Just Between You, Me, & God 9-27-2012

How many of you out there have a dog?  OK, quite a few.  I have a dog, his name is Buster and he is an Irish Setter.  He is currently laying at my feet, fast asleep.  Dogs are like kids, they can sleep just about anywhere and in any position.  They are one of God's great creations.  They are fiercely loyal, they are always glad to see you coming, and hate to see you go.  They love to play and bark and chase and do all of those things that God created them to do.  They can make a mess and have been known to tear up a thing or two, (the cover off of one of my study Bibles).  All in all we really love our dogs and they love us. It is pretty much an unconditional love that they have for us.  You can get mad and yell and they just wag their tales because all they hear is you calling their name.  You can lose them on a cross country trip and they will try their hardest to get back home, no matter how long it takes.  In this relationship, we are known as the Master.  We usually provide their food and shelter with an occasional treat or toy, and they provide companionship, or security, or enjoyment.  It's a pretty good relationship.  How's your relationship with God?  Could you learn a few things from your dog about what your relationship with your Master should be like.  Matthew 22:37 tells us, "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  Are you always glad to see God?  Do you get excited, do you listen for His car coming up the street and do you wait at the door to welcome Him in.  A lot of us think that twice a year is sufficient, we'll have plenty of time to spend with Him when we get to heaven.  Listen to what Jesus says in John 10: 14-15, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the father-and I lay down my life for the sheep."  Your dog responds to your voice, you commands, because he knows you and he knows your voice.  If you don't have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ, how are you going to recognize His voice when He calls you.  That may be the dog catcher or Satan that your answering to because you haven't been around your master enough to know His voice.  Are we loyal to follow Him, are we committed to obey?  Let's try this, take everything that you brought with you into this world and put it in a pile over here.  Hmm, that looks like empty space to me.  Everything that you have or own is a gift from God and when you leave this Earth, you'll have to give it all back.  These are you treats, your provisions from your Master.  So let's face it, we even mess up from time to time and even runaway but our Master is forgiving and loving and wants to welcome us back.  Buster and I have a lot in common, although he has a lot more hair than I do.  He is loyal, he loves me unconditionally, he is always glad to see me and misses me when I'm gone.  In my relationship with God, I try to be loyal, I love Him for first loving me, I am glad to be in His presence and I realize just how much I need Him when I am away from Him.  Have you been away from your Master?  He's waiting for you to come on home.  Embrace Him and show Him that you love and respect Him and that you are willing to obey so that you may walk together from now on.  Good boy!  Pastor Dean 

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Outreach & Ministries Pastor for LHF. He truly loves his big lug of a dog. His prissy cat Molly also loves Buster. His Chihuahua mix Red...not so much.

Movie Review: Birdie & Bogey

Release Date: 2004

Directed by and starring Mike Norris (son of famous action star and karate champion Chuck Norris), Birdie and Bogey tells the story of a frustrated and disenchanted golf pro whose daughter has aspirations and dreams big enough for the both of them.

Danny “Bogey” O’Connor is a former golf champion working as a golf pro (golf instructor) for a country club. His daughter Birdie (played by Amanda Alch) is making a name for herself on the junior golf circuit, but wants her father to start playing competitively again. Danny is reluctant and seems to lack confidence in his ability to compete again. It is revealed that he was given the nickname “Bogey” for choking up and losing games with stupid mistakes (“bogey” is a golf term meaning “one stroke above par—the max number of strokes necessary per hole”). His wife has left, making him disillusioned and cynical. He is uninterested in love, faith, or risk, and has made providing for his daughter his only priority. Birdie, however, has other plans, and it is her faith that saves them all.

This movie is hardly blockbuster caliber, but is heartwarming, charming, and uplifting. Mike Norris portrays a man that is not really angry, but has a calm, defeated bitterness about him, and does a great job. Amanda Alch plays an upbeat, optimistic little girl with big dreams and true childlike faith, in God and in her father’s ability. Janine Turner plays a convincing and sweet love interest for Danny O’Connor, and Carey Scott turns in a fun performance as Birdie’s comedic but loving Uncle Lester, a pastor.

There is little in the way of special effects, and the story is somewhat predictable, with an unassuming soundtrack. The movie is definitely not “big budget,” but still rather enjoyable, especially for families with children. The characters are believable, though sometimes incomplete (such as Danny’s ex-wife Sheila, who shows up in one scene with little back story and no follow-up), and very likeable.

