Christmas Teaching Series Online: What was Seen! Part 1

Luke 2:1-5 Message version "About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant."

It is amazing to see the simplicity and the complexity of Jesus Birth. He came to earth as a simple, humble carpenter's son. He was born in a manger and surrounded shepherds. Yet, there is also a complexity that can be found in this story. God created situations that caused the wise men to spend years studying, researching and travelling in order to interact with the son of God. We also see that God stirred the heart of Caesar Augustus to give a command to the whole roman empire that would require people to travel to the town of their birth. This was God's way of arranging events for His purpose.

I believe that God is still arranging events in our lives in order to bring us to an interaction with Him. If we look closely, we can see the footprint of the King as he travels through our life. We can see where He has been busy creating, ordaining and rearranging even the most complex areas of our existence. We can see in our own lives that God has arranged for the shepherds and wise men of our day to come and stand at our side as we walk this life.

What was seen then...is still being seen today!
Blessings
Pastor Terry

Preaching: The Art of Imparting the Heart of God

Preaching is preaching. Anyone can do it, and most try. The question isn't can I preach? the real question is "What am I preaching?" Any one can preach their opinions, ideas or even their own desires. But true Biblical preaching has that one element that everyone else lacks. True preaching releases the love, grace and encouragement of God into people. Religious preaching results is guilt and condemnation. It is a way to control and box people in. Jesus had a way of speaking that helped people, encouraged them and inspired them to greatness. I found this next statement to be true......people preach what they are. If you have grace, then your preaching results in grace being released. If you are graceless, then your preaching is always hammering and dictating but rarely edifying. Don't preach just to speak. Preach to release the Kingdom of God into others. Preach to inspire and encourage. Preach to help people. Many don't realize it but facebook, myspace and other social mediums are your pulpit. Everything you post is a sermon of who you are and what God is doing in you. So, who are you? What is God doing in you?
have a great day

Pastor Terry

Lewiston Idaho Ministry Trip with Destiny International School of Ministry March 9-11, 2012

Pastor Terry and Jenni Bonner are leading a Ministry School trip to Lewiston, Id. Many students from Destiny International School of Ministry are heading to Idaho to minister and serve at Hope Chapel Foursquare Church. We will be departing Jakes House Church on Friday Morning the 9th and be back late Sunday night the 11th. Contact pastor Terry for more info 425-220-1713

Fourth Time Reading Through Ephesians

1) OUR FAITH IN GOD AND LOVE FOR PEOPLE. Chapter 1:15 "I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints." This is a very important truth. We are to have FAITH in god and iin what He can do in our lives and situations. And at the same time we are to have LOVE for all the saints. I love the word all. It literally means, ALL. We are to have and show love to everyone. To love someone means to show it in our actions, speech and thought. It is amazing how many people are rude and treat others harshly and then justify it by saying "You might not like what I am saying, but I am doing it because I love you." Well, just so you know. That will never fly with God. If you are harsh with people then you need to know that God is not interested in your reasons why. He is interested in why you are treating His people harshly. So, the answer is to renew your mind and get a big dose of Love and GRACE from God. Because people ultimately treat people like they think God treats them. So, for all you harsh people....God loves you, wants to pour Grace upon you, and He wants you to in turn give that Love to others. Blessings,

Leadership Principles I Learned in Las Vegas

Hello everyone, I just got back from a leadership conference in Las Vegas. Yes, you heard me right. LAS VEGAS! I was at the Word of Life Church and had the privilege of hearing Pastor Mack Hammond from Minnesota. He taught a powerful message of living a simple life. That the only way to run a complex ministry or get through a complicated problem is to simplify it. We mistakenly think that anything that is complex is somehow better or more authentic. But the truth of the matter is that human pride loves complexity yet the Kingdom of God operates more smoothly in simplicity. Wh yo we as leaders get stressed out...our lives are to complex. We fail to enjoy any sort of simplicity in our lives. For years I have had a great habit of listening to soft music, lighting candles and reading. It literally slows down time when you do this. It allows us to take the time to ponder life, consider God and enjoy the things that we Would normally rush right by.

Leadership ideas for today:
1. How can you slow down time?
2. How can I learn to slow down my life and simplify
3. Create habits of simplicity like....taking a walk everyday at lunch. Or reading every morning.
4. Buy a devotional book like "Streams in the Desert" and use it every day.

Thanks for checking in today and keep going on the pathway to leadership

Blessings
Pastor Terry Bonner

‎'I have learned'-Contentment in every condition is a great art, a spiritual mystery. It is to be learned, and to be learned as a mystery. - Jeremiah Burroughs (Puritan Preacher of the 1600's). What a great thought....Contentment is an art form yet it is learned. It is a spiritual mystery,and at the same time it is developed. Jeremiah Burroughs lived in a time that was very difficult and people need needed to learn contentment in order to survive. Unfortunately, people who live in times where everything is good fail to develop the art of contentment. It is even more important for us to develop the idea of contentment when things are going good so that when something difficult are we are already prepared and ready to be content.

As a leader, it is very important that we learn to be content in every situation. I am not talking about complacency. I am talking about developing the ability to find happiness in Christ in every phase of life and every situation that arises. 1 Timothy 6:6 in the Amplified Version says "[And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of [a]inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain."

Commissioning New Leaders November 20th

We are so excited to be Commissioning our new group of Leaders at Jake's House. These people have been on a journey towards leadership which includes attending the "Enrichment" Class, serving in a ministry and developing their character and leadership abilities. One of my jobs (more of a calling) is to help people on their journey from "Potential Leader" to "Leader."

One of my friends sent an email out today that had the following words.."Go back to Your Dream and Stir it Up." That is a good word for today.. What are those dreams that God has given you? Have you let them die? Stir them back up and watch them live again.

Blessings
Pastor Terry