Saying Good-bye!

Saying Good-bye....Elton John says sorry is the hardest word to say. But what about good-bye? I'm prone to avoid it as well.

Today is the last day that Chad & Mandie Platt, our Hydrate pastors are with us. Tonight they'll have a final New Year's Eve party with the youth and staff.

Thank you for your sacrifice! Thank you for the seeds you have planted. In January of 2006, we met for the first time in our house in Cobblestone. From that day to now - you have been so committed, so engaged - so ready to make a difference. At the time - the youth group would be called H2O but you soon breathed life into another "water" name and Hydrate was born.

Chad & Mandie - when I put you up to a challenge - you always came through. Will we ever forget that I randomly announced that the following week would be "Double the Youth Group" week? That next week you rallied the troups and you went from 19 to 38 in attendance! You've got what it takes to lead - this has been only the beginning of your journey.

We love you and wish you the very best as you finish your education. We will be praying for you and waiting to hear of all that God is doing in your lives. Portland's gain is our loss!

2007 - Let's Celebrate All that God Has Done!

Wow! - 2007 is coming to an end! This week I've been a bit under the weather and perhaps that has made me a bit more contemplative than normal! There is so much to absorb as the year comes to the end - my personality just doesn't want to miss out on anything!

This past week was awesome! We had an incredible time reflecting on Immanuel on Sunday - God with us! Thank you God for putting on skin and coming to dwell among us! God with us! We need you every day!

On Monday - our first Christmas Eve services were packed and we reflected on the Lamb of God! The sinless sacrifice that took away all our sin - came to earth as Immanuel. The names of God provide us with so much insight into his character and encourage us to live our lives different than before we had the knowledge of him. That night we met by candlelight and the word of John 1 encouraged us to Come - to where He is, to take the time to Learn from Him and even though we have not figured out all the theological implications - to Tell others! We know he is the Messiah, Immanuel, the Lamb of God! As Andrew brought his brother Simon - who would be called Peter - we never know what God has in store if we will just share the good news!

And now - this Sunday we will Celebrate all the God has done in 2007! What a year - what a ride! I hope that you will come - that you will celebrate and that you will be free!

Keep in touch! 2008 is going to about going deeper and the next steps of our journey together at Oasis!

With Love

Pastor Scott

12-Days of Christmas - Our First Annual Show!

Hi Everyone - The month of December has brought many great memories already! This past Friday the set was erected for our first annual 12-Days of Christmas Show! Thank you to Tom Gallagher, Carrie Vargas, David Vargas, the Silliman family, Chad Platt and Reed Peavler for their many hours of energy to get this all completed.

Stay - tuned - hopefully I'll be able to post a video of the show.

Our performances were at 5:00 and 7:00 PM on Saturday night. If you weren't there - we had great performances by Chandler rock band Broken Rhodes, interpretive dance by 3 different groups from within Oasis and an always Christmas favorite of children singing. We were also treated to a drama performed by David & Julie Mastel, a monologue by Carrie Vargas, a humorous look at "The 12-Days After Christmas" sung in style by David Vargas and Susan Hull. And, stealing the show at both performances was the stomp-like "7 Drummers Drumming" (with 8 actual drummers!). All of these drummers are a part of our current worship team at Oasis! We are blessed with rhythm.

The dessert and coffee bar between, coordinated by Lynn Perkins, was holiday sugar coma! Thank you to everyone who assisted with preparation, set-up, tear down and most of all - eating the goodies.

My wife Caryl, our pastor over creative arts, and Carrie Vargas worked very hard and pulled off an incredible evening. Our first production of this show was incredible and provided a great time for all that attended. Rumor is that next years acts are already lining up!

I've posted a picture sent to me via email earlier today(it shows a bit of the set!) - I look forward to seeing more! Send them my way and I'll get them on the blog!

Merry Christmas - have a blessed week

Scott

Oasis - 10 months today since our launch!

Today - December 11, 2007 it has been 10 months since our launch! What a ride it has been.

How many of you remember our first Sundays out on the parking lot as we waited for our building to be finished? The weather was awesome and we had an incredible time. Ceylon of Desert Stars Performing Arts was so gracious to rent us her dance studio for KidSplash and J&J Jumpers provided a bouncer! We gave away an iPod to Anderson Thomas and we got to meet several hundred new friends in Maricopa. The second week we were also outside but finally by week 3 we moved into the building.

Since that time we have seen our Dream Team Grow to 85 Adults plus children for a total of 130 or more people who are serving and actively involved in seeing Oasis Life Church become all that it is to become. Out stats show that nearly 350 people call Oasis their home church and weekly about 200 show up for services. Most importantly - we've seen at least 25 people commit their lives to Christ. Over 100 people got involved in Oasis groups this fall and many are taking a serious look at what discipleship means! We are on the journey together.

