Pr.

show no favortism.... Why do "we" favor the Gospels...?

Why can only pastors read the Gospel on any given Sunday? Doesn't it go against the POAB.... Jesus allows anyone to go into the holy of hollies.. why would we not want [layity] reading the "holy of hollies."

ALSO. Why do leaders always pray.... isn't it necessary to raise up leaders? Equip and Enable right? Then how can we Equip and Enable when "We" do all the leadership?!?

thoughts?

experience

"If I haven't experienced it...it's not true."

Hmmm. is there some truth to this or not at all...

If you haven't experienced God, how do you know he is true? Don't you have to "know" god to know God? Does God need to touch us? Do we need to experience God or is be a Christian a choice?!!?!

-"I think I want to be a Christian now?"

NO. Christs comes to us... We have to have an experience with God in order to know he is true.....

Hmmm.

she will give birth to a son

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” [Matthew 1:21]

This is the time for preparation. When you hear the word “preparation,” what is it that you think about? Do you think about all the tasks you have to prepare for, such as cooking a Thanksgiving meal, or preparing for a work-related presentation? How do you think about your tasks? Do you prepare your mind for the day by starting it out in prayer and time with God, or do you jump into tasks head-on and try and control them yourself?

What does it mean to prepare you heart for the Lord? Do you prepare you heart for the taking of the bread and wine? Do you pause and ask God to prepare you heart, examining yourself and asking God to take away the wrongs (the sins) you have done towards him, others, and even yourself.

When we prepare our hearts we deny ourselves and ask that God take the lead.

86% of the population claims to be Christian, but half do not know who preached the Sermon on the Mount. A quarter of that group could not give an answer as to why they celebrate Easter.

This statistic was heart-wrenching. But…

The Sermon on the Mount and the Easter celebration are Biblical events that most Christians should be able to explain. However, it’s also easy to get caught up in knowledge as the priority of our faith. Christians should know certain Biblical stories, but knowledge isn’t what it’s all about.

As Christians we can’t know everything. As Oswald Chambers expresses in My Utmost for His Highest: “Today [Jesus] is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion—a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!” Does your heart shout this? Does your heart want to express this more than anything in your life?

Jesus quotes Isaiah, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” [Matthew 15:8]

Prepare you hearts. This Christmas season, develop your relationship with the person of Christ, and get to know who he really is and what he has truly done for you.

“For the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” Matthew 12:34 Let our hearts overflow with the love of Christ. That Love, the Love we have in him, let us share that love with all our neighbors.

Is your Love Loud-

David Crowder, in one of his songs, speaks about love:

Hear our songs, to You
When we dance feel us move; to You
When we laugh fill our smiles with You

We love You, Lord , We love You, We love you

And our love is big, Our love is loud
Fill this place with this love now
And our love is big, Our love is loud
Fill our lungs, To sing it now

Our God is near, Our God is near

When you walk is your love loud? When you talk is your love loud? Do you believe God is near? Is God your love?

God is love. This verse found in the latter half of 1 John 4: 8 describes what God is. John explains, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God;” followed with the concluding verse, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Is it hard to care about misplaced items; while loving God with your whole heart? Is it hard to fill the voids in your life; while loving God with your whole heart?

The truth is, it is extremely hard doing anything without loving God with our whole heart! Everything comes from God. He is the root. If we love, we see love—we know love—we can love through him who has created love.

We know love: “this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” [1 John 10-12]

The song, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love,” explains exactly that “They’ll know we are Christians by our love!” But, who are “they.” Perhaps the song expresses the message to non-Christians? Or, also our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you known as a Christian because of your love or because of the label?

We get upset when things are misplaced. We get upset when we have trouble trying to understand our teen. But, if we come to God (who is love) we can learn to love others through the frustrations in our lives. If he is placed first – we are changed.

He wants all of you. He deeply-desperately loves you.

Like the wise preacher once said, “Love others until you do

We do - therefore - We are

In Batman Begins, Katie Holmes says, “It’s not who you are that defines you, it’s what you do.” One might say, “I am a Christian that is who I am.” And this is true, but what does a Christian do? Are Christians to accept Christ, thus concluding their life? Are Christians to accept Christ and then do as we were before? Paul says, Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The followers of Christ who truly loved him, acted out in service to him—helping others. They shared their gifts and talents. They came together as the body of Christ, to worship and adore him and to share this with others. They heal, comfort and express Christ unending love to all. While Stephan was being stoned to death he stood and as he was about to die he fell to his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” What is it that Stephan did for him to be stoned? What is it that we are doing?

I admire the commercial that starts off with someone picking up a doll for a girl that had dropped onto the street. A man reaches down and puts it back in the stroller. Someone off in the distance sees this and later he holds elevator doors open for a lady as they are about to close. Later this lady catches a man’s chair in her office as he was about to fall backwards and the man who was about to fall in his chair helps someone, and so on and so on to when it comes back around.

