Tory Farina

Scriptures on Profanity and Speach...

As I was preparing these scriptures where helpful to come up with a biblical perspective on the tongue and profanity.

Colossians 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Matthew 15:10-11 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

James 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

James 3:6-8 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

James 3:11-13 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Live in POWER!

On Sunday I had so much more to say. The content is so exciting to talk about. Here is an undeveloped glimpse at what I had to leave out.

When you have been with Jesus...

You Will do miracles:

Peter and John healing the man-

Acts 3:6-7 Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 

You Will have wisdom:

Knowledge is power... time with the Lord builds Wisdom and knowledge...

Jeremiah 31:33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

People will remark. Where did you get that wisdom? Knowledge? You will be able to respond, “It came from Daily times with the Lord.”

You Will be an encouragement to others:

Isaiah 50:4 The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. 

Hurting people don’t need another cliché, they don’t need a pat on the back and an awkward sorry... they need people who will speak the Words of God over them and speak in faith and Victory!

You Will speak boldly...

Luke 12:11-12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

You Will live by faith...

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When you read the word of God you will see that nothing is impossible and that God works best as the underdog when the clock is ticking down to the end. You will be able to stand firm in the midst of trial, uncertainty and doubt.

You will be able to stand against temptation and the enemy...

Jesus in the wilderness quotes Deuteronomy to stand against Satan and temptation.

You were meant To Walk in POWER! Strength and Victory! Paul speaks to this same concept when he speaks to the Ephesians... A church of people like you...

Ephesians 6:10-12 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13-17 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We were never meant to be on the defensive... The Christian who lives in retreat, defeated, disqualified is no threat to the enemy...

Whenever a revival began or a reformation, its epicenter was among common people who were ignited by the Word Of God.

Lets live in POWER! Lets live rooted in the word of God. Lets live in such a way that what we read becomes an expected outcome in our daily life.

Lets Live Our Potential!

3 reasons for an IPad...

Last week someone asked me this: “Give me three reasons to get an iPad. Is it worth the $600 price tag for a pastor?”

Is it worth the price? For me? Yes. For you? I don’t know. It all depends on the apps you use, so I will give you the Top 3 apps that give me a significant return on my investment. Then I’ll mention a couple of bonus ones that are pure icing. Also, it should be known that most apps work on both the iPhone and the iPad, so it is impossible for me to separate the two.

#1) Jump Desktop — This app allows Elizabeth to use her PC without triggering a migraine. For some reason when she uses her PC the screen gives her a headache. Not so with her iPhone or iPad. This app creates a link over the Internet that turns the iPad into a Remote Access Tool for the PC. Basically, she can control her PC on the iPad. It is a HUGE tool for her.

#2) Documents to Go/Dropbox — These apps work together. Documents to Go is a way to view and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on the iPad. Dropbox is an easy way to store and sync documents and files. It sits in your hard drive and anything that gets placed in it is accessible online. Documents to Go syncs with Dropbox, which allows all of your devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, PC/Mac, etc.) to be up to date with the latest changes. No more saving docs in three places. No more notes with handwritten ideas lost after a Sunday. No more wishing you had that scripture, illustration, or notes from that message you spoke last year that would apply to this situation. It is all right there. Click here to get dropbox.

#3) Kindle/YouVersion — This is an amazing tool for reading. You can read at night and not wake your love up. You can also sync with these tools and access them on the other devices you use often (Mac/PC, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android). I love always having what I am reading with me. It makes it more likely that I will start reading while I have down time. With Kindle, I also love the ability to recall my highlights and notes on one page through Amazon’s media site.

Honorable mentions: Evernote, Pandora, Elmo's Monster Maker, EBay, Nike+ GPS, Pro Presenter Remote, Rhapsody Music, Tweet Deck, Flipboard, USA Today, Youmail*

*I use this for my answering service instead of the stock one provided by my phone company.

The iPad/iPhone is not a full functioning computer but it was never intended to be. It saves me time, keeps me organized, and I can read it in a dark theater. I also love that I can have notes prepped on my Macbook then access them in a theater, at the pool before a baptism, or in a church for a wedding. I expect now that E has basically taken mine I will be getting the next generation next year so that she and I don’t have to fight share it.

Is it worth the price? You can do everything it does with something else. But no one device does everything it does in one device. For us, it is very much worth having. Let me know if it is worth it for you.

"Do not be Ignorant"...

“Do not be ignorant!”

 

The Apostle Paul once said this to the Corinthian church regarding their knowledge of spiritual gifts. We hate being ignorant of things in our culture, yet I wonder how many of us would know what our spiritual gifts actually are.

 

A spiritual gift is a special supernatural ability that God gives to each of His children so that they together can advance His purposes.

