Last night @ flipside (12/14)!!!

It was another awesome night at flipside!! Worship was awesome and God really did some great things in a lot of students lives. The message really challenged a lot of students as well!! You also missed me singing Karaoke to my awesome wife. I sang her “Have I Told You Lately,” by Rob Stewart. I really got some major brownie points for that deal;-) Here is a recap on last night’s message, as we wrapped up our current series “Characters” and we hit on Mary Magdalene:

• Check out this video to see a modern day Mary Magdalene speak into our lives:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN3NnsPoU4g
• Everyone has a moment they will never forget
• I am sure an event has taken place in your life that was monumental and you can tell me every single detail about it
• You can tell me how life was before and after that specific event
• Mary Magdalene had that kind of moment with Jesus
• She was the perfect example of before and after story of Jesus coming into someone’s life and totally changing them
• Mary at one time had seven demons in her (Read Luke 8:2)
• She was also mentioned in the Bible to be a prostitute
• The change that took place in her life was forever, Mary didn’t go back to her old way of life
• She witnessed first hand the change that can take place in your life when you are totally sold out to Christ
• She was around Jesus at all times after her encounter…
• In Mark 16:9 (read) you see where Mary was the first one to see Jesus after He rose from the dead
• In John 19:25 (read) she was at the feet of Jesus when He was on the cross
• In John 20:11-20 (read), you read where she had a personal encounter with Jesus once again
• Mary washed the feet of Jesus with her hair and anointed with a bottle of perfume over His head (Which was worth a years wages)
• When you truly have an encounter with God, it totally changes you
• The response that Mary had to being changed is the same response we need to have….
• SHE BECAME A WITNESS AND TESTIFIED ABOUT JESUS
• You life should testify to the goodness and the power of God
• Mary was bound by demons and had this reputation, Jesus reached out to her and she was free
• He showed compassion, mercy, love, and goodness to Mary
• Just like He has shown you…
• People knew Mary wasn’t living a good life but she didn’t let that stop her from being a witness
• She left her lifestyle and actually helped support Jesus and His ministry
• YOU MUST SHARE YOUR STORY!!!
• No one can take away your story or change it!!!
• Your before and after is the most powerful tool you have to be a witness to Christ!!!

So, when was the last time you truly encountered God? What did you with that encounter? Did you slowly let it go? Did you tell others? People are out there that have faced some hard times, it could help change someone’s life if you would just simply tell your story. Be the witness you are called to be and tell your story. What do you have to lose? Jesus laid it all down for all us… would it be too much for us to do the same?

If you are ready to make a change, hit me up. Need some direction, hit me up. We love you here at flipside and we hope to see you next week!!!

-Pastor Leo

What’s going on this week!! (12/9-14)

Tonight (12/9) & Tomorrow night (12/10)-

• Santa’s Workshop from 6:30-8 PM- Picture w/Santa, hot chocolate, cookie decoration, & write letter to Santa.
• Come out and chill for a bit!!! Bring your little brother or sister!!
• All here at the church in front of flipside!!!

Sunday (12/11)

• Service @ 10 AM
• flag football for guys behind flipside from 2:30-5 PM!!

Wednesday Night (12/14)

• Prayer in flipside @ 6 PM
• flipside @ 7 PM
• Let’s hit 100!!! Bring/invite someone to come with you!!
• Part 3 of the “Characters” series, we are going to have Mary Magdalene speak into our lives.

Last Wednesday Night!!! (12/7)

Sorry it hasn’t taken me this long to update you on what happened this past Wednesday night. If you would come by tonight or tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8 PM, you will see why it has taken me so long.

