Praise God

God did it!! We raised more than the $37,000 needed for the matching funds from the denomination. Praise God. As of this evening we have raised $37,500 in just a little over 2 months. Thank you to all of you that have supported the startup of The Branches Community Church. We have a lot more fund raising to be done to get the church off the ground, but this initial push has been a boost to our confidence and confirmation that we are headed in the right direction.

The last Sunday for the Sorensens and the Pinkertons at Farmland Friends Church will be April 11th. Beginning in mid-April James and I will begin an internship at Brookville Road Community Church in New Palestine, IN. We will be learning from them for a couple of months before we make the move to California. BRCC will be partnering with The Branches Community Church of Escondido, CA.; we are looking forward to the partnership, and are anticipating great things.

There is one more piece of the puzzle that needs to be taken care of... and that is the selling of our home here in Parker City, IN. We would appreciate your prayers that our home would sell before this June. Our families need to get out to California by June 30th so that we can begin laying the ground work for the new church. If you know of anyone interested in a new home please send them our way... we are EXTREMELY motivated at this point. =)

I believe God is up to some big things with this new church. We have had many confirmations that we are moving in the right direction. The excitement level is building and we are excited to get this church started. If all goes according to plan we will probably be launching the church in mid-December.

Here are some things you could help us with by praying:

• That our home will sell in the next couple of months.
• That we have a smooth conclusion to our ministries at FFC.
• That the Lord would prepare the hearts of those that we will share the Good News with in Escondido.
• That God would be glorified through our lives.

Praise God

God did it!! We raised more than the $37,000 needed for the matching funds from the denomination. Praise God. As of this evening we have raised $37,500 in just a little over 2 months. Thank you to all of you that have supported the startup of The Branches Community Church. We have a lot more fund raising to be done to get the church off the ground, but this initial push has been a boost to our confidence and confirmation that we are headed in the right direction.

The last Sunday for the Sorensens and the Pinkertons at Farmland Friends Church will be April 11th. Beginning in mid-April James and I will begin an internship at Brookville Road Community Church in New Palestine, IN. We will be learning from them for a couple of months before we make the move to California. BRCC will be partnering with The Branches Community Church of Escondido, CA.; we are looking forward to the partnership, and are anticipating great things.

There is one more piece of the puzzle that needs to be taken care of... and that is the selling of our home here in Parker City, IN. We would appreciate your prayers that our home would sell before this June. Our families need to get out to California by June 30th so that we can begin laying the ground work for the new church. If you know of anyone interested in a new home please send them our way... we are EXTREMELY motivated at this point. =)

I believe God is up to some big things with this new church. We have had many confirmations that we are moving in the right direction. The excitement level is building and we are excited to get this church started. If all goes according to plan we will probably be launching the church in mid-December.

Here are some things you could help us with by praying:

• That our home will sell in the next couple of months.
• That we have a smooth conclusion to our ministries at FFC.
• That the Lord would prepare the hearts of those that we will share the Good News with in Escondido.
• That God would be glorified through our lives.

You Will See

"The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:63-64

Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Jesus came to earth as a tiny baby – He returns as a conquering King and you will see.

Jesus came to Jerusalem gentle and riding on a donkey – He will return riding a white horse prepared for battle and you will see.

Jesus came humbly offering peace – He returns to judge and make war with the enemies of God and you will see.

Above His head as He hung on the cross was the mocking statement King of the Jews – when He returns there is a tattoo on His thigh that reads King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will see.

He wore a crown of thorns at His crucifixion – when He returns on his head are many crowns and you will see.

His followers scattered and ran for their lives at His crucifixion – He returns with the armies of heaven and you will see.

Jesus stood before the high priest sitting as judge in the mockery of a trial – when He returns you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven and He will judge the living and the dead and you will see Him in all of His heavenly glory.

You Will See

"The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:63-64

Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Jesus came to earth as a tiny baby – He returns as a conquering King and you will see.

Jesus came to Jerusalem gentle and riding on a donkey – He will return riding a white horse prepared for battle and you will see.

