the Low Down

$5 Can Go A Long Way

What can you get for $5 dollars?

• A matinee movie ticket if your lucky
• A cheese burger deal from In-N-Out
• A smoothie with a protein boost
• A venti Caramel Machiado
• A greeting card that you can brighten someone’s day with

 

I have another way to brighten someone’s day for $5. 

• Send me to Peru instead of a greeting card.
• We will help at a medical clinic
• We will give malaria pills and other vaccinations
• We will play with kids at orphanages and give them basic supplies
• We will work with abused women giving them so hope for tomorrow
• We will pass out free wheelchairs to the handicapped  LEARN MORE

 

God has blessed me with so many good friends and so many acquaintances over the past several years.  Rather than ask a few people to give much,  I want to ask a multitude to chip in $5 so we can go change the lives of those in need.

You can give online by filling out a form.  It’s secure, somewhat quick, and can be done right from your computer.

My total need is $2000 that covers airfare, lodging, food and supplies needed to care for our Peruvian neighbors.  The trip is 7 days long and our time there will forever change the lives of several people.  I look forward to coming back with stories of how your $5 changed lives.

Giving on line:

Click on this link:Online Donations  

Step 1:  Fill in your information

Step 2:  Designate Global Outreach – Trips

Mission Trip Name: Peru Fall

Team Member name: Low Norris

Step 3: Fill in your financial information

Step 4: In the Additional Information area, list again Peru Trip, Low Norris

Thanks for your help!

If you have any questions please write me at lnorris@marinerschurch.org

Pastor Low

Out Of Control

I have an ability, a flaw, a defect, a gift to be somewhere doing something but at the very same time be somewhere totally different.  Come on you know what I’m talking about.  For instance sitting in the living room talking on the phone with your friend or family member.  But at the very same time you are watching the game or your favorite makeover show on TV.  I know I’m not the only one…for the record I’m getting much better.  Or how about standing and talking to someone and you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket and you are trying to figure out when it wouldn’t be rude to grab your phone to check your messages.  Boy I’m not painting myself in the best light here am I?   

This week I have been going through the motions here at work but my mind has not always been fully present with what I was doing.  The dominant thought in my head is An Elder Board meeting happening this Sunday night.  Its not our Church’s board but another church who has a big decision to make. 

Will they let us lease a church site that they own that is available for weekend services? 

I have been mentally grinding for 4 months trying to locate and negotiate a place for our campus to meet at. At this moment in time I feel powerless, I feel helpless and I feel Out of control.  I’m trying not to get too emotionally invested or excited about this potential location because there is no guarantee we will get it.  On the other hand I want this site so bad I can visualize all the people coming through its doors to find community and most importantly Jesus. 

So I sit here feeling out of control but knowing even in the midst of the uncertainty that God is doing exactly what He has planned.  With that little pearl of truth I can be excited about whatever the outcome of this Sunday’s meeting. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Pastor Low

 

Gas Siphoning

So I’m watching the news and a clean cut newscaster is reporting live from some random city.  The story is about the rise of gas thieves who are siphoning gas from innocent people’s cars.  The result is a rude awakening for the victims who cannot get to work because they have empty tanks.  I’m thinking that this is just absurd that people would do this.  Then the absurdity jumped to a whole new level.  The well dressed newscaster reaches down and proceeds to show each piece of equipment necessary to quickly and efficiently siphon gas just like these thieves. 

 

Do we really need to educate the next wave of Gas siphoning bandits?  Who is the genius who says.  We should teach people how to commit the crimes that are damaging our society. 

Whats next? 

• “Illegal Gun trafficking” Where to find them and how much to spend”
• “Home Invasions: 10 household items that you can use to break into your neighbors home”
•  “Identity Theft: 15 Tips to Spend Money That You Don’t Own”

 

Maybe its just me but we need a healthy dose of Common Sense in this world.  Now if you will excuse me I must go by the hardware store for some supplies I’m running on Empty!!

 

Pastor Low

Taking Time To Let It Sink In

I have been putting this post off for awhile because I’m not sure how to say what should be said.  Should it be funny?  Should it be formal?  Should it be long or short.  There are times in my life when I can remember not doing anything of any worth.  I felt like I was wasting my life.  I knew I wanted more but I felt powerless to do anything more.  In looking back I was powerless.  So when I get to do something of significance now I hesitate to just gloss over it without soaking it in.

