Sep 05
0

I think I may burst from the excitement!

By | Message Series, NewSpring, Next Step | No Comments

Wasn’t Watermark weekend AWESOME?  and that’s an understatement!

Believe it or not, there’s more excitement to come.

This weekend begins a brand new series, Pillow Talk, Five Secrets of Love and Sex.

Since my passion is Starting Point, I’m VERY excited to host the Starting Point Orientation this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in the East Building, Room A. If you want to know what Starting Point is, you are invited to come have a cup of coffee, look at the materials and hear from some SP “grads” to see if Starting Point is for you.

Another big event is the grand opening of our new and improved 252 Theatre, the fantastic kid space for kids first grade through fifth.

If your kids are 6th – 8th graders, NewSpring is launching a brand new Sunday morning experience for middle school students this Sunday at 9:30 in the East Building.

If you missed Powerlines during the summer like I did, you’ll want to join us this Wednesday, Sept 10 at 6:30. Mark has a brand new format and will be talking about Heaven.

There are so many exciting things to talk about, and these I’ve mentioned are only a few. God is blessing so much that it’s almost overwhelming. I’m reminded of a passage in Malachi that actually is talking about tithing, but I think it applies here in that it describes how abundantly God blesses our faith and obedience. In the middle of Malachi 3:10, the Bible says,

“…I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!…”

Maybe another reason that passage comes to mind is the reference to “enough room.” If you’ve been attending the 11 o’clock service, you may have noticed how crowded it is. You might have struggled to get through the incoming traffic and then find a good parking spot. If you’re not that fond of big crowds, there’s good news! NewSpring has two other identical services available — Saturday @ 6 p.m., Sunday @ 9:30. There’s more space in the auditorium, in the kid’s classes and in the parking lot. So, give it a try! (My personal favorite is Saturday at 6 p.m.)

See you this weekend!


Aug 27
0

Reflections on Watermark

By | NewSpring | One Comment

I was too wired to write for several days! What an experience! One hundred and sixty-four people went public with their faith in Jesus as thousands watched. If you were there, you don’t need me to write about it, you know what I’m talking about, it was transforming.

And you volunteers… you guys are incredible! To pull off an outdoor service that combined the attendance of three normal services, to assist everyone so that it all flowed seamlessly, and to feed that crowd too (cooking 3600 hot dogs and hamburgers!), and most of all to do it with you guy’s infectious joy… well, words fail me, except to say, you are my heroes!

Kudos go out to the world’s greatest church staff. You worked around the clock getting ready while carrying your normal loads. I’m so proud of all of you.

Let’s talk about weather for a moment. In my last post before watermark, I asked you the following…

Pray for good weather. We’ve had huge crowds the last few weeks, and going from three weekend services to one, we will have more people on our 40 acres at one time than ever before. Especially pray that the land will be dry enough for parking. If the land is too wet, it could get, shall we say, interesting.

You prayed! When I got up Sunday morning, the weather channel showed a huge band of rain heading right for us. Flood warnings were out for multiple counties right around us, and sure enough, as we all got in place at 10:30 the rain was rolling in. A few drops fell on us, but then the most awesome thing happened… it was as if God just held it back with his hand. Several times, I looked out across the expressway only to see it raining on the other side. One guy who was watching the radar said that the rain was like a horseshoe around us. We sailed right through the whole morning dry (except for those who were baptized.)

Normally, I wouldn’t think much of this kind of thing, but about ten different people told me independently that when we were closing the service, right over the soundstage, the clouds looked like two huge wings. I don’t get off on that kind of thing much, but this time it gave me chill bumps. No doubt about it, God did some incredible stuff.

Here’s the main deal… NewSpring Church is all about helping people who don’t know Jesus get to know Him. We’re not into religion, we’re not into politics, we’re not into drawing disgruntled church people from their church into ours. We’re about one thing…life change through the power of the living Son of God. We’re getting to watch it happen at an incredible pace. But here’s the best part… I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet! Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be mind-blowing!

