Bobby Lepinay

Love And Respect

Last May, Deb and I flew to W. Palm Beach to attend a "Love and Respect Conference".  We had heard so much about it, that our desire was to get all we could, then bring it back to Harvest.

www.loveandrespect.com

WE were blown away by how solid and rich this stuff was. We couldnt wait to bring it back home to strengthen and build up our marriages at Harvest!

Marriages are top target of our enemy.  The marriage unit is the core of the family, the family the core of the church. 

Bad marriages, bad churches. Great marriages, great churches!

All that to say, rather than charge the $199 per couple, we decided to condense the material into a 4 week series.  Soooooo, starting THIS Sunday night, we will take February's PM services to focus on this vital subject, marriage.

I want to encourage you: If you are married, be there.  And invite every married couple you know to come with you to benefit.

If you are single, be there as well.  You need to be equipped to do it right when the time comes!

If you are under 18?  Be there also!  You need to learn NOW how to have a great marriage when your time comes as well.

DO NOT MISS THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

AND INVITE, INVITE, INVITE!!!

PB

Playing With Fire

I have been a Christian for the majority of my life now. I have seen ALOT. 

I have seen some really smart things.

I have seen some really stupid things.

One thing I will never understand is how otherwise intelligent people can get caught up in sin that is so base,.. so obvious,......so......asinine.... (yes, I did use the word.....it fits perfectly...look it up), that it blows you completely away.

Case in point:  Ted Haggard.

Ted had one of the truly great churches in America, if not the world.  He was the head of the biggest Evangelical organization in the world.  He had a great family.  I heard him speak a few years back, and I can honestly say he was one of the best communicators I have ever heard.  Every time you turned, Ted was on TV, 'the' spokesperson for sane Christendom.

Then we find out he had been buying meth and engaging in gay sex.

What in the world was he thinking?????  Did he not figure that maybe, just maybe, the other guy watched TV???

Bill Clinton with a young intern engaging in sexual acts in the Oval Office.  Oh, but wait, that wasnt sex....:)

Seriously, it makes you realize how deeply SIN twists and consumes.  Its scary.

My friend John Loftis wrote something last week that I thought was simple, yet really explains HOW sin works.  He gave me permission to post it, so thanks John!

To sane, sound AND spiritual!

PB

PLAYING WITH FIRE!!!!


We all appreciate fire from a distance,

We like the warmth when it is cold,

The light when it is dark,

We are fascinated by it's flames in many colors.

When respected, fire is a gift from God that we can't live without.


But, temptation kicks in and next thing you know,

we start more fires, playing with the flames.

Then all of sudden the fires join together and

create one BIG Fire that spreads beyond our control. 

At this point we wish we would have left it alone,

we wish we wouldn't have played with it at all,

and no matter how much we regret it, we can't change

what we have started, and now, the Fire is widespread and

has claimed it's victims.

All we can think about is "If only I could've"?

Too Late!!!  What's burned is burned!! 

What will it take for us

to realize when our fires are about to burn beyond our control and

stop being the warmth and the light that we once enjoyed.  Understand,

nothing changed about the fire.  What changed is our lack of ability to just enjoy it &

leave it alone.  If playing with fire only burned ourselves and no one

else, that would still be bad,  but at least we know what to expect.  But when

your fire starts burning others.  It means it is time to quit playing with it.

It's a shame we can't see our lives from the outside looking in.   Boy would we

be in for a reality check.  How many people are about to be burned by your out of

control fire?  I wonder if HELL isn't just a bunch of souls with out of control fires joined together

to make one very BIG flame?

Relegated to Obscurity

Last night, as I was driving home from our Financial Advisory Board meeting, I noticed a church that has been there for as long as I have lived in Pensacola.  I thought about what I would think as a non-Christian about the possibility of going in there. 

Here is what I came to.

I would not in a million years go in.  No way.  No how.  The building 'speaks' to me "This place is for "insiders", our kind, who know our church culture, traditions, etc.. We have been here, serving our families for many years."

The fact is:  I (thinking as a lost person), am not one of those in 'the family'.  I would think "That is for 'them', not me."

I dont know if that makes sense to you, but it did to me in the moment.  I dont know any of the people in that church, have never heard anything about it, dont know the Pastor.  It was just my immediate impression, for better or for worse.

The phrase, "Relegated to Obscurity" came to my mind.  In a city of over 700 churches, the majority are not a viable option to the lost, not someplace they would ever go into. 

There are restaurants like that for me:  Red Lobster, numerous Mexican and Chinese places, on and on.......They have become "invisible" to me.  I pass them by, but they dont come on the radar as a place I want to go into.  (Sorry to all the Red Lobster affecionados I offended!)

As I told our Board last night, we will FIGHT to stay outward-focused, to always be one of the churches lost people think of when they are making their way back to God. I would leave before having that change.

