ICEbreaker this Saturday!

ICEbreaker this Saturday, May 2nd!
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Why: To get to know one another better!
Where: Overland Park Church of Christ 13400 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS 66213
RSVP: would be helpful so we can determine how much pizzas we should order.

Directions: From I-35, go east on 119th for about 2 miles. Turn left on Pflumm. Turn right into the Overland Park Church of Christ parking lot. Go around the back of the church building. The ICEbreaker fellowship will be in the fellowship hall.

We will be playing 4 ICEbreakers (games)!

Pizza and beverage will be provided. You are most welcome to bring anything to share such as desserts, your favorite sodas, etc.. Any questions, email me @ deafpreacher@gmail.com.

See you there!!

HIStory

What a story!

I love them with the love of Jesus Christ! I first met Carl and Nina Moore at one of the Northern Virginia Association for the Deaf (NVAD) meeting. They were sitting right behind me throughout the meeting.

After the meeting was over, I got up, turned around and introduced myself to both of them. We chatted for a while until they asked what I do (job-wise). I told them I am ministering for God to the deaf. This, indeed, enlightened their eyes.

They started attending the Fairfax Church of Christ Deaf Ministry (FXCC) (FYI, the ministry is still going strong, thanks to all those who have been there for almost 9 years and counting!!), then eventually became a committed follower of Jesus Christ at FXCC. We've grown to love each other so much! They are fun to be with!

Something had happened to Carl not too long after their commitment to the Lord's church (situation undisclosed). I remembered him coming up to me thinking what it would take for him to take up the challenge to become a minister of the gospel. He said if anything happens to me, I'm gone to do the Lord's will.

Then he forgot.

When his situation came up, he broke down! He wasn't sure what he would do. Immediately, I reminded him what he had told me a couple years before. He quickly looked at me and said, "This is probably it! This is an open door!"

Now, Carl and Nina serves the Lord at Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They're doing great work! Praise God for guiding the Moores!

Indianapolis

Indianapolis! Thank you for the great workshop!

The theme of the workshop was, "What Does It Mean to Wear His Name (Jesus)?" The mission is the make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Are you wearing Jesus and following Him? Now, the decision is up to you!

"If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously." Romans 12:8

SUPERNATURAL @ Overland Park

Current Sermon Series on Sundays:

4/26: WAR!
5/3: SPIRIT!
5/10: Special Mother's Day Lesson - Happy Mother's Day, moms!
5/17: SATAN!
5/24: ANGELS!

Deaf Men's Retreat anyone??

This video is HILARIOUS!! I loved the "ripped abs" line, especially from the elders.. ;)

Celebration

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 (niv)

Forgiven

Yesterday, Easter Sunday (April 12), Angela buried her old life in the Lord in baptism and put on Jesus! It was a great day celebrating and bringing in another new soul to God and Christ! May the Holy Spirit that is in her be her guide for the rest of her life. We ask that you lift your prayers up to the Lord for her and the rest of the souls who have come to obey and follow Christ.

"In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with the circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the
uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,..."

Colossians 2:11-13 (niv)

Jesus Joy

I love the love of Christ! :) Joy!

Deaf Easter Sunday Service '09

Deaf Easter Sunday Service @ OPCC
9:45 a.m.: Fellowship in room 104
10:45 a.m.: Deaf Worship (Easter) in room 104

Web: www.opcofc.org/main/Deaf/html

Indiana Statewide Workshop for the Deaf

THEME: What Does It Mean To Wear His Name (Jesus)?
Date: April 17-19, 2009
Where: Franklin Road Church of Christ, 950 N. Franklin Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219































Friday:
4p-7p: Registration
7p: Open/Welcome
7:30p-8:30p: "Salvation is in the Church" - Hal Suddreth

Saturday:
9a-10a: "The Truth Shall Make You Free" - Joe Kaplan
10:30a-11:30a: "Second Coming Of Christ" - Mark Lowenstein

1:30p-2:30p: "The New Creature in Christ" - Joe Kaplan
3p-4p: "Biblical Pattern for Church Growth" - Mark Lowenstein

7:30p-8:30p: "What Is The Bible and Why Do We Need It?" - Carl Moore

Sunday:
9:30a-10:15a: "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ" - Hal Suddreth
10:30: WORSHIP - "First Things First" - Carl Moore

Speakers give their lectures in ASL; voice interpreters will be available the hearing.

