job of modeling what this could look like for us. Abraham is known as “Father Abraham” because he sowed faith into future generations by believing God, and seeing that credited to him as righteousness (Galatians 3:6). Esau sowed forgiveness of his brother into the heart of his nephew Joseph, and Joseph harvested those seeds with his own brothers a couple of decades later (Genesis 33 and 45). King David was told by God that he could not build the temple, but he didn’t let that stop him from storing up everything needed for his son, Solomon, to do so (I Chronicles 22-29).
It’s usually pretty easy to find things that are wrong with our families; after all, they’re made up of imperfect people. And it’s true that if generational baggage has been handed to you, you’d better go to the Lord and see those bags unpacked. But, it’s also just as important to recognize the beautiful and the holy that God has been building in your family and learn to cooperate with Him to see that carried on to completion. Your actions today could mean that those who follow after you get a spiritual “check in the mail.”
Posted in Christianity, Church, Missions, Prayer, tagged Deborah Doak, Guatamala City, Guatemala, Jay Neal, Mindy von Atzigen, Mission Trips, Missions on June 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Our Mission Team has landed in Guatemala, and they have hit the ground running!
Mindy sent me a text that she worshipped our Lord with 150 children this morning. I’m not sure it was on the original schedule, but I know it was a tremendous joy!
Below you will find the general itinerary for the trip to help you know where they are and how to pray each day. You can also check out their Facebook pages (Mindy, Deborah, & Jay) for additional details and photos from their adventure.
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal Growth, Sermons, tagged Dollar, Economy, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Faith, God, Jesus, Kingdom, Mindy von Atzigen, One hundred trillion, Sermon, Sweetwater, Texas, trillion, Zimbabwe on April 26, 2010| 1 Comment »
Checking the mail a few days ago, I was excited to see my latest ebay purchase had arrived. I made my way to the kitchen and sliced through the envelope to see a $100,000,000,000,000 bill. That’s right, 14 zeros, a one hundred trillion dollar bill!
Although the bill I held was once actual legal currency, the postage stamp on the envelope it came in was worth more than this little piece of paper. The bill was printed by the Republic of Zimbabwe, which has suffered from hyper inflation. At the time it was printed, the one hundred trillion dollar bill was designed to accommodate a typical government worker with one month’s worth of salary. It has since been completely devalued, and Zimbabwe now uses a combination of US dollars and European money.
I bought the bill as a novelty, but also as a reminder. One hundred trillion dollars is sitting on my nightstand to remind me that economics is the ultimate demonstration of faith. A quick viewing of any American currency will tell you the money is backed as a Federal Reserve Note, and it will then declare, “In God We Trust.”
The irony of the two statements lies in the fact that faith in God is so much more secure than the hope we could ever put in our Federal Government. But, every day we demonstrate we are a people of faith as we give and receive little green pieces of paper in exchange for goods and services. Faith is the foundation of the U. S. economy, and what makes our economy so volatile.
It would do us well to remember faith is the foundation of the economy of Heaven, as well. Every transaction we make through prayer is processed through the currency of faith.
I think it’s time for a shopping spree!
The podcast will be available Tuesday afternoon.
For budget and debt reduction information that Mindy referenced in yesterday’s sermon, check out Dave Ramsey’s site or Larry Burketts’ site.
This Saturday is our Garage Sale for our kids grades 2-5 who are going to camp. If you’d like to donate some items, please drop them off this Wednesday evening or contact Pastor Lolo at peterandlorinlopez@gmail.com to arrange a different drop-off time.
Parents, be sure to check out the Worldchangers website. We align our Bible curriculum from the nursery all the way up to our youth. Access the Family Connection page on the website to bring your children’s Bible lesson home to the kitchen table.
We also have all the info you need about RAMP, our ministry to youth in Sweetwater High School and Middle School and surrounding campuses, as well, at www.efcyouth.com.
Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang? Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself. You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.
Next Sunday, May 2, we will continue our “Infrastructure” sermon series.
Posted in Bible, Christianity, Devotional, Jesus, Personal Growth, Salvation, tagged Cross, Crucifixion, Dream, Jesus, Mindy von Atzigen, Perspective, Pilate, Pilate's Wife, Vantage Point, View on March 15, 2010| 1 Comment »
Each of us has a perspective, a point of view concerning the cross. All of our lives have been influenced by the crucifixion of Jesus. But, what did those early witnesses see? What was the perspective of those first century merchants, craftsmen, soldiers, and politicians?
The Bible records one sentence written in a message from a politician’s wife, and we discover even from the safety of her vantage point, her life was impacted by this Messianic preacher from Galilee.
Mathew 27 records her story:
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Click on the media player to hear a dramtic presentation of a view of the cross through the eyes of Pilate’s wife.
We will not have any church activities this Wednesday evening due to Spring Break. We pray you enjoy a wonderful time with your family this week!
