Seven San Diego

Quoting Poets: Secular Music in the Church

2010-05-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Quoting Poets
Secular Music and Culture in the Church

Secular music in the church, is there a place for it? How about as part of the "worship" experience?
If a church plays one secular song to illustrate a point in the message or to kick off a service i.e., (www.newspring.cc), is that heretical? Is that "watering down" the gospel or becoming a "shallow church."

What about the topic of engaging culture to reach some for Christ? Is it right to engage the culture or are we supposed to be separate and against culture?

First, Yes, there is a place for secular music in the church: Someone may ask, "Where's the biblical basis for such an act?"

Let's start with Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’’(We could also go to Numbers 21 and other Scripture but that's for another time). Here the Apostle Paul quotes a popular secular poet to illustrate a point. Why did Paul do that? How could he? Why did he feel he needed to do that? It's clear to me that Paul was speaking to a NON-Christian audience. He was engaging their culture for the purpose of opening their ears and hearts to receive the message of Jesus Christ.

Today's secular poets are the musicians of the world. They pull and tug at hearts of people by the music they write and play. They have tremendous influence. I'd put a lot of money on it that you listened to some secular music today. No one can deny the power of today's secular music. It is as powerful and alluring as the old poets Paul spoke of.

Why didn't Paul just "Preach The Word!?"
Because Paul knew how to engage culture to open up hearts and minds for the life changing message of Jesus Christ so he could MORE EFFECTIVELY preach the Word! That's why more churches should do the same. To more effectively preach the Word. Not play a song to just play a secular song, but with purpose it's a powerful tool!

Paul said, 1 Cor 9:20 "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
1 Cor 9:21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
1 Cor 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
1 Cor 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. "

Don't misconstrue what Paul is saying, he is not saying he did all that to be "cool" or to be "flashy" or to "water down" the gospel or for the sake of "easy believism". He did all that FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL. He engaged culture where appropriate for the very purpose of the gospel! This is where so many pastors and churched people miss it in my opinion. Many churches are into building walls and keeping culture out...make no mistake James tells us we are not to be polluted by the world (James 1:27). We should use culture not be used by it.

Paul's example is to engage culture for the purpose of WINNING SOME TO CHRIST. If that means we play a secular song to engage non-Christians and get their attention in order to do as Paul did and share the good news of Jesus Christ more effectively then we will do it. We will follow the example of the greatest soul winner next to Jesus and become all things to all people in order to save some.

Here's how I see it. Paul refrained from using his Christian freedom in order to "serve" the culture in order to save some. He could've said, "I'm a Christian, culture is bad, I don't want to be polluted by it, I better make no reference to it and keep it separated because these people will see no difference in me. I can't 'stoop down' to their level I must show them a different way by being totally and utterly different."

My guess is some of you reading this say, "Exactly!" But, you're wrong. How do I know? Because that's not what Paul did. The same guy that engaged culture and quoted poets is the same guy who said we should be holy, sanctified (set apart), ready for God's use. Wait a minute, sanctified means set apart so there you go, we should not be doing anything with the culture right? Wrong! Sanctified means set apart FOR GOD. Not set apart to be set apart. It means set apart for God's service. For His use. That is what Paul was, sanctified and as a sanctified Christian Paul quoted secular poets in order to save some. He was being used by God to reach into culture while still being sanctified.

Too many churches are of the "us four and no more" mentality. Holy Huddles It seems they say, "We have the good news, we're in, we're 'elect' and we're sitting on this until you come to us and engage our "christianese culture". Then when you've understood the 5 points of Calvinism and you are an "elect" one you may enter with the secret handshake (a.k.a 'right hand of fellowship'). Most people would say today, "sounds like a cult to me." And we wonder why American churches are declining and why pastors are hitting the "eject" button from their churches....lately, some very prominent ones. My opinion is because churched people are not interested in reaching out very much. They're very comfortable being Christians (if that can be said of one who does not reach out) and ignoring Matt. 28:19 and the Great Commission....which says paraphrased (Go get 'em!). This discourages pastors and they fail to keep the foot on the gas pedal of outreach and before long they are preaching to the choir and singing a sad song.

When I read the gospels it is clear Jesus was on the move. He didn't just sit in a synagogue and exposit Scripture and wait for the "elect" to come to him. He went out after them. He got out into the culture and was with the culture, "a friend of sinners." Accused of being a "drunkard, hanging out with the 'cultural crowd." Was Jesus "watering down" the message? Was He being "shallow" by being with those "riff raff?" Jesus was all about reaching out.

When Jesus was with the woman at the well He didn't yell, "Unclean, Unclean" even though as a Jewish Rabbi and according to the "church code" He should have. He met her right where she was and explained who He was. When Jesus was with the woman caught in adultery He didn't yell "Unclean, Unclean" even though as a "Pastor" He should have. Or, when Jesus healed a Roman Centurion's servant...a betrayal to the Jewish "churched" crowd-- healing the servant of a Roman occupier, an oppressor of our "churched culture" how could this Jesus do such a thing? Jesus didn't yell "Unclean, Unclean" at this Roman Centurion. He healed his servant.

Jesus wasn't into building walls and keeping culture out. He was into building bridges and opening the hearts of the culture he lived in. My hope is for more churches that can do the same. Not churches that when a secular song is played people yell, "Unclean, Unclean" but a church focused on a Jesus ministry, reaching the lost, engaging culture like Christ and like Paul all for the purpose of saving some.

Some may say, "What about Discipleship?" What about "Lordship?" That's next, after engaging them the work of discipleship begins. There is a huge cost that I look forward to writing about next.

Connect. Grow. Serve at Seven SD.

2009-10-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

Small Group sign-ups close October 25th. Don't miss your opportunity to connect with other believers in your local church this Fall. In just a couple of months, Seven SD Church will celebrate it's two year anniversary. Here's a snapshot of what has happened so far. Enjoy!

Which Teaching Series Have You Found Most Helpful?

2009-08-06T18:55:00.001-07:00

Questions I've Wanted to Ask God (New Teaching Series)

2009-07-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Next week we will start answering your questions to God. Do you have one? If so, post it right here; right now!

Make sure to visit the Seven San Diego Church website beginning July 12th to see if we answered your question. Messages will be available for download.

Summer Youth Olympics Are Back!

2009-06-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Parents! Register your children for our FREE Summer Youth Olympics. Read over the registration information below, print the form, and bring it with you the day of the event. It's that simple!

Open publication - Free publishing - More youth olympics

I Do! (New Teaching Series)

2009-06-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

For better, for worse…to have and to hold, from this day forward… Wedding vows are more than a declaration of love—they hold the keys for a strong, lasting marriage. Whether you hope to get married someday, or you’ve already tied the knot, discover what these words can mean for the future of your relationship. Join us as we dive into the depths behind the words, "I Do!" Message titles for each date are as follows:

I Do!: Avoiding a Lame Marriage

pt. 1, June 07 .....Secrets of a Satisfying Marriage
pt. 2, June 14 .....Marriage “Do Over”

Special Event: June 17....Fireproof Movie Night

pt. 3, June 21 .....God’s Model For Manhood in Marriage (Dude Sunday: Father's Day)
pt. 4, June 28 .....How to Keep Your Marriage Growing

Please stop by and visit us. We meet every Sunday at 10 AM at Olympian High School, located off of 1925 Magdalena Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Your Life Mission ID'd: Guest Blog by Ray Benton

2009-06-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

Jesus Christ communicated your mission in life when he said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The “gospel” or good news according to I Corinthians 15:1-4 is that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day…”

Did you know that it is mankind’s “sin” that separates us from a holy God? Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and this death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

So what was to be of "sin"? Well, a penalty had to be paid. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (I Corinthians 5:21). “But now Christ is risen from the dead…” (I Corinthians 15:20).

So what is to be said of a resurrected Christ? Well, we are to share what He did for us. If my mission is to share the “good news” with those in my world, and dare to reach beyond my world, and care about the whole world, how can I fulfill that responsibility? Doing the following will go a long way toward us fulfilling this mission:

First, we can PRAY. Jesus said, “…therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). The key to the impact of the early church in the book of Acts was that they were a praying church (Acts 1:14, 1:24, 3:1, 4:24-31, 6:4). As they prayed, their mission became focused and literally thousands responded to the “good news” and became a part of the family of God. As we pray, God will identify someone in our “oikos” who needs the “good news.” As we pray, we can ask God to empower those who have gone cross culturally to share the “good news.” Prayer will bring a focus to your mission.

Secondly, we can GIVE. The mission Christ entrusted to us involves me reaching beyond my world and caring about the whole world. In our society many are taking this aspect of their mission seriously and find themselves going on short term trips with a focus to take the “gospel” cross culturally. One of the ways we can all participate in this aspect of our mission is to give financially to organizations and individuals whom God has called specifically to take the “gospel” to a foreign land. Giving financially funds your mission.

Finally, we can GO. Whether it is going across the street to talk with our neighbor, across the miles to fulfill a short term trip or across the ocean to fulfill a lifetime calling to take the “gospel” cross culturally, all of us can participate by going. Going puts feet to your mission.

Take time today to increase your efforts to PRAY, your ability to GIVE and your desire to GO seek to fulfill the mission Christ has given you!

How to Become Like Christ II: Guest Blog by James Burdette

2009-05-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

How do I become like Christ? This question asked from a sincere heart is the most dangerous question a believer can ask. It is dangerous because the answer threatens all that we love other than God. One can study the gospels in the New Testament and try to piece together a picture of who Christ was and what he did and then do our best to mimic those actions. But my guess is that one would end up frustrated and unsuccessful. That is because becoming like Christ isn't primarily concerned with doing what he did, although someone who has become like Christ may do many of the things he did, I believe that becoming like Christ is primarily about loving who He loved.

When asked what the first commandement was by a scribe (a community religious leader) Christ replied, "'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one; you shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Mark 12:29-31).