Mark

Aug 21
0

Watermark

By | NewSpring | 2 Comments

I’m so fired up I can’t stand it!  This afternoon, I walked over to the site where Watermark is going to happen. Fantastic! The pool is already in the ground, filled up with water and ready to go. (Special thanks to Tim Weddington for building the pool for us, it’s perfect.)  The soundstage and landscaping are in place, and the tents are up. Over 160 people are ready to “go public” with their faith and celebrate believer’s baptism.

Just a few thoughts…

  • Pray for good weather. We’ve had huge crowds the last few weeks, and going from three weekend services to one, we will have more people on our 40 acres at one time than ever before. Especially pray that the land will be dry enough for parking.  If the land is too wet, it could get, shall we say, interesting.
  • Pray for those who are preparing to take the step of baptism. I’m sure Satan will throw all kinds of junk in their path to make things difficult and distract them from their goal.
  • Pray for the hundreds of people who will be invited this weekend.
  • Don’t forget to bring chairs for yourself and your family, and a few extras if you have them.  Special rewards in Heaven are yours if you bring extra chairs. (No proof on this last part)
  • 10:30… 10:30…10:30… 10:30… 10:30 (It would be a good idea to get there early. You know what parking is like with multiple worship services, imagine only one.) It’ll give you time to check things out, and get situated.
  • Get ready for a life-changing experience. I just talked with a friend who was baptized in a similar service as I was. In a traditional church, on Sunday night, in front of a few faithful people. Nothing wrong with that. But just imagine how it would be to have thousands of people, outside on a beautiful Kansas morning, cheering as you celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ by baptism. Those who will be baptized will never be the same. I don’t think I will be either.

Mark

Aug 01
0

Ready for School?

By | Family, Just Thoughts, Message Series, NewSpring, Next Step | 2 Comments

This summer is almost gone — not the hot weather, but summer vacation. Our youngest son, Stephen will be attending band camp this coming week and the following week classes begin. It’s always sad to see summer vacation come to an end even though I’m not in school. I’m also still trying to get used to the fact that my youngest child is starting high school. At my age, four years go by so fast that I’m trying to prepare myself for the empty nest that’s coming all too soon.

As we prepare for this fall, we are very excited to anticipate what God is going to do at NewSpring Church. Even though summer attendance is usually down, the last two weekends we have had over 2,000 and from those two weekends, 15 people have let us know that they prayed to receive Christ. Last weekend, KidzWorld had their highest attendance (472) since Easter and as of last Monday, 103 people have registered to be baptized at Watermark on August 24. Forty-two people have signed up for Discovery Reception where we will introduce our leadership team and ministry opportunities. Discovery is also the place to find out how to become a member of the NewSpring Church family.

This weekend begins a new series and I have gotten some previews, so I can say that you won’t want to miss it. The first message is called “Filing Jointly.” Mark and I were sitting at the lunch table when he was telling me how he was still struggling with the illustration he needed. A minute or two went by and I saw the light come on! God gave him just what he had been asking for. Although I got a small sample, I’m very anxious to hear the whole message this weekend.

I can’t imagine a more exciting life than what God has given me. Even with another summer coming to an end, the best is yet to come!

Jul 26
0

Kind, Tolerant and Patient

By | Just Thoughts | 3 Comments

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4 (NLT) (emphasis mine)

If you have a friend or family member who is making bad choices, you probably want very much to rescue them from the consequences that loom on the horizon. You might consider impassioned warnings, perhaps loud and stern condemnation. You might want to give up on them and turn away. Paul tells us in Romans that the method God uses to turn us from our sin is kindness, tolerance and patience.

These are not three things that most people think of when they think of God. At least that has been my discovery as I have talked with people over the last 30+ years. Many, if not most people think that God is holding a list in His hand and watching to see how many things you manage to get checked off before your time is up. On the other hand, some people think that God is a kind of Santa or genie in a bottle to grant wishes. I have found those people to be very few — usually because if they approached God with that concept in mind, they were quickly disappointed and moved on.

