Amplify Project Kansas City

This past week we took a group of students to Kansas City for a mission trip. It was an amazing trip for sure. The greatest part for me was to get to know our students. We have an amazing group of students. Also thank you to my Youth Staff and all the Adult Volunteers who did so much on this trip. What a great week. Can't wait for next year.

Check out Kyle Sullivan's New Blog

Kyle is a summer intern here at FBC Broken Arrow. I've really enjoyed working with him this summer. He does a great job and our students love him. He definitely has a bright future ahead in ministry. He just put together a new blog. Check it out.

kylesullivanonline.com

Please Pray for Russell

At about 8 a.m. this morning our Worship Pastor here at FBC Broken Arrow, Russell Freeman, had what appears to be a heart attack, while driving from church to his home. He is now in Southcrest Hospital in Tulsa and is still non-responsive. His heart rate is unstable and doctors have now placed him in a coma for the next 2 days hoping to revive him after that. Please keep Russell in your prayers. His heart for the Lord and leading others in worship is unmatched. He is an unbelievable worship leader and has done so much for me and my family already just in the short time that we have been here. Please also pray for his wife Kathy, son Tyler, and daughter Lauren in this time.

There will be a prayer service tonight at 6 p.m. in our worship center.

2 words for Lebron James

I think Lebron James just made a massive mistake in choosing to go the Miami Heat. It is going to fun to watch but I have 2 words for Lebron, Ego and Kobe.

Having 3 guys who have ran their teams for years play together won't work. Now the Big Three in Boston have done it well but it won't work with these 3. The Miami Heat are Dwayne Wade's team. He moved over when Shaq came to town and they won a championship but he's been there so long now that Lebron and Bosh will be step children of the Heat. Lebron's ego is the biggest of the 3 and he won't be satisfied unless it is His Team. If he doesn't share it won't work and I don't think he's really going to be up for sharing.

Then there is still no way they are going to be able to overcome the Lakers. Kobe is too strong and will die on the court before he lets this 3peat slip away. He is more of a competitor than all 3 of those guys but together and he will figure out a way to win. Then throw in Phil Jackson, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum, and it's a done deal. Who is the coach of the Miami Heat again? That's right.

Finally if they don't pull out a championship this next season this will be the greastest failure in NBA History. Trades will start happening so fast Lebron will wish he had stayed in Cleveland.

Sorry to branch away from ministry but I love sports too. It's going to be fun watching everything unfold. Can't wait till next June.

Explosive Giving

Yesterday to celebrate our Independence, Americans spent over 350 million dollars on Fireworks. It was definitely cool blowing stuff up but 350 million dollars seems pretty extreme. Now I'm not against fireworks, I love fireworks, but are our priorities in the wrong place?
I was reading the other day in Exodus 35 and 36 where the Lord spoke through Moses telling the people to bring offerings to the Lord. He told them to bring jewelry, linen, gold, silver, etc. and the people began to bring it in, and bring it in, and bring it in. They brought so much in that Moses literally had to say "Stop!!" there was too much to handle. They brought more than was needed.

What if we began to see this in our churches again. That we brought in so much that people had to be turned away because there was too much. Sadly it blows my mind to even think that way. The resources are there but it's not a priority. Lets give to the Kingdom of God and reach more and more people, lets give so much that we have to be told to stop giving. Wow! What an impact we could make.

Exaggerated Numbers

One of the most tempting things about ministry is to exaggerate our numbers. In ministry, in a way, we are sized up by the numbers we bring in. I do believe that numbers are important because a number represents a person but that should never give us an excuse to lie about them. It is always a temptation to round up. If we had 45 it's easy to say we had 50 or if we had 180 it's easy to say we had 200. But it's a lie. I just want to encourage ministers to tell the truth about the numbers they are running and not fall into the temptation of seeing your number as your worth.

I really do feel like this has become a significant problem. Someone is always going to ask how big your group is, whether it's your boss, a fellow youth pastor, or your mother-in-law. The next time someone asks make sure you tell the truth without exaggerating. Lets be concerned with honoring God more than honoring ourselves.

Aaron Sadler

Check out Aaron Sadler's new blog. Aaron is our Student Worship Leader. He has an amazing heart for God, loves these students, and does an incredible job leading worship. God is using him greatly. Check out his blog.

arocksadler.blogspot.com