I believe that to become like Christ you must first love God with all of your emotions, thoughts, and ability. To love God like this is the greatest thing anyone of us can do with our very brief lives. Can you imagine a life spent loving God with every action, thought, word and motive? That is what Christ did. His ministry on this earth and his execution outside of Jerusalem were fueled by a deep love for his Father and his people.

Which brings us to the next observation; when we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will naturally love others as we should. When we love God, we learn more about him and as a result love the people and the things which he loves. To become like Christ we must love God. How can we love God? Seek him in his word and in prayer. Hebrews 11:6 assures us that when we earnestly seek God he rewards us. Let's step forward towards becoming like Christ together and love God with all of our ability!

How to Become Like Christ: Guest Blog by Wes Van Fleet

2009-05-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

When Jesus came among us, He had one purpose: to fulfill His mission of becoming the perfect sacrifice on the cross by taking our place as sinners. We, in fact, could not accomplish this ourselves. God’s wrath on Jesus was a full payment for our sin. It was a holy wrath that pleased God- because it paid for you!! Christ’s payment on the cross for our sins was sufficient.

So what does this mean for us? Well, it means that when we trust in Christ alone for the payment of our sin and receive eternal life, we should be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). This should be our “I.D.”. But the bigger question is how? How do we become or "conform" to the image of Christ?

When explaining to His disciples what true followers of Christ should look like, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Jesus expected His disciples of yesterday to give up their lives to Him. And in the same way, He expects His disciples of today to do the same. We are not supposed to fit Jesus into our life only when comfortable or profitable. We are to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). We are to take up our cross at school, at work, and to the local Starbucks. No matter how uncomfortable the situation, we are to carry our cross. Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all you are, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-40). If we love Jesus with all we are, it will be natural to love those around us. If we love those around us, it will be natural to share the gospel with them and explain to them the free gift of life that was so graciously given to us. When doing these things, you shall become more like Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come".

Meditate on this verse this week. And watch how you will become more like Christ.

Climbing the Mountain: Guest Blog by Denisse Cherry

2009-05-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

Since the beginning of time, God's desire was to have a family. In fact, he expressed it when he created Adam and Eve. The book of Genesis also declares that "it was not good for man to be alone" (2:18). These opening passages should remind us that we were created to be communing with God and other people. But many of us have chosen NOT to be a part of God’s family for several different reasons; personality, past experiences, fear and so on.

Imagine this... You are getting ready to climb the highest mountain on Earth. You do not have a map, a plan or a partner. You know you must climb it, but you have no idea where to begin. And so you start your journey. On you way up, you fall, break your bones, cut yourself and even slip back all the way to square one. You are proud and you will not give up so you try again, not realizing that on top of having to climb the mountain you may have to deal with the weather. So now you are either freezing or overheating...

After so many tries and failed attempts you begin to get discouraged and your spirit begins to break. Though your spirit might be broken you still get up again and give it another shot. When you finally get to the top, you realize that you are there alone, with permanent damage caused to your body and your spirit. Many of us have been there…including me.

Ask yourself this, "Did I have to endure all that pain alone? And how much less pain would I have gone through if I had someone pulling me along, encouraging me, praying for me, and sometimes even preparing me for my journey? God gives us the experiences in our lives to be able to help each other along the way (Galatians 6:2). God uses every experience for his glory. I can personally account for that. Did you know that one of the worst forms of punishment for a criminal is solitary confinement? Why do you think that is? BEACAUSE WE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE ALONE!

Being a part of God’s family is one of God’s purposes for your life. That was his plan for you before you were born. The entire bible is a story of God building a family who will love him, honor him and reign with him forever. So, how do we accomplish that? The invitation to be a part of God’s family is universal, but there is one condition: faith in Jesus. Jesus helps us learn how to help each other, love each other, and be there for each other (John 13:34, Rom 12:10, Eph 4:2). We are born again into God’s family through faith. Once we become part of God’s family we are blessed to inherit everything that our Father has to offer.

I know what is like to internalize everything. I know what it is like to be proud and put up a front as if everything is okay. But I, like many other people, have gone through a lot of pain and unnecessary heartache. Don’t get me wrong, I have learned a lot about myself through those experiences and God has taught me a lot about the kind of person he wants me to be. But now that I have decided to be a part of God’s family, that mountain looks like a small hill. So if you are facing a mountain or a small hill, know that there are people out there that want to climb with you, help you along and pray with you. God strategically placed people in you life to help you grow, to help you conquer and reach the top so that TOGETHER we can bring him glory.

A Race Worth Running: Guest Blog by Jules Sneddon

2009-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

What is the purpose of mankind's existence? To put it simply, we were created to bring God pleasure (Revelation 4:11b KJV). And is it possible to please God without faith? (Hebrews 11:6a NIV). No, it is not possible. In fact, faith and understanding are fundamental to fulfilling our true purpose in life. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 that, "...faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". The writer adds on that, "Because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b NIV). So in other words, God not only wants us to believe in Him in the same way a demon would (James 2:19 NIV), but he wants us to believe in His Word, love, and countless promises.

When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even when we don’t see those promises materializing, we demonstrate true faith (John 20:29 NIV). This is what the ancients were honored for-– those few listed as heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Much like a runner, those heroes had crossed the finish line at the end of a very long race. And yet those heroes who lived by faith never received everything that they had hoped for on Earth; they only saw it and accepted it from a distance (Hebrews 11:13 NIV).

But why? Because God had planned something better for [them] so that only together with [them] would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40 NIV). Just as we need them, for they are our roots, so they need us, for we are their fruit. It is one tree, one story, one awesome chronicle of salvation and we get to be a part of it! God has included a plaque for our names in His hall of faith “so that only together with [them]” would all those listed in Hebrews 11 find their hope complete. Through our faith in Christ, we are intimately connected with them. Their faith and our faith make us co-believers.

Picture a sports arena with a great race track. A marathon race is in progress. The heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 have already run their race and they are now seated in the stands cheering you on as you begin to run the lap set out for you (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). We are finishing the race they began thousands of years ago. The baton that has been passed to you is the same baton they ran with. It is not just you crossing the finishing line. They are “with you” as you run. It is together that we win the race!

Jesus is there too, but He is running right beside you. He is there to encourage you and to help you to run the race set before you. He tells you to fix your eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2a NIV), for He is the one who built this great race track. He has already run this race and won. He has already received His victor’s crown. He is right beside you every step of the way. He is encouraging you to keep your eyes on Him because if you will have faith in Him, he will show you the way to victory!

Our Purpose Today: Guest Blog by Jeff Block

2009-04-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

I've been reading Paul's letters in the Bible lately and have found the first chapter of Ephesians to be one of the most intense chapters he's ever written. I still can't get over this chapter; I've read it over and over and over again. I try to figure it out. I try to figure out what Paul is saying. And so after wrestling with it, I can only come to one conclusion: it's about PURPOSE.

There are many definitions of "purpose." Most people try to find their "purpose" in life. Ask your coworkers what their purpose is in life and you'll be surprised to hear all types of answers. I'm sure. But we are not most people. We are not the same. We have a true purpose.

The dictionary definition is: "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." I believe, using that definition, that Paul answers our reason for existing in the first chapter of Ephesians. As we dig into the text, we should desire to discover or rediscover our daily purpose. That is our goal, is it not; to be daily renewed, daily engaged "in Christ"?

There are a few things we should pull out of this chapter. The first, is to see what God's purpose is, or will is... Verse 5 and 6 says, "he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Paul used the words purpose and will together, but why? What does "to the praise of his glorious grace" mean?

In verse 12 and 14, Paul adds, "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory... the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Do we realize that we are to be that? We are to be the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. I'm quite humbled thinking about that. I'm severely convicted at the thought of that. But with that conviction comes one thing--HOPE. We have to hold onto hope, which is Christ Jesus.

What is our purpose today? Let's refresh our memories. Let us be one thing--the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. But how? You ask. You can start by knowing your hope, remembering your purpose, and by allowing God to manifest himself in your life. You can spend all your energy, all your capable power in bringing Christ to life in your "mortal flesh." And as I'm writing these words, I am thinking of my own day, it's not easy; it never is. Our hope, our PURPOSE, our Life is all because of Jesus Christ...

It's time to manifest him today.

Hookers & Robbers: Guest Blog by Aurora Mckeehan

2009-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

We often find ourselves questioning our very own existence. We ask ourselves questions like, “What on earth am I here for? Who am I? What am I made to do? Who was I made to be?” Are you guilty of grunting any of those questions on your way to work, school, etc? If so, you’re not the only one.

When it comes to trials, we all face them. Some problems are astronomical, while others are not. Some problems are unclear, yet others have answers that give us more reason to follow an all-knowing God. To some, these problems just don’t make sense. They're “illogical”. The truth is, we serve an All-Mighty God; a God who knows in each and every one of our hearts. He knows WHO we are, WHAT we are and WHO we will become. He meets you wherever you are, no matter what state, no matter what life style, and regardless of the challenges you are facing. He meets you in the deepest of lows and the darkest of places. He is a God who loves us too much to leave us that way.

You are not alone in your sin. Whether it is an addiction, depression, rage, low self-esteem, etc. Jesus has a real plan to grow, move and change you. So often we get caught up in what this world has to give us; more clothes, fancy dinners or a new car. But all of the riches in the world will leave a man feeling empty. Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:25-27).

So if you are a hooker, a robber, a drug dealer, an addict or an everyday sinner like the rest of us, you can still be something greater. You can still pull away from the life you are leading right now and turn to something bigger than what this world has to offer. You are worth so much more than you will ever know. But in order to understand your greater purpose, you'll need to find your confidence and strength in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What I Hope They Won't Say At My Funeral, Pt. 2: Guest Blog by Roberto Comparan

2009-04-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for the errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation or staff.

Imagine your funeral. Do you picture a sea of mourning faces? Do you picture a group of musicians chanting songs? Do you imagine a priest or pastor speaking words of comfort? While all of those scenarios are likely to be seen or heard at your funeral, have you ever considered what someone might say on your behalf?

