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Weekend Reflections

What an amazing weekend . . . from the July 4^th celebration in the park to Church in the Park on the 5^th . . . phenomenal!

 

• I love our volunteers . . . they are amazing . . . I've heard so many words of appreciation from the staff and representatives of Happy Valley . . . they are so grateful for our partnership and said they couldn't do it without us . . . way to go volunteers!!!!
• I love our staff . . . you all worked so hard to make an impact at the July 4^th celebration and then to pull off Church in the Park . . . all I can say is you guys knocked it out of the park
• What an impact on our community and what a win for our church and for our awesome God
• So fun getting our whole church together . . . can't wait to hear the estimates of numbers in attendance, numbers of people serving, and how many were baptized . . . I was stoked!
• Thanks to Mike and his team for pulling off all the thousands of logistics to make things run smoothly . . . it was a work of art
• Thanks to Josh and the team for heading up the pancake breakfast . . . it was a feast
• Thanks to Dennis Gorton . . . you know how to run a kitchen and crank our some food
• Thanks to Dave for getting the stage and sound all set . . . I think anyone who would have been at our building for church could have heard it . . . awesome!
• Thanks to Dennis and Dustin for rockin' the park . . . the whole band was awesome . . . Devon, Preston, Bob, Dale, TJ, Rob . . . it was a blast
• Thanks Alan for all the great pics . . . you were flashing away . . . in a good way! PTL
• Thanks again to all of you who volunteered . . . way too many to even begin to name . . . you know who you are . . . God knows . . . and you will be blessed!

Somebody asked . . . why can't we do this every week? If they only knew what it took to pull off something like this! Mike . . . Dave . . . what do you think?

20th Anniversary Reflections

Here are some random thoughts from this weekend's 20-year celebration and the past 20 years . . .

 

• Thank you God for your faithfulness . . . You are good! For every good thing that has been accomplished through Abundant Life Church, You deserve all the praise!

 

• It's sooooo cool that many of the original pioneers of ALC are still with us today . . . what a testimony to commitment . . . to flexibility . . . to adaptability . . . to change . . . to faithfulness

 

• My favorite definition of commitment . . . the ability to stay with a decision long after the emotion in which the decision was made is gone

 

• The emotion that came with starting Abundant Life wore off a long time ago and it quickly turned into hard word and endless hours of ministry . . . so thanks again to all of you who have stuck it out . . . you're amazing and to be commended

 

• Did you catch the common tread throughout each of our Elder's comments . . . committed to the vision of reaching the lost . . . the best is yet to come . . . get involved because there is a place and a job for everyone

 

• There are enough churches in Portland for the "already convinced" . . . Abundant Life needs to stay committed to reaching the "unconvinced"

 

• And speaking of that, I had someone tell me yesterday that they had a relative to join us this weekend that just doesn't do the church thing . . . who made this comment . . . this is a church I think I could come to! Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about

 

• The cross was covered to the max with red hearts . . . absolutely awesome . . . we're not content to settle with what we've done in the past or where we are today . . . there is so much yet to come . . . so much still to be done . . . so many more people to reach for Jesus

 

• Don't ever get fed up with all the people coming . . . many of them would possibly have gone to hell had they not found Abundant Life . . . that's worth us not knowing everyone . . . that's worth us not having church just the way we may prefer it to be . . . that's cause enough to keep inviting . . . to keep sharing . . . to keep serving . . . to keep giving

 

• Abundant Life's best days are ahead of us . . . we have more people to help carry out the mission . . . we have more influence in our communities . . . we have two campuses instead of one . . . and soon to add a third . . . we have God's track record to look to . . . and we know God is not done yet!

 

• I meant it when I said that my wife, Ann, is to be commended for much of our success . . . were it not for her, I probably would not even have launched a new church . . . she has been a rock in my life and a Pastor couldn't ask for a better wife . . . and by the way, as a Pastor you can't be married to just anyone . . . she better be committed to ministry, too . . . and mine is . . . thank you God and thank you Ann

 

• I meant it when I said that as I reflect over the past 20 years the two things that come to mind are the commitment of our leaders to the vision of reaching the lost and the sacrifice of our people to see the vision become a reality

 

To all of us I say . . . remain faithful . . . stay committed . . . and keep sacrificing . . . imagine what the next 20 years will yield for the Kingdom if we do!

