MARCH TEACHING SERIES: Changing Your World Through Uncommon Favor

Sunday, March 2:
Part I: MIRACULOUS LIVING THROUGH FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN

Wednesday, March 5:
Part II: ADVENTURES IN FAVOR: The Story of Joseph

Sunday, March 9:
Part III: FREEDOM THROUGH FINANCIAL FAVOR


Wednesday, March 12:
Part IV: ADVENTURES IN FAVOR: The Story of Esther


Sunday, March 16:
Part V: BEATING THE SYSTEM THROUGH FAVOR: The Parable of the Unjust Steward


Wednesday, March 19:
Part VI: ADVENTURES IN FAVOR: The Story of Abigail


Sunday, March 23:
Part VII: CHANGING HISTORY THROUGH UNCOMMON FAVOR


Wednesday, March 26:
PROJECT 404 WORSHIP NIGHT


Sunday, March 30:
Special Guest Speaker, Dr. Harold Lovelace

TEACHING THEMES FOR JANUARY

AT CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST/
CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE

THE POSITIVE POWER OF PRAYER

An in-depth examination of several famous prayers, and a study of their validity, impact on our culture and relevance to our lives in the 21st century

Wednesday, January 8 (7 PM) - The Serenity Prayer

 

Sunday, January 12 (9 & 11 AM) - The Lord's Prayer

 

 Wednesday, January 15 (7 PM) - Nehemiah's Prayer for Success

 

 Sunday, January 19  (9 & 11 AM) - The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

 

Wednesday, January 22 (7 PM) - Jesus' Prayer for Unity (John 17)

 

Sunday, January 26 (9 & 11 AM) - The Prayer of Jabez

 

 

Wednesday, January 29 (7 PM) - Worship Night

 

 

AT CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN

CHANGING UP THE ROUTINE IN 2014

A study in how to re-examine long-held thought patterns to bring about positive change in your life in the New Year

Thursday, January 9 (7 PM) -  Parting with Illusions and Living Your Real Life of Faith

Sunday, January 12 (2:30 PM) - COMMUNION BRUNCH

Thursday, January 16 (7 PM) - Embracing Your Own Humanity and Playing to Your Strengths

Sunday, January 19 (2:30 PM) - COMMUNION BRUNCH

Thursday, January 23 (7 PM) - CHANGE YOUR MIND AND LEAVE FEAR BEHIND

Sunday, January 27 (2:30 PM) - COMMUNION BRUNCH

Thursday, January 30 (7 PM) - Reversing the Curse and Accentuating the Blessing

OCTOBER SERIES...First Reviews

Just some of the feedback that I've received from the first installment of our October series, MANIFESTING THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART from all three Sunday services (CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST, CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE, CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN)

Brent said..."Simply amazing!"

 

Sharon said..."I've heard your voice for years, and I always think you get better and better, but that was seriously the best I've EVER heard from you!"

 

John said... "LOVE how you're tying in scriptural truths with New Thought concepts!! TO the point we are half way considering moving to Atlanta...keep being you!"

 

Pamela said..."I must say when I first heard this at the 9 - it blew me away - it is still doing it.....this is more than cool...in fact any of my adjectives do not work on describing this...so I will shut up and stop trying....LOL... :)"

 

Debye Swilley said... "I seriously thought I was going to take off running!!! Total life changing word!! Thank you!"

Deb said..."Once again a life changing word...we may end up with a Pentecostal service yet...clear the aisles there may be some running & shouting going on....LoL"

 

Romanita said..."The insights and thoughts at Apres Diem were intense! Thanks for leading the sharing."

Sheryl said..."It was awesome, it made so much sense"

 

Brenda said..."I was on the edge of my seat, that word was ....I can't think of any words that will express it....I can't wait for the next part....yes I almost flipped my wig LOL"

 

Jean said..."Awesome teaching! Loved it! We are definitely in the right place at the right time for this WORD!! We are seeing more clearly now {love that song}...Be blessed...Love you..."

 

Dave said..."I can't wait for the next part!"
 

Thanks, everyone, for having an ear to hear! It just gets better and better...the knowledge of the Lord is filling ALL THE EARTH as the waters cover the sea! See you tomorrow night...

