"Hip-hop has always been a culture with competition and a bit of braggadocio. However, I love that behind all of it there is still a sense of community. I used to joke that the only problem with people is that their only human. On the serious tip though, people are people and are worth being treated as and treating others as a valuable and real person. So whether we are a Kanye West fan or a Taylor Swift fan, a gangsta or a hipster, a kid in the new school or a head from the old, or not even someone who likes hip-hop, remember they have the hopes, hurts, needs, wants, flaws and perfections like we do. Being humane to all human beings. It isn’t always easy, but we should try." the Ingloriuos Pastor
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Remembering Columbine High School...
TheWaterCoolerChapel has decided to focus on the 11 year anniversary of those lives that were affected at Columbine High School on April 20th 1999. Today you will hear from some young adults that spent time at the memorial and you will see some images that have moved me to deepen my roots in Denver Colorado.
After a handful of awesome interviews from some "world changers" around the globe, my focus changed because my heart just could not leave what the Columbine Memorial had laid on it. About a week ago, I had the honor of meeting up with almost a dozen hungry and zealous young adults from Nampa Idaho's Family Life Church who came here to serve our home church The Pearl. As we sat at Chipotle trying to calm our anxious tummies, my eyes looked over each intern wondering what experience in the up coming week would be the seed that would shape their ministry minded lives... I never thought that my life would be so impacted on the day that we prayed for Columbine High School, the community and the city of Denver.
I hope that as you see the photos and hear a few words from some contrite interns, that a seed will be planted in your hearts... a seed that will bear fruit and has the ability to change the world. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:12, "The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."
I believe that "world changers" are not extreme people... "world changers" are people who dream but are motivated by accomplishing one goal at a time. What are our goals this week and do they point to our dreams? Can we choose to make an impact on our community by just being consistently sold out to our covenant of providing what it needs or simply by listening to the bleeding hearts of the hopeless?
April 20th, 1999, has the ability to see a risen community change the world and the opportunity of "starting" with a generation and "staying" with them until we leave this mortal flesh.
"Columbine High School... you are BRAVE, IMPORTANT and you have my heart. You have overcome a civil devastation with HONOR and PRIDE. The world looks at you with RESPECT and a wonder of what that day was like. No medal or memorial can replace the losses that were ripped from your hearts or the visual pictures that stick to deepest parts of your soul... but thank you for pressing forward, not backwards!
Cole Massey
www.columbinememorial.org
Marissa: "When I came i didn't know the facts of how many people were killed or injured on that day but even without that information I felt such a heaviness upon walking up to the memorial, so much so that I was moved to tears. My heart was breaking for the people who have been affected. I saw that each person who died had a plaque in their honor, and beyond that there was a wall of quotes. One particular quote which impacted me was from a student. It read, "Some say that there are defining moments in our lifetime, but I will not let this event define me." That really spoke to me about moving on from tragedy.
Amy: "I too thought the atmosphere felt somber and heavy when we arrived, but as we were praying, the words everyone kept hearing from God were "open life", prophesying that the heaviness would lift. I felt so excited when we left, despite the heaviness we felt when we got there."
Samson: "When we were walking and in prayer, and while we were reading the testimonies at the memorial, I sensed a loud voice saying "we died for what we believed in" and when the echo of those gunshots faded this voice arose bringing healing and strength- I know that God is turning for good what the devil meant for evil."
Trent: "This experience was different for me because I've been to memorials. I have visited war memorials in Washington, D.C., ones my parents had seen on the news when they were young, but this is the first one I've seen for our generation. It really hit home with me. I read the testimonies of what the parents had said about the victims, and each of us interns identified with a particular student. We have similar interests, played the same sports, and I wondered if I were in the same situation 'Would I do the same?'
I believe there is something spiritual arising out of the dust of this tragedy."
Rose: "I heard that a lot of depression hit on the 10-year anniversary of Columbine. the Columbine shooting has been looked at as a tragedy, which it was, but I believe it doesn't have to be depressing. I see it as a way to find God's strength and discover the power of grace; the Bible says His power is made strong when we recognize our weakness. I believe there is an awakening coming to this school."
BELOW is a tribute song to one of the students that was killed that day.
thank you FLYLEAF
>thank you for reading!
>words and letters long for your eyes next week!
