Troy H. Jones

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Excavation will be ready to begin the week of April 1^st…here we go New Life!
• After Easter we begin a series on Genesis…looking at the life of Joseph.  Begin reading Genesis 37-50 now.
• I am very excited about these next two weeks.  We are going to focus on one word—Contentment.  We all fight discontentment.  What do we do about this?
• This Sunday the message is called “Keeping up with the Joneses”. Read I Timothy 6:6-11, 17-19.  Amazing passage of Scripture.
• This week I started a series of small group studies called “Pastors Picks”. These will help small groups who want to focus on specific topics with the Bible being the platform for discussion.   I will put these online in a couple of weeks. 
• Easter is two weeks away.  Our service times are 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am, noon and 6:30pm.  We are looking for a bunch of people to come at 7:30 am.  Are you in?  We need people to leave empty seats for the 10:30am service.  Can you consider the 9am, noon, or 6:30pm service?  Pray for the thousands of people who will come and hear the name of Jesus.
• Good Friday service is Friday night at 7:00pm and 8:30pm. We will worship, receive communion and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ together.
• On Easter we will do our normal offering. In this offering we are going to give people an opportunity to partner with an organization called “Convoy of Hope”.  Convoy of Hope is very similar to The Red Cross and other organizations of this nature. You will be hearing us talk about this in the next couple of weeks.
• Right now I am reading the book, “Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey.  This book is challenging my thinking on money.  Amazing.
• Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the  freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
• On Thursday this week I had five meetings.  I love people.  But, this was over kill.
• We are dedicating four babies on Sunday.  I love baby dedications.  Talk about church growth!
• I met with a pastor and youth pastor and talked about church growth, leadership and how to navigate changes in our culture.  I love leaders!  I love the local church.
• If you missed last week’s message I want to encourage you to listen online HERE.
• Follow me on twitter.
• May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord!
• I ate at Sushi Town with a friend from my small group this week.  I really ate way too many pieces of sushi.  Why do we stuff ourselves like this? 
• Three times a year we have a “Pastor’s Night Out’.  On Friday the pastors are going to spend the evening laughing and building memories together.  Pastor Ricardo  planned a surprise.  It should be fun.
• Did you know I have written two books?  Both of them were written when I was a youth pastor.  I am starting to feel the itch to write again.  If you are interested you can get either of these books at our bookstore.
• I have a good friend in Issaquah—Steve Jamison.  They raised $1.2 million dollars in one offering for their new building.  I rejoice with them!  God is so good!
• Here is what I am reading in my Bible this next week—Proverb a day, Psalm a day, Genesis 37-50 and focusing on the words of Jesus.  

