The Pinflow

As you have seen in the last month or so we have really started to work on the look and technology of thepinflow. With drapery across the back and a new audio/visual booth God has been faithful. We have ordered a sign (photo here- http://www.edgelitledsigns.com/pinflow.jpg …thanks to Will) and new material for our audio/visual booth. God has blessed us with so much and we are so thankful. Your giving goes to that cause; to make thepinflow and inviting place for you and your friends/family. Look forward to seeing you soon and talking to each one of you. Lets see Christ go to work in our lives.

IN CHRIST!

john

We are definitely making progress as it comes to the Pinflow. Its always good to leave a project knowing that you got most of it done haha. We spent most of the weekend working on a new audio/visual booth that will allow us to eventually project onto a back wall, on 2 LCD monitors and be able to bring a better audio/visual experience here @ thepinflow. Much thanks to the following helps: Daniel Lolley, Dusty, Timmy Blalock, Will Muster, Kyle Schaffer, Cory Welch, Heather Cooper, Derrick, Ted, Rachel, Alexis, Suzy and Raymond. I apologize if I missed anyone. You put your time and effort into making this project possible and bringing us one step closer to the completion of the Project Inflow College Ministries, Wednesday Night Fury Youth Ministries, GO! Children’s Ministries and Acworth Church’s Vision as a whole. Thanks for all you do and look out for HUGE changes in the coming months.

IN CHRIST!

John
thepinflow.com

I was compelled to compose another blog when I read a thread of comments in response to a blog my brother-in-law posted from an excerpt from one of C.S. Lewis’ books emphatically asserting that Christ was more than a moral teacher……He was more importantly God incarnate. Well, a few decided to take it upon themselves to rip the deity of Christ to shreds with their pluralistic overtones. It’s becoming a common counter response to the moral authority of the Bible. And yes, this is more than a sect of vengeful kids who excessively grew tired with having to move to the side of the hall to make way for the affluent, not so friendly kids and having to find solace with the chemically imbalanced, overly hyperactive kids in drama class while hating the FCA superficial Christians for not having the answer for them. It’s really a waste of time to pick that fight. In Zell Miller’s words, “That dog won’t hunt”. However, this happy hippie, Jesus holding hands with Buddha and speaking Zen, philosophy has created a groundswell of support among college age men and women. And quite frankly, it’s hard to combat it because you can’t use the authority of God’s Word, seeing that their incredulous view of it turns a deaf ear. We must, as Paul and the Apostles did, defend the church from these vain philosophies.

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it (Titus 1:9).”

For the sake of boring you with another one of my aggressive blogs that embarrass the softies on our side, I will come short of out quoting my enemies and just get down to it……..Christianity in America lacks the power (dunimus) of the Holy Spirit and His ability to produce SIGNS. Yes, I said signs! In the 16th chapter of Mark it is declared by Christ himself that “Signs will follow believer”. This is not hocus pocus or a guy in a $5,000 suit saying he’ll heal you if you send him $500 but will have God make you a millionaire if you send him $1000. This is the unambiguous promise of Christ that says that all who have His Spirit will do as he did, even great (John 14:12). Go ahead an pass this off but it’s happening in small villages in 3rd world countries where a willing evanglist can go all over the world.
“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:9).”

Let’s not tie the Holy Spirit’s hands. Let’s not write this off as trivial mysticism or something that died with the Apostles. It’s for the New Testament Church and it’s for America. Just because it’s not witnessed in our churches doesn’t mean it’s not real. The power of the Holy Spirit to shut up the heretics and open the doors to faith in Christ through signs and miracles is not arbitrary but necessary. Yield yourself to Christ today and let His Spirit bear witness of Him through you. The church in America needs to hit the weight room, where Jesus the personal trainer looks like a towering WCW wrestler that can barely find a shirt that fits and a hand shake that leaves you trying to get the feeling back in your hands five minutes later. Let us never relinquish the higher ground. God’s Word has lasted through the dark ages, crusades, primitive writing techniques, and EVERY FAILED ATTEMPT TO STIFLE THE FIRE OF TRUTH THROUGH HERESY. Don’t be ashamed of God, but rather ashamed if you don’t yield to Him and His supernatural ministry through the Holy Spirit.

I don’t think any Christian would argue with the assertian that Jesus Christ is the greatest example ever known.  And as Christians, we are to fashion ourselves, or allow the Holy Spirit freedom to develope the character of Christ in us, following His example.  I’m going to sum up what it is to be like Christ using two principles, Jesus’ principles.

“The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NAS, Mark 12:28-31)

Jesus said these commandments take precendence over all the other commandments and in fact, stand alone. This is because to fulfill these two commandments means to conquer selfishness which ultimately means to conquer sin seeing that sin is accomplished when we seek to fulfill the lust of our own flesh, our eyes, and the pride of our life (1 John 2:15,16). To love God with your whole being enables you to know Him and be completely liberated and ends the intrinsic need to endlessly search for self-assurance in this world. Thus meaning that you can “Love your neighbor as yourself” because your not just loving him/her to get something in return. This true love that is only found in Christ Paul says doesn’t seek it’s own (I Cor 13). We can’t put the cart before the horse trying to become such great servants unless we’ve first put God at the center of our lives. Being a dumpster diver and living amongst the homeless doesnt make you a servant. Loving the homeless and wanting to give them something you don’t posses naturally is being a servant. The bible tells us to take on the “Mind of Christ” and “Esteem others better than ourselves”.  Let’s not focus on what servants do but rather what servants are. They are men/women who have, in return of everlasting life, surrendered their identities to God so that He could love and reach mankind by whatever means necessary….you.

God is really doing some amazing things in the world of Project Inflow. We have a new face every week it seems. We have old friends back in the mix, and new and upcoming believers bringing a freshness to the group. What can we as a group do to make an impact on our age group and world? Glad you asked haha. God has given you a very simple mission. Take what you have learned and give that same knowledge to your friends, co-workers and family. Hey, you can even talk to anyone you meet. Praying for you guys and girls as we look past the fact of seeing thepinflow grow for numbers, but yet see an amazing opportunity for others to be added to our ranks as our group strengthens in our mission for Him.

In MUCH prayer!
john
www.thepinflow.com