Shannon Chapman

I can't believe it's this Sunday!!!

 

Ethos Video Shoot

Can't wait to see how all these video turn out for our 3rd Anniversary Celebration.  It's only SIX days away!!!! Get ready it's going to be a beautiful morning as a community of love, faith, and change.

Loving Others Not Like Me

Today I gave our last message at our church for 2009.  I felt the Lord leading me to share one of my biggest struggles....loving other not like myself.  The thing is we all can relate to this struggle I think.

Here was the three simple point I laid out on how to love other not like ourselves:

• Love even when it feels uncomfortable
• • Luke 10:25-37 
• Seek to be Spirit-lead in all human connections
• • John 1:14
  • We must balance grace and truth 
• See the Beuty in everyone
• • I Corinthians 12:29-I Corinthians 13:3 

If we want to see revival in our churches, our families, and our personal lives we must seek to love deeply! Can't wait to see what God does in my life and in our church as we commit to love others not like ourselves.

Highlight Pics from Christmas 2009

 

 

Christmas Morning 2009

 

Neutral

Today and the last 2 weeks now I find myself in neutral.  My mind is full of things that I know need to be done but I can't seem to find the determination to get my life into drive and start going.  I have been in the worst moods ever the last couple of weeks.  I am been short with my wife and kids and I hate that like crazy.

I am watching my kids play right now and I was just thinking to myself my am I this way.  I mean I know we all go through out funk sometimes but man I want out of this so bad.  And with this room filled with people I heard a little small voice speak to me.  It said you "you haven't asked me once for help you have been trying all by yourself to fix the problem."  Man that got me big time.

Why is it we think we can fix our issues without God?  I don't know but thats what I have been doing. I need to say this, God I completely admit that I CAN'T fix myself, I need your help!  So, as of right now I am asking God for strength, peace, joy, and love.  Fill my soul deep with your presence...Give me patience in the waiting...Focus my life on what matters most.

Life is so short and filled with so many unexpected things to live it in neutral.  

Isaiah 60

 ¹ "Arise, shine, for your light has come, 
       and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

 ² See, darkness covers the earth 
       and thick darkness is over the peoples, 
       but the LORD rises upon you 
       and his glory appears over you.

And to that I say AMEN!

Volunteer Christmas Party 09

 

What does it take to be a great volunteer

Tonight, I get two spend a couple of hours with a group of amazing volunteers.  The reality is Ethos could NOT do what God has called us to do with our men and women giving of their time, energy, and talent.  

I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for Volunteers that serve at Ethos.  There are a lot of things that go into making a great volunteer but let me just focus on my top three:

What does it take to be a great Volunteer...

1. Believe  in the vision of the ministry you at volunteering for
2. Be on time
3. Take ownership of the job you are doing every week

I tell our volunteers all the time that what they do is JUST as important as what I go every week on the stage. I believe that their is not one task more important than another. I think it all of us doing what we can so to be a community of love, faith, and change.

So, again I just want to give a huge "THANK YOU" to all those that volunteer at Ethos.  This past year has been an amazing year of salvation's, baptisms, and growth.  I can't wait to see what God does in the future.

16 Daddy Christmas Tips

I read this today from one of my favorite pastors Mark Driscoll.  What I love about this is how  practical it this.  Also, I think that us as dad's need all the help we can get.  So enjoy dad's!

'Tis the season for Dad to drop the holiday ball, stress out as the money is being spent for presents, and miss yet another providential opportunity to lovingly lead his family. So, this blog is intended to help dads not fall into the same old rut of holiday humdrum, sitting on the couch watching football and eating carbs, but rather intentionally plan out the upcoming holiday season. Our children grow quickly and if we miss the sacred moments God opens up for us to connect with and bless our families, everyone suffers and we set in motion generations of missed opportunity.

#1 – Dad needs a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?

#2 – Dad needs to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family.

#3 – Dad needs to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?

#4 – Dad needs to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to begrumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?

#5 – Dad needs to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memoriescan you make this holiday season?

#6 – Dad needs to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?

#7 – Dad needs to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless?

#8 – Dad needs to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?

#9 – Dad needs to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?

#10 – Dad needs to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?

#11 – Dad needs to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?

#12 – Dad needs to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?

#13 – Dad needs to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?

#14 – Dad needs to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?

#15 – Dad needs to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?

#16 – Dad needs to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

Join Pastor Mark on Facebook for updates, resources, and answers to questions.

Sermon Recap

Today, we began our three part sermon series for Christmas.  The Christmas story is all about when God comes and interrupts common people with expectations and miracles that at first they don’t understand.

Here was the passage that we looked at together this morning. 

Luke, 1:26-38, In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[c^] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."

38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Three simple discoveries from this verses about how God preforms miracles:

    God doesn’t need a special setting. 

    God uses ordinary people.

    We must be open to God’s unlimited possibilities.

At the end of service I talked a little about that it's not enough to just to believe we must trust.  What good is belief in God if you can’ trust him.  Simple stated to trust God means: 

    to believe his word.

to count on his character

to rely on the soundness of his decisions

to anticipate his love and loyalty

So, that’s it…a very simple message for a special time of year.  Really believe God used this message to speak to a lot of people today.  

Already can’t wait for next week!  My prayer for our community is that we will be open to more than we have ever dreamed of…more than we ever could realize by yourself this Christmas Season!