Pastor Trey Rhodes

When the Going Gets Tough...Just Quit. Really?

2012-02-21T14:59:00.002-08:00

Here's one that goes against everything we've heard. According to a study published by psychologists Gregory Miller and Carsten Wrosch, when it comes to hard times, we had better just quit or it could affect our health.

In their most recent study, published in the September (2007) issue of Psychological Science, the psychologists followed teenagers for a full year. Over that time, individuals who did not persist obtaining hard to reach goals had much lower levels of a protein called CRP, an indicator of bodily inflammation. Inflammation has recently been linked to several serious diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, suggesting that healthy but overly tenacious teens may already be on the road toward chronic illness later in life.

So, their answer was to just quit. I do wonder if they quit the first they couldn't get their funding for this study, or was it just handed to them on a silver platter. Maybe the trust fund families do have it right...make everything easy for your kids. Maybe then, they'll live longer. But I have to ask the question, what kind of life is that?

It was Martin Luther King, Jr who said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." (For more quotes on "struggle"). So, I have to wonder if it is the struggle that makes our life worth living. Life should not simply be breathing. It should be much more. Life is about finding our purpose in life and moving on that purpose in order to become all we were intended to be.

Thank goodness, they found out more than only how to stay alive. They found out that people that didn't quit found out that life is more...so much more from that same study:

While they did not find a direct link between re-engagement and physical health, they did find that people who readily jumped back into life had a greater sense of purpose and mastery and were less likely to ruminate about the past.

As we have been studying, examining, and agreeing to become more generous people, the first discovery we made was that to become who were intended to be, we were going to have to struggle to get our finances in order. Ouch! Yep, that's right, in order to be a generous person who can meet needs when they come up, we've got to get out of debt. Friend, that doesn't happen without a struggle for most of us. That's why we can't just give up. There will come tough times for all of us for all kinds of reasons. We've got to learn to push through in order to be all we were intended to be. To really be able fulfill the purpose we were intended accomplish, there will always be a struggle. It is probably a strong force of being able to live life to the fullest.

The Apostle Paul, of all people understood that when He encouraged Timothy during a tough time in his life:

All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in. 1 Tim 1:18-19 (MSG)

So, as we choose to obey God, there will come a time when you are “tested at the point of your obedience.” It is that moment when you find out what you really believe. It is then that you will have face a struggle. Will I push through and let God use me or will I just quit? For me, that moment happened earlier rather than later in life.

My wife, Kelly, and I had just arrived at seminary in Wake Forest, NC. We were doing what God wanted us to do. We were still in the wide-eyed, head in the clouds moment of our desire to do God's will. We had moved several hundred miles from home and had no way to return. After a week or so, my ministry position had still not come through; no one would hire me; and all our bills were coming due with no available means of money to pay them. It was at that very same moment that I cruelly blurted out to my wife, "We might as well go home. We can't make it financially here. I guess all my doubts were right. This was a dumb thing to do." Her answer? Although I don't remember the exact words, it went something like this, "Trey Rhodes. Did God call us here? If He didn't we should never have come in the first place. If He did, then He will provide." A little humbled I answered, "But honey, there is nothing...we have nothing to pay with. And I'm not just saying that..." I then walked out the door to get some fresh air to try and clear my mind. As I walked, I muttered half to myself and half knowing God could hear me, "Why did we come here anyway? No job...no money...nothing. I guess I just brought my wife and kids up here for...nothing." As I passed the mailbox, which was about 1000 feet from our seminary duplex, I thought I'd see what other bills had come in. I opened the box...still muttering...and spied a letter with a return address from back home. Once again, I complained, "They're probably telling me all the reasons I shouldn't have come up here." Reluctantly, I opened the envelope and discovered not only a letter, but a blue checked piece of paper that looked like some kind of check. Surely, I was seeing things. I bent over and picked it up, brought it close enough to read, and saw an amount that was exactly what we needed to stay the course...at least for now. Within the next week, a ministry position opened up at a local church. Soon I received my first paycheck, and 2 and a half years later, finished seminary. Tested, persevered, and with God's help passed the test.

Here's what I'm saying, many of you committed to the Lord to get your finances in order so that you could be those generous people God is calling us all to be. For that to happen, we must be faithful to God's call in our lives to obey Him...no matter the struggle we face. Never quit and never give up. God wants to do great things through you. Choose to be that funnel of God's blessing and impact this world like you have never imagined!

Never gonna' give up,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

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Who are you bringing with you?

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Make This Day a Day of Generosity

2012-02-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

How many hours and energy have you put into making Valentine's Day special for your love? What if you could have a day where generosity makes a difference in a life outside of your family or friends? One company is determined to look outside themselves and touch lives. Here's their take on "Generosity Day":

(One) investment firm (The Acumen Fund) has redefined the process of giving back and today they're encouraging the world to do so on Valentines Day. They've dubbed the romantic day "Generosity Day" and are attempting to get people to give up on the expensive gifts and flowers. Instead, they are asking people to embrace the idea of giving back. The concept is to spend the day doing small acts of kindness in a pay-it-forward structure. Suggestions include leaving a larger than average tip, giving a colleague a ride to work, or just being extra nice to people. Little things that they hope will make a difference. Many had taken to sites like Twitter to share their support of the day. Happy #GenerosityDay! Join others who are doing outrageously generous thing," Kevin Kruse wrote on Twitter.

Generosity is what our Lord has always been about. We read in the Bible an incredible word form the lips of Jesus,

It is better to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

That seems so backwards while nearly everyone is looking out for number one. People wanting to know what they can get out of someone or something. Even to the point of asking, "What's in it for me?" It would seem that the more you give, the less you would have. But God's economy is completely different.

We are reminded in the Proverbs by Solomon:

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

This is the principle, the more we give the more we prosper. It's not about what we have in the bag; it's what we can overflow from God's basket. If we give freely, we will "gain even more." That is basket living that makes generosity a way of life.

Will you hold on or will you choose to give freely? When it comes to Man vs. Money, may man win every time!

Cultivating a generous heart,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Dinners are coming in March. Find out more here!!
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Who Owns the Castle?

2012-02-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

Castles have been etched in our minds as places where the king and his family live. We watch the movies and read the books and get all caught up in the romance of it all. But, the king doesn't actually live in his castle; he lives in the palace. The steward is actually the keeper of the castle and lives there to take care of the castle until the king returns (For you Lord of the Rings fans, that what The Return of the King is all about).

The Neuschwanstein Castle is one most visited castles in Germany
and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The saying goes that a man's house is his castle. When you hear that, you might have visions of a burly man walking though his door to his doting wife who fawns over him as he plops in his chair and reaches for the cold ice tea that she places in his hand. Maybe it could be a scene from Leave It to Beaver or Father Knows Best. But, in order to understand fully what that means, we've got to go farther back than the 1950's.

It actually all began in the time of Cicero about 100 years before Christ. He explained how important it was for a man to have security and privacy in his home; it was understood that the man represented the entire family who should expect the same. His exact quote was:

What more sacred, what more strongly guarded by every holy feeling, than a man's own home?

This was later taken to be a part of law in western civilization as William Blackstone speaks to English law:

...the law of England has so particular and tender a regard to the immunity of a man's house, that it stiles it his castle, and will never suffer it to be violated with immunity.

Of course it didn't end there, our U.S. constitution gives us the same right in the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...

However, as followers of Christ, we are only the keepers of God's castle. We are not the owner. That is why we have but one right, and that is to yield all we have and all we are to our Lord, Jesus Christ, including our castle. He has the right to not only search us and all we have, but also seize whatever He needs. That's because He owns it all and it is His castle. So, the LORD Jesus should always have access to our stuff. He is the One for whom we are but stewards. He is the Owner, we are the managers. As the Psalmist declared:

The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. Psalms 24:1 (NASB)

As a young believer, I was confused with the purpose of the tithe. Somehow I thought that 10% was God's and 90% was mine. The truth is that the 10% is God's, and so is the 90%. It's all His. Everything I own, everything I am, and everything I ever will be are all His. The LORD not only owns the wealth in every mine, He also own the mine. He not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He owns every hill on every continent on this entire planet. God owns it all.

So, why do I tithe? Because God needs it? No, I think He could take it any time He wanted it if He really wanted to. Because the church needs it? No, that's not even right. The church needs our support in so many ways; our finances are only a part. Our church needs our talents, our gifts, our time, our support, and our help. So, what is the tithe for? It is our way of letting the Lord know that we acknowledge it all belongs to Him. It is not our holy duty; it is our gift of love for Him.

Thank you for demonstrating your love for your Lord.

All for Him,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

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Yes, America, There is a Punxsutawney Phil, and He's Right...Sometimes

2012-01-31T14:46:00.000-08:00

Punxsutawney Phil is a large rodent that is supposedly the prognosticator of prognosticators. The greatest predictor of weather that we have available to us today. At least, that's what the people of Punxatawny, Pennsylvania would have you believe. You see, there are movies named after this groundhog, secret societies built around him, and yes, even a day given over to him in our calendar, Groundhog Day which comes every February 2nd. Hard to believe once you realize his predictor of seeing his shadow is only right 39% of the time. "That ain't so bad," I thought. Until you realize what a professor came up with after running the numbers:

Biology professor Stam Zervanos looked back at Punxsutawney Phil, a tradition now celebrating its 126th year. He estimates that Phil or his ancestors could predict with only 39 per cent accuracy that winters continued to be cold for several weeks following the appearance of its shadow on Feb. 2, or were milder than usual after it couldn’t see a shadow.

Is that so bad? Well, consider this:

According to Encyclopedia Canada, 33 per cent accuracy can occur just by chance. AND... When you break it down by city, the chances of any weather-forecasting marmot getting it right in Toronto fall to about 29 per cent.

Realizing, of course, it's all in good fun, I still think it's funny how much trust we tend to place on a fat rodent every February 2nd to predict our upcoming weather.

Here's a some more numbers for you. 100% of people who tried to get rich with credit cards failed. 100% of people who are in debt are enslaved to their lender (Don't believe it? Try stopping your payments for a while.) And 99% of people who don't have budgets will not be able to fund their dreams, hopes, and future.

As I deal with families, they tend to live in the same rut: in debt, with no budget, no plan to get out of debt, and no hope. But, there is hope! No matter where you are financially, you can work yourself out of the hole you have dug. It will take a plan and lots of patience. God promises everyone of us that when we choose to obey Him, He will use all of His almighty power to help us obey Him. You make your plan and God gives His power:

So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" [simultaneously]? As God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes and no." For every one of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore, the "Amen" is also spoken through Him by us for God's glory. (2 Corinthians 1:17, 18, 20 HCSB)

That is what our series "Man vs. Money" is all about, helping you plan so God can work in your finances. My challenge is for you to commit to get out of debt. For that to happen, you're going to have to live like no one else, so you can live like no one else. Join one of our small groups. Get involved in one of our weekend services. And commit to live your finances God's way.

Looking for His help as I rely on His power,

Pastor Trey

Not Taking Care of Yourself? It Shows

2012-01-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

It comes as no surprise that Demi Moore has taken ill. Supposedly it is due to exhaustion even though many think she has not taken care of herself for several years. The problem is that she seems to have refused to take care of what obviously must be taken care of without experiencing visible consequences.

As MTV news reports:

The news of the health scare may not have been too surprising to celebrity watchers who have been closely keeping an eye on the actress in the wake of her split from Ashton Kutcher.

They reiterate with the concern of those who have been keeping up with her:

Moore had many fans worried about her health after she appeared thinner than usual at several red-carpet appearances...

Whether it is your spiritual health or other issues, there are always warning signs that accompany any lack of care. With our bodies, when we don't take care of ourselves, it can manifest though exhaustion, sleeplessness, or headaches.

However, when it comes to our financial health, we can always point to a single thing...debt. Debt is one of the most telling problems of money and its problems in our lives. It creates the chains that makes us slaves:

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7 HCSB)

Slaves cannot be happy, nor generous. So, debt must be dealt with if we are ever going to become financially healthy and make a difference in our lives, our homes, and for our children and grandchildren. If we are going to be able to impact our world, we must be not only willing but also able to give to God's kingdom's work through His church and ministries.

So, let's begin the process by taking a ride on the debt snowball together. How?

1. Make an E Z budget
2. Save $1000 for emergencies
3. Stop using credit (begin by cutting up your credit cards)
4. Pay down debt smallest to largest.
5. Sell stuff (most need to begin with your expensive car)
6. Get an additional part time job or work some overtime

This is a list you can use, but there are many more nuts and bolts to what can be done in your personal finances. Join us at Oceanside Church this weekend and in our small groups for "I Was Broke. Now I'm Not." www.MyOceansideChurch.com

Removing the Chains,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

The Wikipedia Blackout and Your Money

2012-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Although I don't claim to know everything about it, there is a bill that congress is considering called SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). While it seems on the surface to be a good law that protects writers and artists, it can have many far reaching affects that can harm the free exchange of ideas on everything from Wikipedia to YouTube to FaceBook and Twitter. For instance, according to abcnews.go.com in an article entitled "‘Wikipedia Blackout,’ SOPA and PIPA Explained," there is an explanation of the problem with this congressional law:

Internet entities such as Wikipedia, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Tumblr said the two bills would force them to be online police and hold them responsible if users of their sites link to pirated content.

The companies said the bills could require your Internet provider to block websites that are involved in digital file sharing. And search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing could be stopped from linking to them — antithetical, they argue, to the ideal of an open Internet.

This could be catastrophic to many of our freedoms that we hold dear as a nation. Here's one example of what could happen if SOPA became law: let's say you recorded your child's birthday party and did not edit out your singing "Happy Birthday to You" from your video; the site you posted to can be shutdown; any comments made that referred people to your video can be shutdown; and you can go to prison for 5 years as a convicted felon. That is Draconian, to say the least. It is scary stuff.

More here from TED on S.O.P.A

Blackout the Internet

Because of that, Wikipedia has fired the first salvo and will shut down on Tuesday, January 17th at midnight and will remain shutdown until Wednesday, January 18th. FaceBook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube are threatening the same thing. That begs the question, "What will we use the internet for?" It seems to me it will become little more than government regulated sites that have government approved content, with government approved responses. That is a kind of America that sounds more like Communist China or Shiite Iran. So, I hope every one of the entities affected will fight back with a blackout in order to help stop SOPA.

Blackout Excessive Spending

Another blackout we all need to consider is a blackout of spending more than we make. How is it possible to spend in excess of your income? Simple. Actually, it is entirely too simple. We use consumer credit brought on by our use and abuse of credit cards and other borrowing agencies to make up the difference. So, here's what I'm calling for, a blackout of any spending except what you have on hand. That is, if you don't have it, don't spend it. Credit can no longer be an option.

