• Notes from Pastor Tim •

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A Call To Fast -----------------December 22nd, 2009 I have never called our church to a corporate extended fast before. Why now? Let me tell you the story. I sensed the Holy Spirit might be calling us to fast. Shortly after that I met my friend Kevin Jones for coffee. He asked me to consider a joint fast with his Nazarene church in Colorado. He mentioned a book by Jentezen Franklin that had impacted him personally. I have to admit I was open but reserved, not enough time to plan, publicize and prepare…, so I thought. Then I went to lunch with Dr. Todd Bennett with Niki and Johnny Glisson to prepare for our upcoming series “Healthy Families”. (You won’t want to miss it by the way!) I tested the waters and asked Niki how our people might respond to a call to fast. Niki handed me a book she had “felt led” to give me from a pastor named, you guessed it Jentezen Franklin. I went to a seasoned prayer warrior in the church. I asked her about a fast and she was insistent that the best time to begin was January 3rd. A year ago she had been told about a book by Jennifer Jones, you already know the author (Jentezen Franklin). Marlene told the Lord she would only read that book if it fell at her feet. Some time later she was at the airport. A man bumped a book off of a shelf near by and it fell at her feet. It was Fasting Journal by Jentezen Franklin. I could tell you even more ways that God confirmed His desire to touch our church through seeking His face in fasting. Space and time restraints don’t allow me to put it to pen just now but this I know; God is leading us in a journey with Him that includes fasting. How do we fast? A 21 day fast • At Eagle Naz, I am fasting for 21 days. This is a "Daniel Fast" … Fruits, vegetables & juices… (what Daniel ate when he fasted for 21 days): • You may choose some of you a different kind of fast as God leads. Other links to explore besides the Jentezen Franklin book: http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting/ http://danielfast.wordpress.com/daniel-fast-food-list/ http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting/quicktips.php Why do we fast? • closer walk with God, personal growth, walking with Him in obedience. • The beginning of a New Service Easter Weekend that needs His hand on it. • For development of prayer ministries in our church. • For 21 people to come to know Jesus as their savior by the end of Easter Weekend When do we fast? My fast begins January 3, 2010 to Janary 25, 2010 Our church is fasting for: A closer walk with God through the power of Christ’s sacrifice and in the leading of The Holy Spirit. The beginning of a new worship service to begin Easter Weekend. A call to people to Worship and pray. Fasts can vary greatly: There are one day fasts, three day fasts, 40 day fasts and 21 day fasts. The Bible speaks of fasting for a variety of reasons in assorted ways. Sometimes a fast is simply from something that consumes us like too much t.v. or coffee. We are beginning a Daniel Fast. It is 21 days starting January 3rd and Ending January 25. We will be feasting on God’s word following the fast. You are invited to seek God in understanding what He would have you do regarding a fast. I recommend the following book to help you in your journey with drawing closer to God, hearing Him more clearly and seeking His hand in the ministry He has given you: Fasting Journal Your 21 – day guide to a successful fast I commit to fast from … Thank you for your consideration in getting involved in this special event for your church body! What an exciting journey to be on together as we seek the Lord's hand to be at work at ENC in the 2010 year. God bless you in the journey with me. Pastor Tim
Revealing Truth to a Poser's Heart -----October 8th, 2009 ----------------- A couple of Sundays ago I brought in my motorcycle and talked about "Posers". It is amazing how subtle pretending can be. It is such a temptation at every level to only let people see the me I want them to see instead of the weaknesses that I need them to see. I was at a parent teacher conference recently where one of my kid's teachers said: "You are really good at math, aren't you?" Simple question. Yes or no answer will do. I just smiled and left the room, letting her question dangle. My silence changed her perception of me. Truth is, I stink at math. I struggled all the way through graduate school in it. The real revelation here is that I need to enjoy what I am strong in and understand that it is ok to be weak in other places. It is only in my weakness that I can grow, learn and develop. If people know my weaknesses they can support me and as a shepherd their expectations of me can change. What is the church if not a place where our weaknesses are supported and our strengths celebrated as the Body of Christ. He meant it that way. I will never forget Alan asking me near the end of our ride together if I wanted to ride his amazing 1900 cc. bike. As I pulled out onto the road I thought the guy in the mirror might not be, well posing. God bless you in the journey with me. Pastor Tim
Pastor’s Pen to Pastor’s Heart -------------August 29, 2009 Not Getting The “cart before the horse” About Mother’s Day I shared how God was working and stirring in my heart. In the heart of summer it seems appropriate that I give you glimpses into my heart in this season as well. During my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary celebration we were blessed to spend that time in Hawaii with them. I have always wanted to go parasailing. Hanging weightlessly with the clouds. It was amazing rising above the low-land to see such beauty around me. Strapped in, the wind began to fill the sail and I was lifted to heights I had never been before in ways that I had only dreamt of. It was there my perspective shifted. It was not that my perspective was wrong from below, it was perhaps incomplete in that it lacked the clarity of the whole. On the ground I began to think about that again. There is a saying “Don’t get the cart before the horse." Both are certainly vital but in the wrong order the combination is deadly on a destination. I told God recently that I thought my goal in life and ministry is to love people to Him. I think I missed something; something settled in the low land instead of hanging in the heights. It was a "cart before the horse" moment. Both are essential in the journey but so is the order. Jesus wants me to love Him. That is why years ago I was taught the ancient question and answer: Question: "What is the chief end of man?" Answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” That’s it. “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength” The second command is like it. Love your “neighbor as yourself…” - Jesus Both are vital in the journey but they have and order. One flows out of the other. I wanted to please God by doing. God wants me to love Him and He will guide the doing. Doing without love soon becomes drudgery. Doing with a heart of love becomes joy. How often do I get that mixed up, turned around and out of order. That moment in prayer I was reminded that the chief aim of my life is to love God and enjoy Him forever. The rest will come in time. Enjoy Him and the journey you are on. Bless you, Pastor Tim

------There Is A Tree---------------------------------------- April 29, 2009 --------------------------- There is a tree by my office window.  Every year now it blooms.  When it does it reminds me of her.  It was given to me by my in-laws (Nana and Papa) to my kids, just after my mother died.  When I look at it the memories are more pleasure than pain, sunshine than sadness…that kind of thing.  I see it and I think of love and walked and me in her lap and her playing with my ear in church so I wouldn’t fidget.  Daddy was wondering why I wouldn’t settle down but she understood why little boys think that preachers talk forever and church is too long and there’s so much more fun stuff to do outside.  I need to be reminded of me from time to time.

She didn’t write any big books or make any long speeches or run any large companies.  She gave birth to 13 children, and that should earn any woman a gold medal somehow.  Never-the less, she found her way into my heart, deep in, where few will ever go.  She loved me in a way that only I alone can know. She transformed me by her love.  Her work in life was to…love like that.  Mother’s day will come and go, but my Mama will influence me every day.  When I see a tree that blooms, or a daffodil that peeks out to anticipate the spring, or I look out my kitchen window and see the first of the fallen snow, I will think of her with wonder and the love that she gave to me. There is another tree like that.  Just looking at it reminds me of love and the power to transform.  The Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from God.  Deep in my mother’s heart Jesus planted a seed called salvation, and every time she looked at the tree a blossom of love grew within her heart.  When I think about the transformed life and the series that we are in I am reminded to look at the tree and let love grow. Just some thoughts to share with you… Pastor Tim