Chad Bles

I Can’t Sleep…

Chad Bles — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:55:05 +0000

I can’t sleep because I’m simply overwhelmed by the goodness of God…

Just moments ago, my sweet Chloe Grace (age 7) prayed to receive Jesus and committed her heart and life to Him! We’ve always been very intentional about pointing our kids to Jesus and the Gospel, but have also been very intentional about letting them discover their own need for salvation without pressure from us. Tonight she simply said she was ready! She began to cry as she told me about her sin and her need for Jesus. Jennifer and I just confirmed her understanding and reinforced scripture… Then she prayed. Now I can’t sleep and the angels in Heaven are rejoicing!

Also, today was the 2 year anniversary of our very first Vision Gathering for Terra Nova Church and it was this week last year that I first visited our current church building. To say that God has done the impossible is an understatement! He certainly has proven Ephesians 3:20-21 to be true… To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can think, ask, or imagine!

Tonight we celebrated with our staff and leadership team…

However, wouldn’t you know it… Half of our team was late! Why? It’s because they have the hearts of Jesus… They stopped on the interstate to help a single mom with car trouble! Thank you God for such an awesome team! Sadly, I have never been part of such a selfless group of people!

During our time together I shared the things I’m excited about as we head into 2012. As I think about all the ways I see God at work I just get overwhelmed because I’m so unworthy! God is going to use small groups and worship in a HUGE way this coming year at Terra Nova… Hold on… It’s going to be an amazing journey!

Jennifer and I are SUPER EXCITED about the 20/20 Vision! Be watching for more info! This photo will soon make much more sense!

Today, I’m Thankful for…

Chad Bles — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:23:39 +0000

Today, I’m thankful for… YOU! Thanks for taking time to read my blog.

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to pour into your life, even through the simple ministry of this blog or our weekly podcast.

To those of you who are a part of Terra Nova Church, thanks for what you do to propel the vision and the Gospel forward. Greater things are yet to come! It’s an honor and joy to be your pastor.

I don’t take for granted this opportunity, and I hope you will see my appreciation displayed in the passion and intensity that I bring to ministry for years to come, by God’s grace.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Give Thanks!

Chad Bles — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:38:24 +0000

Without a doubt, we serve an AWESOME God. I’ve discovered over the past two years that nothing is impossible with Him. He can move mountains, make the sun standstill, heal the sick, reconcile relationships, deliver addicts, and give hope to the hopeless.

Take some time to read Joshua 4:1-24 this week.

In Joshua chapter 4, we can see how God completed the mighty task of bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. God led the Israelites out of slavery under Pharaoh’s rule and into freedom just as He had promised. Because of the magnitude of what He did, God did not want the Israelites to ever forget what He had done for them. God wanted the Israelites to forever remember the miracle He performed for them and what a mighty and powerful God He is.

Think back for a moment… God has done some pretty amazing things in your life. If you are part of Terra Nova Church, you’ve seen some remarkable things that can only be explain because of the GREATNESS of God. He may have performed a miracle of healing or delivered you from the bondage of an addiction and into your own Promised Land.

Take time today to remember the mighty things God has done for you, your family, and our church family. Praise Him and commit to Him that you will never forget the amazing things He has done for you.

Use the comments section of this blog to GIVE THANKS for the many things that God has done!

The Exchange – One More Verse!

Chad Bles — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:48:51 +0000

By Garrett Robison

Hey guys. So Jake has been on me lately to write one of these blogs so I figure I better…

Anyways, when I was thinking of what to write about I began to think of a time that made a big impact on my life and how I choose to live it. The summer before and after my senior year in high school Jake and myself went to a christian music camp in Nashville called camp electric. This is a camp where the students get to hangout with and be taught by different christian artist. From guys like Piller, Toby Mac and Diverscity, The Newsboys, Sanctus Real, Steven Curtis Chapman’s band, and various others. So as you can imagine, for a couple of young and budding musicians like Jake and I, this was a dream come true.

I remember we were both ecstatic at the fact that we would get to meet so many of our heros, much less get to hang with them. At this camp there was an acoustic set every morning and a concert every night. I’m talking the best concerts you can imagine. There were hundreds of music loving teens, not the kind that just stand in the corner to listen to the music at the concert but the kind that go crazy and are jumping around nonstop for an hour and a half. It was amazing. Along with having a concert every night there was a speaker by the name of Dave, I think, I don’t remember his name as much as what he said. The first night Skillet was the band playing and everyone was so excited. You feel the tension in the room as everyone waited for them to finally come on-stage and when they did it was like the room exploded. It was so loud an intense in that place. I know that probably all of you have had moments like this where you were going crazy for a band you love or cheering on the Cards in the world series.