Impossible you say? Maybe so in your current state of financial affairs, but Oceanside wants to help you make that possible. No, it may not happen tomorrow, but it can happen. We want to provide you with the tools and the knowledge and the will to move forward and become financially free. Why is that important? How would you like to have the biggest raise of your life? How would you like to fulfill your wildest dreams financially? Then lets agree to begin the journey to being debt-free. Join us this weekend at Oceanside Church, Saturday at 8:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and begin your incredible journey.

Don't fail to plan your financial comeback, or you'll be planning to fail your financial comeback. Jesus exhorted us:

“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-30 (HCSB)

Let's plan for the kind of blackout that can impact every area of your life. You can make a real difference that way.

Moving toward financial freedom,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Who are you inviting to Oceanside Church this weekend?

If you would like notes for last week's message you can link to notes from Last week's message here: Man vs. Money, Pt. 1

Upcoming events and opportunities at Oceanside Church

Countdown to Doomsday

2012-01-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

Doomsday in 2012? Well, at least we are told by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that we are now 1 minute closer to doomsday. According the Washington Post article:

"In moving the clock ahead on Tuesday, the BAS cited the failure of world leaders to achieve significant progress on the reduction of nuclear weapons and in developing a comprehensive response to climate change."

So, there you have it. Scientists have now categorically declared that we are closer now than we have been since 2007. This is in addition to the Mayan calendar as well as other so-called predictors of the end of times. In truth, the Bible tells us:

"understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11 NIV)

In simple terms, the Bible reminds us that of course we're closer to the apocalypse now more than we were before. These scientists are affirming what we should recognize already. Things will get worse before the return of Christ. Although some may call it "Doomsday," to the believer it is "Hope Day." That day is referred to as that "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13).

Regardless of what the Lord's timetable is for us concerning His return, we are called to be living for Him right now. He might come for us, but we can also go to HIm. in the mean time, we are to live our lives in such a way that we point others to Christ in all areas of our life.

There is no better way we can shine our light more than how we handle our money. Maybe the Doomsday you are facing is not one of the atomic variety, but in your personal finances. We are able to live out Christ in front of others in such a powerful way by how we handle our money. Actually, when it comes down to it, most of us just want to know How We Can Survive Money.

Would you like to know how you can get the single biggest raise you've ever had? Beginning this week, we start helping you get that raise. Interested? Join us this Saturday or Sunday at Oceanside Church as begin the journey together and learn how to survive money.

Surviving for Him,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

DASH to the Diet that Works

2012-01-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

After all the gorging on fatty, high calorie foods during the Christmas season, we should all be motivated to lose a pound here and an inch there. According to U.S. News and World Report, the best way to do that is with the DASH diet. It's simple, they affirm it this way:

The DASH diet offers menus that feature vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products, as well as whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts. Limited portions of red meats, sweets and sugary beverages are allowed as well. (Read more here in the NY Daily News)

Sounds simple enough. But here's the problem with this as well as any other diet. It's easy to be motivated to start losing weight and inches, the hard part is keeping it off. This is from someone who has fought "the battle of the bulge" for years. I have come to discover that the simpler the diet, the more I am able transform my motivation to momentum. Once the momentum begins, my lifestyle then helps me keep off the extra pounds longer and easier. It's all about keeping momentum.

I learned this "diet" from the Fitness Together team of Brian and Josh Durbin here in Mount Pleasant. Eat 4 to 5 low fat, low salt small meals, don't drink sugary drinks, allow for anything in small portions (one or two bites of cake on occasion), eat all the vegetables and fruit you want (moderation with bananas), and exercise, both cardio and fitness. Once you start and make it a lifestyle, it's much easier to continue. You can live life healthy and energetic.

As we begin the new year, I am praying not for motivation to live for Christ, but momentum to live for Christ. There are few things more frustrating than driving an old beater, clunker car that can't keep going. You know, that car that takes constant repairs and calls to AAA to keep it going. You might drive it for a week, but before you know it, you're back down at the repair shop to get it running again. Kind of like Uncle Buck's car...

Do you ever feel like that resembles who you are in Christ? Always trying your best to keep it running, but never quite being able to get there? For you, the challenge for 2012 is to transform your motivation to momentum.

Paul understood that early in his Christian life. There were constant obstacles he faced that all had potential to slow him down and de-rail him from his walk with Christ. In the book of Acts we can read how he overcame that tendency:

But their suspicions didn't slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 9:22 (MSG)

He kept the main thing, the main thing: pointing desperate people to the loving Savior, Jesus Christ. When our tendency is to get de-railed and lose our momentum, do like Paul, tell others about Jesus. That means sharing with your friends, your co-workers, and your neighbors. It is that kind of lifestyle can and does maintain momentum.

Let's keep it simple, help others transform into Christ-followers and that will make all the difference in your life as well. That's maintaining momentum.

So this year, we are dubbing our year "Momentum 2012." It's all about

"Mo" friends and
"Mo" disciples.

It's pouring our lives into the lives of others as we get to see them experience God's transforming power in their lives.

Here's your challenge: don't walk out of church and small group motivated, move that motivation to momentum and you'll expereince your best year ever. Who knows? You might even see your own life change in ways you never thought possible. It's all about momentum.

Gaining momentum in 2012,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

For GREAT Oceanside Activities and Events coming up, be sure to check out your place for what's happening at Oceanside Church:
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Woman Killed for a Hoax

2011-12-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

.

According to an ABC news article, a woman was killed after she was to be questioned by police after allegedly sending a "hoax WMD package to a republican New York state senator."

The article continues:

"a female (who was armed with a knife and handgun) opened (the door) and began assaulting an officer with the weapons." In spite of the attack, the officer was able to access his service revolver and stop the woman from continuing the assault. The officer sustained non-life threatening injuries, and the woman, identified as Jameela Barnette, was killed.

No matter what the circumstances are that surround such a tragedy, it is always hard to deal with death, particularly around Christmas. Death is such a final word that evokes deep and hurtful memories.

The sad thing is that we live as if we have hundreds of years to live when in actuality, there is no promise that I will finish the next w o r d in this sentence. That is the hoax we believe. Somehow we actually think that life...for us...never ends.

Geof Kimber, a musician friend of mine, wrote these words:

"It's not that life is so short, it's just that death is so long."

If there is anything that our family has learned over these last 8 years, it is that life is riddled with unexpected events. In August of 2003, I went to church on a Sunday morning with no inkling that my life would all but end on the floor of a theater in Mount Pleasant, SC. I had suffered a dissected aorta that nearly ended my life and drastically changed my quality of life.

When that year began, it was like any other. We shot fireworks at the stroke of midnight on New Years Day; we planned for and secured a building for our church; and we even celebrated my 43rd birthday with all the boring jokes about my life being over... never even thinking that nearly 7 weeks later I would be lying in ICU at Roper Hospital fighting for my life.

As we begin a new year, I have renewed my commitment to live each day, wait, let me change that... each moment as if if was my last. The Psalmist understood that lifestyle more than most would care or consider:

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. (Psalm 90:12 HCSB)

Lord, this year, each moment, teach me.

Pastor Trey Rhodes

The 5 Best Smells of Christmas (in my opinion)

2011-12-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas is that time of year that brings us all intense remembrance of what it was. For most, we remember the sights, the sounds, and even the fragrance of Christmas. You don't hear much about the latter, so I want to mention my 5 favorites, then you can compare and then feel free to post what your favorites are.

5. Christmas tree freshly cut

4. Cookies baking

3. Peppermint candy

2. Pumpkin pie cooking

and my number one favorite scent...

1. Turkey fresh out the oven

Pumpkin pie fresh out the oven. Can't you just smell it?

They say that certain scents will evoke some of our strongest memories. According to a recent study reported by the New York Times in The Nose, an Emotional Time Machine that...

olfaction (that's smelling for us non-scientific types) is our quickest sense. Whereas new signals detected by our eyes and our ears must first be assimilated by a structural way station called the thalamus before reaching the brain’s interpretive regions, odiferous messages barrel along dedicated pathways straight from the nose and right into the brain’s olfactory cortex, for instant processing.

The reason that it impacts us so greatly is

the olfactory cortex is embedded within the brain’s limbic system (where our brain registers both emotions and smells) and amygdala (the part of the brain that registers memories), where emotions are born and emotional memories stored. That’s why smells, feelings and memories become so easily and intimately entangled...

That's why we can smell a certain odor and be immediately transported to another time long, long ago. God seems to have designed our brain to mix it all up so that we recall things without effort because of our sense of smell.

God places great importance on fragrance as well. He wanted incense burned every time the high priest went to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat as Passover. In addition, when the Lord sent the kings from the east, two of their three gifts were known for their scent: frankincense and myrrh. Could it be that it would be a reminder each time Jesus went to the temple He would remember who He was born to be? God who put on human flesh (frankincense was reserved for the worship of God) Could it be that every time He went to a funeral He would remember what He was born to do? Die for the sins of man (myrrh was used in burial as a preservative).

In the same way, our aroma affects those around us. Listen to this:

But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

This Christmas, as we breath in the wonderful aromas of the season, may we remember why we celebrate "Christ"mas. Let's spread His sweet fragrance everywhere beginning this wonderful, holy week.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Thanks for all your wonderful wishes and prayers during the Christmas season. You all mean so much to Kelly and I. We don't take the time often enough to let you know how much we appreciate all of you. Simply said, you are the best! We love you so much!!

Go to OCannounce.info for Oceanside Church's Christmas Offering and Worship Service as well as our New Year's Eve party.

The God Particle and Tim Tebow

2011-12-13T12:57:00.000-08:00

It has been great to be a part of seeing all the excitement surrounding the highly unlikely rise of a quarterback named Tim Tebow. From the day he was drafted into the NFL, it has been spoken of as a poor choice. "He will never make an NFL quarterback" was the chorus from the sports world at large. Yet, here we are near the end of the season, and the quarterback for the Denver Broncos is now 6 for 7 with the team finding themselves in the division lead. Mere coincidence? Maybe, but somehow I doubt it. First, there are no such things as coincidences. God has His hand in all things. Second, no one could be this "lucky". Third, whatever the god particle is when it comes to mass, the God of the Bible is truly the force and mover of this universe. Whether it be a football or a photon, God is the power behind the force and He moves how and when He desires.

Now, back to football (something I do know more about) You see, I had given up on the game this past Sunday. In my mind, it was over. I have sat through too many games waiting for that miracle last second catch that never came. With less than 5 minutes to go in the game against the Bears, the Broncos were losing 10-0, so I changed the channel. Soon, my ESPN iPad app came up with a notification that the Broncos had won 13-10. Was I reading that right? Did they put the wrong names with the wrong score? A cursory look at the running scores told me, nope, they were not wrong. Tebow had pulled out another one with the help of the incredible kicking of Matt Prater. In his usual humble way when asked about "Tebow Time" his reply was it was "Denver Bronco time". Then at the post game press conference, he immediately thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not necessarily for the win, but because Jesus is His Lord and Savior.

Here's my thought, maybe it's not about winning and losing. Maybe God does have bigger things to deal with in the universe rather than who wins the ball game on a Sunday in the NFL. As one journalist states it in his OpEd The God Particle and Tim Tebow concerning God's view of pro football:

He probably has other things to worry about, like deciding on the proper mass of Higgs boson in various universes around the Multiverse.That’s a full-time job.

And God does, but God has a strong affinity to those who seek to give Him the glory in every area of their life, even football or other pursuits. In the words of Tim Tebow, this is what life is all about:

...it’s not about the scoring touchdowns, or being famous, or anything like that. But its about relationships, its about making a difference in people’s lives, and at the end of the day it’s about glorifying God. (CBN.com)

It really is about bringing glory to God. And I must say, what a perfect time of the year to do it. While everyone else is talking about Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow is talking about his "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

It was much the same for those wise men who came to see the Messiah in the small, insignificant village of Bethlehem. When the wise men entered the city, everyone, including King Herod, was looking at them. But they were looking for the One born King of the Jews. (Interestingly enough, Herod, knew that wasn't him, he was appointed king of the Jews by Caesar.) Those people had their eyes on the wrong people. They were looking at the seekers rather than the One whom the wise men were seeking. They came to bring glory to the new born Messiah with their attention, their gifts,and their worship:

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 (HCSB)

Maybe it's time we get our eyes off Tim Tebow and start to look to the One to whom Tim wants to point us to, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When that happens, our attention and our treasures will be given to Him. We will see Jesus for who He really is. We will give him our best, whether it is our resources, finances, time, or maybe even our efforts on the football field.

For the wise men, that meant giving the King of the Jews gold...the metal of royalty and wealth and prestige. For you, it can be asking our Lord to lead you in your:

Calendar
Commitments
Companions
Capitol

This Christmas., make sure that your eyes are off others and are pointed straight into the eyes of God as you celebrate God putting on human flesh and entering human history. He did this to give His Father glory and to point people to salvation through His every own death and resurrection for all who believe. Don't you think He's worth a look? The wise men did and Tim Tebow does.

Looking to Jesus,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Oceanside Church

Looking forward to the Christmas Candlelight Service and the Christmas Offering on Christmas Day.

More here: OCAnnounce.info

New Discovery in the Sky

2011-12-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

The news is all abuzz about a planet that has just been "discovered." According to a December 6, 2011 article in the International Business Times online edition, "NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft has confirmed the existence of a planet that is 600 light years away that could possibly have water on its surface."

In my humble opinion, that's a lot to deduce from a blip in the telescope, but nevertheless, it has caused a great stir. (Want to read more? See the full article here). Astronomers have been looking to the heavens for millenia to find answers to life. It's nothing new.

In the Bible, we read of men of great importance who were searching the skies for answers as well. The wanted to know when The Deliverer was going to arrive. One night when looking into the heavens, they saw a "new" star. In this case, though, it was completely new and could only be understood be as a direct, supernatural revelation from the God of creation who was pointing a world to redemption. At least to those who were watching. Now, we know there were astronomers scanning the stars because of this account preserved for us in the Bible:

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2 (HCSB)

They weren't just looking for life, but the Lord of life. This was to be the One who was entering human history bringing life and love and redemption. These wise men knew it, but how sad that many did not see the importance of this event. It seems as if people were so busy with their own little existence, they didn't notice the world-changing event that was taking place just a few miles from where they lived. God had put on a cosmic show that has probably never been matched to let the world know that He had put on human flesh and came to live with mankind (For more, see Philippians 2:5-11).

We have a distinct advantage when compared to those in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We know about Jesus. We know...

where He was born (Bethlehem in Judea),
when He was born (we split time because of His birth), and
how He was born (of a virgin in a manger).

So with that in mind, here's the challenge for us all. As we celebrate His birth, this Christmas, let's remember it's His birthday. Let's clear our lives for Him. It's what John the Baptist told us to do from the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, "Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!" (Luke 3:4, HCSB). That simply means to get yourself ready for the Lord Jesus.