The Bible is clear in reminding us that we should be spending more time at funerals than festivals. "For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time" (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

Would your eulogy be packed with praise regarding your great party life? Would people shout to the rooftops regarding your excellent career choices? Would they express great admiration for your academic accolades? Although there is nothing wrong in pursuit of hosting a good party, having great work ethic, or doing well in school, it is important that we always keep the main thing, the main thing. Christ should be at the center of our influence.

Concerning human understanding, King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7: 15-18, "In this meaningless life, I have seen everything, including the fact that some good people die young and some wicked people live on and on. So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don't be too wicked either--don't be a fool! Why should you die before your time? So try to walk a middle course--but those who fear God will succeed either way."

In this passage we find King Solomon pressing our faces into the depths of where we should find meaning to our existence. In his reflections and confessions, Solomon points us back to the God of the Universe. After testing science, philosophy, materialism, and even political power for meaning, he points us back to the God who breathes meaning into our lives. He reminds us that finding purpose in ourselves, rules, or causing people pain only brings pleasure, and not success. In other words he says, "Live a balanced life. Don't be stupid. And seek something bigger and more powerful than yourself--God."

When I die, I hope that people would simply say two things about me at my funeral. I would hope that they would say that my life was 1) in pursuit of loving God and 2) loving other people. Day in and day out, we should reorient our entire lives to making those two things our most important pursuits. In this way, God will help you bring meaning to the meaningless.

I.D. (New Teaching Series)

2009-04-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

I.D. is here! In this new six-part teaching series, we hope to help you discover your purpose in life. Did you know God equipped you with spiritual gifts? Did you know that there's a reason God has you right where you are right now? Did you forget you were a part of God's family? Let is help you identify your God given mission. Message titles for each date are as follows:

I.D.: Who Am I Supposed to Be?

pt. 1, Apr. 19 .....What on Earth Am I Here For?
pt. 2, Apr. 26 .....How Can I Please God?
pt. 3, May 03 .....You Were Made For God's Family
pt. 4, May 10 .....How to Become Like Christ
pt. 5, May 17 .....How to Get in S.H.A.P.E.
pt. 6, May 24 .....Your Life Mission-ID'd

Please stop by and visit us. We meet every Sunday at 10 AM at Olympian High School, located off of 1925 Magdalena Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Holy Week & The Never-Ending Bailout

2009-04-10T10:46:00.001-07:00

In case you didn't get to follow our Holy Week Action Steps each day this week via Facebook or Twitter, we have posted them here for review.

Monday: (Compassion) Pray for God to show you a need and then act on it.
Tuesday: (Celebrate) List 10 things you want to thank the Lord for.
Wednesday: (Evaluate) List 5 things you really value that are important in your life.
Thursday: (Connect Spiritually) Spend more time uninterrupted with God. Don't forget to pray for your non-believing friends.
Friday: (Reconcile) Call or write someone you need to forgive or need forgiveness from.

This Easter, make sure to visit a church near you. Our message this week is titled, The Never-Ending Bailout. Join us for worship and celebration of the Cross this Sunday at 10 AM. We are currently meeting at Olympian High School located at 1925 Magdalena Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Your Questions; Our Answers: The Best Sex-EVER

2009-03-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the answers to your SEX QUESTIONS from last Sunday's message "The Best Sex Ever" pt. 3, The 7-Day Sex Challenge.

Although we answered some of your text messages during the worship service on Sunday, March 15th, we still had several questions that could not be answered within the hour. And so, the ones we didn't get to are now answered here and posted on our blogs and website. We hope you find this helpful.

Q: If married, is flirting bad?
A: Not if you’re flirting with your spouse. Flirting with your spouse is highly encouraged. In fact, it is true that women are like crock pots, but men are like microwaves. So men…get the crock pot started early with lots of flirting.

All other flirting outside the marriage is inappropriate. If you are tempted to flirt with someone who is not your spouse you should pour that energy into your relationship with your spouse. Flirting is the first step toward adultery or great sex with your spouse. See Proverbs 4:25, Prov. 7, Matt. 5:28 (applies to husbands and wives)

Q: What should we single people do for the next 7 days? (referring to the 7 Day Sex Challenge I gave to married couples which was for married couples to have sex each day or as much as possible for seven days).
A: The same thing you should do for the 7 after that. No sex until marriage (for further study listen to pt.1 of Best Sex Ever). Also, be praying for God to bring the right one into your life and make sure you use the parameters I gave for single people in part three of “The Best Sex Ever” when I talked about how to Recognize a Potential Mate. Click here for the listen to the message http://www.sevensdchurch.com/sermon/pt-3-the-best-sex--ever/

Q: How much viagra is too much?
A: If you have an erection that lasts longer than four hours you should see your doctor.

Q: Is masturbation ok in marriage? What does the Bible say about it?
A: If agreed to by both husband and wife as part of the sexual “fun” and arousal in bed YES, it is ok. If it’s something apart from the husband and wife’s fun time in bed it could become lustful with thoughts of others (thus committing adultery according to Jesus) and extremely selfish. The Bible says nothing about masturbation, but plenty about looking out for the needs of your spouse before your own 1 Corinthians 7:3-4, Hebrews 13:4, 1Peter 3:7.

Q: Is porn ok inside of marriage?
A: It is not OK, it enters “others” into the marriage bed, is Orgie “esque” and leads to deeper darker sexual misconduct. Even if both husband and wife agree it still is sinful in the sight of God and degrading and demeaning to both husband and wife. It brings lust to a whole new level and is an extremely difficult habit to break. If you are struggling with this please visit xxxchurch.com

Usually it is the husband requesting this and the wife may begrudgingly go along with it at first. Often the husband will start to see his wife as less and less valuable and unable to compete with what he is seeing on the television or computer. He is falling into Satan’s trap and continuing to devalue his bride by comparing her to the women he is seeing in the porn. This is the beginning of the end of The Best Sex Ever between the husband and wife. Radical steps must be taken to cleanse themselves of this and move forward in their sexual relationship without porn. It’s a long road some have made it, many have not.

Q: Can or will God bless a gay marriage?
A: The short answer is no, because it goes against what God has already said about homosexuality. If you would like to listen to a message I gave recently about homosexuality and marriage please click the link http://www.sevensdchurch.com/sermon/txt-pt-4-what-does-the-txt-say-about-being-gay/

However, all people whether believers or not, homosexual or not, experience what is called “common grace” and experience God’s blessings of living on earth, experiencing sunshine, rain, good days and bad…that is common to all humanity and in that case…a blessing.

Q: What about 1 Corinthians 7:14 where the unbelieving husband will be sanctified through his wife and vise verse?
A: This is a very interesting situation. The context is that Paul is talking to married couples where one person has become a believer and the other has not. Understand, they are already married and one has decided to be a Christian, the other has not. This is not a situation of a believer deciding to marry and unbeliever. We know from Scripture that this is forbidden by God (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).

He says that the unbelieving husband or wife is “sanctified” through the believing spouse. The question had come up in the Corinthian church about believers being “contaminated” by their unbelieving husbands or wives. By contamination I mean their sin and unbelief.

Paul makes the distinction and says that the believing husband or wife is not being contaminated with the bad or sin of the unbelieving husband or wife but the unbelieving husband or wife is being “contaminated” by the good or holiness of the believing husband or wife. He says they are being sanctified through their marital bond because of their faith in Christ.

Something very mystical and real happens when the two become one. It is more than just skin on skin. That’s why God considers sexual sin more serious than other sins (1Cor. 6:18-20). It is a unification of both body and soul.

It does not mean the unbelieving spouse is admitted to heaven upon death without confessing Christ, but it does mean that the believing spouse does not need to worry about being affected spiritually through an unbelieving spouse, rather the unbelieving spouse is being affected spiritually through the believing spouse. Their “holiness” or “goodness” is being “caught” by the unbelieving spouse when “the two become one.”

Q: Do I have to do premarital counseling?
A: If you would like myself or one of the other pastors at Seven San Diego church to marry you the answer is YES. You will need to do pre-marital counseling. It usually lasts 4-6 weeks for an hour per session with homework and life skills lessons that will give you a head start in your marriage. Believe me, you don’t want to miss out on pre-marital. I once had a guy give me a hard time about pre-marital counseling saying, “I’ve been married three times, I don’t need this stuff!”

Whether you’ve been married before or not YOU NEED PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING.

Q: Is oral sex ok?
YES. Again, in the marriage bed, it is all good between the two of you.

Q: Where in the Bible does it say that premarital sex is a sin/wrong?
A: The Bible refers to premarital sex as “fornication” in some of the older translations of Scripture such as the King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB) etc. More modern translations preferred the words “Sexually Immoral” or “Adultery.”

Below is a list of the verses from both the Old and New Testament where the Bible says pre-marital sex is a sin/wrong using the words fornication, sexually immoral and adultery.

1Cor. 5:9 1Cor. 5:11 1Cor. 6:9 Heb. 12:16 Heb. 13:4 Rev. 21:8 Rev. 22:15

For Further Study
2Chronicles 21:11 Isaiah 23:17 Ezekiel 16:26 Ezekiel 16:29 Matt. 5:32 Matt. 19:9 John 8:41
Acts 15:20 Acts 15:29 Acts 21:25 Rom. 1:29 1Cor. 5:1 1Cor. 6:13 1Cor. 6:18
1Cor. 7:2 1Cor. 10:8 2Cor. 12:21 Gal. 5:19 Eph. 5:3 Col. 3:5 1Th. 4:3 Jude 7
Rev. 2:14 Rev. 2:20 Rev. 2:21 Rev. 9:21 Rev. 14:8 Rev. 17:2 Rev. 17:4 Rev. 18:3 Rev. 18:9 Rev. 19:2

Q: What are some examples of clear boundaries that help in relationships?
A: Clearly stated boundaries in relationships are key to healthy relationships. The problem is most people don’t take the time to communicate when concerning boundaries. Don’t wait for the other person to talk about boundaries, you take the responsibility.