This past Wednesday night was a great night at flipside!!! We had a great crowd of 90+, worship was great, and the message seemed to really impact a lot of students. We hit on part 2 of our “Character” series and we hit on Jonathan and how he dealt with relationships. Here is a recap of the message:

• Jonathan was the son of King Saul
• David and Jonathan became great friends and then King Saul loses his mind
• These relationships become really rock because King Saul has tried to kill David multiple times
• Jonathan is stuck between being loyal to his best friend David and his father King Saul
• We all can relate to this situation somewhat because we can find ourselves torn between friends
• We can find ourselves having a hard time period with certain people in our lives
• We all can find ourselves having “relationship” issues that can really become messy
• The only way to bring any stability, peace, or help fix a broken relationship is to set God right in the middle of it.
• The only way Jonathan’s relationship w/ his father and David was going to work was if Jonathan would put God right in the middle of it
• That also goes for us and the relationships we have..
• We can have issues w/ parents, friends, family members, teachers, and so on…
• No matter how hard we try to hide things from God, we just can’t
• He knows who we have issues with and knows what we are dealing with at home or where ever we go
• The best thing we can do is allow God in the middle of that “mess”
• There are three things that take place when we allow Him to be in the middle of our “messy” relationships
• #1- He brings peace
• Read John 14:27
• If you have any kind of issues when you put Gos in the middle of it, you will find peace (parents, family, school, friends)
• #2- He brings healing
• Read Isaiah 61:1
• Jesus binds up the brokenhearted and those that have been hurt
• We all tend to get hurt with messy relationships and a lot of times things are said or done that really can hurt us
• King Saul tried to kill David several times and even tried to trick Jonathan at one time as well
• You can have some really deep scars and pain but if you allow God in the middle of it, He will bring healing.
• #3- He brings growth
• We need to learn from our mistakes and grow from them.
• David allowed all these things take place
• Jonathan and King Saul didn’t make it. Jonathan was killed in battle and King Saul committed suicide
• Not only did David mourn the death of Jonathan but also King Saul, the man that tried to kill him multiple times
• David in the midst of all this was faithful to King Saul and he allowed God to bring peace, healing, and growth

In the “mess” you may find yourself in with other people, allow God to be in the middle of it. Let Him bring peace, healing, and growth. If you do this, He will help bring the relationship back in good standing.

-Pastor Leo

IGNITE is beginning tomorrow night!!!

We are so pumped  for what is fixing to happen this weekend!!! Here are a couple of reminders:

#1- Be sure to be there around 6:30 – 7:15 PM

#2- Be sure to go over the list of what to bring and what not to bring!!

#3- PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES!!! You can make it for that short of a period of time. We don’t want you to have any distractions and really want you to get to know other flipsiders as well!! You can’t do that if you constantly checking your facebook or texting someone.

#4- You must be dropped off at Camp Christian and we will bring everyone to church on Sunday. If you are having an issue with getting a ride, be sure to let Pastor Leo know. We can arrange for you to get a ride. We don’t need several cars to be at the camp grounds nor do we need any issues to arise with students going to church on Sunday.

#5- Truly come ready/expecting God to do something in your life!! This could be an amazing weekend for you, but you must come expecting!!! Take a few minutes now and talk to God about what you would like to see happen in your life this weekend.

IGNITE can really be that EVENT for you, if you really want it to be. Its going to be a time for you to get away and really spend sometime with God. Students can get so caught up in homework, playing video games, facebook , sports, and whatever else may bring distraction in your life. You can find yourself never really taking time for what really matters!!! I am hoping that this will “IGNITE” something in you and steer you in the right direction. Looking forward to seeing you there and if you missed out this time, be sure to be one of the first to sign up next time!!!

-Pastor Leo

Last night in flipside (11/30)!!!

