Just finished watching North Point Online (Twitter - @NPonline) via my iPhone while waiting to be seen at Northside Urgent Care. I love our church...check out http://www.northpointonline.tv

North Point Online

Life has been so busy...I can't believe it's Christmas! I pray you have a great Christmas and an awesome new year! I'm finishing up a new "rack card" (like the Battle Blueprint and In Adam / In Christ cards) called "Setting the Mind". It should go to print in January if not sooner...I hope you will find it helpful.

Our Pastor has begun a new message series titled "Staying in Love"...if you enjoy listening to Andy Stanley you will really like this first message. Andy forced me to look at my own actions to determine if my behaviors are "loving", not just if I feel "love". Often the community of grace will shy away from a focus on "doing" (and justifiably so as doing in our culture often mistakenly equates to a higher level of spirituality or intimacy with God)...let me offer some words of encouragement from my personal floundering in this area beginning with a question, how are you loving your spouse right now (I had to ask myself that question, and I didn't like the answer)? Proactive acts of love (a hug, kiss, act of service, genuine conversation, sacrifice, et. al) are a major ingredient for finishing strong in your marriage. Are you trapped by the lie of reciprocity as I was that says "if she did, I would", standing firm in your house made of sand? I'm glad our Savior had a different model...He FIRST loved us and demonstrated that love through the cross. For me, the lie included a component where my spouse must earn my love that also included withholding my love until she measured up to my expectations (I know, pretty sorry...it's just the ugly, fleshly truth). If you relate in any way to that sorry way of thinking, make a decision today to reignite your love (ask God for His grace to "love through you"...He IS Love)...take "actions" to save your marriage and/or make it even stronger. Remember that love in the scripture is a verb, not a thing to obtain or emotional place to long for...feelings and emotions will eventually follow when you make the choice to love your spouse.

My wife is loving her new Kindle 2 eBook reader...it is easy to use and carry around (vs. keeping up with multiple books) and the battery lasts a long time. I was thrilled when they released the iPhone / iPod Touch Kindle ebook reader application. Although you can not purchase ebooks via the iPhone application, you can download any Kindle ebook to your iPhone / iPod Touch once purchased via the web site. I love it. I'm currently reading Brennan Manning's "The Ragamuffin Gospel"...it is easy to read on my iPod Touch and so convenient. I'm definitely a convert.

Not to be out done, Barne's & Nobel acquired Fictionwise (online eBook distributer) that may offer the Amazon Kindle some competition (iPhone and iPod Touch users might be familiar with Stanza, a great eBook reader application that interfaces very well with Fictionwise). I was thrilled that Stanza was able to import my old Palm eBooks...pretty cool.

Since we're talking about eStuff, you might have guessed by now that I'm an iPod Touch owner and love it. Two Bible applications worth checking out include Mantis Bible Study Application (free KJV as well as paid for Bible translations and study modules) and the popular "YouVersion" online web bible application simply called "Holy Bible" (online translations available for free). Mantis stores the entire text of whatever you purchase on the device (so you can use it w/o out a wifi or cellular connection) where YouVersion's Holy Bible application can only be used when you have a connection to the internet (although it does allow you to download a cache of what you're reading so you can read offline; you just can't read beyond what you specify for off-line reading). Good stuff...good tools.

Just finished redesigning some ministry web sites for two good friends (well, web sites are rarely "finished"). Check out Mike Quarles Grace Walk Recovery Ministries at http://www.FreedomFromAddiction.org and also Pat Higginbotham at http://www.PatHigginbotham.com. Mike works with Steve McVey (from Grace Walk) and has been running a recovery ministry for many years; Pat is a licensed counselor, specializes in child and family issues and serves as an expert witness in child abuse cases. Enjoy the sites.

Just got back on Twitter as vterrell. Still not sure how I will use it!

