Monday June 21, 2010

Pastor Mike continues in James

Today Pastor Mike continued in the Epistle of James, continuing to warn us about trials and how easy it is for us to give up as soon as we face some adversity. When we first came to Christ, how many of us were told that we would soon be fighting some of the toughest battles we have ever fought? Especially when some of us were chained to those life-dominating sins, no one told us how hard it would be do detach from the chain. But the good news is that Jesus will take us through, be with us every moment, and give us the faith necessary to withstand the trial.

Sign ups for SPIRIT WEST COAST

Sign up sheet for Spirit West Coast volunteers was passed around. If you volunteer I believe the cost is $25, but if you work a double shift the day is free!!

Here's a link to the Monterey Schedule (just copy and paste into your browser's address bar):
http://monterey.spiritwestcoast.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RkLOXhTazcU%3d&tabid=409&language=en-US

Next week:
Worship featuring Bruce Peck on guitar

Monday June 14, 2010 - The Caseys Return!

Yes folks, our Pastor and wife have returned rested(?) and renewed from their Marathon/Vacation in San Diego.

Worship included a new song about Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans (thoughts) I have for you"
It is not just fun to play but very moving while playing.

Pastor Mike gave us another fantastic message from the Book of James. Pastor Mike reiterated not if but when we go through trials, we must have faith that Jesus will take us through them. He also reminded many of us that when we are in the midst of a trial we press in hard to God, but as the trial eases up so do we. We must not be tricked or duped into believing that we can ease up on our relationship with God simply because a trial has passed.

Thought to ponder: Satan wants us to believe that we can fix our past. But God wants us to know that our past can be forgiven.

Remember to sign up for the Great America Excursion on Saturday July 24, 2010!!

Monday June 7, 2010

Pastor Mike and Michele on Vacation!!

We had blessed worship .. more traditional songs this week .. but the idea is that we make a "joyful noise unto the Lord".

Harvey gave the teaching from 1 and 2 Samuel, the cave time of David, when the 3 mighty warriors arose. Three warriors whose names translated are "sitting in counsel", "Heard by God" and "Helped by God". Three warriors who were completely abandoned by their troops in the midst of battle, God giving each of them a miraculous victory. Because they had each sat in the counsel of God, they had each been heard by God and they had each been helped by God.

All of us at the Most Excellent Way can be mighty warriors. Those who came to the cave were those in debt, those sick of their current lives and looking for something else. Sound familiar? I know I came looking for something else Freedom from life dominating sin, freedom from the life I've totally screwed up. Now I have been given a second chance to repair, only through the miraculous efforts of Jesus, that life that was lost.

So, be willing to sit under His counsel, to be helped by God and be heard by God (pray) and you also may shed the scales of addiction and sit at the feet of Jesus, seeking the better way.

We will be passing around sign up sheets for Great America. Lets all fellowship!!

What's Goin' On? Monday May 30, 2010

Pastor Mike, once again, gave an excellent teaching in James (why does it sometimes feel like I'm getting slapped and other times like I'm getting hugged when I pick up the book of James?)

Points: When we go through trials we will keep going though these trials until we reach the other side. Our vast experiences have brought us forward to see how far we've come and how far we can go.

TRIALS GROW US . . . THERE CAN'T BE A TESTIMONY WITHOUT A TEST

This weeks question: "What role will humility play in your life?"


MARATHON TIMES:
Mike 4:53 Michele 4:55 Yay and Hooray
You may now have desert!!


Worship guested Bruce Peck and Craig Underwood on guitars...they sound sweet together don't they?

June 12, 2010 if any of you care to give belated birthday blessings to David Davis, Jasmine Humada (worship Team Violinist), Cathy Davis and .... da da da da ... our very own Pastor Mike...there will be a small bonfire at the De Monte Fire Pits.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Worship: Prior to playing "Save Me", Jodie explained the story behind the song and testified about the suicidal death of someone she knew, and could the words of the song possibly be the last words going through his head before death?

Pastor Mike completed Galatians 6:1-18.
(Have you checked your SUCKOMETER today?)

Pastor Mike made an orthodontal reference to braces...they are tightened in order to straighten your teeth. As the bands of our lives are tightened, can we be lead? References to 2 Cor. 5:17 were repleat . . . why do you want to go back to the old man? We have come to find out we cannot do it on our own, but we can only do it with the help of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Verse 15 kind of proved pivotal "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but a new creation."

The question of the day: "What role will humility play in your life?"

Next week: Worship Team with Bruce and Craig on guitars.

WHATS NEW AT MEW ?!?!?