It was another awesome night at flipside!!! If you missed it, you really missed a great time. We had a great turnout and you can tell that a lot of flipsiders left challenged. Here is a recap on what we hit on last night as we began our new 3 week series titled, “Characters” :

• There are so many good stories found in the Bible of people that had their lives totally transformed by God
• When you find yourself reading these stories, it would sometimes seem like the story is not ever real.
• You can easily find yourself thinking that there is no way this really happened and how this story can easily be turned into a movie
• Last night’s character is someone that doesn’t even have a name and its the kind of character that no one would even notice
• She just happened to be at the right place at the right times and met the Savior of the world.
• Because of this meeting, she was written about in the Bible
• That women is the “Women at the Well”
• Check out this video clip from youtube, here is the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOijPEYF_qo)
• Read John 4 and you can find the story of the “Women at the Well.”
• There are a couple of things that you can learn from the women at the well…
• #1- When you let HIM make you new, everything about you totally changes
• We see purity as a perfect condition. Our kind of purity means spotless in the past tense and unspoiled in the present tense.
• Its totally different with God, when He takes us, really think about this…
• We are used up, played with, out-of-the-box condition and made new again.
• His kind of purity is future tense.
• When we meet Jesus, He already knows our junk, but He came to make all things new!!!
• Read Revelation 21:5 & 6….
• #2- When He makes us new and when we allow Him to satisfy our thirst, He will begin to flow out of us.
• Read John 4:13 & 14
• So, its like this…
• If we would run towards God like He is our only source of life, then in turn it will overflow in us into other people
• #3- When you realize what you’ve been given, you’ll want to give it to others
• You hear all the time the importance of spreading the “Gospel”
• The word Gospel means “good news.”
• The good news is not just about the story of Jesus, it’s also the story of Jesus working through your life!!!
• This women was not just caught up in herself as you can see…
• Read John 4:39-42
• This women was made new and because of that, she told everyone about it.
• When was the last time you told someone about how Jesus made you new?
• The very things that Jesus has done for all of us, should be good enough for us to let other know about Jesus!!!

Really take sometime and think about… Isn’t it worth telling other people what HE has done in your life. Reach out to your friends and stop beating yourself up over your past. You are made NEW through Christ and what He has done in your life!!! Make a difference where you go and come expecting God to do something amazing in your life next week. Next week we will hit on “Jonathan.”

-Pastor Leo

No flipside tomorrow night!!!

Don’t forget that there is no flipside tomorrow night!!! Spend time with your family and enjoy Thanksgiving!! Remember to not find yourself playing your PS3, XBOX, or glued to the TV but really take time and enjoy your family and friends. We will miss you tomorrow night and we are already looking forward to next Wednesday night. We will begin a new-series that will last about 3 weeks and here is a sneak peek:

There are so many stories in the Bible that when you read them, you think in your mind that there is no way that it could be real. It seems like they are not real “people” but they seem like “characters” in a movie or play. We are going to hit on 3 stories in the Bible that are really going to challenge you. Don’t miss any part of this series!!!

IGNITE IS SOLD OUT!!!

Just wanted to let you all know that IGNITE is sold out!!! There are no more spots open. This is truly going to be an amazing event and I hate that you are going to miss it, if you didn’t register in time. For those of you that are coming, be sure to spend some time praying for this event and come expecting God to do something in your life.

If you truly wanted to come to this event, be sure to sign up next time early and not miss your spot. We will try to do these “retreats” at least 2 times a year from here on out. See you next Wednesday night!!!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS!!!

IGNITE 2011

• There are only 2 spots left for IGNITE and we really want to sell this event out. We want to sell it out so bad, we are extending the Early Bird special till Sunday!!! If you are going… really pray about possibly paying for your friend to go!!! Let’s sell this event out!!! If you would like more details on IGNITE, be sure to check out the page dedicated to this event on this website.

TONIGHT

• Light Before Christmas Work Night- If you would like to come out and help put out Christmas lights, be here at 6:30 PM and we will be done by 8:30 PM.

Saturday, November 19

• Light Before Christmas Work Day- If you would like to help put out Christmas lights, be here at 8 AM.
• Mateo Project- Be sure to be here at the church at 10:30 AM!!! We will be feeding the homeless and those in the recovery program of Wings of Life. Be sure to wear clothes that can get dirty & even possibly get bleach on. Don’t forget to also bring lunch $$$. We will eat lunch after we help serve and clean up. Hope you plan on coming!!!