Anyway the next night Dave was speaking to us and he was wondering how we can get so excited about a band or sports team but we seem to fail in that area when it comes to God. You know how it is, you’re at a really awesome concert there has been an awesome moment and you don’t want it to end. So the crowd starts chanting, “one more song, one more song, one more song….” At first it is soft but soon the entire crowd is caught up in it and there is roar of voices. Dave said to us that the reading of the bible and being in Gods word is what we should never want to leave. He told us to raise up our voices to cry out “One More Verse!” He encouraged us to make this the cry of our lives instead of placing that in something that will die and fade away. I will never forget what happened that night and every night that followed as Dave slowly walked off the stage. It was just like everyone’s favorite band had quit playing. It was soft and barely heard at first but then the with the deafening sound of all our voices raised in unity. All that could be heard was “ONE MORE VERSE!!!!, ONE MORE VERSE!!!!, ONE MORE VERSE!!!!”

So I encourage you to make this your mind-set. Cry out to God telling him you never want to leave his presence. Make this the priority of your life. Don’t cheer or long for something that will never set you free or fulfill your soul. Next time you are in His presence tell Him to not let up. Ask him to consume you and to allow true communion with His spirit.

With all this said I want to leave you with this thought and video. Do truly have a divine romance with our creator. Are you completely overwhelmed by his presence. Just like Chad mentioned in his sermon this past weekend if you’re not in the presence of God like you have been in the past He is not the one that has moved.

I wish the Church really got this…

Chad Bles — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:21:48 +0000

The Gospel… How I long for the Church of America to be awakened…

If this post and this video activates the Gospel within you… please share it!

The Exchange – There is More!

Chad Bles — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:03:51 +0000

Contributed Weekly By Jake Bond

To start off this blog I must say that I am so thankful for my family, my friends, my church family and most importantly the never-ending love of our Savior!!! It has definitely been a STRUGGLE the past few weeks trying to decide on what to blog about. Then as I sat down on the couch, it hit me. “I will write about struggles.”

Before I get started let me make something clear. When I say struggles, I’m talking about suffering, hurting, persecution, lack of money, death, addiction, and lastly SIN. That’s just a few on what seems to be a never-ending list of things to struggle with. Something that I’ve noticed from people dealing with struggles, myself included, is how we deal with them. When it comes down to it there are typically three things that people resort to in these times. We resort to anger, depression, or we have faith and rely on God and recognize that He is in control. It is so easy to get angry, especially when dealing with finances.

I got to spend some awesome time with Tim Bartlett this past week, and he had a pretty crazy story about dealing with finances. Long story short he was in a financial jam and well, Tim said he may have gotten a little angry lol. After he came to realize that his anger was not going to help him in this struggle He knew it was only going to be possible through God. The funny thing is that literally within an hour of Tim handing it over to God, he got a phone call and well just say God took care of it!! If you get a chance seriously go ask Tim about this!!! It’s amazing how all of that worked out.

Don’t be mislead by this, sometimes God doesn’t immediately work things out quite that fast. Stay faithful and it will be totally worth it!

Next comes depression. This is when we are struggling and decide that its better to just lay down and give up rather than fight. This will literally never solve anything. One of my favorite passages is 1 Peter 5:8-11. It says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

So basically stand firm, fight the fight and God is going to lift you up and make you strong. I think I’m willing to suffer for a little bit in order to be made strong by the Creator of the universe! If there’s one thing you take out of this blog let it be this final line. Don’t tell God how big your struggle is, You tell that sissy little struggle how BIG YOUR GOD IS!!!

Just a few announcements!!!

I AM PUMPED!!!!

Terra Nova Worship will be leading worship TONIGHT at Malden First General Baptist Church at 7pm!!!

We are writing some new music!!!

GOD IS AWESOME!!!

This song talks about struggles and is one of my favorite songs at this time. My favorite lines come from the bridge. It says

And even amidst the struggle of finding the man

That you have called me to be

Your love reminds me

That though I am broken I am still standing

I am still screaming!

The Joy of Harvest…

Chad Bles — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:57:17 +0000

I absolutely love this time of year! I love it because it forces me to think about the harvest… not corn, wheat, or beans, but rather the spiritual harvest. I love to see the seed we’ve sown produce a harvest! After all, that is the purpose of the Church!

I’m a great fan of Francis Chan’s heart… I’m a fan of the harvest that is being reaped because of the seed he’s sown! I enjoyed this video when I viewed it months ago, but want to share it here to spur you on in the HARVEST… Enjoy!

What truths does this video reveal about the Church?

What does it reveal about how we value our instruction manual, the Bible?

What other parallels do you see?

How could the Church become more productive?

