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A Life of Service

2010
05.31

What if your goal in life was not to become famous, articulate, loved, rich, educated, CEO, preacher, teacher. Would you be satisfied with how you see your life?

In John 13 we read the story of how Jesus wanted to show the full extent of his love to his disciples. He didn’t do this by teaching or giving them a 5 step plan to success in love. Jesus kept it simple, He chose to show love by getting down on his knees and cleaning his disciples feet. When finished, He simply asked them to do the same to others. In looking back at my first paragraph, I believe Jesus was all of those things. However His focus wasn’t to become famous or loved, that was just the by-product of how he lived his life, a life of service.

Do we really understand the concept behind this amazing act of love that Jesus showed us? If we do grasp it, it will revolutionise our lives and re-focus our attention. To live like Christ lived and to do what Christ did we need to serve those around us. A complete act of humbleness with gratitude, which will result in a richness and satisfaction that nothing else on earth, could ever provide.

Try it! Serve someone today who is not expecting it. Watch their face as it lights up and take notice of how it will lift your spirit.

Much Love

Ps Chris Carrero

Category Chris Carrero, Determination, Living The dream, Passion City |

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It’s Hard To Lead When…

2010
04.23

From Perry Noble, Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina.

#1 – You think you are better than the people you are leading.  (No one loves an environment where they are constantly looked down upon and spoken down to!)

#2 – You think you are smarter than the people you are leading.  (Reality is…you’re probably not.  AND…if you are then your insecurity limited you to only bringing stupid people to serve around you…not wise!)

#3 – You think the people you are leading should take care of you…but you refuse to take care of them.

#4 – You don’t respect the people you are leading.  (If there is someone in the room who causes you to roll your eyes everytime they speak…either they should not be there OR you need to do a serious gut check and make sure you aren’t intimidated.)

#5 – When you are threatened by the people you are leading.  (There is NOTHING more dangerous than an insecure leader.  Saul freaked out when they gave him credit for slaying thousands and David credit for slaying tens of thousands…and, well, it didn’t end well for Saul.)

For the other 5 points visit www.perrynoble.com

Category Chris Carrero, Determination, Leadership, Living The dream, Passion City, Uncategorized, Young Adults |

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Purposefully Planning Your Life

2010
04.18

So last night at Passion was a rare night for me in that I had a night off from being up on stage. For me it was so good to see Chris G take that step and speak. The first step can be the hardest sometimes but mate you did a great Job!

Last night got me thinking. Whats our priority in life? for each person it will be something different, ranging from work to raising a family. While all those thing are important and I believe we are called to excel at everything we do. I think sometimes we can get our priorities mixed up. For me I could easily get caught up in my job or running a church, however that is not the number one thing God wants me to do. In Matt 6v33 Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God and then everything else that we do in life will take care of it’s self.

I know this might sound simple to some, but through life we tend to complicate things. Last night Ps Dave shared a tough message on deciding how we are going to live and what we will let influence our lives. Without centering our focus on God situation, circumstances and even friends will demand our time and our focus.

Let me leave you with this. If God has a plan and a purpose for your life, why not purposefully plan your life around Him?

Your Lead Pastor,

Chris Carrero

‘Living the Dream’

Category Chris Carrero, Chris Grafitti, Determination, Living The dream, Passion City, Young Adults |

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Take Heart

2010
04.13

For the last couple of weeks I have been noticing a change in my life and the way I think. You see I don’t want to stay the way I am, I know God has big things in store for my life and for Passion and if I want to be able to walk in God’s plan and purpose for my life, something will need to give.

I can’t see with clarity the future that is in store, but I can make out the shadows. It’s Big and from where I stand it will take a big person to live it. Read the rest of this entry »

Category Chris Carrero, Determination, Living The dream, Passion City |

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NO Minor Roles in Ministry: The Encouragement of a Little Boy

2010
04.11

Great Post from Ps Ron Edmondson…

I was encouraged recently reading a passage in 1 Samuel 20:18-23, 35-42. If you know the story, it’s about David’s relationship with King Saul and about his friendship with Jonathan….

Have you stopped lately to consider the importance you play in God’s story? You may see your role as minor…perhaps you work in the parking lot ministry…you help with set up or tear down each week…you shake hands…you sweep the floor…you push buttons so another person can talk…you invite your friends to attend church with you…you offer to, and really do, pray for people. It may seem “unimportant” to you, but in God’s eyes, you are playing a vital role in His Kingdom…… Read the Complete post here @ ronedmondson.com

Category Uncategorized |

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Verbal Vomit

2010
04.08

Psalm 64
2-6 Don’t let them find me—
the conspirators out to get me,
Using their tongues as weapons,
flinging poison words,
poison-tipped arrow-words.
They shoot from ambush,
shoot without warning,
not caring who they hit.

Application.

Verbal vomit to me is the worst type of talk around because Its whole purpose is to rip apart someone’s credibility. We know that murder is wrong, we know that harming someone physically is bad, however we so often forget that our words can have the same effect. Read the rest of this entry »

Category Chris Carrero, Chris Grafitti, Determination, Forgivness, Leadership, Life Journal, Living The dream, Passion City, S.O.A.P Journal, Uncategorized, Young Adults |

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Open to Change

2010
04.05

When presented with the reality of Jesus, that he came not to condemn us of our wrong doing but to show us grace through His love, what action are we going to take?