Sunday, November 20

• Church at 10 AM!!! If you don’t already have a church that you are attending on Sunday’s, we would love to have you join us. We always have great services!!!
• TAG Football- This is only for flipside guys!!! We will being at 2:30 PM and wrap it up around 5 PM. Feel free to invite other guy friends to come along. Its usually really competitive and a lot of fun.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT (11/23)

• There will be no flipside on this night!! I will miss all of you but be sure to take advantage of this time and spend it with your family. Prepare yourself mentally and physically to eat all you can eat on the next day. ITS GOING TO BE THANKSGIVING!!!!

Last night in flipside (11/16)!!!

I know you get this every week on our weekly recap but last night was really awesome. For all of you that dressed in your CAMO, thanks!! Every aspect of service was on key and God really did some great things in some flipsiders lives!!! If you missed the message last night, here is a recap on what we hit on (be sure to check out previous recaps to get up to date):

• Last night we hit on being “filled” with the Spirit.
• In previous weeks we hit on the presence, power, and the gifts of the spirit.
• So, how do you know if one is “filled” with the Spirit
• Read Acts 2:1-4 (Be sure to read it twice, so you really comprehend what transpired)
• Right here we have all these people praying in this room and waiting on the gift that Jesus told us will come after He leaves
• You see all these crazy things take place and it gives you no room to doubt that it wasn’t God moving in the midst of all these people
• They were filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak in others tongues.
• It wasn’t like the Holy Spirit overpowered them and took over them, it was under their ability that the Holy Spirit enable them.
• It was something that they wanted to experience
•  So, you can see the “evidence” of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit is being able to speak in new tongues
• Jesus even said in Mark 16:15-17 (READ IT) that whoever believes there will be these signs that will accompany us and one of them is being able to speak in new tongues
• That pretty sums it up…. Speaking in new tongues is something that we need to experience and practice everyday
• There are also examples in the Bible of believers being filled with the spirit and speaking in new tongues.
• Read Acts 10:44-47 & Acts 19:1-6
• In those two readings & in Acts 2, you see how these people knew they were filled with the spirit.
• When we choose to speak in tongues… this gift that God has blessed us with, there are somethings that take place
• #1- You are submitting yourself and following the Holy Spirit direction
• #2- It shows the reality of God in your life
• #3- It gives you a God-given way to “speak to God.” (Read 1 Corinthians 14:2)
• #4- It also helps to build you up and also the church
• #5- It helps you to have a balanced prayer and worship life (1 Corinthians 14:16-17)
• This gift that God has blessed us with, enhances our walk with God in so many ways.
• You can see in the Bible that this is something God wants us to experience in our lives and speaking in tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Spirit.
• Is this evident in your life?

Feel free to call me at the office or my cell and ask me any questions you have. You can even facebook me or even text me, I don’t want you to miss out on this. If you have your doubts/questions, I encourage you to read the book of Acts and see how God moved in the lives of these people. When we meet again on the 30th, be sure to come expecting God to move in your life and be open to whatever He may want you to do!!!

-Pastor Leo

Tomorrow Night & This Saturday (11/19)!!!

Tomorrow night is Camo Night in flipside!!! Be sure to wear your CAMO!!! Prayer starts at 6 PM – 6:30 PM and flipside begins at 7 PM!!! Hope to see you there and if you plan on coming, be sure to invite/bring a friend!!!

This coming Saturday we will help Wings of Life feed the homeless and those that are currently under the rehabilitation program as well. Be sure to sign up tomorrow night and meet at the church @ 10:30 AM!!!  Also, wear clothes that you are not afraid to get dirty in and possibly be bleached as well. Lunch $$$ will need to be brought as well, there is a chance that we will be able to eat there but it would be good to bring $$$ anyway. Hope you are able to join us!!!

-Pastor Leo