   - JES

 

"Let Me reveal this truth to you...you're impressed with what happened to the fig tree, but the fact is that you have the power and ability to say to this entire mountain, "Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea!", and see it obey you! You've seen me actually speak to a storm...or command the dead to live again...well, in the same way, if you can connect the God-kind of faith that is in your own heart with the creative ability that is in your own mouth...if you say what you believe, and believe what you say...you can produce these kinds of results!

This is why I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer...whatever you decree...BELIEVE...accept the reality that it exists in another, unseen dimension, simply because you say it. Don't suspend or delay belief until you see it manifested in the physical realm, because what is unseen is more real than what is seen. Be confident that your request is granted to you, and you will get it...your own irresistible faith will attract it to you."

(Mark 11:23, 24 - MARK IN THE NOW)


FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS Series: CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST/CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE, Sundays at 9 & 11 AM, EST and Wednesdays at 7 PM, EST (www.churchinthenow.org)

THE GOSPELS IN THE NOW available at amazon.com and www.jimswilleybooks.com

HOSANNA!

 

1. As they neared Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples ahead.

2. And He gave them very specific instructions, saying, "I want you to go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a young colt tied which has never been ridden by anyone. When you find it, I want you to unfasten it and bring it here to Me.

3. If anyone should ask you, 'Why are you taking this animal which doesn't belong to you?', just say to them, 'The Lord needs it, but He will send it right back here when He's through with it.'"

4. So they went on their way, and, sure enough, they found a colt tied at the door of a house as soon as they entered the village, and they went right up to it and loosed it.

5. And some who were standing there said to them, "What do you think you're doing? Why are you untying this man's colt?"

6. And they said to the people exactly what Jesus had told them to say...and it worked! The people allowed them to go without saying another word.

7. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and started throwing their outer garments on it, creating a sort of festive, makeshift saddle...and He sat on it.

8. And many of the people who were around took their cues from the disciples and began to spontaneously spread their garments on the road. Still others joined in with the impromptu decorating, and scattered a layer of leafy branches which they had cut from the fields along the route on which He would be travelling.

9. And still others formed a parade of praise, preceding Him on the road and crying out, joyfully and triumphantly, "Hosanna! Save, Lord! Praised and infinitely blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

10. Praised and blessed in the name of the Lord is the coming Kingdom of our father David! Hosanna! Save, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

*Mark 11:1-10 - Mark In The Now from 'The Gospels In The Now' by Bishop Jim Swilley, available at amazon.com and on www.jimswilleybooks.

**Palm Sunday services at CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST/CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE 9 @ 11 AM, EST (www.churchinthenow.org)

RECENT SHOTS

Watching CITNO from CITNE

 CITNE STAFF visits 12 STONES CHURCH

COMMUNION SERVICE at CITNE

SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE I at CITNM (Thursdays, 7 PM)

CITNO now streams the early service at CITNE...

 

 

 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT CITNE AND CITNM: http://www.facebook.com/jim.swilley1#!/media/set/?set=a.545249298822832.138875.100000132993860&type=1

BIG WEEKEND!

 

My, how time flies! This Saturday, October 13, 2012 is the 2nd anniversary of the delivery of my most famous message in 40 years of ministry - a message entitled 'A Real Message to Real People'. That message changed a lot of things in my life and in Church In The Now, to say the least...I won't go over all the events that have transpired since that Wednesday night, but I will say, to the glory of God, that two years later I am still in full-time ministry, both as a Pastor of two congregations, CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST (Covington) and CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN (Atlanta)...actually, three congregations if you count CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE (Global), and as a Bishop (NOW MINISTRIES), and am happier and more excited about the Kingdom of God than I have ever been...and still, two full years later, hardly a day goes by without my receiving a note or letter from someone somewhere in the world about that message. Here's what I wrote about it in my new book, FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS: The Positive Truth About God, The Gospel, and What it Really Means to be Gay:

Anyway, to fast-forward the story and get to the incentive for writing this book, I finally "came out" to the whole world on Wednesday, October 13, 2010...The tape of the service went viral on the internet almost immediately after I delivered the message, became for a few days the video with the most hits on YouTube, and garnered an unbelievable amount of unexpected media exposure in the following weeks and months. The response to it was, for me, astounding. On that Wednesday night I had no plan or outline of what I wanted to say...no script or pre-meditation of it at all. Had I known beforehand that the video was going to become so high profile, I would have no doubt phrased a few things that I said that night differently, but it was what it was. But there was not one day in the following year that I didn't hear from someone somewhere in the world who wanted to thank me for it, or to tell me that it changed their perception of God or of religion or of people with same sex attraction. Atheists told me that it made them want to believe in God again. Straight people told me that it helped them come to terms with their gay friends and family members, or even with their own authenticity issues. Some gay teens told me it kept them from considering suicide, and many of their parents told me that it opened up broken lines of communication, and brought much-needed healing to their families. So even though the letter of the message wasn't perfect, the spirit of it apparently came through loud and clear, and for that I am very grateful.

