St Patrick season 2 videos and sermons available

Get them while they're available. St Patrick season 2 videos and sermons are now available at youtube and at our website, but they're only available to a limited number of people for viewing and download. So, if you want to see or hear, go NOW!

Ok, that's not true. Anybody can watch, listen, and download. And we hope you do! Pass them around, email the links to your friends, family, and neighbors who you're inviting to Lifehouse, or to those who would benefit from this sermon series. OR to those who need a good laugh at MY expense.

Here's the links for part 6:

Sermon audio here.

Hope you're laughing and being deeply challenged to truly become a Jesus-follower.

BTW, how many of you are interested in an out-takes/ bloopers video for this series?

Tested through Fire

Regardless of what's happening around us, God is using every situation, challenge, stress point, and trial to grow us into Christ- likeness.

I know that I've personally been on the anvil of His craftsmanship, and can see how the many challenges, hardships, and trials are being used by God to "crush" me so that I will become less so He can become more in my life.

Was challenged and encouraged by a verse a friend sent me today, (1 Peter 1:6-8, NLT):

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

When I'm Wrong...

It happens often enough and most of the time, I realize it too- I make mistakes, mess up, or am flat out wrong. Much of the time, many don't even realize that I am, other times those around me are waiting for me to realize it or wonder if I know. But there is always this critical moment when I realize I was wrong. What do I do now?

The other day I sent an email out citing the example of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, but instead of saying Abraham, I called him Moses. Sounds benign, right? But what if, in the middle of my sermon I'm recounting an historical narrative, and make a blatant error in recounting the story. For example, this past Sunday, I was retelling the story of how the Philistines "returned" the Ark of the Covenant by placing it on a new cart, yoked two oxen that had never plowed AND we're still nursing from their mother (where I got this from I have no idea). But that simple statement was wrong. Actually, here's what 1 Samuel 6 says about the oxen,
Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up (1 Sa 6:7).

So, they weren't young calves, but nursing mothers who wouldn't want to leave their calves behind and would be maternally wanting to stay with or return to their babies. Interestingly, I had not intended on telling the full background of that narrative, but once I started preaching, I felt the need to give more context. But since I had not recently read it, that detail was off.

I could overlook that error, hope that no one even noticed OR address it and correct it. So, as publicly as I can, I want to let everyone know that I'm wrong. I'm willing to study and make sure that I'm biblically accurate.

Wish I could say that my only failings have been in simple error or forgotten details. There are other times when I've really done wrong or hurt someone. Then what?

The bigger lesson: When I'm wrong, I'll take full responsibility for it, acknowledge it and let those involved know it, not blame or pass the buck, then correct my mistake, wrong, or sin with clear action. Repent if necessary. Make restitution when needed or warranted. Then, I'll move on and learn from my mistakes and failures. I don't keep looking back at my sins and failures, but accept forgiveness from God, others, and myself, and live looking forward.

Failures are expensive lessons to develop character, growth, and maturity in my life.

What failures or wrongs do you need to acknowledge and make right?

Watch St Patrick Gone Wild videos here

Kicked off St Patrick season 2 a few weeks ago. Very excited and having a ton of fun while also speaking on some very challenging topics. The theme of this series is "The Anatomy of a Jesus-follower". However, I hope that you enjoy the journey and watching the videos as much as enjoyed filming and acting in them.

For Part 1 watch this intro video:

And for part 2:


And now, to actually listen to the sermons follow this link to our website:http://www.lifehousechurcheast.org/nonflash/main.aspx?page=sermons.

What is Meekness?

Jesus called himself gentle and meek. Does meekness mean weakness? Was Jesus weak?

Best word picture for "meekness" is velvet covered steal. A gentle strength. A soft but unwavering firmness.

We are called to be meek, and can be meek, because we trust God alone to be our defense, our advocate, and we believe that He does look out for us. When we are fully surrendered to Him, we can have meek confidence that He will protect us, vindicate us, provide for us.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:8-9

Love the picture that God is my rear guard. He's looking out for me.

Charles Stanley stated, "God takes full responsibility for those who are fully devoted to Him."

We don't have to fight or defend ourselves.

