Super WOW experience - You should have . . .

Last night, April 29, was one very fun, fuel-filling experience! Laura and I had a great time! Weren't there? What did you miss?

• Tom & Angela Taylor sharing a 4.5 min. story of how they recovered from a near death experience (being part of "Religion" far too long)! They also shared how they met when Angie was only 12 years old (very funny stuff).
• 17 year old worship leader Adam O. sharing his brief life history of being a pyromaniac; and how music has run in his blood from early childhood! LOL! WHAT A COOL KID!
• Kasey Butler shared how his business and personal life have been supercharged by his involvement in Living Hope East (it was very cool - Thurs. business lunch at E Van going strong).
• Not to be left out, Michael and Rhonda gave one of the most powerful, funny, and inspiring 4 min "real life stories" I've heard in some time. They got a "Blazers kind of ovation."

Twenty seven of us were gathered for our first ever Experiencing Living Hope mid-week experience. We shared some of the dreams of our new East Vancouver campus and refreshed on why Living Hope only focuses on "four chairs." Beside the handouts, great food, and table sharing, we finally chased off the last couple at 10:15 p.m. (We actually had our closing prayer at 8:39 - it's so cool seeing people stick around and not want to go home).

Experiencing Living Hope is a very wonderful way to refocus, refresh, and relax with great friends (and find new ones too). We'll do it again in about 6 months; count on it.

Way too much fun!

Friday Night at the Movies - Last Fri of the month

Friday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. - East Vancouver Living Hope Movie Night

For our first movie we have chosen a powerful film that many people haven't seen. It's gotten great reviews from teens and parents. "This movie" says Bruce Avery "is so powerful you will likely buy it for your collection." The Brownlee family have had lots of laughs; just ask them and tell you how hard it was to get Bruce to actually watch this film . . . but once he did Bruce has shown it to a lot of friends.

The Avery boys, Gordon (24) and Marcus (21) agree that this is a powerful film that leaves its mark. Come join us for fun and relaxation at our new campus. Don't let the "Hallmark like" cover fool you, this movie has something for everyone. Bring a friend, we'll provide the popcorn.

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Never bored again!

We are responding to the amazing turnout at Living Hope this last weekend, over 10,000 people visiting all our campuses! We had over 400 at our East Vancouver campus. We are responding by deciding to hold two services from this weekend (April 19) onward!

Here's how you can get involved:

This Saturday: Clean, help finish projects (a whole bunch of fun left) from 2 p.m. until we all go home (painting, spraying fire retardant, cleaning, sorting storage items, more painting, carpentry work (experienced guys & gals needed), vacuuming (no ironing) and much more . . . see you soon!

This Sunday: We are in need of extra hands at both services: In Kid's World we could use help checking kids in and in our toddler's room. In the auditorium we need ushers for offerings at the 11 a.m. service and people to help cleaning up between the 9 & 11. We are in need of help after the 11 a.m. service with stacking some chairs and clean-up. There are other areas you can serve in so please show up with your best smile!

Only God! It will be one amazing weekend.

Update on our new digs, pics, and April 2nd Hot night inside scoop

The miracles of contractors donating services and material continues - we are so blessed.  We are still short by $6,000 in our budget.  We've come up with over $4,000 this week.  We found out the large screen we were told we had is not available - God will find a way . . .

The next electrical inspection should take place on Monday and then it's the last of the drywall and texturing and paint.   We need to find a commercial spray paint person for the ceiling.  We are planning a big cleaning/painting/set-up party for next Saturday, April 4.

WE WILL be having services on April 5 in our new facilities.  The service will start at 11 a.m.  

Easter we will have two services for the day, 9 & 11.  We need so many volunteers to help - it will be fun!  AND . . . and, so many people's lives will be filled with hope and the amazing gift of God's love!

What's happening April 2nd?  It's the CD release show of the band GORDON AVENUE - the lead singer/songwriter is our son Gordon.  Tom and Angie's son, Je

remy is the lead guitar player.  We would love to have you join us for the fun.  Check out my personal blog and the band's web site.  Bring a friend and play with us!

www.Gordonavenue.com

www.bruceandportland.blogspot.com

Every moment we are given great opportunities

 

I was very stupid for waiting so many years to learn to dance with my best friend, Laura.  She’s the love of my life and I’ve know for many years that dancing with her would bring great joy (please forward this blog to my dear friend Pastor John Bishop).

I was reading the Love Chapter guy – Paul today and I heard God speaking to me through it.  The context is about  how we live out our lives in an evil world.  The verses I read so spoke to me about my years of neglecting to speak a “love language” that would bless my wife’s life.  The reasons for NOT blessing Laura in this way were silly (actually stupid) and revealed a slice of selfish “stuck-very-deep-in-the-mud” thinking.  I kept telling myself that God didn’t gift me with the ability to dance therefore I was excused from trying.  What a lie (often to allow us to keep doing what is comfortable instead of what’s right).