How can you do that this Christmas? I think it's simple. Clear your claim to:

your calendar
your committments
your companions
your capitol

Let the Lord truly make a difference in your life as you pray and work and give in order for Him to impact the lives of those who are hurting and needy. You can do that as we plan to give to our Christmas offering this year on Christmas day. This is how we can directly impact our world with our gifts this year.

Will you give up a little so many may be changed?

Clearing my agenda,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

For exciting News and Events for Oceanside Church's Holiday plans, please go to:

OCAnnounce.info

The "Black Friday" Conspiracy

2011-11-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

Black Friday…I’m not buying it this year. You do realize, it’s all a conspiracy to make us think that we must buy earlier, buy more, and have everything. Here’s the bad part, the plan is working. Because of Black Friday, many of us don’t mind asking for the big box items anymore. After all they could get it at _______________(fill in the blank with whatever store's ad).

Here’s an idea…let’s turn the conspiracy on it’s head. I mean really turn it upside down. Let’s take the fervor of $450 billion being spent in our nation this Christmas and give a portion to the kingdom of God. Forget the extra sweater for Aunt Sally. Forget buying everything on the Christmas list. You might even forget that you wanted that big box item. Imagine what you could do with that $35 you were going to spend on Aunt Sally (that will only get placed at the back of the closet anyway) or that one extra $50 toy that will be at the bottom of the toy box this time next year. Let’s imagine…

Hey, here’s a thought, this Christmas why not give something to Jesus? I mean, it is His birthday, right? What if we could really give Him something this year? Something that would truly give Him joy?

As I have thought about what’s going on in our world and with our economy this last year, I have thought how incredible it would be to really make a difference instead of continuing to buy in to the conspiracy of commercialism that Christmas has become. I can tell you, I’m not going out on a limb to say that punching each other out to get the cheapest TV is not Christ-honoring. I would go so far to say it goes against everything we believe as Christians. Maybe Christmas is something more than this…

So, let’s start a conspiracy. Let’s make it a conspiracy to undermine the commercialism that our entire CHRISTmas celebration has become. Let’s call it “The Advent Conspiracy” and do something huge for the kingdom of God this year. Here’s what you can do this year: at Oceanside Church, we will be receiving a one time Christmas Offering on Christmas day. What an opportunity! Give Jesus a gift, for His Kingdom on Christmas Day! After all, isn’t Christmas all about giving? to Christ? Isn’t that what our excuse is for the plunge into avarice this time of the year? The wise men brought Jesus gold. frankincense, and myrrh. Let's read this once more:

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented UNTO HIM (caps mine) gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (KJV)

It’s now our time…our opportunity to make a difference for eternity for Jesus and His kingdom. Will you join me in this Advent Conspiracy?

Giving to Jesus and His Kingdom,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

For the info on our upcoming Christmas events:

Adult Christmas party, December 4

Candlelight Christmas Service, December 18

The Christmas Offering, December 25

New Years Party, December 31

SEE OCAnnounce.info

The Importance of Being Earn... err... Appreciative

2011-11-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

In the play, The Importance of Being Earnest, written by Oscar Wilde, Jack Worthing has been living a lie. He attempted to live a showy life of moral character, when He has become anything but that; his life was a facade. By the end of the play, we find out that for all of Jack's pretending, he was actually born into a family of wealth and importance. Jack's closing line now emphasizes his new-found appreciation for being born into the right family and no longer having to pretend. Only now, it seems, could He truly appreciate the "importance of being earnest."

In the same way, appreciation for our life's situation should be real and not a facade. There is nothing worse than finding out you received empty thanks for something you gave or did for someone. Pretending to be thankful can be worse than someone simply telling you upfront that they didn't like whatever it was you did for them or gave them. Once you find out what they really thought, you words were probably something like this, "You should have told me your feelings. We would have worked it out." Honesty is not the best policy; it is the only policy.

So what do we do if we get something we don't like? What if someone does something for us we never asked for? What is our response? This can tell a lot about who you are. The bottom line is we should appreciate the thought, the reason, the person, or the sacrifice that was made for us. Was it exactly what we wanted? Maybe not. Was it something that should have been done? Quite possibly not. But should be appreciative? Absolutely!

I received this video clip from a friend of mine who knew our church was participating in Operation Christmas Child this year, as we have for many years. You can watch this young boy in Africa who gets a package from someone in the western world. This is done all over the world every year in order to demonstrate the love of our heavenly Father who sent His only Son as the most indescribable gift ever. Watch this, and you will see excessive and glorious appreciation for the gift he was given.

I watch that and tears well up in my eyes no matter how many times I see it. Oh, to be that appreciative to my God who has given me so much. Oh, to be that appreciative, even when I haven't even opened the gift (did you notice his exuberant joy BEFORE he even opened the box to see what was in it?) Oh, to be a part of a young child's life who will be that appreciative.

Are you truly thankful? Then give to someone else who will truly appreciate your gift. Maybe you'll have to cut back a little this Christmas, but it will be worth it to have a child experience that kind of joy as he or she is introduced to the love of our heavenly Father through your generosity. It's not too late. Bring your gift to Oceanside Church or another participating church this Sunday and give a gift that will give you a new found appreciation for what this season is about...God's indescribable gift, Jesus Christ.

Joe Paterno's Biggest Worry, His Legacy

2011-11-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Great men should be remembered by the great things they accomplished over their storied career. But, more often than not, it doesn't turn out that way.

It was in the 1978 Gator Bowl which saw 2 great football programs take the field. It was the Clemson Tigers against the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a game between Danny Ford, an up and coming coach of the future national champion Tigers, and the fierce old war horse and three time national champion coach of the Buckeyes, Woody Hayes. But, would Hayes be remembered for his championships? No, particularly to those of us watching the Gator Bowl that night, he would always be that crazy coach that punched Clemson's noseguard after an interception. We read in a Sports Illustrated story in the January 8, 1979 edition that:

Ultimately, Hayes' volatile temper ended his career. On December 29, 1978, Ohio State played in the Gator Bowl against Clemson. Late in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were down by two points. Freshman quarterback Art Schlichter drove the Buckeyes down the field into field goal range. On 3rd and 5 at the Clemson 24-yard line with 2:30 left and the clock running, Hayes called a pass rather than a run because Schlichter was having a great game up to that point. The pass was intercepted by Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman, who returned it toward the OSU sideline where he was run out of bounds; after Bauman rose to his feet and looked in the direction of the OSU players, Hayes punched him in the throat, starting a bench-clearing brawl. Hayes then stormed onto the field and abused the referee.

Hayes was summarily fired after that embarrassing incident.

Here then is the question: even if we live our lives with great accomplishments and huge accolades and then blow it in the end, how much should that impact our legacy? I think we have seen over and over again in history that it impacts us greatly.

There are few football coaches with as much accomplishment to look back on as does Joe Paterno. Yet, with this molestation scandal, many are already calling for his resignation. I now wonder how Paterno's legacy will stand? Will it be all that he did on the football field for all these years, or will it be those alleged horrific moments of his assistant coach taking advantage of children behind closed doors? It is now being said that Paterno didn't do enough (for more commentary, read this article by Ken Meringolo).

Here is what matters, our lives must be lived out every moment of every day. We cannot let our guards down for a single moment. It does matter what we say, what we do, and how we respond, all the way to the end of our lives. That means we must be willing to stand up and do the right thing over and over over and over again, no matter the immediate cost. Our legacy matters.

Jesus has also called us to stand up for Him no matter the consequences. The world has been sickened by what they see as hypocrites in the church. When we live for Christ and tell others of His work in our lives, it impacts our legacy for all of eternity. There will come a time when you will be asked to give your "testimony" for the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus assures us when that time comes, He will empower us to live and say what we should. In the words of Jesus Himself, He assures us:

"don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said." Luke 12:11-12 (HCSB)

The power of the almighty God will rest in us to do and say the right thing. Don't worry, He will do it!

Worried about your legacy? It can be one in the same with the legacy that Christ Himself left. May your legacy be your words and actions of Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Living His legacy,
Pastor Trey Rhodes

With ScareMare, we have seen God do great things in many people. Lives have been changed forever. I believe God wants that to be an every week occurrence, and it can be. How does that happen? Momentum. Listen to this:

"Momentum is that elusive sense of faith, vision and excitement that causes church members to serve, give, sacrifice, and commit." M. Hatch, Mosaic Church-UK

That's you! We saw it happen with ScareMare, but that's just the beginning!

Oceansiders, keep your excitement and your inviting and your sacrifice level where it is, and there will be no end to seeing all that our Lord can do through you the rest of this year and on into the next. Don't let the devil steal your joy or excitement. Let's get involved and watch God make it happen!!

Be sure and check out our upcoming events here:

OC Announcements

ScareMare, Death, and the Kingdom

2011-10-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

As most Christians have come to the point of understanding, halloween is a day when most people glorify that which is ridiculed and shunned the rest of the year. Many years ago...and I mean many...I made a conscious decision to take back this day to use what was intended for evil and use it as an opportunity to tell people about God's love and abundant life. God Himself reminded the Israelites,

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" Deuteronomy 30:19 (HCSB)

So, without hesitation, we are asking everyone who goes through our house called, ScareMare, "Have you chosen life?"

With that in mind, these are the facts:
Death is sure.
Life is limited.
Judgment is coming.
Jesus conquered death.
Heaven is attainable.
Salvation is free.
Many don't know.
Most haven't believed.
We must tell.

We now live in a culture that is interested in the moment. What trends today on Twitter and Google is passe' tomorrow. For those that have grown up in world of immediacy, we must be able to give them a solution to their eternity that is both urgent and real. For them we offer ScareMare.

It concerns me to think that Christians have taken what was intended to be a good way to think, that halloween is evil, and made it into a night to be feared or even banned. The good news is that we are able to get the Gospel message across; the bad news is that for some it has become a way to criticize those who do want to try to shine a light in this dark world.

To give us a better understanding, here's some Scripture that can help clarify what ScareMare (click here for more info) is about:

the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 (MSG)

Our goal is that people would no longer be scared to death of death, but embracing life in Christ.

To many, death is a reality that comes true only in the life of others. The "everyone but me" belief about death. Think about it...if life is a collection of experiences, as many profess whether philosophically or pragmatically, then they would only experience death through the death of another. For whatever reason, they have chosen to ignore the fact that mortality is 100%. Everyone dies.

Concerning the afterlife, there are some so foolish to say they believe that there is no life after death. They say they, "just don't believe in it." However belief doesn't change the fact that we will all spend eternity somewhere. To these, we must shock them into understanding that they cannot be wrong about eternity. The cost is too high. It is what Jude says to us in verse 23, "save others by snatching them from the fire" Jude 1:23 (HCSB). Whatever it takes, using all available legal ethical means, we are called to snatch them from the fire.

I summarize by using the words of the great evangelist and Bible teacher, C.T. Studd,

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell."

Yours for the Kingdom,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Gadaffi Is Dead...Is the Fight Over?

2011-10-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

This summer began with the overthrow of former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak We were told today early this morning that the 42 year dictator of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, was killed (more here from Reuters) after being attacked by NATO jets. Conventional wisdom tells us that the war is now over. Everything is now fine. Libya has been released from the hold of a ruthless dictator so, "Now that the war is over we must give up our weapons and the children must go to school," according to the words of Mansour el Ferjani, 49, a Benghazi bank clerk and father of five. But I have to ask, is that all there is to it? Is life just going to get back to normal, just better? Isn't there more to do? Of course there is. In the weeks and months and even years ahead, there will be more work and more sacrifice than they can imagine. I hope the best for this country as they now change their fight from an armed conflict to fighting through the messiness of moving to a free and democratic lifestyle.

A large concrete pipe where Gaddafi was allegedly captured (Picture: AFP/Getty)
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/879169-picture-of-dead-gaddafi-as-former-libya-leader-is-shot-by-fighters#ixzz1bLtgJCYQ

You don't have to stretch much to make a application to our Christian walk. We may have won the war, but there are battles ahead. The Israelites didn't quite get it, though. They thought that everything was going to be handed to them. The leaders of Joseph's tribes, who went from wandering in the wilderness to having their own land, complained to Joshua, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots" Joshua 17:16 (HCSB). They wanted more to be given to them Joshua's answer was to tell them to get to work. He got back with them by telling them that their land included, "a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours." Then, if they wanted even more land, they could fight more battles and have everything they wanted. That's why Joshua told them that, "You can also drive out the Canaanites"
Joshua 17:18 (HCSB). Yes the was is over, but there was more work and more fighting ahead.

When God gives us our Sun Stand Still prayer, He expects us to go to work. Somehow, we think that God answers, and He does everything else. We don't have to do a thing. Nothing in the Bible, nor the Christian life gives us any such expectation.

Don't miss the opportunities that God has for you because of work. Thomas Edison said it this way, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls&looks like work."

So, here's four opportunities given us now that God has answered our Sun Stand Still prayer:
1. Maturity (Joshua 15)

The leaders of the Israelite tribes were inheriting the land not just for themselves, but for those generations who would follow them. A huge mark of maturity is doing some things that you will never get to see the results of. God for believers who will step up and put themselves ahead of others. You say, but I'm not old enough to be mature. You are an elder to someone. When I was in 1st grade, I thought the 6th graders were so old and had it together. By the time I go to 7th grade, I thought a 10th grader was incredibly mature...and so on. Take the opportunity today to be mature for someone. God will use you. God is calling each of us to be "fully mature adults" (Ephesians 4:13).

2. Prayer (Joshua 15 &17)

We have a good and a bad example of asking in these chapters.

First, there was Achsah who asked for springs to be able to water the dry desert of the Negev. She was granted was she asked for even though it was bold. What she needed was a way to help her family thrive in a harsh environment. God (through Joshua) said, "It's yours."

Second, there was Joseph's descendants. They wanted everything given to them on a silver platter. Joshua's answer to them was, "Sure, but get to work!" They asked, and they received as well as long as they were willing to accomplish the job by their own effort.

God answers our prayer as well. We've got to be ready to get involved for the fulfillment.

3. Activity (Joshua 18-19)

The Israelites were sitting on a prime piece of real estate. It was theirs if they could divide it up among themselves. They wouldn't even do that. Joshua told them "How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, gave you?" Joshua 18:3 (HCSB).

God wants to give us so much, but we have got to willing to get involved in the middle of it.

If you are praying for patience, be prepared for God to give you an opportunity to show patience.
If you are praying to get your family back, be ready to get yourself right.
If you are praying for someone to be saved, be ready to witness to them yourself.

Get involved whenever God answers your prayer. Never be content to sit back and relax.

