Sunday, October 29, 2006
Oct. 29th - No Class
But I did go to all the church forum about the union between Olivet Pres. and Hope Pres.
I do not have a strong opinion either way for this union, but I will say that I saw a lot of enthusiasm from the Loatian teens that visited Hope today.
Anyone have opinions?
Continue to be praying for those I mentioned in the Mid-week LiFE.
-LiFE
I do not have a strong opinion either way for this union, but I will say that I saw a lot of enthusiasm from the Loatian teens that visited Hope today.
Anyone have opinions?
Continue to be praying for those I mentioned in the Mid-week LiFE.
-LiFE
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Mid-Week LiFE or a day after...
Hey All,
Check out the discussion surrounding Sunday's lesson that Courtney led. What do you think? Leave a comment...
A challenge...
There are a few prayers needs for people who have attended our class this fall. Although I am not entitled to give specifics please be praying for a serious health issue for one of the men on our class. They doctors have not yet given a total prognosis of the issue. Please pray for his wife and children. Also, I know of some job issues. I have also heard of some other spiritual issues. Pray in gratitude for all things but petition God on the behalf of our fellow LiFE'rs.
LiFE...it's not always roses but we still lean on God...
Check out the discussion surrounding Sunday's lesson that Courtney led. What do you think? Leave a comment...
A challenge...
There are a few prayers needs for people who have attended our class this fall. Although I am not entitled to give specifics please be praying for a serious health issue for one of the men on our class. They doctors have not yet given a total prognosis of the issue. Please pray for his wife and children. Also, I know of some job issues. I have also heard of some other spiritual issues. Pray in gratitude for all things but petition God on the behalf of our fellow LiFE'rs.
LiFE...it's not always roses but we still lean on God...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Oct. 22 - Recap = Courtney H. - Acts 17:22-30
The question: Who is your favorite writer(Poet, Author, Screen Writer, Lyricist)?
The content recap:(Courtesy of Courtney)
I'm hoping these points came across, but the message I heard from the passage this week was mainly about these three things:
1) Using existing culture to turn people to Christ.
2) Being balanced in our understanding of God's desire to be close to us as his children with also calling us to repentance because of the impending judgement.
3) A reminder of the power of the resurrection and it's ability to stop people in their tracks. That our gospel is like no other philosophy or religion. It is the only one that conquers death to bring LiFE!
It's to a sermon by M. Craig Barnes on the same passage. You could say "for future study see http://www.natpresch.org/exegesis/sermon2000-04-02.htm - a sermon by M. Craig Barnes".
David L. quickly shared about how he was challenged about the full armor of God during the Men's retreat. Especially the Breastplate of Righteousness part of the armor, but he is learning that it is God's righteousness (goodness) that he gets to put on and not his own.
Thanks for coming and remeber next week is the all-church forum about the Oliver Pres. and Hope merger.
-LiFE
The content recap:(Courtesy of Courtney)
I'm hoping these points came across, but the message I heard from the passage this week was mainly about these three things:
1) Using existing culture to turn people to Christ.
2) Being balanced in our understanding of God's desire to be close to us as his children with also calling us to repentance because of the impending judgement.
3) A reminder of the power of the resurrection and it's ability to stop people in their tracks. That our gospel is like no other philosophy or religion. It is the only one that conquers death to bring LiFE!
It's to a sermon by M. Craig Barnes on the same passage. You could say "for future study see http://www.natpresch.org/exegesis/sermon2000-04-02.htm - a sermon by M. Craig Barnes".
David L. quickly shared about how he was challenged about the full armor of God during the Men's retreat. Especially the Breastplate of Righteousness part of the armor, but he is learning that it is God's righteousness (goodness) that he gets to put on and not his own.
Thanks for coming and remeber next week is the all-church forum about the Oliver Pres. and Hope merger.
-LiFE
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Mid-Week LiFE
Nice to see you again...
On Sunday I was challenged to live my life under the "banner" of the Kingdom of God and not worry. I was struck how the Kingdom of God is others focused and not self-focused.