In the environment I lived in for over 30 years, I was given the impression that God loved me in a general way, (my sins were forgiven and I would go to Heaven) but that He would only be pleased with me if I followed a very strict code of behavior, which those in authority would specifically define and although not taught in the Bible, certain verses, if taken out of their context, could be used to “back up” the list. It almost seems amusing to look over that list now. It could even be funny, if it weren’t so sad to me that many people are still being held hostage to this teaching.

I have to wonder why there is a tendency to walk away from grace so quickly and devise some kind of system to measure one another’s spiritual condition. I still know Christians who want to play the role of God’s policeman. It reminds me a little of Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith show. He was so zealous in his role that in one episode, he had arrested the entire community, including the mayor, Aunt Bee and even Opie. Some Christians, just like Barney, want to whip out their ticket book and issue citations to everyone around them. Even though God clearly warns us not to judge others (Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 6:37; James 4:11-12) and yet it is so easy to make that our life’s purpose.

I want to pattern myself after God, who is kind, tolerant and patient. After all, it was God’s kind, tolerant and patient love that motivated Him to send His only Son, Jesus to pay the ultimate price so that we could be forgiven and transformed into His children forever.

Jul 25
0

get out a half sheet of paper

By | Just Thoughts, Message Series, NewSpring | No Comments

I don’t know what phrase they use nowadays, but when I was in school, that meant a pop quiz was coming. A pop quiz was an unannounced test over material that had been covered either in class or in a homework assignment. Usually, there were only a few questions, which meant they all had a high value. (In other words, it only took one or two wrong answers to fail.) If you’re like me and you’ve been out of school for a long time, you may have forgotten that sinking feeling that you felt when you took one of those quizzes, but I have been revisiting that lately.

I have noticed a pattern that I picked up on a while back, and it seems to be consistent with me. Whenever a series is preached on a particular subject, I seem to get a quiz. For instance, this summer the series have covered anger and humility. So.. I should have had a clue what was coming. Indeed, I have had many pop quizzes on both subjects (which, by the way are very much related), and I’ve passed a few and failed a few. Now, I have noted that the ones I passed were ones I was prepared for. How? I was much in prayer and finding help in the Bible. I also spent time reflecting on the practical helps given in the messages. Those quizzes I failed… well, you can guess.

My conclusion on these quizzes is that if I stay prepared by prayer and reading God’s Word, I am much less likely to suffer that sinking feeling. I can face tomorrow’s quiz with confidence.

By the way, what’s the next series?

Jul 05
0

4th of July

By | Family, Just Thoughts | No Comments

We were sitting on the back porch with our bowls of homemade chocolate chip ice cream and enjoying the fireworks displayed all over our neighborhood. It was an amazing site to see! It seemed that each neighbor was alternating in such a way that it almost seemed choreographed. There were multiple concussions followed by spectacular explosions of light that turned the dark night into what seemed like broad daylight. This went on for hours. (I’m glad I didn’t have to clean up after all that this morning.) Our area must have been quite a sight because we saw several private planes circling around above us. I wonder what it looked like from up there.

Anyway, it was a wonderful Americana experience. Like all our other holidays, it brought back many memories, but also created some new ones.

I had to chuckle a couple of times and if I thought about it, I’m sure I could figure out what these things might illustrate, but for now I’ll just put them into my mental file cabinet for future reference.

When Stephen came out onto the porch, he commented that it sounded like a war out there. Of course, as I understand it, that is sort of the whole point, or at least it started out to be. The fireworks celebration is commemorating our fight for independence. It should remind us of the fact that there was a war here on our soil that cost many lives in order to gain our freedom from foreign rule.

Then there was another moment I will remember for a while. In between the bright and loud series of fireworks, I kept thinking I saw a rather faint glow flashing off and on down below us. At first I thought I was just seeing a reflection in a neighbor’s window — maybe reflecting some fireworks behind us, but then I was sure it couldn’t be a reflection. I asked Mark, “Do you see a little firefly down there or is that just my imagination?” He then confirmed what I thought I was seeing — it was a little firefly — glowing away, joining in this wonderful celebration (it would seem). It just impressed me, I don’t know why exactly.

Isn’t summer wonderful?