4. Protection (Joshua 20:1-9)

God offered His protection from vigilantes. It was the responsibility of each family to avenge the death of their loved one. There wasn't a police force in those day and certainly no CSI

We have also been protected by God. Our city of refuge is Jesus Christ. As we turn from our sin and run to Him, we find life. He is our high priest and will never die, so we are safe in His arms forever. How does that happen? It happens when you ask Christ into your life. When you ask for His protection from death and hell through His death on the cross. That is protection of the very best kind. Run to Him and ask Him to place His protection around you today.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

Worship on the Deck, Sunday morning, October 30th. Because of ScareMare and also to enjoy the beauty and coolness of the weather, we will be having worship on the back deck. for the service, everything will remain the same. In addition, there will not be a Saturday night service that week.
ScareMare, October 29-31, After dark. If you would like to be involved, we need you. From crowd control to parking attendants, from actors to actresses, from make-up artists to carpenters, you are all needed. As a reminder, the purpose of ScareMare is to contrast death with abundant and eternal life. This is not for the faint of heart. I would not recommend for your children either. The basis of ScareMare is, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" Deuteronomy 30:19 (HCSB). We are praying for them to choose life. For more, please go to our ScareMare website.
Harvest Trunk or Treat, Monday Night, October 31st. One of Oceanside's best outreach activities is our Harvest Trunk or Treat party. This year it will once again be in the front yard of our church. We will have decorated car trunks, food, candy, games, and the GIANT slide. If you can get together a trunk, it would be awesome. Everyone can do something. Make sure you're a part.

Looking for opportunities from God,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Release the Kraken!

2011-10-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Among much skepticism, a paleontologist has found what could have been equal to the Kraken of seafaring lore. Written of famously in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, the Kraken is a giant cephalopod (octopus or squid-like creature) that ruled the seas and overwhelmed ships. Recently, marine biologists have found large squids measuring 50 to 60 feet in length floating on the ocean and have tried to bring them back to the lab to study them. That procedure has not been very successful as decay had already set in. It is no wonder that some have been searching for this monster that measured over 100 feet in length. Supposedly, a cave has been found with piles of bones of the giant fish and lizards crushed and scatttered after having been eaten. Whatever it was, it had to be huge.

In the "Blogpost" section of the Washington Post, we are told:

"A giant sea monster, akin to the mythological Kraken, may have terrorized Earth's ancient oceans, drowning or breaking the necks of its prey before dragging the bodies to its underwater lair."

McMenamin, the paleontologist who found the "lair" of the Kraken tells of His discovery. While he was,

"visiting a fossil site in the Nevada desert this summer." He found "the bones of ichthyosaurs, a giant marine reptile the size of a school bus that the Kraken once ate. The arrangement reminded McMenamin of the pile of debris that the modern octopus piles up to conceal the entrance of its den, leading him to believe this could have been the Kraken’s lair."

Why does he think they were eaten by a giant creature? He reports,

"strange markings on the bones suggested the ichthyosaurs were not all killed and buried at the same time."

Researcher Mark McMenamin says this arrangement of lizard bones,
which were brought to this area in a pattern of a tentacle, could prove the
existence of the Kraken

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2047699/Sea-monster-100ft-Kraken-exists-claims-scientist-Mark-McMenamin.html#ixzz1ag0OOGRy

In other words, he believes the evidence points to something leaving the bones of large creatures scattered around after devouring the ancient beasts.

While they will debate this find for many years, the truth is that something was happening with these creatures's bones. What happened is up to debate.

Here's something we don't need to debate, God wants to bless us so He can use us for His purposes. Over the next 2 weeks, we are going to reveal 8 principles that should help us all be thankful for and use what God has already blessed us with. What we have been given as God's children is not up to debate. It is already set in stone. Our blessings are for now, not just, "the sweet by and by." Just as Dr. McMenamin said, “We're ready for this. We have a very good case.” We too have a very good case, so let's be ready to avail ourselves of God's blessings in the here and now.

How?
1. Get All In (Joshua 13:8, 10, 22-23)
Just as the Reubenites were living on the border, too many of us want to live borderline Christian lives. We have taken to heart the jingle of a well-known fast food restaurant as we "make a run for the border." The land the Reubenites wanted was prime grazing land for their livestock, but was horrible for attacks on their families. They became the "trip-wire" for marauding enemies from neighboring nations. What seemed to be good ,for their accruing wealth was anything but that as the tribe was attacked again and again, losing not only riches and cattle, but also their own families.
You see, when we choose to live border lives, we sacrifice what is most important to us and we can even harm those we love. God wants us all in, not living a border-line Christian life.

2. Shine Your Light (Joshua 13:14, 33, 14:3-4, 18:7)
Over and over again, God told the Levites that they would not have a portion of the land given to them. They would be spread throughout the land in every tribe to influence the entire nation and shine their light on all of them. They would be given God and the priesthood with enough land to give them sustenance and wealth near each of the towns/cities. God wanted the Levites to make a difference in the lives of the entire kingdom.
In the same way, God wants us to be those who have been scattered throughout His kingdom on earth to make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. That is why we are not "hold up" in a monastery or a compound. We are called to shine the light of Christ and change the world. that is the kind of thing that can make the "Sun Stand Still" in the lives of those we touch.

3. It's All Yours (Joshua 19:49-51)
Caleb was the first of the 2 faithful spies to receive his inheritance. Now, it was Joshua's turn. As he wandered in the desert for years and years, he held onto the promise of God: his inheritance of a land flowing with milk and honey. It was this promise that gave them "joy and courage as they endured years and wandering and waiting" (Weirsbe).
You can also be encouraged in your pilgrim journey. You can now claim your inheritance in Christ and claim, "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3). We are assured, "For every one of God’s promises is 'Yes' in Him" 2 Corinthians 1:20 (HCSB).

Then you can...
4. Refuse Any Limitations (Joshua 14:8-12)
Caleb was 85 years young...at least that's how he saw it. When the inheritance was being divvied up, he didn't want it easy, he wanted the hill country where the enemy still needed to be driven out and the enemy were giants! If there was anyone who could have said they were tired and old and needed to take it easy, it was Caleb. But he saw the limitations of his age as an opportunity to show the strength and power of God. He saw the land as another opportunity to demonstrate how great God is.
Wherever you feel most limited, recognize that God wants to use your limitations as opportunities to show how great He is through your life. The Apostle Paul, said it this way, "We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you." 2 Corinthians 13:9 (MSG). It is then we can be assured that it is Christ working in us because we couldn't have done it ourselves without His power working through us.

You have been impossibly blessed by the God of the impossible...now GET AFTER IT! Don't get lost in some lair that will take 1000's of years to find your work. Let them see Jesus in you today!

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

Wow, what great worship services! You are truly allowing God to work through you and in you every single week. He truly touched hearts and lives at both services. We are getting it together in a great way. Thanks to those of you who are doing double duty. Your faithfulness is noted by our Lord, and He is so pleased with your commitment. Lives are being changed because of your obedience.
Saturday Night Worship and Coffee - "A new time for this generation." We are asking the Lord to bring people to our Saturday night service. It begins at 8:00 p.m. We provide an open and casual atmosphere. We encourage people to bring their iPads, laptops, and smart phones to worship in order to provide feedback and prayer requests during the service. We are committed to a one hour service, although people can come early and stay late if they'd like. That's where we need you to be involved. Let's get some inviting going on! Some people can't make it Sunday morning and this is a great opportunity for you to invite them to Saturday night. You might need to go and get them and come with them to worship. You can make a difference in their life for eternity. Don't give up. Keep asking. Keep praying. Let's watch our God do a new thing.
Scare Mare - We have had the walk-through and are "imagineering" what each room should be. We are praying to have a large crowd attend, and that means we're going to need your help. If you're not already involved, please get involved. Its going to take all of us plus a few more for this happen. We want to tell them that death is real and salvation in possible with Jesus as their Savior. With your help, that can happen. ScareMare begins October 28th and goes through 31st. Scare Mare, the scariest house you'll never forget!
Trunk or Treat - This year, we want to make a big deal of Jesus while providing a great opportunity for fun for the kids. Many of you have signed up to help and provide booths and candy and food and fun on October 31st. Let's keep providing this amazing event for our community and give them a REAL reason to celebrate. Get YOUR TRUNK READY!

Blessed impossibly to be used in an impossible way for the God who does the impossible,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

The Pursuit of Amanda Knox

2011-10-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

Pursuit is for one of at least two reasons: 1) You really want what you're going after...like a boy pursuing a girl (or vice versa); or 2) You want to catch what you're going after. Like a defensive tackle pursuing the quarterback. The story of the week echoes both of those reasons. We have seen it played out in the media over these last few years as Amanda Knox endured incessant pursuit by the Italian prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini. As you should know by now, Knox was acquitted by an Italian appeals court because of shaky evidence based on what now seems to have been a coerced confession after a 50 hour non-stop grilling by 14 or more Italian police officers. More here from the UK's Mail Online. Their pursuit was relentless as they were trying to convict and convince a jury of her alleged crime of murdering Meredith Kercher. I'm sure they felt as if they left no stone unturned in their pursuit of the one they thought murdered this defenseless girl. I just hope that if Amanda Knox is not guilty, which it looks like she was not, that they now pursue with the same intensity whomever it was that committed this violent, heinous murder.

Amanda Knox in custody of Italian police during her trial for Meredith Kercher's murder

You pursue that which you want. In this case, the pursuit was because the prosecutor truly believed he could get a conviction that stuck. Now, let me ask you, what are you pursuing? How big are the goals for your life? Are they large, extra-large, or maybe even God-sized? Those are the things you should be pursuing. Things that really matter.

It will take a God-sized goal for you to be the father God wants you to be (See this Blog: I'm Tired of Being a Good Father) It will take a God-sized goal for you moms to raise your children as world changers. It will take a God-sized goal for you to share Jesus with those you know at work or at school or with your friends. These are all things that God must intervene if you are to make an impact that will last for all of eternity. Aren't you tired of the same old same old? Isn't it time you left the mundane part of life to someone else. Are you ready to step off into the great unknown and watch God use you in ways you could have never imagined? That is Pursuit of the Impossible. What is impossible with us, is possible with the all powerful God. Making things possible is all about power, and we don't serve a powerful God. We serve an ALL-POWERFUL God. That's why whatever might seem impossible in your life, is possible with the God of the Bible, our God.

Interestingly enough, we have a great example of that kind of belief that leads to prayer, that led to a great win for God and His people.The leader was Joshua, the event was a battle that was impossible to win, and a victory only possible if God suspended His laws of physics...talk about impossible. Regardless how impossible it seemed, Joshua pursued God for the impossible and then was audacious enough to pray for God to do the impossible. So, God did just that. If that is possible for Him, it is certainly possible for each one of who claim the name of Christ.

Here's three ways to get us to be able to accomplish the impossible in our lives.

Recognize that you need...
Help (Joshua 10:6-7)

The Gibeonites were now calling in the favor that they had asked of Joshua and the warriors of Israel, "PROTECT US!!" Here they are caught in between a rock and a hard place. They has chosen to place their trust in these new-comers instead of their age-old friends. Those who were their closest allies are now their worst enemies. There was no doubt that unless they got the help of Joshua, his army, and ultimately, his God there was no chance that they would survive the next 24 hours. They needed help. They couldn't do it on their own.

Let's look a moment at these pagan people. They had enough sense to call on a savior, Joshua (which means YAHWEH saves), to deliver them. These were people who were complete heathens, but knew who to call on for help in a time of crisis. Christ-followers, learn a lesson: when you need help, call on God. There is no one else who is able to help us in our time our trouble more than our very own Savior, Jesus. That is why we are told to

approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)

Then you will be able to become audacious when you
Pray (Joshua 10:8-15)

Joshua and his soldiers marched all night to get to the 5 city-kingdoms they were called upon to defend the Gibeonites from. So, what was impossible, defeating the armies of 5 city-kingdoms at once, was now made more difficult with their weariness, but his strategy worked. The armies of the enemy were routed. There was only one problem: there was not enough time in the day to defeat all the enemy. Many had been destroyed, many had not. They were fleeing and would be around to fight another day. So Joshua recognized that and realized he also needed God's help in the pursuit. So he prays one of the most audacious prayers in history, "sun stand still." This was a simple prayer but an incredible act took place. According to both the Bible and another non-bibilcal text called the Book of Jashar, "So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day" (Joshua 10:13b). So you see, God does do the impossible. It doesn't take much faith to believe what God did. That's history. Your faith is really tested when You audaciously ask God to do it in your life. That is pursuing God to do the impossible.

Once you get to that point, I don't want you to miss this important part of pursuing the impossible:
Involvement. We've got to get right into the middle of what it is we are asking God to do. Otherwise, it's just wishful thinking. Joshua prayed. Then Joshua pursued. He got involved. That's what God wants you to do. If you aren't willing to get involved, then don't pray. We pray, God does what only He can do, so we can do what He wants us to do.

Then we can experience what it's like to see God
Win (Joshua 10:16-26)

God did the impossible. Joshua defeated the enemy. The Gibeonites were protected. And God purposes were accomplished. God won! He is a winning God! Deuteronomy 20 :reminds us:

God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win. Deuteronomy 20:4 (MSG)

Here's a word of encouragement, never leave enemies around to come back and defeat you later. That's why God answered that prayer without hesitation. It was His will for the Israelites to possess Canaan. He promised they would. He keeps His promises. He did the impossible.

Our enemies aren't nearly so tangible. And in many ways aren't as easy to fight. Jesus fought them all in the desert against the most formidable opponent ever, Satan. Jesus won. We can too. Our enemies are the world system, the flesh and its appetites, and the pride of our station in life. It's what 1 John defines precisely for us:

Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him 1 John 2:16 (MSG)

These are our enemies. These are the things that want to destroy us. Trust in the winning God, the One who does the impossible to relentlessly pursue the enemies of our life, abundant life and utterly destroy them. That will truly be a Sun Stand Still moment.

PRAY AUDACIOUSLY, LIVE RECKLESSLY, and PURSUE RELENTLESSLY for GOD.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

Saturday Night Worship and Coffee - "A new time for this generation." We are asking the Lord to bring people to our Saturday night service. It begins at 8:00 p.m. We provide an open and casual atmosphere. We encourage people to bring their iPads, laptops, and smart phones to worship in order to provide feedback and prayer requests during the service. We are committed to a one hour service, although people can come early and stay late if they'd like. That's where we need you to be involved. Invite, invite, invite, invite. Some people can't make it Sunday morning and this is a great opportunity for you to invite them to Saturday night. You might need to go and get them and come with them to worship. You can make a difference in their life for eternity. Don't give up. Keep asking. Keep praying. Let's watch our God do a new thing.
Scare Mare - The days rapidly approaching. We are praying to have a large crowd attend, and that means we're going to need your help. If you're not involved, please do. We want to tell them that de3ath is real and salvation in possible with Jesus as their Savior. Begins October 28th and goes through 31st. Scare Mare, the scariest house you'll never forget!
Trunk or Treat - This year, we want to make a big deal of Jesus while providing a great opportunity for fun for the kids. Many of you have signed up to help and provide booths and candy and food and fun on October 31st. Let's keep providing this amazing event for our community and give them a REAL reason to celebrate.

