Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott, Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Doug Reed

doug

I ask Doug Reed if he would share the notes from his message he shared with Discovery Church Prescott yesterday and he was kind enough to say yes.

Here are the notes in outline form from his sermon that touched so many.

The Pathway to Your Dreams

“Principles of Destiny Fulfillment from the Life of Joseph”

Message Text: Genesis 37-50 *** ROLLAR COASTER ILL. ***

*** LEROY STORY — I want to start today by telling you a story I read a long time ago about a mischievous kid named Leroy — He was good kid (about 7-8 years old) with an evil streak… One day Leroy went to his mother demanding a new bicycle — His mother decided to use this moment to help Leroy examine his heart and the way he acts — She said: “Well Leroy, it is not Christmas and we don’t have money lying around to buy you anything you want… So… Why don’t you write a letter to Jesus and pray for a bicycle instead of asking me” — After he threw a heathy temper tantrum his mom sent him to his room….He finally sat down to write a letter to Jesus — Version #1 went like this: “Dear Jesus I have been a good boy this year and I would appreciate a new bicycle, Your friend Leroy.” — Now… Leroy no more than finished the letter and he realized he had just wrote a pack of lies to Jesus (ELAB) — Version #2 – “Dear Jesus, I have been an OK boy this year and I want a new bicycle, Yours truly Leroy.” — He knew he had not even been OK… So he tore it up & tried again — Version #3 – “Dear Jesus, I have THOUGHT about being a good boy this year…Can I have a bicycle?” (ELAB and APPLY) — He knew he had been terrible and was deserving of nothing… (His walk) — (Going into the catholic Church) — (Taking the Virgin Mary statue and running back home and hiding it under this bed) — FINAL VERSION — “Dear Jesus, I’VE GOT YOUR MOMMA … If you ever want to see her again then get me a bicycle! …YOU KNOW WHO —

—— The details may be different… BUT most of us have childhood memories that relate well to the story of LEROY (ELAB)

*** ME AS A KID For me it is MISS JONES ROSE GARDEN — OR… The damage that countless baseballs and other projectiles did to our house or our neighbors property…

BUT… WE GREW UP… Or at least some of us did! — Perhaps the 1st step in our growth process is… We begin to DREAM about the FUTURE

*** TRASH MAN DREAM — POLICE OFFICER DREAM

Perhaps the 1st step in our GROWTH PROCESS getting a dream! – Nothing accelerates maturity like DREAMING! (True emotionally & spiritually )

DREAMERS are GROWERS! (When your not dreaming… you stop growing)

The enemy hates GROWTH because he hates advancement — He wants you to stay the same When you GROW the devil loses track of you – Your never TRAPPED when your GROWING

— Being a “GROWING DREAMER” will set you up for your Divine Destiny

** MY CALL AT 16 — The DREAM God gave me for the future caused a DRAMATIC ACCELERATION in my GROWTH PROCESS **

SEE…* Dreaming is a form of PRAYING (God meets you there) — Your DREAM-LIFE should be intertwined with your PRAYER-LIFE

(TRANSITION — BUILT FOR DREAMING)

The good news is…Everyone in this room has been designed by God to be a DREAMER … It is in your spiritual DNA… * God built you to DREAM!

— The desire to SEE MORE.. To BE MORE… To live a life that really matters! ……. THIS is something that God has put in every PERSON on the PLANET!

*** BRIDGE LETTER — Event in Wisconsin – 4 sermons – (The “ATTITUDE” girl story) — The LETTER — She was no place Spiritually… Had been hurt and molested… Yet… Even in her condition her SOUL knew that she should she was built for something MORE! — “Oh my life is like standing at a BRIDGE, but not being able to see it because there is too much fog. And you have to jump on it with both feet or you won’t find that BRIDGE. I have seen your friends on the other side, happy as they can be. I want that happiness to but I can’t give myself over. What if the the BRIDGE caves in? What if God does not catch me? I have so many questions.” See.. Even in her hurting condition she knew that God had something better for her — BUT… She also knew that the JOURNEY would be a PROCESS… (A BRIDGE) ….. It was SCARY and would not be EASY… But everyone is born to CROSS the BRIDGE from where they are to where Good wants them to be! – DREAM! ***

SEE… Dreaming is not for wimps… Because dreaming creates EXPECTATIONS — DREAMING makes you VULNERABLE (A by-product – ELAB)

We all have BROKEN DREAMS & ALTERED DREAMS … Beat up DREAMS ——— No ones FANTASY comes TRUE! (My plan verses God’s plan ILL.)

