Luke 14:12-14 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
We need to understand that God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others in His name. We must live as stewards of God’s many gifts and freely give as we have received, not expecting anything in return, but investing in eternal rewards.
Categories: Uncategorized
Matt. 20:26-28 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Do you understand that real greatness is not about recognition or position but your ability to put down your selfish plans so you can serve others? You must learn the distinction between fake and authentic leadership by entering into the role of humble service over trying to impress or influence people. Genuine leadership begins with disciplining yourself, and devoting your gifts and talents to help others.
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No game face required!
As guys, we need to be purposeful in building friendships with other men. Yeah, I can call up my high school or college buddies or pop over to my neighbor’s garage, but expanding the friendship circle is something women are good at. me, not so much. And then when we think about hanging out with new friends from church, it takes tremendous effort for that to be comfortable. Especially when it comes to talking about spiritual things.
CTR’s Men’s Reaching Farther Conference Oct. 4-6 will give us the environment and the comfort level to make it a whole lot easier. It’s a weekend away at Green Lake Conference Center about an hour east of here, and they’ve got an amazing campus on the lake with outdoor activities. There are a number of accommodation options at Green Lake with different pricing, and we’re registering by phone this year. Check out our CTR Web site for more info.
Our guest speaker Mike Yankoski, who wrote the best-selling book Under the Overpass. It’s a chronicle of his 5-month experience as a homeless man, living on the streets of six American cities and taking great risks of faith to bring Christ’s love to the neediest of God’s people.
If you have questions about room or cabin rates or are ready to sign up, call (920) 294-3323.
Green Lake Conference Center is located just west of the city of Green Lake on State Hwy. 23 in south central Wisconsin.
The address is W2511 State Road 23 Green Lake, WI 54941
Categories: Men · Reaching Farther
Danen Kane has become a familiar face and voice for our weekend visitors. This passionate musician from Little Chute is not only an inspirational worship leader on weekends here, but also in the missions field where he ministers to people locally and globally who are hungry for a message of healing and hope.
This weekend Danen will be at Cup O’ Joy in Green Bay for a concert to release is new music on CD titled “Awakening”. You can catch him Saturday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. for two shows (6:30pm an 8:45pm). Click here to find out more, or visit Danen’s MySpace page.
Danen is back with us leading worship the following weekend, Augusts 8-9.
Categories: Events
Last week’s Destination Unknown trip for our junior high students was an incredible adventure into reaching out to those in the community. Unbeknown to the 29 students, their destination was Wausau, our neighbors to the west. (Hence the name of the annual “Destination Unknown” retreat.) Lead by AMPED youth pastor Bee Vang, the group worked incredibly hard in ways that were physically and spiritually challenging!
Bee’s own story about his road to redemption as a youth is interwoven with tales of how our AMPED students spent their week. Check it out:
(Reprinted with permission from the Wausau Daily Herald)
July 25, 2009
Former gang member brings youth group to Wausau for good works
A former gang member’s road to redemption brought him through Wausau this week, where he has led dozens of acts of good work.
Bee Vang and 29 AMPED junior high students from CTR wrap up their Destination Unknown mission trip.
Bee Vang, 22, of Appleton brought 29 junior-high-age teens and nine adult volunteers from the Fox Valley on a church mission trip that started July 18 and ended today. The group stayed at Rib Mountain State Park and worked on a variety of goodwill projects throughout the area. Projects the youths from Christ the Rock Community Church worked on included sorting, moving and organizing goods at The Neighbors’ Place in Wausau; helping clean and maintain trails and other areas on Rib Mountain; sprucing up the area around the Phou Bia Oriental Market on Sherman Street in Wausau; organizing items for the New Day Christian Church’s garage sale; and helping a homeowner the group met do some household chores.
At night, the group worked on matters of spirituality, further developing relationships with God.
Ten years ago, Vang was on a vastly different path, participating in vastly different group activities.
“I was in my early teens, and I got into drugs, partying, stealing,” Vang said. “I was looking for love, looking for acceptance. I found them in gangs. They were my bros; they were my boys.” Keep reading →
Categories: Events · Reaching Farther
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance. It is the Lord whom you serve.” Col 3:23-24
When the Apostle Paul penned these words for the church at Colossae, he was writing to slaves (indentured employees). People had regular jobs, just like you and me. The masters (bosses), of these slaves ran the gamut from incredibly harsh to incredibly grace-filled and loving and everything in between, much like the bosses of today.
When Paul said to “work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men” we are reminded to do it regardless of our work circumstances. We are to go above our work circumstances and the temperament of our bosses and, instead, work for our ultimate boss, God. In everything that one does throughout the day, we work for God. 
Who do you work for? Do you work for the approval of your boss? Your spouse? Your friends? Is the approval of these people you work for more important that God? Dare I ask, is this approval your idol?
What is preventing you from working “as for the Lord”? What if you were to cast aside all fear, need for approval, striving for self and were to focus your energy on pleasing the Lord in your work?
Keep reading →
Categories: Workplace · jobs
Matt. 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together.”
Marriage is a test of your real character. How you treat the ones who are closest to you is the true measure of how loving and respectful you are. Your devotion to God is manifest in
the depth of your commitment to your spouse. Faithfulness to your lifelong partner
helps you to appreciate Gods eternal devotion toward you as one of His
children.
Heb. 13:4 Marriage is honorable in every respect; and, in particular, sex within marriage is pure. But God will indeed punish fornicators and adulterers.
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Matt. 18:21-22 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
Personal forgiveness is a choice. In rabbinic discussion the consensus was that a brother might be forgiven a repeated sin three times; on the fourth, there is no forgiveness. Peter, thinking himself big-hearted, volunteers “seven times” in answer to his own question. Jesus raises the bar. All of us have been forgive far more than we will ever have to forgive.
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Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain will lead to some form of bondage and death. Life, goodness, peace, and joy are found in Jesus, when we follow Him and His ways. Don’t seek to be rich in this world, seek to be rich in your relationship with God.
Luke 12:32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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I confess, I’m not much of a vegetable gardener. I much prefer the delicate beauty of flowers and using them to design a stunning landscape. For some reason, a pepper plant swaying in the breeze doesn’t bring me the same delight as that of the tender blossom of a bleeding heart or daffodil.
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