Tory Farina

Marraige Q&A...

2010-02-05T09:53:24-06:00

What would you ask a professional about marriage? If nothing were of limits. If things were good, bad or ugly what might help you refocus?

Marriage was meant to be the most powerful relationship we have on earth. It is a partnership between two who are completely committed to a common life's goal. Or at least in its perfect state it should be. Our culture gives us different definitions and understandings of marriage. So it is important as a church and community to talk about how to Find "The ONE", Strengthen the Bond and Live on mission with one another.

"The Vow" Starts Sunday. I invited a professional to come and talk with us about his experience on the Subject. (You are not going to want to miss it.) At the end of our time together He is going to answer questions you might have. Then we will have him at our Valentine banquet and I'll share the next two weeks in our series.

Ask anything? Something about sex? Maybe about being empty nesters? What happens when the "LOVE" Fades? How do you fix things when the other person isn't interested? How do I confront my mate about my suspicion of cheating? Maybe you want to ask about starting over again? Or about healing from an abusive or hurtful relationship?

The Goal is to deal with whatever is on your mind. Here is how this is done... You can email, facebook, Leave a comment, or send a text starting now through the end of service to 612.293.6756. We will expand on the subjects and themes you bring up over the next three weeks, via, Sunday Morning and here on the blog.

Whats on your mind about marriage?

I'm Back...

2010-02-03T11:11:34-06:00

Things I learned through my time of Withdrawal...

Wayne Cordero saved my life and ministry... After reading his book “Leading on Empty” I am convinced I was headed for a breaking point at some point down the line in my life and ministry. I have and will continue to make changes necessary to leave a Lasting Legacy.
I have more time than I thought. Cutting out extra stuff helped me realize how much time I waste.
My relationship with the Lord is the Source of Everything else. Yet often It gets shelved somewhere between car maintenance and shower cleaning. It does not occupy the space in my heart and mind that it should if it is the source of everything. (As a pastor this is a sad revelation.) So I am evaluating the changes that must be made to transform this unacceptable situation.
Christian music is good but not a lot of it is GREAT!
Facebook / Twitter are far more useful tools than they get credit for. I was shocked at how many people I felt disconnected from.
I get grumpy when I fast Food.
Maintaining a Blog is exhausting. I need to figure out how to be a smarter blogger. I think I might use more video. Would you watch my short clips?
Changing patterns takes a tremendous amount of intentionality. You cannot say... I want to change, I need to change or even I must change without making a plan and actually putting the plan into action.
Push email on my iphone is stupid. I cannot and will not be a slave to my email... especially when I delete most of it. My email will serve me and not the other way around.
This will be a yearly event. I will also add into my life’s schedule times of getting out of town for times of withdrawals.
I need a Sabbatical... Not this year but in the next few years as we round the corner to seven or ten years it is Vital the Elizabeth and I get a Sabbatical in order to gain freshness and longevity at High Point.
We are entering into a season of High Points Story that is really exciting. I feel encouraged, Fired Up and energized by what I feel the Lord is brewing in my heart.
Isolation is a Scary place to be... Withdrawal is a Non Negotiable place to visit!
The WELL of your Soul is what you serve others with... If it’s shallow, contaminated, or not built to last you’re in trouble. If it is Deep and Living water it will refresh people for Years to come.
Jesus took breaks from the demands of Life and ministry often... I am still chewing on this and am incredibly challenged by it!

I have lots more to say but will leave it at this and work out more the next fe days and weeks. I just wanted to let you know I am back and FIRED UP!

Withdrawal...

2010-01-07T11:28:39-06:00

Through the month of January you are not going to hear much from me. I am taking a season of withdrawal in my life. Last November, I felt that I needed to hone in the focus of my heart and mind for God to do something big in me. Last year He called me to lose 55 lbs., and I am so glad I followed through. The Lord fulfilled promises and answered prayers for both me and the church through my act of obedience. This year I feel like I need to clear out as many voices as I can that might be distracting me from clearly hearing the voice of God.

Jesus did this often. I always wonder why Jesus — fully God and fully man — even needed to pray, rest, and recharge. But if He did, then so do I. This has been a stressful season for me and mine. Elizabeth's pregnancy, Rapid church growth and Seven years of full time ministry has its cost. I feel like we are getting ready for something larger and greater than we have yet to experience. Jesus withdrew to rest, get stronger, hear from God, and have a fresh word for the people he was sent to lead. Moses went to the mountain top and came back luminous. Daniel prayed and fasted to break through impossible circumstances. I need more from God to live the life I am called to live and I want to withdraw to gather strength for greater things Yet to come!

Here is my plan...

Read — I started a reading plan to go through the Gospels in 30 days. (You can do the same at www.youversion.com.) My goal is to study Jesus and His withdrawal moments — how and why He prayed.

I am also reading “Leading On Empty” by Wayne Cordeiro- I feel like he is personally walking me through how to defragment my life. I am taking each chapter and walking through each chapter with Elizabeth and the Lord. What an AWSOME experience.

Fast (check more out here)

Food — This looks different for everyone some fast food totally, partially or fast a particular type of food. For me I am doing a combination of things.
Media

- I am cutting out as many secular non-worshipful voices as I can. Music, movies, magazines and books that do not point me to Jesus will be cut from my appetite this month. Television has been reduced to only News sources.

- No blogs, no Facebook and NO Twitter — I am having withdrawals. This is almost painful, and I have had to break this a couple times because of Elizabeth's health crisis on Saturday, my need to get a couple numbers off of some profiles on my phone, and this blog post letting you know what’s up. It is also funny how my e-mail sends me Facebook updates and Facebook e-mails, so it’s like it will not leave me alone. I guess that means it is staying around a while.)