The movie unrolls Danny’s return to competitive golf, a family tragedy, and Danny’s path to faith in God. It’s simple, straightforward cinematics, inspiring story, and enjoyable performances by the cast make it a great family movie and, though overlooked in a world of Hollywood blockbusters, Sundance independent projects, and film noir, worth watching. And who are we to argue with Chuck Norris’s kid?

Find Birdie & Bogey on: IMDB       Facebook       Amazon

Mike Norris' I Am Gabriel on Facebook

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF. She was not compensated in any way for the review of this film, though she does enjoy watching it with her daughter who loves it which is reward enough. her opinions are her own.

Interview with Modern Miracle

For those who aren't blessed enough to have heard of them (yet), Modern Miracle is a Christ-following, hard-rocking group of awesome hailing from the East Texas area (specifically, Carthage, Texas). I was lucky enough to score a little of their time for an interview, as follows:




1. When was Modern Miracle formed?

ModernMiracle was formed in 2004 by Anthony Lozano (Vocals) and Nathan Lenox (Drums);adding Max Morris (Guitar) Kagen Smith (Bass) & Cody Bowen (Vocals) toround out the original line up.  DavidStone was added on the guitar before recording the first album “Of Artists andPoets” in 2005.

2.  Whatis your favorite Scripture (as a group ad/or individually)?

Nathan:Jeremiah 29:11

3.  What is your favorite song that you perform?

Nathan:The Colossus Slumbers

Charity:Where Moth and Rust Destroy

Shawn:Sir Mircov

4.  Tellus your salvation story/stories.

Nathan:  I was raised in church so I don’t really havean “I come from drugs and alcohol” type of story.  As I’ve gotten older, I have started to realize, and it’s an ongoing process, the true meaning of being Christ-like andthe call we have as Christians.  Like Christ, we have to suffer for man-kind. Despite working with that guy you really don’t like… you still have to love him, and that may take some suffering you’re your part, but I believe that’s what we are called to do, and… everyone has that person who makes it difficult to love them, I know I can be difficult to love myself!

5.   Give us the lowdown—Who plays what, when did you sign with your label, the titles of your albums, etc.

Anthony:Guitar/Vocals

Charity:Vocals

Josh:Bass

Nathan:Drums/Vocals

Shawn:Piano/Synth/Vocals

Taylor:Guitar

In2005 we recorded and signed to Soma Records. We recorded our first album “Of Artists and Poets” and released it in May of that year.  After the album was done we did a few shows under the label but our relationship eventually just dissolved after losing Cody, Kagen, and Max just before the album released.  Charity, Heath, & Taylor stepped in to fill the open places within weeks.  They were formerly of the Harleton, TX based group Set Apart.  At that point things rocked along on and off until 2010 when we finally decided to get another album out and had our good friend Michael Martin come record us at Word Alive Outreach Ministries in Carthage, TX; which was our practice space at the time.  “From Abraham to Isaac” was also released in May of that year followed by a south east tour to Florida and back over the summer.  We signed temporarily with Death 2 Self records in 2011 and it has been a great affiliation but as it came closer to start recording, we really felt like the next project should be independent.  We are working on raising money to record our third album, “The Strong Man’s Rebuke” hopefully by the end of 2012.  We will be doing everything ourselves on this one, down to purchasing our own equipment and production… the whole works.  We have never been more excited about anything we have written than this album. “The Strong Man’s Rebuke” is a concept album, a story from start to finish.  Though each song has a stand alone message, together they tell the story of the Body of Christ rising up in these times of chaos. 

6.  Tell us about the funniest moment you’ve experienced while performing/traveling.

Nathan:Jean Shorts!

(That sounds interesting...)

7.  iPhone, Android, or other?

Nathan:Android

Charity: iPhone

Shawn: iPhone

Taylor:Android

The phone wars have begun lol.

8.  Whois YOUR favorite worship leader/band? What about them inspires you?

Nathan:We are all big fans of the band Emery and Flyleaf and the way they play secular shows and aren’t afraid to worship and speak the word of God from the stage.  Flyleaf closed their show, when Charity and I saw them with “Oh How He Loves” us.  It was phenomenal to see people worshiping a ta secular show and I truly think people were touched.  That’s what we want to do.

9.   What songs are on your personal playlist(s)?

Nathan:Right now I am listening to a pretty wide range of music like Ludo, the Decemberists, Shawn Mcdonald, Needtobreathe, Listener, Project 86, La Dispute, Brand New & Nickel Creek to name a few.