This is the case with the Samaritan woman at the well. She encounters Jesus (full of love and grace) yet she does not recognise Him to be the savior. Not until Jesus points out her wrongdoing does she then understand the context of their conversation.

How easy is it to flip out and take the defence when our faults are brought to light. Because of the vulnerable state it puts us in. Our natural reaction is to draw away and close up. However what I love in this story is that in her vulnerable state the Samaritan woman doesn’t withdraw, instead because Jesus speaks with love she sees Gods grace and the opportunity for life. Her conversation with Jesus ends up being the catalyst of change in her life instead of a stumbling block and subsequently changes her whole community.

So how does this relate to us? Well I can’t speak for each one of you reading this, but I know in my life I need to be open and receptive to listen to Jesus when he speaks.

So what are some steps we can take to place ourselves in a position to hear from God and not be on the defensive?

  • Argue all you want, God is still right!

John 4:15. After hearing the offer Jesus gave about Him being able to quench her spiritual and emotional thirst, the Samaritan responds with contempt. Maybe because she knew that she would have to pay a price and she thought that price would be too much.

  • If you’re in surgery, you best lay still so the surgeon can work.

Sounds simple enough, but in our self preservation we put up walls and barriers, we even run away so we don’t have to go through the ‘perceived’ pain to be healed.  If we truly have faith that the God who created us can heal us, then we shouldn’t worry about Him messing up.

  • The outcome far out weighs the cost.

After her conversation with Jesus the Samaritan woman is completely changed. She may have gone up to the well alone and broken, but she left alive and healed. The ‘perceived’ pain was no greater then her acknowledging that she couldn’t do it alone but that she needed divine help.

For Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. When God looked at the state we were in, His Love for us moved Him and caused Him to do something. That something was a sacrifice greater then anything we could ever do to obtain His love. What then does the Lord require of us? To love him with all our Soul, Mind and Strength.

In closing, lets not complicate things but when God starts to deal with stuff in our lives understand that He knows what He is doing. We just need to be still and know that He is God.

Much Love.

Chris Carrero

‘Living the Dream’

Category Chris Carrero, Forgivness, Living The dream, Passion City, Uncategorized, Young Adults |

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Strong and Courageous

2010
03.19

Joshua 1

I Am Strong, courageous, firm, resolute, unwavering, steadfast, adamant, bold, decided, set on, loyal, persistent, resolved, true, stubborn, unflinching, unshakable, valiant, determined, purposeful, immovable, relentless, set in stone, uncompromising, ardent, devoted, brave, settled on, fearless, audacious, gallant, heroic, lionhearted in What God has called me to do.

I live, I breathe, I walk in, I stand on the promise God placed in my heart.

I will not Give up, abandon, abdicate, leave, yield, sell out, step down, resign, renounce, quit, retire, surrender, withdraw, waive, decline, forgo, refrain, reject, hold back, deny, fence sit, pass up, shun, starve, withhold, backtrack, concede, recant, recoil, submit, cancel, throw in the towel, discontinue, rest, suspend, succumb, capitulate, relinquish, renounce that which God has called me to do.

He has called me to be Strong and Courageous in obeying His commands.

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Believing for more? Try Fasting.

2010
03.09

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

In March I am personally believing for so much more in God then I have ever seen before. Not just in my life personally but also in Passion. This is why starting March 10th myself and the leadership ask you to join us in a 21 day fast.

Fasting is a proven way to connect with God in a way that you have never thought of. I would ask that you pray and seek God before you start as to what fast He wants you to do. Whether it be just one meal a day, 1 day a week fasting or 21 days from all animal products or a full blown no food fast.

Fasting can help you unlock so many doors in the spiritual, help you overcome situations that you thought were impossible or even help you to realize your dreams in God.

Why should I fast? Read the rest of this entry »

Category Chris Carrero, Determination, Forgivness, Living The dream, Passion City, Prayer, S.O.A.P Journal, Uncategorized |

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INVOLVED BUT NOT COMMITTED

2010
03.05

Scripture

Num 32v16-19 They came close to him and said, “All we want to do is build corrals for our livestock and towns for our families. Then we’ll take up arms and take the front lines, leading the People of Israel to their place. We’ll be able to leave our families behind, secure in fortified towns, safe from those who live in the land. But we won’t go back home until every Israelite is in full possession of his inheritance. We won’t expect any inheritance west of the Jordan; we are claiming all our inheritance east of the Jordan.”

Observation

All I can say is “WOW”. People you have been promised land that is far better then what you have now! I mean what’s the point of crossing the Jordan if its only going to be the same? God didn’t promise the ‘same’ God promised abundance “A land flowing with milk and Honey”. People can you not understand that what you see is only a taste of what is to come?

To be totally honest I can’t believe that the Tribe of Ruben and Gad just ‘Settled’ to the east of the Jordan. They wanted the promise now and just settled. I know its hard to live with determination and to keep having faith, but to just settle now that’s beyond me.

Application

In 1915 General Hernando Cortez made his men burn their boats. In doing this he sent a clear message Read the rest of this entry »

Category Andy Andrews, Chris Carrero, Determination, Hernando Cortez, Leadership, Life Journal, Living The dream, Passion City, Prayer, S.O.A.P Journal, Uncategorized, Young Adults |

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