Here’s the passage I read: Ephesians 5:16-18.  Paul’s saying, “Bruce take EVERY opportunity you get, especially in these selfish times, act out with purposefulness – live not in excesses of “what feels good” rather live by being “filled-to-the-top” with God’s Spirit.  The word “filled” actually means complete.

• Why are you holding back?
• What would add joy to someone you love?
• Read the whole story of Bruce’s victory over stupidity (my personal blog)

There is no such thing as “ordinary”

Yesterday was one of my top 10 favorite devotions from O.C. (Check it out right now).  My dear friend from the other-side-of-the-pond, Oswald Chambers, wrote about despair wraping it’s hideous claws around us whenever we realize how much we’ve blown an opportunity; a moment that can never be recaptured, never reconstructed – something lost forever!  Despair comes in many colors but it’s end result is loss of hope!  And without hope there is no passion, true purposeful drive.  Relationships wither and hollow, fake, emptiness encases us in prisons of fear.  In the words of an 8th grade, “despair is a bad thing.”

Oswald reminds us of the night Jesus’ three closest friends felt despair yank them back into a depressed, numb,  sleep.  All the while Jesus  had to wrestle with God in the darkest night of his life.   O.C.’s key thought is that the NEXT RIGHT STEP is, to do whatever “Ordinary thing” is in front of you.   Stop and choose to NOT to visualize anything as ordinary.  Every moment is a present miracle –God’s presence in you and all around you!  Really!  How much do you believe this? Right now? 

These last two mornings I’ve struggled to craw out of bed and shift into “R” (=racing) . . . I’ve been sparing with what some call the “common cold.”   AND It’s against my religion to get sick (besides I’m a big baby when I’m down).  I’ve been praying for this “God view” - to accept the ordinary as extraordinary.  God so explodes your life when you choose to do this. 

For the depressed, suicidal, prophet Elijah, the next right thing to do (ordinarily extraordinaire) was to “eat and drink his Crystal Light; then go back to sleep.”   What “ordinary moment” did you let slip on by today?  Are you overwhelmed with regrets (I’ve sat with people who are worn out over concerns for their kid’s drug addiction; people in the hospital in serious condition, and young lovers finding their love gone sideways . . . they all were trying to see God present in their present tense troubles – they all are struggling with regrets.).  What will you do with what’s left of right now? 

I stopped and said hi today to a silver haired, brilliant blue-eyed 70 year old guy in the gym (He blessed my life with a little book and I plan to return the favor over coffee; hopefully some sharing as to how God can touch his life . . . I don’t think He knows my friend yet, but I promise the coffee won’t be ordinary!).

What’s the most ordinary thing in your life right now?  You might be surprised if you pause and look again (really choose to see it as miraculous). 

Nothing is ordinary unless you believe the mistruth that it is!

(More on my seven days of romance with my sweetheart – visit my personal blog)

Love is in the air

I love great music, art, and the mystery of God’s romance.  This week I’ve met with a musician whose trying to build a team for the first time when it comes to his relationships.  He’s single, being brave and running back to God!  I’m one of the most God-lucky men to be able to hang with such cool young people.

I saw God surprise me regarding our new campus!  We had one of the largest homebuilders in the county come on board to help us with our new remodel.  We had Duane, one of our LH executive pastors, join our construction team, and thousands of dollars in hardware donated.  God is good.  Friday, my construction friend Richard and I taped out the stage area and it’s getting real exciting.

Prayer focus:  We would need to raise nearly $5,000 for just a basic stage lighting system.  The final decorating cost are way beyond that.  Pray that we hear God’s voice as He guides each of us (giving $5, giving our skills, passionately serving, flying Bruce and the Team to Aruba for a 4 day break . . . – it’s a joke, really!)

Pray that the permitting process goes through smoothly (this will be huge this week and will be the determining factor in us getting into our new facility before Easter)!

Needs: Donation of a drum kit for Kid’s World.  A small (not too small) refrigerator,  Oven, Microwave, bar sink and a Plummer and cabinet maker to go along (We want to build a mini-kitchen in our Kid’s World.

Oh, I almost forgot:  V. Day tips (it’s not to late – click here now to go to my personal blog site).  I’ve got one of the most simple, easy, pain-free, no calorie tips known to Human Kind!

Happy Valentines!  If you think V. day is stupid (“I don’t need a commercialized Hallmark $$$ day to show my love.”), you need to talk to me – I can help you will your blindness – for sure!