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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Look what the Lord Has done

Greetings on This your Weekly Blast Thursday November 24, 2011.   I trust you all are setting down relaxing on this Thanksgiving 2011. 
This last week was a Huge week for Mountain View Christian Center.  On Tuesday November 15th, 2011  we had our Monthly food giveaway in which we gave food boxes to 302 families. The wind was blowing, it was cold but the team came together and made it happen.  We then looked to one of the largest events Mountain View ever has endeavored. Our goal was to collect and give out 2000 coats, collect enough food to make a Thanksgiving box for 1500 families, host a job service, host seniors assistance programs plus have available Children Identification Kits.  Well we were close when all the dust settled.  We gave away 1700 coats, 1400 families received a food box to include a Turkey  or Whole Chicken, fresh potatoes, frozen or dried potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, & cookies and various other nutritious items, plus numerous job opportunities were presented to the community as well as Senior Adult assistance.   We want to say Thank you to all the corporate and private donors of food and coats and of course a huge Thank you to all the volunteers who helped in various ways.  This event we had in excess of 200 volunteers who assisted with smiles, hugs, packing groceries to cars, parking, security, registration, handing out food, coffee carts, hospitality, set up and clean up and more.  We did it Mountain View Christian Center. 

I was thinking this morning of all the transformation that has taken place at MVCC in the last couple of years.  A church that had 3 pastors in 10 years, a church split, numerous hurts fractions and complications to the church we are now is nothing short of miraculous.  However it does come with some pain.  The pain of; we have to protect, we have to control to make sure to…. To the loss of self control and give God control.  I am reminded of the Matthew 9:16-1816 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” 

The change that has been required for Mountain View Christian Center to do and keep doing requires the grace and mercy of God and a tremendous amount of trust, faith and confidence in the Lord.  We as a body of Believers with the mission statement of Love God, Serve People must have a new “wine skin” to be able to handle all that God wills to do through the Church and community.  You may ask how do I do that,  We serve a God of the New.  He is able to take out the heart of stone and replace it with a new pliable heart of understanding, forgiveness and grace.  Ask Him now,  Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Let us allow the Lord to do Just that,  Exceeding, Abundantly above All we can ask or think…….

 

I will be preaching the book of 3 John this week end.  You won’t want to miss it. 

When you come, be sure to invite a friend to come with you. 

 

Here are the announcements you will see Sunday…


·     Dec. 8th-Women’s Ministries ornament exchange here at  MVCC @ 6:30 p.m.  If you have any Pampered Chef, Avon, Home Interior, Gold Canyon etc. you would like to bring to sell   this would be the day. Contact Joy Powell for more information.
·     Dec. 11th-Pastor Jim Powell will preach on the book of             REVALATION.
·     Dec. 11th-HOME GROUP NIGHT.
·     Dec. 15th-Leadership budgets are due.
·     Dec.16th-Liberty Quartet 7p.m. here @ MVCC.
·     Dec. 18th-Kids Christmas program during the second service   (11a.m.).
·     Dec. 24th-Christmas communion service 6p.m.-7p.m.
·     Dec.25th-MERRY CHISTMAS one service from 10a.m.-11a.m.
·     Wed. nights 7p.m. “Grief” classes with Pastor Joy and a Love & Respect class with Shauna & Rick Kraus.
·     Missed the offering tray? Now you can give online (pay-pal), debit or the drop box in the foyer.

 

WE Love you all,

Pastors Jim & Joy Powell

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Greater things are Yet to come..

