What an awesome summer we have had at Northland Oviedo. But for me, all has been overshadowed by the incredible experience of going to Swaziland, South Africa with my wife, most of our small group, Pastor Dan, our own Marianne Testa and many other Northlanders from Longwood. We are working on putting together a short video that we will show after service in September with multiple objectives: sharing the story of God and His work in the world, raising awareness of how you can be a part of the work, and of course to encourage specific prayer for specific people. I am going to write several articles leading up to that weekend in reflection, on other people’s comments and experiences, and some of what I believe God was ultimately revealing to me and for us. Read the rest of this entry »

WOW what an amazing weekend we had, 9 people, 6 kids and 3 adults made their public profession of faith by being baptized with their family here at Northland Oviedo!  Praise God!  We had a wonderful day of fellowship and fun before and after, lots of laughs and sun!  Click this link Issue 31 Page to see the page from the paper and go to our Northland Oviedo Facebook page for additional photos and comments by those who were there: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oviedo-FL/Northland-Church-at-Oviedo/80583995862#

We have had an amazing summer out here in Oviedo with all kinds of great activities but they say a picture is worth a 1000 words so how about several pictures, just click this link and see the page from the Oviedo paper: Issue 30 Image

Come and join us anytime, you are sure to have fun and enjoy being a part of IT out here with us!!

We often here the story of the Israelites being rescued from their slavery in Egypt, led by a pillar of fire at night and smoke during the day, given manna when hungry, fresh water from a rock when thirsty and brought to the edge of the promised land and we wonder, “What the heck was their problem? How did they not believe in the God that was obviously real and leading them? Why did they build a golden calf? I am so glad I am not like them?” Maybe you have never thought that, but I know I have and I have heard others comment the same. I think the scripture that Pastor Joel is focusing on in Exodus is so important for us to go back and read over and over again. Why? Because we are much like the Israelites were, human beings with a natural, sinful, selfish flesh. Read the rest of this entry »

I have been looking forward to this week since I saw it on the worship planning calendar. I love having this conversation with people. I am probably most intrigued by this because I have had it so many times with family members close to me, near and dear to my heart, but who are lost nonetheless. We have had this talk so many times because they believe, as the question asks, that science makes Scripture obsolete. They believe that science has proven that God and religion are nothing more than a psychologically and socially constructed necessity of the human mind. Nothing more than a predictable outcome of the social organism called humanity. What I find so interesting about this thought process is not what it says but what it fails to say. Sciences, both physical and social, have not proved these notions at all rather they have just attempted to replace God and Scripture with their alternative God and source of Truth: man. I have come to believe, see and hear that we all have faith in something or someone, the question is not whether we do or don’t but more accurately, who or what we have faith in.

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I once had the thought while reading Scripture that the word phrase “so that” would be an incredible word study because it always seems to come at a time of important direction or explanation. A quick glance shows why no one has done that, there are almost 1000 occurrences in the NASB translation. Why is it such an important set of words? According to one English website, “So that” is used as a subordinate clause to show purpose or to give an explanation. It is used to show an action producing an intended result or a cause producing an effect. I like this last part, the simplest to grasp, a “cause producing an effect.” That means we ought to really pay attention to the cause and the intended effect, not just one or the other, or we might miss the whole point. Read the rest of this entry »

Alright not sure if you are getting all that we have going on out here in Oviedo but our little congregation is busy serving, connecting, worshipping, fellowshippping and just plain old having FUN!!!

The best way to stay in the know is to be on the email list with Amanda Hartley our site coordinator (amanda.hartley@northlandchurch.net). She has semi-weekly emails that go out Wed or Thurs (really nice and pretty too!) with the happenings out in Oviedo the next 2 weeks or so. In that email she always has a link to this BLOG page as well as a reminder of our AWESOME FACEBOOK PAGE, just search for and become friends/fan of Northland at Oviedo!

There are also emails that are more specific with the teachings and goings on for Student Ministries and another one for Children’s Ministries. If that is of interest all you need to do is get on the email list for Michelle Smith our Children’s Ministry Coordinator (michelle.smith@northlandchurch.net) OR Erica Emler our Student Ministry Coordinator (erica.emler@northlandchurch.net)!

Get in the know, be involved, stay connected or as we always say out here in Oviedo, “BE A PART OF IT”

Here is the July Calendar, print it or pick it up on Sunday!  july-2009-oviedo

I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan with our small group. We did the small group study video segments (available for any of you who are interested) and discussion questions along with the reading. Maggie and I read the book last fall and it has been a catalyst for many conversations in our home, with our friends and family, and in the various ministry settings we find ourselves in, ever since. This group took a while to finish the small group study because we occasionally did fellowship gatherings, served together and have been preparing to leave for a mission trip next week to Swazi, South Africa. It has been a wild ride Read the rest of this entry »

We have not done one of these for a few months and there could not be a better person or reason to bring it back. We often serve alongside someone, receive communion or prayer from them, even say hi and shake their hand but we don’t really get a chance to know them. I have often said that one of the great tragedies of modern Christianity is the lack of opportunity and boldness to share our stories with one another in a way that reveals God at work in and through our lives. But, every once in a while Read the rest of this entry »

by Maggie JobsonLast week Jeremy wrote about the “In Her Shoes” Tea that took place Saturday May 30th. The tea culminated with the call to put on an event for women in our community that find themselves in hard times. Thirty one women signed up to be on a team coming together this summer to plan and implement the vision we have received from Luke 14:13 (please go read).

Jesus Himself laid this idea of serving the least of these as a basic quality of those who would follow Him. So too the Old Testament is filled with commands of this nature. Isaiah 58 is one of these places in Scripture where we hear the voice of God the Father telling His people what it is He asks of them. Read the rest of this entry »