Category Archives: Ministry

Books I'm Reading, LEWIS AND CLARK, Ministry

HOW TO GET UP AND OVER YOUR PROBLEMS

UNDAUNTED COURAGE is Stephen Ambrose’s best selling account of the  Lewis and Clark expedition

….After two years of battling nearly insurmountable problems – hunger, fatigue, desertion, hostile enemies, severe illness, and death – the party had reached the headwaters of the Missouri river. All their advance information had led them to believe that once they reached the Continental divide, they would face about a half – day potage, and then reach the waters of the Columbia River and float safely to the Pacific Ocean….They were on their way to hero status…The hard part behind them…OR SO THEY THOUGHT!
Meriwether Lewis left the rest of the party behind him to climb the bluffs that would enable him to see the other side, hoping to see the waters that would carry them the rest of the way…IMAGINE WHAT HE FELT WHEN RATHER THAN SEEING A GENTLE SLOPING VALLEY AS EXPECTED, HE WAS INSTEAD THE FIRST NON-NATIVE AMERICAN TO LAY HIS EYES ON THE MASSIVE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN FRONT OF HIM.
What do you do when you think you biggest problems are behind you only to find out you are really just getting warmed up?

…….I picture Lewis looking at the rest of the party climbing up the hill IN EXPECTATION…..AND HE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE WAS GOING TO BREAK THE NEWS TO THEM…..”he guys hang on just a minute…Don’t come up here just yet!….I have a little surprise for you when you get up here.

Yes, eventually the Rock Mountains would perhaps be the most amazing part of their entire trip….the challenge would call for enormous courage and creativity and perseverance….it would lead them to sights they would never forget and experiences they had never known before……it would get them to a point where if they had CONQUERED THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS THEY COULD TACKLE ANYTHING NOW…

THE SAME HAPPENED TO PETER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT…HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO HIS DESTINATION ON THE WAY TO HIS DREAM …THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT HAPPENED…HE WAS IN A STORM, HE WAS NECK DEEP IN TROUBLE….THE BIBLE EVEN SAYS “HE COULD SEE THE WIND”.

The same things happen to us…. We launch into a great adventure, star o new job, take on a stretching ministry assignment, begin a family…In the initial days we are filled with hope and faith…We are out of the boat on our way to our dream and achieving something worth while with our lives…THEN REALITY SETS IN WE SEE THE WIND, WE FACE THE OBSTACLES , CONFLICT SAPS OUR SPIRIT…PLANS GO AWRY…THE ECONOMY TANKS…JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SMOOTH SAILING WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

WHAT NEXT….. WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

1. FOCUS your life around the one who  can to save you.

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Why do most people FAIL?  Not because of a lack of FRIENDS, or a lack of FINANCES …but most people fail because of a lack of FOCUS..

How do you kill a man with a great DREAM ? …..give him another one!

Soon he will be DIVERTED …DILUTED AND DISCOURAGED RIGHT OUT OF HIS DREAM …

2. Break free from WRONG PEOPLE

And when He had sent the multitudes away, Matthew 14:23

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Matthew 14:26-28

If God wants to bring blessing into your life he will send a person
If the devil  wants to bring destruction into your life he will send a person …ALWAYS!

“Continue to do the right things and eventually THE wrong things and THE wrong people will eventually leave your life” – David Blunt

Rick Warren writes, “when people leave you, don’t try to get them back into your life….it is probably God saving you from something.”

3. Don’t let PAST mistakes keep you from your PRESENT possibilities.

Isn’t it funny that life is understood by looking backwards but must be lived looking forward.

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.   Matthew 14:30 – 32

Focus your life – Break free from wrong people – Don’t let your short term problems shorten the length of your vision.

Reach out to God, he will pull you up and over and even out of your problems.

Steve

Lead pastor – Prescott First Assembly

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Angie Raess, church family, Ministry

ANGIE RAESS’S HOUSE FIRE AND PEANUT

Many of you from Prescott and beyond our little town know our friend Angie Raess.

We have known Angie for almost eight years now and we would like to offer an opportunity to help in a time of need.

ANGIE’S HOUSE FIRE AND PEANUT

Thanksgiving: I had just said goodbye to friends and family after an amazing day of fellowship food and fun when I received a phone call from Kate Pressman.

Kate had just left our house 10 minutes prior to her phone call telling me that Angie Raess’s house was in a devastating fire Thanksgiving night.
Much damage had taken place and much of Angie’s personal belongings had been destroyed in the fire.
One thing we were all ask to pray for was Angie’s little dog Peanut who was at the Vet being treated for smoke inhalation.

