Pastor Steve Flockhart

Bad News

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:39:39 +0000

Have you ever started a conversation off this way or ever heard someone else say, “I have good news and I have bad news…which one do you want first?”

To be honest, I don’t like bad news. Who does? Even if you get some good news, the bad news spoils it. We tend to focus on the negative, not the positive.

I have had my fair share of bad news. (Even this past week) The feeling of disappointment or the lingering questions of “why” or “why now” causes you to second guess yourself.

Or perhaps you find yourself dwelling on the bad news so long that you end up in a bad mood. Wrong thinking always leads to negative emotions. Negative emotions are…well, they’re just negative! You are sad, angry, discouraged or even depressed. I hate that feeling of “funk” and not having any energy.

In my office on my desk, there sits a stone paper weight. I am actually looking at it at this moment. A quote on it by Albert Einstein reads, “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” I am believing that today. I hope you will too.

No matter what bad news you have received, or will receive in the days to come, remember that God is working. Trust Him, lean into Him and rest in His good news. He has a plan. He always works everything out for our good.

Even the bad news!

Overcoming Stress

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:22 +0000

All of us know about the word, STRESS. We are all involved in circumstances that send us head first into an ocean of stress.

Marriages are falling apart or hanging on by a thread. People continue to struggle financially and continue to lose jobs. Life happens and sometimes, it happens badly. Someone betrays you, you get sick, a loved one dies, the treatment doesn’t work, your savings is all gone, the engine in your vehicle goes out, the divorce is final, the kids keep getting into trouble, etc…

We all know stress. We all know the pain and frustration. How do we overcome stress? Is there something that we can do to relieve some of the stress in our lives?

Here is my top 10 list for relieving stress. I hope it helps. Please leave a comment and tell me what helps you or what I am missing on my list…

1. Maintain regular devotional times.
2. Manage your time efficiently.
3. Anticipate those engagements that will put you under stress and relax ahead of time.
4. Conserve your energy for essential tasks.
5. Regularly take time off to relax or give yourself a change of activity. (keeps perspective straight)
6. Always plan a period of rest to follow a period of high activity.
7. Slow down. God needs stillness and time to work in our hearts.
8. Learn to sleep properly.
9. Get some exercise. Take a walk.
10. Trust your creator – God who loves you. Relinquish control.

Simplify and Focus

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:10:38 +0000

Adrian Rogers, the late great pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, was one of the wisest men I have ever known. I had the privilege of knowing him and having a relationship with him. Whether it was over dinner or lunch, or just listening to him preach, you could always gain nuggets of wisdom.
Several years before he passed away, he was often quoted in saying “simplify and focus.” It’s amazing how simple and profound that statement is, yet we don’t seem to do it. Our lives are complex and we are A.D.D.

To simplify your life, you must remove the things that have lost their value to you. Anything that is not in direct alignment can be “simplified” out of your life. Scrutinize the items in your life and your schedule and delete anything that is no longer rewarding. Determine if it has true meaning to you…is it part of your purpose? Eliminate the activities you no longer enjoy or that no longer offer you the value for the time spent. You say “that’s going to be difficult”… I agree. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Simplify. Do you see the correlation?

When you simplify it gives you more time & energy to focus. When you discover what matters most, then you know what to focus on. We tend to rate our success by the number of activities we perform or check off our “to do list”. More isn’t always better. Especially when it’s stuff that brings no value or reward to your life or family. Focus on the most important. Quit doing so many things. Focus!

Here are some questions to consider:

1. Which parts of your daily routine could you eliminate to make room for the important ones?

2. What are you doing in your life that you are not enjoying? When will you stop?

3. What keeps you busy and away from what matters most?

4. Today, will you make a decision to simplify and focus?

Stress Test

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:25 +0000

Have you or someone you know ever had a stress test? Stress testing provides information about how your heart works during physical stress. Some heart problems are easier to diagnose when your heart is working hard and beating fast. During stress testing, you exercise (walk or run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike) with pad attached to wires stuck on your chest. While you exercise, the activity of your heart is measured with an electrocardiogram (ECG), and your blood pressure readings are taken.

A stress test is conducted to see how your heart is. That is a good question for today. How is your heart?

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth originates in the heart. We must protect our heart. How we feel many times dictates how we live. If we feel good, we are happy and productive. If we have a bad day or get stressed out, our emotions get the best of us.

Let me encourage you today to get a heart check-up. A healthy heart makes for a full and long life, both physically and emotionally.

Family Matters

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:26:32 +0000

Yesterday we started a series at New Season Church called Family Matters. We started this series off celebrating Mother’s Day, and it was an amazing Sunday! In this series I will be talking about marriage, students and children, fathers, how to be a good husband and good wife, it’s gonna be an amazing and impacting series. Don’t miss it! Check out the bumper video!!