You can find some reviews of the book in the previous post here on BLOGINTHENOW II...and thank you, by the way, for all of your wonderful comments!

 

One thing that I really appreciate about this weekend and what it means is that I had a two-fold goal of finishing the book and having it available on or before the 2nd anniversary of 'A Real Message to Real People', and also having it ready to present at Atlanta Pride, so that I could promote it there. The book came out last week (just in time), but it didn't even occur to me until a few days ago that not only had I made my goals, but that they actually fell on the same date - October 13, 2012! We had already planned on having a booth at the event to debut the book and advertise for CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN, but the fact that it's happening on the same day just really makes this Saturday something special for me!

A few days ago, when CNN asked me to do an interview on a program they were doing about religious intolerance, I told the producer that a couple of the chapters in FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS were about that very topic (actually, that theme is pervasive throughout the entire book, but chapters 3 and 12 are particularly devoted to it). She volunteered that they would be happy to promote the book, and asked for a shot of the cover, and a pdf of the material, which we immediately sent. They informed me that it was an hour-long show, and that we would be delving deeply into the topic.

 

And it was, in fact, an hour-long show, but my part turned out to only be for a few moments in the final segment, and all they were able to do was show the title of the book while I was talking. After the show I asked the producer why they didn't say anything about the book as promised, even though I realized that it would have been somewhat irrelevant to the direction in which the show ended up going, and that it also would have set a precedent for the Rabbi who was also interviewed with me, who is also an author.

Anyway, she said that they would have me back this weekend to talk about the book, but as of yet I haven't heard back from them. And I'm not complaining, regardless of whether or not they call for me to return today or tomorrow. I was really happy to be on the program at all for several reasons. First, even a tiny bit of exposure on global television is powerful. Even though I was on for a short amount of time, within minutes I was getting positive feedback from people around the world, including some in the Middle East, who appreciated what I had said about Muslim nations.

And I was also glad that they had me on to talk about something other than gay issues, because I'm not a gay activist...I'm a minister of the Gospel. I like to provide input on a variety of topics, so it's all good, and I greatly appreciate both Don Lemon, who has been a good friend to me, and CNN!

So...maybe I'll be on again this weekend, maybe not...I don't know yet. Either way, as I said, it's all good. But I'll definitely be at the CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN booth at Pride, signing books, and Sunday I'll be at both the 9 and 11 AM services at CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST with a really good word for you from the Gospel of Matthew.

 

It's a beautiful, fall weekend in Atlanta, and I'm glad to be alive and well to experience it!

 

I hope your weekend is excellent, as well!

 

God is good!

WE'RE HOME!

The Premier Service in the new CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST building couldn't have gone better...capacity crowds for the Open House...capacity crowds in both the Sanctuary and the Overflow Suite...a beautiful, modern, state-of-the-art facility filled with Praise and laughter and fellowship...gratitude...once again CITN sets the standard for excellence in Youth and Children's Ministry...the pictures don't really do it justice...so good to see so many happy people together...people returning...people who have been gone for a year or more back in fellowship...but, most importantly, THE PRESENCE OF GOD was there...awesome anointing...powerful...

THE WORD FOR SUNDAY:
IT'S A NEW DAY!

1. IT'S A NEW WAY

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
(Song of Solomon 2:11-13 - The Message)

 2. IT'S A NEW WORK

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation...every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”
(Joshua 1:7-9 - The Message)

 
3. IT'S A NEW WALK

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
(Isaiah 43:18, 19 - The Message)


A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN...the transformation that took place in the building over the last few days is nothing short of ASTOUNDING!

There's just no place like CITN. Period.

This Wednesday will see the return of BODY BUILDERS to the CITNE campus (10 AM)!