CHANGE THE WORLD YOU BIRTHED INTO!!! labor is painful, but life is a gift!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Pastors Chris & Audra Thurman (TRI-CITIES, WA)
1) Ford or Chevy? First car I ever bought with my own money was the sickest S-10 Blazer! So, CHEVY!
2) Coke or Pepsi? We are a divided household- Pepsi for me, Coke for her.
3) Sprite or 7up? I’ll go with my wife on this one...Sprite
4) Which flavor of M&M’s? Peanut Butter
5) Snickers or Milky Way? Snickers....Hungry? Why wait!
6) Icee or Slurpee? Slurpee- considering the TC has a 7-11 that is the Slurpee capital of the world
7) Flex-fit or Custom-fit hat? Custom fit
8) Snow park or Skate park? Snow park
9) What is your favorite snowboarding trick? Pretending like I know what I’m doing.
10) Who is your favorite rider? Cole Massey
11) Gatorade or Powerad Lemon Lime Powerade
12) What size board do you ride? 165”- It’s the long board of snow boards
13) What brand boots and board do you ride? Burton
14) Where do you live? Tri-Cities, Washington
15) Who is your favorite preacher? Wow tough one...TD Jakes is one of them
a) and pastor? My pastor, Dr. Jon Brandsetter
15.5) Who does your hair before a big sermon? My wife used to (don’t judge) but I’ve recently taken over :)
16) How many kids do you have? 2 boys (Justus 4, Judah 2) and one on the way (Pray for a girl!)
a) and did you name any after a favorite intern? Justus’ middle name is Cole!
17) How long have you been married? 7 years, 7 days- best years of my life
a) and who married you? Pastor Gary Moreno- Audra’s pastor from Detroit
18) When did you hear the call to become a pastor? I was 19 and in Mexico America
19) When did you actually become a pastor? 2004- became youth pastor at an A/G church in Renton , WA
20) Did you attend Interns? Did one year of Interns back in 99/2000
21) What would you tell a student who is deciding between going to college or attending an internship program after high school?
Its seems that young people are in such a hurry these days to get things done such as college. They feel the pressure from so many sources...parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, friends, etc.. Why don’t we have people in our lives pressuring us to deepen our spiritual lives? We need that. Young people need that. I believe there first needs to be a strong foundation laid before any book knowledge gets stuffed into us.
21.5) Who were your two favorite interns that really brought Gods grace into your life?
Do I really have to answer this question? Cole and Lacey of course!
22) What was the most amazing service you preached outside of your home church?
I was just in Africa and ministered to over 10,000 people. I would have to say the last serviced I preached there was the most amazing.
22.5) What countries have you ministered in?
China, Papa New Guinea, Africa, Venezuela, Mexico
23) What one event in your life has had the greatest impact on you? Watching both my boys be born! Changed the way I live forever.
24) What legacy do you want to leave for the next generation? To never give up but to keep going no matter what you face. Remember that God is for you and if He is for you who can be against you!
25) What advice do you have for Christians who are struggling with what drink to order at Starbucks when they are late for church?
Go with Tazo Green Tea in the bottle with a Venti cup of ice. How can you go wrong with green tea with all the antioxidants?
26) What visions has God given you for the future of your family and your ministries?
Well for our family, obviously having our third child at the end of August and to hopefully sometime in the near future move to a bigger house with more land!
For our ministry, to win the TC one soul at a time: by being the most compassionate youth church in our city. ‘Every1 Reach1”
26.5) What are your goals for those areas in this year?
By preaching compassion, staying true to who I am and by building relationships events outside of the four walls of the church!
27) People worldwide are attending theWaterCoolerChapel… do you have anything on your heart you’d like to leave them with?
God’s not mad at you but rather, He is madly in love with you. God hasn’t given up on you so don’t give up on Him. Micah 7:8 “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.” Get back up when you fall and dust yourself off!
28) What would you like to say to the leadership team of the Pearl Church in Denver, Colorado?
Keep your eyes on the call that brought you to Denver! Seek Him in the private place so that He can reveal to you new purpose and destiny. It’s of the upmost importance to seek Him privately! Its not enough to be filled just by Doug and Donna in leadership meetings and church services.
28.5) Now what would you like to say to Jordan and Esther Filip? (remember, Jordan said that he can make you lose your temper in a game of golf because his skills are so much greater than yours).