10.  Outside of music, what do you enjoy?

Nathan:Video Games, Comics, Impersonations, Art, Electronics & New technology

111.  Anything else you’d like us to know?

The Strong Man’s Rebuke.  That’s about it.  We are SO excited to get this recorded and distributed.  It will be available on itunes, amazon mp3, last fm, and a few others for your listening pleasure.  We may even do a live stream event the day of the release.  Hopefully, the plan is anyway, to have a companion comic book and a series of Youtube videos to help tell the story.  Hopefully be able to start recording in mid November.

Check out Modern Miracle online:

ReverbNation       YouTube        PureVolume

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF. 

Book Review: Spark by Jason Jaggard

Photo from Waterbrook Multomah site

Publisher/Date: Waterbrook Multnomah/August 21 2012

Spark is a deceptively small book with a very large impact! At 206 pages, less than a third of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it does not seem a heavy read. The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” truly applies here. 

Jaggard has redefined terms that we as Christians have heard to the point of desensitization. “Faith”…”hope”…”love”…”risk”…”change”…words that we are all too familiar with become fresh and relevant in the context of today’s world and bring a message that is timeless. He defines a “spark” as a risk, small or large, that impacts our lives and those around us. He points out that “risk” is a very subjective term, and that what is a risk (in the sense of doing something different than our norm, a real change in our routines, habits, and outlook) for one person is not for another, and that every person can take a risk…create a “spark.”

The founder of Spark Good, Jaggard has created a small group model (which most Christians in today’s church are familiar with), in which Spark groups meet for five weeks. During those weeks, each member agrees to take one small risk per week for 4 of the weeks, and each week the group discusses the impact of the “sparks” created. There is no set curriculum or resources needed (though there is a short guide available) to begin or host a Spark Group.

Jaggard uses multiple anecdotes and stories from his own life and the stories of many others to illustrate his points. We see how small changes created big results, and get a real understanding of what a single “spark” can do.

The writing style is somewhat journalistic, with short paragraphs separated by double-spaced lines, very like a blog (or this review), with few to no long-running sentences. Some reviews I have read since finishing Spark have complained about this style, but personally, it appeals to me. It keeps ideas a bit more organized and concise.

One complaint I have read that I see (limited) merit in is that Jaggard tends to repeat himself often, and uses too many anecdotes and examples to illustrate his point. While I agree that some parts of the book were repetitive, I disagree that it is too much. I find that people absorb more if they hear it more than once. In a fiction piece, a theme or idea is repeated endlessly in example, metaphor, or statement, and while it is not often used in nonfiction writing, it isn’t unheard of, and in this book, I do not find it boring or overdone.

I myself am a risk-taker and have little qualms about trying new things or “thinking outside the box,” so I really identified with the premise of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Spark, and am looking to start a Spark Group at Living Hope Fellowship. I think that anyone can benefit from what Jaggard has to say, and like to imagine what our world would look like if more of us created our own “sparks.”

Spark entry on Waterbrook Multonmah's site  


another bligger's review of Spark

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Director for LHF, and likes to kick out boxes' walls. Mrs. McGinnis received a review copy of this book at the Catalyst Dallas Leadership Conference, but not as part of Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books Program. Her opinions are her own.

Just Between You, Me, & God 9/18/2012

We just got back from a long weekend mini vacation on the beach near Galveston. We were the grateful guest of our Port Arthur connection cousins, Jennifer, her husband Ricky, their two adorable kids Amelia and Noah, and Jenn’s dad, Daddy Dave. Daddy Dave has been a spiritual anchor in my life for quite a while. He’s one of those guys whose faith is so strong that he cannot help but put you in a more spiritual frame of mind when you’re around him. I love walking on the beach by myself and just taking in God’s creation all around me. There has been a lot on my mind lately and I really needed to have some alone time with God to talk things over without interruptions. Sunday morning I got up early, fixed a pot of coffee and headed to the beach just as the sun was coming up. I walked and sipped my coffee with my head down and started a rather lengthy conversation with the Lord. The waves constantly rolled in with a calming relaxing rhythm. As I walked and talked on I could feel the presence of someone with me and their desire to join the conversation. He said, “Have you noticed that there is no longer a trace of those who were here before you? Can you see that even the mark that you have left is no longer visible? But the waves of the ocean have continued on since before any man walked on this Earth and they will continue long after you are gone. They are like my love for you and all mankind. I am constantly rolling over you’re self- impression, trying to get you to notice Me. I roll into your life depositing little blessing like the colorful shells that the waves leave behind. Sometimes I have to roll in like a storm, changing your life so that you might come back to me even if it is in a time of need. I am constantly trying to get you to embrace our relationship. I am glad you have taken the time to seek me out this morning and I hope you will do it more often. I am everywhere and in everything so don’t wait till you come to the beach.” I stopped and I watched for a while as the waves rolled over the sand and then rolled out leaving a new collection of little shells. I thought of how God has used little waves and tidal waves in my life to bring me back to Him and I had a clearer understanding of everything I had been praying about when I first started my walk. Take some time alone with God this week and see if you don’t start to see things a little more clearly.