Greetings on this Thursday  November 17, 2011.  As many of you may know in my previous life just a few short years ago I was in  the Real Estate business and had the honor of serving as the President of the Nampa, Idaho association of realtors.  It was when the economy saw no sign of slowing.  We all know today is a much different scenario.  As I walked through those years of greatness I never forgot where I came from.  I am a child of God, born of His Spirit and did everything in my power to exemplify the attributes of Christ.  I had a philosophy of reaching the unreachable, touch the untouchable, and dream the un dream able.  My thought, as I led this organization was to empower people to dream, reach, achieve and serve.   My mind races to current date.  I received a call from a former colleague last week who was going through a tough time.  A recent family split up, Disinagration of business, hopelessness had set in.  In the midst of his dilemma, drama and problems he remembered that I was a man of faith that represented not only a Godly business model but lived a Godly life and remembered something I had told him years ago.  He told me of his situation and asks me to pray for him. I did and then pointed him to a church and pastor who would be able to assist him further.  Often times the drama of life restricts the heavenly flow of creativity and takes the wind out of our sails and steals the dreams from our lives.  Child of God, you can reach the unreachable, touch the untouchable, and dream the Un dream able and achieve the unachievable through a relationship with Christ.  One of my favorite sayings is this, “You are an over comer, not to be overcame”.  As we enter into the weeks ahead of the Holiday season, Thanksgiving, Christmas, family gatherings, it does one of two things.  A time of joy or sorrow.  I would like to encourage you in the same vein as I did the business community to dream, reach, achieve and serve.  Speaking about serving.  This week on Tuesday we had another successful food give away to the community.  We served a food box to 302 families.  What an awesome opportunity we have to actually do our mission statement, not just read it and or talk about it . “ LOVE GOD SERVE PEOPLE”.  A huge thank you to our Mountain View Food Pantry director Chris Bean and our Logistics director Craig Byce and the host of volunteers that helped make this a wonderful monthly event.   Speaking of events, this Sunday November 20th we will be having a Thanksgiving extravaganza Food give away, as we have 3 partners here;  Idaho Food Bank, MVCC Food Pantry & South Central Community Action, plus a  Coat give away, Job fair, finger printing for the Kids and a whole lot of fun all this begins at 1:00.
This Weekend  I will be preaching on the book of 2 John, 13 verses that deals with the early church and how to love one another and watch out for false teaching.  You won’t want to miss this message.  It could be the longest or shortest sermon ever preached.  Those of you who attend the first service if you could help after service setting up for the giveaway, I would be so grateful.  Those of you who attend the second service I will have you out of service by 12:30 (I hope) so we can have a quick bite of lunch provided by our own chef Richard Sizemore (hot dogs and hamburgers) and then if you can help fill Food boxes, deliver groceries to cars or help with the coats.  We plan to begin the event  at 1:00 P.m. so it will be a bit crazy for a bit.  For all of you who are staying;  Please Park in the West Parking Lot.  If you are planning to volunteer, Please bring  warm clothes & gloves. After your service you will need to check in with Craig Byce to get your Volunteer Vest and instructions.  This will also be Name Tag Sunday so be sure to get yours in the foyer prior to your service.   

Here are the events scheduled that you will see in the church Bulletin on Sunday.
·         Friday Night Celebrate Recovery November 18th, at 6:00 p.m.
·        Sunday  November 20th Food & coat give away set to begin @ 1 p.m.*If you plan on staying                for the giveaway, please park on the west side of the parking lot.  If you want to volunteer please see Craig Byce.
·      Nov. 23rd-ALL Wednesday night “Family night” classes are postponed, see you on Nov 30th.
·      Nov. 24th-FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER!!  11 a.m.-4p.m. @ Charlie’s CafĂ© in Burley 615 East Main Street.  Free delivery in BURLEY only.  Your              name is address and phone number will be needed.  Call 678-5460 for delivery orders.
·      Nov 25th-Celebrate Recovery will have a Thanksgiving potluck @ 6 p.m. Be sure to bring your favorite left over.
·      Dec.16th-Liberty Quartet 7p.m. here @ MVCC.
·      Dec. 18th-HOME GROUP NIGHT.
·      Dec. 8th-Women’s Ministries ornament exchange here at MVCC @
 6:30 p.m.  If you have any Pampered Chef, Avon, Home Interior, Gold Canyon etc. you would like to  bring to sell this would be the day. Contact Joy Powell for more    information.
·      Wed. Nights   7p.m. “Grief” classes with Pastor Joy.
·      Adult Sunday school 9a.m. with Ryan Weimer.  Teaching on Max Lucado John 3:16.
·      No Senior Fellowship meeting’s for the month of November.
·      Missed the offering tray? Now you can give online (pay-pal),  debit or the   drop box in the foyer.
·      THANK YOU! Chris & Ramie Stenzel, Mr. Gas/Debbie Judd, Linda Byce for all you have done for at this coat give away Sunday.

Hope to see You Sunday,  and don’t forget to invite a friend to church ..


