Great Leaders Serve

Procreating in the Bruns becoming a HUGE issue...

Okay, well all know that SEX sells, but nothing to see here except some really proud parents and a Liquid community that is growing like crazy!

Check out the new little Liquid peeps that have showed up in the past few weeks...

Joshua Alejandro Torres (the future heavy-weight champion of the world) was born July 7 @ 3:31am.  Weighing in at a massive 6lbs 12oz:).

Mom (Glenda) is doing great and Dad (Alex Torres) is doing cart wheels...

Not to be out done by Joshua, Luke Joshua Gill was born on June 18. 7lbs 7.7 ounces and 19 inches long to proud parents Josh and Sara Gill.

Please join me in celebrating with the Torres and Gill families for these incredible bundles of joy (and lots of other stuff like constant crying, poopy diapers and sleepless nights:).

Glad that your Liquid family can celebrate with you guys. Let us know how we can help! - p. mikey

Say GOOD-BYE to Hollywood (or what makes Hollywood go:)

Big day in the Leahy household today. We took some time this morning, per the encouragement from our good friend (or enemy:) Dave Ramsey, to cut up our credit cards. Scary moment right? Awesome moment actually!

This Financial Peace University process has been really awesome, but I am not going to lie; it hasn't been easy.

The bottom-line though is that as a family we are beginning to feel the freedom of "the borrower NOT being servant to the lender" and we love it.

This reminds me that our faith really is a journey (not a guilt trip) and so I hope sharing just a little bit of our story encourages y'all to do the same (notice we aren't perfect:).

Looking forward to seeing God continue to change us as a community; one person and one decision at a time.

excited and nervous - pastor mikey

p.s. P. Kang - I do understand that this very act of cutting our credit cards puts us one step closer to possibly shaving our heads!

Sunday's sermon always starts in the parking garage...

The average person (church goer or not) would agree that the sermon begins when the pastor/preacher begins speaking, but these comments below (in blue) from a first time guest to the Bruns would beg to differ...

I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated my experience at your church this past Sunday. I am new to the area, and have been looking for a church home, and I have to say it was the most welcomed I have ever felt going to a church.

When I first walked in I met Don Hsaio, he saw that I was new, introduced me to some people, and let me know about the small group that meets on Thursday. I, in fact, met more people in the one Sunday at your church than I had in 4 months at my previous church. I got a real sense that the church isn't just a tradition, but a loving community intent on changing the world for Christ.

Not to take anything away from the message on Sunday (awesome job P. Kang:), but I hope you folks see the incredible impact that was had on this person as they came to Liquid for the first time.

NOTICE, they did not mention the lights, preaching, music, videos, etc. They mentioned the significant impression that was left by one person taking time to genuine welcome and take interest in another person.

A HUGE thanks to our Greeting Team and people like Don who represent the heart and soul of Liquid. Embodying the idea that we exist for those who aren't here yet (but not at the expense of those who are:).

Blown away once again by you folks - p. mikey

 

The OUTSIDE church!

Couldn't help but share with all you clowns this email I received from the Jacob Family (Al, Joanne, Josh and Abigail are NB peeps). Reminds me of our vision to take church TO the people...

 As we are walking in from the from the parking lot (this was the week we were at the Heldrich Hotel), we sort of walked with this other extended family grouping looking dressed as if they too were heading to church. 

We were talking among ourselves and the word Liquid may have been uttered and then a young boy in the grouping said, as we parted ways with them entering the lovely Baptist church on the square, "look Mommy, those people are going to the OUTSIDE CHURCH."  

What a joyful glimpse that our peeps are, in fact, taking church to the people and that we would have the blessing of being known as the OUTSIDE CHURCH.  

Thanks guys for reminding us how great it is to be taking (outside:) church to the people!

privileged -- pastor mikey

The best $7 Liquid ever spent!

Living here in America we make decisions everyday as we look at price-tags (or at least most of us do:). Whether we realize it or not we are always asking ourselves questions like "Is it a good purchase?"  "Do I need it?"  "Can I afford it?"

At Liquid we do that all the time as well. Our most recent was giving away free movie tickets to First Time Guests (and the friends who brought them) for coming to Liquid during the "At the Movies" series. We asked ourselves, "Is this money well spent?"

Well, just in case any of us ever were wondering, the $7 spent (our cost for each movie ticket) for one particular visitor on Sunday was an investment of eternal proportions. Why? because that First Time Guest asked Jesus to be their Savior on Sunday! That's right. Lord of their life! It's that awesome or what?

This begs the question, who else can we spend $7 on this Sunday? Tara (my wife:) and I invited some of our neighbors from Scotch Plains to come on Sunday and to be honest I would spend a lot more than $7 if I knew it would mean that would spend eternity with Jesus!

SO, who you invitin' Sunday? And just in case you need a little something to help convince them maybe you could use this goofy video to encourage them to come get the free movie ticket. Hey, you never know:).

dollar poor, spiritually rich - pastor mike

Liquid Church | Free Movie Ticket Terminator from Liquid Church on Vimeo.