I'm learning to walk in meekness, and leave my concerns, worries, fears, stresses with God. Guess I'm better off with God looking out for His Kingdom and His servants than for me to try to do that job. He's a little bigger, stronger, wiser, and more powerful.

pastors in prayer

Started today off by meeting with a group of pastors for our weekly prayer gathering. These are pastors from a variety of denominational and theological backgrounds but who share a few things in common:

• we believe in the Bible wholly and fundamentally,
• we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior,
• we believe that the Church has been commissioned with the Gospel and is the only hope of the world,
• we believe that we, as churches and leaders, are more powerful and effective together than we are apart,
• we believe in the power of prayer,
• we believe that we agree on more than we disagree,
• we believe that unless we unite and serve together the Church will fail and continue to slide towards irrelevance and stale religion,
• we believe that our prayers and unity of faith will matter for eternity so that the population of heaven will be different because we got out of bed and prayed.

What are we praying?

• renewal of our city- true transformation to sweep through this region that will lead to physical needs being met, less crime, more caring, communities serving one another, and a significant drop in corruption,
• The Church- that The Church would be unified, powerful, and effective in both showing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus with a city desperately in need,
• salvation of those who are far from God- that the many who don't know or follow Jesus would be reached and discipled into true Jesus-followers, not so we can have more converts or fill churches, but that their lives would be rescue from the grip of sin and their souls freed from the bondage of hell, and that each person in our city would discover the eternal life of Jesus Christ,
• holiness- that we, as pastors, would live God-honoring lives, and in turn, those who profess Jesus as their Lord, would begin to live more like Jesus- in word and deed.

Ok, we're praying tons more but those are just a few things that are weighing on my heart as we pray.

Thought I'd take a moment and share.

Does what upsets me upset God?

I was jogging recently and thinking and stressing about a few issues that were upsetting me. So, I did what any God-fearing, super-spiritual pastor would do- I complained about them to God. I let Him know what was upsetting me and why and then asked Him to fix them. Sounds good and right?

While I was praying, er... complaining, a thought (maybe the Holy Spirit) struck me,

"Does what upsets me upset God?" Doh! That hurt. Do the things that stress me out, preoccupy my thoughts, attention, and energy also upset God? Is God sad over the things that make me sad?

Then, an even more disruptive thought raced through my mind like a run-away train about to dramatically change my day,

"Do the things that upset God also upset me? Or do I even think about the things that upset God?"

Maybe you're thinking, "God, upset?" Yes, certainly there are plenty of examples biblically of things that upset, anger, preoccupy the attention of God. Want just a few? People going to hell. Care for the orphans and the widows. The health and beauty (holiness) of the Church (Bride of Christ). Yea, those things are important and should be on my mind and when they are not given proper attention or care, they should upset me.

So, what I'm praying now, "God, break my heart with the things that break yours. Upset me with the things that upset you. And remove from my awareness or conscious thinking worries and stress of this life that matter little in the scope of eternity."

Are the things that upset you also upsetting God? Do they matter for eternity?

Are the things that break God's heart also breaking your heart?

Friend Day & New Sermon Series

Sunday, April 18th is Friend Day so invite your neighbors, friends, classmates, co-workers, family. Just make sure they are NOT plugged into a church already and then do WHATEVER it takes to get them to Lifehouse- bribe, kidnap (just make sure they're over 18), tranquilize, offer a dinner out on your dim... Just get your friends to church on Sunday. There are plenty of sets available in 9am service, but get there early for sets to the 10:30am service.

Also, kicking off a new sermon series called "Mixed Signals". It's about how to get clear direction from God in the midst of the noise around us. Watch the trailer here.

In case you were wondering where I was this past Sunday, I was grateful for a Sunday to visit one of our network churches down in Winchester (Lifehouse Church Shenandoah). Had a great time hanging out with Pastor Joel & Crystal Flower, who are doing a great job church planting. I feel privileged to serve alongside of them in Lifehouse Church Network.

Morning After Easter

Reflecting on Easter and Lifehouse services. Thanks to all volunteers and leaders who gave their best, served their guts out, and made Lifehouse a welcome center for people coming to experience God. Way to go! We really have an amazing team of servants and leaders.

We launched 2 services back in mid-January because we were at capacity in one service, and our second service yesterday felt like our only service did back in December. Hope everyone enjoyed a packed house! Always exciting to see so many engaged in worshiping and following Jesus. First service was a blast as well. Great to see the 9am crowd inviting their friends!

One thought that struck me yesterday, "The Resurrection changes everything!" If there was no resurrection, than we have no hope, no life, no meaning. If Jesus didn't rise, than Christianity is no different than any other religion, except that we should be most pitied (Apostle Paul said that no me), since we have a false hope then. BUT if Jesus died rise, and he DID, than the Resurrection changes everything. Through Jesus, we have life, forgiveness, hope, healing, purpose, power, and an eternal destination and the mortgage has already been paid in full.