I still feel like my life doesn’t have much significance.  The only difference now is that I know that is a lie.  Just over 2 weeks ago I got a phone call from a friend who told me that he knew someone that just lost her husband to cancer and needed to talk to a pastor.  I told him I’d be glad to talk to her.  Rhonda lost her best friend after 30 years of marriage Matt was 73 years old.  A strong man who never backed down from a challenge.  He was a 23 year vetran of the Police Department and a former Sheriff and Member of the Coast Guard.  He built houses from the ground up and could fix any car.  He was now gone.

Who will service the car?  Who will fix the heater?  Who will manage our savings?  Who will do our taxes?  Who will I spend all my time with?  These were all questions that Rhonda had.  What can be said in response to these questions.  She asked me to honor Matt by procedeing over his memorial.  I didn’t know the man but I knew I was able.

God walked through it with me.  Matt was laid to rest that day and his memories lived on with great joy and sadness.  I had a chance to reflect back on earlier times in my life when I felt like a waste.  Look at how God can change a life when we let him.  It was an honor to represent Matt that day.  It was a joy to walk with a wife who is heartbroken and whisper compassion, hope and the love of Jesus to her in her greatest time of need.

Although I never knew Matt, I learned that he made a profound impact in several people throughout his life by making them think and ponder and often about Jesus and God.  Even in his death he had a profound impact in me, through reflecting on what a great and powerful God we serve.  A God who can change a waste filled life into one that hopefully….no certainly….can change the world.  Thanks Matt!

Pastor Low

You Got To Start It To Start It

We were sitting in the airport of Atlanta eating a lunch in the food court. (I understand that expectations should not be that high at this point but…) There were three of us and as I was eating I noticed that Mariana had given up on her main course which was a grilled patty.  At this moment I heard a question that any restaurant owner never wants to hear.  Brian asked her ”Is that meat?”  Now it would be one thing if the question was “what kind of meat is that”.  I can live with that and its a reasonable question… but for him not to recognize what food group the patty was made from was a bit sad. 

It is nice to know what you are eating.  In mariana’s case it was a turkey patty.  (a very unimpressize one) But in life it is also nice to know who you are talking to, or what a person stands for. After all who likes to be around fake people?  Not knowing what people stand for or what they are made of.  Well this weekend I was treated to a very special event.  I went to a conference on Multi-Site churches.  Put in other words a conference on how churches can take their ministries and launch additional campuses all having the same basic ministries so other people can be blessed by finding a church where they can feel cared for, important, and learn valuable truths about God and Jesus Christ.

I’m surrounded by average people who are committed to living anything but average lives.  They are leaders of people and decision makers that each represent groups of people.  They have been put in a place of authority that requires them on some level to guide these people.  They are all Christians who love Jesus and are looking for direction themselves on how to lead thier churches.  The scene is energetic.  There is laughter, creativity, honesty, inspiration, emotion, truth.

There is also a spirit of courage and adventure.  Every speaker mentioned the importance of planning and asking the right questions, then……then there is a point when it is time to take off.  A time to step out and know that God is going to sustain you and even better yet, He will excede your expectations.  The faith of these men is contagious, its Godly, it’s scary and most importantly their faith is resulting in people coming to Christ and the Kingdom of God is expanding.

Are you ready?  Are you scared? Are you curious?  Are you excited?  Are you humbled that God would let us as a church play such a key role in reaching those in pain who have little hope for a future.  Well I am all those things but I am also confident that I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me.   Lets do this together.

Pastor Low

Makes It All Worth While

I sat in the City Planning offices for an hour the other day.  Everyone is there with the same goal in mind. ” To get their plans approved.”  Plans for building, homes, backyards, decks, you name it people are trying to get it approved.   The room is filled with a wide range of characters.  There are guys with work boots, guys with top siders.  Guys with dirty clothes, guys in suits.  Guys with hard hats and guys with comb overs. 

Now if you have ever been in the City Planning Department at Huntington Beach one of the first things you will notice is that they know their clientele and how to keep them calm. On the wall in plain site is a nice plasma TV with Sportcenter beaming in all its glory.  I didn’t watch it even for one second.  I was on the clock and working if anyone asks.

When it my my turn I walked up to ask some questions about parking and traffic restrictions for 3 sites that were are pursuing.  My questions were answered with percision and clarity that impressed me.  At first I was discouraged because I did not get the answers I wanted.  Again everyone is trying to get their plans approved, but sometimes I really would rather just get my way.  Is that too much to ask?

