Untitled from Robert Andrescik on Vimeo.

We’re all unhealthy in one way or another — all in desperate need of someone with the supernatural power to heal and transform us. Just as we see in Matthew 9:35, Jesus has the power to do absolutely anything — to overcome our deficits and to heal us in our brokenness. This weekend, as we begin a new series entitled “Signs of the Kingdom” we’ll seek to glimpse the potential and power present in redemption. Check out the series intro video above.

A friendly reminder that the Women of West Oaks (and anyone else who wants to join!) will be participating in a service event at the Second Harvest Food Bank this coming Saturday, September 27, from 9 a.m. to noon.    You’re encouraged to participate and bring a friend!  Everyone will be sorting donated food into emergency pantry boxes for families in need. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and car pooling can be made available from the church upon request.  Details: Joni Szrom (352-241-2031).  The Second Harvest Food Bank address is 2008 Brengle Ave., Orlando.

If you haven’t seen it, don’t come to the west side of town much, or maybe drive with your eyes closed, the landscape has changed just off Good Homes Road and Hwy 50.   A towering 199 foot tall white cross has been erected on the campus of the Central Florida Christian Academy.  I had a brief conversation with Will Santiago of the First Baptist Church of Central Florida asking why they decide to build such big   cross on the property.  He said that they have been very recognized for the past 20 years as the Academy but they felt like many people did not realize that they actually had church services there.  They decided the giant cross vs. putting a steeple on the church building would serve well as an outreach to the community.

The cross is modeled after a trio of crosses that are in Memphis TN. At the base of the cross, on each of its four sides, tells the story of Jesus; The Crucifixion, the Empty Tomb, Jesus and his Disciples and the Ascension.   The cross is only 199 feet tall because FAA regulations said had to be less than 200 feet.   The cross is visible from all the major intersecting highways of the west side, the Turnpike, 408 and 429.    For me it serves as a welcoming beacon (since we live just off Good Homes Road), it has energized the skyline, and my drive time is now filled with more thoughts of Christ.  What markers are you using throughout the day to help you stay focused on Christ?   

If you have news to share about happenings in the West Oaks Community, contact Stacey Paul Barabe at spbarabe@yahoo.com

Blessings,  

Stacey Barabe

Hello West Oaks family.  Just me, Patti, checking in to say “WOW are West Oaks Women great!  I had so much fun getting to know you better at the brunch after worship last Sunday.  You know, I was paying attention to who’s a “jeans-wearing, alla-naturale going, short-haired wearing, HGTV-watching, Indescribable-singing” person!!! Ha, ha…Isn’t God awesome for making us unique yet unified?  I think we discovered together that He has an amazing story to tell the world through us, but we each have our own part to play that depends on everyone else doing their part, too.  I feel so challenged to get to know Him better, so that I can really fulfill my part of His story.  Let’s remember to encourage and love each other, truly!  And for those men out there who are cool enough to read this…what’s your part of God’s story?  I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12 (especially in The Message) to move you toward God and His plans for West Oaks.  If we all are the body of Christ, what are His arms reaching, who are His hands healing, what are His words teaching, where are His feet going, and what is His love showing????  Check out the song by Casting Crowns, “If We Are The Body.”  Let’s keep going after our Awesome God together.  Love ya, Patti

First of all I would like to thank Bob Keiderling for joining us Sunday morning to give us some insight to the Men’s Fraternity small group ministry.  I would like to hear from each of you as you heard how we can come together as men wanting more for our lives as men following Christ.  There have been a few of you out there who have been through this material and your feedback was awesome to hear.  Feel free to comment in this blog some of your thoughts so others can hear what you think also.  In addition, I invite all the West Oaks men to join other men from Northland to a kickoff event on Friday, Sept. 5th at 7pm in Longwood.  We will have a steak dinner together and then hear from Coach Alan Gooch, a former UCF football coach, and now working with the Orlando Predators.  The cost of this event is $15 and you can pick up your tickets this weekend, or call me, 325-989-7378, or email me at tommy.novak@northlandchurch.net,  to reserve your spot.  I am excited about seeing some of the possiblities God has in store for us as we pursue Him together.  I look forward to hearing your responses.  Post your comments below!