Thoughts for the day......!

PB

Sunday Review

• GREAT morning @ the RAVE!  -The crowd was back strong, the energy good......
• I was in the bathroom when the service started.  How did I know it had started??  The walls were shaking, literally!  :)
• Is that new song, "Clinging to the Cross", great our what???!!! 
• Kudos to Dave and Steve for the video testimony before my message.  They taped and edited that all on Saturday and it fit perfectly with my message.  Thanks Josh for your time!  See it here:  YouTube - Written Word Week 4
• Preaching Sunday morning was a BLAST!  I had to finish that message in 25 minutes after the video and felt like a fighter pilot flying at Mach 3 speed.  I felt the Holy Spirit connecting it with the hearts of the people.  Nothing like it.....:)
• I HATE trying to take a nap on Sunday afternoons.  Seriously, why is it so hard???? 
• Went to visit my dad in the hospital after church with Deb and Tory.  He turns 84 in 3 weeks and they are recommending open heart surgery.  I am not seeing it.......thanks for praying for him in this.  He gets along well right now and I saw what that same surgery did to my mom.  She went from normal to 'old lady' in that 1 year after valve surgery.
• We ate in the Sacred Heart cafeteria.  These ladies know how to do fried chicken!!!  I was good though.......1 piece, with veggies on the side.  :)
• Sunday night was strong.  Pastor Craig talked about "Relational Discipline".  FUNNY stories and very loving, yet strong word, especially to the youth.  I only wish I had heard that when I was in high school!  www.myharvest.tv
• Off to conquer the week.....!

PB

Rave Pledge Fund

Without a doubt, one of the most fruitful things we have ever done as a church was to step out in faith and launch the RAVE service this past April.  Heaven will have more people; hell less, due to our obedience to take this huge step of faith!

This Sunday you will be able to hear some of the amazing stories of people who have found Christ through this outreach.  Seriously, I heard just ONE of them Sunday at lunch and drove home teary-eyed, thankful to just be a part of this whole thing. 

Again, eternity is being changed, destinies altered. 

We have never pressured our people for money.  We simply make the need known and trust God to move hearts to give.  This past Sunday was our first Sunday to make the Rave 08 pledge fund known.  This outreach runs us approximately $8000 a month (rent and auxillary costs), all of which was a step of faith. 

God provided last year.  We are trusting him to do so again for this coming year, 2008.  If you are interested in being a part in helping us reach more souls for Jesus this year, let us know.  We need those who can join us in meeting the monthly costs, as well as those who may want to make a one time gift. 

Every penny will go toward the RAVE outreach. I know of nothing more effective in truly reaching people for Christ, and just think:  You will SHARE in the reward of each soul reached! ("...those who sow and those who reap share the same reward...")

Again, we are trusting God, making the need known.  If God so moves your heart, let me know by emailing me personally at rlepinay@aol.com.  We are trying to tally up all our commitments by the end of this month.

For His glory,

PB

T-Shirts for Tongue Talkers

After a few days of heavy duty stress, I thought this, HolyGhostTees.com , may lighten things up! 

This is no joke.....these guys REALLY sell these shirts!  What say we order a few dozen just to see what people say??? :)

To JOY of heart...!

PB

The Power of our Words

I spoke on Sunday night about just how powerful our words are:

• God created all things by His words.....He spoke, all things came into being.  The word is a tremendously creative force!
• We are created in God's image.  Unlike the animal kingdom, we use WORDS as well.....To large degree, our words steer our lives like the rudder of a ship......leading me to.....
• Those WORDS hold tremendous power over our destinies.  We can 'curse' ourselves (speak words that hinder, bind us), we can 'bless' ourselves (speak words that empower, propel forward).
• Likewise, we can use words to speak LIFE or DEATH over others!

For some, that may sound 'flakey'.  But consider God's Word on the matter:

James 3:5,6  “Don’t you know that a tiny spark is capable of setting a whole forest  on fire? The tongue, though small, is likewise a flame,…..capable of setting a whole life on fire…..” 

Proverbs 18:21   “The tongue can bring death or life; be sure that those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Proverbs 13:2,3    “From the fruit of his lips (words) a man enjoys good things…..He who guards his lips, indeed, guards his life.”

I Peter 3:10   “Whoever would love life and desire to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from corrupt speech.”

I urge you: Take those scriptures to heart!  Potent stuff for sure......

Have a good week,

PB

Small Mindedness

I hope the fast we have been on has been a blessing to you guys who have joined us.  It has been for me.....up until late last night, when I caved into my craving and raided the "All Natural" Trail Mix"!!

Not a problem with most of the ingredients and the Daniel Fast....walnuts, cashews, almonds....raisins...cranberries..pumpkin seeds...................