Scars: a story of despair

Sermon audio and video testimony online NOW!

Here's a link to download or listen to the most recent sermon.

Here's the video for the video trailer that introduced the sermon. Tough, messy scar story, but if you listen to the sermon you'll discover how God can bring people THROUGH seasons of despair, depression, and anguish.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! (gotta watch the video)

Big HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Just a little jig to say, "You're awesome!"

Daylight Savings and Baptism THIS SUNDAY

Daylight Savings Time begins THIS Sunday, March 14th, so move your clocks FORWARD one hour THIS Saturday Night and pass on this video to other forgetful friends...



Baptism in Water is a significant step in the journey of a Jesus-follower, and if you or someone you know has not been baptized in water, take advantage of this special Baptism Ceremony held at Leitersburg Cinemas!

For more information- check out our event page here.

Is TRUE LOVE only in fairy tales?

ALL sermons for "is TRUE LOVE only in fairy tales?" series are up here. See the previous post for the trailer for the series. I'm strongly encouraging you to download the mp3 files and SHARE them. Get your kids to listen to them, pass them on to your friends, classmates, or secretly load them onto someone's iPod.

We took a lot of time on this series, and I addressed some tough, but very relevant issues, as we walked through the Song of Songs. These messages are straight from the Bible with no fluff, just honest, timeless truth that will profoundly impact the lives of those who will live them.

Really preached my heart and guts out on this series. Hope you enjoy and are impacted for eternity!

We'll also have the whole set on CD available on this Sunday, March 14th.

INVITE your FRIENDS to Lifehouse to Church on Valentine's Day

A reminder that tomorrow is Valentine's Day and FRIEND DAY! Invite your FRIENDS! We would strongly encourage you to invite them to either 9am or 10:30, but really want to encourage stronger attendance in the 9am service.

Here's our video to promote this FRIEND DAY and the Kick-off of "Is true love only in fairy tales?"

If you're wondering, graphics and video were taken from a series down by Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Always nice when we don't have to spend 80 hours creating designs and videos from scratch.

Everyone wants a miracle BUT...

few want to be in a miracle- requiring situation. We like miraculous healing, provision, protection, wisdom, and strength. But how many of us are willing to allow God to place us in situations of that require such miraculous breakthrough.

We read the Bible with the end of the story in mind, but for those who lived it, they were desperate and in need of God's power. Put yourself in these situations, could you have handled them as these biblical heroes did?

• Moses and Israelites were cornered between the Red Sea and the charging Egyptian army BEFORE the Sea was parted (Exodus 14),
• Israelites were wandering in the desert, Elijah was enduring a famine, a widow was about to eat her last meal, and 5000 men were hungry BEFORE God supplied an abundance of food (Exodus 16; 1 Kings 17; Matthew 14)
• Daniel broke the law against prayer, was thrown into a den of lions BEFORE he saw God's protection (Daniel 6),
• Gideon has challenged by God to narrow his vastly outnumbered army down to 300 men against the Midianites that were as vast as locust over the valley BEFORE God used them to deliver Israel from their siege (Judges 6),
• Elisha and Gehazi were surrounded by a vast army of Arameans BEFORE God sent chariots of fire to destroy the opposing army (2 Kings 7),
• Early Jesus-followers endured persecution, beatings, martyrdome, running for their lives BEFORE the gospel spread throughout all the regions surrounding Jerusalem and Asia Minor (Acts 8:1-8).

Curious as to why you might be in a difficult situation, enduring hardship, suffering?

• For Israel in Judges 7:1-4, God "stacked the deck" against them so that they wouldn't take credit for the victory but so that God would get ALL the glory. Are we giving glory to God in our situations and with our victories?
• In 2 Kings 7:15-17, Elisha prayed that Gehazi's eyes would be opened to see spiritually that "those who were with us are more than those who are with them". Maybe God wants you to see with spiritual eyes rather than with eyes of doubt and fear?
• In Acts 8:1-8, the persecution and suffering was necessary to scatter the believers and spread the God News of the Gospel to the "ends of the Earth". How can we grow through hard times?

In each situation, obedience is required before the miracle comes. And always, God wants the Glory for His miraculous power.