Weekend Reflections

• Worship and the Word was awesome . . . I heard so many great comments . . . like we need to do that more often . . . I appreciate the flexibility around Abundant Life . . . I couldn’t stop crying . . .
• Plans are to do Worship and the Word again in December
• The baptisms were awesome . . . I loved how they were spread throughout the service . . . haven’t heard how many there were but there were a lot
• Thanks to all of you who expressed that it was good to see me back . . . I appreciate it . . . it’s always nice to be missed . . . Ann and I had a great time away in Mexico
• Had one of my friends that I invited from the club tell me that coming to Abundant Life has changed his life . . . he’s sorry it took him a year to respond to my invitation . . . said he missed out on a year of blessings
• Cool to see a man there that several of us, independent of one another, have been inviting . . . awesome how God works
• Can’t believe we celebrate 20 years of ministry at Abundant Life next weekend . . . wow, what a ride it has been . . . can’t wait to see what God has in store
• This weekend I threw out a challenge to bring a sacrificial gift in honor of our 20 years of ministry . . . if you’re reading this and you have a heart for what God is doing through Abundant Life would you prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift? We have an awesome vision of reaching as many people as possible for Jesus Christ . . . there is no better investment of our resources

You're invited to the Holy Land!

Download Holy Land Brochure

Hey! If you haven't heard...Ann and I are going to the Holy Lands and we want you to come too!
When I was only 17 years old, I had the incredible privilege of going to the Holy Land and ever since I’ve wanted to go back and lead groups there. Well, I’ve finally gotten around to doing something about it. On February 27th – March 13th, 2010, we're planning a trip to Israel and Jordan with Ya’lla Tours USA Inc.

Here are a few highlights of what we will get to do.
Visit the ruins of Caesarea, a city the book of Acts repeatedly refers to as a place where Peter journeyed.
• See Mount Carmel the site where God caused Elijah to defeat the prophets of Baal
• Take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee
• Travel to Capernaum where Jesus preached and where His disciples made their homes
• Journey up the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus preached his longest and most famous Sermon on the Mount
• Visit Nazareth and experience first hand life in Galilee as in the days of Jesus
• Discover Bethany beyond the Jordan believed by some to be the actual site where Jesus was baptized
• Take a short 4X4 vehicle ride into the oasis of Wadi Rum where the movie, “Lawrence of Arabia was filmed and enjoy a Bedouin lunch with the locals
• Tour the city of Petra including horseback and walking adventures
• Swim in the Dead Sea
• Take a walking tour of the old city of Jerusalem
• Visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus
• Enjoy a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
As you can see, this would be the trip of a lifetime and we would love nothing more than to spend it with some of our dearest friends and partners in ministry.
Are you interested? Email either Ann or me to let us know.
george@coolchurch.com and annlpowell@comcast.net
To view a detailed itinerary with the registration form included, you can click on the link above or pick up a brochure at Guest Services.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
George and Ann

Weekend reflections

Another awesome weekend at Abundant Life Church

• I'm loving teaching this series . . . The Seven Wonders of the Spiritual World . . . I've got to be honest, I wasn't sure how interesting it would be, but I'm loving looking at these amazing aspects of God that we so easily take for granted every day.
• I am amazed that that God knows me so well and still loves me . . . that nothing changes His love for me
• I'm so glad I don't have to earn God's love or win His approval . . . I'd be in deep weeds
• Some people actually thought my painting was pretty good . . . hmmmm . . . you know now that I look at it you can actually turn it two ways and it looks like . . . something
• Thanks for the warm welcome you gave to Dustin . . . it'll be great having him as a part of our worship team each week . . . welcome Dustin and Tabitha . . . Tabby
• Do you realize Dennis has been leading worship at Abundant Life Church for nearly the entire time our church has been in existence . . . nearly 20 years . . . wow!!!! . . . I love him . . . how cool that he is able to have someone come along side him . . .
• The band rocked this weekend . . . we're so blessed to have such talented musicians and worship singers and leaders at both campuses
• Keep praying for the Sandy launch . . . pray for God to open up the location we've got our eyes on . . . a strip mall next to the theatres . . . it's gonna be awesome

Next week . . . God pursues me!!!

The Best Easter Ever!

It was amazing . . . just as we expected . . . just what we prayed for . . . and will go down as one of our best ever Easter celebration weekends

• Thanks to all of you Abundant Life regulars for spreading out over the seven services . . . it made things very manageable
• Thanks to all of you 100's and 100's of volunteers who made everything work like it should . . . we simply could not do what we do on weekends like this, and every weekend for that matter, without you
• Thanks to our awesome staff . . . you brought it and gave 110% . . . what a team!
• I'm still waiting on the final, final count but we are right at 5000 for the weekend and over 50 baptisms . . . how awesome is that!!!!
• The coolest thing . . . one of my new friends from the health club showed up . . . has been attending for the last several weeks . . . and was baptized . . . yeah!!!
• Check this out . . . one person baptized was her first time at Abundant Life Church . . . use to attend Irwin McManus' church, Mosaic in LA, and just moved to Oregon . . . googled cool church and up popped Abundant Life . . .
• I can't wait to hear more stories like these
• The Monday after . . . Easter hangover . . . the let down after a big event you've been waiting, planning and praying for has come and gone . . . that's what I have today . . . it's normal . . . to be expected . . . so remember Jesus is still alive . . . every weekend is a celebration . . . and every day is a day to live in the power of our risen Lord
• Today I need a massage!