In HOT PURSUIT of the Impossible,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

The Washington Monument Is Cracking Up!

2011-09-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

USA Today reports that, "Engineers have begun attaching ropes to the top of the Washington Monument that they will use to rappel down the structure to check for cracks and other damage." Who can forget that day when the reports came in about buildings in our nation's capitol swaying and then cracking? I'm sure this National Parks Ranger in the video will never forget that day either. Imagine being 500 feet up in the world's tallest obelisk while the temblor shakes the all-stone tower like a tinker toy. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

The damage has now been done and they will have to figure out what to do next. The report continues, "The quake caused several cracks to form in the monument. Stones, mortar and other debris fell from its interior and exterior, and the elevator sustained damage." The monument is closed and they don't know when they will re-open it.

Who hasn't experienced life's earthquakes that have shaken us to the core? The kind of shaking that has created gaping cracks that might still be waiting repair from someone, anyone. Have you ever felt like that in your life? I have experienced that kind of shaking. If you want to read more about that time in my life, go to this blog about my near death experience. No matter what it was, God can take the broken pieces in our life and make us new and better and able to do more for God than we ever could before. As the song says, He's the God of Second Chances!

How can God take a broken cracked up person like me and use me? He does it all the time! Joshua, the Son of Nun, is a great example we can use to help us move through and be used better as a cracked pot than we were before.

Pastor Trey Rhodes and his broken pot.

Let's look at Joshua 9-10 to discover how to get things right and fulfill God's purposes as never before. God can take you from where you are and make you into all you can be.

When we make mistakes realize there are...
1. Consequences
As we look at Joshua 9:16-23a, we see that there were repercussions for deceiving Joshua. In other words, the Gibeonites were not given a free pass. They would have to pay for their lying. Joshua 9:23 tells us they were to be indentured slaves, both them and their descendants. So, God would honor the treaty that Joshua hastily made with them, but they would be enslaved to the Israelites. That's the law and they were answerable to it. We don't really break the law, do we? The law breaks us. That is the curse of the law we are reminded of in Galatians 6:7: "Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap" Galatians 6:7 (HCSB).

But God doesn't stop there. Just as the Gibeonites should suffer horrible consequences for their sin, so should we. But that's not the God we serve. He is the God of redemption that takes our mess-ups and, by His grace, makes us better people for it.

This mistake become their...
2. Opportunity
I purposely didn't use the end of verse 23. We are told that, yes, they would be slaves and carry water and wood for the children of Israel, but it would be in service for the King of kings. It would be in His holy temple. There they would see God's forgiveness through the shedding of blood. It was in the temple that they would experience the glorious presence of God and forsake their polytheistic idolatry for the one true God, YAHWEH. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime to serve Him all their days.

Are we any different? It was our sin that drove us to become enslaved to our appetites. AND it was our sin that we asked forgiveness for that drove us to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. As Bob Dylan reminded us in that 1980 song, "You gotta' serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil and it may be the Lord, but you gotta' serve somebody." To think that we are given the opportunity to serve God. It is truly an honor. And it was our blunders and sin that made that possible.

Finally our actions and mistakes will still give us...
3. Responsibility
Joshua made a promise, and now the Gibeonites called in the favor. Listen to the words of Joshua 10:6, "Then the men of Gibeon sent [word] to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: 'Don’t abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us!'" (HCSB)

The mistakes we make can cause great embarrassment, but as Dr. Warren Wiersbe said, "Remember that no mistake is final for the dedicated Christian." Yes, there will be responsibilities, but it never means God is though with us.

Today is the day to put your past behind you and begin to live an impossible "Sun Stand Still" kind of life. Don't wait, begin that life right now.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

What a great time of worship this past Saturday and Sunday! God continues bringing new people our way. What a great spirit of responsiveness to God you had. Thank you for all you mean to our God, our church and to me. Oceansiders, you're the best!! I wouldn't be at any other church. Don't you want other people to experience what we have every worship service? Then, just invite them. I can't wait to see all that our Lord has for us in the future.
ScareMare is knocking on the door. I can't wait to see who God uses to reach people with the Gospel. This is such an innovative and unique way to share the Gospel with the masses who probably wouldn't hear any other way. Pray for God to use us. Ask God how he can use you.

Can't wait to see what God has for us this weekend. It can truly be a Sun Stand Still moment. Don't miss it all God has for you!

Cracked but serving God,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Army Proud Takes on Another Meaning Altogether

2011-09-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ignorance is bliss. I hope you didn't just ignore that first statement...unless, of course, you want to live in bliss even when it comes to ignoring ignorance. Then, are you ignoring it if you ignore ignorance? ...anyway, I digress. I just heard that this administration has stopped the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy for military service. I'm sure many people feel like I do...I don't want to know. My concern is that the military is becoming a place for social engineering rather than for the purpose for which it was founded, the defense of our nation.

Please don't tell me. I'm not going to ask, and I'm not really interested. But, it seems there are many who have to flaunt their lifestyle...whatever it is with whomever they are with. My opinion is that, "Don't ask, don't tell" was working fine. Our military is the best in the world. Really, what is the reason to have to flaunt one's sexual interests in front of others. Why would someone desire to flaunt their sinful lifestyle? As I have visited in people's homes, I've almost always had people at least apologize to me for beer cans on the table, or the Playboy in the magazine rack, or the cigarette smoke in the room. They cared what I thought. But things have changed, and it is not for the best. The reasoning behind this new policy makes no sense to me nor to many others who are comfortable with their monogamous, moral, biblical heterosexuality. I assume that some think this is just one more obstacle out of the way for this lifestyle to be accepted into the mainstream. But, for me, ignorance was bliss.

Big surprise...there will always be obstacles in life. Be ready. Of course, we are always anxious to get rid of many of them when they keep us from moving forward. But, the basis of life is not removing obstacles, but overcoming them. We live in an entitlement culture. We think that we are entitled. That will never happen, but even if it were possible, there is no benefit to living life that way. So, once we recognize obstacles, we must be sure to learn from them and move on.

The children of Israel were told by God that He had given them the land of Canaan to become their homeland, "Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance" (Joshua 1:6, HCSB), but there would be many obstacles to overcome. Some were actual battles they would face with the enemy, but most of the battles were with themselves. Battles to stay true to the command of God in their life. It was then that would be able to take the land. That is why God reminded them to, "carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go" (Joshua 1:7, HCSB).

The enemies of Israel knew they could not defeat them, so they decided to trick them. The Gibeonite cities were some 25 miles away, so that meant Israel was required by God's command to defeat them in battle. The Gibeonites knew this and sent a delegation to the base camp of Joshua to ask for their protection. Their ruse was they would deceive Joshua into thinking that they had come from many miles away, outside of the land God had given the Israelites. This could become a huge obstacle hung around the necks of the Israelites if they didn't choose wisely. They did not.

With that in mind, it is good that God recorded this embarassing event so that we could learn from it.

Here's three words that we can learn from so that you and I can move ahead and become all that God wants us to be.

Let's look at Joshua 9

First obstacle...

Influence - (vv. 3-5)

Influence can be for good or bad. Make sure that when someone is selling you on their way of thinking, that it is not for their own selfish reason. These people were self-centered and wanted to assure they were protected from the power of the armies of Israel. It was all about them and nothing for Israel. People will do the same to you. When God begins to work in your life, they will be drawn to you and seek to influence you for their good. Take care that you become all God wants you to be, not what they want you to be.

Obstacle number 2...

Tricks - (vv. 6-12)

The Gibeonites pulled out all the stops in order to scam Joshua and the children of Israel. They not only wanted to influence these people, they wanted to deceive them.

There are many who will deceive you in order to get their way. These verses help us how to identify deception:

1) Are they who they say they are?

2) Do they really need the help?

3) Are they claiming to be important?

4) Are they claiming to want to help you?

5) Is their claim of godliness authentic?

Be sure and pray this prayer "Rescue me from their dirty tricks" Psalm 59:2 (MSG)

The final obstacle...

Impulsiveness (vv. 14-15)

Without consulting God, Joshua agreed to a treaty with the Gibeonites. Before we are too hard on him, have you ever made a decision without finding out what God says? I once had a deacon at a church ask me for some advice and finished his question with..."I know the Bible doesn't have anything to say about this." In actuality, the Bible, and hence God, had much to say about it. There is an answer for every circumstance you come across. It is a matter of knowing God and knowing His Word, the Bible. Impulsively making a decision that is life altering without consulting God is counter-productive and very possibly disobedient.

If you want to see God do the impossible, overcome the obstacles and see what God can do!

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

What a great first Oceanside Saturday night worship service! Thanks to everyone who made it possible. Lots of new guests, great spirit, and a warm family atmosphere. That was because of you. Thank you...and be sure to invite your friends. Several asked about it, so here's the video we watched about inviting friends and neighbors to the weekend services.

Scaremare is on the way! So many of you are excited about this incredible outreach. God is going to use you to help reach people with the Gospel. Keep on planning for your room.

Parenting Seminar postponed for now - we want as many people as possible to join us for the John Rosemond seminar. It will be great. Here's how you can help: get in touch with Mrs. Kelly Rhodes and let her know you are interested (kbrmom@bellsouth.net). This is going to be one of those eye-opening, life-changing events that you don't want to miss. That is why we have postponed it for the moment. We don't want anyone to miss! You won't even have to go far; it will be here at Oceanside Church. This is also a great opportunity to invite your friends to Oceanside to let them know we care about them.

Overcoming Obstacles,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Impossible Miss Universe?

2011-09-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe, Leila Lopes, receives her will deserved crown

The new Miss Universe, Leila Lopes, is from Angola. Where in the world is Angola? Yeah, admit it. You had to look it up on Google. I didn't (I had the advantage of living in Africa for 2 years, so I knew, but that is the only reason). According to People magazine online edition, "She is the first woman from Angola and only the fourth black woman to be crowned Miss Universe."

At first I thought it was another ploy to capitulate to the undeveloped countries for political gain. Then I read these words, "'I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty,' she said. 'I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.'" so as People magazine observed, "it's not only the exterior that Lopes wants the world to see," it is what inside. According to the judges, that capped it for them. Even they were looking for inner beauty. This is truly a wonderful story of someone going from rags to riches in the vein of an Horatio Alger story.

At first, when I read the headlines, I thought, "That's impossible. I must be reading it wrong. Of all the girls in the world, a girl from Angola got the crown?" As it turns out, it may be improbable, but not impossible. According to my "big honking" Webster's dictionary, it means that it is something that is "incapable of being done." When something is impossible, that is exactly what it is, not possible. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, it is when we have no power in and of ourselves to accomplish the act. That's what impossible is. No matter how hard we try, we do not have the power to accomplish the action. It would be similar to asking a weedwacker engine to power a C-130 Hercules. No matter how hard the weedwacker tries and regardless of the sincerity or intention, it does not have the power to lift a C-130 off the tarmac. It would be, you guessed it, impossible.

Here's the bottom line, God not only wants to do the impossible in your life, He promises He can do it as well. He has the power. He is the Lord God omnipotent (all-powerful).

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

What is the impossible thing that is lurking in the back of your mind? Maybe it is a relationship that is beyond mending, or a friend that has refused to follow Jesus, or a financial situation that it will take a miracle to settle. Remember this...God can!

What do you and I need to do?
Get ready for God to do it. Here's how from Joshua 1:

1. Take God at His Word (vv. 6-9)
Joshua was promised supernatural success if He would mediate on God's supernatural book. Meditation empowers us to see life from God's point of view. God's will and hence His words will never be stopped. Then we can easily trust God because His Word has become a part of us: "I trust in Your Word" Psalm 119:42

2. Watch for God's Activity (vv. 10-11)
God told Joshua to tell the people to get ready. How? They were about to cross the Jordan, so it would make sense that they should building a bridge or constructing a boat or raft. But, that's not where God was at work. He was about to do the impossible by piling up the water of the Jordan during the spring tide. They had to take their eyes off of where they thought God should work and open their eyes to where God was going to work.

Remember what Jesus said, "My Father is still working and I am working also." (John 5:17) If that is true, then we better know what God is about to do around us. Be sure to look at people, not circumstances.

Are they being drawn to God?
Are they seeking Him?
Do they feel conviction of their sin?

3. Look What God Has Already Given You (vv. 12-15)
God has already given you things materially and spiritually. These people had been given property (including house and farms that had already been built for them). They had also been given rest.

First, think of all that God has already given you materially. You have a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes to wear. If you wonder if God cares...look and see that He has already cared for you.

Second, rest is also given to us. Those of us that have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord can now rest in His finished work. We no longer strive to live up to God's standards, Jesus made the impossible possible by dtying on the cross for us. That is why Jesus cried, "It is finished" from the cross. The price had been paid and the work was accomplished.

4. Do God's will (vv. 16-18)
The children of Israel had had enough of low living and rebellious attitudes. They were about to see God do impossible things. They were were up to their necks in sinful attitudes and actions because of the lifestyles of their parents. So, they chose a new and different way. They chose now to follow God and they guaranteed it with the very lives:

Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Joshua 1:18

Would you be willing to so commit to Christ, that if you didn't do His will, you would willingly die? We so often speak of dying for what we believe, but will you live for the One you believe in? His will is worth our lives.

Once we are prepared for God, He stands on the edge of heaven waiting to do the impossible. Be ready.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

Sun Stand Still - Get in a small group. You don't want to miss what God has for you through this inspiring and life changing study. Begins next week. Watch God do the impossible!

Oceanside Saturday Night - Begins this Saturday night at 8p.m. Let your friends know. Come ready to have a good time and hear form God as well. We'll be finished by 9:00 p.m. Impossible you say? Come and see.

Scare Mare - The day are clicking by and you need to be praying about God touching people's hearts and lives. 3 guarantees: 1) We will scare them 2) They will hear the Gospel 3) People will be saved. Get involved now and watch God do the impossible through you

Parenting by the Book - Do you know how to raise your children in this crazy mixed-up world we live in? John Rosemond helps us avoid the pitfalls and build a home where children can be all they were intended to be. You can be the parent you were meant to be. Sign up today. Email us at contact@myoceansidechurch.com.

Preparing for the impossible,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

The Kingdom of God Is Like an Automatic Garage Door

2011-09-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Garage door openers are "of da' debbil, I tell ya'...dey da debbil." Excuse me for changing the words, ever so slightly, of the Waterboy's mom. She thought that anything that was outside of the way she was raised in the swamps of Louisiana was of satanic origin. That included her son's desire to go to college and be a waterboy. Or even worse was that devil inspired foolsball (she meant football).

While not every thing is the modern world is demonic, I can tell you that garage doors have taken our neighborhoods away from us. People can drive up their road, pull into their driveway, and then open and close the garage door without ever leaving the comfort of their air conditioned car, truck, SUV, or even a moped. I wish that it was like this video...at least there are people outside and you could say hello to them.