Parents, be sure to check out the Worldchangers website. We align our Bible curriculum from the nursery all the way up to our youth. Access the Family Connection page on the website to bring your children’s Bible lesson home to the kitchen table.
We also have all the info you need about RAMP, our ministry to youth in Sweetwater High School and Middle School and surrounding campuses, as well, at www.efcyouth.com.
Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang? Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself. You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.
Next Sunday, March 21, 2010, we will continue our dramatic preaching series, “Vantage Points” with a look at what three different mothers saw when they stood beneath the cross.
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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.
Posted in Christianity, Personal Growth, tagged Hedges, Josh Harris, Love, Marriage, Mindy von Atzigen, Paul Matthias, Single, Singleness on February 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Most everyone dreams of “happy ever after,” but not many know how you get there. As Pastor Mindy shared in yesterday’s message, a good marriage begins in the “single” years—those years before you meet your spouse. While it’s not true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (everyone can learn to be more like Jesus), it is true that marriages would be healthier if men and women learned a few lessons beforehand and avoided the painful pitfalls of dating that can lead to wounded hearts and lost purity.
For more (and very practical) insights into how to live as a fulfilled, Godly, single person, check out this transcript of a sermon preached at the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, by Paul Matthias. His humorous approach will bless you, encourage you, and challenge you!
Did you miss yesterday’s message? Do you want to share it with a friend? You can find Pastor Mindy’s message from yesterday on the church web site. Click to listen.
MESSAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
For a book on how to date while guarding your purity, check out Boy Meets Girl by Josh Harris.
For a great guide to protecting your marriage, check out Jerry Jenkins book entitled Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It. This book has 10 boundaries that need to be in place in every marriage in order to make sure it is “affair proof.” A great, helpful read!
“Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” continues this Sunday, Feb. 28, at 6 pm. Make sure all the married couples you care about know they are invited!
“Laugh Your Way” Bonus Night — Monday, March 1, we are adding an extra evening to hear Mark Gungor share the big “yo mamma” session as he reveals The #1 Key to Incredible Sex. We’ll get started at 7:00 pm. I don’t think you want to miss this one 😉
Revelation Bible study this Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in my office. Everyone is welcome to join in, just bring your Bible and a lunch box. Keep up with the progress at The Watchman’s Gaze.
Lifegroups continue this Wednesday, along with our mid-week age-based ministries. For more info, log on to our church website at www.efcsweetwater.com.
Our Nursery is taking applications for a consistent Sunday morning Nursery Worker. If you or anyone you know are interested in filling this position, please contact the church office at 325-236-9200.
Parents, be sure to check out the Worldchangers website. We align our Bible curriculum from the nursery all the way up to our youth. Access the Family Connection page on the website to bring you children’s Bible lesson home to the kitchen table.
We also have all the info you need about RAMP, our youth ministry for grades 6-12, at www.efcyouth.com, including the details about our upcoming youth mission trip and summer camp!
Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang? Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself. You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.
Ever wondered why all those “begats” are in the Bible? Ever been confused by who was the son of who was the son of who? Those little details send us a very big message. Join us Next Sunday, February 28, 2010, as we continue our sermon series “Here is Love.”
Posted in Christianity, Church, God, Sermons, tagged Christian, Christianity, EFC, Emmanuel Fellowship, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Eric von Atzigen, God, Mindy von Atzigen, Sweetwater, Texas, Thanksgiving on November 23, 2009| 1 Comment »
Yesterday was another powerful service, wasn’t it?
I think we went through a record number of tissues as a congregation. The next time Pastor Mindy preaches, there will be a notice posted on the Monday Morning Review so you will remember to bring extra Kleenex.
I also just noticed on Pastor Eric’s facebook where he and Keegan are officially on their way back. Be sure to give them a warm welcome home. I’d wait a day or two to allow them time to recover, though.
As was apparent from the message and testimonies, we have a lot to be thankful for individually and as a congregation. We should also remember all God has done for us and give Him praise, not just for what He has done, but simply because He deserves it.
If you’re curious about what this might look like, check this out.
I think we all can dance and shout on half of something. Maybe next week we can persuade Eric and/or Mindy to demonstrate Bishop Jakes’ fancy footwork. Now, that would get the congregation dancing and shouting.
I sincerely hope each and every one of you have a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Advent Choir – The Advent Choir is a new and exciting adventure for EFC and is open to anyone who would like to participate. The choir will sing throughout the holiday season beginning next Sunday. Practice continues tonight November 23, 2009 @ 7pm at EFC.
WorldChangers – The EFC children’s ministry, a.k.a WorldChangers, has a new website where parents can keep up with weekly lessons and everything else going on with their little world changers.
EFC Facebook Group – Have you joined the EFC Facebook Group? If not, you might be missing out on stuff happening at EFC. If you haven’t joined yet, you should. As of this morning, there were 50 members. That means over half of you still haven’t joined. What are you waiting for?