So I had to regroup.  With the occasional set backs its difficult to keep in mind why we are doing this.  Luckily God is a master at giving us just what we need just at the right time.  when I got back to my desk I had a voicemail from a lady by the name of Trisha.  Trisha’s message simply said that she had heard that I was starting a church in Huntington Beach.  She was so excited because her kids and grand kids all live in Huntington Beach.  She went on to say that she “really hopes that this new church is like Mariners Church because that is where she attends now” and she “just loves it.”

Hearing that voicemail from Trisha makes it all worth while.  It is an encouragement to navigate all the obstacles so that her family will have a chance to become a key part of our new community.  A community where kids can come with their parents and people can find God in a real way.  How fun is that?

So bring it on Planning department…we have more tricks up our sleeves.  Before I get too brave and macho I could use your prayers in this area.  Prayer that our minds would be sharp, our preparation would be thorough and that God would go before us and soften the hearts of people who have an influence in this process.  Till next time.

Pastor Low

Multi Site Churches: Trendy or Transforming?

     

There is a new trend in the Christian community across our country and beyond.  Some churches are calling them satellite churches, campuses, multisite locations, or even venues. Over the past couple months I have had the opportunity to get a first hand look at nearly 2 dozen churches that utilize this new model of church to minister to their communities.

I noticed incredible diversity during my travels.  I have attended services in Elementary schools, Middle schools, high schools, cafeterias, theaters, performing art centers, auditoriums, Shared churches, shopping malls, business parks, charter schools, gymnasiums, and even a library.  These congregations ranged in attendance from 200 all the way up to 1400 on an average weekend.  Some people wore ties others wore tee shirts. Some sported wingtips and others flip flops.  I saw pressed slacks, designer jeans, wranglers and everything in between.  And that was just the Pastors. 

With all the diversity there were many constants.  The teaching was strong, the worship was engaging, the people were friendly and the churches are growing.  More people are finding a spiritual home, and more people are becoming more fully devoted followers of Christ.  This was such an encouragement to see God stirring in the lives of so many people from so many different walks of life in so many different parts of this country. 

Multisite churches are an effective way of extending the message of Hope in Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit into neighborhoods that are desperately in need of the Love of God.  They are utilizing the giftedness of their church leaders to reach an entirely new population of people. 

Now it is not all roses when it comes to this new ministry approach.  In my journeys I did stumble across a few ineffective efforts.  I want to be clear that this is not as simple as opening up the doors of a School cafeteria and presto a Thriving God centered community is born.

 There are certain areas that are critical in the success of a Satellite campus:

It takes an acute awareness of our churches core competencies.  The question has to be asked. “Where is the Holy Spirit working in our church?”  Is it in the Plasma TV’s or in the stories of growth that are told through them?  Is it in the height of our ceilings or in the altitude of our prayers?  Is it in the number of Parking spaces or the number of Godly men and women who use them to gather with the body of believers?  Is it in the wide variety of ways we serve our local community or in the wide variety of gifts we serve our community with?  Is it the size of our children’s building or the size of the hearts of our adults who serve the kids who walk through he doors?  As we identify the DNA of our church we can have confidence in what we need to bring to the Satellite campus

It takes excellent organization and execution of ministry.  There must be a readiness for the flock that Jesus brings through the doors.  The weekend services have to be well thought out and Small groups need to be prepared to embrace all our visitors that are thirsting for a deeper connection to God and His people.

It takes genuine love and hospitality  Big or small, elaborate or simple, fancy or modest, humorous or reflective the one key ingredient to draw people into the congregation and God’s family was the welcoming factor of the people interacting with visitors and members alike.  All the bells and whistles couldn’t match the effectiveness of genuinely welcoming and loving people who petition for the people of that community through prayer.

It takes desperate dependence on prayer and the Holy Spirit.  No matter how well thought out our plans are or how bulletproof our research is, our steps must be guided by the Holy Spirit.  Psalm 127:1 reads “Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.” I have seen great facilities feel dead and lousy spaces overflow with life.  I have reviewed elaborate plans that never got off the ground and I have seen congregations thrive despite botched plans.  It is the Lords house to build and we need to rely on Him for each brick.

        This is an exciting time in the life of our church and in the Christian community.  In the months to come the leadership of Mariners church will be working diligently and praying frequently about God’s design for our Satellite Campus. We look forward to seeing how God will use our efforts to reach further into our communities and transform lives.

 

Pastor Low

A Lesson in “Trust”

I was given the chance to speak at our August 2nd Men’s Breakfast.  My message focused on “Trust”.  We all place our trust in something or someone and on occassion our trust gets broken.  For the last 7 years I have been on a journey that has and continues to define who I will place my trust in.  In the area of my career, my finances, my health, my family, my dating relationships and most importantly my life I have realized that only Jesus Christ is completely reliable and trustworthy.  I hope you enjoy this snapshot of my discoveries on my journey.