How does this speak to us? Because of all the inventions of our modern world (air conditioning, electric lights, television, video games, and GARAGE DOOR OPENERS), the church is going to have to be more intentional to make friends. Friendship that goes beyond the casual hello to a passer-by. Friendship that really cares. You see, people around us are hurting need to know someone cares. Christ has called us to be those people that touch lives and heal homes and encourage the discouraged. We need to be the ones who walk into their lives when everyone else walks out.

That's what small groups are all about. We show one another Christ's love. We demonstrate Christ's love outside in the world. We have a place where people can come hear the Bible taught and develop friendships that can last a lifetime. We even get beyond the modern conveniences and reach into the lives of people God has placed around us.

Are you are part of a small group? Christ has called His church to togetherness. You cannot be an obedient Christian and not be a part of a "one another" group. It is all about "one another" in church. Truthfully, "isolation" should be a bad word in the Christian's vocabulary. Get in a small group today. Get involved in someone's life today. Host a small group this week. God wants to use you transform and impact lives. Care for people.

Thinkin' Bout Oceanside

Sun Stand Still - Are you tired of the same old, same old. I hear the word boring so much these days. Here's something that is exciting...God wants to do the miraculous in your life! Do you have the faith to believe He can? That's our newest series, Sun Stand Still, that begins this Sunday. This study is with Stephen Furtick who will lead the small groups as I preach messages that will inspire you to believe God for the impossible. Be there every exciting week!
Oceanside Saturday Night - Starting Saturday night, September 17th, Oceanside begins a New Time for this Generation. With media su much a part of the lives our this generation, we want to be able to reach with the hard hitting message of the Gospel using their language of technology. Pray for us and get the word out. Who can you invite to attend the first Saturday night service?
ScareMare - No, it's not a nightmare. That would be too gentle. It is a ScareMare. Using the reality of death as a backdrop, we look forward to scaring people out of hell and into the kingdom of God. Jude 1:23 exhorts the church to snatch them out of the fire...the exact words are, "save others by snatching them from the fire." We want ScareMare to be that catalyst that demonstrates to them that death is real, and that eternity is certain as we ask them, "Where will you spend eternity?" Get involved and be a part. We need you no matter what you can do.

Loving others first,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Something Supernatural

2011-08-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

What is the supernatural? It is that which is beyond our natural world. We don't have the ability to see or hear what is supernaturally around us, but it is truly there. It is the invisible, mostly undetectable part of our existence. People have tried for millennia to get in touch with the supernatural. During the 1800's, people as diverse and rational as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the author of Sherlock Holmes) and Horace Greely (the famed newspaper editor) both were drawn in by the lure of the supernatural. This picture is the result of a clever double exposure that was used as proof of the supernatural. Of course, with little working knowledge of how pictures could be manipulated while being developed, many took this type of picture as a true representation of what the supernatural was all about.

Maybe today you would like to have access to the supernatural. I mean really get into it...completely and without abandon. I can assure you, that is available to you. There is a great book that has supernatural words on every page. People are so interested in it that it outsold Harry Potter in 2007...2 to 1. As a matter of fact, this book about the supernatural has sold upward of 5 to 6 billion copies. That's a lot of interest in the supernatural. So, are you interested? If you are, this book can do great things for you. It amuses me that people, maybe even you, are searching for something that is supernaturally inferior by using Ouija boards, tarot cards, chicken bones, incantations, and spells. All along, the most powerful force in the world has been so close to most of you that is could have bitten you. It is the supernatural book we know as the Bible.

What can this supernatural book do for you?

First, this book brings with it...
The Promise of New Life
It says, "you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable —through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23.

Who doesn't want to get a fresh start? That's what we are promised. That's what being "born-again" is all about. That happens the moment we believe and confess the words of the Bible. Romans 10:8-10 tells us:
The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

Are you ready for new life?

Second, we are promised that...
You Can Trust this Book
Now, why is that? We are told in 1 Peter 1:24-25a, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord endures forever."

That means that every thing else will change. Other things written have not stood the test of time. When we believe this book, it will always be true. It won't be used for the garbage pail of life in a few years. It not only has the supernatural power to change your life, but also the supernatural ability to avoid destruction. It didn't matter if it was an ancient king or religious leaders of the dark ages, or modern day tyrants, this supernatural book has found a way to not only survive, but thrive and multiply. You will never go wrong when you trust is fully.

Third, we are told that this supernatural book should...

Apply to Your Life to Decide

When you use this supernatural book, it is then that it can make the most impact in your life. 1Peter 1:25b says it this way, "This is the word that was preached as the Gospel to you" what does this have to do with decision making? This is no longer the written word, it moves beyond that enduring, written word to the spoken word. It is that word, when spoken that brings about a decision to make the greatest possible, to believe the greatest news ever, the Gospel.

That means that once you believe, something supernatural happens. You are no longer in God's cross-hairs; you have been given the greatest gift ever, forgiveness for all the wrong that you have done. He is no longer your judge, but your Savior. If that's not supernatural power, I don't know what is. While there are many curses that have been used throughout time, there is only one way to have your sin forgiven and that's through Jesus. As Jesus Himself said, "Seeing their faith He said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven you.'” Luke 5:20

Are you prepared to embrace the supernatural for your life? This book, the Bible, is all you need to know.

If you would like an English copy, let us know and we'll get you your very own copy of the greatest supernatural book ever written. contact@myoceansidechurch.com or twitter @oceansidechurch

Thinkin' Bout Oceanside

Wow, what a block party! Well over 100 people were there. This was a win for the Lord, for Oceanside Church, and for the people of the Seagull community. Thanks for all your help as we reached out and shared the Word of God with these precious and searching people. God is going to do a great work in their lives. I'm sure of it. Be praying for every soul. Each matters to our Lord.

Sun Stand Still begins in 2.5 weeks. Are you ready for God to do the impossible in your life? Be ready for something supernatural and wonderful to happen. If you want to get ahead, you can purchase your book this Sunday with a check, cash, or debit/credit card. Be ready for God to for you what you never thought possible.

Oceanside Saturday Night BETA service begins September 17th at 8:00 p.m. We are offering this time of worship for one of at least three reasons:

You would like to go to church at a different time. The early church worshipped every day. We are extending our times available to worship to another day. Maybe one day soon, we'll have worship every day.
You would like a hard hitting, media driven, free time of worship. The music will be more up beat, the sermon will straight and to the point, and we will use all kinds of media from Twitter to Foursquare to YouTube, and anything else we can think of. I will preach the same message, but much more succinct and hard hitting.
We need more room. We always plateau in the 40's. With the school not being an option at this point, we want have another worship service that can offer us room on Sunday morning so we can fill that up too.

Be praying for all that's going on. I can't wait to see all that God wants to do through us.

Living supernaturally,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

23 Seconds of Horror

2011-08-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Volvo auto brake system? It is probably one of the greatest practical inventions of mankind since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Who hasn't driven when there is a sudden stop ahead of you that you don't notice instantly? You hit the brakes and hope for the best. This new system is supposed to take the guesswork out of braking...well, most of the time. The video I've included is the result of asking the automobile magazine writers to watch the test of the system before it was actually ready. It was 23 seconds of horror for the Volvo designers.
Let's think about our lives, we often place ourselves on "auto-pilot" and think everything is going along fine and then...BLAM! We hit a stopped semi trailer that we should have seen coming. It hurts...really bad. As God's people who have been re-created for His plan and purpose, He has helped us avoid these collisions in life. The problem is, we must choose to live life engaged and not on auto-pilot. When we are feeling unwanted by those around us, we can start to feel sorry for ourselves, but we have nothing to be sorry for. We have actually missed terrible collisions in life that have only one purpose, destruction.

1 Peter 1:18-22 lets us in on these destroyers (which is one of the names for satan himself, apollyon. I refuse to capitalize his name).

1. Emptiness (1 Peter 1:18a)
Having been redeemed, we are filled with God. No longer is there a God shaped vacuum in us. We have Him. "Realize the fulness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without Him." (Colossians 2:9)

2. Greediness (1 Peter 1:18b-19)

Our lives are no longer built on stuff; it's "not with perishable things like silver or gold." A life built on that which perishes, "silver and gold" is wasted. There is nothing fun about greed. It is never satisfied. Always hungering for more and never giving back anything in this life. Ever seen American Pickers? Those people they go to see build barns to hold stuff that they could never use. It sits, rots, and collects dust. They even have a hard time selling it to the guys who know people that can use it. Rick Warren recently said this "All my possessions are just tools for fulfilling God's purposes. I either given them away or use them on that sole basis." Can you say that? If not your auto-pilot is set on greed.

3. Hopelessness (1 Peter 1:20-21)
We are so tied up in our stuff and our way of doing things that we confuse who and what to place our hope in. Jeremiah understood this when He wrote, "It's hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans" (Jeremiah 18:12).
Our hope is in a God who loves us so much that He was willing to give His Son to sacrifice His life for us. Doesn't that give you hope? There is a future with Him. He does have a plan for you. That is why we can run to Him for refuge when feeling unwanted and like life is without hope...God is our future.

Finally, we avoid a collision with...
4. Lovelessness (1 Peter 1:22)
We get what is called "sincere love". Love is not love when it is not sincere. When there is real truth, there will be true love. So much of what passes for love today is little more than "like" at best and "lust" at its worst. Love can can only be based on what God says about love. That is true love. It is the kind of love, as MacArthur tells us, "responds to a command." He goes on to say, "Only those who have been purified (saved) have this capacity to love like this. Exhibited by meeting others at the point of their need." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter 1:22). Sincere love for others will develop a sincere love for you. It's never about what you can get out of a relationship that matters, it's what you put into it that makes it sincere.

I am so glad God has clearly designed you and me to avoid these kinds of collisions in life. It's time we fill ourselves with God, give ourselves to others, and love as only God can. Then maybe being unwanted won't matter as much any more.

Thinking 'Bout Oceanside

Wasn't it a wonderful thing to hear the air conditioning running and feel the cool air when you walked in Sunday morning? The air might have been cool, but God's presence was warm. Thank you Charlotte for your testimony about God's goodness in your life. Thanks to you who were open and receptive to God's Spirit as you responded to Him. Oceanside is the best place for Sunday morning...hands down! Let's keep inviting people to join us..every single week.

Be sure to lend us a hand this Sunday night at Seagull Apartments as we have a block party to demonstrate sincere love for the people in our neighborhood. No matter what you can do, you are needed. Be there at 5:00 p.m. this Sunday night, August 28th. Let's show them Jesus!

A new night of worship for the next generation. Beginning in September, Oceanside will begin offering an alternative worship service on Saturday night to open our doors to new people who might not be able to make it on Sunday morning or could even be looking for a different style of worship. The message will be the same, but we will provide a new atmosphere to welcome new people who need to hear the truth and hear the Gospel. Be in prayer as we develop this time of worship for the next generation.

Collision avoidance on,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

It's All about What You Have

2011-08-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

Possessions are a good thing. Most of us like to have stuff. The problem comes in when we like stuff more than people and our Lord. Note that Jesus never said that money is the root of all evil. He said the love of money is the root of all evil. So, there is to be a balance in most of our lives. I think one philosopher once said, we are to love people and use things; we should never love things and use people. Whether we are keeping up with the Jones's or keeping up with our mortgage payments, we can all fall into the trap of working to get, so we can work, so we can get, so we can work...and the vicious cycle goes on. I have to ask...is that what life is all about?

Yet, there are some incredible things that every Christ-follower possesses. Not because we deserve it or worked for it, but because our God gave each of these wonderful, luxurious items that help us make it in a world where we can feel unwanted. What are these incredible gifts? Let's go to 1 Peter 1:8-12.

The first luxury item
1. We Are Given the Opportunity to Worship Jesus, 1 Peter 1:8-9
You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls
To us, we think of worship as a time and place we go to church. But it is so much more. It is experiencing God. When we worship God, there is a connect that creates in us a passion and pleasure found only in God. It is true love and pure joy.
We should relish every moment we can spend time worshipping our Lord and God. When you truly worship Him, you will never be the same.

The second luxury item
2. We Are Given the Full Understanding of Christ, 1 Peter 1:10-12a
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you.
The prophets longed to know what you can be fully aware of. What they saw in their prophecies were the mountain peaks. We see all of Jesus and know who He is and what He did. That is a gift that so many longed for for so many years. Now that is available to you. We know all that God wanted us to know about His Son, Jesus. We know it because it is in that wonderful, supernatural book, the Bible.

Are you getting to know the God of the Bible? Take time to study this week. Use a pen or pencil. Jot down what you are learning or what God is saying to you. Some of you use the margins of your Bible. Some of you use a journal. Whatever you use, write it down. Another simple way to study is to use the cross references your Bible has built into it. Study is how we can begin to understand what God is up to. That is something the prophets tried to do, but we never successful at. That kind of knowledge is yours for the reaping.

The third luxury item
3. We are Given More Access than the Angels, 1 Peter 1:12a
These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.
Doesn't say that the angels will look into these things...but that they want to. We have access directly to the Father because the Son lives in us. The angels cannot boast that kind of privilege, therefore they cannot have that kind of access. The Psalmist wrote that were created a little lower than the angels. However, that was 1000 years before the resurrection of Jesus. We have more than even the angels have. They long to know and experience what we have been freely given. 1 Corinthians 4:9 tells us, "We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels." They can only experience redemption through what they see in us.

Our access to God is made possible through the Son living in us. Avail yourself of that kind of incredible access to God as you boldly approach His throne. Pray this week to your heavenly Father. He so wants you to access Him. He is available to you.

You see, through Jesus Christ, we are not only aware of these things. We possess and are possessed by these things. That's what you as a Christ-follower have. Lay hold of all that God has given you.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

-I am excited about the upcoming block party at Seagull. How can you best be involved? We need greeters, people that will head up games, people that can sign up our guests, chefs, and anyone who has a servant's heart. We want those people to see Jesus flowing through us. That will be Sunday, August 28th at 6:30 p.m.

-How is your child doing? How are you doing with your child? John Rosemond can help you with "Parenting by the Book". That book is the Bible, and it works. Our child rearing seminar will be Saturday, September 24th. You need this if you have children, toddlers, babies, teens, or grandchildren. Registration is now open. See Kelly Rhodes for more information.

-Your giving continues to be wonderful. This Sunday, we are making a card reader available for your convenience. Because so many of you use debit cards rather than checks, you have asked about the possibility. All you need do is swipe your card, type in the amount of money you would like to give, and sign your name. No registration necessary. In moments, you will have given to your Lord and His church all using this wonderful technology.

Living in His luxury,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Survival Gear

2011-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

There's not a man alive that doesn't like to watch Bear Grylls on Man vs. Wild. We like seeing him survive in the harshest of environments. There is something about the ability to live off the land even when there is nothing but a knife and a string to use so he can eat and drink for seven days with little or no support.