The reality is you will be more respected and appreciated if you clearly state your boundaries. I’m not saying on the first words out of your mouth to your date are, “We’re not doing this, this, or this, nor are we going here, here, or there!” When the time is right discuss it, but don’t wait too long.

Let’s take dating as an example. When you do discuss boundaries here are some guidelines. Boundaries should be clear that you won’t be alone in the dark, late at night, when no one else is around. Why? Very simply…temptation. Boundaries will help you stay pure before God as you walk toward marriage.

Boundaries help you have a plan when you’re dating. You will either go by your plans or your glands. If you’re in the back seat and it’s getting hot and heavy…it’s too late…you’re going by your glands. If you’ve discussed boundaries and agreed you won’t ever get in the back seat, nor go to a dark, private place with no accountability, no friends, just the two of you, then your boundaries will help you stay pure.

Other boundaries include no “sleepovers” or “I’m just going to sleep on the floor.” Why? The Bible says to avoid the appearance of evil. You may have the best intentions but it sure looks like you’re sleeping with her or him. The only thing people know is that your car was there all night. They don’t know you slept on the floor. And, besides, the temptation that’s just down the hallway is too great a trap.

The Best Sex--EVER! (Teaching Series) Returns on 03/15

2009-03-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

We are currently interrupting our teaching series, "The Best Sex --EVER!," to bring you special teachings from Pastor Ray Benton. This week he continues his two-part message titled, "The Big Question of Life". Our sex series returns on March 15th.

Delicious (New Teaching Series)

2009-01-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

"La vida dulce," the sweet life. It's something we all crave. Yet so often, we live with a gnawing hunger for the one ingredient that we think might be missing; an ingredient that we can almost taste but can't quite grasp.

In this new teaching series, we will discover just how to experience a fully delicious life. And we find that a life of full flavor and true satisfaction is something that God desires for us to have every day in every area of our life. Join us for "Delicious".

Please stop by and visit us. We are meeting at Wolf Canyon Elementary School every Sunday at 10 AM, located off of 1950 Wolf Canyon Loop, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Our Christmas Eve Service

2008-12-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

Join us on Wednesday, December 24th for a very special Christmas Eve service from 5 PM- 6PM at Wolf Canyon Elementary (1950 Wolf Canyon Loop, Chula Vista, CA 91913).

Bring your friends, family, and children! Hang out with us and hear The Story. The one about the little boy born in a manger. You don't want to miss it!

Yes on 8

2008-11-03T15:32:00.001-08:00

Although some of you saw this video clip at church on Sunday, we thought you would want to see it again. Please, feel free to share. Election Day is tomorrow. Please vote responsibly!

Now Meeting at Wolf Canyon Elementary

2008-10-08T15:32:00.001-07:00

Seven San Diego Church is now meeting at 1950 Wolf Canyon Loop, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Check out our highlight clip from a few weeks ago.

TXT (New Teaching Series)

2008-09-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

We took a cue from our friends at Life Church and decided to roll out a series that's all about the Bible. Yes, that's right...the Bible.

You don't want to miss what we have to say about the most important TXT you'll ever get. "TXT" begins Sunday, October 12th.

The Bible is much more than a book of stories and rules from the past. It's rich with a relevant message God has for us today. Join us as we discover how to engage with the Bible like never before.

Fuse: Sign Up for A Small Group Now

2008-09-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

How do you grow in your faith? Although there isn't a specific formula, the Bible does make it clear that we need other people to truly live an abundant life.

This week we will launch our Small Group Sign-Ups. Groups won't start meeting until October, but you can visit our website NOW to view our comprehensive list. Also, feel free to sign-up online or just wait and fill out the Connection Card at our worship service. Sure, we know it can be intimidating to join a complete group of strangers for weekly gatherings, but we promise, you won't regret it.

Fuse (New Teaching Series)

2008-09-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

So you finally came to church. Now what? You went back home, but nothing in your life ever changed. You expected to be a new person overnight, but it never happened. So what went wrong? Well, it's probably because you never took a few minutes to connect with God's people. And because you didn't connect with God's people, you failed to grow in your faith like you expected. And because you didn't grow in your faith, you probably didn't have a heart to serve your community. So now what? Well, we've got a proposition for you...

This Fall, we challenge you to Fuse into Seven San Diego Church. This week we will kick off our new teaching series titled, "Fuse". Message titles for each date are as follows:

Fuse: Connect. Grow. Serve.

pt. 1, Sept. 14 .....The Challenge to Connect
pt. 2, Sept. 21 .....The Challenge to Grow
pt. 3, Sept. 28 .....The Challenge to Serve
pt. 4, Oct. 05 ......The Challenge to Fuse into Seven SD

Please stop by and visit us. We are NOW meeting at Wolf Canyon Elementary School every Sunday at 10 AM, located off of 1950 Wolf Canyon Loop, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Moving Again & the Launch of our New Teaching Series

2008-08-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

In just a few weeks our Sunday worship service will no longer be held at the AMC Theater in the Otay Ranch Town Center. Beginning September 14th... I repeat, beginning September 14th, we will begin meeting at Wolf Canyon Elementary.

This week, Dr. Jim Garlow, who is the Senior Pastor at Skyline Church and father-in-law to Pastor Jeremy McGarity, will help us launch part one of our NOW three part teaching series titled, "Risky Church".

In this new series, we challenge you to take risks. Are you ready to risk your reputation? Your plans? Your life? What does it mean to be Christian in today's pluralistic culture? We will help you answer those questions and more beginning this week. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Risky Church: Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.

pt. 1, Aug. 24 .....Risking for Right
pt. 2, Aug. 31 .....Risking on Purpose
pt. 3, Sept. 07 ....Risking to Move

Risky Church (New Teaching Series)

2008-08-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

In this new two-part teaching series, we challenge you to take risks. Are you ready to risk your reputation? Your plans? Your life? What does it mean to be Christian in today's pluralistic culture? We will help you answer those questions and more beginning next week. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Risky Church: Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.

pt. 1, Aug. 24 .....Risking for Right
pt. 2, Aug. 31 .....Risking on Purpose

Please stop by and visit us. We meet every Sunday at 10 AM at the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center, located off of 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Tabloid Jesus: Another Paparazzi Clip

2008-07-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

We found Jesus acting a bit reckless this week. What's with the temple tantrum? Dude, why is Jesus angry about coins, livestock, and merchants within the holy walls?

According to the Gospels, Jesus took offense to this, and so, he turns over tables in the Temple to make a clear point about what he expects from those who call him Father. In this new teaching series, we examine the most controversial man that ever walked this earth. Why was Jesus so popular? What made Him so different? Don't let the paparazzi lead you astray. Tabloid Jesus is here. This week's message is titled, "Jesus Throws a Temple Tantrum."

Make sure to stop by the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Tabloid Jesus (New Teaching Series)

2008-07-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

In this new teaching series, we examine the most controversial man that ever walked this earth. Why was Jesus so popular? What made Him so different? We will help you answer those questions and more, all month long. Last week we kicked off this new teaching series with "Jesus Says He's God." Say what? Message titles for each date are as follows:

Tabloid Jesus: Controversy never looked so good!

pt. 1, July 13 ......Jesus Says He's God. The Controversy Begins.
pt. 2, July 20 .....Jesus Meets the Outcast. The Scandal Heats Up
pt. 3, July 27 .....Jesus Throws A Temple Tantrum. The Angry Pharirazzi Follow.
pt. 4, Aug. 03 .....Jesus Guarantees Riches. The Crazy Talk Continues
pt. 5, Aug. 10 .....Jesus Disrupts Order. The People Become Dependent.
pt. 6, Aug. 17 .....Jesus Hangs w/Prostitutes & Spits in Eyes. Why Does He Do This?

Make sure to stop by and visit us at the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Tabloid Jesus: Paparazzi Clip

2008-07-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

We caught Tabloid Jesus at Starbucks this week. He says He's God. Is He lying? Is He a fool? Is He really God? The paparazzi think so.

Jesus was often called a lunatic for claiming to be God. In this new teaching series, we examine the most controversial man that ever walked this earth. Why was Jesus so popular? What made Him so different? Don't let the paparazzi lead you astray. Tabloid Jesus begins July 13, 2008. This week's message is titled, "Jesus Says He is God."

Make sure to stop by the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Controversy never looked so good!

Youth Olympics: The Wrap Up

2008-07-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

They came, they played, they conquered. Our Summer Youth Olympics are now over. It was a success, thanks to our partners from Houston First Baptist Church and San Miguel Community Church. Over 200 people participated in this weeks events.

A special thanks goes out to Jules Sneddon for keeping things moving and wrapping up the week's activities. The kids received trophies, t-shirts, and bead necklaces as parting gifts. Thanks for a great week Chula Vista!

Youth Olympics: Training Day

2008-07-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

It was a fun first day. Our kids played and practiced in preparation for tomorrow's official start to the Olympic competition. Thanks to our friends from Houston First Baptist Church and San Miguel Community Church, training day was a success.

Of course, it's not too late for your child to join the activities though. We will be gathering for this event until Thursday, July 10th at Scobee Park in Chula Vista. Please, drop by and say hi.

Youth Olympics This Week

2008-07-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

We're firing up the grill, throwing up the shade, and rallying together for some summer recreation. Join us from July 8th-10th for our Summer Youth Olympics. Find us at Scobee Park near our offices at the corner of Kuhn and Miller between 1-4 PM.

Elementary school aged kids are invited to attend. They will be placed on teams and participate in games. Prizes and medals will be given out at the end of the week. Invite your neighborhood kids and drop by today.

