pat loughery

Worship Leader: ??. [Raymond MacDonald on elec guitar; Bobby MacDonald on bass]. I’m a huge fan of Raymond’s music and approach to worship & musicality. If you don’t know Raymond, he’s a Texas guy who spent a few years releasing albums in the Stevie Ray Vaughn style, and playing with Chris Lizotte. Truly talented bluesy-rock guitar guy.

Worship set:
I Will Not Fear(Barnett)
The Blood of Jesus (Pritzl)
I Worship You (Tuttle)
Church Rise Up (Barnett) ->
Show Your Power (chorus only repeat)
Faithful One (Doerksen)

Prophetic Words
Branding fire, sparks arcing out onto a map, igniting our neighbors and nations

Reminder: called to be a great nation, called to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the gospel. Jesus is pleased with us as we go forth and bring people into his nation/kingdom

You’re not too old. The church isn’t too old. Picture of a runner on a track who drops the baton. lord says that you can’t pass the baton unless you’re running the race. Pass the baton to the next generation as you’re running the race.

Picture of Wright bros airplane; the lord wants to teach us to fly jets.

3 words: 1) Lord calling many into green pasture this week, refreshing, renewing his sheep (press in). 2) Speaking to the discouraged, those about to throw in the towel (reconsider, seek Lord’s hope. 3) God is stirring new leaders and new church planters this week, sending you forth with his blessing as embers)

Picture of 3 tables. First was perfect porcelain table setting. Second, porcelain was on floor and broken. Third, porcelain was fused and glued back together; glue was HS. Lord says he can’t use the unbroken pieces. He can’t use the unfixed broken pieces. But… he can use the broken and re-fused with the HS -> Scripture: we hold this treasure in jars of clay…

Church Plant Announces: 69 new churches panted in last year, some 20 more planting this summer. Also (I forget) number of churches labeled now as “established churches” (size requirement, systems in place and 501c3 in place). In each case, the planting pastors, the sending church pastors and the coaching pastors come to the front for applause, blessing prayer.

Evening Keynote:
Dr. Floyd Flake (US congressman 1986-1997; took over a church in Jamaica NY and grew it from 100->20k; also now president of a university here in Ohio)

Being the people of God and doing the things of the people of God.

1 Sam 10:20-23:
20When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”
And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
23They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others.
1 Sam. 10:20 through 1 Sam. 10:23 (NIV)

Topic:hidden among the baggage

So many people are called to do great things, but are limited by their own inadequacies, lack of self-esteem, understanding that what God does for/with you is what’s important.

So many times we feel so challenged to do what God has called us to do, we don’t believe we’ll be able to achieve it.

Growing up in a segregated school in Texas, we were taught to take the word “can’t” out of our vocabulary so as not to limit ourselves.

How do we come to the realization of what God wants us to do in life – and when that time comes how do we hear the voice of God over the naysayers and critics?

When we think of Saul, we think of the evil king who chased David. But there was another Saul, earlier in life, who was afraid to come out of the baggage.

Where do we keep bags? Away, out of place. Isolated. Separated.

This church (movement?) has been blessed by not being bound by the baggage of what has come before. Trying to be what it was before. Sometimes we choose the old and good in fear the new and better.

When you hide, you miss the opportunity to see what god wants to do with and through you. Even if you’re broken, sinful, hurt.

Why would you hide out among the baggage?
1. You don’t want to assume responsibility. (sense of inadequacy of self; instead of seeing what God wants to pull out of him).
If God chooses you, don’t run – let him do his work in you.

Don’t give in to stress. Let the stress go to God.
2. We all have baggage. Generational, self-esteem.

Quit hiding

3. Fear of people talking about us. But why not let God do what God does, and let God do what he wants to do through us. Don’t let yourself be controlled by fears.