Wednesday night begins SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE and Project 404...SOTB will be streamed live for CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE...

CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN will continue to meet on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons for COMMUNION BRUNCH (hors d'oeuvres night this week at Virginia Highland Church!)

Sunday service times for CITNE are now 9 and 11 AM...

Everyone is welcome...next Sunday is COMMUNION and ORDINATION of a new Pastor uniting with NOW MINISTRIES...

TO SEE MORE PICS OF THE FIRST SERVICE (9/30) CLICK HERE: http://www.facebook.com/jim.swilley1#!/media/set/?set=a.528206200527142.135164.100000132993860&type=3

That's A Good Question!

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead
 

 

I was standing in line for a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia the other day (I know, I know...I can't believe it, either...never say never)...anyway, I was wearing my CHURCH IN THE NOW T-shirt, and a man in line in front of me, who apparently didn't recognize me behind my sunglasses and in that setting, looked at my shirt and asked, "Whatever happened to that church?"

Wow...that's a loaded question...

He went on to say that he used to watch "that guy" on TV and thought he was pretty good, but he had seen that they weren't on I-20 any more, so he just assumed they had shut down.

I assured him that we were still very much alive and well, and about to move into a permanent location...and because I didn't want to embarrass him (and because I just wanted to ride the ride), that was the end of our exchange...

But it is an interesting thing to ponder...

Just what did happen to that church?

Well...since leaving our previous place of worship the middle of April we (CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST) have met in a theatre...

Our first Sunday on the move (at AMC Stonecrest Cinema)

...and in a high school auditorium...

Worship at Heritage High School

...and in a civic center...

Wednesday nights in Olde Town

...and at an outdoor pavilion...

But, oh...those summer nights!

...and while we were renting each of these venues for every service, we were also renting office space in one location, and storage space in another location...

August Board Meeting in our rented office space

...and our amazing tech crew was setting up and tearing down for each of these services...

Loading up after Sunday service

...while also somehow creating the ability in each of these locations to stream each service live for CHURCH IN THE NOW ONLINE...

From the home of one of our CITNO members in Houston, Texas

In a word, week after week...without exception....this group of tough, pioneering visionaries have basically performed miracles to keep this vision alive while we moved from place to place...


But now we have a permanent home...

Our new address...13183 Harland Drive

...and our first service in the new building will be Sunday, September 30..

A place where ALL are welcome!

...and we're returning to having two Sunday services (9 and 11 AM)...

And it's going to be awesome!

As Pastor Judah said the other day, we're ready to stop living out of a suitcase and put something in a drawer!

It's been a long, hot summer for CHURCH IN THE NOW EAST (meanwhile, everything has been moving right along at CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN, but that's another blog post)...and we've learned a lot...and we've grown...and we've changed (for the better)...and we've gotten stronger...

But I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who stayed with the vision of this house during this time of transition (even when many of your friends left)...and moved with the cloud (when many just couldn't keep up with the mobility of it)...and saw beyond the moving and the setting up and the tearing down...and you kept showing up for services, regardless of where they were...and you kept giving...and you kept praying...and you kept believing...and you kept praising God...and you kept working (with a great attitude)...and you didn't get discouraged...and you didn't complain about less than perfect conditions...and you kept up the CHURCH IN THE NOW brand and standard of excellence...and you showed the world how to go through hard times with class and strength and grace...and you got what we were trying to do...and you understood that YOU ARE THE CHURCH...and you found out that the House of God really isn't a building made with hands, after all...and you let go of all that we had in our previous location with gratitude and with a free heart...and you learned to LIVE IN THE NOW...

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!

Thank you for being good for your word...

Thank you for moving furniture and equipment into buildings...

Thank you for moving furniture and equipment out of buildings...

Thank you for every penny you've given, and for every drop of sweat that you've produced...

Thank you for showing up for the work nights (the next one is tomorrow night - 9/19, btw...)

...and thanks you for showing up last night at Covington City Hall to make sure we got the final clearance and approval to use the building!

Immediately after the Mayor officially welcomed us to Covington

God is good, no doubt...and, of course, we give Him the glory for everything...in Him we live and move and have our being...

But we couldn't have done any of this without YOU!

You're simply the best...

CHURCH IN THE NOW ROCKS!



....anyway, in case anyone else asks, that's what happened to that church...



See you on September 30th!