Wasting Time With God (New Teaching Series)

2008-06-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

What would it look like if we took God with us all day? What if God really had first place in our lives each day... What would change? Whom would be effected? In this mini-series we discover what a day looks like when we allow God to take control of it. Let God be the center. Waste time with Him in the morning, when you leave the house, and before you go to bed. Is that too much to ask? Our new teaching series begins on June 22nd. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Wasting Time With God: What would it look like if we took God with us all day?

pt. 1, June 22 .....How to Waste Time with God in the Morning
pt. 2, June 29 .....How to Waste Time with God Before You Leave Home
pt. 3, July 06 .....How to Waste Time with God in the Evening

Make sure to stop by the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Photo Gallery Updated

2008-06-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

We've updated our photo gallery. Please visit our official website to check out the new albums. Also, make sure to select "Next Screen" to view all the new content.

Congratulations to everyone we baptized last Sunday. There were twelve total! And, yes, we've got photos of that too.

Ten Dollar Stories

2008-05-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago we asked everyone in our congregation to pull ten dollars out of our offering bags. We challenged our church to use the ten dollars we made available to them by blessing someone that they felt was in need. Some bought meals, others bought drinks, while others gave it to someone as a tip for a service. Here's one story that came to us from a Seven SD attendee:

"I prayed about it. Everywhere I went I was staring at people waiting to see a sign or something that told me to hand them the envelope... Meanwhile, I went to a baby shower and told my aunt about the 'challenge of giving'. It wasn't long before everyone at the baby shower learned what I had shared with my aunt. Jesus quickly became our topic of conversation. It was exciting!

Anyway, it was Thursday and I still hadn't given the money to anybody... My son goes to a new pre-school and I felt in my heart that I should give it to one of his teachers. Although I don't really know many of them, I did know that one of his school teachers was a young college student about twenty-one years old. So, I gave it to her.

She was so excited! I told her about the whole thing. The service, the challenge and what the Bible says about giving. Anyway, she hugged me and told me how she lives in this hostel and that she is having a lot of issues, personally and financially. It made her day. She must have given me three hugs at least. It was a GREAT feeling. Today she is still smiling." -Nicole V.

What' your story?

Exponential Conference 2008, Orlando, Florida

2008-04-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

We spent some time in Orlando, Florida last week learning about church planting. This year, over 2,500 pastors from all across the world were in attendance. Below are some photos from our trip. Our church plant coach, Dave Page, as well as our friends from Vantage Point Church in Corona, CA also came along for the ride.

On Tuesday night we took a break from the conference to unwind at the Orlando Magic Playoff game. Orlando Magic held on to victory by one point. Whew! It was a close one.

On Wednesday, our team, along with a few other church planters, were invited to a private dinner. Our special guest and speaker for the night was Rick Warren. We had the opportunity to snap a few photos and chat with him briefly. His words were so encouraging.

Back From Orlando, Florida

2008-04-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Jeremy and Roberto just got back from Orlando, Florida. They spent the last few days learning about church planting at the Exponential Conference, held at one of Orlando's largest church's.

Please, keep an eye out. We will be posting photos on this blog in the days to come.

Relationship Rehab (New Teaching Series)

2008-04-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

You + me = a relationship. We all have them. How do we manage them? Who do we turn to when one of them goes bad? We will help you answer those questions and more next month. Our new teaching series begins on May 11th. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Relationship Rehab: Rethink, restore, rediscover your relationships

pt. 1, May 11 ......Rethink Your Family Relationships
pt. 2, May 18 .....Restore Your Broken Relationships
pt. 3, May 25 .....Rediscover Your Marriage Relationship
pt. 4, Jun. 01 .....Rethink Your Relationship with the Church
pt. 5, Jun. 08 .....Rediscover Your Oikos (Network) Relationships
pt. 6, Jun. 15 .....Rediscover Your Relationship with God the Father

Make sure to stop by the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Our First Membership Class

2008-04-15T17:30:00.001-07:00

Our weeks seem to be getting busier. Baby dedications in February, Easter in March, and now, membership classes in April. Here are some photos of Jeremy McGarity giving our church family some background. Our first membership class was held last Sunday at our offices.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Seven SD, please let us know on your Connection Card this weekend. You may also email us at info@sevensdchurch.com to learn more. We will announce a new meeting date in just a few weeks.

Above>Average Joe, Pt. 2

2008-04-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Don't miss part two of our new teaching series titled, "Above>Average Joe". This Sunday, "How Joe Quits An Addiction".

Who Is Above>Average Joe?

2008-03-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Meet Above>Average Joe. Now, we know what you’re thinking… Where did we find such a fine-looking man with such a great sense of fashion? Miami, of course.

Joe recently beat the world record in the bench press… Too bad there was a rule that says you have to use BOTH hands for it to count.

Oh, and where’s Waldo? That’s right. Joe is the reason he’s still hiding.

Did you know that when Arnold says, “I’ll be back” in the first Terminator movie, it is implied that he is going to ask Joe for help.

Oh, and you should see Joe on the dance floor. The winners of “So You Think You Can Dance” actually have to compete against Joe at the end. Rumor has it, the contestants are never to be seen again.

Now you may be complaining that you’ll never be able to become better than average. Joe would be the first to tell you that the first step in being above average is ending any and all complaints.

Yeah, that’s Joe. Above>Average Joe. A new teaching series. Begins this Sunday at Seven SD. This week… We learn how Joe stops complaining.

Easter at Seven San Diego

2008-03-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

Today is post-Easter Monday and after a long weekend of serving and introducing Jesus to people in Chula Vista, we wanted to reflect on God's faithfulness to Seven San Diego. We'll start with Easter and work backwards.

God's favor on our church was very evident this weekend. On Sunday, we saw several new faces attend our church. Although we expected an influx in attendance, we didn't expect so many of those first timers to be local. 53 more people attended our church this week than the Sunday before. Thanks to our good Lord, we were equipped with enough volunteer help to ease into the growth.

Our Sunday worship service had lots of video, painting on stage, a message about the importance of the resurrection, our new teaching series teaser, and the addition of Koby Orr, our new music leader. It is also important to note that our attendees walked away with free movie passes. Yeah, baby!

We give all the glory to God for the big swell. The "Big Mo" is among us. Momentum that is.

On Saturday, over 60 children, along with their families dropped by our Easter Picnic at Santa Venetia Park in Chula Vista, CA. The children had the opportunity to take pictures with the Easter bunny, hunt for eggs, eat lots of food, play in the jump house, and enjoy several games. Pastor Jeremy McGarity even played some b-ball with many of the fathers.

We would like to thank our friends at First Baptist Church Hesperia for assisting us along the week.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we thank the Lord for He is good. This Easter weekend did not suck.

Above>Average Joe (New Teaching Series)

2008-03-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

Do you feel like just another Average Joe? Well, you're not alone. We think you'll like what we have to say in the weeks to come. Our new teaching series begins after Easter on March 30th. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Above>Average Joe: Extraordinary roles for ordinary people

pt. 1, Mar. 30 ....How Joe Stops Complaining
pt. 2, Apr. 06 .....How Joe Quits an Addiction
pt. 3, Apr. 13 .....How Joe Protects his Marriage
pt. 4, Apr. 20 .....How Joe has Great Sex
pt. 5, Apr. 27 .....How Joe Manages his Money
pt. 6, May 04 .....How Joe Saves Time

Make sure to stop by the AMC in the Otay Ranch Town Center. We meet at 10 AM every Sunday at 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

This Easter...

2008-02-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

...invite, invite, invite! Please note that we are now just a few weeks away from celebrating our first Easter service at Seven San Diego. Here's the artwork to our promotional mailer.

Giving/Tithing Report

2008-02-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Giving Totals Last Month:

01/13/08 - $26,815.03 (Final Preview Service)
01/20/08 - $5,510.00
01/27/08 - $810.00
02/03/08 - $4,442.00

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. You can now make checks payable to Seven San Diego. Gifts may be sent to:

Seven San Diego Church
825 Kuhn Dr.
Suite 108
Chula Vista, CA 91914

Journey Into Wonderland (Video Intro)

2008-02-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, here's our new teaching series video introduction. The clip first premiered at our launch service on February 10th, 2008. All motionography and music was produced by our friends at BORN in Los Angeles, CA.

Like many of us, Wonder bunny finds himself empty, worried, angry, tempted, and wondering about the point of life, of course.

Journey Into Wonderland: Premieres This Sunday

2008-02-06T01:15:00.000-08:00

The BORN team continues to work on the new teaching series video intro.

Check out the rough animatic. View the preliminary storyboard, quick cuts, placeholder soundtrack and all.

New Teaching Series Video Intro Premieres Feb.10th

2008-02-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

We wanted to create a new teaching series video introduction like no other. In order to accomplish that, we spoke with our friends at BORN to aid our parade.

Designer and motionographer, Aaron Bjork, joked that the "Wonderland" spot had evolved into a "short film" as of later last week. He continued by saying that the BORN team, who works out of Los Angeles, was "very excited about the project".

Journey Into Wonderland, our new teaching series begins this Sunday. Don't miss Wonder (the bunny), or as they call him, Guner, hopping across our screens beginning February 10th. Seven San Diego (Church) launches in less than five days. Tic toc, tic toc... The clock is still ticking.

Meet The Star Of Our New Teaching Series

2008-01-30T01:22:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen! Meet "Wonder". The bunny, or star of our new teaching series titled, Journey Into Wonderland.

Our friends at BORN in Los Angeles are working hard to make him come to life. BORN was recently recognized in STEP Magazine and is now working on a project for Linkin Park. Make sure to catch Wonder hopping across our movie screens beginning February 10th. Seven San Diego (Church) launches in eleven days. Tic toc, tic toc... Did we forget to mention that we were a church not a design studio? Okay, just checking.

Moving Soon

2008-01-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

It is in fact true... We are moving to a new venue soon. Please be aware that we will meet at Olympian High School for two more weekends (February 10th & 17th) and then move to the AMC Movie Theater in the Otay Ranch Town Center beginning February 24th. Same time, new place. Although we would have appreciated staying at the high school a bit longer, we are still excited about the change. It's a God thing, we are sure of it.