 

These are not simply talents given to a few special elite, but are good gifts available to all. God’s gifts are special and unique to each person, and are not given to be hoarded, but to be shared. Spiritual gifts are tools that specialize in changing people’s lives. There are many different types of gifts, but all serve the same purpose of advancing the kingdom of God.

 

If you want to uncover what gifts the Holy Spirit has blessed you with, here are some tools to assist you.

 

1) Ask... Ask the Lord to help you see your gifts and seek the gifts that most intrigue you and/or get you excited. The Lord has hard-wired us for specific gifts that will complement who we were made to be.

 

2) Test... Testing to uncover your spiritual gifts may be especially helpful.  Some gifts are harder to recognize than others.

www.spiritualgiftstest.com

 

3) Study... I found this book to be very helpful in discovering God’s vision and mission for my life. We were all created to play a role in the body of Christ. If you and I are not on mission then we are like a sick organ of the body. The whole body must compensate for the hole you leave.

Chazown.com

 

4) Scripture... Here are some great passages of scriptures we should be familiar with in order to not be ignorant about the Spirits Gifts.

 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

 

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

 

1 Peter 4:10-11

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

What are your top three biggest gifts? I would love to know?

How much do you have to hate?...

Pastor Rob Ketterling spent the day with us on Sunday. I love that guy. He is truly a friend and my pastor. It’s important to be in a healthy community and to have a pastor, even if you are a pastor. Rob challenged High Point to not settle. To not get comfortable. To keep the mission of Jesus paramount in our minds.

 

Here is a video he wanted us all to see but we ran out of time on Sunday morning...

 

Penn says, "How much do you have to hate... to not tell?" What an amazing statement! How true is that for us? I wonder if it less about hating non-believers and more about not wanting to step out of our relational comfort zone to talk to someone about what has truly changed our lives.

 

Someone asked me how to do this? How do you share about Jesus to people?

 

Let me give you a play-by-play how-to...

 

1. Pray for the person you want to share with. They need more to happen in their life than you or I can do in a short conversation, but the Holy Spirit will work on many levels in their life. We need to be their personal prayer partner. They don't even need to know you’re praying for God to do a deep work.
2. What is your story? What was your life like before Jesus? What happened when Jesus was made CEO of your life? What has it meant for you to be surrendered to the Lord?
3. Look for an opening to share your story. People respond out of need, not out of argument. So look for the need in their life and talk through your experience about how Jesus meets that need.
4. Ask them if they are interested in more. Ask permission to talk again about this. Let them know you are interested in them as a person and are in it for the long haul, not just for the moment. Authenticity and time are the keys to helping people through the journey of faith.
5. Invite them to pray with you. Ask them if you can pray with them right then and there. Keep your eyes open. (Yes, God can hear an open-eyed prayer.) I will sometimes hold their hand like a hand-shake or just fold my hands together. Then pray a simple, non-emotional and non-hyped prayer. Address their concerns and ask the Lord to have control in their situation.
6. Invite them to come to church or connection group. If they want to, bring them to an environment where they are able to experience as much of God as they want — a place where they can ask questions and can be welcomed into a loving environment. Help them to find their place, develop their faith, and live their potential!

What is your god?

I am preparing for Sundays message. Reading 1 Kings 18 and the question keeps crossing my mind is what is my god. A pastor in Seattle asks the same question and this is what he comes up with...

What might it be for you? A car, a job, Kids, a spouse or relationship that is out of balance. What has taken a higher place than the Lord your GOD? Come Sunday and lets talk more about this.

Elijah Series Plan...

I wanted to give you the details of this series because I think this series could be HUGE in your life.

Read 1 Kings 17- 2 Kings 2

Wk 1- The Making- The journey you are on will not be easy. Only through our pain can God truly use us to touch those around us. Who is God making you to be?

Wk 2- Battle Royal - Who will you serve? God is going to set some people free this week.

Wk 3- Power of prayer- What are you praying for? Bring your needs to the Lord and he will hear you!

Wk 4- Depression- Elijah dealt with it, David dealt with it and you and I deal with it so what can we learn from Elijah's story?

Talking Tips...

On Sunday I get the profound privilege of taking words on a page and connect it with people in their everyday life. Helping people see that the Word of God is truly alive and worth our time and attention. I have learned a lot in the last four years of speaking week in week out at High Point. Here are a few of those lessons.

