Tomorrow Night "Treats n Eats" 6-8pm

Tomorrow night October 31st BridgePoint will host a FREE event called “Treats n Eats” at the James 5:16 Center from 6-8pm.

Inside the gym we’ll have a few carnival games for the kids to play & win candy. And we’ll be showing a “Veggie Tales” movie on the Big Screen. Each child will also get a full size candy bar.

Outside the gym we’ll be giving away Hot Dogs, chips, drinks as well as Cotton Candy.

It’s going to be a really fun time sharing Jesus and everyone is invited!

Emeril & Mark Twain

This past Sunday we ended our Emeril “Kickin’ It Up a Notch” series with a message entitled, “I Love it all Because It’s Real!” A very approiate Emeril quote considering that BPC has been established to… “Connect Real People to the Real God!”

“I Love It All Because Its Real” is something not only Emeril has said but I imagine Barnabas may have said. Born Joseph, a Levite from the island of Cyprus, nicknamed Barnabas (son of exhortation, encouragement) by the disciples, He was drawn to people he could encourage & was a great help to those
around him. Regardless of where others were in their thoughts & ideas, much like today, I believe Barnabas’ passion for people & passion for encouragement drew many to Christ. Wouldn’t it be great if that was said of us!

The challenge this week was to be a passionate encourager displaying Godly confidence drawing people to Christ. Be a passionate encourager even to someone who may really irritate you. Ouch, that hurts!!

Mark Twain once said, “I could live for two months on one good complement.” So let me say thanks to Ron for his encouraging comments about the messages at BridgePoint… “Pastor Greg, your sermons kick butt! They really do.” Sure is nice to know we’re making an impact.

To round things out, we all enjoyed a taste of the Real Thing – Coke a Cola, as well as a hot dog & a piece of apple pie…You can’t get much more “American Real” than that. And thanks again so much to Debbie for cooking up a little something for us to taste each week during this series. I forgot to tell you, the food network called…interested?

"Wings" and The Holy Spirit

This past Sunday was once again “Emeril…Kickin’It Up a Notch” Sunday @ BPC. Our topic of conversation…The Holy Spirit.

We asked the following 4 questions:
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Comforter & Counselor/Paraclete-“one just like me”/of the same nature as Jesus who abides with us & in us. He was at work in…creation, upon the servants of God & in prophecy. He was active in the ministry of Jesus and He has the power to direct the church.

What role does He play in my life?
He indwells us at salvation & overwhelms us when we are baptized in Him.

What are the bi-products of a Spirit controlled life?
Fruitfulness/becoming like Jesus, giftedness/supernatural ministry & holiness/the power to overcome.

How do I respond to the Holy Spirit?
Believe that this promise is for you, seek Him with all of your heart, yield everything you are to Him, joyfully obey Him & walk in all He has for you.

The theme for the morning…
The Holy Spirit did not come for Himself but, to draw people to Christ and give Him glory.
Then, we all shared in communion together. Sunday was a uplifting morning!

BTW: Thanks again to Debbie for doing all the cooking. The "wings" were great!

Emeril, Samson, Samuel, thermometers & thermostats

When Emeril tells his viewers to “Use Your Knob” he’s referring to the dial on the oven/stove that adjusts the heat. Once the food is cooked he may use a thermometer to check the temperature. Our home heating systems have a knob that adjusts heat as well, it’s called a thermostat. Definitions: thermometer-measures temperature…thermostat-can raise temperature

Samson & Samuel were both OT Leaders, Judges who started life as thermostats. God kept raising the heat up as they eventually became Israel’s leaders but…while Samuel’s heat for God measured hot Samson’s slowly grew cold.

The result…Samson “did not know that the Lord had left him” and died blind being crushed under the weight of the temple of dagon. Samuel, a prophet went on to anointed kings & died with “all of Israel assembling & mourning.”

Regarding our spiritual lives…are we more like thermometers or thermostats? Do you use your knob raising the heat for God in your life or does it tend to grow cold based on your circumstances?

Just like on a cold, dark January evening @ home, when you start to feel a little chilly you intentionally get up from the sofa & turn the thermostat up transforming that chill into warming heat. You’ve got to do the same thing in your spiritual life! No one else can turn that knob up for you…you have to do it yourself! Even if you’re the only one, live a thermostat life!

Thanks to Debbie for preparing this week’s food item…2 dips…one hot & one mild. Also, click on the video below. It’ my childhood image of Samson. "Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up!"

Let's Kick It Up a Notch!

What does this Pic have 2 do with the title of this post?...Read on.

Let's Kick It Up a Notch!...was the title of the message Sunday in our Kickin’ it up a Notch Emeril series…Bam!

And Bam, Bam, Bam!...is just what the church experienced in Acts 8:1. The martyrdom of Stephen triggered a great persecution causing the early church to scatter into Judea & Samaria. Kick up you spiritual lives because too much of God is never enough…may have been their battle cry & like buckshot out of a double barrel shotgun they were scattered into the ends of the earth.

The challenge 4 the early church & 4 us is…
Soak up the things of God just like a sponge…so when you get squeezed, God things is just what’ll come out.
Know what’s at stake…when you kick up your spiritual life the enemy isn’t happy. (Not to worry…we’re more that conquerors & Jesus has already won!)
And…
Stay committed to the end…tell God I'm ridin’ this train with You through life’s twists, turn, banks & bends until we pull into the station!

Before you click on the video below…have a little cotton candy while you’re ridin’ the train. During Sunday’s svc we did! Thanks Debbie & Karen for giving everyone a taste of CC.

Hey, we're in an Emeril series...gotta have a little something 2 eat each week, right? Wonder what's on the menu next Sunday?