Luke 24:28-32, As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Go in peace and may the God of peace be with you, Pastor Dean

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Outreach & Ministries Pastor for LHF.

Movie Review: Machine Gun Preacher

Photo from http://www.heyuguys.co.uk

Release Date: November 2, 2011
Based on: Another Man’s War by Sam Childers

Truth be told, I rented this movie from Redbox because I had a free rental code and it seemed interesting. I had seen a preview for it on another video and thought “that’s probably pretty cool.” I knew it was about a man who used his rough street-knowledge to help orphans in war-torn Sudan, and that it was based on a true story.

I was completely unprepared for the impact this movie would have on me. I expected some awesome special effects and a few tender moments with little orphan children. What I found was a graphic, revealing, emotional-roller coaster that touched my heart, moved my spirit, and make me think about grace, determination, family, and faith.

The film opens with scenes of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army, headed by Joseph Kony) attacking a village. The next scene shows main character Sam Childers (played by Gerard Butler), being released from prison. He returns home to his wife Lyn and daughter Paige (played by Michelle Monaghen and Madeline Caroll), where he learns that Lyn is no longer working as a stripper or using drugs, but has become a Christian and attending church. He is angered and storms out, where he meets up with his buddy Donnie (Michael Shannon), and gets high. These scenes are disturbing and very realistic, with the images and language very rough and not for the weak-hearted or easily offended.

Eventually Sam also decides to follow Jesus and is baptized, and begins to turn his life around. His redemption is evident in how he lives after his baptism. He starts a construction company, moves his family into a nice, home, and becomes active in his church. His life is changed completely during a mission trip to Africa and he is stricken with the plight of Sudanese orphans and village children. He makes it his mission to help them and uses his knowledge of weapons, fighting, and secrecy from his past life as a drug-dealing biker, combined with his construction skills, compassion, and newfound faith to change the dire circumstances of the children he has grown to love. He joins the SPLA (Sudan People”s Liberatian Army), and becomes known as the “Machine Gun Preacher.” The film follows Sam’s story as he struggles to balance his faith, his passion, his actions, and his family.

This movie is definitely not the faith-based film we would associate with companies such as  Sherwood Pictures, Fox Faith, or Cloud Nine, and is wrought with scenes that are bloody, angry, and frightening. We see women beaten, drug use, children dying, and armed conflict. We can easily empathize with Sam in his struggles both before and after his conversion to Christianity because it is spelled out in its gritty, realistic glory right in front of us. The language is rough, profane in many instances, and is not “reigned in” for the sake of politeness. The “R” rating by the MPAA is well-deserved and children should NOT watch this film.

That being said, I am very glad I did watch it, and would recommend it to others with little to no hesitation. I was moved by Butler’s performance as Sam Childers; he is real, raw, and incredibly believable. I was equally taken with Michelle Monaghen’s performance as Sam’s supportive and strong wife and Michael Shannon’s portrayal as the loveable, somewhat goofy, but deeply troubled Donnie. The cinematography is exceptional, with tidbits of real artifacts from Sam Childers’ life embedded within. The grace that is found within salvation and how it changes even the “worst of the worst” is the foundation of a story full of chaos, anger, hopelessness, and tragedy. To say this is a well-made film is a gross understatement.

For more information about the LRA, SPLA, Sam Childers, and organizations working to change the fate of African children terrorized by war and enslavement, please visit the links below.

IMDB entry for Machine Gun Preacher

Official Kony 2012 Site by Invisible Children

LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) - Wikipedia

SPLA (Sudan People's Liberatian Army) - Wikipedia

Sam Childers - Wikipedia  Facebook page  Twitter  Official Site

Another Man's War - Amazon

Invisible Children Inc.  Facebook page

Please comment below and let us know if you've seen the movie (or after you have). What are your thoughts on it?