But that's not the reason Christ-followers need survival gear. We need gear to help us survive as aliens in an alien world. Here's what I'm talking about, God didn't save us and leave us the fend for ourselves. He gave us survival gear to help us make it through until we go and see Him in eternity. Actually, when we look forward to what Jesus has for us, it gives us the will to survive because we can't wait to see all that Heaven has in store for us.

So, what is available to help us survive? Looking at 1 Peter 1, we can see great tools custom designed for us.

Let's take out the first piece of our gear, Hope (1 Peter 1:3)
I love how the KJV uses the word "lively hope." It is not something in us that just has a pulse; it is moving and jumping around in us. That's lively.

The word hope is used in the Bible with the distinctive meaning “conﬁdent expectation.” It is knowing that God will keep His promises both in the here and the hear-after.

That is why King David proclaimed to His people and to us, "You are my hope, Lord God, my conﬁdence from my youth." Psalm 71:5

The second piece of our gear, Salvation (1 Peter 1:4-5)
When we talk about salvation it is usually about what Jesus did for us when He saved us from our sin. But this is about what He has in store for us as well. No matter what kind of grief we get in what can be a hostile environment, we have the joy and glory of Heaven to look forward to.

As John the beloved was transported to heaven when writing the book of Revelation, he reported what he saw and experienced accurately and precisely. This is how he described our ultimate salvation:

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come Revelation 12:10

Although we are truly saved when we give our life to Jesus Christ, and although we experience the blessings of salvation every day, these are only the pledges of that glorious salvation to which we look forward in the Day of Christ.

The 3rd piece of Our Gear, Joy (1 Peter 1:6)

The two words greatly rejoice are one word in the original which conveys the idea of a strong, deep, supporting exultation. We can learn to live more positive, happy, and praise-ﬁlled lives in obedience to this commandment if we want to hear His “Well done” on that day. It is what we look forward to no matter how tough the day gets even if we feel unwanted when we're living for God.

The truth is, life is tough, and people can make it worse. But don't get despondent or in despair, no one can take our joy because we know what's waiting for us. That is why John wrote these memorable words:

So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. John 16:22

The fourth and final piece of our survival gear is Genuineness (1 Peter 1:7)
There is nothing more attractive to a watching world than to see genuine believers. There is nothing that is more repulsive than hypocrisy. When we come through the struggles with joy and hope, knowing our salvation is closer now than it has ever been before (Romans 13:11), that we let the world see genuine faith. It is in our new DNA as Christ-followers. It is a beautiful thing when we demonstrate God Himself lives in us...for real. And we are being tested, constantly. Here's what the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:8:

I am testing the genuineness of your love. 2 Corinthians 8:8

So, with your survival gear, you can get through the most spiritually barren stretches of land with no other believers in sight. That's why God gave us the gear. Use it this week.

Stayin' alive,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

There is nothing better that seeing God's people mature and grow. I have seen so many of you grow up in your faith. Thank you for your faithful attendance and support during what could have been a very dry month. You have made a difference with your enthusiastic attitude and genuine sweet spirit. Staying connected to God in the summer gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to impact you. He has done just that.
Are you ready for a Block Party? It's coming to Seagull on the last weekend in August. We want to reach many for Christ as we have done before. Set aside this important weekend. as we prayer walk, visit, and invite those communities to be with us for a great time. Let's show them God's people love them and, we can have a good time too!
Ever had trouble raising your children? Who hasn't? That's why Oceanside is gearing up for a parenting seminar. It's called Parenting by the Book and is taught by John Rosemond.

How much? For only $49.95 a couple ($29.95 for an individual), you will get 4 hours of instruction, the hardback book, Parenting by the Book, a free one month subscription to John Rosemond's web resources, and someone will receive a free basket with lots of good parenting stuff in it. As always, there are a few scholarships available. Registration is due September 18th. After that, you can still register, but the cost goes up to $59.95 and $34.95.

Where and When? It takes place at Oceanside's ministry center on Saturday afternoon, September 24th.

See you there!

Unmoving

2011-07-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Our perception of God drives the way we respond to God. For instance, if we think of God as a God of wrath that is ready to slam us, we will avoid him and try and undermine Him and His work in our life. But if we see God as our God of love and care and grace, then we will want to be with Him and hear from him and trust him. The good news is, we now know what God is like and He is like Jesus. God never changes. The Bible tells us "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. He is the author of our belief and the sustainer of our belief. It is in Him that our faith is completed. He is the One whom we can boldly approach, the forgiver of our sins, the healer of our ills, and the One who saves us from eternal judgment that we so deserve. THIS IS OUR GOD!

Here's what we do (and I say we, because I mean me). We rely on:
1) Things - usually, this is money. Big mistake! Have you noticed what our money and investments are doing right now?

2) a Person - like a spouse or a good friend. What happens when they find someone else or move away or have other interests?

3) a Plan - like getting married, or getting a great job, or finishing our education. Have those plans ever changed for you?

The problem is that I truly expect these things to prop up my life, but they can't. Good plans are just not enough. It's not that our friend doesn't want to be there for us or that good things aren't, well, good. It's just that they can't do what we are asking of them. They change and falter and often disappoint.

So, what do we do? We trust in the One who never changes. That means we:

Trust God that your past is forgiven.

That's why the Bible assures us: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (HCSB) You might be saying right now, but pastor, you have no idea what I've done in my life. I can't forget what I did. I committed adultery, disappointed my family, worshipped at the throne of the almighty dollar, and hurt the people I loved the most. Today, let's draw a line in the sand and say, with God's help I'm going to get past it. God has forgiven me and I have to accept His forgiveness.

Trust God with your current difficulty

God wants to give you rest from the pounding you've been taking. Jesus reminds us, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (HCSB). Whatever is going on in your life right now, you need to give it to God. Honestly, you might not even see Him at work in your life, but He is there. Remember this: God is most powerfully PRESENT even when He seems to be most apparently ABSENT.

So here's what it comes down to, are you going to trust in God's identity or in God's activity. Trusting God's identity gives us stability. Trusting God's activity causes us anxiety. Today, decide to trust who God is, not what He does for you.

Trust God with your future plans.

What would I do if I was absolutely confident that God was with me? With your life? Your marriage? Your dating life? Your finances? What would you do?

One of the greatest distractions for God's purpose in our life is for Satan to begin to to make us believe that God is not with us. Think about it, what could we do for God if we really understood that God is with us.

Why would that make such a difference in how we live and exist? Because our faith would not be molded and shaped by our circumstances, but by our identity that God is with us and He is faithful and trustworthy.

This understanding alone makes for great power when we choose to believe God is with us and we choose to be with Him. Over and over again the Bible communicates this though and to God's people. I am with you, will you choose to be with me? Will you?

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

Did you sense the presence of God this Sunday in church? Wow, I just didn't want that feeling to stop. The music, especially the invitation was overwhelming. I wish I could bottle the experience and save it for you. But I can't. Please don't miss what God has for you this Sunday. Oceanside is the best place to be any and every Sunday.

God has been faithful this summer. He has provided what we need in so many ways. I want to publicly thank you Lord for being there for us, for supplying our needs, and for sustaining us through what has been a tough time of the year. I trust You!

Lots of good things coming up for you to be involved in:

Block party on Sunday night, August 28th. We are so good at this ministry that can't wait to see how God uses you! We'll have hot dogs, soft drinks, popcorn, and funnel cakes to eat. We want to have games and give-aways and a super slide for the kids. Any ideas you have would be greatly welcomed.
Parenting by the book with John Rosemond teaching. We all could use help or a refresher in rearing our children and grandchildren. He's one of the best. Start planning now for this wonderful seminar on Saturday September 24th. Seating is limited. Scholarships are available.

See you this Sunday at Oceanside Church!

Because He is Faithful,
Pastor Trey Rhodes

Living to Die

2011-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

When surveyed, the number one fear people say they have is death. As Christians, though, it should be quite different, but it seems to me it is not. Think about it, we sing choruses, hymns, and anthems that tell us that we can't wait to see Jesus. Here's a few: I Can Only Imagine (Mercy Me), Heavenbound (DC Talk) Big House (Audio Adrenaline), I'll Fly Away, Sweet By and By, I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy, and of course, When We All Get to Heaven. But if it comes to our heart starting to act up, we start screaming for someone to call 9-1-1. I know that because I would do the same thing. We have become way too used to the things of this earth and often forget that we were created for eternity. One pastor said it this way:

The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short term thinking.To make the most of your life, you must keep the vision of eternity continually in your mind and the value of it in your heart. (The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, Zondervan Publishing, 2002, p. 38).

Our (and I mean our) problem is three-fold:
1) We have never really died to our self, our world, or our flesh. We will be willing to die as much as we live for Jesus now. John 12 reminds us:

I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25 (HCSB)

2) We are too comfortable. Life is too grand and glorious for us American Christians with our TV's, air-conditioned homes, and high speed transportation. Many of us feel like we are already living the dream. Our freedoms and prosperity have gotten the best of us.

3) We don't see death as reward. The apostle Paul struggled, hurt, faced ridicule, and took care of the churches. He had become weary of this life and longed for heaven. He wrote in the book of Philippians that to him, "dying is gain" (Philipp. 1:21). We see someone who has given their life for Christ and then dies at what would be considered a young age. What is our reaction? Questioning and lament for a life too soon gone. But for them, they are enjoying their reward right now.

For those that weren't able to get all the points from the message this past week, this should help us realize when it is that death becomes a welcome friend and is no longer an enemy.

1. Jesus Welcomed Death Because It Was for the World (John 12:20-22)

2. Jesus Welcomed Death Because God Received the Glory (John 12:23, 28)

3. Jesus Welcomed Death Because It Has Purpose ( John 12:24-26)

Can you and I truly say, "I can't wait to see Jesus"?

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

Secret Church. It was a great time of remembrance and worship as we prayed for, participated, and honored our fellow believers who are worshipping today in secret because of persecution. Our lights were low, music was acoustic, Lord's supper was simple, and the sermon was pointed. We used candles for light, used paper for notes, and broken short pencils to write with. All in all, it reminded us how special it is to live in a free, abundant country with unlimited religious freedom.

Block Party. We want to get out there before school starts and let people know that God loves them and we do too. We are so good at block parties and we will be doing something we excel in. If you haven't been a a part, you'll love it. If you have already helped, you'll be as pumped up as I am. Coming soon!

Parenting Seminar. Who couldn't use a little help here? Whether you have small children, elementary age, tweens, or teens, you can get some great help as we do a 1 day video seminar with world renowned child psychologist John Rosemond (click his name for more information). Be ready to set aside a day on you calendar for this exciting event this fall.

Live like you're dying,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Training like a SEAL

2011-06-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

but first...
Thinkin’ ‘Bout Oceanside
1) Thanks for the great day at the Waterworks Building! Nearly 60 of us there! That’s a 39% increase in 1 week. Let’s keep it up! Let’s see…39% more this week will be…
2) Reality Youth Camp starts this Sunday. We leave form the ministry center at 2:00 p.m. I’ll be in the thick of it with your 35 kids and 10 chaperones. It’s gonna’ be fun and tiring. Pray for us.
3) Can’t wait for the upcoming block party at Seagull apartments. Pray we’ll impact that community for Christ. The party begins at 6:00 p.m., Sunday afternoon, July 17th. You do such a great job reaching out. Thank you!
4) Can anyone say, Vacation Bible School? The fun begins July 22 at 7 p.m. Be prepared for God to use you in these kids lives.

Navy SEALs and the Christian Life
The Navy SEALs were in the news for doing what seemed impossible: the eradication of Osama bin Laden. When I heard it had happened, I thought, “Wow, how’d they do that?” It didn’t happen because they woke up that morning rolled lazily over in their “sleep number” bed, got out in their silk pajamas, started the coffee, and thought to themselves, “Anyone up for getting Osama today?” No, it started many years ago when they got up that first morning at SEAL training school and began work hard to be chosen as a SEAL. It happened after they were chosen as a SEAL as they kept in shape and constantly honed their skills. That’s what it takes, training. Watch SEALs in action

Christian Training

It should be the same for us as Christians. God calls us to train constantly in God’s army “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Then when our moment comes, we too will be ready.

Training that Transforms (2 Timothy 2:3-5)
Just like our military, if we want to become all we can be then we must:

1) Be Ready for Hardship (v. 3)
When the fight comes to us or if we go to it, the fight will be heard. The world system that is opposed to God and His children has trained hard to bring us down.
2) Avoid the Traps (v. 4)
Always be aware of traps that can seem harmless, but are destructive: worldly pursuits, worldly ambitions, and worldly activities. Few if any Christians ever chose to go back. It happened as they placed their first toe in the world to see what it was like.
3) Obey the Rules (v. 5)
Avoid training like the disqualified winner of the Tour de France, Floyd Landis. He cheated. Cheating destroys your character and takes away your reward. It’s NEVER worth it. Obey the rules God has set forth in the Bible.Rules protect us and provide for us. God is no cosmic killjoy. He wants us to have the best!

In training,
Pastor Trey Rhodes

Does God Need Me?

2011-06-14T15:28:00.001-07:00

Common Ground Church

This past Sunday, I was in Eutawville. Why? My friend and fellow "super friend" (old inside joke), Tommy Wolpert, was on mission in Mexico. He asked me to preach for him at the new church start, Common Ground. They began meeting in January and really got it going in March of this year. It was a great day! Lives were touched, as several admitted their need for Jesus as forgiver and leader of their lives. I also got to renew the acquaintances of more people than I even remembered! After the worship service, I went and ate Mexican food afterwards with a dear couple that our Lord continues to use greatly. All in all it was a great day.

Does He really need me?
But the greatest part of the day was realizing how God's work goes on once we are gone from the work. I once again realized God really doesn't need me. None of us are indispensable in the Kingdom of God. It truly is all about God. Even without my influence, this church meets in a renovated brick building. This once abandoned building has become a place of life change. Without me having a thing to do with it.

Fruit that remains

How does that happen? It happens when you and I bear authentic fruit in our lives. Fruit that remains. The apostle John exhorts us this way: "I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16, HCSB).

My heart was touched

As I looked over the standing room only crowd, I had a hard time swallowing because of the lump in my throat. The fruit that was produced 11 plus years ago keeps on bearing fruit. The kind of fruit I'm talking about is people. People like Pastor Tommy Wolpert. This man who is called of God to begin a church to reach and love and care for people. His call reminds me of what Jeremiah said, "His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in" (Jeremiah 20:9, HCSB) There are so many that desperately need not only to know Jesus as Savior, but also follow him as Lord. I see that happening at Common Ground church. We can all make a difference if we are are willing to get in the center of God's will. Thank you Pastor Tommy for you obedience and love for Christ and His church. My prayer is that you are now growing fruit that ripens and spreads the seed of the Gospel in more and more lives.