We Love You all

Pastors Jim & Joy Powell

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Once in a Life time

Once in a Life time:
As I set down to pen this Thursday Blast November 10, 2011, this thought keeps going through my mind,  “Once in a Lifetime”.  I love to hunt and I hear it over and over again this is a hunt of a lifetime or hear, the hunting tag that you just received is a “once in a life time event”.  I was fortunate to draw a Moose tag several years ago on my first attempt at putting in for the coveted hunt.  I was able to fill the “Once in a lifetime” tag.  We hear the term on the radio and the TV, you are about to take the trip….you guessed it, of a “lifetime”.  As we relate the term to the kingdom of God, I am persuaded that we are in a time and season that only comes once in our life time.  The world events that we hear are “Revelation Like”.  The current events of the European country of Greece that is broke; Italy is next, other countries not far behind.  What a great hour for the church to rise up and take the place that has been abrogated or given up in the 1960’s.  Let’s take a journey back in time.  In the 1920’s the church  in America was very prevalent and vibrant, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit known as the Azusa Street Revival, Tent crusades, healing lines and true undeniable miracles.  The church was the stabilizing force through the great depression.  In the 1930’s and 1940’s the community revolved around the church as the church was the leader in health care,  social issues, and took great pride in caring for the people of the community.  In the 1950’s the church started taking  the opportunities for granted and became lethargic that led to the 1960’s where the church sat back and allowed the government to step in, “because they could do it better”.   It was not uncommon for the church to be the political leaders as well; in fact of the original signers of the Constitution of the United States, the majority was Christians.  In today’s society it has become taboo for a Christian to hold public office.  Well I am persuaded that the tide is turning, with the collapse of the economy, the dollar shrinking in value, home prices are no longer considered an asset, the merger of businesses and corporations, and the government not knowing where to turn.   It is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for the church to stand up and take the rightful place the Lord had originally planned for the church.  I look at how opportunities we at Mountain View Christian Center have been afforded, feeding thousands of people, offering a free Job service, clothing thousands, giving thousands of coats, giving away thousands of salmon and steelhead, offering a free medical clinic for the uninsured (to open soon), offering marriage classes, grief classes, blended family classes, divorce recovery as well as being a resource to the community.  Where will it all ends.  I am not sure.  All I know is that we as a church body and a member of this community will do everything in our power to “reach the Lost at any cost”.  Some lost in sin, others that have lost their way in life, none the less we will continue to be a vibrant part of this community as we fulfill our mission Statement, “Love God, Serve People”. 
Last week we held our yearly Leadership summit.  One of the exercises we did was determine how we as a church will fulfill the mission statement.  We came up with 5 ways.  We will “Love God and serve People” through #1 Prayer, #2 Worship, #3 Discipleship, #4 Evangelism, and #5 Ministry.  We then graded each of the departments of the church to determine areas of strength and weakness.  It was amazing the areas we thought we were the strongest we had some blind spots and the areas we thought we were weak in have become our strengths.  One other breakout session we did was ask each department to finish this statement, in our department/ministry we will “Love God and serve People” By…….I will share these with you in the weeks to come.  It was amazing to see the vision come alive in each of the ministries under the flag of the mission statement. 
Some really cool things have come to pass as we have been working on naming the long lane that comes in to the church.  It is official, it is Mountain View Lane.  Our church address will be 317 Mountain View Lane, Burley, Idaho.  Way cool.  We are working very hard in collecting coats and food for the Pre thanksgiving food giveaway.  In fact just this morning we had our delivery of the ice cream that we know was coming.  It has arrived, I must admit I tried it and it is yummy…. Also we had a pallet of ice melt donated to us this week to use around the church.  It never ceases to amaze me of the Greatness of our God.  As we look forward to Sunday Service I will be preaching the book of 1 John.  Please read it this week in preparation for Sunday services.  Several things to take note of this week.  This evening at 7:00 pm MVCC will be hosting a Light for the Lost Banquet which is a part of the Men’s ministry of the Assemblies of God.  It is the extension that provides literature for our missionaries.  Come be a part.  Our very Own Pastor Steve Isaac will be preaching.  Don’t forget the best place to be on Friday night.  Right here at MVCC Celebrate Recovery meal is at 6p.m.  Come be a part. 
As you prepare for Church services this week end don’t forget to invite a friend to come with you…
We Love you all,

Pastors Jim & Joy Powell

Friday, November 4, 2011

MVCC "The Church We See"

Great “Now” Friday afternoon.  As I write this blast I am once again overwhelmed of the Goodness of God.  I and a team from our medical clinic attended a conference in Boise all day Thursday.  Let me back up for a minute.  The official board of the clinic is in the process of being solidified, the name of the clinic is completed,  “Mini-Cassia Community  Healthcare Clinic”, 501 (c)(3) has been filed, License with State of Idaho complete and we are  well on our way to open in the spring of 2012.  Nancy Gerrard and I met with the Cassia County Commissioners on Monday and welcomed and endorsed with great favor.  The news of the clinic is welcoming news to the community as a whole especially for those who are uninsured or uninsurable.  The clinic will run and operate on private donations as well as grants with the key players being the professional medical staff that will donate their time and talent unto the Lord in taking care of people’s needs.  What an awarding venture this is turning out to be.  During a break in the conference I took a call from one of our food partners who told me that we are the proud recipients of 13 Pallets of ice cream.  We have been putting together and collecting food for our thanksgiving food baskets but never imagined that ice cream would be a part of the boxes.  I failed to mention last week, a pallet of breakfast drinks were delivered to the church for distribution, a value of $1,200.  It never ceases to amaze me of the amount of donations we have been the recipient of Go God. Speaking of distribution we will be having 2 food giveaways in November, one on the 15th and one on the 20th.  The November 15 event will require a registration time please call Chris Bean for more information.  The November 20th event we will be doing the coat give away as well as the Job service and kid finger printing as well as limited food, Still working on food for this event.  It is proving to be a busy time for the outreach department at Mountain View Christian Center.  
I have been dreaming about the concept of “The Church we see”.  I was sent a link to a church in Seattle what produced a video with the same name and concept.  It made me think what I see.  Is the church we presently see the church the Lord sees?  I was dreaming on Tuesday morning after my sermon was ready and this is what I came up with.   Here is what we see:
The church that we see is a church filled with fervent followers of Jesus Christ whose hearts are ablaze with love for God, love for one another, and love for a needy world where the very atmosphere is charged with fervent prayer, joyful praise, intimate worship and a spirit of faith and expectancy.