Watch this YouTube clip we filmed a year ago. It makes a whole lot more sense now. Please, keep praying.

Our Final Preview Service: The Official Wrap-Up

2008-01-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

Preview no more! 115 people showed up to our fourth and final church preview service. The total for all preview services combined is 643 people, for an average of 161 people per service. Thank you to all who have made this possible. We really could not have done this without your support.

We would like to say a special thanks to Justin Fox and the band for filling in for music this week. We would also like to thank our friend Christian Turner for snapping all the photos. We will begin meeting every Sunday at 10 AM very soon! Next time you see us, we will be teaching through a new series titled Journey Into Wonderland. See you at our launch on February 10th, 2008.

Journey Into Wonderland (New Teaching Series)

2008-01-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Wonderland! Our new teaching series begins on February 10th. Message titles for each date are as follows:

Journey Into Wonderland: Answering Life's Most Pondered Questions

pt. 1, Feb. 10 ....I Wonder What Is The Point Of Life?
pt. 2, Feb. 17 ....I Wonder Why God Made Me This Way?
pt. 3, Feb. 24 ....I Wonder How To Deal With My Worry?
pt. 4, Mar. 02 ...I Wonder How To Deal With My Anger?
pt. 5, Mar. 09 ...I Wonder How To Deal With Temptation?
pt. 6, Mar. 16 ....I Wonder Why I'm Running On Empty?

Make sure to stop by Olympian High School, Chula Vista, CA for our fourth and final preview service on January 13th at 10 AM.

New Teaching Series Coming In February!

2007-12-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here's another peek of our new teaching series beginning in February! Are you still wondering what we will discuss? Look out! We will unwrap this new series in it's entirety very soon! We are currently nailing down message titles for each weekend.

Our New Office Space

2007-12-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

It feels good to be in an office again. This week we began to move things in. Check out Jeremy's "ghetto", well, temporary set-up.

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-12-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

Giving Totals This Month:

11/11/07 - $355.00
11/18/07 - $30.00
11/25/07 - $6,043.00
12/02/07 - $30.00

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. You can now make checks payable to Seven San Diego. Your financial gifts may be sent to:

Seven San Diego
PO BOX. 212098,
Chula Vista, CA 91921

If you are still making checks payable to HDC, we ask that you would write Seven SD in the memo line, or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

New Teaching Series Coming In February (Another Sneak Peek)

2007-12-21T01:45:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering what our next teaching series will be? Well, here's another sneak peek of the artwork... We promise to unwrap this new series in it's entirety after the Christmas break!

New Teaching Series Coming In February!

2007-12-13T00:47:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering what our next teaching series will be? Well, here's a sneak peek of the artwork... Yeah, yeah, we know this isn't fair, but we promise to reveal the series in it's entirety very soon.

Oh yeah, and it has nothing to do with She-Hulk.

Our Third Preview Service: The Official Warp-Up

2007-12-12T00:14:00.000-08:00

We had a great Sunday! In the face of all the challenges (Charger game, cold weather, and Christmas shopping), we still broke past one hundred. In fact, 101 people showed up to our third preview service.

We are thankful for all your support! We would like to say a special thanks to Sam Hart and the band for filling in for music this week (you guys rocked)! We would also like to thank our friend Christian Turner for snapping all the photos (you've got skills boy). Be sure to check out the photo gallery for a complete picture of what took place. We can't wait to do it all again on January 13th, 2008. We hope to see you there!

iNeed To Invite A Friend

2007-12-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

Firstly, we wanted to say thank you for attending one of Seven San Diego's preview services. Remember, our third preview service is coming up this Sunday, December 9th.

Secondly, we wanted to assure you that Seven San Diego is a place where people foster an environment of warmth and invitation. At Seven SD, people are encouraged to invite their friends, family, and coworkers to attend our services. Please, feel free to ask those you love to join the journey alongside you. We are a new church with a future built around our responsibility as believers to invite those that don't know Christ into His church.

The first line of our purpose statement is "We exist to show people Jesus..." Sunday morning services are a great place for people to meet Jesus. We encourage you to invite as many people as you can to our next preview on Sunday, December 9th at 10:00 AM. When they come with you, be sure to have them write your name in the "How did you hear about Seven San Diego?" line of the registration card. We will be giving away an iPod Nano (or gift card of equivalent value) to the person who has invited the most people to our December 9th preview.

Why? You may ask...well this is because we would like to reward you with a tangible gift that might help motivate you to take a chance and invite that person who has been on your mind the past couple of weeks. Also, in case you haven't noticed, we have a little iPod theme tied to our teaching series, so we're stickin' with it.

One of our core values at Seven is having "FUN"! We hope that you have fun inviting your friends, family, or coworkers. We are sure that you will enjoy seeing them around church more often. We are also sure that you will have fun with our little friendly competition!

We are looking forward to December 9th and can't wait to see you there. Please feel free to email info@sevensdchurch.com or call with any questions you might have.

Wait... Jesus Has Something to Say

2007-12-04T01:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the mailer we sent out to a few thousand homes this week. We always said we would be tools for Christ. Please, accept the invitation... Our third preview service is this Sunday, December 9th.

Letter from Jesus: Hello! My name is Jesus Christ. Remember me... Christmas, Easter? I’m that guy! I know you’ve probably lost interest in me a long time ago. Well, I must tell you, I haven‘t lost interest in YOU... Nor, do I believe popular culture has lost interest in telling you about me either. Did you see Stewie poke fun of me on Family Guy? or how about Morgan Freeman pretending to be me again in another “Almighty” film? or what about the Heroes that keep suggesting that I gave them their extraordinary powers? I agree, some of it is funny and intriguing. Although a nice try, it's not quite me.

..Well, enough of that. It’s time for you to get to know the real me. I want to invite you to a brand spankin’ new church I’ve launched in Chula Vista, CA. Seven San Diego is currently meeting at Olympian High School in Otay Ranch once each month. I have assigned Jeremy McGarity, former professional baseball player turned pastor, to lead this church. He met me while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and Duluth-Superior Dukes. He now lives in San Diego with his wife, Janie, and two kids. Check out their new church on the following previews dates. They will meet week to week beginning in February. Their current teaching series is titled, “iNeed a life: A guided tour through messy spirituality.” You don’t want to miss it, JC

Photo Gallery Now Active

2007-11-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

We have officially activated our photo gallery on our website. Check it out! We're not done uploading, but in the meantime feel free to take a look at what we do have. We know there are some photographs you may have already seen. We also know that there are others you still have not.

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-11-18T00:57:00.000-08:00

Giving Totals This Month:

10/14/07 - $1,900.00
10/21/07 - $223.00
10/28/07 - $50.00
11/04/07- $4,997.00 (Second Preview Service)

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. You can now make checks payable to Seven San Diego. Your financial gifts may be sent to:

Seven San Diego
PO BOX. 212098,
Chula Vista, CA 91921

If you are still making checks payable to HDC, we ask that you would write Seven SD in the memo line, or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Our Second Preview Service: The Official Wrap-Up

2007-11-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

This blog post is partially dedicated to our sign holders! "I saw the sign!," is one comment we keep getting from our congregants. Of course, when they say that, we don't believe they are speaking figuratively or even quoting that early 90's Ace of Base song. Yeah, you know what we're talking about.

Currently, our church meets at Olympian High School in Chula Vista, CA. The school is tucked away, so having the help of at least sixteen sign holders is very critical.

To all of our sign holders we say, "THANK YOU". Thank you for getting all 166 people to Seven San Diego. You are literally leading the way!

Oh, and in case you missed it, check out some more photographs from our second church preview service (all photos by Christian Turner).

Above: Matt Coulombe and band. Below: Pastor Jeremy McGarity.

Above: Pastor Jeremy McGarity teaches. Below: Seven SD Kids leaders, Maryjo Moore and Jennifer Richardson.

Above: Seven SD Kids guest speaker, James Burdette, a.k.a Visible Man. Below: Seven SD Kids, elementary.

Above: Heidi Randolph, and Todd and Rachel Rehrer tear down. Below: One of many happy iPod winners.

Praise God for another great church service! We are ready for preview number three.

iNeed A Life: Part Two (Nov.4th)

2007-11-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the second installment of our series titled, "iNeed A Life". This Sunday, Jeremy McGarity will teach on "What to do when iThink I've been wronged".

Remember, you can find us meeting at Olympian High School at 10 AM for our second preview service this weekend. Check out the teaser!

Seven Aid: Wildfire Relief for San Diego

2007-10-24T15:41:00.001-07:00

As parts of San Diego County are being evacuated due to the fires, we ask that you would continue to pray for our entire region. Many people are in desperate need of help. Del Mar Faigrounds, and Qualcomm Stadium are no longer taking evacuees or donations. Instead, city officials are asking that goods should be dropped off at the following Salvation Army location:

Salvation Army Kroc Center
6845 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92115

You may contact them at (619) 287-5762 or browse through their website to learn more.

Food, blankets, cots, and water are their greatest needs. Chula Vista High School, San Diego High School, Casa Familar & Recreational Center, and the Rock Church are just a few of the new places where people can now take shelter. If you would like to help or would like to learn more, please visit the following...

HELPFUL LINKS:
Sign On San Diego
Red Cross
San Diego Emergency
NBC San Diego
CBS 8
10 News

Also, please note that all San Diego counties schools will be closed for the remainder of the week. As we receive additional information we will keep you posted regarding our situation. For more up to the minute details regarding the wildfires in San Diego, you can check out Nate Ritter's Twitter Feed. We highly recommend you follow it.

For those of you affected by the fires, you are in our prayers. In God we take refuge!

Our First Preview Service: The Official Wrap-Up

2007-10-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Wow! Our first of four preview services came and went faster than you can spell Seven San Diego. Uh, we can't believe it's over. October 7th is now only a memory well remembered. Two hundred and sixty-one people attended.

