08/30/09 - The Top Hat - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the Dressed For Success series with part 5 of So Many Hats & Only One HEAD! in "The Top Hat".

So Many Hats Part 5
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 30, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

08/26/09 - Here We Go Again PT4 - Tony Sherrill

Tony Sherrill discuss "Here We Go Again" in part 4 of the series in this Wednesday evening service.

Here We Go Again PT4
Tony Sherrill
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

08/23/09 - So Many Hats PT4 - The Thinking Cap - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the Dressed For Success series with part 4 of So Many Hats & Only One HEAD! in "The Thinking Cap".

So Many Hats Part 4
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 23, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

08/19/09 - Here We Go Again PT3 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastors Tony & Sheryll Ashmore discuss "Here We Go Again" in part 3 of the series in this Wednesday evening service.

Here We Go Again
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

08/16/09 - So Many Hats PT3 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the Dressed For Success series with part 3 of So Many Hats & Only One HEAD! in "Baby Hats".

So Many Hats Part 3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 16, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

OYB-August 17

Nehemiah 12:31-38
Nehemiah divides the leaders into 2 choirs—leading in the praise and worship as they celebrate the completion of the walls. One half started at the Dung Gate and moved over the Fountain Gate to the Water Gate. The other half started at the Ephraim (Double Prosperity) Gate and moved over the Old City Gate, the Fish Gate and the Sheep Gate to the Guard Gate.

Great leadership lesson on 2 important aspects of leading others:
1. Lead others to victory by teaching them to praise God through the “dung” parts of our lives, which will lead us to His fountain and release the living Water.
2. Teach others to guard the blessing of God in our lives—prosperity, deliverance from the old ways and old life, increasing influence as fishers of men, continuing growth as the sheep of His flock—by living a life of continual thanksgiving and worship.

08/12/09 - Here We Go Again Part 2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastors Tony & Sheryll Ashmore discuss "Here We Go Again" in part 2 of the series in this Wednesday evening service.

Here We Go Again
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

A Fresh Take on Storms

I really love the church. If you are around me any at all you know that. I am quick to remind Christians who knock the church that she is the bride of Jesus and He describes her as glorious and without spot or blemish. We have enough opposition from the gates of hell. We don’t need to become our own enemies. Jesus taught us that a house divided will not stand, yet He is building a church that stands against all odds. Today, as I was praying, I felt the Holy Spirit explained some of the “anti-Church” sentiment to me.

When I say “anti-Church” I am talking about Christians who would find themselves saying things like:
o I don’t like big gatherings.
o I don’t like the politics of the local church.
o We need to get outside the walls. (insinuating that those who gather in the large gatherings never leave the building)
o I’m just going to attend. It gets too complicated when you get involved.

It’s not that those who say these things are “anti-Church” at all; they just don’t like the tension of working through relational dynamics with multiple people having multiple ideas and opinions. Sure, initially we may get things done faster, maybe even better, on our own. But the impact, the sustainable influence, is not there unless we do it as “church”-as a community of believers gathered together around a mission.

Jesus could have done it better and faster on His own, but He chose to work through the messiness and discomfort of multiple relationships with people who each had their own idea of how it should be done. Why? Because He wasn’t just trying to get people to Heaven, He wanted to establish a sustainable influence in the earth! He wanted the world to experience the life of God here. The only way that could be accomplished and sustained through the ages was through a community of faith—the church.

Group dynamics teach us that whenever two or more people come together four things always happen: Form, Storm, Norm and Perform. We don’t mind the Form and Norm parts, and we love the Perform parts. It’s the Storm part that throws us. As humans we respond to the tension of storming with one of two choices, fight or flight. Those I am describing as “anti-church” have chosen the flight option. It is easier to just disengage and do it on our own. The problem is we miss real creativity chances when we won’t stay for the fight. Read Genesis One. God’s creation of the earth was in a storm atmosphere—note: “without form and void.” As we muddle through the storming of relationships, we learn empowering Tree of Life principles that release the life of God on the earth. Our lives become richer and more satisfying (John 10:10). Others are drawn to us because of the Life of God released in the relationship and the dynamics start again! More storming, more tension, more creativity which releases more of the Life of God and draws more people so we can do it again! Don’t run from the discomfort. Don’t join the refugees who stand on the outside avoiding the storm and missing out on the perform. Do what God told Joshua—Be strong and of good courage. Be strong—use the things you are good at and gifted to do. Be of good courage—don’t be afraid of those things that scare you, that you dislike or that make you uncomfortable. It takes both strength and courage to take the land!

The church, worldwide and locally, is God’s plan for this world. She needs you and you need her. Get in there and do life together. Wade through the muck and grime and you’ll find the gold and diamonds. We’ll build influence for God’s Kingdom that will be sustained long after we are gone.

08/09/09 - So Many Hats PT2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the Dressed For Success series with part 2 of "So Many Hats & Only One HEAD!".

So Many Hats Part 2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 9, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

08/05/09 - Enjoying Life Right Where You Are - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony & Sheryll Ashmore discuss "Enjoying Life Right Where You Are" in this Wednesday evening service.

Enjoying Life Right Where You Are

Pastor Tony Ashmore

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com

Do Something

In the One Year Bible Reading for Monday and Tuesday, August 3rd and 4th, we read the story of Josiah, the 8 year old who became king. Josiah wasn’t sure exactly what needed to be done to get his country back on track, but he knew something had to be done. He knew they must choose to honor God, even though no one was around who could remember the details of how that was done. But instead of sitting around trying to figure out all the details, being paralyzed with the fear of messing up, or unable to move forward until he knew it was perfect, Josiah followed his heart and began doing what he could do. When he did, God made sure he found what was needed to accomplish his goals. Ever notice how much easier it is to change the direction of a moving vehicle compared to a parked one? Josiah focused on what he could do, developed a plan, moved forward with it, and was flexible enough to change direction whenever God revealed something to him. The whole country benefited from his leadership. Follow those principles today with your own life, your family, your business, or your ministry. God will show up and make sure you have what you need.

08/02/09 - So Many Hats and Only One HEAD - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore recasts the vision of the Church At Mirror Lake, focusing on "So Many Hats & Only One HEAD!".

Vision Sunday - One HEAD
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 2, 2009

www.churchatmirrorlake.com