Having invested most of this year in a very fruitful series on conflict management, we are now engrossed in our new series, "Spiritual Warfare & You", which will carry us through the month of August.

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord so faithfully prepares the way and opens doors for us to grow and learn, not just in the classroom, lecture or even sermon sense, but in real, practical and transformational ways.

Concluding our series on conflict management, I spoke on the issue of Peacemaking, and called for any in the church family who would be interested or sense a call toward being a part of a team of Peacemakers. I am overwhelmed that this team has grown to about 15 or 16 people who are answering the call to this crucial ministry.

I envision a team of people who will be trained and available to help lead others to peace in relationships when they're stuck. Whether friends, ministry co-workers, family members, or even marriages, I believe that much of what we have known as division, discord and unnecessary tension can be healed, restored and reconciled toward a greater fruitfulness and effectiveness for the Kingdom of God through this ministry.

All that said, given such a Kingdom-minded advance in such a ministry, as well as considering our recent, four year long pattern of painful and conflict-filled Fall seasons, it's only appropriate, I believe, to bring darkness into light with this series on Spiritual Warfare. I want to ask you to cover these issues in prayer on behalf of the NewHeart family. War with us, will you?

I recently mentioned two exciting issues we're headed for this Fall that I would also appreciate your prayer covering over. The first is the series we will cover this Fall, along with its corresponding Marriage Seminar and Leaders Conference in October.

The series will be called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. The premise is that you cannot be emotionally immature and spiritually mature. You cannot separate your spiritual maturity from your emotional maturity and your spiritual maturity will never truly bypass your level of emotional maturity. It's a painful truth and one very worth exploring.

Corresponding with this series, we have the privilege of hosting The Emotionally Healthy Marriage Seminar on Tuesday, October 18, 7-9 pm. Then, on Wednesday, October 19, 9 am - 5 pm, we will host The Emotionally Healthy Church Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders.

Both the Marriage Seminar (open to all couples) and the Pastors/Leaders Conference (open to any Pastors and Church leaders) will be led by Pastor Pete Scazzero, based on the book he authored, The Emotionally Healthy Church. (You can order the book directly from our website below). We're excited to have his wife, Geri, co-lead the Marriage Seminar as well.

I mention these to get you praying and to ask you to mark the dates on your calendar. I am encouraging ALL couples of NewHeart to make the Marriage Seminar a priority in your schedule. There is no cost, and the investment of those two hours can only strengthen your marriage relationship. What married couple DOESN'T need that?

Then, I am asking all of our Church Leaders to make The Emotionally Healthy Church Conference a priority that Wednesday. I know some will not be able to take the day off work, but many can. Let me just say I believe it will be worth it as we grow into our future together as a church family. There will be a cost to the Conference, but I believe it will be a worthy one.

Finally, keep your ears open for more news soon regarding Building A Blessing, our Sanctuary Expansion project. I anticipate the issuance of our building permit by the end of the month and we could start construction by the end of the year. Exciting AND scary! Good fodder for prayer!!