Okay, so here's the official story of how things took place that exciting first day. First, we rallied our army of volunteers (known to us as tour guides). By 6:30 AM most had arrived, picked up a white or orange t-shirt, grabbed a lanyard, and began to transform a vacant auditorium at Olympian High School into a worship venue. Our leaders, Maryjo Moore, Marcos Clark, Wes Van Fleet, Brandy Messenger, Taylor Gilliam, and Jules Sneddon took charge of making sure our teams had all the equipment unloaded from our portable trailer as well as gave direction of the morning's agenda.

By 8 AM most of our technical equipment such as the lights, sound, video, and instrument cables were set. We thank our friends at High Desert Church for helping us get more familar with this side of things. Whew, that was a lot of work.

But our work wasn't done just yet... Chairs needed to be placed. Stations for food and refreshments needed to be propped up front. Kid zones needed to be marked. It was now 9:15 and we were up against the clock.

10 AM was here! And now both kids and adults were ready to start singing. Cody Vermillion and Jen Laduc jammed with our children while Matt Coulombe (Seven HD Music Leader) lead our adults.

11:15 AM surprised us. Our first service was over. We watched a few videos, sang a few songs, took an offering, said a few announcements, passed out some pumpkins, and walked out encouraged. Jeremy McGarity had given his first lesson at Seven San Diego. Mission accomplished! Thank you Jesus!

Photos by Christian Turner and Maryjo Moore.

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-10-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

Giving Totals This Month:

09/16/07 - $1,500.00
09/23/07 - $1,720.00
09/30/07 - $50,923.00
10/07/07- $10,270.00 (First Preview Service)

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. You can make checks payable to Seven San Diego. Your financial gifts may be sent to:

Seven San Diego
PO BOX. 212098,
Chula Vista, CA 91921

If you are still making checks payable to HDC, we ask that you would write Seven SD in the memo line, or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Start Tweeting on Twitter!

2007-10-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

You're probably asking yourself, "what is Twitter?" It is a global community of friends and strangers answering one simple question: What are you doing? Answer from your phone, IM account or simply from your computer. If don't already have an account, please visit Twitter NOW! We want you to simply use this tool to get the word out about Seven SD. Go ahead, view my micro-blogging tweets.

Seven SD on 91 X

2007-10-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

We have two radio spots currently airing on San Diego's 91 X. If you look closely, you will see our tile ad on the top right of their website.

iNeed A Life Ad

2007-09-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Watch our ad! Please do not hesitate to blog about it or email someone about it. It is official... Seven San Diego has arrived. In just a few weeks, this spot will run over four hundred times a week for twelve weeks at Ultrastar Theaters in Chula Vista. A special thanks to SP Media for the production and Jason Higgins for lending us his voice.

Church In A Box Coming Soon!

2007-09-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

Wow! Christmas came really early this year. Our trailer along with much of our equipment will arrive this Saturday. Not only will it transport our church, it will also double as a mobile billboard. Above, you'll see a few renderings of what it will look like.

Seven Days of Invasion: The Official Wrap-Up

2007-09-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Although the week started out somewhat slow with our BBQ last Sunday, we picked up a lot of steam mid-week with our Coke Giveaway/Car Wash on Tuesday and Drinks for Cashiers event on Wednesday. On Friday, we stopped by Olympian High School and picked up trash after their second home football game. Over the weekend, Wes Van Fleet and others visited the Red Bull Air Show and Petco Park Padres Game and threw a tailgate party. Other events also included a Bounce House at Santa Venetia Park and a Doggy Treat Giveaway around the Otay Ranch Town Center.

God made so much possible. Our team was able to round up over $500 in donations from Target, Vons, etc., gave out over 1,000 promo cards, and of course, made many new connections. By the way, it was also very encouraging to see a lot of familiar faces from Seven High Desert out here lending a helping hand.

We covered a lot of ground last week... And frankly, we're exhuasted. Seven Days of Invasion is over. We think it's safe to say that our community "got served." If you are interested in being a part of these projects in the future, you may email Roberto at rcomparan@gmail.com.

In The Studio This Week

2007-09-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

We spent the last two days with our friends over at SP Media this week filming our ads for television, the BIG SCREEN, and of course, YouTube. Our good friend, Jason Higgins, also stopped by to lend us his voice. We can't wait to air the clips! Please stay tuned...

iNeed A Wake Up Call

2007-09-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

This morning over 600 people woke up with an invitation to our church at their doorsteps. Do you smell a guerilla?

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-09-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

Giving Totals This Month:

08/19/07 - $18,929.29
08/26/07 - $5,402.57
09/02/07 - $2,055.00
09/09/07- $5,853.50

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. You can now make checks payable to Seven San Diego. Your financial gifts may be sent to:

Seven San Diego
PO BOX. 212098,
Chula Vista, CA 91921

If you are still making checks payable to HDC, we ask that you would write Seven SD in the memo line, or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Friday Night Football! We Were There!

2007-09-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, our Seven SD team celebrated Olympian High's first home football game. In honor of the occasion, we threw out commemorative t-shirts that read, "I Was There!" The student body really enjoyed the freebies! We, on the other hand, really enjoyed giving back to our community. Check out some of our photos!

Four Ways You Can Help Now...

2007-09-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

Join us for Olympain High School's first home football game this Friday, September 7th at 7 PM. Our team will be throwing out t-shirts to parents and students in attendance. Tickets available at the door. You can google the following address for directions: 1925 Magdalena Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91913.

We've noticed you spend a lot of time online these days updating your social network about the "latest" in your life. Why not tell them about Seven SD's first preview service on October 7th. This month, we ask that you "hype" about it. Go ahead, blog, comment, update, twitter, invite, email, yeah, whatever!

Seven SD's first preview service is almost here. October 7th is rapidly approaching. On August 29th we began 40 Days of Prayer. Why 40 Days? That number, like the number 7, is biblically significant. God used 40 Days as a marker so we're going to use it as we begin to get ready for our first preview service. Will you pray with us? Last Wednesday we began to commit praying specifically for Seven SD for 7 minutes each day for 40 Days. You pick the time that works best for you and commit to pray for our leaders, our community (Otay Ranch, Chula Vista in San Diego) our relationship with the school (Olympian HS), favor in the area with people, community leaders, funding, wisdom, ministry help, people in general, our messages, atmosphere, music, and whatever else the Lord puts on your heart. We would love it if we can fill every time slot...24 hours a day prayer for 7 SD for 40 Days. If you agree to be part of 40 Days of Prayer, please email or text Mary at maryemoss@gmail.com.

We are here to serve not to be served. Seven Days of Invasion begins September 16th. Here is a revised schedule of service projects to come (locations to be announced). Learn more at sevensdchurch.com.

Sun., Sept. 16th- BBQ Picnic at the Landing Apartments
Mon., Sept. 17th- Bounce House Picnic Party
Tues., Sept. 18th- Coke Giveaway/Car Wash
Wed., Sept. 19th- Drinks for Cashiers
Thurs., Sept. 20th- Back to School Giveaway
Fri., Sept. 21st- Gas Buy Down
Sat., Sept. 22nd- Sand Castle Contest

40 Days of Prayer/ 100 for 100

2007-08-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering how YOU can be a part of Seven SD, here are two excellent ways! Please prayerfully consider the following:

Seven SD 100 for 100!
We are looking for 100 people to commit to participating in 100 days of ministry for Seven SD. We want you to be a part of the team. Here's what we need: We need 100 people to commit to commuting to Seven SD for the four preview services: October 7th, November 4th, December 9th, January 13th and, of course, the official launch on February 10th, 2008. Please participate in any way you can. You can help set up, take down, greet, pray, or just be there as part of the "critical mass". We need the energy and the crowd to help us LAUNCH LARGE! If you agree to be part of the 100 please email or text Mary at maryemoss@gmail.com. Simply put in the text, "Sign me up for the 100." We'll help people organize car pools each month.

40 Days of Prayer!
Seven SD's first preview service is almost here. October 7th is rapidly approaching. On August 29th we are beginning 40 Days of Prayer. Why 40 Days? That number, like the number 7, is biblically significant. God used 40 Days as a marker so we're going to use it as we begin to get ready for our first preview service. Will you pray with us? Here's what we're asking: Beginning August 29th we need people to commit to praying specifically for Seven SD for 7 minutes each day for 40 Days. You pick the time that works best for you and commit to pray for our leaders, our community (Otay Ranch, Chula Vista in San Diego) our relationship with the school (Olympian HS), favor in the area with people, community leaders, funding, wisdom, ministry help, people in general, our messages, atmosphere, music, and whatever else the Lord puts on your heart. We would love it if we can fill every time slot...24 hours a day prayer for 7 SD for 40 Days. If you agree to be part of 40 Days of Prayer, please email or text Mary at maryemoss@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for partnering with us to serve people in San Diego.

Give Directly to Seven SD

2007-08-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

We have officially been approved as an non-profit organization. You can now give directly to Seven San Diego by sending your gifts to:

Seven San Diego
PO BOX 212098
Chula Vista, CA. 91921-2098

If you are still giving through High Desert Church, we ask that you designate your giving to Seven SD in the memo line of your checks or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-08-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Giving Totals This Month:

07/22/07 - $51,855.00
07/29/07 - $1,470.00
08/05/07 - $821.00
08/12/07- $815.00

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. At this time we ask that you would still please make all checks payable to HDC (Seven SD should be written in the memo), or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Our First Message Series...

2007-08-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

We have officially titled our first message series "iNeed a Life: A guided tour through messy spirituality." Titles for each preview launch date are as follows:

pt. 1 Oct. 7......What to do when iThink God isn't there
pt. 2 Nov. 4 ....What to do when iHave been wronged
pt. 3 Dec. 9 ... What to do when iFeel overwhelmed
pt. 4 Jan. 13 ...What to do when iNeed a new start

Make sure to stop by and visit us at 10 AM at Olympian High School.

Seven Days of Invasion

2007-08-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

We are here to serve not to be served. Seven Days of Invasion begins September 16th. Here is a preliminary schedule of service projects to come (locations to be announced). Please note, service projects are subject to change.