The BATTLEFIELD of EXECUTION is never the same as the LABORATORY of EXEGESIS (Mike Tyson – “Everyone has a PLAN until they get punched in the face”)

(TRANSITION TO TEXT — JOSEPH and GODS PROCESS)

This is what we learn from the story of a DREAMER in the Bible named JOSEPH

—— We find in this man that God certainly gives DREAMS… — But He also always attaches a PROCESS to every DREAM He gives— God always develops the DREAMER before He lets the DREAM come true (SET UP TEXT… This a a BIG STORY because GOD gave Joseph a BIG DREAM)

Genesis 37:5-11 (NLT) “One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. (OLDER BROTHERS JOKE)

9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

11 — But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

*** JOSEPHS HISTORY — Jacob is Josephs father and Jacob has 12 sons… including Joseph — These 12 sons will ultimately be the start of the 12 tribes of ISRAEL — Of Josephs 11 brother’s… 10 of them are half brothers… only Benjamin (Joseph’s younger Bro) is a full blood brother to Joseph — Joseph was favored by his father… (THE COAT OF MANY COLORS) (there are many reasons but we do not have time!) — JOSEPH HAS A DREAM that his brothers will bow down to him —— The announcement of that dream was like pouring gas on a fire… ***

Later… Joseph is sent by his father to check on his brothers… They are supposed to be grazing flocks near Shechem but they are actually in Dothan (More in a minute)

Genesis 37:18-20 (NLT) They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other ——— — “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

Have you ever been HATED because you had a DREAM? Joseph was! (ELAB)

*** THE STORY… They strip him of his robe and throw him in a pit… They talk about killing him… but Reuben suggests they sell him into slavery instead… At that precise moment a band of Ishmaelites from Gilead arrive.… Who are (among other things) slave traders… Jospeh is sold into slavery by his brothers… They even dip his robe in animal blood and tell his father that he has died! — At this moment he is 17…13 chapters later (Chap. 50)… after a long process… 25 years later… at the age of 42 his dream comes true… His brothers & really the entire world bows down to him ***

(TRANSITION TO OUTLINE) — I will share the rest of the story as we go… But let me give you some application… * 3 EXITS on the PATHWAY to your DREAMS

(3 life lessons from the story of Joseph)

1. The exit of ALONENESS or SOLITUDE

— Every time God is going to do something GREAT… He SEPARATES

We see this in the life of JOSEPH… He gives him a DREAM…… Then He systematically separates JOSEPH… He has to get him ALONE!

Several Reasons: — TUNE OUT DISTRACTIONS (The great sin of our day)

— SELF CONFRONTATION (Being alone can be too intimate… This is why we turn on noise… We can’t deceive ourselves as well when were alone — No one knows YOU like YOU!)

— PASSION DEVELOPMENT (Passion grows in the dark… A BIBLICAL PATTERN)

— TOTAL TRUST — (God wants to become your source… So sometimes…He gets you to the place where He is all you have… because He is all you need!)