How is it that we serve Christ? When you truly love someone you do things for them; you show them your love. When we truly love Christ we do things for him. Whether it’s in a smile, a kind word, or catching a co-worker’s chair as they are about to fall backwards—we serve, we care, and we watch out for each other. We do; therefore we are.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is by grace we will be able to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant…..and then some.”

a gate called Beautiful

a man was sitting crippled outside a gate called Beautiful. He was always placed there to beg for food or money or whatever he could get from generous passerbyers.
one particular day Peter and John went walking into the gate called, Beautiful when they say the man. They looked at the man as said, "Silver or gold i do not have, but what i have i give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." They then helped him up and he began to dance and jump up and down. He rejoiced and praised God.
He then entered the gates and the people there were amazed at what had happened. Then everyone looked at Peter and John as if they did this. The people were looking at John and Peter as if they were these amazing people. In response Peter and John said, "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power r godliness we had made this man walk? the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

Do you think we have this power--given through Jesus Christ, so that we may heal in his name?
How often do you watch faith healer people on television and it seems as if they are the ones healing these people and (side note) oh yeah it's through me--it's really Jesus.
-Is this real or a mockery of Jesus?
-What does Jesus really stand for?
-Who is Jesus?
-Why are these healings recorded in the Bible anyway?
-What is Jesus' purpose?
A wise man once told me, "everything in scripture leads (or points) to Christ, Everyting.
-adam
-moses
-jonah
-elisha
-elijah
-meshach, shadrach, and abednego
-etc.
everyting points to Christ.

Peter and John were eye witness to Jesus, yet they say, “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."
It is interesting to think about faith. What is faith? Faith is believing without seeing. Yet these eyewitness attest to this truth of Jesus dying on the cross and being raised three days later. These men saw Jesus, walked with him, eat with him and cried with him. Yet they still needed to believe.
What kind of faith do you have?
-yeah I know bees are there, but they don’t bother me.
-yeah I see bees, but I don’t know how they function?
-yeah, bees are annoying and they can be hurtful sometimes but I know they provide a good source of honey and I love that sweet syrupy goodness!

Peter and John end the chapter explaining, “For Moses said, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.”

-Who was Moses to the people he is talking to?
-Who is Moses talking about?
-Who is it that we must listen to?
-What does it mean to be cut off?
-Once you are cut off can you be healed back on?
-Can a Christian ever lose his or her faith?

acts 3.
laters.

mornings

Ever wonder why people sleep so late?

Is that in the wrong? Or is there something that is going on?

Mornings, I love mornings--but, only when they are in the afternoon.
I use to feel this way. When I was younger. But, now mornings are nice (very early). There's like this space in mornings that are good times to sleep through--and others to wake. I never seem to get a grip on what are the best times to rise and sleep through...

It's like life. When is it a good idea to wade through the trenches and when is it time to say, "well, maybe I don't have to win this" or "maybe if this doesnt' go through, it's not that bad."

Or...Does it really matter, because God will bless us regardless, because he Loves us? (as long as the subject matter is in his favor and not evil).

But, then their's that word: adiaphora...
-matters which are neither commanded nor forbidden (by God)

Ackwardness... Do you really know what this word means?
-Are you a T (thinker)

Then you probably think every situation is ackward for others, you never feel (personally) ackward.

I suppose there is two (2) type of ackwardness: 1. embarrassment, and 2. situational

Ackward: thinking--man, this girl is freakin annoying? (as she says in her high pitch-soft, yet, screeming to your eyes voice, "uh, what aren't you saying anything!!" -- as everyone in the restaraunt looks at you...


Ackward: Situational; should I buy another long haired cavvy or should I stay with only one?

Granted you are foolish if you think I toil over this type of a delimma. However, picture real issues. Think of things....like...Deciding whether to move to a different city, state, country...among others.

Does it really matter?

What is the sole justification for the change? Is it in line with what God would favor?

Again, is God really pleased with us when we decide to go Iowa over Florida?

What if we become troubled with making more money in Florida rather than go to Iowa and make less, but God knew that going to Florida (you would have the benefit of making more money) you would reach and influence more people... But, because you didn't want to be seen as greedy you took the venture to Iowa. However, becasue you decided to go to Iowa God still blesses you.

THUS! God will continue to bless you. REGARDLESS, of where you go.


b/c he loves you.
laters.

can you find silence in music

Can you find silence in music? A student in response said, music causes him to drift off with God to a place of silence in worship. I thought about this question for a while and then answered what I thought was a logical answer. No. Music is not silence. For some of us, music may be a path to worship our Lord, however that doesn’t mean it is necessarily silent.

Silence. How is it obtained? Can it be obtained? Noise is all around us. Whether it is white noise, violent distracting noise, or arrhythmic noise found in nature—there is noise everywhere, even in the middle of a forest. Is there a difference between distracting noise and peaceful noise, or is it all simply noise?

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19 (11-13)

The Lord passed by in a gentle whisper.

Are we silent enough to hear our Lord? When are you able to hear what God is trying to tell you?

