One Hundred Push-ups

Well after a long thought process of if I should or shouldn't I have decided to go for it. I've read several blogs about ones doing one hundred push up for 6 weeks in order to build strength, fitness, and general health. I have really wanted to get in shape and build strength but my excuse was, "I don't have enough money to join a gym and it would be easier and give me more motivation if I was working out with someone." Well after checking out the http://www.hundredpushups.com I realized that I might not have to spend a bunch a money in a gym that I really have no time for and I have all the motivation I need with the others that are doing the same program. (They usually post their progress.)

I did the initial test this morning and pulled off 18 push-ups without stopping and now my arms feel like jello. That puts me at a level 3 out of 7 in rank of fitness. I was surprised. I will continue to post about my progress with this venture and if you want to join in with me just check the website above for the details.

Give My Wife Some Blog Love!!

Check out my wife's new blog. She has just started it. Go to the Blogs I Follow and click on Nikki Morton.

Jesus fulfilled the Jewish Law

I heard a pastor teaching on Jewish Law the other day and how Jesus really ticked off the Pharisees. The Pharisees cornered Jesus because they had this plan to humiliate Him. What they could never figure out was that He was really the Messiah so there was no humiliating Him when it came to God. One of them, an expert in Jewish law came to Him with this question: "Which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Now I always thought when they talked about laws and commandments they were referring to the BIG 10, which they are. What I didn't realize was that from the BIG 10 came a WHOPPING 613. 613 rules of dos and don'ts. http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm (<--- Check them all out. This is what the people lived by before Jesus changed it all by the cross. Some still live this way because they don't believe the Messiah has come yet.) Can you believe that! Anyways, Jesus was like, "Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love you neighbor as yourself. Jesus was like, BAMM! Whats up now?

Thank you Jesus for fulfilling the law by way of the cross!

Worship Set 7-27-08

Everyday ( Hillsong )
Blessed Be Your Name ( Matt Redman )
Amazing Grace ( Chris Tomlin )

Great Weekend!

Wow! What a way to start off the weekend. Friday night was so awesome. So many people came out to the community block party and experienced the love of Jesus. We gave away about 3/4 of all that we had to give. It was great to litsen to some of the life stories people had to share. It was the church being the church. It was Real Life with Real People expressing the love of a Real God.

Today part of the worship team played at a benifit for a guy who has stage 4 lung cancer, along with Chosen Remnant and another Trio from The River. It was a great time out there with those guys. The guys that play with Chosen Remnant are very talanted guys and have such a heart for God. Check them out on Myspace! www.myspace.com/chosenremnantmusic

Thinking About Parenting by Tim Stevens

This Post is from http://www.leadingsmart.com/.

I've been thinking alot about parenting lately. Maybe it is because we have four kids at home, ages 7, 11, 13 and 15. Yeah, our quiver is full.
I think everyone would admit that there is a point in a teen's life when the influence of his/her parents becomes less, and the influence of their friends becomes greater. I did an informal survey yesterday on Twitter, and again last night at dinner with some friends. It seems that the age at which the parents' influence drops dramatically happens somewhere around 13- to 15-years old.
As I reflected on my life as a child, the influence I perceive that I have with my own kids, and my informal survey, I charted it like this... (LOOK AT CHART ABOVE)

As a parent, the awareness of loss of influence can be alarming if you didn't see it coming. So be warned young parents, I have just given you a glimpse of the future.
Here is the key learning: Environments matter. Who my daughter is influenced by as a 15-year old is dependent greatly on the environments that my wife and I placed her in as a 10- and 12- and 14-year old.
It's a little early to tell whether we will survive life with teenagers, but here is the advice I would give parents of pre-teens...
Get involved in a great church with strong youth leaders.
As they start middle school, don't give them the option to stay home from the youth program.
Find a school that has strong values and where there is good chance they will be able to find solid friends. That might mean paying for private school or moving to a better school district.
Get them in situations where they are hanging with young adults who are following God. That's why we had college-age students live in our home for two years.
Teach them the joy of serving when they are very young.
Let them participate in events where there is a good chance they might take a step spiritually, like summer camp, missions trips, or weekend retreats.
Oh, and one last word of advice for those with teenagers---stop lecturing and start listening. Stop giving direction and start asking questions.
It's your turn now...is my chart way off?

Community Block Party

Tonight at 7:00pm at the Old Anderson Creek Gym Real Life Church will be hosting a Community Block Party. If you know someone in need of household items, clothing, etc.. invite them to the block party tonight.

Register to win these prizes... 6mp digital camera

Personal DVD player

4g touch screen Mp3

Not Getting Any Younger.

Well, today was my 28th birthday and I must say I felt under the weather. About a week leading up to my birthday I have had different symptoms. I was aching all over my body for a couple of days as if I had the flu and then I come down with the chills and Monday I felt my throat starting to get sore which had really start to hurt the night before my birthday. To top it all off last Thursday I was playing basketball with a bunch of guys and got busted in the lip going up for a rebound. You don't really think much of a busted lip because it only stings for a couple of minutes and then ends up healing. My lip never healed. It ended up turning into a nice size ulcer. Wow, this thing is very aggravating too. Anyways if this week has any indication on how it might feel to reach 30 then I'm gonna buy a helmet.