Thinkin' 'Bout Oceanside

I missed you all this week. I heard Pastor Ivey preached a great message and that you responded.
This will be our first week in the Waterworks Building. How do you get there? Turn in to the same driveway as if you were going to Whitesides School, then take the immediate first left into the parking lot. We'll direct you from the parking lot.
KidShine will be in the ministry center at 1728 Rifle Range Rd. this Sunday. So, take your kids there and then come on over to the Waterworks building. Kids...scream all you want (at least as much as Mrs. Allie lets you!). This includes the Little Lambs nursery as well who will also be at the Ministry Center.
Small groups are open to you. Make sure you are in one this week. Our website gives you sign-up options at this link: small groups.
Many of us are having a difficult time with our finances during these tough economic times. Rather than curse the darkness, Oceanside wants to light a light. We will begin our new series, "I Was Broke and Now I'm Not." It's a great way to really get a handle on our finances. The leader of the study is Joseph Sangl. Click on his name to get more information online.

Humbly bearing His fruit,
Pastor Trey Rhodes
Oceanside Church

It Will Destroy You

2011-06-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

There is nothing that resonates more loudly with people than their own destruction. We care if someone or something is trying to destroy us. But think about it, there is something very lethal that tries at every opportunity to destroy us...that something is sin. God teaches that He wants us to give up that kind of lifestyle and be constructive and not destructive. We find that out in Colossians 1:20-23.

1. Remember who you were before Christ (Col. 1:21)
We must never forget what we were like before salvation and what God delivered me out of. I was a lying, thieving, blaspheming hypocrite before God changed me. It hurts to remember what I was, but it keeps me thankful and positive about where I am now.

2. Forget about the destructive life you lived (Col. 1:20, 22)
Sounds like a contradiction, but it is not. The biggest advantage to being saved out of a sin filled life is that you can remember what it was like without Christ and you are thnakful. The biggest disadvantage is that you can remember what it was like without Christ, and you might be drawn into your old way of doing things. This is what you forget.
Here's the truth, now that we know Christ as our forgiver and leader, we are now holy, faultless, and blameless. That is why we cannot dwell on who we were and what we did before Christ. We are changed. We are not the people we used to be.
I just heard a Bible teacher say, "You are not what you have done, you are who God says you are." You will be told that you have to because that's just the kind of person you are. They are half right. You do what you do because you are that kind of person, but now that Christ rules and reigns in your life, you are a different person. That person, you, live differently because you are a different person and don't let anyone tell you any different.

3. Construct a new kind of life beginning now (Colossians 1:23)
The hope that is written about in v. 23 is our eternal state. We call that Heaven, but it is so much more. The truth is that our eternal life begins the moment we ask Christ to forgive us and we follow Him. Our eternal life begins after salvation, not after death.
Begin constructing your eternal lifestyle through your relationship with Christ right now. It's not just about the sweet by and by, but also the abundant here and now.

I posted to FaceBook this past Friday:
Looking forward to eternal life helps us live the abundant life now.
Jesus "has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him— if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith (heavenly living here on earth), and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel (heaven) that you heard. Col 1:22-23 (HCSB)
We live our lives in the hope that we will be delivered from destruction. The more we allow the Eternal One to live through us, the more abundant living we enjoy here and the less we want anything that would be destrucitve to us. Sin becomes abhorrent because we understand all that it can do to us as we strive for kingdom living so that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Hmmmm... makes me think, don't I want more Heaven on earth? Whey do I persist in holding on to the things that keep me from that lifestyle?
Build what matters beginning right now.

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

I have had some questions as to why we are no longer meeting at Whitesides Elementary. I wanted to do that by first giving you a short history lesson of our church and then what is going on now.

A Short History of Oceanside Church
We began Oceanside Church on September 8th, 2002 in what is now the Cinebar Movie Theater here in Mount Pleasant. After worshipping there every Sunday, we began to look for a more permanent place to call home. We found and settled on a former medical billing facility at the Bowman Business Park at 1135 Bowman Rd. Suite 749-B.
Just as we were preparing to move in, I suffered a dissected aorta. The people of Oceanside, with the help of many friends, renovated and moved in. We stayed there for the next six years. Once again, we felt like the Lord was moving us. Soon, we found a house to move into, 1728 Rifle Range Road. We secured a long term lease with an option to buy with the owner of the property. We thought we were ready to go!
Some of our largest days as a church happened at 1728 Rifle Range Road as we began to raise money and then build on the property. Our intent was to have two worship services until we could build a 3200 square foot worship center. Our intent was to be in two services for four to six months. We ran into several snags and then found out that the landlord was not amenable to us staying on any longer than five years rather that the twenty years we thought we would have. We felt that this made it unwise to spend that kind of money and then have to move only a couple of years later.
Oceanside began to toss around the idea of doing a huge re-launch at Whitesides Elementary School. Many things had to take place for that to happen, and they all did. We began to worship at Whitesides school on February 21, 2011. That first Sunday we had 87 in attendance and believed that we were on our way. Although our average attendance was higher than it had been, it did not get to the levels we thought it would. With summer approaching and the possibility of lower numbers and giving, we began to look into other possibilities that would cost less, but offer more room than our small facility on Rifle Range. We looked right next door at the offices of the Mount Pleasant Waterworks. They have a 3000 square foot public meeting room that would only cost $55 a week rather than $330 a week. It would be a great option for the rest of the summer as we continue to look forward to God growing the church.

Let's claim this promise together as we watch our Lord do great things at Oceanside:
Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

For the kingdom and God's glory,
Pastor Trey Rhodes

What Is Your Measure of Maturity?

2011-05-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

We often see a little child and think they are so cute until they want their own way...or scream in the middle of many onlookers...or snatch something out of another child's hands...then it ain't so cute...is it?

Actually, maturity is a greatly desired quality we want in our children.
So, Here's the $64000 question: why would think that our Lord would want any less?

Here are some ways to realize you are not on the path to maturity as God sees it from Hebrews 5 and 6

1) Do you enjoy listening to Bible teaching? Hebrews 5:11
That's what "slow to understand" is all about.

2) Do you apply what you've learned to your life? Hebrews 5:12a
The Writer seemed to think that would have applied what they had heard that they should be teaching others to live it out as well. It seems that many are taught way beyond their level of obedience. We know more than we apply.

3) Do you eat only spiritual "baby food"? Hebrews 5:12b
That's why the writer says "you need milk, not solid food". I like good salvation preaching as much as anyone, but when it's a steady diet of the elemental things of the Christian walk and that's what excites you, you're living on baby food in a spiritual sense.

4) Finally, how skilled are you at handling the Bible?
By the way, this has nothing to do with being able to juggle it or do sleight of hand with it (although some so-called Bible teachers have tried hard to make that happen with some predictions recently!) I mean, do you know where to find Scripture when someone asks you a question? Do you have big problems finding books of the Bible? Could you tie a JW or a Mormon in knots when they came to your door? Do you avoid talking to people you know and love because you're scared they will ask you some question you don't have the answer to? Skill in the Bible is acquired like anything else you do well, with practice.

So what does a mature believer look like?

1) There will be progress in their lives. Hebrews 6:1-3
Maturity is not perfection, mature is progress. Are you closer to being who and what God wants you to be than you were last week? Last month? Last year?

2)There will be fruit from their life. Hebrews 6:7-8
There are 2 kinds of fruit

Lives that have been changed as a result of your witness (Prov. 11:30)

Living has been changed by the development of godly character (Gal. 5:22-23)

All this will happen as a result of diligence:
"demonstrate the diligence" and so that "you won't become lazy, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance." There is no better way to state it, we become who God wants us to be as we begin with our faith in what He did for us through Christ, and become who He wants us to be through our perseverance.

Make sure this week you listen to some good Bible teaching. Here's a few names: Craig Groeschel, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, John MacArthur, or Johnny Hunt to name a few.
Examine your own life and ask the hard questions as to whether or not you are maturing.
Is there fruit in your life? Souls and godly character. Ask God to enable you to have both as you diligently seek the maturity God wants for you.

Thinking 'bout Oceanside...

Small group study - God has been transforming lives through our most recent study, De' Vine Power. Make sure you get in a small group and get authentic with those in your group.

Memorial Day Remembrance - I was sobered by the remembrance we gave this Sunday of those who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy in our country. The rendition of "Amazing Grace" while seeing the images of soldiers dead and alive truly penetrated my heart.

Giving - Giving to Oceanside's ministry is greatly appreciated. As we enter the Summer months, remember, God's work goes on. Your gifts do matter.

Block Party - We have been discussing some things that Oceanside does well. My first thought was, "Eat!" My second thought was "Love people." We combine those 2 things well with our block parties. We think it would be a great idea and a great way to experience victory by having one on Sunday night, July 17th. Ask God how He can use you.

See you Sunday morning at 10:30 A.M. at the Ministry Center.

Your pastor,
Trey Rhodes

The Power Serve

2011-05-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ has called every one of His followers to serve. Ministry is not an option, it is a necessity for every single member of God's household. We work together to bring synergy to His church using our gifts. When that happens, there will be energy in your life as never before and His church will grow as never before.

The Christian life is a balance between unity and diversity. As a human body weakens, its "systems" slow down and everything tends to become uniform. The ultimate, of course, is that the body itself turns to dust (Anyone ever watch CSI?)

On the other hand, diversity is to be kept in check. Too much destroys unity, and then you have anarchy. How can we best use what Jesus have bestowed upon His church? There are 3 Ways:

1. Different functions create an atmosphere for the church to live, grow, and serve (1 Corinthians 12:14-20)
Diversity does not suggest inferiority. God made no mistake when He gave you your gift to serve. Everyone cannot be a preacher or teacher or prophet, but we can all be who the Lord gifted us to be. Find out what your gift is and start using it!

Here’s a website for a free spiritual gifts inventory (or test). It will help get you pointed in the right direction:
Find your spiritual gift on this link

2. Unity happens when there is dependence on one another (1 Corinthian 12: 21-26)
God’s desire is that there be no division in the church. Diversity leads to disunity when the members compete with one another; but diversity leads to unity when the members care for one another. How do the members care for each other? By each one functioning according to God’s will and helping the other members to function. If one member suffers, it affects every member. If one member is healthy, it helps the others to be strong.

Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. Matthew 10:1 (MSG)

3. Diversity fulfills God's will in the body as we serve in love (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)

Unity and diversity must be balanced by maturity, and that maturity comes with love. It is not enough to have the gift of the Spirit and gifts from the Spirit. We must also have the graces of the Spirit as we use our gifts to serve one another. That is why love must be the basis of all we do. And that is why the very next words in 1 Corinthians are:

If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal 1 Corinthians 13:1

This is how the church of Jesus Christ serves in power.

This week, want to learn to "Power Serve"? Then...
1. Find our how God designed and gifted you. Take a spiritual gifts inventory
2. Get involved in lives. Serve others with your gifts.
3. Participate in small group this week. Learn to be transformed by your service.

Thinking 'bout Oceanside

What a wonderful worship and ordination service. All of you did such a great job of praying for and encouraging Ben and Britney as they were sent out as our missionaries. Ivey and I helped them move to Florence on Monday. We met Pastor Charles and his wife, Marlene. They are wonderful people, love Jesus, and believe the Bible. What a great combo! Ben and Britney will fit in well at Unity Baptist Church. They send their love and ask for your prayers.
Children's day camp is rapidly approaching. If you don't have your children enrolled, please get in touch with Allie by calling her: 270-4311. You can also register directly on our website: www.MyOceansideChurch.com.
Memorial Weekend Picnic will be a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement. Plan now to come and join us at the Ministry Center for worship and then dinner on the grounds right afterwards. We'll supply the meat, we'd ask you to bring the sides and dessert. If several of you could bring some tea and lemonade, that would be great too.
Small group this week is all about God using our gifts to bring our best. This is such a critical step in living a transformed life. Make sure you are there!

Sunday is around the corner. Bring someone with you as we discover he we can each become the person God designed us to be. Read ahead in Hebrews 5:12-6:3 and see how God longs for our maturity. You can be that person.

Now, get out there and POWER SERVE!
Pastor Trey Rhodes

Truth Changes Everything

2011-05-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Because we share His life, we are overcomers; for we also share His victory! “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). When you were born the first time, you were born “in Adam” and were a loser. When you are born again through faith in Christ, you are born a winner!
Satan has tried to obscure the precious truth of the finished work of Jesus Christ, because he knows it is a basis for spiritual victory. “And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 12:11). Don’t let Satan rob you of your overcoming power through Christ’s finished work.
As you think about this week's message, have you considered where you are getting your "truth" from? When life throws you a curve, have you had to learn to rely on God's truth to anchor you? If you get a chance, e-mail me and let me know how you are making that happen in your life. I'd love to hear from you and pray for you.

Summer is here! School is shutting down and vacations are starting. I want you to take note of 3 things: 1) God wants us to have time off. Even Jesus got away from everything to sharpen his ax. So, really take off the time to enjoy your family and yourself. 2) God's work goes on. So, so pray for us when you are away. Let us know when you will be away so we can make sure someone ready to step in and take your place. 3) Your giving matters this summer. Be sure to keep Oceanside in your thoughts as you write your checks this Summer.
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

1. Great Worship Service this past Sunday. It was great to see our guests as you met and greeted them. I could also see so many of you enjoying corporate worship with the Lord. Thank you for you attending to your worship as you do. God is glorified and people are drawn to Him when they authentic worship of our God. As David reminds us, "How can I repay the Lord all the good He has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and worship the Lord.
Psalms 116:12-13 (HCSB).

2. I am feeling much better, for those of you wondering. I think I must have eaten something amiss at the Brown family reunion (Kelly's family). Or maybe I ate too much!! Who knows. Anyway, once I began to eat on Monday night, I felt much better. Thanks for caring and praying for me.

3. How are your finances doing? If you're like most of us, we could all use some help in knowing how to best use what God has provided for you. In June, we will begin the series, "I Was Broke and Now I'm Not." The sermons will deal with trusting God, and our small groups will give step by step information on how to thrive in times of economic hardship. Be sure you plan on joining us for both. Beginning June 26.

4. Club Galaxy is another way we are going to reach into our community and care for and teach their children. Many are looking for a good, solid place to "camp" their children on weekdays. We want Oceanside to be that place. If you know of someone looking refer them. You can enroll right now. Go to http://www.myoceansidechurch.com/clubgalaxy.html.

5. We will be ordaining and sending out one of our own this Sunday morning, Benjamin Rhodes. God willing, Ben will be ordained this Sunday morning immediately after the invitation. If you have never been to an ministerial ordination, this will give you a special and rare opportunity to experience. We ask you to make special plans to join us this Sunday morning for his ordination. Ben, Britany, and Jacob, Oceanside loves you and will miss you, but we want you in the center of God's will. All the best as you serve our Lord in His field.

This week, let's all be a part of Completing Lives and Connecting People.
Your pastor, Trey Rhodes