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Raising the Standard

Here are some notes and points on Pastor Ted's message on 1/3/10- Don't forget to click on the links for the scriptures before reading the notes.

1 Peter 1:13-25 NKJ & Message

God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to keep us that way.

• He wants and desires a progressive work in our hearts.
• God’s work starts at home.
• God doesn’t want you preaching on the corner if His word hasn’t had an affect in the corners of our own heart.
• God is calling us to a life, a move, of Holiness, not to be misinformed as legalism.
• Making a line in the sand and saying there are some standards we must live our life by.
• The world has adopted the saying that there are many ways, BUT, there are not many ways, but One way, which is Jesus.
• Many times we are trying to receive the message that God is sending and it is fuzzy. The problem isn’t w/ God it’s w/ us, we must adjust our lives to see and hear properly.
• He is referred to as Holy, Holy, Holy. We need to get to the place in our lives and hearts and settle the our God is a Hoy God.
• Challenge: Take your Christian life seriously.
• You do not build a house for chickens of the same foundation as a sky scraper.
• There are many times we build junky lives on the foundation of the cross- we allow so much junk into our lives, we can barley see the firm foundation of the cross.

Ex- Susan B. Anthony dollar vs. the quarter. Very similar to each other. The government took the Susan B. Anthony out of circulation because people mistaked the 2 so many times.  Many of us try to build a dollar foundation on an quarter foundation.

If we are named and called Christians, people should see a difference in our lives. Take the quarter and SBA dollar, there isn’t much difference in appearance.  People should be able to tell if we are Christians and not have to second guess what our foundation is.

• God doesn’t care about the outside, but rather the inside.  He wants to touch your heart w/ grace. Then after He touches your heart w/ grace, it shows in and through out your life.
• It’s ok to be different.  The church doesn’t need to look like the world or conform to it to attract the world.
• Be Holy for I am Holy- I am going to be like heavenly dad.
• I am going to be whole, I am going to be complete, I am not going to segregate certain parts of my life.
• God, I don’t want to be dealing w/ the same issues next year I am dealing w/ today.
• I want to move, I want to grow by embracing His holiness.

If we don’t embrace Gods holiness, 3 things can happen-

1. When we don’t embrace who are heavenly father is we become posers. (acting as if everything is ok, but it really isn’t)
2. We become uncorrected, and lack of correction produces a brat.
3. We become unfruitful, we lose the fruit in our lives. 

 www.ryancook.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seared Conscience

Dave Roever was our guest this past Sunday  He taught a good relevant message.

Here are some notes from it:

Key verse 1 Tim. 4:1- w/ emphasis on the latter part of vs. 2. (1)The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (2)Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

• What took their pains away?
• Pain- no body wants it, no body likes it.
• Pain is a gift from God.
• Deal w/ the issue or it will eat you up and kill you.
• Pain is a warning that something isn’t right.
• Frog ex of cold/hot water: they adjust to the temperature and adjust their sensitivity- start in lukewarm water then turn to hot- doesn’t feel heat anymore- boils to death.
• Famous sailor- after started sailing ended up on the ‘outer banks’ right next to the shore- “my God, how did we get here.”
• His compass was only off by 1 degree.
• Over many miles, starting off by 1 degree will land you off by many degrees.
• Listened to the wrong voices, when he shouldn’t have set sail.
• Ex: on leprosy- rats nibble on fingers because of numbness on hands.
• Numbness causes things to fall off.
• Sin is to the soul as leprosy is to the hand.
• Sin eats away at the conscience until it is seared.

 

Questions to ask ourselves and think on-

What have you grown numb too?

Is your conscience sensitive to your surroundings?

Are you dealing w/ your pains or pushing them down until they are eating you alive?

www.ryancook.net

 

Sunday Highlights

Country Day- Man, what a day.  Everyone came together and did an awesome day of ministry.  From the music, lights, media guys, transitions, drama’s, everything was spot on. 

• Andrew, Glenn, Ty and Julie did a great job on the bluegrass picking. 
• Marie, Shawn, and the sacred cows where on fire!
• Tami, the entire worship team, and musicians where all in sync.
• Glenn did a great job on The Cowboy in Me!
• My wife sang one of my favorite songs. In fact I blogged about the song here a while back.Renee nailed that song. She is the most wonderful person I know!  
• PT delivered a great message on Thankfulness.

A few points from the message:

• 1 Thess. 5:16-18- always give thanks.
• Phil. 4:10-14- How to be abased and abound.
• Dont focus on the 1 thing you dont have.
• Be thankful. Thankfulness=Miracles
• John 6:11- The miracle happened after He gave thanks.
• Luke 17:19- Your FAITH has made you well.