On a good note my wife bought me an espresso machine.

Falcon Children's Home

We had an awesome time in worship yesterday afternoon at the Falcon Children's Home. A couple guys from Pleasant Grove helped lead worship. Raymond and Trey did a great job! This was honestly one of my top worship experiences. There was such a freedom in that place, and to hear everybody singing praises to God. It's hard for me to explain it. You just had to be there.

Worship Set 7-20-08

No One is Righteous ( Rodney Morton )
Be Glorified ( Chris Tomlin )
Better is One Day ( Matt Redman )

Up Coming Events at Real Life Church

****TONIGHT****
- At 6:00PM we will have a covered dish meal to welcome the Plesant Grove Youth Group to our community.

****THIS WEEK****
- Monday 7/21 - Friday 7/25 **BACK YARD BIBLE CLUB** 10:00AM - 11:30AM
**2 Locations** Real Life Church and Tradewinds Community

- July 25th 7PM - 8:30PM COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY @Old Anderson Creek Primary School
Everything will be FREE FREE FREE FREE. No donations no anything it all will be FREE!

We will have... hotdogs, hamburgers,drinks,popcorn.
GENTLY USED ITEMS.. Baby Furniture, Clothing in All Sizes, Household items, etc... ALL FREE!!

***REGISTER TO WIN PRIZES***
6MP DIGITAL CAMERA, PERSONAL DVD PLAYER, 4G TOUCH SCREEN MP3

****IN AUGUST****
- VBS coming up August 11th-15th

Everything (WATCH THIS)

This is what the Plesant Grove Youth Group shared with us today. They did an awesome job. This will touch the deepest part of your soul!

Weclome Plesant Grove Baptist Youth Group

The Plesant Grove Youth Group will be arriving today around 3:00pm. They will be spending about a week with us doing different mission projects around the community. If you need any information on this upcomig week or how you could be apart contact Darrell or Robyn Brown. http://www.reallifenow.net/contacts.html

Thank You Elevation!

Elevations new worship project "We Are Alive" was just released a couple weeks ago and they decided to give 100 free copies away to worship leaders to use them as a resource. I have their first worship project and it was awesome! I've heard bits and pieces of this one and it sounds great. I should receive it here soon. Check out their website! www.elevationchurch.org Check out Steven Furticks blog! www.stevenfurtick.com

Just chillin with theses little rascals

Mission Team

The Mission Team from South Carolina will be arriving this Saturday. If you will be hosting some of the guest and did not receive a schedule please contact Robyn Brown to get that information.

Real Kidz This Friday!

This Friday at 6:00pm Real Life Church will host it's 2nd kids event of the Summer. Bring your kids and their friends. They will enjoy music, food, skits, activities, and more....

Accelerate Promo Video C3 Conference

C3 Church Conference coming up in August. Funny video.

Worship Set 7-13-08

One Way ( Hillsong United )
Not to Us ( Chris Tomlin )
Hungry ( Kathrynn Scott )

Worship Set 7-11-08 Coffee House

My King is a Rock ( N/A )
Beautiful One ( Tim Hughes )
How Great is Our God ( Chris Tomlin )

Sunday in Review

- We started our 2nd service today. Thank You to the ones who came to the early service.

- 4 Wal-mart gift cards where given to the ones that names were selected from a random drawing in the 1st service.

- Kaitlynn Byrd was baptized today after the 2nd service. Be sure to lift Kaitlynn up when you pray and to encourage her as she starts seeking Christ to be more involved in her life.

- Are you a Survivor, Grinder, Hoarder, or are you Full of Life

- Key Scriptures
- John 4:25-30,39-42
- John 21:1-3,4-6
- Matt 19:16-22

- Do you have lost dreams?
- Is there a goal that you haven't achieved?
- Does you marriage feel stale?
- Are you just living a daily routine? (going through the motions)


**** The EXCITEMENT is still there.****

**** The FIRE has to be rekindled****

- Deut 30:15,16 (Remember this verse)

2nd service Tomorrow

Our early service will start @ 9AM our later service will be @ regular time 10:37AM. From 10AM to 10:37AM Help yourself to our breakfast bar.

-----ATTENTION-----

Their will be free gas cards randomly given out to the ones who attend our early service. To the ones who think this is a bribe, your right, it is.
We need some people to commit to the first service because we are starting to out grow our space as a whole. I believe come Fall we will have both services packed out and probably have to go to a 3rd service, Possibly on Saturday nights for the ones that might not get to make it on Sundays.

Be blessed!

God has and is everything that you need!

What are you going through or struggling with right now? Are you not sure what tomorrow or next week or month will bring?

I've been working on a new song, titled "You Are All I Need". It is absolutely amazing how God shows up in your life when you feel like you can't go any further. He may speak through another person to build you up, He may show up in a way you would not expect in you finances, He may completely heal your body of disease or physical condition. Whatever the situation trust God for anything that you need!