Thanks to all for a great time at Lifehouse on Sunday

Great to see so many brave Lifehousers and guests out at Lifehouse for our 10:30 service. It was a wild weekend with anywhere from 18-30+ inches of snow around the region. Wow!

Grateful for all who pitched in to make our service possible- Bill Anderson for plowing and getting the parking lot ready (did you even go to sleep on Saturday night?), Simanes for having coffee & cafe ready when everyone arrived (we all were in desperate need of a cup o' Joe), to the guys that were willing to walk people safely from the parking lot into the theater, and all the volunteers and staff that improvised, served, and worshiped together. What a way to SHARE LIFE TOGETHER.

Here's a picture I took when I went out to check out the roads early Sunday morning. Couldn't help but pull over and enjoy the moment!

SHINE Sermons are available at www.lifehousechurcheast.org.

10:30am service ONLY on Sunday, February 7th

Lifehouse Church East will have 10:30am services ONLY on Sunday, February 7th.

For those of you who are volunteering, serving, and leading tomorrow, you may want to arrive between 9-9:30, depending on how much time you need to prep.

Please be careful and safe.

After being snowbound since Friday, I'm sure most of you are ready to get out anyway, and I've got a sermon I'm ready to preach. I spent the bulk of the day digging out as I'm sure you did. Here's a pic of my girls enjoying our giant mound of snow outside our door.

Enjoy your evening and we look forward to seeing you at 10:30AM.

DON'T FORGET, NEXT SUNDAY is FRIEND DAY!! So, invite your friends!!

SHINE sermon series

Just a heads up that recent sermons are up on our website here.

Here's the trailer for SHINE as a teaser. Check them out and listen, be challenged, glorify God.

The Invitation series from Christmas is also up.

LISTEN. DOWNLOAD. LINK. TWEET. Whatever you do, SHARE.

Stay Humble, by Mark Batterson

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5

This is a re-post from www.evotional.com by Mark Batterson. Just thought it was an excellent post and great insight. I completely agree.

Let me make a confession: our family watches American Idol. I watch it for my kids, of course! Here's an observation I've made during the try outs to get on the show. The judges almost always react negatively to contestants who are cocky. It turns them off. It's almost like they naturally oppose them. But the judges seem to love contestants who have a quiet confidence or don't know how good they are. In a sense, pride and humility have almost as much to do with the contestants making the show as their voice quality.

Pride is a turn off isn't it? It invites opposition. But humility is endearing. It invites grace. And it's not just true in the natural realm. That is a reflection of the spiritual realm.

If I had one piece of advice for leaders I think it might be this: stay humble. If you have pride in your heart, God will oppose you and it's awfully hard to do the work of God when God Himself is opposing you! Stay humble in the way you treat others. Treat them as more important than yourself. And stay humble toward God. Keep giving credit where credit is due. And make sure you spend time on your knees kneeling before Him. The leaders that God uses the most have well worn knees.

Stand Firm: concluding 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Our focus in prayer today is for fruitfulness and faithfulness. Read John 15:1-11 as a reference point, and let's pray for "much fruit" through pruning, so that we are able to see increased impact in our community, many transformed lives, changed hearts, saved souls- all to the Father's Glory!!

When we are fruitful and faithful, the enemy will attack to discourage us, frustrate us, and lead us to believe that we should quite. But that is no time to quite. Instead,

"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.

Here's a very encouraging letter written by an anonymous pastor from the jungles of New Guinea explaining His situation to the preacher John Yates:

"Man, it's great to be in the thick of the fight, to draw the old Devil's heaviest guns, to have him at you with depression and discouragement, slander, disease! He doesn't waste time. He hits good and hard when a fellow is hitting him.

You can always measure the effectiveness of your work, by how hard Satan hits back. When you're on your back with fever and at your last ounce of strength, when some of your converts backslide, when you learn that your most promising inquirers are only fooling, when your mail gets held up and some don't bother to answer your letters, is that the time to bail out?

"No Sir! That's the time to pull out the stops and shout hallelujah! Satan’s really getting it and he’s launching an all out attack. And all of heaven is watching and asking: 'Will he stick it out?'

And they see who is with us…and they see around us the unlimited reserves, the boundless resources, and they see the impossibility of failure with God on our side…how sad the angels must be when we run away from hard times. Glory to God! We're not going to run away. We're going to stand."

So, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, BE ENCOURAGED, STAND FIRM, NEVER GIVE UP to the GLORY of GOD!