Hey guys...I could use your help! I wrote a song a few years back with one problem...I never put it to music! If anyone is inclined to take these lyrics and put them to music, I would be grateful (and if you use a Mac and Garageband, Logic or other Mac software that's a double blessing!). I was actually playing around in Garageband with my son who, as many of you know, is diagnosed with Autism/Aspergers...we were really having a great time. After we finished our time together, the Lord brought me back to these lyrics that I penned in 2005. I made some minor changes but did not want to file it away for another few years w/o asking others for help in bringing it to life with music. Let me know what you think and we'll trust God for the outcome.


Stand Firm
© 2005, 2009 by Vernon Terrell

Stand firm in the freedom where Christ set you free
don't yield to the lie that you once believed
the truth of your victory must capture your heart
you are loved and accepted, for Him set apart

stand firm...stand firm

=========================
You are His new creation
you are holy and pure
not by your works but His grace

You are righteous and holy
you're complete in His love
Stand firm in His wonderful grace
==========================

His grace is unending His love never fails
life everlasting through you does prevail
you are not just a sinner but a saint by design
now walk in His victory where chains can not bind

Power and might from the strength of His hand.
strongholds will crumble at His one command
Living His life through the saints to declare
that life is worth living when Jesus is there

stand firm...stand firm

=========================
You are His new creation
you are holy and pure
not by your works but His grace

You are righteous and holy
you're complete in His love
Stand firm in His wonderful grace
==========================

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
perhaps some music only and spoken Scripture verses....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking by faith and believing the truth
A world that needs to see Jesus in you
You can't afford to keep going your way
So throw off the chains and trust Him today


=========================
You are His new creation
you are holy and pure
not by your works but His grace

You are righteous and holy
you're complete in His love
Stand firm in His wonderful grace
==========================

stand firm...stand firm

=========================
You are His new creation
you are holy and pure
not by your works but His grace

You are righteous and holy
you're complete in His love
Stand firm in His wonderful grace
==========================

I found this video on God Tube...ok, it's not "exactly" a complete overview of the Bible but in less than a minute you get the highlights. I call it a modern day "Walk Through the Bible" rap (well, if you want accuracy I'd stick with "Walk Through the Bible" but you have to admit these guys do a pretty good job in under a minute).

If you haven't seen or heard of GodTube...take a look at http://www.GodTube.com (what a great alternative to YouTube). My kids are getting of the age where YouTube and other social networking sites are very attractive. While we can't protect our kids from every online danger, we can certainly point them to some very good alternatives (and GodTube certainly qualifies). YouTube has some great stuff (my church is on youtube), but GodTube is a place I don't have to worry every second about what my kids are viewing. I've been watching GodTube for a while but have just now "joined" under the LiveNHim username. I'm not sure how I will use it but I have to say, it's pretty cool. Try it out!

I am so thrilled at how my local church (North Point Community Church) is changing lives in so many ways...I have to say I'm a bit partial to the Hope Ministry since my wife is going through their training to serve others by God's grace! The Hope Mentor ministry is an exchanged life, grace filled ministry helping individuals understand the "truth that will set them free"...I'm glad I can provide our FreeNHim "In Adam / In Christ" rack cards to supplement their awesome teaching. Understanding our true identity as a believer is a core belief that each person must wrestle with to enter into God's freedom and rest. Let me know how we can help as you grow by His grace.

My wife and I are thrilled that school is back in session!! For the first time, our three kids will be at the same school (we know it won’t last long). We’re praying that God will protect and encourage our kids again this year as they brave the new world of fourth and third grade as well as kindergarden. The summer has been a bit laid back after our Florida vacation; the structure of the school year will be welcome. Speaking of structure, some folks see any type of “structure” in their personal life or church as a form of legalism...that is so far from the truth. Legalism starts in the heart and looks to our motivation for action. If we believe that structure and formality (or the lack thereof) is more pleasing to God or is necessary for God’s favor, we’ve fallen into a legalistic trap. Whether you prefer the structure of a school year or the endless days of summer, allow Christ to work His will through those preferences knowing that the God loves and accepts you regardless.

This blog will combine 3 other blogs (Grace Notes, LiveNHim and TruthNHim) from another service into one main blog for FreeNHim Ministries. I may just start fresh with the blog vs. moving all the older posts...a fresh start! There is a lot to do...thanks for your patience.