The Most Excellent Way (Monterey) is on the MOVE . . . upcoming events concerning places to go and people to see will include (but are not limited to):

GREAT AMERICA AND MINIATURE GOLFING (NOT AT THE SAME TIME)


BOWLING AND BONFIRES ON THE BEACH (Definitely not at the same time, balls don't roll well in sand)

Great America:
Saturday July 24, 2010

Miniature Golf & Pizza:
Saturday August 21, 2010

Bonfire and BBQ on the Beach:
Saturday September 25, 2010

Bowling:
To Be Determined

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST

The Most Excellent Way (Monterey) is sponsoring a contest for the best tee-shirt design. The winner will win something FANTABULOUS (a surprise package worth....??). The design will be reviewed by a professional graphics artist and customized for tee-shirt printing. It will become the semi-official, official tee-shirt of the Most Excellent Way (Monterey).

RULES (The Fine Print)
We realize that rules are not easy to follow for those recovering from life-altering addictions so we've made it real simple. . . . please don't draw or copy or cut and paste "stuff" from the old-man's way of life...no needles, joints, handcuffs, crack pipes etc.

The Worship Team is still looking for a PERMANENT Guitarist....preferably one who knows his/her way around a git-fiddle and can transpose and improvise when necessary.

Pastor Mike's message finished up Galatians 5, showing us the pros and cons of the roads we choose. . . flesh or spirit.... the do's and the dont's. Messages available on Calvary.com

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK "What is humility to you?"

Last Nights Meeting

The Spaghetti feeding frenzy went well last night, with band on hand to deliver some awesome music and worship. Several testimonies were given, including one from Harvey! Yes, he's back! It was great to see and hear Harvey, along with the other (MEW Moss Landing included) who shared with us. Several others were first timers, and we welcomed them with open arms. Will try to post a couple of pictures later....Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

An another note, we have an update about Scott and Melissa provided by Angela. Following is the text of her e-mail update:

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. I an personally having a bit of a crisis involving my sister. In the last 5 weeks, Terry's body has been plagued with a few tumors. These tumors are growing and spreading rapidly. She has a great doctor and is a breast cancer survivor, so they have done biopsy's & scans of the growths. Should have results in a few days. Please pray for her and thank you.

The reason that I bring this to you all is that this week is Melissa's friends visiting day, and I usually round up a few friends and we go to see her together. This week I will be going to see Terry instead so I am asking that if the Lord puts a visit on your heart and you are available between 8 and 9 am this Saturday, please go see Melissa. She really needs the encouragement from her friends. All you need to do is bring your id and know her booking # which is 0900315. You can get info @

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/SHERIFF/contact.htm
Thank you and if you can't visit her please try to write and definitely continue to pray for her. It is really not a pleasant place to be and she covets those letters, visits and prayers.

And for Scott, AWESOME NEWS to share and I am just going to use his direct words from his latest letter to me. 8-31-09

"I have some pretty great news! God has answered our prayers for Fire Camp! Medical hold is released and the Dr. says my body mass index looks very good! Lost 30 lbs so far and am running 3 miles around 5x a week. Imagine that! LOL. So anyway, they say I could be sent in 30 to 60 days and I am so grateful to God for this! He is so good, isn't He? This means, God willing, I'll be home to all of you, hopefully in 16-18 months from now! Maybe even learn to be a fireman as a new career choice if the Lord sees fit...

It's starting to feel and seem like that maybe the hardest part is over. Still, not without pain from missing my babies, but I'm learning to thank the Lord for all the hard stuff too. Thanking Him for this trial, for prison and this time of chastening is difficult to say at first, however, I can see even now that I'll be so thankful this happened later cause I'll know the Lord in a closer and more special way because of His walking us through this. So good things, right? Amen!

Please say hi to everyone at the Bridge and Most Excellent Way. Also please give big Harvey a bear hug for me. I am grateful to him and his family. Please send love to Pastor Geoff and Denise and all of the staff at Calvary. I will write them as well. Please let everyone know that I love them dearly and I'm staying dedicated in learning and growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing quite frequently and trying to keep up with all the letters. I'm blessed to have so much support it's a challenge to keep up with the letters. But that is definitely a good thing!

Bobby Gwin is being blessed by the "treats" and having coffee like that is a pretty special thing in here. Our bible study is down to three of us right now but it's kind of nice like that as well. We continue to pray to have God use us in here and now some are coming with prayer requests. I love you guys and thanks for everything".

I will let you all know as soon as I have a new address for him and praise God for His faithfulness in answering your prayers for this family. Please continue to pray that God will provide a place for Melissa and the 4 children when she gets out Nov 20th. She trusts that the Lord will provide but is still a bit anxious over not knowing where she will go when she gets out. If you know of a place or hear of anything please let me know and I will do whatever I can to help this family. Jesus loves us so much. Glory be to God! Until the next update, thanks so much for the prayers, love and encouragement to this family and to me.

Blessings.

In His love,

Angela