next night is Feb. 1st at Pastor Ryan’s. 

Nicaragua - Ask God to guide the preparations, for the national assembly, of the 7,000 member BIC church in Nicaragua that will be held February 2-4.  Pray that the plans and goals that are set will result in the enlargement of the work of the Lord.

• Pray for specific opportunities to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection with un-churched friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
• Pray that NLC will continue to be a church that reaches people from all walks of life who will find help, healing, and hope as they connect to Jesus and His Family at NLC.
• Pray for your small group.  Pray that God would richly bless its leaders and that there would be a greater commitment to biblical community at NLC.
• Pray for continued spiritual growth and a deeper passion to know and love God more.
• Pray that each of our ministries at NLC will continue to fulfill their purpose.  Pray that those not currently serving in a ministry would sense the leading of the Holy Spirit to find a ministry where they can use their passion, gifts, talents, and abilities to serve others.
• Pray that God would stir our hearts with a passion to see NLC grow and at some point plant other churches.

Praying for our Family

Greg Beam
Jeff Morrison

New Life Community Church or Carlisle, PA

FUNDAMENTALS =
a. Of or relating to the foundation or base; elementary: the fundamental laws of the universe.
b. Forming or serving as an essential component of a system or structure; central:
c. Something that is an essential or necessary part of a system or object.
d. principles from which other truths can be derived; “first you must learn the fundamentals”; “let’s get down to basics”

THE CHURCH
What is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Jesus said,”20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.”   Matthew 18:20 (NLT)

BEING THE CHURCH INVOLVES:

1. A commitment to a PERSON.

50 But Jesus told the woman, “Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!”  Luke 7:50 (CEV)

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15 so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.   John 3:14-17 (NLT)

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.  Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

2. A commitment to a PEOPLE.

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “These are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”    Matthew 12:46-50 (NLT)

3. A commitment to a PURPOSE.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

NLC’S PURPOSE

To WORSHIP God as we CONNECT people to Jesus and His family, help them GROW in Christ-like maturity, and SERVE one another in ministry.

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

• Make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Choose to make NLC your spiritual family.
• Start living on PURPOSE.

A Blueprint for Developing a Life of Excellence

Step 1: Don’t Be AFFRAID to Dream.

False Belief: Dreaming is WRONG.

28 ‘And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Joel 2:28 (NIV)
False Belief: Christianity is too limiting.

GUIDELINES FOR DREAMS:

• Dreams are God glorifying and people helping
• Dreams do not demand credit or my name in lights
• Dreams require me to develop my character and competence in order for them to be fulfilled
• Dreams necessitate counsel, evaluation and adjustments along the way
• Dreams ultimately bring others closer to God
• Dreams require me to start with what I already have

Step 2: Be Willing to Pay the PRICE.

False Belief: The cost of following dreams is too high.

3 For the dream comes through much effort… Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NASB95)

8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have put aside all else, counting it worth less than nothing, in order that I can have Christ, 11 So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead.  Philippians 3:8, 11 (TLB)

When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains… those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope.”   Henri J. M. Nouwen

Three Willing Attitudes:

1. Be willing to experience suffering.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening - it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.  Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

21 This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.  1 Peter 2:21 (NLT)

2. Be willing to break through quitting points.

12 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.  Philippians 3:12 (CEV)

36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.  Hebrews 10:36 (NLT)

3. Be willing to raise the bar of excellence for the sake of God’s kingdom.

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT)

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle

Step 3: Enjoy the RIDE.

False Belief: If I’m having fun I must be doing something wrong.

11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.  Psalms 16:11 (AMP)

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vince Lombardi

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.     Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Zambia: Schools open this week, including Sikalongo Bible Institute, Theological College of Central Africa, BIC basic and secondary schools.  Ask God to grant strength, wisdom and effectiveness to administrators, teachers and chaplains.

Pray for specific opportunities to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection with un-churched friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

• Pray that NLC will continue to be a church that reaches people from all walks of life who will find help, healing, and hope as they connect to Jesus and His Family at NLC.
• Pray for your small group.  Pray that God would richly bless its leaders and that there would be a greater commitment to biblical community at NLC.
• Pray for continued spiritual growth and a deeper passion to know and love God more.
• Pray that each of our ministries at NLC will continue to fulfill their purpose.  Pray that those not currently serving in a ministry would sense the leading of the Holy Spirit to find a ministry where they can use their passion, gifts, talents, and abilities to serve others.
• Pray that God would stir our hearts with a passion to see NLC grow and at some point plant other churches.

Praying for our Family

Drake, Michelle, Grey, Carter Aschliman
Frank Marra

“Living a life of excellence no mater what the world throws at you.”

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.   Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

Three Foundational Principles for Building and Rebuilding

I. A solid FOUNDATION is critical.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”   Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.   Psalms 127:1 (NIV)

7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.  Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

II. Building and rebuilding is a continual PROCESS.

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.   Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

III. Get a clear PERSPECTIVE from God.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.    Psalms 119:105 (NIV)

3 Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3 (GW)

How Do I Get Started?

Step 1: Make a Decision.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.    Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

“An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.” Winston Churchill

Step 2: “Measure Twice Cut Once”

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.   Matthew 7:26

Step 3: Clear Away the Old

Step 4: Build Before You Decorate

10 God was kind and let me become an expert builder. I laid a foundation on which others have built. But we must each be careful how we build, 11 because Christ is the only foundation. 12 Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw.    1 Corinthians 3:10-12 (CEV)

January 7-14, 2007 – There will be several opportunities to come together in prayer.  We hope you will take some time to attend one or more.  The celebration time of prayer will be on January 13, 2007 at Carlisle BIC, so mark your calendar.  We will provide more information to you in the next week.

The church in Nicaragua - which has reached nearly 7,000 members - has planted a BIC church in the San Jose area of Costa Rica.  Praise the Lord that the BIC church has spread to yet another country!  Pray for strong leadership and good spiritual growth.

Pray for specific opportunities to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection with un-churched friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

• Pray that NLC will continue to be a church that reaches people from all walks of life who will find help, healing, and hope as they connect to Jesus and His Family at NLC.
• Pray for your small group.  Pray that God would richly bless its leaders and that there would be a greater commitment to biblical community at NLC.
• Pray for continued spiritual growth and a deeper passion to know and love God more.
• Pray that each of our ministries at NLC will continue to fulfill their purpose.  Pray that those not currently serving in a ministry would sense the leading of the Holy Spirit to find a ministry where they can use their passion, gifts, talents, and abilities to serve others.
• Pray that God would stir our hearts with a passion to see NLC grow and at some point plant other churches.