On the horizon- I Can Only Imagine Message...Its gonna be wild! 

www.ryancook.net

Sunday Highlight Reel

Sunday was a great day around GJFA.  Kids filled the classrooms and parents got to enjoy a great message from Pastor Ted. One of our guests explained it like this, "there is just something sweet here, you guys have a sweet atmosphere".  What our guest was feeling was the presence of God's Spirit.

Let me tell you, that sweet Spirit lingered in both morning services and into our evening service.  PT had a continuation from the morning message, but gave an invitation for prayer after that. Man, was the sweetness ever there. For myself, I just sat and prayed, waited on God, listened and just rested in His presence as He spoke oh so softly to my spirit.

We didn't have a formal dismissal, people just hung out and soaked it in until almost 8:30pm. What a time.  

Let me encourage you to make every attempt to make this next Sunday's worship and prayer time at 6pm. You will not want to miss it!!

You can check out this message and all of our messages on iTunes or our website.

-Peace

www.ryancook.net 

Fathers Day 2008/ Upcoming at GJFA

GJFA Fathers Day message: Qualities of Joseph's Life-

1. An Honorable Man

2. A Determined Man

3. A Loving Man

4. A Dependent Man

5. A Man of Faith

6. A Wise Man

Pastor Ted's word for the day: Sticktuitevness - (pronounced- stick-to-it-ivness).

Stopped by Fellowship for a Saturday night service, I always love seeing how others do things. Good, simple message:

4 Practical Ways to Resist the Devil:

1. Cry out to God

2. Take every thought captive

3. Surround yourself w/ good influences

4. Stay full so you won't be hungry for 'bait'

Upcoming Events at GJFA.....

Tuesday 6/17- 9:30am-MOPS Play date- Lincoln Park

Saturday 6/21- 8am-WM's Bake Sale- Sams Club

Sunday 6/29- 8:30 & 10:40am- Charles Crabtree- GJFA

Sunday 6/29- 6pm- Family Camp

Sunday 7/13- 6pm- Ground Breaking- New Propert on Hwy 6/50

www.ryancook.net

Sailing Towards a Bright New Tomorrow

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to post some notes and thoughts from Dr. John Bosman’s message Sunday. I do not usually post sermons, but dang, this guy ‘brought it’.

Scripture reference: Mark 4:35- 5:1

• Get in the boat and go to the other side

• Sometimes lifting the anchor takes to long, some times we need to just ‘cut the rope’ that is tied to the shore

• Cutting the rope helps us get away and 'let go' of the shores of yesterday

• In order to get something you have never had, you are going to have to do something you have never done.

• Revival will usually not happen the way you think it will

• If your memories of your past are brighter than your future, then you are stagnant.

• Yesterday is in the tomb, tomorrow is in the womb

• Forget your past failures, hurts and pain; forgive and release the past, if you don’t, it makes you the captive in the prison.

• Forget past successes, past victories, stop celebrating them. The same God that did it then is the same now.

• Just because you are in the will of God doesn’t mean storms will not come against you, Make sure Jesus is in the boat w/ you when the storms hit.

• The history of this church is changing, the entire valley will know this church is alive!

• The evening service was even better!! You just had to be there, the presence of God was in that building. Maybe at a later date.

www.ryancook.net

-Peace

Sunday Highlights and a Little More

Man, we have been having some great services. God is Awesome!

A few Ted-isms from a couple Sundays ago-

• God will work on the private area in your life before He will work on the public areas
• God is ready to give us our tomorrow, today
• When God moves His leaders- follow them
• Don’t get ahead of God or His leaders

Yes I am bragging on our Lead Pastors again; Ted and Tami did some tag- team preaching this weekend. Their message was on the Marriage Series, Deal or No Deal. They preached back and forth and switched about every 5 or 6 minutes. Well Done!

Great statement from Sunday: Function in humility towards one another; make it a lifestyle.

This is what happens when my precious baby Reave gets tired in the office. Rough day!! I wish I could sleep so comfy!!

Friends, relatives, coworkers, classmates- Keep inviting them. They may not have came to church on Easter…but they might come this week, or next, or Christmas…or sometime in the near future.

After a cold, long, bone-chilling winter (the locals say it wasn’t that bad, but us SoCal-ers were frozen) the warmth is finally here. The weather rocked today, a heavenly 73 degrees!! Tonight we did a little BBQ and ate outside at on our patio set for the first time this year… hope the weather stays like this for a while!!!

