SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (212 Degrees)

(Wk1) Boiling Point

The idea of 212 DEGREES is not only a message of ACTION – it’s a message of PERSISTENT & CONSISTENT ACTION - going the SECOND MILE!

Matthew 5:41 (KJV)… "And whosoever shall COMPEL thee to go a mile-go with him TWAIN!"

'Whosoever' - this is not limited to just ONE person - ANYONE!

'Twain' - not only DOING what you should - BEING what what you should!

“CHRISTIANITY” (Following JESUS) is a Second Mile RELIGION!

-Jesus REQUIRES you and I to LIVE in the 2nd Mile!

-Are you willing to go the Second Mile?

-Are you traveling the Second Mile - or are you the CAUSE of someone else traveling the Second Mile?

THE SECOND MILE NEVER ENDS!

-HOW... Do we know this?

-The Bible never introduces a THIRD MILE!

GATHER/GROW/GIVE/GO...

-All IDEAS are IDEAS that embody RISK / ONE MORE DEGREE / ONE MORE MILE!

BIG IDEA...

What's your Spiritual Temperature for Jesus running at right now?

Stoked for this VISION Series at COC - you don't wanna miss it!

See you Sunday at COC...

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a/10:45a)

CHRISTMAS IN FORECLOSURE... (COC Christmas Eve)

Are the amount of bills piling up this year?

Do you feel a sense of abandonment this Christmas Season?

Please hear this…

God understands how important it is SHOW UP - and that's exactly what He did that first Christmas!

Don't let your CIRCUMSTANCES keep you from understanding the REAL MEANING behind CHRISTMAS!

Experience the true meaning of Christmas this year - one that is rich and full of FREEDOM!

Don't miss COC Christmas Eve Services...

Maricopa Wells Middle School

FRIDAY, DEC 24th (3p/4:30p/6p)

Don't forget - NO COC SERVICES on DEC 26th!

Merry Christmas and enjoy the New Year with your FAMILIES!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk7) I WILL LET YOU CHOOSE.

God gives us each a great gift... CHOICE!

He says...'I WILL LET YOU CHOOSE!'

What you need to know is this...

God gives Eternal Choices and they have Eternal Consequences! (GOOD & BAD!)

In the Bible...

-The SHEEP was lost INNOCENTLY!

-The COIN was lost IRRESPONSIBLY!

(However...)

-The PRODIGAL SON left INTENTIONALLY!

(The FATHER gave him the CHOICE!)

The next time you think that LIFE IS NOT FAIR - remember you've been given a CHOICE!

Know this...

The scales of LIFE were forever tipped on the side of FAIRNESS when God planted a TREE in the Garden of Eden! Every CHOICE you make - MATTERS!

NO GIFT IS GREATER THAN FREE CHOICE!

Not only does the PRIVILEGE offset any INJUSTICE – the Gift of FREE WILL can offset any MISTAKE!

See you Sunday @ COC as we look closer!

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a/10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk6) Where Man Covers His Mouth

(Life Lessons from a man named JOB!)

There are too many times when we speak and violate a moment - when SILENCE represents the highest respect! When God SPEAKS - SILENCE is the proper response!

"Hallowed Be Thy Name."

-This phrase is a petition not a proclamation!

Ps 46:10... 'BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD"

-The Command... Be Still

-The Promise... You Will Know That He Is God!

In the midst of your STORMS - let God be God!

Be Still!

Be Quiet!

Be Open & Willing!

Then you know that He is God!

When it comes to YOU & GOD...

Don't worry about having the RIGHT WORDS - worry more about having the RIGHT HEART!

See ya Sunday @ COC!

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a/10:45a)

Family Focus... (I am THANKFUL!)

Thanksgiving was GREAT! Here's a few reasons I am THANKFUL...!

This past week we had our Annual Staff Planning @ COC! LOTS of busy work and plenty of FUN! This is a GREAT group of people and I am BLESSED to call them my friends! Thoughts I'd share a memorable moment from one of the evenings!

Pretty STOKED about 2011 - lots of exciting IDEAS in store for Series and not to mention a small little 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION for the COC! WOW!! Where did yesterday go! You don't wanna miss 2011 at the COC - it's gonna ROCK!!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk5) HIDDEN HEROES

BIG IDEA...

Would you be willing to place your COMMON LIFE into the hands of an UNCOMMON GOD?

A true Hidden Hero... PAUL

No person – apart from Jesus Himself – shaped the history of Christianity like the APOSTLE PAUL!

LESSONS FROM THE 2X4...