Sun., Sept. 16th- BBQ Picnic at the Landing Apartments
Mon., Sept. 17th- Car Wash
Tues., Sept. 18th- Bowling Night
Wed., Sept. 19th- Drinks for Cashiers
Thurs., Sept. 20th- Back to School Giveaway
Fri., Sept. 21st- Sand Castle Contest
Sat., Sept. 22nd- Kids Matter Safety Fair

Some Yearbook Entries

2007-07-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

Do you need an idea of what you should submit for the Yearbook? Check out some of the following entries...

New Message Series Beginning October 7th

2007-07-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Alright, we're giving you another sneak peek into the future. Here's a preliminary idea for our first message series beginning in October. This series will touch on the following:

iNeed A Life:A Guided Tour Through Messy Spirituality

1) What to do when I have drifted away from God (Oct. 7th)
2) What to do when I am tempted (Nov. 4th)
3) What to do when I feel overwhelmed (Dec. 9th)
4) What to do when I have doubt (Jan. 13th)

Upcoming Events/Projects at a Glance

2007-07-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

AUGUST
Tue., August 14th: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting
Sat.-Sun., August 18th-19th: Jeremy speaks at Harbor & 7HD
Sat., August 18th: 7SD Meeting Following Saturday Harbor Service
Tues., August 21st: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting In San Diego
Sun., August 26th: 7 Community Yearbook Distributed
Tue., August 28th: 7 SD Team Leaders Meeting
Fri., August 31st: 7SD Launch Team Event: Fellowship Night at the Padres Game

SEPTEMBER
Sat., September 1st: Assault on the Social Network Begins
Sat. -Sun., September 1st-2nd: Jeremy speaks at all Skyline Church services (Sat. 6:00PM, Sun. 8:15am, 9:30am, 11:00am)
Tues., September 4th: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting
Sun., September 9th: 7SD postcard mailer goes out
Tues., September 18th: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting
Sun.-Sat., September 16th-22nd: Seven Days of Invasion (Servant Evangelism)
Sun., September 23rd: 7SD Dress Rehearsal at Olympian HS
Tues., September 25th: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting
Sun.- Sat., September 30th-October 6th: Seven Days of Twitter

OCTOBER
Tues., October 2nd: 7SD Team Leaders Meeting
Fri., October 5th: 7SD Launch Team Event at Jeremy’s House 6 PM
Sat., October 6th: Text Messaging Launch Party
Sun., October 7th: Preview Service #1

Seven Community Yearbook

2007-07-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

The deadline is fast approaching! We are creating a Yearbook of the Seven Community. In fact, in order to accomplish this, we need you to send us a photograph of yourself to rcomparan@gmail.com. We need all entries by August 1st! Also, please make sure to check out the official rules.

Remember, we plan on distributing four to five thousand copies of the Yearbook at the end of August. We need your content PRONTO!

Abbreviated PD Planting Conference

2007-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18th at Skyline Church at 1:30 PM. The address is 11330 Campo Rd., La Mesa, California 91941. Due to Saddleback Church postponing the Purpose Driven Planting Conference, we will conduct our own "one day" abbreviated session here in San Diego. Thankfully, Saddleback church has granted us permission to use their material. Please note that we will no longer be meeting Thursday, July 19th.

We're Creating A Yearbook!

2007-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. We are creating a Yearbook of the Seven Community. In fact, in order to accomplish this, we need you to send us a photograph of yourself to rcomparan@gmail.com. We also want you to send us a one or two sentence praise report of how God delivered you from a situation.

Example: "I praise Jesus Christ for allowing me to meet the people in my small group this year. They all pitched in to help me pay for my groceries one week."

Important: Please include your first and last name. Also, keep in mind the deadline is August 1st (we will only publish the first 250 photos and praise reports we receive).

Rules: Be creative! Be playful! And, of course, be creative! If you need an idea of the type of photo we are in search of, check out some face shots of some friends.

We will be using the Yearbook to help us introduce Seven to the people of San Diego. It will showcase our past, present and future.

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-07-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

Giving Totals This Month:

06/24/07 - $608.00
07/01/07 - $1,240.00
07/8/07 - $1,029.00
07/15/07- $1,600.00

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. At this time we ask that you would still please make all checks payable to HDC (Seven SD should be written in the memo), or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Official Website Coming Soon!

2007-07-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some preliminary prototypes of our website. We have been working alongside a company named Church Plant Media. We thought you'd appreciate this sneak peek.

Olympian HS Auditorium Pics

2007-06-30T15:09:00.001-07:00

Check out these pics of our new venue. We will launch here on October 7th, 2007. There is an outdoor pavillion in one of the pictures and the glass doors open to give us an indoor/outdoor feel if we so desire.

Olympian HS

2007-06-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Seven!

As you've heard it has been a crazy couple of weeks since we've been here on site in San Diego. Well, Carol's surgery went well and she is on the road to recovery (check out my blog). Here's a video of me by the Olympian High School auditorium. It's only 30 seconds, but I wanted you to see the outdoor pavillion that connects to the auditorium. It is brand new. Also, I have sent the insurance information to the high school. We expect to be able to meet here for our first preview service on October 7th, 2007.

Thanks for your continued prayers as we get closer to LAUNCH.

P.S. I'm really looking forward to being with many of you at the PD launch conference July 17th-18th at Saddleback Church. Thanks for being a part of this mission!

Jeremy

God At Work...

2007-06-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say that Jeremy and I have found ourselves encouraged by discouragement lately. Let me share a few stories of God's power, sovereignty, and grace in our lives. Here's an update from the front lines of the spiritual battle this past week:

Update on Jeremy:
He, his wife, Janie, and his two boys are now official residents of San Diego. While moving last week, the McGarity's discovered that Carol Garlow (wife of Jim Garlow and mother of Janie McGarity) needed to see a doctor for some tests on Thursday. On Friday, the McGarity's received news that Carol had cancer and needed surgery immediately. Due to her illness and emergency care, Jim Garlow (Lead Pastor of Skyline Church in SD and father of Janie McGarity) asked Jeremy to speak at all of his services this past weekend. God's timing for Jeremy and his family to be in San Diego during this time of need couldn't have been more perfect. Please be praying for the McGarity family. I am sure they are in need of some rest.

My Update:
A few weeks ago, I reported that James, Erik, and I had qualified to move into a townhouse property in Imperial Beach. Yes, we filled out all the paper work, submitted our application fees, and even paid our deposit. Unfortunately, after a few days of awaiting approval and some glitch in the matrix, they asked us to do the impossible... They asked us to submit a "letter of hire" for jobs that James and Erik had not secured in San Diego yet. On Tuesday we accepted our disqualification and pressed forward. On Wednesday, James and I found ourselves back in San Diego looking for another property to call home. Within minutes, James, Erik and I were qualified and approved to move into the Landing Apartments (located one exit south from Olympian High School; future home of Seven SD). Yes, we found ourselves amazed by God's handiwork. Not only did God place us in a finer complex, but He placed us within the community we will be ministering to. Our move-in date has been pushed up from July 10th to July 8th. We are certain this road-block was all part of God's plan.

Furthermore, I apologize for the delayed update. I was in Arizona the latter part of the week and was unable to get online. Thank you so much. Please continue to pray for us, Roberto

Giving/Tithing Report

2007-06-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

Giving Totals This Month:

05/27/07 - $675.00
06/03/07 - $2,866.50
06/10/07 - $3,443.00
06/17/07 - $620.00

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving. At this time we ask that you would still please make all checks payable to HDC (Seven SD should be written in the memo), or designate your giving online at highdesertchurch.com.

Otay Ranch: Around the Block

2007-06-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

We spent most of the day around the block today. The weather out here was pleasant. In other words...gorgeous! Also, our meeting with the Assistant Principal at Olympian High School went really well. We can't wait to share our conversation with you this Wednesday. Don't forget, we will be meeting in room 101 at High Desert Church.

Don't Forget Your T-Shirt!

2007-05-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Feel free to come by the office and pick up your free Seven San Diego t-shirt (available in black and white while supplies last). Also note that we are currently located at 14545 Hook Blvd, Victorville, CA. You can find us between 8:30-4:30 PM.

By the way, Jeremy announced last week that we are now $135,000 closer to our goal. In addition, we have also accumulated close to $20,000 from your weekly tithes. We praise God for all the support.

Seven SD: The Purpose Driven Church Conference

2007-05-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for July 17th-18th, 2007. We will be heading to Saddleback Church in Lake Forest for a conference. The conference at Saddleback will take you from the drawing board through the development of an actual weekend service- from dreaming to leading a church that impacts this generation and those to come. If you plan to attend, make sure to register online today. Let us know if you are attending by emailing Roberto at bertoway@yahoo.com.

Seven HD: One Night! Eighty-Six Baptisms!

2007-05-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

We praise God for all eighty-six people who blessed us with their declaration of faith on April 29th. Watch the highlights for yourself.

Resources, Partners & More! Oh, My!

2007-04-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

This week we will be heading down to Costa Mesa, CA for an all day conference at Rock Harbor. The conference will focus primarily on practical how-to strategies for quickly raising funds, creating a team, planning services, crafting effective evangelism projects and rapidly developing a growing membership. Our leadership team will certainly benefit.

We are also excited to report that in the months to come, we will be working with a web-media company that will help us launch our official Seven San Diego website this Summer.

Oh, and if you missed the meeting on April 12th, check out the official list of church partners thus far. We are very thankful for the growing support.

1st Baptist Church Hesperia: Hesperia, CA
Ethnos Church: San Diego, CA
High Desert Church: Victorville, CA
San Miguel Community Church: San Diego, CA
Shadow Mountain Community Church: San Diego, CA
Skyline Church: San Diego, CA
Sonrise Church: San Diego, CA
Southern Baptist Convention: San Diego, CA
Transformation Ministries: Los Angeles, CA