CONTACT: Clayton McCray @ 812.342.3347 (vp)

Family...

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.." Ephesians 3:14-17

Buried..

Tonight, we rejoice to announce that Daniel and Joelle Allen have buried their old life into Jesus' death in baptism and put on Jesus. Their old self have been crucified and no longer slaves to sin. They have been freed from sin because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Be sure to welcome them to the family! Welcome to the family of God, Daniel and Joelle!

Romans 6:4,6-7, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.. ..For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."

Path..

We took a "treacherous" trek along the Bell Tower in Sedona, AZ! It was so easy to climb up the rock but to climb back down was most difficult! Amanda, our oldest, wanted to go further. We decided to stop right there (in the picture) and slowly started to come down. And that was the wise thing to do since we didn't have the proper shoes for a climb that's so difficult.

This picture reminds me of Psalm 119. David mentioned the word, "path", a number of times in Psalms. May the Lord be our guide as we read His Word!

Psalm 119:35-40, "Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness."

Awe..

I stand in awe of God! It's not because of all the "Seven Wonders of the World" including this colorful, majestic, God-created Grand Canyon in the background. It's my three beautiful girls right here. As I was walking with my family observing the miles wide, miles deep canyon, I watched my children grow in the last 13, 11 and 9 years of their lives. They are the Grand Canyon of my life! I love and adore each of them (including my wife, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the church). It's ultimately marvelous watching them grow. Thanks to God, they've become much more colorful than the Grand Canyon and continue to be! They will always be in our prayers! Lord, protect them!

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29

Journey..

I love this picture! I took this picture of a deaf woman name Elin as she prepares to zoom away on a zipline. As I was getting prepped for the zipline, I just couldn't refrain from not taking a picture of this view. Looking up, I see the sun shining down and is a perfect way to help us see God's plan for each of our lives.

For those who continues to obediently believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, we're on our way to Heaven! We're on the "Highway to Heaven". I still love and adore Michael Landon's show, "Highway to Heaven" until his death. There's no dry eyes after watching each of his shows.

I certainly do hope and pray you are obediently believing, loving, walking and repenting with Jesus. Are you on the highway to heaven? Have you made a wrong turn?

In Isaiah 35:8-10, "And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.

No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Can't get any better than this, huh? So how is your journey so far?

Sharing..

Here's a picture of my dear daughter, Alyson, feeding the giraffe @ the Wildlife Zoo in Phoenix, AZ. She had a blast! It was amazing to see how long their tongues are. Long legs. Long neck. Long tongue! How marvelous is God's design! The giraffe feed cost 50 cents for a handful. We were delighted to share them with the giraffe and they appreciate us for our giving!

This reminds me of how we are to share Jesus with people that crosses our daily path. Friends and families. And, yes, it does "cost" us our time, energy, love and resources. How are you sharing Jesus?

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." Philemon 1:6

Teeth..

My daughter, Alyson, wanted to take a picture of me re-enacting like a "two-sabre" fish in the fish tank @ the Wildlife Zoo in Phoenix, AZ. Here's a very strong evidence of my mind that's gone deliriously tempestuous!

I love this verse in Psalm 3:7-8, "Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people."

Sin Hurts..

How desperate are you in need of God's help and instruction in managing our daily desires?

What does sin do to you?

To your spouse?
To your children?
To your family?
To your friends?
To your co-workers?
To your boss?
To Jesus?
To the Holy Spirit living in you?
To God, our Father, in Heaven?

The real question is: what does it do to YOU?

"Death's power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

How can we be VICTORIOUS?

First of all, each of us need Jesus, period! In Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Secondly, each of us need a church and be the church of Jesus Christ. If we aren't attached to the church, how will we know God's plan for our life. If the church isn't influencing us, daily, how will we live in Scriptural holiness? If we're not in the body of Christ (the church), then how will we know God's instruction for our life?

Lastly, each of us need the Holy Spirit's work in our lives:

1 Corinthians 2:9-13, "It is just as the Scriptures say, "What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!"

God's Spirit has shown you everything. His Spirit finds out everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God's Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God's mind.

But God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think. That's also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us. Every word we speak was taught to us by God's Spirit, not by human wisdom. And this same Spirit helps us teach spiritual things to spiritual people."