How to start a movement…

Chad Bles — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:15:22 +0000

This video has some great insights on how to lead and start a movement… Watch it and share your thoughts as well… Especially your thoughts about Gospel movements…

At Terra Nova Church as we go to the next level this is key… Imagine if each small group leader were willing to do this with those that God brings around them in their circle of influence…

This week during our Supper Six, I was asked how did Terra Nova become a church… Well, this is how…

Why I will always be part of a church that needs money…

Chad Bles — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:39:00 +0000

The following post is from Jud Wilhite, an author, speaker, and the Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas… the original version of this post can be found at his blog…

When I finished reading I was overcome with a burden… a burden that will refuse to let what God is doing at Terra Nova Church ever die! Oh, sure it may look different in the years to come or even happen under a different name or banner, but as long as there is breath within me… may we LIVE!

Enjoy the read…

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A while back someone sent me this story written by Don Linscott on why he is glad his church needs money. I found it very powerful and a good perspective for churches and members doing their best to faithfully be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.

Here is his story:

On July 23, 1970, my wife, Connie, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. For three years we had tried unsuccessfully to start a family so our joy was great with the arrival of what was to be our only biological child. We later adopted a daughter. Lance was born before it became acceptable for the father to be present in the delivery room. (A fact for which I have ever been grateful!)

I waited in the hallway just outside the delivery room. At precisely 4:13 p.m., I heard a sound I will never forget, Lance’s first cry. The nurse emerged with a smile and said, “You have a baby boy.”

I casually responded, “Yes, I know.” I had never doubted we would have a son. I could hardly wait to get Connie and Lance out of the hospital and back home so I could get my hands on them.

The wonderful glow of fatherhood was soon dimmed, however, when I was asked to visit the business office of the hospital. They wanted me to pay for Lance! In fact, it seemed to me that my wife and child might be held hostage until the hospital bill was settled. I wrote the check paying all the expenses in full, freed my family, and we made our escape. That check turned out to be only the first of hundreds, maybe thousands, I would write on Lance’s behalf.

Children are expensive. There was formula and food to buy. Doctor visits and vaccinations assaulted my banking account. Diapers and toys took their toll. And clothes were a constant drain. Just about the time we built a great wardrobe for the kid, he would grow, forcing us to start all over again.

As his age and size increased so did the expenses. Soon it was baseball gloves, Nike shoes and uniforms. There were glasses for his eyes and braces for his teeth. And then, disaster struck.

Lance became a teenager! Now it was cars and dates and name-brand clothes. Then came college. Lance had always, and only, wanted to be an architect. It seemed to me he would be in school until he was forty-two years old. Expenses soared! Tuition, books, and drawing tools led the long list of essential expenditures. But, of course, just like parents everywhere, we were happy to be able to help him and we did all we could to support his growth and his dreams.

And then, one day, Lance died.

On Halloween Day, 1991, we buried twenty-one-year-old Lance in our church’s country cemetery. That afternoon we walked away from his grave and since that day we have never spent another nickel on Lance.

That’s how I learned it.

Death is cheap. Death can be sustained without expense. It is living that is costly. It is growth that is expensive. Our dreams, visions, and hopes require sacrifice. Death doesn’t!

That’s why I will always belong to a church that needs money.

A living, growing, thriving church will always require the continual, consistent, and conscientious financial support of its members.

Another Terra Nova Story…

Chad Bles — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:25:32 +0000

I loving hearing the stories of life-change and how God continues to transform people into His likeness! This weekend was overwhelming… so you’ll see a couple new posts this week! Saturday evening was an awesome time of testimonies at church, but it was the following Facebook post that I read yesterday that was SUPER REFRESHING! So, Here is another Terra Nova story!

Enjoy!

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This is the story of Melanie Bond…

At last night’s service Pastor Chad asked people for testimonies of what Terra Nova Church had given or shown them since we each had starting attending services there. Terra Nova has shown me that there are still wells out there offering drinks to thirsty people!

I don’t know if anyone who may read this post knows how it feels to be in the presence of unforgiveness… whether that be sitting in the presence of someone who hasn’t forgiven you or simply listening to other people talk about those they themselves haven’t or won’t ever forgive. It doesn’t matter which of those you have experienced… and it doesn’t matter if it’s coming from the saved or the unsaved… it all feels the same.

Over the last few years I have been in the presence of them all. Just a few months ago I sat with a couple of ladies, that professed to be Christians, that both expressed their thoughts on how someone who hurt another person could ever feel okay being around the person they hurt ever again. Sometime later I was reading in Psalms where David speaks of being in a dry and weary land without water to quench his thirst and it hit me… that’s exactly how it felt being in the presence of unforgiving people! No water to quench the thirst of people needing forgiveness and no forgiveness to soothe their aching, broken, and contrite hearts.

While standing back watching Terra Nova Church be the hands and feet of the Lord this is what I have seen. If someone is hurting, if someone is broken, if someone messes up and needs forgiveness, you the church have wrapped your arms around them and given them that drink of water that they so desperately needed to quench their thirst. I have watched Terra Nova Church be that very well, to the people who enter its doors, that Jesus spoke of when he himself met a woman there who was in much need herself of a drink of forgiveness and living water. I pray the well never goes dry!!!