Dave Bowman

Weekend Rewind

Yesterday was a great fall morning, and a great morning at New Horizon. Here are a few random things that made it special...

• This week was Pt. 2 of My Crazy Family. I believe we're sharing some very practical stuff in this series that will help break the cycle of craziness that we all experience in our families.

• In Pt. 2 I shared how my parents had built a solid spiritual foundation in my life, and how that translates into our world today. Here's what's interesting to me - the things my parents did and taught me are still HUGE keys to building a successful spiritual life and a successful marriage and family. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

• I loved being able to honor my parents in this message. They're not perfect (and I wasn't the perfect son, either!), but they did a lot of things right. They made sure to pass on a spiritual legacy to me that has stuck with me for a lifetime. I'm fortunate to have the parents I have. Mom, Dad - I love you!

• And I honored the churches I grew up in. I know sometimes I come down hard on the "traditional" church, but it's not because I'm anti-traditonal church. I'm just anti-church games. I'm against the things that turn people off and turn them away from Jesus, but I'm not against the traditional church.

• It was in the little country Methodist church I grew up in that I learned about those foundational Bible stories...about serving...about giving...about fellowship...and about Jesus. So, thanks to mom and dad for taking me there!

• AND...once again...almost 20 people made commitments to Christ yesterday. So far in the month of October we've seen almost 300 people indicate commitment or recommitment to Christ!!! ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!! Can't get enough of that.

• Loved the worship yesterday. It just seems like our worship atmosphere is growing more and more intense. So thankful for Jon, Yvette, Felicia and our talented band. You guys rock!

• Talked with several new families after the second service. Seems like we're getting a lot of "returns" from 10-10-10. If your ONE hasn't been back, be sure to follow up and invite them to come back...next weekend would be a good time.

• Speaking of next weekend - in Pt. 3 of My Crazy Family we're going to be talking about the most important person in the family. I know some of you think it's Jesus, but that's not who I'm talking about (although Jesus is REALLY important!). We have some great music planned...we've got a couple of surprises in store...and as usual, it's going to challenge our socks off.

God is rocking our church and he's using our church to rock our community. Thanks for BEING the church, New Horizon!

Weekend Rewind

A GREAT day at New Horizon...here are a few thoughts...

• We kicked of our new series, My Crazy Family, with the first installemnt, Family Feud. We're focusing on taking some of the craziness OUT of our families and breaking the craziness cycle, and one of the things that drives us the craziest is the conflicts we all have in our families.

• No doubt about it - one of the things that God wants to do in and through our crazy families is to refine us and challenge us to be more like him.

• One of the things I really tried to do with this message was to get on the practical application side of things.

• And yes I did say, "Give up your right to be right." That one got audible groans in both services. Let me be gut-level honest. Over the years I've watched way too many lives, marriages and families crash and burn over someone who said, "But I'm right!" Being right doesn't mean you have to fight. Jesus surrendered to the cross even though he was right and we were wrong. The relationship trumped being right.

• And when it comes to the words we use in our families, men are thermostats and women are the thermometers. Guys, what kind of words are you using? Positive words warm things up...negative words cool things off. And if you want to know which way you're cranking the thermostat, just look at your wife. She's the thermometer!

• Finally, extend forgiveness...before they deserve it...before they apologize...before they come crawling on their hands and knees...after all, that's what Jesus did for you!

• Bottom line - dealing with the family feuds and getting on the positive side of things takes work...TONS  of work! But the good news is God's word is so clear on how to take some of the craziness out of our families.

• Not sure about attendance numbers because our internet capabilities were down for the entire weekend. But just looking at things, it seemed like we took a big jump after 10-10-10, which tells me that you got your ONE's to come back! Way to go New Horizon!

• AND...lots of decisions for Jesus!!! Can't get enough of that!!!

• We've already got some video highlights up on Facebook and the sermon video will be up later this week, so if you missed yesterday check out the vid's.

Next week - Family Foundations. Don't forget to invite your ONE"s to come back again!

On The Day After

It's Monday, the day after Sunday (obviously). But this Monday feels different. It's the day after an incredible Sunday. It's the day after an Acts 2:43 kind of thing - Everyone was filled with awe... Acts 2:43 I'm in awe, as is everyone I've talked to today. In fact, the thing I've heard several times since yesterday is,"I've never seen anything like that before." Me either!

So what's left to be said after a day like yesterday? Several things...

• First, thank you to everyone who invited someone to New Horizon for 10-10-10. I believe what we saw yesterday was a move of God, but I believe God moved because we responded to his word. When we put our faith on the line, he shows himself faithful and because so many were willing to do something uncomfortable and invite someone to church, God moved in a BIG WAY!