Below are some of the names of God. I pray that you will be blessed when you read what He is to you. My favorite is Jehovah-Shammah "The Lord is There". The Lord is already in a problem that might come up down the road. He is already at the place where you have to make a decision, He has a plan and a future for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11) If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.(Jeremiah 29:13)

Jehovah-Yahweh (GOD)
Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will provide)
Jehovah-Rophe (The Lord who Heals)
Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord our Banner)
Jehovah-M'kaddesh (The Lord who Sanctifies)
Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord our Peace)
Jehovah-Elohim (Lord God)
Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord our righteousness)
Jehovah-Shammah (The Lord is There)
Jehovah-Sabaoth (The Lord Host)
Jehovah-Elyon (Most High)

Coffee House tonight!!!

Come hang out with everyone tonight at 7pm. We will provide smoothies and milkshakes and also funny skits. We will wrap the night up with praise and worshipful music. This will be a great time to get to know others within the church.

This is pretty hilarious! Jesse Jackson talking smack not knowing the mic is on.

What's really important

I read this on jeffkapusta.com I thought I would share it with you.

Cna yuo raed tihs? fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a graet mnid…Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 cna.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?
yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
I guess you could say that the beginning and end, the first and last, the alpha and omega are what is really important. I’ll let you draw your own conclusion from that.

Church Confrence

This Week @the Coffee House

This Friday night at 7pm we will be opening the church for the Real Life Coffee House. Last Coffee House we shared in Communion and this week we will come together in worship with songs and skits. It will be an entertaining plus a very worshipful night. Some people don't like to use the word entertaining and church in the same sentence but the skits are gonna be hilarious. Smoothies will also be served Friday night. Come out this Friday and invite a friend!

Healing

What do you think about when you hear the word "healing"? Do you picture Jesus touching the blind man's eyes? Do you think of Pentecost and all the miracles that were performed? Or do you think of a loved one, a family member or a friend that might have a disease or physical handicap?

What does the Word of God teach us about healing today, here in America? I've read the bible where Jesus heals the lame and the sick and then where the disciples do the same with the Holy Spirit, but I have not seen it with my own eyes. You see and hear of people in other countries being healed. Why don't we see it here? Is it our lack of faith? Do we not feel that physical healing is relevant today?

When I was in the 3rd grade my dad was in a car accident, and since then he has lost the ability to walk and use of his hands. I'm not sure of the time line but I believe when I was about 15 years old God had spoke to me and told me and told me, "Lay hands on your dad and pray for his healing". I thought God was speaking to me but I wasn't sure of it so I thought I would save myself the embarrassment and not do it. Time went on and I continued to be burdened by what God had spoke to me and still I continued to ignore it.

My faith has been tested up and down the highway this past year and yet it is being tested again. My brother who is miraculously healing from his near fatal car accident called me the other day and said that, "God had spoke to him several days earlier to pray for dads complete healing and that I was to pray also". When he had called I was not really in the mood to hear it. I was thinking to myself that maybe God wasn't speaking to him, maybe he just thought God spoke to him. Then I got to thinking well if I pray for his healing then he probably would pass away. The only reason I had thought this is because if someone passes away that has an illness or whatever and you have been praying that God would heal them of this, your usual response is God did heal them he's walking with Jesus now. I'm sorry if I offend anybody with what I'm about to say but that is a load of bologna.

When Jesus or the disciples laid their hands and prayed for people to be healed, they didn't die they picked up their belongings and walked off, they opened their eyes, they spoke their first words and they heard their first words.

I'm not sure if I'm that full of faith. I like to think I might be. All I know is that I have to be obedient to the calling. So I'm asking for serious down on your knees prayer. Pray that God gives me clear direction on what to do. Pray that I discipline myself to prepare myself for this weekend.

Feel free to comment on this post or any other post. Love you guys!!

Thank You!

I just want to take some time and thank the guys that help me lead worship each week. You guys are awesome! Thank You for doing what you do! I really appreciate everything do, I know I don't say it enough. THANK YOU!

Worship Set 7-6-08

Be Glorified (Chris Tomlin)
Forever (Chris Tomlin)
Draw Me Close (Kelly Carpenter)

You are invited

You are invited to join us Saturday July 5th at 4pm for the Real Life Freedom Celebration!
It will be held at Real Life Church 1994 Ray Road Spring Lake, NC.
Bring yourself a friend and a covered dish or two.
The churchwill provide canned sodas and bottle water.

Worship Set from the past two weeks

6-22-08
You Must Be Greater ( Rodney Morton)
Prince of Peace (Marc Imboden)
We Fall Down (Chris Tomlin)

6-29-08
Every Move I Make ( David Ruis)
Lord Reign in Me ( Brenton Brown)
Rain Down ( David Crowder)

Sorry

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately, it's been very frustrating not having the Internet. My youngest son (Micah) pulled our laptop to the floor and broke our air card. Now I post from our desktop computer at home because the laptop can't seem to find the air card for some reason. Anyways, I'm back.