........Ah, but the REAL thing I was in it for...The chocolate chips! :)

Seriously, I think I ate a half bag of the stuff.  I of course dont beat myself up about dumb stuff like that, just get back on course. 

It IS funny, however, how we work....how 'the lust of the flesh' works. I couldnt believe how good those 'forbidden dark chocolate chips' tasted!!

Off of that....

In my 'flesh-feast' on Trail mix, I spent some time surfing the net to catch up on some churches out there, which I like to do every so often. It was interesting to see how vision and faith marked some; lack of vision, small-mindedness others. 

I do that every so often just to remind me to NEVER GET LAZY and KEEP THE VISION BEFORE US!!  I want to fulfill every ounce of redemptive potential Harvest is capable of.

In my browsing, I came across this: Missionary Page

Sad....very sad.  It's so sad, that it's almost funny.  Hard to believe there are leaders out there like this.

  This guy (and those of his tribe) should just put a sign out front their church that says, "YOU ARE NOT WANTED UNLESS YOU ARE LIKE US."

Do these people ever ask hard questions of themselves?????

Enough..

PB

Ode to Job

Over the years, no book of the Bible has brought more questions that Job. 

As we read thru the Bible each year, I am struck afresh just how deep this man's pain and anguish was.  To refresh you, here is just one of many of Job's laments as he writhed in torment of body, soul and spirit:

"Let the day of my birth be erased. Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high,and let no light shine on it. Let that night be blotted off the calendar. Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble. I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

Wow.

I saw something in Job this time I had missed before, that I believe gives the key to WHY God allowed this....

"“Oh, that my words could be recorded. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,
carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!"  (Job 19)

Job's words were indeed recorded.  They were inscribed in the greatest Book that will remain forever, the Bible.

Job suffered in a way most of humanity will never understand.  Yet Job stood firm in his faith, that, in the end, he would see God. 

God had sovereignly looked thru time to select this one, special servant named Job.  God knew Job would stand. 

God needed one from humanity to give all the rest of His children for generations to come an example of standing through everything hell and the devil can throw.

Job stood. 

Job's word's were recorded.

God used the devil.....

.....but with a far greater goal in mind.

Us....... and all of the children of God for ages to come who need encouragement in the face of evil and suffering. 

Thanks Job. 

And thank you Lord for your eternal wisdom. 

"For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy"               James 5:10-12

PB

Spiritual Passion

Needless to say, this fast we are on has put some 'fuel' on the passion fires of my heart! 

Ironically, as I write this, the song playing outside my office in my living room is "Set Me On Fire".  Ha!! :)

Seriously though, spiritual passion is something every one of us must continually contend for.  People think that ministers, due to what they do, are always full of passion for God. 

Here's news for you:  They dont. 

Just like you, ministers are normal human beings, and as normal human beings, we "leak".  We get filled in a service, touched in worship, whatever, ......but that only lasts so long. 

We leak and need continual refilling.

In our "Dirty Job's" series on Sunday nights, we have been talking about this.  Its been great and we have had HUGE response to the series so far. 

But I want to start this week by challenging you:  How IS your 'spiritual passion'? What is your temperature?  If its low, what are you going to DO about it??? 

Romans 12:11 says, "Always keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Does this describe you right now?? 

It CAN...!

I read this today from Craig Groeshel's blog at LifeChurch.  Good stuff!  Let's stay WHITE HOT for Jesus, eh???

PB

Successful Ministers 1 (of 4)

By Craig Groeschel on January 14, 2008 in LifeChurch.tv and leadership. 25 Comments

Someone asked me recently, “What are the most important qualities for a minister to be successful?” Great question. I’ll give this question a stab. Obviously, my list will not be complete. But without question, these qualities are essential:

Spiritual Passion

To be successful in ministry, perhaps above all else, a pastor must have an intense spiritual passion. A typical lay person (non-pastor) might assume that spiritual passion is a “given” for anyone in ministry. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

Ministry is full of passion-killers. The short list could include:

• Seminary—many seminaries are excellent at educating while helping a student-pastor increase passion. Unfortunately, many aren’t.
• Failure—can cause us to second-guess everything wondering if we’re really hearing from God.
• Success—Surprising to some, success in ministry can distract one from his first love.
• Criticism—After taking bullets of criticism, some pastors start to wonder if it is worth it to continue.
• Rejection—Similar to criticism, being rejected from church members (and others) can cause us to become guarded and lose spiritual vigor.
• Life—The normal routines of life (especially church life) can slowly drain away our spiritual passion.

Those who remain spiritually fruitful over decades learn to stoke the flames of passion. Here is what works for me:

• Developing friendships with non-Christians
• Staying in God’s word
• Living in an attitude of prayer
• Giving extravagantly
• Resting

What helps feed your passion?