• Change it up... This week I preached narrative. A few weeks ago it was topically. Some weeks it is expository. I will use a great book I read once to preach out of in January and this summer am thinking about preaching through an entire book of the New Testament verse by verse. WHY? People learn in different ways. I get bored with one "style" and have to experiment and test myself. Preaching styles change over the years and If I am locked into 1 "style" then I am in big trouble because then I will not be able to make the cultural shift.
• Find your own Voice... In the beginning I used a lot of other pastors series notes to help me with my talks. I found that I had a hard time breaking out of their ideas, way of talking, grammar and phraseology. I still use peoples material to help me with ideas and content but now it is more of a complement rather than a crutch for my messages. I had to ask the question what makes me unique and note worthy as a communicator. Not in a haughty self serving kind of way, rather in a self discovery kind of way. I am funny it is a trait that I need to get more comfortable and refined in but I have to recognize it as a tool in my tool box in order to truly capitalize on it. I am a good story teller. If I am not telling stories in my talks then I am not going to be communicating at my best. This is huge and took me a long time to get comfortable with my gifts, talents and abilities but has helped me really go to the next level in my speaking.
• Practice makes perfect if you have it in you... Some people just don't have it in them and no matter how much they practice they will never be an amazing public speaker. Others just need time on "stage" to work out the kinks. Help you learn how to handle distractions, low and high crowds, bad material, too much material. The more I have been upfront the more comfortable I have become with myself. All good communication comes from the security of the speaker! When you are secure and confident people relax and trust you.
• Let it all hang out... Almost every week I feel exposed. A little embarrassed. It stems from  me letting it all out and being vulnerable with the people. I shout, cry, laugh, tease, sweat, and share truthfully out of my experience. But it makes it AUTHENTIC and I think that is a powerful element to good communication. I on purpose run along the edge of a cliff and people can feel the tension/ excitement as I do it and when I finish we all (myself included) breath a sigh of relief as we reflect on what just happened. I did this this last Sunday as I created the dramatic tension of a woman sobbing at Jesus feet. I put myself in her shoes and at one point commented about her lost innocence at a young age. Their is no way of knowing if she was actually abused at a young age but I felt the Spirit prompting me to say it in that moment and man it made me feel vulnerable as It splashed into the air and settled into peoples minds. I felt the tension in the air and knew that Because I let it out God was ministering to people.
• Let the Holy Spirit have room... I started scripting my messages so tightly that in the moment if I needed/wanted/ felt lead to add anything on the spot for specific people in the room It would get lost in the mass of material I had brought. Now I have less than 1 page of notes and those are mostly bullet points that lead me in a direction and then I let the Holy Spirit prompt me to say the meat on the bones. It feels a little strange at first to get up their without having it 100% figured out yet but I preach less and feel the quality has gone up significantly. I will often search my heart and mind for a message for that moment in that service. 1st service I felt I needed to emphasis the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Jesus. 2nd service I didn't feel it the same way but I found out later that someone 1st service needed to hear that.  
• Learn from the best... I learned how to preach from the TV show E.R. My dad and I would watch the show all growing up and he would say, "Son watch what they are doing... notice the tension... they have you laughing in one moment and the next moment someone is dying." I read books, listen to story tellers and preachers and listen to where do they pause, laugh, cry and why do they do it that way. It all helps me when I am preaching to communicate the message of the passage I am teaching to come alive. Jesus told amazing stories and It is my mandate to fallow his lead. 
• Prep... Prep a ton personally... prep a little corporately. I used to spend 40 or more hours a week on my talk. Based on mu gifts and abilities that was overkill!!! Now I am prepping about 8-10 hours a week. I can say more in 25 minutes than a person can do all week so it is not the quantity of prep that matters it is the quality of the message I am communicating. I have found that when I prepped more for a message I substituted my corporate study for my personal enrichment. Then i had all this amazing insight that was to deep or not fully baked for Sunday Consumption. Now I am prepping more for me. Letting the Holy Spirit work a thought or idea or word through me. I am able to let my mind have space to hear from God. I think my speaking has gotten better because of it. I know my depth as a person/pastor has grown.

I take my role as lead communicator very very seriously. I love what I get to do and really enjoy seeing people come alive as I they respond to the living word of God every week.

Message on a napkin...

I am working on a new way to prep for my message. trying to get my prep down to about 5-7 hours, I do a lot more and over bake the message. Here is the mind map my wife and I created. It is our first stab at it and we did it over lunch on a piece of paper the size of a napkin. Lets see how this works. She has way better writing than I do :) Thanks Babe for your drawing. Time to throw it in www.mindmeister.com or app.spinscape.com and Bring the heat this Sunday.

Next Series

I am usually way ahead than I am now... We as a staff are usually months ahead of our series. We are working on a lot of behind the scenes work and I am only two weekends away from our new series. God speaks just as well in two weeks as he does in 12 weeks. The issue is me. Right now I am asking God... "What do you want?" "Who is this for?" "What BIG topics need to be nailed?" "Where are you leading us?"

The funny thing is I know where we are going with our January series and I feel strongly about our Easter service. OK Lord... "Show me what you desire."

Ill keep you posted but I should have it by the end of the day.