San Diego...

FAMILY FOCUS...

Enjoying some DOWNTIME in beautiful San Diego this week! Our National Conference (Converge World Wide) is hosting it's annual LARGE CHURCH PASTORS & WIVES GATHERING in San Diego this week! COC was gracious enough to send GINGER & myself out here to ENGAGE with some other Pastors & Churches to REFRESH a bit! Really enjoying the TIME AWAY with Ginger & I think she's enjoyed the BED with NO ALARM the past few days as well!

Mom & Dad are INCREDIBLE in Parenting our kiddos for a few days as well!

ISAAC... Outside of losing a tooth today & Football Practice every night - has been PRETTY BUSY! Tonight was FULL PADS night - let the HITTIN' BEGIN!

CALEB... Had a rough patch the other day at School - making things a little 'Sticky' to say the least with Sue Ann - as he 'MESSED IT UP' in his pants a little - and not to mention - decided it was pretty hilarious to throw his SKIVVIES in the Toilet as it was flushing?!?!? What is that kid thinking!?!?

CHARIS... Well - All I here from her is that Nana & Aunt Nanie (Melanie) have been doing some SHOPPING together - guess those GIRLZ need to start YOUNG!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

This week is an UNUSUAL week at the COC! A week before we make our OFFICIAL LOCATION & TIME CHANGE to our New Facility! It's our first ever "SERVE SUNDAY" - we'll be FULL PRODUCTION & PROGRAMMING the new site from start to finish - and EVERYONE else who comes will be SERVING with Projects we've lined up with Maricopa Wells Middle School to help assist with some CLEAN-UP Projects around the Campus!

Just wrapped up the FREAKONOMIC$ Series last week - spending 4 weeks talking SPECIFICALLY about the GENEROSITY Topic of TREASURES - this particular week we get to put the other TWO INGREDIENTS of GENEROSITY (TIME & TALENTS) into motion as we SERVE our New School! Should be an ABSOLUTE BLAST!

9-11a / SERVE Projects

(Maricopa Wells Middle School)

11a-12p / ALL Church BBQ

DON'T FORGET TO BE THERE!

Also...

Starting FEBRUARY 07th - we'll be in the NEW FACILITY with TWO NEW WORSHIP TIMES (9a & 10:45a) - SAVE THE DATE!

MARICOPA WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL

45725 W Honeycutt Ave

(Maricopa Meadows Subdivision)

We'll also be starting our NEW SERIES...

DON'T MISS IT!

SEE YOU SUNDAY @ 9A!!!!!!!

FrIdAy Already!?!?

Family Focus...

FRIDAY already!?!? Seems like I say this rather frequently! The older I get - the weeks seem to get faster and faster!! Is that the same for you too?!

Started a new 'strategy' this week with our oldest - ISAAC!! It's an FPU (Financial Peace University) Concept - called COMMISSIONS! Isaac WORKS his regular daily/weekly 'Chores' (per say) - however - he gets COMMISSIONS (i.e. PAID) for accomplishing these tasks ON TIME & ADEQUATELY! The unique 'twist' is that if he doesn't - he doesn't get paid for it! And... if the ATTITUDE is weak - he can receive FINES! It took some convincing - cleaning up his pup's DOOKIE is not something he's fond of - but it appears to be going well so far! Really PROUD of him responding well!

Caleb - let's see - what's UP with Caleb... well - I would have to say his FRO is the biggest thing UP right now! He hasn't got a haircut in about 4 weeks or so! Mommy wanted to let it grow a little this Winter - and OH is it growing! It's not just a FRO - it's a 'HIDING PLACE' for many things as well! I'll try and get a PIC up next week!

Charis is doing GREAT! Beginning to TALK more and more and it get clearer and clearer! She does have a pretty strong personality - like her Mommy (of course)! What else... Have I ever mentioned that she ROCKS MY FACE OFF!!!

Keep PRAYING for Ginger! Those pesky 'Kidney Stones' are not taking a break - which means that she is constantly in PAIN! TY for PRAYING!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

WK 3 ~ THE SWEET SPOT!

Are you really like GOD or do you just THINK you are?

Taking a bit of an EXEGETICAL look at the word TITHE this week! Pay no attention to that big THEOLOGICAL word I just mentioned - it simply means... WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT IT!

When Jesus talks about MONEY in 16 of His 38 Parables...

When He talks about MONEY in 1 out of every 10 verses in the NT...

When He mentions MONEY more than He talks about Heaven/Hell/Grace/Prayer - COMBINED...

WE KNOW HE THINKS IT'S A BIG DEAL - SO SHOULD WE!!!!

The TITHE was PRE-LAW / LAW & POST-LAW!

Regardless of what you may have come to believe - the TITHE is just as Biblical TODAY (NT) as it was YESTERDAY (OT)! Don't take my word for it - come on out Sunday and see WHAT the Bible says about it!

Don't forget to ck-out FREAKONOMICS.ME and see WHAT God is doing through the people of COC - in 'Making His Name More Famous' through GENEROSITY!!!

Back in the GROOVE...

LIFE goes back to NORMAL! That's what this week contained - 'back in the GROOVE!' I have to say - as much as I do ENJOY the Christmas Season - when life gets back to its normal 'Rhythm' - I do welcome her back!

Spent some great TIME in the WORD this week! And MESSAGE PREP was AWESOME - as I looked closer at the word TITHE - Biblically what does it mean & what does God have to say about it from it's root - back in the OT! I think many 'Followers of THE Way' today would be quite embarrassed if they have fallen trap to redefining it! Though Jesus & Grace have superseded the OT Law - HE NEVER RENDERED IT IRRELEVANT!

FAMILY FOCUS...

BACK TO SCHOOL - fun day at the Barrett's - not with the Barrett Kiddos! Actually... only Isaac was not so happy about heading back to the academic scene! Caleb LOVES it - and the ROUTINE is Awesome Therapy!

Ging - Isaac & Charis got to head back to Springfield last week(end) and I'd thought I'd share some of the FUN IN THE SNOW! (Enjoy)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

WK 2 / BUCK NAKED

Are YOU really like GOD - or - do YOU just THINK you are?

The FREAKONOMICS.ME testimonies of 'Making His Name More Famous' have been rolling in! If you missed it - last week we GAVE $4000 away in three services at COC - via 400 denominational units! The only 'CATCH' - INVEST it into 'Making His Name More Famous' in some creative way! Then... you HAD/HAVE to share it with us @ freakonomics.me (ck-out the website & you can see some of the stories so far on the Stories Page!)

Keep 'em coming - loving to see WHAT GOD is doing THROUGH YOU!

We'll be taking a closer look at Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 this week - gaining a better perspective on...

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

HOW MUCH IS OURS?

HOW MUCH WE WILL LEAVE?

Don't Miss It! See you tomorrow... 8:30A / 10A / 11:30A