This exit… (like the other two I will mention) does not make sense in the natural (Have you ever had God speak something to you and the exact opposite begins to happen? Am I the only one? – This is what Joseph experienced)

— LOOK AT HOW GOD GOT JOSEPH ALONE:

>>> Joseph was attacked because of his AMBITION

Granted… His immaturity announced the DREAM early… But that does not excuse the hatred of his brother’s

— People love to PICTURE YOU WHERE YOU ARE… They want to keep you there * When you DREAM for MORE it irritates the INSECURITY of others

(My own STORY… Not everyone is CALLED to be on your JOURNEY – Booster Rockets)

— Sometimes God is SAVING YOU from people who don’t really believe in you

>>> Joseph was stripped of his COMFORTS

They take his “Coat of many Colors”… It represented his relationship with his Father… His place of favoritism (ELAB)

BIG… GOOD can be the ENEMY of BEST! (God wanted to be His Father)

—— Sometimes God has to allow your SECURITY to SUFFER (ELAB)

Sometimes God has to STRIP you of your COMFORTS so He can prepare you for your CALLING (What are you wearing that won’t “GO” where your going?)

>>> Joseph was thrown in a PIT

— Someone always wants BURY a DREAMER! Expect it!

—— KNOW THIS…. PAIN will be a part of your PURPOSE (Blank KEY)

They stuff him into this place that looks like the opposite of what God spoke

— The PERSECUTER’S thought it was their idea… But God is SMART…

— He knows how to weave DETOURS into your DESTINY ————————————————————————————————

NOTE: The result of all this abuse for JOSEPH has really only done 2 things:

— 1. He has experienced PAIN (He can now relate to a hurting world… HIS struggle is creating AUTHENTICITY in him… BROKEN ARM ILL.)

— 2. He is ALONE (For the 1st time in his life… He is truly alone… Which is right where God wanted him to be)

*** 200 MILES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION — The start of my traveling ministry at age 33 — 4 Florida Churches offered me a position — The big trip…There for a month — Last night in Tampa…No direction from God — I though God might speak to me on my drive… 17 hours — The call from the YP — Going to the Pastors Office… His ‘Word’ for me…”God has called you to a a place of trust, not a place of security… but you keep wanting to go back to Egypt.” — The tapes they gave me…My drive… God is speaking… 2 hours later I should be in Gainesville on HWY 75… Instead I am almost to Fort Meyers… I just went 200 miles in the wrong direction! (Round trip) — ELAB MY REACTION …Blamed God… Blamed Jeanne.. — Passing the Church I was at about 5pm… Finally passed Gainesville around 7pm — Starting to get my spirit right… Called a friend and told him the story… He made fun of me… Then suddenly had a word from God (Everyone is a prophet today!) — “Doug… This was a bad day to make a wrong turn wasn’t it? — (My reply) — God is lessening the Margin of Error ion your life.. In the past you could disobey and He would make up the difference… but now God is going to hold you accountable for the maturity He has placed in you… You must hear his voice and obey… Don’t make a wrong turn or it will cost you dearly.” (ELAB the rest) — My all night drive — God speaking — Me telling Jeanne that we are not moving to Florida (ELAB) ***

APPLY: God had to pick a day when I was in the car for 17 plus hours — — He wanted me ALONE… He knew I would never sit there otherwise!

2. The exit of EDUCATION or TESTING

—— If a DREAM is really from God it can be TESTED

In order for God to GRADUATE… He has to EDUCATE

This is what He does for JOSEPH… He takes him through a series of TESTS… To teach him and to FORM HIM into the person who can live out the DREAM

(GOD POSITIONS JOSEPH) — Look at the providence of God to this point… God gives Joseph a dream… Then.. some time later (Gen. 37:13)

His dad sends him to check on his brothers in a place called Shechem…

— They are not there… They are in DOTHAN… Dothan is an 80 mile journey for Joseph… After his long journey to SHECHEM (Traveling on Donkeys)

BIG… DOTHAN literally means… “A PLACE OF BURDEN” — God takes Joseph from a place of COMFORT to a place of BURDEN

They throw Joseph in the Pit… And just as they sit down (to eat) … A caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead arrive … Gilead is 40 miles in the opposite direction!

(Go over the GEOGRAPHY — To Shechem — To Dothan — From Gilead)

(But they were there to harm him? No.. It saved Joseph from his brothers & himself!)

