Making the Connection

On Sunday afternoon, August 8th, we went down to 5 Mile Dam for Baptism Celebration. I got to baptize 6 people, Nic baptized 4, our deaf pastor Tim baptized 3, Javi baptized his nephew and Rico baptized his daughter! What a blast it was to be a part of those 15 people’s “Going Public” party! Every one of them has been changed by the power of God at work in their lives! We also met some people at the river who came to church the following Sunday to get connected to what God is doing through The Connection Church. As many people as we’ve got to lead to Christ along the way, it’s just the tip of the iceberg of the BIG things that God has in store for South Central Texas in the coming days! Keep up the great work Connectors! Let’s do this!!!

This week I listened to “The Dip” audiobook by Seth Godin.  I’m looking forward to sharing this with our staff. It’s a quick listen, or read, full of helpful counter-intuitive principles that will help you move beyond average to being the best at whatever you’re doing.

Every endeavor, job, project, even relationship, has a dip, that place where moving forward gets difficult. That’s a good thing, because most people give up or go average when facing the dip.  So, you can be the best in whatever you are doing if you are willing to pay the price of the dip, simply because most people don’t.

Right now, I, along with all of us at The Connection Church, are faced with a serious dip, a challenge that separates the place of average from reaching our destiny. As we are getting into the toughest part of the new building, things are going to be harder before they get easier. The finances are tighter because the majority of our resources have already been invested. Many of those who’ve been working long hours on construction are getting tired or in some cases even sick.

But now is not the time to let up. It’s the time to press through, to keep advancing, to keep working, to step up our financial investments in this work. To make it through a dip, you have to ask, “Is it worth what it will take to make it through to the other side?” Without a doubt, 100%!!! Because, on the other side, is the place of incredible impact and life-change that God is calling us to. And, by God’s power, we will succeed, together.

What Dip are you facing right now? Press through to victory!

This week, we started a new message series called “KIDstruction: Raising Indestructible Kids” all about the building blocks of parenting. We had a great kickoff on Mother’s Day, that you can watch here if you missed it.

Every successful building project begins with the foundation. If the foundation is solid, then, no matter what happens in the future, the foundation will remain. As parents, it’s our job to lay that rock solid foundation in place in our homes as soon as we can.

How can we do that?

First, center your life around God and His Word. That means in every area: schedule, friendships, media, finances, and work. You can think of it like the spokes of a wheel with every spoke attached to the center. God will hold your life and family together when you put Him at the very center.

Second, establish family values. Every family has values, but many of them are unspoken and loosely defined. As a result, no one really knows what they are. You can make a list of the non-negotiables and the goals in your family. Let me give you a hint, it’s not just to survive. God wants to use your whole family to make a difference for Him. With clear, biblical values in place, your family can be extraordinary in making a difference.

Never underestimate the value of a strong foundation! And make sure you don’t miss a single message in this series to continue building an indestructible family. We’re meeting at Hemphill Elementary at 9:30am and 11:00am. See you there!

It’s another school project for Makenzie. This time, she was to make a cooking show about tasty ways to prepare bird dishes for her science class. So we all get the benefit of enjoying a little zany time with Kenzie as she cooks her way through this one:

Kenzie’s Crazy Cooking Show from Cole Phillips on Vimeo.

With recipes for chicken, turkey, and quail, this episode is for the birds! Join Kenzie in the kitchen as she shows you how to prepare some delicious dishes. Of course, it’s Kenzie, so you know there’s gonna be a lot of fun along the way.

Additional credits: Camera work by Bethanie and my mom.

When Jesus was on the cross, the second statement he made was to one of the criminals hanging beside him. When the dying thief asked Jesus to remember him in Heaven, Jesus assured, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Jesus was giving His life so that anyone who trusts in Him can spend eternity with Him in a literal perfect place called heaven.

I’m going to spend a lot longer on the other side of eternity than I will on this side. As a Christ-follower, if we know that we’re going to spend forever (a very, very long time) in heaven, what difference does that make today? That reality changes everything! Once I understand it, I will live my life in light of eternity.

My Time

First, I’ll invest my time in eternity. There’s a huge difference between spending my time and investing it. My time is my life, and I have a limited amount it, only 24 hours in a day. When I live to make a difference for God’s Kingdom, my time isn’t wasted, it’s invested and will have a huge return.

My Treasure

Next, I’ll invest my treasure in eternity. Everything we have is a gift from God. You can’t take it with you when you’re gone, but you can send it on ahead. How do we do that? By generously giving to a local church that is focused on mission to Go and Tell the Good News of Jesus. Where do you have the biggest savings account? On Earth or in Heaven?

My Talent

We’ll also invest our talents for eternity. You’re unique and have something to offer the Body of Christ as you serve in ministry. I have to ask myself, “Is what I’m doing with the gifts and abilities God gave me really making an eternal impact?” Even the smallest act of selfless service can make a difference when you do it in Jesus’ name.

My Testimony

Finally, I’ll invest my testimony in eternity. In court, you testify about what you have seen or experienced. To make a difference in someone’s life, you can show and tell them about what you’ve experienced Jesus do in your life. You might not be a Bible scholar, but no one can argue with your personal experience. Who do you know who needs to hear your story this week?

The issue isn’t, “Will I live forever?” It’s “How will I live forever?” This week is the perfect time to make a difference for eternity.