Another incredible thing about Oasis this year is that you all have stepped up to help families in need - over and over again. Our belief is that the church should be doing so much more of what has be relegated to the government. Thank you for helping to provide meals to dozens of families. Thank you for helping to provide furniture and goods to furnish an entire house. Thank you for the dozens of boxes of diapers. Thank you for the donations that helped to keep utilities on for emergency situations. Thank you for the clothes, the toys and so much more! You truly are making a difference in our community.

In the next two months we will be finalizing our plans for our one year celebration! You are not going to want to miss this. We'll be planning a family event, kids events, concerts, bless-the-community events and more give-aways as we look to the weekend of Feb 9 & 10, 2008. Keep checking back for more details and spread the word!

Caryl & I love being your pastors!
Let's do life!

Awesome Weekend!

Its' Monday morning - and as I've taught in weeks gone by - this is ALSO the day the Lord has made, I'll rejoice and be glad in it!

What an exciting weekend all around! On Friday we hosted the Maricopa Women In Business (WMIB) Holiday Party. It was an great time for everyone to get to know each other and for the husbands to meet each other as well. As always, I enjoyed just getting to know some new people from the Copa!

Saturday was set aside for Oasis' first ever Flavor Women Christmas Tea & Dessert. Over 30 ladies attended and word on the street is that the hostesses out did themselves, Pastor Susan's scones are the best in the world and Nolita Squires spoke with passion and was inspiring! Way to go Flavor Women!!

We desire to be a place that cares for the hurting, the downdrodden and the forgotten. Church - you never cease to amaze me as you come forward asking how you can serve and give. Thank you to the families that have volunteered to adopt another family for Christmas. So many people are going to be blessed this year. There are still more people in need of assistance so please let us know if you have the desire to be a part of this opportunity.

Sunday - we learned that Jehovah Tsidkenu is the Lord our Righteouseness. It sounds churchy but the bottom line is that He is always right, always straight on the path and he offers this all to us! He wants you and I to return to the path of righteousness and most importantly - don't forget to wear your robe! When He sees you - he sees the robe you have been given to cover up all the past, the struggle, the addictions and more! For those who have made Christ your Savior and Lord - "we are the righteousness of Christ". I don't know about you - but I am glad that when God looks at me, he doesn't see me but rather he sees the righteousness he had deposited in the core of who I am!


Finally - Hydrate Student Minsitries had an incredible night as they had their final teaching by Chad & Mandie Platt. They were "Submerged" as they looked at the Great Commission. Next week is going to be a huge celebration and learning about the new and exciting things coming up in 2008!

Have a blessed week my friends

Do You Hear His Voice?

Do you hear His voice?

This morning was an incredible start to the day. I met with 5 other men for "The Bullpen" at Sunrise Cafe. We meet to discuss current, controversial or hot topics and apply scripture to our lives.

Today we talked more about Jehovah Rohi, the Good Shepherd. Our current series, a.k.a. God, is helping us to learn about the character of God by learning his names. This week we learned about his provision, his peace and his presence. He is the one who cares for us, calms us and comforts us. What a personal view of God, one who would gather us as a lamb and carry us close to his heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

As we discussed this passage more today we had to deal with the realities of being sheep. This is not really a popular image in an individualistic, slick world. However, as one guy said - at least we know that there will always be green grass, fresh water and one who will protect me. Another man talked about how we all must see ourselves as shepherds and the responsiblity we have to our families, other young men and to the culture around us. Perhaps the thing that stayed with me most was our dicussion about hearing the shepherds voice.

Often believers say, I've accepted Christ, I'm trying to do the right things, but "I don't think I hear his voice?" . The guy who brought this to us for discussion, so geniunely told of when he was a young believer and asked his pastor this question. He said that he learned that day that the word of God is always true and does not lie. As his pastor told him, "if you have committed your life to Jesus, if he is your Savior, you can hear his voice." That day, he became aware that the Shepherd was speaking to him and he could hear his voice. That was the day that his relationship with Jesus began to change.

The Good Shepherd is there to care, calm and comfort you. He is speaking directly to you. Do you hear His voice?

It's a Blogging World

Good morning! Well - it is about time that I join the latest century and stop fighting technology. It's a blogging world and it is time for Scott Helsel to join the ranks.

Today I finally decided I'd start a blog. I guess a part of my personality has kept me from getting started because I'm afraid I won't do it perfectly, stay up-to-date or even make sense. But - I guess the point of blogging is to be none of these things!

My hope is to begin a dialogue with the people of Oasis Life Church, family and friends. Hopefully we'll all be able to be a growing part of our incredible journey here in Maricopa AZ! Caryl and I have now been living in Maricopa, AZ for over 2 and 1/2 years. Oasis is now a reality and the doors have been open for 10 months (plus 13 months in our home!) as of this week. A five year dream has become reality!

Thanks for taking the time to read this today! I look forward to hearing your stories, your comments, your dreams and your challenges! Let's do life!

With love - Pastor Scott