Jun 17
0

Summer Stuff

By | Family, NewSpring, Next Step | 2 Comments

Our family is enjoying a great summer this year, mostly at home, but with a few “away” adventures sprinkled in. Stephen is participating in junior golf and also getting ready for camp coming up next week. Mark is preparing to speak at a church in the great state of Texas, however it will be in West Texas which is very different from northeast and south central Texas where our roots are. West Texas is a little more like the wilderness the Children of Israel wandered through — or at least that’s my opinion. When I visited there as a young girl, my cousin Carolyn and I went out to explore and I remember looking for a tree (of any size) or even a small patch of grass to get some relief from the hot summer sun, but to no avail, there was none to be found. It was a hot, barren desert.

Speaking of grass.. we’re trying to grow some in our yard. It’s one of the projects that goes with a new house. We are watching the weather patterns and looking out at our partial crop with great interest daily as we chose seeding over sodding. It’s definitely a long-term project.

In my world at NewSpring, we had a wonderful Discovery Reception on June 8 with a room full of people who want to be part of what God is doing here. This last weekend, we had a Starting Point orientation and will begin a new group this Sunday that will meet through the summer. I’m so thankful that God has now given us six couples to lead Starting Point groups, so at the present time, with two groups just concluded last weekend, we have three active groups going even through the summer months — awesome! AND we will plan to begin at least three new groups in the fall. What a great joy to get to know everyone that comes through Discovery and Starting Point!

Jun 03
0

Holiday Weekend

By | Family, NewSpring, Next Step | 2 Comments

It’s hard to believe that almost a week has gone by since we returned from Oklahoma City where we visited our son, Jonathan and his family. We were able to attend church with them, enjoy some local attractions and just hang out. I love my son and daughter-in-law, Wendy, but I particularly enjoy getting to visit with our

Cheyenne Hoover

granddaughter, Cheyenne. She is not only beautiful (see picture), but is also intelligent, well-mannered and articulate. In short, she is a delight! I treasure all the time we get to spend with her.

This particular picture was taken during a boat ride on the canal in Bricktown, which is in downtown OKC. She is great to pose for her Dad who is becoming a great photographer along with his many other talents.

Our daughter-in-law, Wendy is also muti-talented and is very involved at their church in several different roles. (You can see by the picture on the right that Cheyenne’s beauty comes from her mother.)

As we return to our ministry here at NewSpring, I’m very excited to be hosting our next Discovery Reception this Sunday, June 8. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to meet NewSpring ministry leaders, find out about volunteer opportunities and/or how to become a member of NewSpring. Questions are welcome. In fact, there is a little fun with the ministry leaders who compete to answer the most questions. (Usually, Lance gets the most. )

We are also beginning a new Starting Point group on June 15. If you are interested, now is the time to get signed up!

May 21
0

Packin’ Slushee

By | Just Thoughts, Message Series, NewSpring | 4 Comments

There’s an interesting story posted on the Eagle website this morning. Seems a customer, a guy in his 50’s was in the drive-through at Spangle’s on North Rock, and for some reason, he was unhappy with the way his order was processed. Instead of sharing his complaint with the server at the window he did something that got him in the paper, and evidently caught the interest of the Wichita police. The title of the article reads Unhappy customer throws a fit—and a drink—

That’s right, the guy parked his red truck in the parking lot, walked into the restaurant, and threw his orange slush at the employees. Witnesses say he nearly hit another customer on his way out of the parking lot. It seems the police are looking for the hotheaded slushee hurler.

What’s happening out there? Why are people losing it like this? You would think a guy this old would know better. More importantly, how would you deal with a guy like this if he lived in your family?

That’s why I’m about to start Packin’ Heat.( I don’t mean carrying a gun, it’s the title of my new series.) I honestly believe it’s the series of the year to date. We’re going to look at what’s causing people to be so angry, how to survive in an angry world, also how to deal with anger issues in our own life. It all starts May 31/June 1. I can’t wait. The theme is Old West, and the first message is Last Train Out. It’s going to be huge.

In the meantime, if you see a guy in a red truck with a face to match, winding up with an orange slushee in his hand, don’t forget to duck. Just call 911.

Mark