L7- Youth.... Congrats to all groups!! Way to go!! You guys ROCK!!

-Peace

www.ryancook.net

Easter 2008

Easter Services 2008, what a great weekend!!!

Easter Egg Hunt-

We started the morning out w/ donuts, coffee, cider and our very own Kids Church band. It was great as you looked across the crowds of people gathered in groups, hanging out, talking, sharing stories and building relationships. We were able to give out 10k eggs stuffed w/ candy, and then raffled off 16 bikes, and 10 hams. GJFA was able to reach out and show love to 400 adults and kids during the hunt, but the best part of the day was they were all able to hear the gospel message!

Easter Services 2008

Wow, God is amazing! Pastor Ted brought a great message, Life in 3D.
We exceeded the numbers we had hoped for. We had a grand total of 1,169. Between kids and adults we had at least 20 people receive Christ yesterday. I don't know about you, but that pumps me up. Yeah God!

If you missed the news footage, channel 11 did awesome coverage clip on the entire service. You can read a little bit about it here. Thanks News 11!

Along w/ channel 11, channel 5 stopped by as well. They did a clip of the service, along w/ a political clip... a spin off from Obama's pastor. The interview combines a smaller church (older lady w/ white hair) interview along w/ ours. You can watch that clip here, just click on the 'watch video' tab.

If you would like to see more pics of the Easter Hunt and Services, you can go to my good friend Bobs site. He is a great photographer! His website is www.bobontheroad.com, click on the Easter service tab on the right. Feel free to check out browse his site and checkout the rest of his pics if you wish, he has some great shots.

God is Good!

-Peace
www.ryancook.net

Sunday Night Highlights

• Sunday was a great day. Pastor Ted nailed his message entitled, Generosity- Proverbs 11:24-25. I thought the music today was INCREDIBLE! I am continually amazed and humbled at the same time at what our musicians and singers can do.

• Sometimes I have to pinch myself… you have NO IDEA how much I love our church, this Grand Valley and the vision that God has given our Pastor and this staff. Our best days are yet to come!

• Who needs Jeff Deyo anyways?? This guy canceled at 9:30am on Sunday morning, WOW. But never fear- we had a back up plan! Our crew jumped in and led worship w/ front man Larry Metcalf (never new he could sing), and pulled off an incredible worship set. Dan really came alive on the acoustic drums and Tyler B. shredded on electric, way to go guys!

• I believe in people, I just do. I believe everyone has potential. I believe that potential multiplies as soon as you sell out to GOd and give it all over to Him.

• As PT stated Sunday, I want to be ‘THAT’ church. W/ God, our church has the potential to be “THAT’ church.

• Next Sunday is Invite a Friend Day to GJFA. You will not be let down! We have great kid facilities, awesome worship and dynamic preaching!! Get them here!

• If you love pizza, you have to check out this site.

• WHY????????? Why waste the money??? WHY??????????????????? Spend it on the actual roads...

• TIME CHANGE NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT…it’s the one where we LOSE an hour–AHHHH!

www.ryancook.net

-Peace

Sunday Highlight Reel a little late...

Wow, what a great Sunday. Great worship, great preaching, and great fellowship, what a great mix! If you missed the sermon, check it out. It was another message from the series "Real Faith". Pastor Ted nailed this one entitled "The Remote Control." I won't re-preach sermon, you can hear it for yourself here.

I am really liking this series. I have faith "in" and "of" God. When I pray for myself or others I believe and have faith that God can intervene, heal, change circumstances, basically anything.

I also believe that sometimes our prayers are hindered by others that we are praying for if they do not have faith or they do not want to be healed. What if they are like this guy? This invalid sat there for 38 years, yes 38 years, and then said he didn't have any help. After 38 years I think I would have inched my way to the shore.... He kept making excuses and it was "easier" for him to sit there and come up w/ excuses of why he can't get to the waters.

Denver- Ten unanswered points in about 5 minutes. Can anyone say "squib kick?"

Good try Eagles....

When I heard about this story I almost gagged. Check it out at your own risk!

OK, call me mean, but...... A person came up to me after church, I do not believe he came to church that day, just showed up after. He approached me and asked if he could borrow $10 bucks, he needed gas money to get to work. Not a big deal. After talking to him for a few minutes I noticed chew in his lip. Still no biggie... I asked him how much chew cost nowadays? $7 bucks was his reply!!! After learning he would rather chew than drop a couple of gallons in his car, I told him no. He has his priorities mixed up. He had a choice, chew or gas. I'm thinking, stop chewing and put gas in your car, right?

-Peace