Jesus came humbly offering peace – He returns to judge and make war with the enemies of God and you will see.

Above His head as He hung on the cross was the mocking statement King of the Jews – when He returns there is a tattoo on His thigh that reads King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will see.

He wore a crown of thorns at His crucifixion – when He returns on his head are many crowns and you will see.

His followers scattered and ran for their lives at His crucifixion – He returns with the armies of heaven and you will see.

Jesus stood before the high priest sitting as judge in the mockery of a trial – when He returns you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven and He will judge the living and the dead and you will see Him in all of His heavenly glory.

Matching Deadline

We are approaching the final days of our matching challenge for the church plant. March 31st will be the last day to match funds (up to $37,000). We are short of our goal, but prayerful that all of the funds will make their way to the account before Wednesday. There are envelopes with our logo on them available at the church in the foyer if you would like to make a donation. If you are writing a check you can make it out to "Farmland Friends Church" and in the memo write "Branches of Escondido". Thank you so much to those who have assisted us financially already! Your prayers and support mean a lot to us.

Click HERE to read more about The Branches Community Church.

Matching Deadline

We are approaching the final days of our matching challenge for the church plant. March 31st will be the last day to match funds (up to $37,000). We are short of our goal, but prayerful that all of the funds will make their way to the account before Wednesday. There are envelopes with our logo on them available at the church in the foyer if you would like to make a donation. If you are writing a check you can make it out to "Farmland Friends Church" and in the memo write "Branches of Escondido". Thank you so much to those who have assisted us financially already! Your prayers and support mean a lot to us.

Click HERE to read more about The Branches Community Church.

Watch this Space

Keep watching this space; my blog will be getting a makeover in early to mid April. Much of the focus of the blog will be our transition into starting The Branches Community Church of Escondido, CA.

Have you visited the blog for our new church yet? You can visit it HERE.

Many of the links on the side will be vanishing so if you need to bookmark other sites you may want to do that sooner rather than later.

Watch this Space

Keep watching this space; my blog will be getting a makeover in early to mid April. Much of the focus of the blog will be our transition into starting The Branches Community Church of Escondido, CA.

Have you visited the blog for our new church yet? You can visit it HERE.

Many of the links on the side will be vanishing so if you need to bookmark other sites you may want to do that sooner rather than later.

Last Year at this Time

Last year on St. Patrick's Day, myself and several others were in Ireland on a short mission trip. We took part in the "Pilgrimage" into Down Patrick and to Down Cathedral where St. Patrick is buried.

Last Year at this Time

Last year on St. Patrick's Day, myself and several others were in Ireland on a short mission trip. We took part in the "Pilgrimage" into Down Patrick and to Down Cathedral where St. Patrick is buried.

Imagine... The Branches

Have you caught the series of "imagine" blog posts over on "The Growing of the Branches" blog yet?

Imagine... The Branches

Have you caught the series of "imagine" blog posts over on "The Growing of the Branches" blog yet?

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

A couple of Sundays ago (2/21/10) I preached about the false concept that "good people go to heaven" (borrowed from Andy Stanley's book How Good is Good Enough). I spent time poking holes in that belief, and concluded that the Bible teaches there is no one good... except for God. The truth is, "good people don't go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven."

For a deeper look at this subject check out this video at the Resurgence website. They interviewed a professor by the name of Michael Horton from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA. Dr. Horton discusses "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" and how many "evangelical Christians" have similar beliefs as non-Christians when it comes to theology and philosophy of life.

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

A couple of Sundays ago (2/21/10) I preached about the false concept that "good people go to heaven" (borrowed from Andy Stanley's book How Good is Good Enough). I spent time poking holes in that belief, and concluded that the Bible teaches there is no one good... except for God. The truth is, "good people don't go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven."

For a deeper look at this subject check out this video at the Resurgence website. They interviewed a professor by the name of Michael Horton from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA. Dr. Horton discusses "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" and how many "evangelical Christians" have similar beliefs as non-Christians when it comes to theology and philosophy of life.