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) “I know the plans I have for you, plans for your good and not for your disaster — to give you a hope and a future”

In a PIT? God has a CARAVAN on the way! What looks like a disaster could be the very providence of God… Positioning you so He can EDUCATE you!

God uses the PAIN of POSITION to prepare us for our DESTINIES

The question is: Do you see PROVIDENCE where others only see DISASTER?

SEE… HOW you view a something is dependent on WHO handed you that something – (MY MOM & THE WORM)

(TRANSITION) >>> JOSEPHS 4 TESTS: (FAST)

— THE PIT: Abandonment… The exact opposite of his dream

— THE PALACE: Joseph is purchased by a wealthy man named Potiphar… God’s favor… Then Potiphar’s wife goes after Joseph (39:6 He was well built and handsome) — Joseph keeps his purity and is arrested anyway (ELAB)

— THE PRISON: This is the TEST OF TIME… God’s favor is on him… but 13 more years past… * The greatest test of a DREAM is the TEST of TIME

— THE PROMISES: After interpreting a dream for him … Joseph is promised by Pharaoh’s Cup-bearer that he will help Joseph (40:23 — He forgot all about Joseph and never gave him another thought) — BROKEN PROMISES!! (Who has let you down? Your DREAM is not in their hands! It is in Gods!)

God’s strategy for Joseph was not designed for comfort or speed — God was forming Joseph — God had a DESTINATION in mind for JOSEPH

— The real issue when it comes to all our DREAMING is quite simple:

We value the PRODUCT of our lives, but God values the PROCESS

— We are concerned with ARRIVALS but God is all about the JOURNEY

The BIGGER the DREAM…. The LONGER the PROCESS — God is a God of PROCESS

BIG… YOU GROW INTO YOUR DESTINY!! (ELAB)

*** YOU GROW & YOUR MINISTRY WILL GROW STORY ***

— 3. The exit of BROKENNESS

——— In CHAPTER 41 this story takes a turn (ELAB Pharaohs DREAMS)

After Joseph interprets the DREAM he is put in CHARGE…He is now the 2cd most powerful man in the world… The DREAM is coming true!

— He goes from the PRISON to the PALACE! (God promoting you is never the issue)

—— In Chapter 42-45… We see the specifics of Josephs DREAM come true

(Plenty then famine) After 7 years of plenty and a few years of famine… …….… His own family comes looking for food… His brothers bow down

WEIRD ACTIONS BY JOSEPH: His brothers come & He recognizes them

— He calls them spies — Imprisons the youngest — Puts silver in with their grain to make them look like thieves — Does it a second time after they come to give it back and beg for mercy — A major confrontation happens in chapter 45

— Then… He finally reveals himself… WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>>> JOSEPH is struggling with BROKENNESS

— His brothers have no idea how much danger they are in… But God has prepared JOSEPH… And the DREAMER is ready for the DREAM to come true

*** ILL. People who ARRIVE to where they want to be… but they have a BAD SPIRIT by the time they get there… THIS WILL NOT BE JOSEPH ***

The hardest thing God can ask a DREAMER to do is to SEE their VICTIMIZATIONS as a part of the DREAM

*** 5 WAYS TO HURT SOMEONE (don’t write them down 🙂

1. Verbally

2. Environmentally (Protectors become the predators) —

3. Personally (Deny an Identity)

4. Physical abuse (Harm body)

5. Abandonment (Leave them alone and unprotected) ***

Josephs Brothers had done all 5 to him… And now all he has to say is “off with their heads” & no one will even question him! (BROKENNESS is NEEDED!)

BUT… JOSEPH has BECOME the DREAMER within his DREAM — He never stands taller than this moment — Winston Churchill would have called it “His finest hour” — Joseph has been prepared for his destiny

Think of all that depended on Josephs DREAM:

—— The salvation of his family — His own DESTINY — Millions would have starved to death — Josephs and his family would live in peace in Egypt for generations… The very future of Israel would be put in place

(He imagined ruling his BROTHERS… God imagined him ruling the WORLD)

Joseph had committed to the PROCESS — He had BECOME the DREAMER He lived the DREAM…. Not the one he IMAGINED… the one GOD IMAGINED!