Peanut at the vet on the iv for smoke inhalation.

Here is an email I received from Angie tonight giving me an update.

Pastor,

Night two of not having a home… I can’t sleep. I’m taking care of sick Peanut all night. Praying for a speedy insurance process and financial favor
Here’s some pics of Peanut. One is her on an IV and oxygen and the others are her trying to sleep sitting up because of the severe congestion.
There’s a photo of what looks like snow and ice but its frozen foam pouring out of the house. Also included a picture of the old furnace, the culprit. It burned into the foundation below and crawl space. It’s considered unbelievable until the landlords can fix it. Everything must be painted over, floors and foundation fixed all clothes, dishes and linens washed. It’s going to be a lot of work.

Honestly stuff is just that… stuff. You realize in an instant what’s important… your life, your pets and others around you. I’ll try to be at service tomorrow morning but keeping a close watch on Peanut, if I cannot make it let the congregation know I love them and appreciate them. Thank you Pastor from the bottom of my heart!

Warmest regards,
Ang

The floor furnace started the fire.

http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=87946&TM=77910.37
Here is an opportunity to give back to our friend and servant Angie.
We would like to help her in the time of her need.

Personal replacement cost will be daunting and veterinary cost can be pretty large… but if we all pitch in, we can make an immediate difference and show our compassion and love.
If you would like to donate to help here is what to do.
We will receive a love offering for Angie this Sunday morning or you may choose to send your donation to :

Prescott First Assembly Of God
1455 Willow Creek Road
Prescott, Arizona
86301

Donations are  tax deductible.
Thank you for your compassion during the holiday season.

Steve Lummer

Lead pastor Prescott First Assembly of God

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family, Ministry, Thanksgiving

SAYING GRACE

Gotta love this Norman Rockwell image called  Saying Grace.

The ancient art of saying grace is resurrected around millions of family Thanksgiving tables each year.

So is it tradition or is it more than that?

Here are just a few thoughts on saying grace at meal time.

Saying Grace – What difference does it make?

1. It reflects that you are a FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

Vs. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples.

Psalm 8:5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,  (a little lower than angels , not a little higher than the animals)

2. It reminds you that God is your source of HEALTH.

1 Corinthians 6:13 You know the old saying, “First you eat to live, and then you live to eat”? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that’s no excuse for stuffing your body with food, …. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body!

Proverbs 10:22  The blessing of the LORD, it  maketh rich,

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them

3. It is a recognition of our DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

Vs. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

4. It is a reasonable way to SHARE YOUR FAITH with those you love.

VS.  12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

I like that phrase in vs. 13 “which were left over”.

Left overs are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.

A few weeks ago I interviewed a 90 year old man who told me his story of being a teenager during the Great Depression. What an amazing story of surviving during some very lean and  mean years.

Some of you reading this blog  are old enough to remember hard times, shortages on cash, and limited menus. You lived on a food budget, which meant you sometimes saw the same dish more than once. Although, due to your Mom’s incredible talent in the kitchen, it didn’t always have the same face. It might show up as mashed potatoes and peas on Monday, then shepherd’s pie on Tuesday. It might even come back a day or two later as something no one but your Mom herself could recognize. She’d chop it, dice it, mix in some cheese, splash Cream of Mushroom soup over the top, dress it up with some parsley, put it on a fancy tray, give it a name and you thought it was something brand new! Couldn’t Mom work miracles with leftovers?
Well guess what? God works the same way too! If you bring Him what you have left over, He can turn it into something you never would have thought possible. You just need to step away, turn it over to Him and let Him do His thing. You didn’t hover over your Mom when she was reinventing your dinner. You were smart enough to know that everything would come out a lot better if you just kept your hands off it. This is not to say you should keep your hands entirely off your own life. You just need to step back far enough to let God work without hindrance. When you do, the promise that “All things work together for good” suddenly becomes a reality in your life.

Saying grace is a reality check and a reminder of where all our resources come from.

If you are living lean this Thanksgiving just remember God’s promise. He tells us in Joel 2:25

“I WILL REPAY YOU FOR THE YEARS THE LOCUSTS HAVE EATEN.”

“If you bring Him what you have left over, He can turn it into something you never would have thought possible.”

Don’t lose the opportunity of saying grace this Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Steve

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Ministry

THE DOMINO EFFECT

Looking forward to a brand new series I am starting soon at PFA called the Domino Effect.

domino effect is a chain reaction occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is best known as a mechanical effect, and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time between successive events is relatively small.

Our series will look at the domino effect of our worship, our words and our everyday walk.

Remember our service times have changed.