I am so thrilled to see many of you identifying what God has called you to do as ministry in our community.  With Tom and Mary Smith starting the Supper Six groups, Rod Moss pulling together both men and women interested in golf, and the Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study gathering information from our West Oaks community to help us connect with each other, I am grateful for each of you.  To the rest of you, I encourage you to see where is calling you and challenging you to step out and trust Him.  Whether it’s plugging into one of these new groups or starting your own, God definitely has something for you.  As you think about this, remember we will never be all we can be until everyone is involved and using their gifts.  If I can help you in any way make a step toward being used at West Oaks please email me, call me, or talk to me before or after our service on Sunday morning.

FYI - There are plenty of other opportunities for you to serve or be involved in at the West Oaks site.

• Children’s Ministry - Teachers and assistants
• Sunday Morning Set-up Teams
• Hospitality Team
• Plus many others

Calling all women!  If you are wondering what the women of West Oaks will be doing this Fall, don’t miss the brunch this coming weekend - after the 9am service.  We are asking you bring a dish to share and we will provide the beverages.  My desire would be to see every woman from the West Oaks community participate in this brunch.  As all of us have heard and have been challenged to take on the character of Christ, I believe this is one of those opportunities to get involved in something greater than yourself.  So, mark your calendar now to spend an hour or so with other women who want to grow and mature into the woman God has created them to be.  For additional information please call Patti Novak at 352-989-7478.

[By Rob Ross]
Recently Pastor Hunter mentioned in a service that he was traveling to speak and stay at Windsor Castle in the English country side of Berkshire. This brought me back to the summer of 2006 when my wife and I had a chance to visit the castle as tourists.

After our commute from London, we paid to park our car in the public areas below the castle and walked up the long hill to stand in line to buy our tickets to see this magnificent structure. After spending time in line to purchase our tickets we then proceeded up the long walk past the formal entrance to stand in another long line at the back of the castle to actually go inside. Our time in the castle consisted of viewing things from afar and walking inside roped areas. We saw Windsor Castle.

How different Pastor and Mrs. Hunter’s visit must have been from ours. They were probably driven up to the formal entrance, met by the staff and shown around. I can picture them casually walking and viewing the art and architecture, not being shoved along by hundreds of others as we were. I imagine dinner in the formal dining room, with soft music playing, after which they retired to their room. Their Own Room IN The Castle! They experienced Windsor Castle.

What about you? Do you know and have you experienced God? John 14:23 says: Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” He also says in John 10:10; “…..I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Once you experience Him, you will find true joy, hope and peace, impacting all areas of your life. Your relationship with family, friends and colleagues will be different. Your Bible will come alive when you read and study it. Worship will become deep and meaningful. You will find that He speaks to you throughout the day. You will delight in serving the Lord.

Finally, you will not just attend church, but as Pastor Vernon says, you will BE the church.

Help the West Oaks junior and senior high youth support the Faith Neighborhood Center in Clermont by donating household and non-perishable items.

Suggestions include

– Diapers of all sizes (especially 3, 4 & 5)

– Laundry detergent – Paper towels

– Women’s hygiene products

– Canned fruits & vegetables

– Canned tuna, ravioli, soups

– Boxes of cereal

– Spaghetti sauce, boxes of pasta

– Macaroni and cheese, rice, boxed potatoes

– Snack bars, pop tarts, crackers

– Peanut butter and jelly

Reminder lists are available in the West Oaks chapel foyer on the second Sunday of each month. Donations should be dropped off the third Sunday of each month Details: Rafael Benitez Jr. (407-299-9749) Thank you!

Good Morning,

Thank you again for all of your notes, thoughts and prayers while I have been traveling.  To my wife Sue, thank you for allowing me to do this.  Today I head home.  Yesterday the pace was much easier.  After breakfast we entered the traffic jams of Sofia on our way to visit with Pastor Evgeniy.  Pastor Evgeniy is the pastor of Northlands partner church here in Bulgaria.  We had a wonderful visit together as he shared his heart and ministry here in Sofia and all of Bulgaria.  God is leading him to challenge his people to join missions works around the world.  Can you imagine when Northland sends out a Distributed Journey (Missions Team) that we are joined by others from Bulgaria!  Very exciting when you think about it.  We are honored to have people like him as partners.

The rest of the day we visited a possible hotel for the future teams, ate and talked.  It is all about relationships, as it should be.  This has been a theme through out my visits.  God has knitted us together in Christ and now we need to get to know each other.  I am very impressed with the different ministries I have visited.  Gods work is in very capable hands.  We need to pray and to support them in their efforts.

I will keep this post short and will share more when I get home.  Today I leave Sofia about 3pm, travel to Frankfurt Germany where I will spend the night then back to the USA to arrive home about midnight Sunday.

THANK YOU  again!

Blessings,

Rob