Ask Jordan how many times he has beat me. If he is a holy man, he won’t lie. Jordan is all talk and some game. I have challenged him this summer but he has not responded. I think he’s afraid to play me.
29) So Elijah Waters is Jordan’s brother and your old youth pastor… he was also the first person that ever prophesied over me. What is the greatest game of golf that you ever beat him in? (the hungry readers would love a score gap).
Well I have only played with Elijah once and he left after nine holes. I went on to shoot four over for the round though.
30) What has been your biggest challenge in this past year?
Always putting what we are doing on the table, then discerning what God wants us to keep and throw out.
30.5) In what ways has God supplied strength for you in dealing with these challenges?
He keeps revealing to us promises through His Word, gives us vision of what we will be and has blessed us with tremendous people to keep encouraging us to move forward.
31) What passions do you share?
Only one- a passion for each others bodies!
31.5) What ministry passions do you possess individually?
Chris- I long to see signs and wonders come back to the church. I want to stop convincing people that Jesus exist and show people He does. The church was birthed in signs and wonders being the attraction. Also to disciple people into holiness and righteousness.
Audra- I have a passion for the local church- for us to know our identity and role, first to our families and communities and then to our foreign neighbors. I also have a passion to see a team of women in leadership unite (from all denominations) in the Tri Cities for the express purpose of reaching the women/girls of our city!
32) Audra, what advice do you give to young women who are deciphering God’s call on their lives regarding leadership and a woman’s role in the Body?
First, find out “whose” you are before you can know “who” you are. Then, there doesn’t need to be a special calling to reach women. If you are female, THAT IS YOUR CALLING! That is your purpose! Because you are a woman, you are called to reach women...of all ages. Once you accept that call, walk confidently in it! It shouldn’t look like anyone else’s! If you’re a size 10, stop trying to fit into a size 2. It’s exhausting. They weren’t made for you. Put on what FITS YOU and LOVE IT!
33) Was it difficult to allow Christ to write your love story?
Not at all- it was the easiest thing we have ever done... Are you kidding me? It has been the complete opposite of easy. Probably the second hardest thing I have done in my life. And the reason? Flesh. Stupid flesh. But we are more in love today than that Friday night on April 4, 2003. And we owe it all to our Lord and His faithfulness and grace!
34) How do you perceive ministering in the Tri-Cities in Washington differs from other areas of the United States?
Well I believe that every area has its own challenges but overall the same devil. People are people and if you give them a reason to change they will.
35) Do you miss playing pool at George and Kathy Carl's house?
Do I ever...Do I ever. I won’t forget those times.
**** My eyes water as I write this last question… I’m listening to Jason Upton’s “Faith” album right now and I remember the late Tuesday nights that we would pray in Mountian Life Church together. You were the first pastor to see the prophetic in me and we had some heavy/deep conversations about what God had in store for us. It was almost 3 years ago today that you guys left McCall Idaho to answer the call of God on your life… do you have any words for Lacey and I as we enter into the next season of God’s will for our life?
First off, we are so proud of you! You guys have been such a living example of what it means to overcome. You have overcome the bad, but also the good. If we ever get stuck on the mountain, then how will we ever learn anything in the valley-times (where so much of the church lives)? You guys have persevered and persevered and persevered. You have pushed through barriers, broken down strongholds and sent the legions fleeing. And all of this during many storms in your lives. A missionary from Kenya, Africa spoke at our church last week. I feel the need to share with you his points. He spoke on the storms of life.
1. Storms never last
2. Storms are terminal
3. Storms are prophecies that the calm is near
4. Storms are there to perfect us
5. The size of the storm determines the size of the miracle
6. Storms are sent to put us on our mark
7. Storms come to determine your level of faith
Proverbs 22:29 says, Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
Acts 3:19b says, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord...
Refreshing is here. The calm is here. Maybe this is that season for you. Embrace it. Learn all you can from it. Soak it up. Look for the calm. Because it’s there. WE LOVE YOU!
Paul Wright w/ the ROOTDOWN...
COKE
Which flavor of M&M’s?
Peanut Butter
Snickers or Milky Way?
Snickers
Icee or Slurpee?
Slurpee Wild cherry
Flex-fit or Custom-fit hat?
Beanie!
Snow park or Skate park?
Anything warm….basketball court
Gatorade or Powerade?
Gatorade
Where do you live?
Who is your favorite preacher?