I suppose I have always known the joy found in that quiet place to pray and listen to God. But I needed a renewal. I needed to be told that God wants to reveal things to me. I need to listen and seek his counsel. He is our strength in our need of help. He has all the answers. All we have to do is listen.

post-round

post-round is a term that was released to our quad-district convention at the begining of this month. Dr. Leonard Sweet introduced the idea. It is a term, along with post-modernity, that is a hot issue. A book also dealing with this topic (or idea) is Thomas L. Friedman's The World Is Flat. This book, in which I'm currently reading, deals with leveling the playing feild--outsourcing. Companies have undergone the process of creating an outsourcing of product, from customer service calls to tax returns. This cheap form of business is leveling the playing field, as Friedman puts it.

the other day I called my cable company with questions about my statement. After she had answered all my questions, she of coursed, asked if I had any others. Pausing a moment and then thinking about this book I have been reading I asked her where she was located. She told me Vancouver. I decided to continue with my probe. I asked her if she worked out of her house or a calling base or a central location. She told me the main branch was located up there. (Besides the intrigue of a Canadian Cable company working in the US) I asked her if their company did any outsourcing. She laughed--obviously knowing what I was asking--she continued with, "we do not have calls taken in foreign countries or anything like that." Once I got over my embarrassment I decided I was not the one to take this quest--I will leave that to Friedman. However, this does leave me with a question: should it be referred to as, Post-Modern or does the term Post-Round compliment the emerging culture we live in.

How does the emerging culture affect the influence of the Church? Is there Church in an Emerging Culture? Can the Church stand?

Lets look at it this way: Jesus, the ultimate Emergence... jesus sent hope to the tax collector and fear to the self-righteous pharisee. he walked with the meek, poor, sick, lowly...the sin of the world--prostitutes! He befriended the outcasts that no one wanted to set their eyes upon, but he did. We are all the outcasts, we are castaways from God's sight because we are all self-proclaimed stellar people who believe we have no faults, errors, or wrongs--we are good people-it doesn't matter right? Yes It Does. Jesus walked with us, with you the self-righteous pharisee. Christ wants a repentant heart. He wants you to cry, GOD HELP ME. It is in that time that the pride is shed away and the curtain is torn. When we feel we are down in the crevice of the sand filled hole, Christ comes to us. He emerged from the walls of the synagogues to be with you. He is with you.

the culture, when Jesus introduced himself, emerged like no one had ever seen before. There were people who resorted to non-violence to get their point across. Stephen, while being stoned to death, ask God to forgive his killers, for they knew not what they are doing. Jesus confronts a Jew and asks what's better: for someone to tell someone they are healed or tell a paralytic to take his mat and walk.

The worship was emerging from a segregated place to Jesus walking with them. They would gather to share stories, smiles, to encourage, laugh, and cry, but also to praise God for all he had done. Then the followers would depart and know God is a living God who once walked with them, and continues to walk with them.

The church was not church without people. Jesus created a body--his body of believers--fellow worshipers who could come together and share Love. They expand. They share. They believe. Others also would believe. But, they didn't rely just on numbers. When a person believed and wanted to be a Christian they were not allowed to act in a disobedient way. They could not and would not be allowed to proclaim Jesus in an unChrist-like way. They were held accountable. By each other, by Paul, and by God. So, fast were the Israelites to want to worship a tangible God. They, even Aaron, decided to make the invisible visible, so they created a false God--a golden calf. So, fast are we to say God does not walk with us, he is not seen. He cannot be real, I can't touch him...

[they say]

BUT, it is us. Fellow Christians who have wronged those whom we try and reach. It is people like P.R. who defile the name of Jesus. People, you must understand, who claim to know the living Lord, but do not carry his ways. They do not share Love, build the body, and unite others in a common bond. NO. They destroyed what so many people before them tried to tie together. Do I dare mention the wrong: the Crusades, the people who claim to be Christian but use it only as a label, the abortion bombings, the pro lifers, the "christian" republicans.

the world was a broken heart...joined together by one man... jc

The truth is that we [christians] are all hypocrites. We claim to have this awesome knowledge and want to share that with everyone. But, we can't measure up to it ourselves. The truth is that we can't. We [all people] have a void. A longing to know. We all look up and wonder--wonder what it is, who it is, why it is? the answer? We [all people] have sin. He wants [all people] to know him. That is His desire. When you seek, your heart is opened up. You understand the new life. You understand why, what, who...You understand that you are forgiven, all your wrongs--because of his bruised, beaten, bloody body-CRUSHED. 4 You. You realize you still have sin and do things wrong daily; however, you also realize he did this act for you and took on all the worlds sin 4 you. It is in that PARADOX that you live. Sinner/Saint - 100/100.

He is seen, he can be reached, he does walk with us. FAITH. faith is a hard word to describe--seek.

JK

The Works

here i am. introduced to the processes of blogging. am i a native or just a rookie.

i supose that will need to be determined by you