Script #34

Beloved,

The new year begins at First with worship this Sunday at 7:30 (chapel) and 10:00 (sanctuary).

Officer orientation will be this Sunday (1/1) and next Sunday (1/8) in the chapel at 8:30 a.m. in preparation for the ordination and installation of officers on 1/8 at 10:00 a.m.  We will spend time getting to know each other, review faith particulars, talk about the rights and responsibilities of deacons and elders, and explain our polity that's sometimes difficult to understand (i.e., how we make decisions and who has authority to operate by prayer and desire under the authority of our Lord).

While the new classes of officers are small because of the stability of our deacons and elders, I encourage continuing officers and any member who'd like to know how we pray and labor to minister/deliberate/decide to attend.

All Wednesday activities/meetings/studies resume on 1/4 as noted in the bulletin and available via www.belvpresbyterian.org.

While both services were packed on Christmas Eve (4&11) and almost SRO, I'm not expecting worship on 1/1 to break attendance records; but I am expecting Him to show up in His spirit of Hebrews 11:6.  Our missionary Allison will speak (10:00 a.m.), there will be a very, very, very reassuring moment during our moment for children of all ages (10:00 a.m.), and, most important, we will begin the new year at His holy table of grace, continuing presence, and miracles.

You may also want to catch Bill's show on 12/27 by going to the archives of  www.bnnsradio.com and clicking on the 12/27 edition of Kopp Disclosure.  I was unavailable for the broadcast that day as I had to be with a member in a difficult moment before the show and then at the funeral home during the show to preside at the resurrection service for our beloved Velma Vivian.  Bill got it!  He nailed it!  He understands what the author was praying/trying to, uh, gospel.  And please don't forget that www.bnnsradio.com depends upon the generosity of "extra mile" givers like you! 

I am praying 2012 is the best year in your life!

2012 will be the best year in your life as you increase intimacy with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through worship, discipling opportunities, immersion in His Word, sacrament, fellowship, and...

Aside from what most would consider incorrect spelling of her first name, Carole King was wrong! 

It's never too late!

Spread the news!

Invite!

Welcome!

Include!

Return His unconditional favor for you with the same for His as to Him in a Matthew 25 kinda way!

Blessings and Love!

Script #33

Beloved,

This is the last script of 2011.

O.K., you can stop with the PTLs.

Until 2012:

1. Everything is "on" for this Wednesday!  Everything is "off" on 12/28 but everything resumes on 1/4/12; with the exception of "Midweek Boost" which will resume during Lent.

2. Don't forget Christmas Eve Services (Saturday) at 4:00 p.m. (sanctuary) and 11:00 p.m. (chapel).

3. One service on Christmas Day (Sunday): 7:30 a.m. in chapel.

4. Expecting record-setting attendances (Not!), regular worship hours resume on New Year's Day (Sunday, 1/1/12): 7:30 and 10:00 a.m.

5. Don't miss a Christmas message for you by clicking on www.koppdisclosure.com right now; and you don't want to miss the concluding video.  It will help to make your season bright!

Merry Christmas!

And despite the cynicism of #4, see you on New Year's Day!

Blessings and Love!

Script #32

Beloved,

Dr. Bob Griffin, a good friend of First who has preached and will preach again for Him/us and remains the main man at Rockford Renewal Ministries, wrote a book demanding attention from anyone caring about reviving/renewing congregations: Firestorms of Revival: How Historic Moves of God Happened and Will Happen Again.  While Bob has yet to plug my new book, I urge anyone interested in a Biblical/Christocentric/pneumatic revival in their local church to digest it and then incarnate it.

Essentially, it's about consistent, persistent, passionate intimacy with God through worship, prayer, Bible study, fasting, and the like as the key to unlocking the reviving/renewing graces of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Speaking of that, don't forget Midweek Boost, our new Advent and Lent discipline, on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. in the chapel.  Attendance has been great in terms of true worship; but severely lacking in terms of what Dr. Griffin has written about so eloquently and persuasively.  Today will take a few minutes for a devotional reading of Psalm 101 and open the heart of a leader. 

Quickies:

1. Review script 31 below for opportunities tonight to spread the love of Jesus by caroling with our Chancel Choir.

2. Don't forget Jeremy and his family.

3. After Kopper walked me this morning, I caught an interesting report on Fox News about "The Endowment Effect" that is crippling the American economic recovery.  Talk about providence!  Anyway, essentially, the endowment effect is folks who pile up money and then don't want to use it because they prefer to keep it piled up even though...  And so on.  Whoa.  I couldn't believe my ears!  It went on to talk about how this endowment effect causes people to find security in what's piled up and, therefore, they become very irresponsible about personal responsibilities like sacrifice, service, giving, and doing their part to keep America great by depending on the endowments of the past to pay for their bills.  Or something like that.  Whoa.  I couldn't believe my ears!  It almost sounded, uh, Biblical!  Anyway, I heard it after sending out the last www.koppdisclosure.com which I urge you to read about a prophetic word delivered to yours truly about, uh, endowments.