Link to Low’s Talk at the Men’s breakfast

Pastor Low

Get The Adrenalin Pumping

When was the last time you did something that got the adrenaline going or your heart beating a little faster?  Well I do not consider myself afraid of thrill rides and certainly not afraid of a water slide.  But this last weekend I was caught of guard.  I was visiting some friends over the holiday weekend and we thought it would be fun to spend part of the day at a local water park.

Ahh the thought of shooting down slides and into pools of refreshing water and floating around the lazy river sounded like a perfect way to finish out the summer. Nobody mentioned anything about the “Tornado”.

The Tornado is 75 feet tall spits out 5000 gallons of water with each ride and hurls you 40 feet up on the inside of a cone (see photo).  Being as though the tornado is the biggest attraction we had to ride it first thing before the park got too full.  Well at 10:00 in the morning it was still a little cool and the refreshing water of the park was still a bit chilled form the cold evening.   

 

Now at this point I have to explain gravity and inertia.  The higher something falls from and the heavier that object is the harder it is to change direction.  Watching a bunch of screaming teenagers ride this was non threatening enough as they swirled their way down looking like a feather floating down a gentle stream. Our raft however was filled with considerable more weight.  I’m not the lightest in the bunch but between 3 of us we were pushing the max weight on a raft built for 4. 

Once those 5000 gallons of water got its hands on us we were firing down the 75 foot ramp into the Tornado’s vortex.  As our momentum carried us up the slope of the cone I could no longer feel the comforting hardness of the wall under the raft.  We had gone vertical and for a brief moment my heart was suspended in my throat.

Unlike the screaming teenagers we did not make our way out the bottom just yet we had another slope to scream down and up the other side when for another brief moment we were completely separated from the wall.  We finally made our way out the bottom only to be doused with frigid water and dumped into a wadding pool.

It was a great adventure that we repeated many more times that day.  It makes the 20 minute wait seem a small price to pay.  The excitement and memories alone bring a sense of feeling alive and the thrill makes it worth while

I’m in the midst of another great adventure.  The adventure of starting a Satellite Campus for Mariners Church. The other day our Senior Pastor Kenton asked what about the fall are you looking forward to.  It was easy for me to answer that.  In fact as I thought of my answer my heart for a moment was in my throat as I felt a rush of excitement.

I’m most excited for the point in time when this new campus of Mariners church starts to have names added to it.  When faces come onto the scene.  Personalities are added into the equation.  Our campus will start to come alive due to the coming together of people.

I anticipate moments of fun and excitement and moments of stress and anxiety.  I’m sure it will have just as many twists and turns as the last season of “Lost” or “24”.  What will make this adventure worth while will be the people that are going on the ride together.

New families, Husbands, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Strangers, Believers, Skeptics, the healthy and the wounded, the strong and  the weak.  All of the above will walk into this new place that God is preparing for them to have an encounter with Jesus Christ and His people.

Some of you reading this right now I’ve never met, but in a matter of a few months that will all change.  And a few months after that we can look back and celebrate together what God has done. Are you ready for a new Adventure?  Then I can’t wait to meet you!!!

 

Pastor Low

 

 

Great People, Great Time

Last night we had some Great People gather for a Great Time at Kristeen and David’s home for a great time of sweets and supplication…Wow that’s cornier than usual.  Well it’s true we had a few tasty desserts but plenty of time in prayer as well. 

 

We looked at Matthew 9:35-38.  Most of our night was spent understanding how we need to plead to God that he sends workers into His fields.  We discussed what we can do to make sure we are in alignment with God to gather the sheep in this new ministry effort.  It was eye opening and encouraging to be reminded of what we are here to do.

 

We are here to Love, be in relationship and bring glory to God.   It is all about Jesus!!!! 

Here are some of the prayer requests that surfaced from our discussion.

 

Pray for wisdom

Pray for diversity of workers

Pray that we serve passionately

Pray for awareness of the sheep

Pray for the workers He will send

Pray that we walk with the Sheep

Pray that we walk with the workers

Pray for endurance and preservation

Pray for personal connection to God

Pray for humility and God’s direction

Pray for being teachable and guidable

Pray for good communication with God

Pray we surrender to His creative power

Pray we keep relationship a high priority

Pray for readiness to do the work necessary

Pray for openness to failure and the lessons in it

Pray for the Harvest time and our ability to be patient then diligent

Pray for the hiring of the staff (Worship Director and Childrens Director)