- I also shut off the Push feature to my phone’s e-mail. I am now my e-mail’s master. I think that may stay longer than January.

Schedule — I am taking certain days off over the next month, during which I will be alone and without normal distractions so I can focus on the Lord and hear his voice with clarity.

Journal — I am keeping a daily journal of thoughts, prayers, observations, revelations, and dreams.

(This is a goal and has already had to change a little. Let me first tell you that I live by the Spirit of the Law and not the Letter, meaning that even though I may say I am not going to do this or that, I may do it if I feel I need to for a good reason. I also am taking Sundays as a celebration day, meaning I am free to enjoy with my family whatever seems beneficial. This season is about reducing noise in my life and resetting my out of balance rhythm. It is not about a list of does or don’ts.)

I am expecting God to break through my life in tremendous ways. I am expecting Him to change me. I was not expecting how hard these first few days have been. Nor was I expecting how the enemy would try and distract me. I shouldn't have been surprised. He met Jesus in the wilderness before his ministry began.

My prayer is that I hear his voice like Adam and Eve did in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden, or like Samuel did when God came to him in the night as a youth, or like the disciples did in the the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came upon them with fresh power and boldness. My prayer is that I would have new strength and insight to lead the next five+ years with a freshness and sensitivity to the Lord.

What is the Lord drawing you to do? What’s your next step in your faith walk? It may not look much like mine, but that's OK. Start with where you are and go one more step.

I look forward to letting you know how it goes in a few weeks.

Live Your Potential!

Pastor Tory

Toys Toys Wonderful Toys...

2009-12-22T15:54:35-06:00

I am so excited for our Church to be so generous!!! You gave a Ford Taurus Station wagon full of Toys to"The Life Center" in Minneapolis.
You guys ROCK!

I heard one person say... "We just started shopping and before you now it we dropped $200 on these kids" "I got a great bonus this year and wanted to give out of my abundance." "Every kids needs one of these." "I hope I can be downtown one of these days and see a person wearing the scarf I made them and know I am keeping them warm."

If you want more information or are looking for ways to help check out the Life center at www.changeourcity.org.

Olivia practicing for Sunday's Candle Light Service...

2009-12-18T16:49:17-06:00

Tory Farina

Beauty Will Rise...

2009-12-18T14:12:05-06:00

This album has been really speaking to me.

Pick it up NOW!!!!

This Song specifically makes a lot of sense as I have been reading Luke 2. Mary had so many hopes and dreams and in one moment in Luke 1 God shows up in Mary's life and redirects her. Her plans in life were hijacked for what God had planned. When Gods "It comes to pass in your life often it feels like everything is going wrong and yet in those moments Beauty will rise. For Mary she was carrying the SOn of God, the Messiah! For you and me often the death of a dream gives birth to Gods plan!!!!

What is God bringing forth in your life?

Here are the lyrics:

It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left
behind

But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
we have this hope:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,
and if you can't believe I will believe
for you.

Cuz I have seen
the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...

I can hear it in the distance
and it's not too far away.
It's the music and the laughter
of a wedding and a feast.
I can almost feel the hand of God
reaching for my face
to wipe the tears away, and say,
"It's time to make everything new."

"Make it all new"

This is our hope.
This is the promise.
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of this darkness... new life will shine
and we'll know the joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...beauty will rise!

Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise

Christmas Sunday...

2009-12-17T15:04:10-06:00

Don't miss our final week of the "IT came to Pass" series. We will share the Christmas Story in our candle light service. Invite friends and family to this fantastic morning!

When you are going through "IT"... the season you are in is not necessarily what you planned. God wants to show you he is in the midst of "IT" and will help you through.

My Dad...

2009-12-17T09:14:35-06:00

I love my Dad! And I love this picture of him. It captures his personality and maturity. Check it out.

Living at the speed of LOVE...

2009-12-16T10:44:14-06:00

I am going to talk about this on Sunday in about four weeks. But as we are going through this HOLIDAZE I want us to remember some simple truths... Pete Wilson writes this...

"Love becomes a luxury as the speed of life increases.

You tend to forget that people don’t exist just to meet your needs, but they have a soul.
You tend to forget that everyone needs healing…everyone.
You tend to forget that you simply cannot love like Jesus and live in constant hurry."

How are you slowing Down and reflecting on Jesus?

What are you doing this Holy Day to Point your Family to Jesus?

What has Jesus done in your life this year?

Filled with the Holy Spirit...

2009-12-15T09:41:45-06:00

I was reading the Christmas story in preparation for this weeks message and came across something powerful!

Luke 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary, Elizabeth and John were "Filled with the Holy Spirit". Have you ever done a phrase search on "filled with the Holy Spirit"? check it out... here. Their is Power, Direction, Boldness, gifts and Wisdom that come upon you when you are "FIlled with the Spirit of God". This is not a one time experience... again and again through your Christian life and through the NT people would call upon the Holy Spirit and be filled. When people were filled they moved in a Supernatural way that could only be attributed as God moving through them. God using their natural talents and abilities to impact the world for the Kingdom of God.

I love that when we are filled with the Spirit we can be led by the spirit.Jesus, Paul, and many other attribute their comings and goings, heeling's and miracle's to being "Led by the Spirit".

I want to challenge you to take some time over the next few days and weeks and read these passages in their entirety. Maybe even read the whole book of Acts. Ask the Holy Spirit to knock your socks off and fill you with His power in a new and profound way. Look expectantly for evidence of Gods power to reflect the evidence in scripture and when you see it walk in a renewed boldness for the Lord. Fallow the Leading of The Holy Spirit!