God always DEVELOPS the DREAMER before He lets the DREAM come true

Because God knows how BIG the DREAM really is… So He wants you to be READY

*** JORDAN BASEBALL ILLUSTRATION ***

CLOSE: 50/20 VISION

The GOLDEN VERSE of the 13 chapters dedicated to life of JOSEPH in GENESIS is GENESIS 50:20 (NLT)

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good

— He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people

*** 50/20 VISION — You have heard of 20/20 vision? (ELAB) — I am praying that you will have 50/20 VISON!! — This is the kind of vision that JOSEPH HAD in Genesis 50:20 — See… most people can only see life in one direction… The inward direction of THEMSELVES… The direction of ME (ELAB) That is normal 20/20 vision — Life is about what I can see... Life is about what is happening to me — Joseph had something much better…. 50/20 VISION —— LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT I CAN SEE…. It is about what GOD CAN SEE… GOD HAS A PLAN! — God can turn around HARM and make it for YOUR GOOD and the GOOD of OTHERS (ELAB BIG) ***

BIG… When your a DREAMER things don’t “GO YOUR WAY”… They “COME YOUR WAY”… Expect the BATTLE and have 50’20 VISION!

ALTAR: A PRAYER / WORD FOR THE DREAMERS

— The DREAMS God has for you begin and end with JESUS (Salvation)

ABANDON the FANTASY… The way you PICTURE IT needs to be nailed to the cross… Your need for INFORMATION reveals your IMMATURITY

— You were BUILT to DREAM but will you commit to the PROCESS?

(What if I told you the dream was about to come true? — Test of Time)

Maybe you feel ALONE… God always SEPARATES what He intends to make GREAT… EMBRACE the SOLITUDE and get to know your Father!

— Some here are in a PLACE OF BROKENNESS…

God uses BROKEN PEOPLE! – BROKENNESS is where the anointing thrives!

— GOD GIVE US 50/20 VISION!!!

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good — He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

https://www.dougkreed.com

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Jerry Trewern

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FROM THE TREE

Here are the message notes from my friend Jerry Trewern when he spoke a powerful message at Discovery Church .

There’s an old saying: The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

This poses a problem when we live in a day of absent fathers.

Malachi 4:5-6

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

It’s hard to think about turning your heart to your father when you may be walking with a major father wound. We all have father issues – some more than others. Even those who had great dads can still carry wounds from an event or a moment of weakness or failure on the part of our fathers. The truth is, none of us had a perfect father because they don’t exist. Neither do our father issues simply go away as we age. The old saying the time heals all wounds is not true – maybe a truer statement might be time wounds all heels.

“Our view of God our Father must come from scripture, not from our childhood experience.” – Henry Blackaby

We all seek certain things from our father that we can’t sufficiently get from anyone else!

Affection, Affirmation, Approval, Acceptance…

Protection, Instruction, Inclusion, Inspiration…

These are so critical to our identity, that if we don’t get these from our fathers, we will learn to seek it from those who we think can give it to us.

Girls often go from guy to guy to guy looking for love and acceptance
Young men often default to trying to prove their manhood with risky or anger induced behaviors
Facebook – now over 2 billion active users [Father-book?] Did they like my post? Did they accept my friend request? How many likes did I get? Do “they” approve of me? Are they jealous of me yet? Am I worth anything?

WE ARE A GENERATION LONGING FOR VALUE AND VALIDATION!

TRUTH #1

If you put your validation in other people’s hands you will have to go back to them for it.

To Fathers… (and single moms)

What your kids need most from you – simplified: Connection and Correction.
Play with them and Pray with them!
God disciplines those He loves.

