A Very Bright Future.

Well after some time away…. its Good to be home: We’ve been gone quite a while. seems like much has changed…. Things have changd around here?

Thank you’s: Thank you to our board & executive leadership who helped us make this happen, it was so well planned. We envisioned a scenario where we would be able to retreat on sabbath but that our church would continue forward without us and Our people were so well cared for and for that we are so thankful: so to Jeremy and Katie - We are so grateful.

To our staff: you guys are amazing. Faithful. Talented & self sacrificing all the way. We couldnt have imagined after 8 years we would be so blessed to have such an amazing

We heard from some great speakers while we were gone. Im lucky to keep my job! But it was an incredible summer especially the month of July which if you didn’t know that is our FRIENDS and FAMILY MONTH at Colonial.

Loads of new people, Many Many Decisions for Christ & Grateful for it all.

we had some great speakers didn’t we?

Pastor Clay Baird - What a powerful message “ I declare war on my mind”. So helpful transparent and i know would’ve blessed so many.

Pastor Brett Younker - Such a creative and a theologian and teacher. The Flowers and my Future. I loved that message and bretts way of ministering is amazing.

Pastor Alex Sagot - Glory Days - Always brings the Miami HEAT up north

Pastor Luke Bottenger (who pastors a great church in Sweden) - How to be who you are.

…… So those were our guests who came in. But what bout our home team?

Pastor Liz Creasey - “A song for the summer”

Pastor Tim Gammell “living my best life”

Pastor David Kuabara - Life in the fast lane

Pastor Ashley Dasher - A call to prayer

Pastor Aaron Creasey - Let the truth set you free

So its been an amazing Surf camp, Summer camp, Baptism (31),

Church - Aren’t we blessed?

Matthew 12:1–14 ESV

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Prayer: For our wonderful church, Bless your house today Father. Bless your people with your WORD. Strengthen us today Holy Spirit. What we dont know, teach us, What we are without supply us, what we need to leave behind today, grace us with the courage to leave it at the altar of your mercy today. And Colonial Kids, We pray all this for them also, In jesus NAME.

Todays message: Shaking the cobwebs off here a little but here GOES:

“reflections from sabbath”.

after many many weeks away. several foreign countries. Around new and familar people. I was left with some impressions.. or reflections i came home with - Some were i believe just for me - some were for jill and i - but some i believe are also for our church

So i wanted to share some today

and this is my first and major - i was reminded & i think brought to consider this more being away.

1.God is in CONTROL.

God is in control: So you don’t have to BE.

We should experience our rest ahead of whatever God has for us next.

Sabbath….Is about rest not religion. Its about replenishing.. not REGULATION. Its about Remembrance… not rulekeeping….

The pharassee’s made it about RELIGION: But sabbath is meant to be a blessing, not a curse…. and As is the case with all the benefits and blessings that come with being part of the household of God: Its Gods soverignty over ALL OF IT which means that we can even be at REST IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The pharasees were so caught up in the religious practice of sabbath they’d totally missed the point of what it was all about which is to REST.

They were more focused on trying to act GODLY, They missed GOD Himself.

Matthew 12:2 “2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.””

Here is the takeaway

Sabbath is to be enjoyed not endured: you get the sense the religious leaders had the approach that it was an event to police the people rather than a practice meant to refresh the people.

to draw people closer to God

To invite communion between God and his own people

This had become a religious practice to catch people OUT - No longer invite them IN… to a relationship with the living GOD.

**you see i believe this is word for our HOUSE today… as we look towards the next season

Write this down: RELIGION will never get you where RELATIONSHIP can take you.

(which is further, Deeper, Stronger).

Here was the son of God. Jesus the messiah. Walking through the fields on the earth and the only thing the pharaseees could focus on was the beads of grain they were pulling on the wrong day of the week. What a shame. what a miss. What a warning for all of us.

All they saw was rules being broken. I wonder what it is, when it relates to the outside world and those in our world when it comes to the things of GOD, do we look with eyes of Judgement, or are we looking to see people get satisfied the only way possible for eternity which is to meet with Jesus himself?

Religion will hold you back from seeing Gods very best.

Are you a religious person?

Are you bound by a set of rules that you must keep otherwise Gods won’t be happy with you?

You won’t achieve the level of righteousness that comes from working hard at it?

Or working hard and watching others work hard at it and reporting back to God? (Judgmental spirit).

so…..God is in control, so we don’t have to be

God is the judge of all, righteous judgement and the whole world will one day bend a knee.. and their will.

Example: don’t make a religion out of your relationship.

On our sabbatical because I’m such a routine type of guy I like to have order in my life I like to kind of know what I’m doing… Or more specifically what I need to do to achieve the results I would like to achieve I started to think about a plan of how I would do devotions while I was on sabbatical that was much the same to us like when I’m not on sabbatical And I really distinctly remember the Holy Spirit stopping me and saying what are you doing? Are you trying to be religious about this? Enjoy what God has given you rest in that that God is in control

If God is in control. That means i can rest in that TRUTH. I can sabbath with that truth as amy overall paradigm.

What is the purpose of the sabbath, What is the purpose of REST:

2.The future is bright.

in jesus name

Because of Verse 8:

Matthew 12:8 “8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.””

Matthew 12:6 “6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.”

This passage leaves us with a choice. Will i choose to focus on Jesus and follow his lead? or will i get caught up the exhaustion of religion and the emptiness it always supplies.

Religion always leaves you short.

Relationship always propels you further

and as a church we are called to go FAR: how far? as far as our obedience in the hands of God Almighty.

**I believe our church is like an arrow in the control and the skill of a master God**

and it may seem like were not taking off just yet, or that things are consolidating some even in this season -migght even appear like a slight pullback is happening - but what is really happening is we are simply being readied for the future destiny God hasa for us

but this is the picture for the future destiny of our church. As we decide to be simply an arrow in the hands of God. and we allow him to be the one in control…. whats the potential?

Philippians 1 (ESV)

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

So we return from Sabbatical with a sense of god is in control. and if He is in control - we can release our control to him - and in doing so

Lift our heads

smile like never before….

jill & i are looking forward - with a faith filled optimism.

so build your anticipation.

set your hope on the one who has provided ALL HOPE.

Lets pray.