• Thank you to everyone who prayed and fasted last week. We prayed specifically that God would do what only HE can do, and he did!

• Thank you to everyone who volunteered yesterday. I'm always proud of our volunteers at New Horizon, but yesterday my pride levels were off the charts. You guys pulled together as a team, used your gifts and talents and created environments where people were free to hear about Jesus. As a result, hundreds of lives were changed for eternity!

• If you invited someone who didn't come yesterday, let me just say this - DON'T GIVE UP! I said this in the Weekend Rewind, but my ONE didn't come either. It happens. But if we'll keep praying and keep inviting I believe God will eventually orchestrate their lives in a way that they will be open to the invitation. So KEEP INVITING!

• And if you invited someone and they came, here's what to do next - INVITE THEM TO COME BACK NEXT SUNDAY!!

• Speaking of next Sunday, we're kicking off a new 3-week series called, My Crazy Family. Week #1 - Family Feud. It's going to be a great Sunday and you don't want to miss it. (I know I say that all the time, but I really believe it!)

• Let's keep praying, keep serving, keep creating environments for our ONE's, keep inviting and keep asking God to do even GREATER THINGS!

I LOVE YOU NEW HORIZON!

Weekend Rewind

BEST DAY IN THE HISTORY OF NEW HORIZON CHURCH!!! And there's no way I can adequately recap what happened today, but here are some of my thoughts at the end of the day.

• Going into today I was praying for 100 people to respond to the message. But God had BIGGER PLANS. We saw 254 people walk forward and nail their names to crosses, saying they were surrendering their lives to Jesus. Can't ever get enough of that!!!

• One thing that blew me away was listening to the sound of people nailing their names (and their sin) to those crosses. Awe inspiring experience.

• Not sure of the attendance figures yet, but I think I can safely say we blew away any non-holiday attendance records.

• The worship was off the hook today, starting with the opening number. The band did New Creation, which featured Zack Kitto being painted with glow in the dark paint while he sang. And then add in lighted drums in the audience and it was quite an opening experience. (We'll be posting video of this number to Facebook in case you want to see it again.)

• The message was the simplest presentation of the gospel that we've ever done. We're all sinners (RO 3:23)...we can be forgiven (COL 2:13,14)...if we'll just trust what Jesus did and be born again (JN 3:3).

• I don't think I've ever seen NHC'ers as pumped up as they were today. God seems to be doing something in us that has really focused us on the mission of helping more people encounter God through Jesus..

• And here's the thing that made today so successful - so many of us got ONE...we got someone into an environment where they could hear about Jesus and God did what only he can do. We simply believed that if we got them here, Jesus would change them - AND HE DID!

• I know not everyone was able to get their ONE to come today. In fact, my ONE didn't come. Susan's ONE didn't come. (Arianna's did!) But here's what I would say to you if your ONE didn't come - DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM!  Keep inviting them. You never know but what the next invitation just may be the one they take you up on.

• I believe God has even more awesome things in store for us, so here's the next thing for us to do - get your ONE to come back next weekend. We're kicking off a brand new series called, My Crazy Family. Should be fun, so call your ONE and ask them to come back.

• Finally, let me say this - I've never been involved in anything like we saw today. And I believe God still has more in store for us. I believe the best is yet to come! New Horizon, I love you and it's one of the great privileges of my life to be your pastor!

P.S. Just in case you were wondering, I broke the fast today with an Only Burger (bacon cheesburger, to be exact) and chocolate cake from Nantuckett Grill. I'll probably regret it tomorrow, but hey...it was time to celebrate!

 

Here We Go, New Horizon...

This past weekend we wrapped up our ONE series with the message, “Get SomeONE,” where we looked at the story of how Andrew got his brother Simon (Peter) into an environment where he could meet Jesus, and Jesus changed his life forever. We had lots of fun with the pickup truck abduction and chocolate cake for everyone, but in the end it was serious business as we wrote down the names of people we are going to pray for and invite to 10-10-10.

This coming Sunday is IT...THE SUNDAY we’re all praying for and working towards. We will be giving a very clear presentation of the gospel and a very clear call to respond. I don't know about you, but I can’t wait for 10-10-10! I can't wait to see what God is going to do!

 So, over the next few days let me ask you to do several things…

 1. Take some time to pray every day for 10-10-10

Everyone has worked hard to get ready for 10-10-10. BUT…if God doesn’t show up it won’t matter one bit. So over the last few days of this week, would you join me in praying for this weekend? Pray for open doors for invitations...open hearts to hear and receive the message...that the presentation would be crystal clear...and that PEOPLE WOULD BE SAVED!!!