Dave Ramsey Interview

A few weeks ago I finished up a series called, The Money Maze: Discovering God’s Path to Financial Peace. As a part of that series I had a chance to fly back to Nashville, Tennessee and do a 30 minute interview with Dave Ramsey. Check out the first part of the interview below. I’ll post the second part a little later.

Weekend Reflections

It was good to be back teaching again even though I was just one weekend away . . . there was a great sense of energy and excitement . . . I even felt it from the Parkrose Campus . . . maybe leftover from my visit there last weekend . . .

• It's gonna be short but I'm looking forward to our series Don't Blink . . . I'll be talking about making relationships right and making a difference for eternity . . . this past weekend . . . making every day count
• Ok, you've got to admit that was a good country song . . . way to go Kenny . . . you nailed it . . .

  there were lots of tears from what I heard . . . what a powerful message . . . don't blink, life goes faster than you think

• Don't worry . . . it is not the only country song you'll hear in this series . . . there's more good stuff on the way
• Even though I know it oh so well it is still sobering when I slow down long enough to think about it . . . one day I am going to die . . . I have no idea when . . . no I don't really believe it will be Sunday, April 29, 2029 . . . it could be but I honestly doubt it . . . but whenever it is . . . it will be here fast.
• We do only get to go around one time . . . but once is enough if we do it right
• The tragedy is not that we die . . . but that we never start living
• Every day I have to guard my life against the "day stealers" of busyness . . . too much of the unnecessary . . . worry . . . and procrastination
• I hope you will pray this prayer with me . . . God help me to exchange the unnecessary for the necessary . . . to replace worry and fear with faith . . . and to turn some day into this day

Ok, it's Monday . . . no meetings tonight . . . getting geared up for another episode of 24 . . . my man Jack is running from the "good guys" . . . trying to stop the bad guys . . . so we can all feel just a little more safe

Weekend reflections

What a great weekend

• Didn't you just love Tony and Doug . . . if you weren't there, no they were not a comedy act . . . Doug is a missionary in Naples, Italy and Tony is one of his pastors
• We have a team going there in September to help out at the festival where 1000's and 1000's of seekers show up and have opportunities to be exposed to the Good News of Jesus
• It was nice to have a free weekend . . . I got to wander all throughout the building . . . checking out what goes on in our great children's and student ministries . . . amazing . . . I got to be on the security team . . . Yeah . . . I was a regular Walker Texas Ranger . . . only I couldn't half way hear and I couldn't keep that little ear piece in my ear . . . I felt more like Barney Fife
• I'm glad we have a security team in place and keeping an eye on things . . . you never know what could happen . . . just this past weekend I heard of another shooting in a church . . . someone walked down the aisle and shot the pastor . . . it's a crazy world!
• I had a chance to check out our Parkrose Campus . . . you guys are doing an awesome job . . . Scott, our Campus Pastor is making it happen and I love his new ear rings . . . piercings . . . whatever they're called . . . I think I'm next . . . what do you think?
• The Uganda team is gearing up for another incredible journey to work with the orphanage in Seeta . . . huge projects going on there . . . be sure to stop by the short term missions kiosks and check out how you can be a part of this awesome ministry

Next week begins the series . . . Don't Blink . . . life goes faster than you think . . . rumor is we're gonna hear some country music . . . God will be pleased

Weekend Reflections

I'm excited about the series we are in right now on money . . . The Money Maze: Discovering God's Path to Financial Peace . . . it's become one of my favorite topics to teach on . . . I use to dread it, but not any more . . . because I'm convinced that so many people need help in this area . . . including me . . . and that so many people are missing God's blessings because they're missing the point of why God wants us to manage money by His principles

So just to recap the message and the weekend . . .

• Most of us waste tons of money every month that could be going towards eliminating debt . . .
• Putting God first in our finances doesn't compute on paper . . . actually most of, if not all of His principles for living life, are contrary to the world's advice
• Putting God first, giving Him the first and the best, moves us into the "blessability zone"
• We can't expect God's blessings if all we do is throw Him a bone . . . give Him the leftovers . . . or our spare change
• Debt is bondage . . . it keeps us in chains . . . in prison . . . locked up . . . a servant to someone else . . .
• Yes those chains were real and yes they were heavy
• No it wasn't planned for the chains to fall off the table and onto the floor . . . what perfect timing . . . you'd have to see the message . . . hopefully it was the one put on the web
• You can get out of debt . . . it will take time . . . it is a process . . . you will have to be focused and persistent
• I really hoped to see our weekend attendance climbing during this series . . . but it hasn't . . . too bad
• I love hearing the stories of changes that people are making . . . the freedom they are already experiencing . . . and the debt that is already being paid off . . . that is AWESOME! ! !
• Keep it up . . . don't stop . . . do whatever it takes to stick with it

Imagine being TOTALLY DEBT FREE!!!!!!!! Yeah!