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF. She was not compensated in any way for review of this movie. The Redbox free rental code was given as part of an anniversary promotion and not in exchange for review of the film. As always, her opinions are her own.

Just Between You, Me, & God 9/10/2012

We’ve all seen the speaker that walks up to the podium, taps on the microphone until there’s a shrill feedback and then utters those famous words, “Is this thing on?” Communication is vital in our relationships and it is a two way street. There is a speaker and a listener, the one who receives the message. You may be the most eloquent speaker ever but if the microphone is not on or people are not listening then the message becomes worthless. Jesus even had to get people’s attention when speaking as He did in Matthew 11:15, “He who has ears, let him hear.” As a speaker and a listener I understand the difficulty that occurs on both sides of the communication. Face to face communication at least gives you the opportunity to look eye to eye with your receiver. The message of the Gospel is so vital, so important that the speaker, in preparation, often gets more out of the message than the audience because they have often lived the experience, the grace, the mercy, that they are trying to convey to others. With our blog and Facebook it is often hard to determine who your audience is and whether they actually got the message or not. I am told that this blog is received in countries around the world and in multiple sites around this country as well as a small loyal following locally. I am asking all of you now to please listen to my plea. Living Hope Fellowship is an infant when it comes to many churches in that we are only 5 years old. Our congregation is not large with an average worship attendance of only about 35. We have set ourselves up to be an outreach church that opens our doors to those who have been shunned by other churches or that don’t feel they live up to the standards of others or that may feel that they can’t “afford” to go to church. We have a small group of core members who have tried to financially hold the church together. No one on staff receives a salary so our pastors are all bi-vocational. Our main focus has been to provide spiritual and nutritional support to our community but our financial resources are running out. We are behind on our rent and have had to cut back on support venues like the Backpack Program that sent food home with 50 school kids on the weekends that would otherwise have nothing to eat--yes, right here in the good ole USA we have hungry kids. We are still maintaining our food bank on the second Saturday of each month where we currently provide groceries to 30 families each month. Please hear my plea, if you have ever been touched by God through Living Hope Fellowships worship service, outreach programs, blogs, or other posts, I ask that you would consider a gift of any amount to Living Hope Fellowship Gladewater in order that we may continue God’s work in our community. Gifts can be mailed to Living Hope Fellowship - P O Box 788 - Gladewater, Tx. 75647. Matthew 25: 40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” God bless you for your prayerful support of God’s work, Pastor Dean

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF

Just Between You, Me, & God 9/4/2012

Well the political table has been set, the hors d’ oeuvres have been served, (the primaries), the first course is being served up, (the conventions), and before you can say I’m full of this, it will be time for the main course, the election. Before you throw your napkin down and storm away from the table let me tell you that I am not going to tell you who to vote for. That choice is yours, in fact, choice is one of those amazing gifts that God has given us and that we have not quite perfected yet. Adam and Eve had choices, the Jews under Moses had choices, Daniel had choices, the Disciples and Paul had choices, and yes we have choices. For all of us, some of our choices are good and some of them are not so good. I wish I had chosen to be a better student in school but I have been delighted with my choice for a wife for over 40 years now. There are consequences or rewards for our choices and they affect our lives and often times the lives of others. In order to make better decisions, whether voting or other issues in your life, it is important to get all the facts that you can. Important decisions require knowledge of the issues and truth about the outcome. God talks about the results of the lack of knowledge in Hosea 4:6, “…My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” Our knowledge comes from the Word of God, the scripture of the Bible. If we are not listening, reading, studying, and following God’s Word then we have no right to complain about the outcome. The Church has decided to take a role of competing with, instead of standing apart from the rest of the world. We worry more about the bottom line than the line outside the door. We’ve become more about entertainment than enlightenment. Some churches look more like playgrounds, gymnasiums, or amusement parks than churches. We have turned the sharing of the Gospel into an exclusive club instead of benevolent movement giving the message of hope with not just a hand out, but also a help up. The government is not our Messiah, no matter who is in office, Jesus is our Savior and He is waiting for His Church to stand up and pick up where He left off, sharing the Gospel with love and authority. Before you open your ballot to vote this year, open your Bible and take a look at what we have given up to the government that we the Church should be doing. God selects our officials through the choice He has given us. Let’s get some Bible knowledge and make some informed choices and get the Church back on the right track of serving God by serving others instead of serving ourselves at whatever cost to the Gospel. Pastor Dean