Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Mid-Week LiFE...
Wednesday Sept. 27 is an event called See You at the Pole. It is a national event for student to gather at their flag pole and pray. It is a student run event. Is it really a wise way to witness? Would Jesus have organized us prayer at the school flag pole? Does this create a Christian vs. the world mentality that keeps us seperated from those we intend to reach?
As I reflect on David's teaching this last week, I'm challenged by how Jesus broke down barriers. I'm challenged by how Jesus interacted with the world...
My answer to the above questions is "It Depends" becuase I have certainly seen well-intentioned Christians use this type of an event to be arrogant and prideful about faith. My prayer is that kids who come to the pole come very humbly and quietly and then go in to school and befriend others, sit with kids who sit alone and stand up for those who are picked on. Becuase as nice as our public gestures can be, it is our daily actions that count.
What do you think?
-LiFE
As I reflect on David's teaching this last week, I'm challenged by how Jesus broke down barriers. I'm challenged by how Jesus interacted with the world...
My answer to the above questions is "It Depends" becuase I have certainly seen well-intentioned Christians use this type of an event to be arrogant and prideful about faith. My prayer is that kids who come to the pole come very humbly and quietly and then go in to school and befriend others, sit with kids who sit alone and stand up for those who are picked on. Becuase as nice as our public gestures can be, it is our daily actions that count.
What do you think?
-LiFE
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sunday the 24th - David L.-recap
Welcome...Here you will find a recap or at least the attempt at what transpired this morning...
If you could have any drink, what would it be? I heard a lot of Diet Coke, Coffee or one of thsoe fru-fru coffee drinks, Crystal Light in a to-go container, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Tom Collins and Cosmo...Shamrock shake that was a good one. Different people, different tastes...
David L. faciltated a discussion on 2 passages looking at how Jesus interacted with each person:
Nicodemus - Religious leader who came to Jesus at night in John Ch. 3
Samaritan woman at the well - Jesus asks her for water in the mid day sun. John 4: 1-26
Groups answered a series of identical question about each passage:
1. How was the conversation started? 2. What was the response? 3. What did Jesus claim? 4. What was the outcome?
David then summed it up and pointed us to some thoughts on being a witness in different ways like Jesus did in each of these passages.
Michelle Wanous gave a testimony on a verse in Psalm 1: 2-3. She shared about how she was "busy for the Lord" and not really getting "busy with the Lord." Ok she didn't say that exactly and it sounds almost heritical but stay with me. She shared how she had so much going on and wanted to do things for God but was overloaded with things until she was forced to slow down when she had her first child. These verses reminded her to spend time with God first and then figuring out where God wanted her to focus her ministry.
See you mid-week
-LiFE
If you could have any drink, what would it be? I heard a lot of Diet Coke, Coffee or one of thsoe fru-fru coffee drinks, Crystal Light in a to-go container, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Tom Collins and Cosmo...Shamrock shake that was a good one. Different people, different tastes...
David L. faciltated a discussion on 2 passages looking at how Jesus interacted with each person:
Nicodemus - Religious leader who came to Jesus at night in John Ch. 3
Samaritan woman at the well - Jesus asks her for water in the mid day sun. John 4: 1-26
Groups answered a series of identical question about each passage:
1. How was the conversation started? 2. What was the response? 3. What did Jesus claim? 4. What was the outcome?
David then summed it up and pointed us to some thoughts on being a witness in different ways like Jesus did in each of these passages.
Michelle Wanous gave a testimony on a verse in Psalm 1: 2-3. She shared about how she was "busy for the Lord" and not really getting "busy with the Lord." Ok she didn't say that exactly and it sounds almost heritical but stay with me. She shared how she had so much going on and wanted to do things for God but was overloaded with things until she was forced to slow down when she had her first child. These verses reminded her to spend time with God first and then figuring out where God wanted her to focus her ministry.
See you mid-week
-LiFE
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Mid-Week LiFE time...
We want to name this mid-week thought/question/challenge something cool...so if you have ideas let us know.
So here is this week's:
On Sunday David talked about his morning routine and how turning on the lights can be almost painful. He also shared about how we are disoriented when we have been in the light and the lights go off. As I thought more about those 2 moments and how they connect to my faith life.
1. When I am sinning and God shines the light on me it can be downright difficult to face. I may need to apologize for harsh words and apologizing can be hard becuase swallowing my pride is not easy. On top of that it takes awhile before that relationship is healed.
2. On the otherhand when I am following God and all of sudden I find myself messing with sin. I tend to say things like, "Why did I do that?" or "I've been doing well where did that come from?" It are those times I recognize the darkness easily.
3. Then there are others times where I am flirting with sin and it looks like this. Yesterday it was a commercial for Victoria Secret I glanced but turned away. Today, same commercial but it takes a few more moments before I change the channel. Lights dim but I don't notice. Tomorrow, a glance at the opposite sex. The lights dim. The following day, a glance and a thought...the lights dim. The next day, the commercial is on again I haven't turned away at all becuase I let darkness in. It isn't until God shines his light on me that I ask myself "How did I get here again?" It took awhile I didn't even notice...
Which of the 3 scenario seems to fit where you are at this moment? The torch has been passed, what are you going to do about it?
-LiFE
So here is this week's:
On Sunday David talked about his morning routine and how turning on the lights can be almost painful. He also shared about how we are disoriented when we have been in the light and the lights go off. As I thought more about those 2 moments and how they connect to my faith life.
1. When I am sinning and God shines the light on me it can be downright difficult to face. I may need to apologize for harsh words and apologizing can be hard becuase swallowing my pride is not easy. On top of that it takes awhile before that relationship is healed.
2. On the otherhand when I am following God and all of sudden I find myself messing with sin. I tend to say things like, "Why did I do that?" or "I've been doing well where did that come from?" It are those times I recognize the darkness easily.
3. Then there are others times where I am flirting with sin and it looks like this. Yesterday it was a commercial for Victoria Secret I glanced but turned away. Today, same commercial but it takes a few more moments before I change the channel. Lights dim but I don't notice. Tomorrow, a glance at the opposite sex. The lights dim. The following day, a glance and a thought...the lights dim. The next day, the commercial is on again I haven't turned away at all becuase I let darkness in. It isn't until God shines his light on me that I ask myself "How did I get here again?" It took awhile I didn't even notice...
Which of the 3 scenario seems to fit where you are at this moment? The torch has been passed, what are you going to do about it?
-LiFE
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sunday 9/17 - David L. on John 1:1-14
"In Him was life" - A quick recap & Highlights by Todd M.
David shared a near-death experience with a wild animal.
David then dazzled us with both Hebrew and Greek words:
LiFE - "zoe" - absolute fullness of life. - Greek
light - "phos" - truth - Hebrew
He challenged us at the end with this thought: "Jesus was the light of the world. And if that torch has been passed from Jesus to us then what do we do with it?"
Brandon C. shared a short testmoniy on some verses in Deuteronomy that have had a lasting impact on his life. Thanks Brandon!
What are you doing today that shows those within your circles of influence that you are light in this world?
David shared a near-death experience with a wild animal.
David then dazzled us with both Hebrew and Greek words:
LiFE - "zoe" - absolute fullness of life. - Greek
light - "phos" - truth - Hebrew
He challenged us at the end with this thought: "Jesus was the light of the world. And if that torch has been passed from Jesus to us then what do we do with it?"
Brandon C. shared a short testmoniy on some verses in Deuteronomy that have had a lasting impact on his life. Thanks Brandon!
What are you doing today that shows those within your circles of influence that you are light in this world?