Single Moms:
- - you can still raise healthy, strong kids with Godly character!
  - you would do well to connect your kids to good male influences
  - il – our kids ministry smoother when men are involved/present
  - Get your little apple around some strong trees!

Scott Hagan says:

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

… but the TREE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE APPLE.”

You can spend your life looking at and blaming your stem; where you came from, what happened to you, what they did… or you can spend your life looking forward believing in your seed, your potential, your influence. The choice is yours.

TRUTH #2

If you live your life focused on your stem you will never realize the potential of your seed.

We are so busy blaming our bad fathers that we have become bad sons/daughters.

even a rotten apple can produce a tree
even a great father can find himself managing a prodigal son
stop cursing your father; stop cursing the God who gave you that father

We need to become better sons and daughters!

Romans 8:12-16 (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

You are under no obligation to do what your father did; what your sinful nature urges you to do…

Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” God is your true father and a perfect one at that!

- This term defines a healthy tension between respect and intimacy; Connection and Correction
- His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children

Quit striving for an earthly father’s affection, affirmation, approval and acceptance and receive your heavenly Father’s ADOPTION!

TRUTH #3

If you accept your Heavenly Father’s adoption you will have all the acceptance you need.

stop living under the shadow of an unhealthy tree
come to the right tree – the cross – and receive your adoption as a son/daughter

- stop focusing on your stem
- start thinking about the tree [life] you’re producing

YOU HAVE A GREAT FATHER!

Your Father loves you and is…

strong enough to protect you
engaged enough to teach you
tender enough to hug you
close enough to hear you

YOUR FATHER LOVES YOU… (Everyone needs to hear those words.)

If we knew how much we were loved by our Father we would walk

with confidence
with gratitude,
with joy,
with peace,
acceptance, validation…

Close:

On behalf of your earthly father…

I’m sorry I left, walked away…
I’m sorry for neglecting you and putting my interests in front of your’s
I’m sorry for the verbal and physical abuse

On behalf of your heavenly Father…

You are loved more than you know
You are accepted, affirmed and loved!
“You are my son, [my daughter], in whom I am well pleased.”

Discovery Church, Guest Blogger, Ministry

Guest Blogger Andrew Bogdanov

Hey Discovery Church fam! Just wanted to update you guys on our epic LA trip. I believe Steve will also be posting this on his blog as well! First and foremost, I want to thank you guys for your prayers. We had a little trouble getting out of Phoenix but overall we made it safe and sound.

As you can see in one of the pictures because I look so dangerous and thuggish they pulled me away for a private security check which took an extra 30 minutes. After realizing we weren’t terrorists, we managed to get through. However, before checking our gate… (which we should of done) we decided to feast. As you know airports are a little pricey so you usually want to limit your purchases. We take our time and fellowship for a while and then decide to head to our gate.

As we arrive at our gate we find out our flight has been delayed an hour and a half! This was a little frustrating just because the Chi Alpha leadership team was expecting Pastor Steve to speak to them that evening. So of course we decide to spend our time getting coffee and brownies. At this point we have probably spent more money on food at the airport then our actual flights! Finally, after more snacking we board our plane and courtesy of my disability we get the front seats with extra leg room. Of course I take the window and give Steve the middle seat.

After a smooth flight out of Phoenix we land in LA and meet up with this super rad guy named Mitch. Mitch drives like a true Californian and takes us fast and furious style to our destination. We arrive at a Christian missions center across the street from UCLA and Steve and I meet all of the leaders and of course the legend Winston Bui.

Winston heads up the UCLA Chi Alpha group and loves college football almost as much as he loves Jesus. And he really loves Jesus!! Out of the kindness of his heart Winston takes us out to the Soup Plantation with all of his leaders.