Revelation Bible Study – The Revelation Bible Study meets weekly on Tuesdays @ noon at EFC. It’s not too late – it’s never too late. Come join in this in depth study verse-by-verse through the book of Revelation led by EFC’s very own Curtis Ward, who is blogging about the study on his blog The Watchman’s Gaze. Check it out.
By the time this is published, Pastor Eric will be somewhere over the Atlantic, and by the time many of you read this, he will be somewhere over Texas. Which means he will resume writing the Monday Morning Review next week, but it also means that next week we get to hear more great testimonies.
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Healing, Missions, tagged Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, EFC, Emmanuel Fellowship, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Eric von Atzigen, God, Healing, Mindy von Atzigen, Missions, Poland, Prayer, prayer center, Prepare International, Revelation, Sermon, Sermons, Sweetwater, Sweetwater Prayer Center, Texas, world missions on November 16, 2009| 4 Comments »
Gdansk, Poland
Wow! There’s a lot to talk about this morning. Pastor Eric is in Poland (soon to be in Croatia), Pastor Mindy, Pastor Lolo and Jay Neal got set on fire at Global Awakening’s School of Healing, it was Missions Sunday, and it’s the harvest season.
Has there ever been a better time to be at EFC? Well, the Cowboys did lose, so maybe next week will be even better.
Courage is a curious thing. And as we learned from Pastor Mindy, courage can also look like a crazy thing. But, when God is on your side, it can also be a pretty cool thing. Just like Jonathan’s plan to take on the Philistines single-handedly seemed crazy, we should start coming up with some crazy plans of our own, and trust that the same God who delivered the Philistines into Jonathan’s hands, will deliver our enemies into our hands. Courage, after all, is a lot easier to command when your trust is in God.
You can read this part of Jonathan’s story at 1 Samuel 14.
Appropriately, yesterday was EFC’s Missions Sunday. For anyone who stumbles upon this post or who is relatively new to EFC, the third Sunday of every month at EFC is designated specifically for giving to mission organizations. Here are just a few of the opportunities to support missions work at Emmanuel Fellowship Church:
Prepare International – Pastor Eric and Keegan are currently traveling with a team from Prepare International, and EFC members frequently support and accompany Prepare International mission teams.
Mission Brazil – Part of the reason Pastor Mindy and Pastor Lolo attended the Global Awakening School of Healing and Impartation was because it is a prerequisite to travel with a Global Awakening team to Brazil, which they will be doing in 2010. If you are interested in going to Brazil with the team, please contact Pastor Mindy for more information.
Tents of Mercy – Tents of Mercy is a Messianic Jewish organization spreading the gospel in Israel. Tents of Mercy currently has five congregations throughout Israel, and EFC currently supports the Katzir Asher (Harvest of Asher) congregation in Akko.
World Bible Translation Center – Help translate the Bible into new languages for distribution throughout the world.
Sweetwater Prayer Center – Help support our very own Sweetwater Prayer Center.
It’s the harvest season, and all the seed you have sown over the year – whether financial, in ministry, or at home – is ready to be harvested. The key, however, is to harvest because the crop doesn’t gather itself. So go and gather your financial harvest. Go and gather your spiritual harvest. Go and gather the harvest of souls you have worked on all year. They are ripe for the harvest.
I’m not sure where exactly that came from, but I hope it’s a good word for somebody, or a lot of somebodies.
The just-for-Bryant Wilkinson version (which includes his favorite song):
Advent Choir – The Advent Choir is a new and exciting adventure for EFC and is open to anyone who would like to participate. The choir will sing throughout the holiday season. Practice begins tonight November 16, 2009 @ 7pm at EFC.
WorldChangers – The EFC children’s ministry, a.k.a WorldChangers, has a new website where parents can keep up with weekly lessons and everything else going on with their little world changers.
Revelation Bible Study – The Revelation Bible Study meets weekly on Tuesdays @ noon at EFC. It’s not too late – it’s never too late. Come join in this in depth study verse-by-verse through the book of Revelation led by EFC’s very own Curtis Ward, who is blogging about the study on his blog The Watchman’s Gaze. Check it out.
All the reports I’ve heard from Pastor Eric have been good, so keep praying for the wondeful work being done in Eastern Europe by Pastor Eric, Keegan and the whole Prepare International team.
I think I will also be writing next week’s Monday Morning Review, so if you have any news or info that you want included, please email me or leave me a comment below. Have a great week.
Every Sunday a pastor preaches three sermons:
the one he planned, the one he preached, and the one he wished he had planned to preach. This blog is dedicated to that third sermon.
Click to Purchase!
Verse:
John 3:16; Jn 3:16; John 3
Keyword:
Salvation, Jesus, Gospel
With Operators:
AND, OR, NOT, “ ”
Monday Morning Review 