I once heard a story of an old farmer who claimed that he could command his mule with nothing more than a few soft words - no whips or prods necessary! She would respond - he claimed - with nothing more than gently spoken commands! So his buddy - down at the feed store - asked for a demonstration one day… “Prove to me that your old mule will respond with nothing more than gentle language!”

 So… out to the field they went - the farmer, his buddy and the mule! As the friend watched - first in awe and then in horror - the farmer took a huge piece of lumber - a 2X4 – about 4 feet in length - and swung it with all his might -- hitting the mule on one side of the head! When the animal stopped braying and bellowing and prancing around - the farmer simply said something quietly… “COME HERE” and the mule came! “SIT” and the whimpering creature sat! “BACK UP” and she backed into the harnesses of a waiting plow and waited calmly for him to hook up! ‘You see?’ the farmer replied - ‘She’ll respond to a simple voice command!” But his friend objected… “What are you talking about? You said all you had to do was talk to her - but you hit her with this huge 2X4! What do you mean - you just command her with words! That’s not what I saw!”

 “Oh, that!” said the farmer... “WELL… I FIRST HAVE TO GET HER ATTENTION!!”

Don't miss SUNDAY @ COC as we take a CLOSER LOOK at the LESSONS FROM THE 2X4...

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a/10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk4) GOSPEL OF SECOND CHANCE!

If you read the GOSPELS – each Apostle gives there own UNIQUE interpretation to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus! Mark’s account seems to be the BRIEFEST and most CONCISE to the events!

In Mark 16 he shares with us a SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITY that can be missed at first glance!

The first 5 verses record the women’s surprise when they find the STONE HAS BEEN MOVED! Then… it reads words of HOPE & OPTIMISM – that you may quickly overlook… “He is not here, he is risen” (Don’t pause too long – go a bit further & get your highlighter ready!)

“But go - tell his disciples and PETER that he is going before you to Galilee.”

Did you HEAR it? Do you SEE it?

Let me paraphrase it… “Don’t stay here - go tell the disciples – and especially tell PETER – that He is going before you to Galilee!”

It’s as if ALL OF HEAVEN had watched PETER FALL and it’s as if ALL OF HEAVEN wanted to help him BACK UP AGAIN!

“Be sure to tell Peter that he’s not left out – tell him that ONE FAILURE doesn’t make a FLOP!”

NO WONDER THEY CALL IT THE GOSPEL OF SECOND CHANCE!

See you tomm @ COC to hear more...

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a & 10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk3) FACING YOUR GIANTS!

BIG IDEA... Would you be willing to place your COMMON LIFE into the hands of an UNCOMMON GOD?

Couple things to note from a MAN (David) who was willing to place his COMMON LIFE into the hands of an UNCOMMON GOD...

David cried out... "You come at me with sword-spear-javelin - I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts-the GOD of the armies of Israel!"

In David's good days-no one was better!

In his bad ones-no one was worse!

The heart God loved was a checkered one!

Notice something often overlooked in this story...

David doesn't sit back and wait for his giant - he RUNS TOWARD him with a God-Saturated Soul!

Giants lurk everywhere!

You MUST face them-yet your not alone!

Focus on God - GIANTS ALL!

Focus on yourself - YOU FALL!

Another interesting thought...

Read 1 Samuel 17 - TWO mentions of the GIANT to NINE mentions of GOD!

FOUR TIMES more focus on God-that's PERSPECTIVE!

"Lift your eyes Giant-Slayer! The God who made a miracle out of David is ready to make on out of you!" (Lucado)

Excited about this Sunday - it's YOUTH INVASION SUNDAY!

Duncan (our GROW/Youth Pastor) will be speaking!

He's gonna tear it up! Don't miss it!

MARICOPA WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL (9a/10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

(Wk2) THE FINAL WITNESS

Would you be willing to place your COMMON LIFE into the hands of an UNCOMMON GOD?

Lessons we can learn from LAZARUS / John 11:38-45

-Those who KNOW Jesus - KNOW His Love!

-When Jesus LOVES you – His TIMING is always RIGHT!

-Circumstances that may appear to you as a TRAGEDY – may just be intended to be TRANSFORMING!

-When the DOOR of OPPORTUNITY is opened by GOD (Key Words… BY GOD) – you must WALK through it!

-There is always HOPE for the HOPELESS!

-It’s never TOO LATE for GOD!

-Jesus LOVES you so much that He is often emotionally MOVED by you! ("Jesus Wept.")

-When you remove the DOUBT – Jesus can go about His BUSINESS!

-FAITH moves GOD and GOD moves MAN!

What STONES need to be REMOVED in your life in order for you to RESPOND to an UNCOMMON GOD?

See you Sunday @ COC to find out in DETAIL!