The church that we see is not tucked away, sheltered and hidden from the rest of the world. It is a force, an ever-evolving, innovative and dynamic organism, affecting the spiritual climate of her city, her nation and her world. A place where the Great Commission is the first priority, people share their faith, the gospel is preached, churches are planted, and nations are impacted.
The church that we see is a church of great compassion where the needy and hurting are drawn to find hope and answers to their problems. A place where people are healed set free and made whole.
The church that we see is made up of friendly, loving people diverse in culture, history, age and background. Rich and poor, old and young, innocent and guilty, all redeemed, all worshipping in unity together as a testimony to the whole world of God's love, compassion and commitment to all mankind.

The church that we see is filled with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating His fruit, moving in His gifts, and flowing in His power.
The church that we see is a church where God's Word is taught in such a way that people align their values, attitudes, and lifestyle to God's kingdom.
The church that we see is never comfortable with settling down and growing old. We see a church where every member carries the heart of God for the next generation of youth and children.
The church we see is raising up a generation, educated and empowered to influence every system of the world for the glory of God! We see a church that recognizes that our youth and children are not the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today, growing up with undeniable experiences with God, wise in relationships, productive in society, flourishing in their callings and planted in God's house - the local church.
The church that we see is so big that people can't ignore it and growing so fast that buildings can't contain it, yet is so small that each person feels a vital part of it - connected together in a network of hundreds of small groups across the city for care, discipleship, ministry and outreach.
The church that we see is a church such passionate devotion, radical conviction, and total commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ that the very gates of hell cannot stop it!
Although there are other worthy organizations and causes, there is NOTHING that compares to THE CHURCH, the Hope of the World, the Bride of Christ. Therefore, the church is central to the world; indeed the world is peripheral to the CHURCH THAT WE SEE.
 The Church we see is Mountain View Christian Center.
I will be preaching the book of 2 Peter this weekend, You won’t want to miss it, and be sure to invite a friend to church this week…..
Here are the upcoming events:
Time change Saturday Night…..
Saturday November 4th 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.. All Church Leadership Summit.  If you are doing anything in the church or would like to get involved this is a meeting you will not want to miss.  Child care provided , Chef Richard Sizemore will make Chicken Tacos with the condiments provided by each leadership team.  Ya all come…
·  Sunday November 5thCommunion Sunday
·    Nov. 8th-Call in for Mobile FOOD PANTRY/IDAHO FOOD BANK for pick up on Nov. 15th.  We    need volunteers.  See Chris Bean if you are interested.
·    Nov.8th-Get out and VOTE!
·    Nov. 8th-”Woman 2 Woman” 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m. Special speaker Anita Tallon. (no child care     available)
·    Nov. 10th-”Light for the Lost” banquet here @ MVCC $7 per person 7p.m.  Come and meet       the new Light for the Lost District Director. Chicken Fried Steak …
·    Nov. 12th– Advance Royal Ranger Training here@ MVCC 8a.m.
·    Nov. 14th & 15th-Olan Mills directory completion.  See Machie to set up your new appointment time :)
·   Nov.15-9a.m. Nutrition class. Pick up your Mobile food pantry food box.
·   Nov. 16-”Getting through the holidays” classes taught by Pastor Joy Powell @7 p.m. This will be a 6 week class (excluding Thanksgiving week.)
·   Nov. 19th-Men’s Breakfast.
·    Nov 23rd-ALL Wednesday night “Family night” classes are postponed, see you on Nov 30th.
·    Donate....MVCC is in need of a 6 ft. pre-lit Christmas tree for the “Festival of Trees” outreach.  We will accept monetary gifts as well.  Contact Pastor Joy Powell for more information.
·    Missed the offering tray? Now you can give online (pay-pal),  debit or the drop box in the foyer.
·    Free Medical Clinic  “Mini-Cassia Community Health Care Clinic” is  the official name and is in the works!!
·    Its not too late to sign up for the Love & Respect Class $12 a couple $6 individual.
WE Love You all,
Pastors Jim & Joy Powell