This place has some BOMB food and the worst part about it is it’s a buffet. As you know, food is an essential to Pastor Steve and I, so we chow down!! It was refreshing to hear all of their stories and to talk with them. Each one of these leaders have fully devoted their entires lives to Jesus and will make any sacrifice needed. After dinner our crazy driver Mitch and his wife took us back to our hotel room. Thankfully his wife was driving this time. We check in to our rooms and pass out quickly from our food comas. Old man Steve wakes up at the bum crack of dawn and young whippersnapper Andrew sleeps in way too late the next morning. (Typical) Steve decides to explore the beautiful botanical gardens at UCLA that morning while I’m still back at the room pumping out the Z’s.

Around 11 am Mitch picks us up and we go to Fox Studios.

We meet up with our friend Tim that we met the night before at dinner for a private tour of the place. Tim has been working at Fox studios for 8 years and he was able to show us all around the grounds.

We explored sets of Bones, American Horror Story, and Modern Family. Shows neither of us have seen, but we really enjoyed seeing behind the scenes! A very cool experience. We also cruised by the Fox Sports 1 building. (Ya that’s right Matthew Simpson)

After exploring for a few hours we head back to the room and Steve and I swap this time. He takes a nap and I explore the city. After my adventure and Steve’s power nap we head to the Chi Alpha building where we prepare to speak. After everyone arrives we engage in some student led worship. We could tell that the Holy Spirit was invited in this place and that he resides within this amazing group of students! After a powerful time praising God, Winston invites Steve up and Steve begins to share about US/Discovery church! He talks about his vision and what God has been doing in our lives. He explains that we explore, trek, hike, bike, climb, swim, roast marshmallows, camp, EAT, repel, adventure, and GET OUTSIDE… So God can get INSIDE.

Shortly after, he invites me up and I share my story with the students. I definitely felt God speaking through me and I continue to pray that he uses what I said to impact those students. After I shared the story that most of you have heard, Steve finishes it off and talks about having no limits. He tells a story about how he was extremely parched hiking in the canyon with his daughter and he asked for the river to be turned into blue Gatorade. Sure enough he finds a bottle of blue Gatorade behind a rock. Super crazy how God works!!

We both talked about so much more but those are some of the highlights. After service we all fellowship, eat more food and have multiple arm wrestling competitions! After the amazing service we head back to the hotel room where Steve passes out in minutes.

The next morning we head on our ways and thank God for such an Indescribable trip to the city. Thank you so much Discovery Church for praying for us on this Journey. Love you guys!

Andrew.

Here are a few more pics of our trip to UCLA.

Discovery Church, Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger – Matt Simpson

Here are the notes on Matt’s recent message called “DIRT”.

Intro: Genesis 2:7

–God Formed Man (Adam) out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of Life. The man was alive, a living soul. (MSG)
God made us out of dirt. You are a pile of dirt. (Glad you came?)
Isaac camping—Dirt from head to toe in .6 seconds. If I told Isaac he was made from dirt he would have no trouble with that. Would you?
Did God make you out of dirt? If so why?

Science & History

Identical chemical and mineral make up as dirt
NASA, studying the origins of life discovered that life on earth might have gotten its start in clay.
Clay attracts proteins and DNA and has the ability to form them into chains. Those chains are the beginning of life.
The name “Adam” translates in several languages as “ruddy clay” or “red clay”.
When someone dies and is buried they turn back to dirt.

DIRT With a Purpose

Why would God choose dirt? Out of all the substances on Earth he chose…DIRT. He had a purpose.
First, we are a unique blend of earthly/natural material, and the life-giving power of God.
Everything else God created He SPOKE into existence. However, when He formed man, He put his hands into the dirt and then breathed life into us.
Highlights the value of human life—Why Would God create us in such a way if He didn’t ultimately have a plan and purpose for our lives

DIRT Knows its Place

Dirt gets a bad rap. “dirt cheap”, “dirt poor”, “old as dirt”. If you have the “dirt” on someone it’s never a good thing.
The word “dirt” in several different languages actually translates to “excrement”. Adam-Rude
Highlights our own fragility and utter dependence upon God.
Without life giving breathe of God we are just a pile of dirt.
Shifts our focus to what really matters in us; What makes us special, the dirt or the breath of God living in the dirt? What makes us special is not us but God living in us.
2^nd Corinthians 4:7 says “But we have this treasure in jars of CLAY, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (ESV)
It’s great to know that we serve a God who paves His street with gold but adopts dirt as his sons and daughters!