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a & 10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Common People~Uncommon God)

WK 1 ~ 7:47 Principle

COMMON PEOPLE… Story after story marked by Scandal, Stumble, and Intrigue!

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

They’re the people found in the pages of the Bible! And they’re… US (You & Me)

-We find our stories in theirs!

-We find our HOPE where they found theirs!

Max Lucado… (Cast of Characters) “Hovering among them all – is the hero of it all! GOD… Maker-Shaper-Rescuer of sinking hearts… GOD! Passing out high-callings – second chances and moral compasses to all comers and takers! To Moses – who murdered; Samson-who slipped; Thomas-who second-guessed God; to John the Baptist-who dressed like a caveman and had the diet of a grizzly bear!”

Here’s the TRUTH today… If God can find a place for these Characters - He might just have a place for you too!

BIG IDEA… Would you be willing to place your COMMON life into the hands of an UNCOMMON GOD?

See you Sunday at COC for the start of this NEW SERIES!

Maricopa Wells Middle School (9a & 10:45a)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT... (Maricopa Trick or Treat 2010)

It's that time for our annual MARICOPA TRICK OR TREAT! The exciting aspect of this year's Trick or Treat is that it falls on a SUNDAY! This year we are going to be initiating a SERVE SUNDAY on this day - which includes meeting at PACANA PARK at 8AM!

Don't Miss This... COC as you know it on Sunday's IS NOT HAPPENING this week! If you show up at Maricopa Wells Middle School at 9a - you'll be one hour late and at the wrong location & if you show up at 10:45a - you'll be 2 hours and 45 minutes late and at the wrong location!

Come CELEBRATE with your WHOLE FAMILY at 8AM at PACANA PARK as we transform the PARK for the TRICK OR TREAT Festivities that will run from 4-8P!

This is going to ROCK Maricopa and we all can participate in MAKING HIS NAME MORE FAMOUS! Please begin making plans NOW and begin PRAYING for people to see the LIGHT OF JESUS on what's so-called a DARK NIGHT!

See you SUNDAY!!!

Family Focus & Sunday Snapshot...

FAMILY FOCUS... (Camping/Woods Canyon Lake)

Last week was FALL BREAK for the Boyz - so we decided to do the 'Camping Thang' again! This time we were 4 eyes / 4 ears / 4 hands short (minus Pop & Gma) and 1 kid more (Kaleo-Isaac's Buddy)! Needless to say - we SURVIVED! The 4 eyes/ears/hands down was tricky at times with Mr. Caleb - but all in all we had a blast! Fires/Pine Cone Baseball/Pine Cone Wars & Crawdaddy Hunting were all a success! And the FOOD was nothing short of AMAZING - thanks to my INCREDIBLE Wife - GINGER!

Ck-out the PICS...

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

We're wrapping up our 4Week Series this week with our last message -

Stop Acting Like A Christian And... BE ONE! Should be a BLAST!

Here's a Sneak Peak of what to expect...

BIG IDEA... It's Against My Relationship To Have A Religion!

It’s time to bring back the MENTAL to FundaMENTALism!

If FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST are to restore the perception of CHRIST and what RELATIONSHIP is all about – we must understand accurately WHO the CHRIST of the NEW TESTAMENT was – we need to become more thoughtful of our FAITH!

Instead of spending our time lashing out at the CULTURE (which Jesus Christ NEVER did) – we need to focus more on CONFORMING OURSELVES INTO HIS IMAGE!

The apostle Peter describes the ancient form of EVANGELISM that we need to REDISCOVER and EMPLOY (Put into ACTION!) … 1 Peter 3:15-16

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

THIS is what I’m saying…

JESUS CHRIST expects His followers to LIVE an EXEMPLARY LIFE that is INTRIGUING TO OTHERS – not one that repulses them!

Peter is implying in this verse that a ‘discussion of personal faith’ should be initiated by someone else – not the “CHRISTIAN!”

‘BEING PREPARED” is suggesting that someone is going to ASK A QUESTION!

-That will only happen when BELIEVERS learn to ATTRACT people rather than turn them away!

I thought that we would close this SERIES out with a POA! (Plan of ACTION!)

That Being... STOP ACTING LIKE A CHRISTIAN… BE ONE!

We'll be taking ONE WEEK off doing CHURCH as we know it NEXT WEEK with ALL CHURCH PARTICIPATION in preparing for our 4th Annual MARICOPA TRICK or TREAT on the 31st! More to come next week in that Sunday Snapshot! Begin PRAYING now that we can 'MAKE HIS NAME MORE FAMOUS' in Maricopa that evening!

See ya Sunday at MARICOPA WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL

(9a & 10:45a)