Mike Franklin In Concert -2

I mentioned to you recently that our church will be hosting a concert on October 12th. This exciting evening of music will be kicked of by two of our very own: Audrey Kinch and Shari Martinez.

These ladies are both excited about sharing their hearts with you and it must be equally as exciting for them to share the stage with a gifted national artist such as Mike Franklin.

Lets all make plans now to save this date in our calendars and be here to enjoy a night of music by Shari, Audrey and Mike Franklin.

I might also encourage you to send a note or share a word of encouragement with Audrey and Shari that you are planning to attend.

-John

What Is The Essence of Worship?

Pastor Paul and I recently made a road trip across the state to watch a soccer game played by two of our students. While we were on the trip Paul brought a sermon for us to listen to along the way.

Does it surprise you that two pastors riding in a car would listen to someone preach?

Well, we both like reading and listening to John Piper, and we both love talking about worship, so it was a natural. We listened to John Piper rant on about Biblical worship. It was great!

After about the first hour, though, my brain was getting full, but I do remember one central issue Piper addressed. He asked the question, "What Was the Essence of Worship".

His answer surprised me, and then again it didn't. He said: "The essential, vital, indispensable, defining heart of worship is the experience of being satisfied with God."

He went on to say that the Apostle Paul made little distinction between worship in the congregation and of the variety that takes place as a pattern of daily living. In other words, the thirst for God is the fuel for driving us to both "live out" and "sing out" our worship of God.

It has been about a week since I heard Piper speak those words, and I still have the thought haunting me today. Does "Thirst for God" drive me to worship?

I realize that it would be easy to criticize what I see in worship settings based on that premise. It would a breeze to say that Christians are driven to seek out a church that meets their needs or demands. I could even go as far as to say that Christians don't come to Worship hungering for God because that are already full on what the world has to offer.

But I would have to include myself right along with everyone else. So here is what I am asking myself:

Do I Thirst for God?

Am I Satisfied with God?

Funny thing how timing works with God. I have recently been trying to lose some weight. Big Surprise. One of the things I have decided is that I refuse to use any supplements to enhance that weight loss. I am just using good old exercise and eating less.

But in the process, I have found myself hungry like I haven't been in a long time. I am so hungry that I find myself thinking about food all the time. When I finally sit down to eat, I find every bite extremely satisfying. Every swallow means something to me.

Who knew you could enjoy the deep flavor of cottage cheese on a Saltine Cracker as if it were a New York Strip? This is where God wants me to be. Satisfied! Filled! Energized! Equipped! In Him!!!!

Now that is deep!

What does that kind of worship look like? Jesus calls it Spirit and Truth Worship, He also said that God was seeking out those kind of worshipers.

I am sure it has more to do with what is taking place on the inside of the worshiper than how it may appear on the outside. I am also sure that it has more to do with attitude than geography.

Colossians 3:15 -17 brings some light to what I think the modern Church has turned into such a mystery. Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs are obvious musical references, but The Word of Christ dwelling in gratitude in our hearts has got to be one of the keys to living in the essence of worship. We're clearly satisfied in Him because of His Word. Naturally, our humble response to this satisfying God is worship that is not only sung out but lived out.

-John Martinez

What Do You Think About The Church?

This is a video done recently at the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, Canada where a group of our students and adults went last year on a ministry trip.

Very Interesting comments by the students there as well at the people from The Point Church.

http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=36677735916&oid=2309593427

Sorry that the link is archaic, but it was the only way I could get it to copy: So just copy the link and paste it to your address field for your browser and it should take you to Victor Thomas' facebook. Victor is now the new pastor for the Point Church on campus.

-John Martinez

Mike Franklin In Concert

October 12th on a Sunday evening at 6:30pm we will have a special evening of music. This will actually be MORE Special than normal. Several of our very own "Eastsiders" will be opening up the concert for Mike Franklin.

Audrey Kinch, Shari Martinez and one other person who I'm waiting to get a "yes" from, will all open up the concert. What a wonderful way of celebrating the musical talent we have here at Eastside and not to mention an opportunity to invite some of our friends and family to visit our church.

Put the October 12th on your calendars and let's plan on a fun night of music and celebration!

-John

Our youth just began the journey of "Experiencing God". Last night nine students and two adults embarked on a nine week study of Knowing and Doing the Will of God.

I hope that you will pray for us along the way. We will be studying what it takes to understand and do the Will of God in our lives.

The exciting part of this process is that the classic study of Experiencing God has been re-designed and now includes a movie in nine episodes. It is about five students lost in the woods. The life and death experiences they go through deal directly with the Seven Realities of Knowing and Doing the Will of God.

Check out the following trailer and let me know what you think.

Twinkle Toes Soup

This past Sunday night we had another mission report from a family who spent some time on mission in Mexico this past summer.

The Burton family is new to Eastside after moving here from Utah early this past summer. When they arrived they were already committed to a mission trip with their previous church in Utah, however we looked at it as if we were sending them as well.

This past Sunday night Christy and Jacob shared their stories and wowed everyone with their project to build an extension on a building that their group had started 2 years earlier. They can really huck that stucco with the best of them.

I have found myself laughing out loud about one story in particular that Christy shared. Normally one would expect that when you go to a third-world country that "weird-things" are observed of the the the locals. Not so in this case.

When They arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, Christy was suffering from "Plantar Faciatis" this is a condition of the foot that usually involves pain and swelling normally associated with the heel.

One of the other members of the team suggested to her that she soak her feet in hot water every day so as to reduce the pain and swelling. Evidently it worked, but there is a twist.

Since they were roughing it as it were, they improvised; the cook of all people, decided to allow Christy to soak her feet in the biggest and only pot that was available. The same pot that was used to cook soup.

UGGGHHHH! Yup that was my first reaction too.

The cook and Chrsity evidently thought they could sanitize the pot in time for dinner. The only problem was that they also mentioned it to the rest of the team - conveniently after they were done eating, I am sure.

Their reaction was similar and perhaps worse since they were the victims. To date everyone is still alive and kicking (no pun intended). No reports of hoof and mouth disease (ha, ha) or "athlete's mouth".

Thanks Chrsity and Jacob for your labor of love (AMOR) to the people of Tijuana, Mexico, you are true servants.

By the way, Our family did have dinner at the Burton's home last night and I would hardily recommend Christy's wonderful cooking. We had Chicken Tetrazini, salad and the best Garlic Bread I have had in a long time. (no soup) She is however, a fantastic cook.

'Bon Apetit'

-John