Sunday 10:00 AM

Wednesday night 6:30 PM

Steve Lummer

Lead pastor of Prescott First Assembly

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Life experiences, Ministry

FACING AN OBSTACLE?

ob·sta·cle

–noun; something that obstructs or hinders progress.

Obstacles won’t destroy my vision, but my attitude can. After a grueling sixteen-month odyssey an aging Paul wrote from a smelly Roman dungeon, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Php 4:4). Paul knew two things we need to know:

1. It’s not over till God says it’s over.
Circumstances and people don’t have the last word God does! He is “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). With God, quitting is not an option. When you quit without His permission you’re “AWOL.” Furthermore, when you abandon your mission you forfeit His protection and provision.

2. Nothing can defeat me without my permission.
” and you don’t have to give it. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what you say and do. That’s all you need to control; God will control the rest. You can’t control the “handicaps, puzzles and persecution” that come your way, but you can control whether or not you’ll respond with “frustration, despair and rejection.” You can’t always avoid getting “knocked down,” but you can determine whether or not you get “knocked out” 2 Co 4:8-9. Refusing to stay down denies your enemy permission to sabotage your destiny. Do you have a God-given dream? Refuse to quit and it “will surely come.” Have no dream? Ask God for one. Already accomplished your dream? Ask God for another one before you lose the joy and motivation of life. Have a dream so small it doesn’t stretch you? Ask God for a bigger one and watch your faith grow!

You don’t always win by winning.. In fact your greatest wins will  always be the fact that your greatest defeats didn’t kill you!  I love that. Our defeats get defeated when we outlive them, outlast them and smile afterwards.

Again,  2 Cor. 4:8-9 is worth another read today.

“We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;

9We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 (amp)

 

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Books I'm Reading, marriage, Ministry

THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES


Over the next eight weeks Brenda and I will be doing a teaching together called the Five Love Languages.
Starting Wednesday night November 17th at 6:30 we will begin our first session as well as take our love language assessment to let you know just what love language you have.

Dr. Gary Chapman, Christian counselor and author of The Five Love Languages writes about the importance of being able to express love to your spouse in a way that your spouse can understand. He calls this type of communicating using the five love languages.

Chapman’s Five Emotional Love Languages:

* Words of Affirmation
This is when you say how nice your spouse looks, or how great the dinner tasted. These words will also build your mate’s self image and confidence.

* Quality Time
Some spouses believe that being together, doing things together and focusing in on one another is the best way to show love. If this is your partner’s love language, turn off the TV now and then and give one another some undivided attention.

* Gifts
It is universal in human cultures to give gifts. They don’t have to be expensive to send a powerful message of love. Spouses who forget a birthday or anniversary or who never give gifts to someone who truly enjoys gift giving will find themselves with a spouse who feels neglected and unloved.

* Acts of Service
Discovering how you can best do something for your spouse will require time and creativity. These acts of service like vacuuming, hanging a bird feeder, planting a garden, etc., need to be done with joy in order to be perceived as a gift of love.

* Physical Touch
Sometimes just stroking your spouse’s back, holding hands, or a peck on the cheek will fulfill this need.

Really looking forward to the journey in this amazing study that will help us all communicate better with the people we love the most.

Pastor Steve

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Ministry

A Box Of Feet and a Wheelchair For Haiti

A few weeks ago our church here in Prescott took up a special love offering. The money was used  to help one of our members ship some needed items to Haiti so she with some other friends could minister to the people who are still suffering from the massive earthquake that took place this year.


I wanted to post a few pics of the wheel chair we shipped and the little girl who is using the chair a this very moment.

What a power way to be used to help a hurting country.

Here is Kate Pressman’s blog if you would like to check out a few more pics from her trip this past month.

http://katepressman.wordpress.com/

Here is one of the boxes of prosthetics that were shipped with the team of physical therapist to Haiti.


The Sunday morning of the special love offering we as a congregation prayed with fervency for the boy or girl that would sit in this chair.

Here is the little girl who is now using the wheelchair that so many prayed for and gave.

That is how God uses all of us. He puts us together to get the selfishness out of us so we can together make a difference in peoples lives.
From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself
up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

Written in the context of spiritual gifting, Ephesians 4:16 lets us know that each and every Christian has a part in the church that will be instrumental to the growth of the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Serving one another through the use
of our spiritual gifts is not optional.

Since there is a limit on the time we can serve, we need to look for maximum effectiveness. Structuring our ministries around our spiritual gifts will help us do that. Knowing where we are spiritually gifted will help us know where to put our focus, energy, and time. It will show us where we should plug into ministry.