Family Matters from Matthew Baxter on Vimeo.

Breakthrough

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:06:07 +0000

I am convinced that 99% of people today need a breakthrough. Most people are tired, frustrated and confused, wandering around in a fog of discouragement. The battles of life are intense and many people feel they are losing.

Most people are not happy. Their relationships with their spouses, children, family and friends are not satisfying. They are not in positions of financial security. The opposite is true. People are broke and are losing things. Many people feel alone, alienated and stagnant. We are living our lives in desperation. We are in need of a breakthrough.

Let me suggest three ways for you to experience a breakthrough.

I. Know your purpose; your mission
You must know the “why” you are here. God has a specific plan and direction for your life. There really is a unique reason that you are alive. You must be on mission. You will never have a breakthrough without knowing your purpose.

II. Get rid of the junk
We all have sin and we all fall short. What is that sin that you are holding on to? You must get that mess out of your life for you to experience a breakthrough. It’s called repentance – turning away from sin. Forsake and renounce these things that are hindering your breakthrough.

III. Persevere
We all face challenges in life. We all have things come against us. We all feel like giving up. Many times, we take two steps forward and three steps back. We get so frustrated that we end up quitting or lying down. In order to have a breakthrough, you are going to have to persevere.

Let me hear about your breakthrough!

Transformation

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:08:35 +0000

Romans chapter 12, verse 2 tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Paul says do not let this world mold you.

Do not get so accustomed to culture that you allow it to squeeze you into a mindset that is not only displeasing to God but unhealthy for you. We must experience a transformation. God is inviting you to experience a different life. Life change is the ultimate goal.

Transformation is the work of grace, the power of God and cooperation with the Spirit. All of this begins in your mind. Your thinking is sabotaging your growth. You must break out of the bondage of wrong thinking. The Proverb says, “as a man thinks, so he is,” and you will continue to be if you do not change the way that you think.

Let God transform you today. It is time for the worm to become the butterfly. It is time to change. It is time for a transformation!

Three Scenarios

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:27:47 +0000

I have had the amazing opportunity to attend many shows on Broadway. I have also seen many off Broadway shows. I love live theater. I would rather see a live performance anyday than go to a movie.
The best shows escalate the excitement as the story is told and the first act concludes with a bang. The second act is when everything comes together…the pieces finally fit. I have seen many shows that follow this pattern but I have also seen a few that had a really rocky start. They began very slow but came together and the second act was incredible. I’ve seen a few where the first act had all the bells and whistles and the second act was a dud.

So there are three scenarios.:

1. Start strong and finish bad.

2.Steady start and a steady second act.

3. A little shaky at the beginning and then a spectacular second half.

I’m not sure what scenario your life falls into but let me encourage you to make the second act of your life the best. No matter if you started strong and you have experienced great success, dream more and believe God for more. Do something that makes the first half seem mundane. Don’t rest on your past laurels, GO FOR IT and make your second act amazing!

If your first half has been nothing to talk about, then step up and step out…make the second act your priority. Find your purpose and live out your destiny!

If you are like most people, our first half may not have been our best performance. We have experienced some bumps and even some crashes along the way. We have even felt like quitting at times. Listen to me, Change directions! Start a new course! The curtain is rising, the second act is just starting.

Don’t just sit there moaning and groaning over past failures, past regrets, or what “could have been.” Begin your second act and make it spectacular. The crowd may not cheer you on but your Heavenly Father is cheering for you. Just as we read in Acts, chapter 7 that He did for Stephen, Jesus will give you a standing ovation!

You have so much more to do and the stage belongs to you. Begin your second act with confidence and determination to make it amazing!

Change

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:20:47 +0000

The world we live in today is so much different than just a decade ago. Significant changes seem to be happening every day. Technology changes, politics change, economics change and culture changes. The way we did things 10 years ago doesn’t work in our modern day culture.

We must adopt better practices of the way we do things or we will die. Charles Exley, former CEO of NCR Corporation said, “I’ve been in business thirty six years. I’ve learned a lot and most of it doesn’t apply anymore.” John Maxwell said, “The question should not be will we ever change, but when and how much will we need to change.” There are psychological barriers to change. The change makes sense logically and intellectually but psychologically and emotionally, it brings anxiety. We are afraid of change. We are afraid of the unknown. How will this affect me, my family, my life?

We all must change. You can resist change or embrace change. Change really is inevitable. So let’s embrace change and change!

Family Matters!

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:04:27 +0000

This Sunday we are starting a new series at New Season Church called Family Matters! I will be preaching on marriage two weeks in a row, on kids and students, mothers, fathers, it’s gonna be awesome! Here’s the video we showed yesterday to introduce and promote the series.

The series will go May 13th-June 17th