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• I met with the Elders on Tuesday.  We have a great council of Godly wisdom and insight at New Life.
• This is the last week of Hebrews.  Read Hebrews 13.  The writer of Hebrews gets involved with every relationship we have…how do we treat people? Strangers? People in prison? Our marriage? Leaders? 
• Golf was banned in England in 1457 because it was considered a distraction from the serious pursuit of archery.
• The Elders received 38 new members on Tuesday night.  This is by far the largest group of members we have ever approved on one night.  God is amazing!
• Last weekend we introduced a new staff pastor.  His name is Pastor Layne Bresler.  He will be the pastor in Softer Sundays.  Great time to check out Softer Sunday and meet Pastor Layne.
• For our new building we have 131 construction and 49 architectural drawings that took 1300 hours to do. 
• We received $40,000 in stocks last weekend for our new building.  One gift at a time makes the dream a possibility.
• Do you bring your Bible to church with you? 
• In the next couple of months we will do a survey to gather information about you and church services you attend.  When we move into our new building we are planning on changing our service times. 
• For some time I have been asking, “What is the next step in my personal life with my personal finances?”  “How can I become a better steward of God’s money?”  We are managers, not owners of our money.
• I am going to read the book, “Total Money Make Over” by Dave Ramsey again.  I have been watching his TV show on Fox News this week.
• Easter is in 3 weeks. Also, I am very excited about our Good Friday service. We have two this year. (7:00pm and 8:30pm)
• We have over 750 adults serving at New Life. 
• I am trying to read my AT&T phone bill. Why do they make these so difficult to read?
• I got my haircut at a new place called “HumanitySalons”.  A couple in our church opened this new business.  They donate part of the proceeds to causes like World Vision.  Cool concept. I love how people at New Life think outside the box.
• Jeffery Portmann did an outstanding job last weekend.  We are blessed to have an incredible teaching team.
• Iphone came out with 3.0 version.  I have been reading all the new things with this.  Can’t wait to get it.
• Great Scripture: “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” (Prov. 17:1)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  Are you growing?
• I was amazed at all the love and support Jana and I received after I mentioned that her grandpa passed away.  It is great to be a part of a church who cares deeply.
• Our youth ministry is doing Amp’d tonight.  It is great to see this whole church being set up for a Junior High event.  This is why we build…so Junior highers can hang out.    
• We had a great business meeting on Wednesday night. I love this church!  The actual business meeting was only 65 minutes. 
• Crossing (our young adult ministry) is going to be meeting every other week starting soon.
• I received an unexpected property tax bill this weekend…frustrating.
• Easter is in 4 weeks. Invite a friend to church with you!
• American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by taking out one olive from First Class salads. 
• Our office painting is almost done.  Everything takes longer than you expect.
• We have five core “health indicators” at New Life—they are Spiritual Disciplines, Sundays, Small Groups, Serving and Stewardship.
• I have a burden for the men at New Life.  Revival will happen as men “man up” and begin to lead.  We are doing a “man up” service on Friday night June 5.  Roosevelt Hunter will be speaking.  I am so looking forward to this evening.
• My prayer for New Life—“keep falsehood and lies from us” “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me”.
• On Sunday I will be introducing a new team member who will oversee some core adult ministries, our video venue Softer Sundays and Primetimers. 
• One day we will do off-site video venues.  Get ready…probably not in 2009.
• Soon we will begin off campus parking…will you be the first to sign up for this?  We will do this for Easter!
• You can follow me on facebook, twitter and my blog.    
• Jana and I love New Life!  We love serving you!  We love Jesus!
• We recently gave a church plant a key board.  Here is the thank you we received,  “Thanks for the donation of the Yamaha Keyboard and the portable rack case.  This is a HUGE help. Because I didn’t have to buy this equipment, you (and Newlife) have allowed me to spend that money towards housing  our gatherings for 4 months”.
• We have two more weeks of Hebrews.  Read Hebrews 12 to prepare for Sunday.  We will cover Hebrews 13 on March 22.
• Grouplink is Friday and Saturday March 20-21.  If you are not in a small group this is your chance to join one.  Click HERE for more information. 
• Starting point is an incredible environment for people who are just starting or returning to their faith.  Also a great environment for people who are just checking Jesus out.  If you are interested in Starting Point click HERE for more information.
• We baptize people on the third Sunday of the month.  Click HERE to sign up to be baptized.
• One of our guiding principles at New Life is authentic community.  Everyone needs a place for accountability, belonging and care.
• We will have 85 doors in the new building.
• We baptized 75 people in 2008.  This is what keeps my blood pumping.  I dream of the day when we baptize 75 people a month. 
• I sleep in on Fridays. 
• I need to blog more often.

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Jana’s grandpa passed away this week.  We are on our way to Idaho for his funeral.  We will be back for Sunday!
• We brought in $8,750 for Mexico homes.  Thank you New Life.   We are short $3,000.  If you still want to give—you  can put it in the offering marked “Mexico Homes”.
• I don’t understand why people (including my wife) like “The Office”.
• We are having a Volunteer Appreciation Night on April 24.  We have over 750 adults who volunteer at New Life. 
• We had a lunch honoring Pastor Greg this week.  What a great person.
• I spoke at Northwest University this week in chapel.  We have some great leaders in the making at Northwest.
• Do you realize if everyone tithed at New Life we could pay off this new building in just a few years?
• Despite the hump, a camel’s spine is straight.
• We have our business meeting this next Wednesday at 7pm. 
• This Sunday I am speaking on Weak Knees from Hebrews 12.  So often people grow weary and tired.  I am going to pray for people who feel like giving up.   
• Read Hebrews 11-12 to prepare for Sunday.
• We only have two more weeks in Hebrews.  I love this series.  It is going way too fast.
• Jesus is our high priest.
• Don’t drift spiritually. 
• 5 churches will be at our kidTOUGH luncheon and presentation in The Alley at 1:30, evaluating if they want to use kidTOUGH in the fall.  Attendance should be around 30 people. 
• Did you know?   Nine churches are now considering using kidTOUGH for their kids’ ministry.  God is opening up doors for us to partner with other churches to develop leaders and provide practical resources and tools. 
• Do you bring your Bibles to church with you?
• We will have 16 women’s bathroom stalls in the new building.
• We lose an hour of sleep this weekend.  Turn your clock forward one hour.  I love my sleep.  Let’s all pretend to be awake on Sunday!
• Simply Worship was amazing.  Only 3 more until summer break.  It is refreshing to see people love Jesus and spend an hour worshipping.
• Easter is in five weeks.  Who are you inviting to church with you?
• We are painting our office complex this weekend.  It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do to a room. The dark brown looks great.
• I am typing this while driving to Idaho.  Well…Jana is driving.  I am in the passenger seat.  It is snowing.  I better stop typing and give Jana a break from the snow. 
• Good bye!  See you Sunday!