But, in serving we must follow:

* God’s design for the church
* God’s own character
* God’s principles in His Word
And, the use of our spiritual gifts must be exercised:

* in His power
* by His grace

Thank you for being UNselfish.

Pastor Steve

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Arizona, Ministry, outdoors

New Horizons/Teen Challenge @ Lake Powell

I just wanted to post a few pics from an amazing weekend with some amazing students and leaders I had at Lake Powell last weekend.

I was invited to speak at their annual Honors Retreat by pastor Daniel Williamson who is the Lead pastor of  Lamb Of God Church in Flagstaff.

http://www.azteenchallenge.org/cms/index.cfm?&PrimaryKeyList=,783&itemID=204069

All I can say is, this guy is a true authentic pastor. I watched him pour his life into these students and leaders.

The weekend was filled with outdoor activities as well as four sessions I themed as “SURVIVOR”.

I gave four sessions to help the teens survive in the real world after they graduated from New Horizons.

*Surviving Sons – Taken from the 33 Chilean miners trapped for 60 plus days in Chile.

*Between A Rock And A Hard Place – Taken from the Aron Rolston  Story.

*The “Z Man” – The Story of Zacchaeus who was a small man who was up a tree.

*The Apple Of God’s Eye – Taken from Deuteronomy 32:10

Here are a few pics of an amazing crew in what we called Cathedral Cove.

Double click on the pic to enlarge it if you want to see a bigger image.

One of the coolest parts of the retreat for me was having my son Caleb with us the entire weekend.

One of the leaders of the retreat took us on a tour up Navajo Canyon.

The accommodations Captain Z provided for the leaders was really tough…man we suffered in this 54 footer.

75 pancakes – Pastor Daniel

What a team of leaders. These guys truly are servants.

I have had a lot of letters and notes handed to me over 30 years of ministry but this note on a napkin from a student named Zach is one of my favorites.

Just had to scan it and make it digital for histories sake.

Thank you Pastor Daniel and Teen Challenge for a great weekend in an amazing place.

Pastor Steve


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marriage, Ministry

How To Diffuse Conflict In Your Marriage

Last Wednesday night we talked about the 4th in the series of Marriage Built To Last.
This past session was dealing with How to Diffuse Conflict.
Here is the acrostic we used.

D efine the problem alone together.
I nitiate a time to talk.
F ocus on the problem not the person.
F eel their pain.
U ncover the root problem.
S et things right between you – James 5:16
E stablish a game plan.

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Ministry

FLYING SOLO IN A MARRIED WORLD

Just wanted to share the outline to a teaching Brenda and I did a while back on being single in a married world….I love this teaching that gives biblical insight into some of the good things about being single.

LIVING SINGLE IN A MARRIED WORLD
Pastor Steve and Brenda Lummer

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SINGLE?
(how some people view singleness)
1. Singleness:  A PROBLEM.

2. Singleness:  A TRAGEDY
3. Singleness: A TRANSITION

4. Singleness: AN OPPORTUNITY

2. MYTHS THAT MAKE US MISERABLE

Myth #1 – Marriage is THE God-ordained lifestyle.
“I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of a husband or wife, and others he gives the gift of being able to stay happily unmarried. So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows, better to stay unmarried if you can, just as I am.”  1 Corinthians 7.7-8 (The Living Bible)

Myth #2 – The GRASS IS GREENER on the other side.
“Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.” 1 Corinthians 7.26-27
“I am trying to spare you the extra problems that come with marriage.” 1 Corinthians 7.28 (New Living Translation)

Myth #3 – My life + SOMEONE ELSE = happiness
“I’ve Teamed by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”  Philippians 4.11-13 (The Message)

Myth #4 – Singleness = LONELINESS , while marriage = intimacy.

3. BEING SINGLE AND SATISFIED
Contentment is the result of an eternal perspective.
“Now let me say this … The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not let marriage be their major concern … for this world and all it contains will pass away. In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life.”  1 Corinthians 7.29-32 (New Living Translation)

Singles have an advantage in knowing and serving God.
“…some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19.12a (NLT)
“An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man can’t do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:32-33 (New Living Translation)

One is a WHOLE NUMBER
“And you are complete in him…” Colossians 2.10 (King James)
“God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.” 1 Corinthians 7.7(The Message)
Leave the “hunting” for romantic attachment to God.
“Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain just as you are. If you have a wife, do not end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not get married. But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin.”  1 Corinthians 7.25-27 (New Living Translation)

How singles can respond to their marital state:
They can GRIPE.
They can GRAB.
They can GROW.

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