Smarts, Self and Silver

Been reading in Jeremiah lately (kick'it old school) and have come across some quality nuggets of wisdom. I know, the book of Jeremiah is full of "warning and judgment" for God's peeps (the Isrealites), but don't miss the forest for the trees folks. There is some good stuff in there.

Considering this was written BC (before the time of Christ) it's amazing how relevant this stuff is today. Check out the three things God is using Jeremiah to call out as issues for people back then...

Smarts (intellect), self (I can do this on my own) and silver (cash is king mentality). Go figure. Some 2000 years later don't we all struggle with some of the same issues?

Jeremiah 9:23 reads...

This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,

Easy solution? Not really. A journey of asking God to change our hearts? Absolutely! The next verse says,

"but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Do we just wake up one morning and "understand and know" God? Nope! But, that process happens over time as we walk along with Jesus daily, sometimes making some good choices, others, not so much. Like today... God help us to be able to understand and know you just a little bit better today.

trying... mikey

H-Y-O-S-I-L is in the HOUSE (or the Bruns Hyatt:)

Hailing all the way from Chicago (Willow Creek Church actually) Hyo Sil Siegel, her husband David and their two boys, Eli and Geffen are heading east to join the Liquid Staff. As if Hyo Sil's 15 years experience of children's programming and creative leadership aren't enough her engaging personality and heart for Jesus and kids are an irresistible combination!

We couldn't be more excited to have her join the AWESOME group of volunteers that serve here in New Brunswick! Parents, volunteers and kids alike are going to really enjoy being influenced by Hyo Sil's desire to have a kids environment that is engaging, fun and inspires kids to connect with Jesus on their level (not ours:)

Tom Petty says "the waiting is the hardest part" and we are so thankful that God has provided Hyo Sil to grow, serve and lead Liquid Kids here in New Brunswick. Please join me in welcoming her to the Team and I look forward to having her team up with all the incredible people God is already using to love and teach our kids here in NB!

pumped -- pastor mikey

Feel free to shoot her a welcome email at Hyosil@Liquidchurch.com

Duck gets run over on LBI!

The five of us stole off to LBI this weekend to celebrate the end of another school year. Cal (9), Coops (8) and Mo (6) are headed into 5th, 3rd and 1st grades, respectively. It was so nice to NOT have the pressure of getting the kids to bed early or homework to be done.
The only bummer of the weekend was the duck that was run over by the girls. True story!

Couldn't help but share the home video they made of the incident as the 3 of them rode on a long-board (long skate-board that is:) and ran over Maggie's fav stuffed animal, a duck:).

Enjoy...

Why we make goofy videos at Liquid...

Hey Folks!

Couldn't help but share this message that Pastor Tom and I received on Facebook from awesome Liquid New Brunswick Peep Nelli Savkina.

Hey Pastor Mike and Pastor Tom,

Just wanted to share something with you...
I shared your latest promo video (Star Trek) with my co-workers: we had very busy, horrendous day at work and as it started winding down in the afternoon, I put this video on to provide some comic relief for everyone.
They absolutely loved it!
They asked me about service' times and made comments that my church does not seem boring at all:) and maybe it is worth to visit.  And they loved your flip-flops, P. Mike and your ears:), P. Tom...
Thank you for helping to bring church to people:),
Blessings,

Nelli

Hey Nelli - Thanks for taking the risk to share this with your friends at work. I don't think there is a better reason to do this goofy stuff! Church is (and should be) fun and our hope is that people will pick up on that and be willing to give it a shot!

Speaking of, check out these "goofy" out-takes. Fools for JC -- mikey

Making a Promo Video Outtakes from Liquid Church on Vimeo.

Trekkies, Tickets and Pastor Tim at the Hyatt New Brunswick (6/28)

Hey Kids!

It’s Friday and Jersey Shore lovers everywhere are all fired up about this weekend’s “threat” of 90 degree weather. Speaking of, Tara, the kids and I shot down to LBI last night to join in some quality beach time - good times.

BUT, we are pumped about being back for Liquid on Sunday to be part of the “At the Movies” festivities happening. As a matter of fact,  Pastor Tom and I were so excited we made a little video about it…

Liquid Church | Free Movie Tickets from Liquid Church on Vimeo.

Church is FUN right? So, hope to see you on Sunday with some of your friends for FREE popcorn, FREE movie tix’s (if you bring a friend:) and I almost forgot, Pastor Tim. That’s right, Pastor Tim will be speaking LIVE at the Bruns this Sunday at the 9 and 11am service so you don’t want to miss out on the FUN!

AND, before I forget, the following peeps won a free movie ticket from last Sunday (CONGRATS) just for filling out their connection card (please pick up your movie tickets at the Guest Services Center on Sunday:)...

Angelique Mather
Joey Hermes
Edith & Richie Ecklund
Sarah Roark
Steve & Sarah Seiz

See you Sunday “At the Movies” at the Hyatt New Brunswick!

cheers - pastor mikey