 2. Invite, Invite, Invite!!!

I know it can be discouraging to invite someone and hear them say, “No thanks.” Whatever you do, don’t give up. This may just be the invitation they say yes to.

 3. Get to church a little early on 10-10-10

We’re expecting a BIG crowd, to say the least. That means more traffic, more time for check-in, etc. So try to get here 15 minutes early so you can be in your seat for the opener.  Just so you know, the auditorium doors will be CLOSED DURING THE OPENER due to lighting needs. GET IN YOUR SEAT EARLY!!! (Trust me, I've seen the opener and it's going to ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!)

Like I’ve said, I can’t wait to see what God does this weekend! Let’s do all we can to get ONE here so God can do what only he can do! See ‘ya Sunday!!!

10-10-10 Focus

Yesterday as we wrapped up the ONE emphasis, I challenged our church to do three things...

• PRAY

I not only asked everyone to pray, but to join myself and the staff on Wednesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 1:00 PM for as long as you can to pray for our services on 10-10-10. We will be praying specifically for the people who will be here who don't know Jesus yet.

If you would like for us to pray for your ONE, you can go to the New Horizon website and enter the names of those you would like us to pray for. (Click here)

• FAST

I've also challenged our church to fast this week for 10-10-10. There are all kinds of ways you can approach this:

- You can fast for a day or all week - whatever God tells you to do

- You can fast for a specific time period (5:00 PM one day until 5:00 PM the next day)

- You can fast food - all food or a specific food item

- You can fast from something besides food - TV, Facebook, etc.

Whatever you choose to do in regards to fasting, remember that fasting isn't about getting God to do something. It's about getting ourselves in the right position for God to do something.

• DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

Praying and fasting are great, but like we said yesterday, WE HAVE TO TELL THEM! Do whatever it takes to invite your ONE and get them here on Sunday.

So, let's PRAY, FAST, INVITE and then show up expecting God to do something awesome!!!

Weekend Rewind

A few thoughts on the day at New Horizon...

• ANOTHER Sunday where someone stepped across the line of faith and became a follower of Jesus. So far this year, we haven't had a single Sunday where someone didn't step across the line of faith. And like I said last week - CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT!

• Today we talked about evangelism with two demonstrations - the wrong way to do it, and the right way to do it. The wrong way was Jamie's little kidnapping adventure. The right way was the chocolate cake. You don't have to kidnap and hogtie someone to get them into church. You just need to tell them about Jesus in a way that makes them want "the cake."

• BIG THANKS to our volunteers - Jenn Armstrong, Jamie Hardy, Barbara Gilham and Anna Pyles - for making the chocolate cake thing happen today.

• Yes I did say the difference between a Methodist and a Baptist is that the Methodist will wave at you in the liquor store. (Just a joke guys!)

• "Have you bought in to Jesus?" is the most important question you'll ever answer.

• Church shouldn't be a place where we do a bunch of religious stuff to satisfy religious people. It SHOULD be place where we create environments for people who don't know Jesus, where they can meet Jesus and experience LIFE CHANGE.

• I shared some new numbers today that reflect the work we still have to do in our community:

43% of Durham County is unchurched - 127,000

43% of Orange County is unchurched - 60,000

THAT'S 187,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN A CHURCH, WHO NEED JESUS! Every single one of them matters to God...and they matter to us too!

• I can't wait to see what happens as we fast and pray this week. Some of you have never fasted before, but now would be a great time to do it for the first time. (I'll post more tomorrow about fasting and prayer.)

• Here is the link for sending us the names of friends/family members that you want us to pray for this week. Remember, we'll be praying Wednesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 1 PM. If you can, join us in the auditorium for as long as you can - 10 minutes...20 minutes...the whole hour...whatever - and let's pray together for 10-10-10. 

• And if you'd like to send an e-vite to someone this week here's the link for that.

• New Horizon, let's pray like crazy this week, and then do whatever it takes to get ONE here next weekend...and then let's trust God to do what only he can do!

• I can't wait to see what Jesus does next weekend! Hope you have an amazing week!!

Can't Wait For Sunday!

This Sunday we wrap up the ONE series and it's going to be the BEST SUNDAY OF THE SERIES SO FAR. We're leading up to 10-10-10 when we're trying to get ONE person to come to New Horizon on ONE Sunday so we can answer ONE really big question (Am I right with God?). And now we're down to the wire. It's time to invite ONE.

But how do we get them to come? THIS SUNDAY at New Horizon we're going to unpack how to get someone into an environment where they can hear about Jesus and possibly have their life changed.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE SUNDAY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!! And don't just get here, GET HERE EARLY AND DON'T MISS THE OPENING SONG!!! Trust me, it's going to knock your socks off!!! So be in your seat when the counter hits zero at 9:30 or 11:00.