Seth Trimmer
Is it difficult for you to stay connected to your home church while you’re touring with the band?
“No, when I’m home I’m home and we usually listen to the church’s podcast when we’re out on the road. I go to Grace City Church Corvallis , Oregon
The song “Sunrise
I was a part of a lot of groups in college and after one of those groups disbanded I decided to put out a solo album, which quickly got my signed to Gotee Records with Toby Mac’s help. After that I started touring with John Rueben and others.
Is there an artist with whom you share a healthy competition?
Our sound is so different that we can’t compare ourselves to other groups out there, but we really respect “Iration” from Santa Barbara , California
Who are your greatest critics?
Paul: “myself”
Rootdown: “we really compel each other. The way we write songs is so rare- recently we wrote four new songs in one practice!”
Which is your favorite Psalm?
Paul: Psalm 130
Rootdown: Psalm 23
Interviews for April 11th 2010...
theWaterCoolerChapel welcomes words with Paul Wright (www.PAULWRIGHT.com) who also is the backbone behind the ROOTDOWN (www.ROOTDOWNSOUND.com) Eugene Oregon... and the pastor this week is an honored spiritual father of mine Pastor Chris Thurman from Breakthrough Youth Church (Columbia Foursquare Church) www.BREAKTHROUGHYOUTH.org
see you @ 8pm!
see you @ 8pm!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
NEW interviews every SUNDAY night @ 8pm!
come back next Sunday @ 8pm for new interviews and FREE downloads!
MARK FRANCEY interview by Cole & Lacey Massey
2) Coke or Pepsi? Coke
3) Sprite or 7up? 7up
4) Which variety of M&M’s? Peanut butter
5) Snickers or Milky Way? Snickers
6) Icee or Slurpee? Slurpee
7) Flex-fit or Custom? custom flat bill 7 5/8
8) Snow or Skate park? Snow
9) What is your favorite snowboarding trick?
Slow-mo backside 180 tail grab
Slow-mo backside 180 tail grab
10) Who is your favorite rider? Fave snowboarder is Scott Curtis, Fave dirt bike rider is Ben Evans. Fave chess player is Kenrick Barkell.
11) Gatorade or Powerade? Gatorade
12) What size board do you ride? 155
13) What brand boots and board do you ride? Forum boots, Youngblood board
14) Where do you live? Boise , Idaho.
What’s the name of your home church?Capital Christian Center
What’s the name of your home church?
15) Who is your favorite preacher/pastor? Bishop T.D. Jakes is my favorite preacher and my favorite pastor is Pastor Krist Wilde
16) Will you have more kids in the future? Absolutely
17) How long have you been married? Almost five years- that’s 6 Hollywood marriages
18) When did you hear the call to become a pastor? At Generation Unleashed in 2003
19) When did you actually become a pastor? Assistant youth pastor in 2006; youth pastor in 2008
20) Did you attend Interns? Yes
21) What would you tell a student who is deciding between going to college or attending an internship program after high school? Going to college right out of high school is the most overrated thing regarding education in America
22) What was the most amazing service you preached outside of your home church? It was in Jojutla , Mexico
We had some awesome services in Canada Kenya Africa .
23) What one event in your life has had the greatest impact on you? When the Lord told me to move from California Idaho Capital Christian Center Idaho
24) What legacy do you want to leave for the next generation? Authentic Christianity
25) What advice do you have for Christians who are struggling? Find a church and find a pastor that speaks God’s Word and speaks your language. It’s ok to grow from people you don’t know personally- get mentored through books, podcasts, or T.V.
26) What are some of your ministry, social, and family goals? Ministry goals are to unify the team and to go after our city. I say a lot that we should Love everyone, Believe in anyone, and Give up on no one. We want to make it hard for people in our city to go to hell—our goal is to evacuate hell to populate Heaven!
Our measurable goals are to double the number of people attending from 500 to 1,000 by September of this year. We are also planning to open our 4th campus sometime later this year.
My social and family goals are something Pastor Judah Smith said, to be a better husband and a better person than I am a preacher.
27) Many people worldwide are attending theWaterCoolerChapel- do you have anything on your heart you’d like to leave us with? Never underestimate what God can do in a small place- some of the greatest things he’s done in history are in armpit places like Nazareth
28) What would you like to say to the leaders of the Pearl Church Denver , Colorado Pearl Church
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