Behind the Scenes

Here are some of the behind the scenes happenings at Five Oaks:

Laser Mayhem: That's just one of the ways our Staff Leadership Team did some team building during our strategic planning retreat last week. Having our new youth pastor with us, Tyler Sotebeer, was also a special treat, especially since he doesn't start officially until June.

Change Happens: Lot's of changes on staff. Long-time member Peg Benson is coming on staff. Andrew Carey is our new Tech Director. I went to school with his dad, so that's the second staff person whose parents went to school with me. Jonathan Haage is transitioning over to work with Kent in Small Groups.

Carrs: No, not the movie. Ken, Deb and Ian Carr. Speaking of change, they're moving to FL. Deb has been on our staff forever. She's also the genius behind our stage sets over the last year or so. And Ken serves the Elders. That's only the tip of the iceberg of their impact. We're going to miss them in a huge way.

Christopher Walken Prayer: That's our staff nickname for the the Walk & Prayer Invite team because of how it sounds when you say it fast. I joined them for their first prayer walk on Sunday. Great group. Great time of praying while we walked. Even some major league hockey fans came and missed the first period of  the game to be there. I'm sure there will be special rewards in heaven for them.

Daily Life: Group Life will become daily life for the summer. Two 40-day journeys, back-to-back, taking us through 1-2 Samuel. A minimalistic approach that sets up the reading for the day and then prompts reflection. And there will be a special offering for those who want to go deeper into the study of 1 Samuel. The small group study will be included with the sermon notes each week and posted online.

One More Thing

Hi Five Oakers, It's the weekend and there are a few things I want to share with you.

The Weekend

Today we're talking about sex in our Loveology series. The question I'm going to address is, What if sexual intimacy in marriage is one of the means God uses to make us more like Jesus?

FYI

Jeni Carlson on "What if….. our kids asked, 'What needs to be done?'"

Serving allows the Holy Spirit to cultivate a sensitivity to others and focuses on a cause bigger than one individual life

Jared Wilson on "How do you know if you're repentant?"

Repenting people, typically, are zealous about casting off their sin. That’s what God’s Spirit does inside of them. When this happens, one can expect to see a willingness to accept outside counsel. A willingness to inconvenience their schedules. A willingness to confess embarrassing things. A willingness to make financial sacrifices or lose friends or end relationships.

One More Thing

Ray Ortlund, Jr., Isaiah: God Saves Sinners (Preaching the Word Commentary: Crossway, 2005). Cited by Jared Wilson.

“We are not just ordinary. Nothing is just ordinary. ‘The whole earth is full of his glory.’ We keep trying to fill it with monuments to our own glory — kingdoms, businesses, hit songs, athletic victories, and other mechanisms of self-salvation. But the truth is better than all that. Created reality is a continuous explosion of the glory of God. And history is the drama of his grace awakening in us dead sinners eyes to see and taste to enjoy and courage to obey.

“Do you realize that it is God’s will to make this earth into an extension of his throne room in Heaven? Do you realize that it is God’s will for his kingdom of glory to come into your life and for his will to be done in you as it is done in Heaven? Heaven is expanding, spreading in your direction.

“That is the meaning of existence, if you will accept it and enter in.

“Heaven is taking over. Yield.”