4. That's right!  Go to www.koppdisclosure.com for some declaratives/interrogatives about endowments. 

5. Speaking of opportunities, www.bnnsradio.com is reaching more and more and more people according to regular reports to me.  For example, 48+ people listened "live" to "The Best Cantata Ever" last Sunday!  The station has limitless potential for honoring Jesus and helping us to approach our prayer and desire to be a beacon for Jesus and safe haven for His children of all ages.

6. Speaking of the potential for www.bnnsradio.com, its continuing vitality and growth and, uh, operation, collectively, depend(s) upon the generosity of saints who get it to support it through gifts and offerings above the tithe to the storehouse.  Psst.  You know, the Biblical model of giving from God.  Anyway, from what I was told yesterday, it only costs 3K to run the station for a year!  The station needs some sugar daddies/mommas asap.  Ask Him if you're suppose...  Seriously, don't ask me.  Ask Him!  He'll give a direct answer to you.  I don't know what He'll say to you because I don't know what He's entrusted to you.  So it's just between you and Him and nobody will know but you and...Him.

7. Have I got some last minute Christmas shopping ideas for you!  Know anybody who needs a hat?  Or a book that will keep 'em awake during...?

Blessings and Love!

Script #31

Beloved,

1. Several times yesterday afternoon and in phone messages and e-mails since, folks have been saying the same thing: "Best Cantata Ever!"  While some will be the judge of that in a Christian kinda way, of course, all I know, very little as most think/assume, Lisa, the Chancel Choir, Jeremy and Jeanette (in a kinda farewell tour), our AVers, and all involved helped align my heart with Him in an extraordinary way; and if my old, hard, can't stand change, tight winkeskined...  Simply, the Cantata honored Him and helped us to move into greater intimacy with Him and each other.

2. The "live" broadcast of the Cantata via our own www.bnnsradio.com was crystal clear; and you can spread the word that folks can hear it again and again and again by going to www.bnnsradio.com and clicking on the archive for yesterday's worship service.

3. Come to think of it, why not purchase a copy of yesterday's service as gift for a shut-in or...?  Just call Karen and order copies!

4. Watch for the next KD before Wednesday (Avent, 5) which will talk about the exhaustion of the endowment at First and a prophetic word from near Kansas City about it along with an undershepherding word from moi.

Blessings and Love!

Script #30

Beloved,

Quickies:

1. Please remember our farewell to Jeremy, Jeanette, Bree, Kara, and Ben after the second service on 12/18.  Please see attached invitation to express your affections.  The deadline for donations to the "love gift" is 12/15.

2. Speaking of next Sunday, don't miss the opportunity to invite folks to the "Children's Christmas Program" at 10:00 a.m.

3. If you want to go Christmas caroling with our Chancel Choir, please be at the church a tad before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

4. Speaking of Wednesdays, lots of opportunities for all ages!

5. Two more Advent "Midweek Boost" services in the chapel (see below) at 11:30 a.m.  MB will resume as a Lenten spiritual discipline/opportunity on Ash Wednesday (2/22/12).

Attendance records have not been broken!  But those in attendance...Matthew 18:20.  Hebrews 11:6!!!

6. Christmas Eve services are set for 4:00 p.m. (sanctuary) and 11:00 p.m. (chapel).  We will have one worship service on Christmas Day at 7:30 a.m. (really, it starts at 7:20 a.m.) in the chapel.

7. New Year's Day services will be, uh, kinda normal: 7:30 and 10:00 a.m.

Blessings and Love!

Script #29

Beloved,

Quickies:

1. Don't miss Wednesday opportunities for all ages to get closer to Jesus!

2. Choir Cantata this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  "There is Peace in the World Tonight" is a wonderful opportunity to invite someone to...Him.

3. "Love Gift" donations for Jeremy, Jeanette, Bree, Kara, and Ben still being received in preparation for presentation after the second service on 12/18.  See attached!

4. We're hoping/expecting/desiring the elevator to the sanctuary will be ready by 12/24!

Blessings and Love!

Script #28

Beloved,

Do you want to be well?

Do you want to be filled with joy and love and peace and...?

Do you want the best Christmas of all?

Do you want a new year better than last year?

Do you know someone who wants a "better" Christmas?

www.koppdisclosure.com (Advent, 2).

Prayer line: 815-544-3535.

Blessings and Love

Script #27

Beloved,

Some news flashes as we move deeply into Advent:

1. Over two dozen men have already signed up for this Saturday's Men's Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.  Even if you haven't signed up, come!  If necessary, we'll ask Him for a fishes and...

2. Don't miss "The Second Annual Holmes Production" of "Toys for Tots Christmas Concert" on December 16 at Belvidere's Community Building.  Read more about it via www.belvpresbyterian.org and next week's bulletin.

3. Midweek Boost continues every Wednesday during Advent in the chapel at 11:30 a.m. (scroll down for more information).

4. "Deeper Discipleship" (Wednesdays at 6pm in the chapel) is moving rapidly to concluding sessions in its review of Chan's Crazy Love as a preface to his book on the Holy Spirit: Forgotten God.

5. See you Sunday at 7:30 or 10:00 a.m.

Blessings and Love!