Constant Contact

Scribbles to Art Video
Jeremiah 18:1-6 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” ³So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

⁵Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

God’s object lesson. Not a mountain, desert, burning bush. A Potter’s
God’s work was not done with Adam, he was just getting started.
God’s desire is to constantly rework, reshape us if we’ll let him.
My story; “God never stopped loving you!”
Give God your dirt, hand over your scribbles-your best effort and watch him turn your life into a living work of art. A reflection of God’s grace, mercy and love. That’s our true purpose; to reflect the God who made us.

Conclusion

What does it look like to have God’s finger prints all over our lives?
Repent. Turn from our dirt and scribbles to give them to God.
Relinquish control; Even if it hurts. Because God writes a much better story, he fashions a much more useful and beautiful vessel.
Receive what God has for you even if it is unknown and scary. Because the God that breathed life into your dirt desires a relationship with you
If you don’t know God but want to talk to us in the back
If you do know God but have been holding on to your dirt and scribbles lets pray that you will begin to let God in and transform you from the inside out!

Guest Blogger, leadership, Ministry

Monday, Monday… by guest blogger David Crabtree

If you are a pastor, you might really appreciate my guest blogger David Crabtree’s recent gift to our pastoral tribe.

Thanks David

Monday, Monday…

Sunday is, without question, the greatest day of the week for the preacher, at least, this preacher. It is the weekly gathering – a great “coming to the house” – corporate worship – “ecclesia” (called out and together). I love Sunday. I live Sunday. At 9:00 and 10:45 the joy, the art, the quest, the war of preaching is mine again, and for a few moments I move in the pure air of calling. The message delivered is a release – a relief – joy. Changed lives create an ever-new wonder, and even if the changes are not immediately evident, faith carries the hour, and it is well with my soul. I love to preach – it’s blue skies and sunshine for me.

By Sunday afternoon familiar clouds take shape. The first is fatigue, reminding me that I am not so young anymore. Weariness is followed by a cumulous gathering of self doubt – thickening – darkening, until the small irritants of the day begin to take on weight and the rain begins to fall. The man who, only that morning, walked so confidently to the pulpit, so sure, so free, falls into second guessing. Slights are magnified, fears are nourished, evidence of good is washed away as a regretted phrase, a fumbled point, a distraction or two – or five – or ten are suddenly remembered and rehearsed. On Sunday afternoon, about three o’clock, I often feel feel more like Elijah on the bad side of Mt. Carmel than the guy who called down fire and rain.

I fight it – I invoke the “whatsoevers” of Philippians 4:8. I remind myself that it’s not my performance that makes the difference. I do a half-dozen re-boots in my mind and push back hard… but I’m tired and drained… and I called that woman by the wrong name again… and the sound wasn’t quite right… and the guy half-way back kept me in a hostile stare… and in a quiet moment a baby went off… and… and… 3:00 on Sunday afternoon is a vulnerable place and time. It must be a busy time in hell with so many preachers to discourage, so much seed to snatch away before it takes root.

The biographies of the great preachers console me with the knowledge that my peculiar battle is not so peculiar (Spurgeon and Luther come immediately to mind). Monday’s play list is often the blues for preachers. I’ve also been at this long enough to know that it comes to pass – not to stay. After the Monday mess is cleared away and all the meetings have been met, Tuesday finds me at early morning prayer, and there is a stirring… a text… a sunrise over a fresh biblical landscape and a gentle wind whispers, “Sunday’s coming”… my soul smiles and my heart skips a beat.

I’m reminded that you can’t have glorious mountains without a few deep valleys – the most glorious sunshine will turn your life into a desert without a little rain.

David Crabtree is the lead pastor of Calvary Church Greensboro North Carolina

http://www.calvarytriad.com/

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