Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem: seize the day; enjoy the moment.

Yesterday as we continued our journey through James I hope you all left with a sense of urgency and appreciation for TODAY.

Here's a quick recap for those who didn't make it:

1. We have absolutely no control over the future.
2. Ask yourself, "What determines your decisions?"
3. Which of the following steal your opportunities for seizing today:

• Future fears or fantasies
• Past problems
• Moving at the speed of life

Before the day slips away take a second and breath in the moment. Go back and read over James 4:13-17 and embrace the privilege of today. Thank God for the chance to call an old friend, forgive an old feud, let go of yesterday's hold, be kind to a complete stranger...and in the midst of it all allow God to form Jesus in you.

Carpe Deim theGathering!

walk on,

Pastor Andrew

Can't We All Just Get Along? Part 2

Can't

We

All

Just

Get

Along?

They way we love each other demonstrates

how great Jesus is,

floods our lives with rich, deep relationships,

and invites non-Christians to embrace Jesus' grace.

Our relationships matter! So how can we get along? It is through the grace-invasion (James 4:5-7). Jesus Christ, the One who is Grace, indwells us to live in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are a community of God-indwelt people.

Embrace that reality . . . savor it and live from it.

He is the power source. Our job is to submit to Him. Love well this week.

On Mission With The Great Hero.

Pastor Derwin

"Can't We All Just Get Along?"

In the early 1990's, Rodney King uttered the words, "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

Mr. King made a profound statement that would bless the world . . . if we could all just get along.

As we continue our adventure through the book of James, tomorrow we will marinate on James 4:1-12.

As you read, you will see that these early Christ-followers struggled to get along just like us.

In preparation for tomorrow, I request that you do the following:

1. Read James 4:1-12 three times.

2. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the deep work He hungers to do in you.

3. Pray that theGathering and all Churches would be a community that "Get Along" with one another and that non-Christians would want to experience Jesus because we "Get Along" with each other.

4. Surrender and live out the text through God's enabling-grace.

On Mission With The Great Hero,

Pastor Derwin

Passion

What are you passionate about?

If there's one common denominator to people's comments to me after a spiritual conversation it's, "Man you get passionate when you talk about this stuff!" And you know why? Passion doesn't come from knowledge alone but experience.

Passion is that thing we connect with, what we've personally experienced, that we wish and hope other people get to experience too. For some it's mountain biking, gardening, painting...you name it but when they talk about it, they get that glimmer in there eye and a far away gaze that tells you their talking about something that resonates deep within them.

Now check this out, take a minute, dig real deep, and ask yourself why you find yourself teleported to a new realm when you talk about whatever you're passionate about. I bet it has something to do with:

• How you're wired
• What it draws out in you
• What it tells you about yourself
• How it hits a deep spot at the core of your heart.

Now, what's God telling you about this passion? Listen carefully because He placed it there! Whatever your passion may be God, who created us in his image, placed creativity and passion deep within us in order to connect us to Him. Being human, creative, and passionate tethers us to our wildly creative and passionate God who pursues us with unending love, mercy, and grace.

In the midst of your passions, know that you're passionately loved!

walk on,

Pastor Andrew

Hero

Another Father's Day has come and gone.

It is my prayer that we, as men, would not let another day come and go without seizing our divine-birthrite of living a heroic life.

You my firend, were created to be a hero.

Our families . . . our world is in desperate need of men who are ready for God to unleash His power in their hearts! Be that man!

No retreat.

No surrendar.

Fight for the heroic life you were meant to live!

On Mission With The Great Hero,

Pastor Derwin

It's Time To Be The Hero You Were Created To Be

Hi Gathering Family,

Father's Day is nearly upon us! I can smell the baby back ribs now.

To get ready for this great day, please take some time and read the story of Joesph in Genesis chapter 37 to chapter 50. What a incredible story.

Within this incredible story is five essential truths that men must awaken to and embrace if they are going to live the God-empowered, heroic life they were created for. The message that I will be preaching is from my new book, Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart.

See book: http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Derwin-Gray/dp/1935416227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242938383&sr=8-1

Also pray about who the Spirit would have you invite to theGathering this Sunday. Who knows . . . this may be the Sunday they meet Jesus face-to-face?

On Mission With The Great Hero,

Pastor Derwin

Wisdom

Man, yesterday was just an all around incredible day! If you missed I'm really sorry...really.

First Andy Blevins lead us out with an incredible music set which really felt like bridged the gap between heaven and earth and it met at Endhaven. Great job Blevins and Tennyson's!

I don't know about you guys but I'm still chewing on my own words from yesterday's message. To break it down for you wisdom is:

1. A matter of the heart. What are we feeding our hearts, that's nourishing our souls, and manifesting itself in our lives?
2. It's also either straight up earthly (demonic) or Godly (comes from God)
3. Earthly wisdom isn't true if it's all about you
4. Wisdom is right when God's in sight

Take some time and look back over James 3:13-18, meditate on it, and let it sink deep into the recesses of your heart.

And it didn't end there. In the afternoon over 120 of you showed up to see 19 people get baptized! We had stories from kids 8 years old to adults in their early 40's. This time each year is my hands down favorite time as a church every year. Thanks to everyone who came out to make this baptism memorable for those being baptized and for us as a church.

Whew! theGathering, be encouraged today as you begin your week. God's is doing great things!

walk on,

Pastor Andrew