On Monday, the wife of one of my co-workers broke her leg. They have a 4 month old boy. On Monday, I thought wow that would be tough luck. I kept imagining how difficult this is going ot be for them. On Tuesday, I was still thinking wow that is tough but then I thought of something...
Instead of feeling bad, why don't I do something to serve them. Get them an easy to fix meal. So I hopped over to Costco for the 2nd time in 3 hours picked up an easy meal and delivered it.
I didn't intentionally think I should put the Kingdom of God in to practice. I was only doing what comes naturally when you live in that Kingdom.
How often are your thoughts and actions about others? Keep it up..practice loving your neighbros and co-workers this week. A quick challenge is think about times when you are having a bad hair day. Instead of getting down about your hair or lack there of. turn it around a compliment people on their hair or something else. Turn self-focus in to other-focused.
-LiFE
On Sunday I was challenged to live my life under the "banner" of the Kingdom of God and not worry. I was struck how the Kingdom of God is others focused and not self-focused.
On Monday, the wife of one of my co-workers broke her leg. They have a 4 month old boy. On Monday, I thought wow that would be tough luck. I kept imagining how difficult this is going ot be for them. On Tuesday, I was still thinking wow that is tough but then I thought of something...
Instead of feeling bad, why don't I do something to serve them. Get them an easy to fix meal. So I hopped over to Costco for the 2nd time in 3 hours picked up an easy meal and delivered it.
I didn't intentionally think I should put the Kingdom of God in to practice. I was only doing what comes naturally when you live in that Kingdom.
How often are your thoughts and actions about others? Keep it up..practice loving your neighbros and co-workers this week. A quick challenge is think about times when you are having a bad hair day. Instead of getting down about your hair or lack there of. turn it around a compliment people on their hair or something else. Turn self-focus in to other-focused.
-LiFE
Monday, October 16, 2006
Oct. 15th - Recap. - Heidi C.- Matt. 6:25-34
Question: What was the last big event you went to? Answers ranged from Twins game, funerals, weddings and office parties.
Content:
As a class we read out loud 15 parts of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6.
Heidi began shared about how Jesus was teaching about what the Kingdom of God was like in contrast to the Kingdom of Self.
She then focused on the passage about worrying.
Under the category of Kingdom of Self she had us brainstorm they ways we say we are worried. Some exampled were: "I worry about my finances, my bills, my job", "God where is my mate."
Then we listed what it feels like when we worry like this.
Under the category of Kingdom of God, we brainstormed ideas of what we say when we turn things over to God and what that feels like.
Heidi challenged us to literally "not worry" as the Kingdom of God urges us to seek God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present all our requests to Him. (I believe this is Phillippians 4:6-7)
We missed you this week!
-LiFE
Content:
As a class we read out loud 15 parts of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6.
Heidi began shared about how Jesus was teaching about what the Kingdom of God was like in contrast to the Kingdom of Self.
She then focused on the passage about worrying.
Under the category of Kingdom of Self she had us brainstorm they ways we say we are worried. Some exampled were: "I worry about my finances, my bills, my job", "God where is my mate."
Then we listed what it feels like when we worry like this.
Under the category of Kingdom of God, we brainstormed ideas of what we say when we turn things over to God and what that feels like.
Heidi challenged us to literally "not worry" as the Kingdom of God urges us to seek God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present all our requests to Him. (I believe this is Phillippians 4:6-7)
We missed you this week!
-LiFE
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
MId-Week LiFE...
I wanted to highlight what Heidi said,
Heidi said...
My eyes and ears are heightened this week to the word 'blessing'. We (as humans) are quick to decide and label a situation "good news or bad news". We think "good news" must be a blessing from God. "Bad news" must not be. But our perspective is SO Limited!Here's a story: A poor but WISE man in a small village had a son and 1 horse. One day the horse ran away. The town's people said, "oh such bad news!" The wise man replied, "good news, bad news, who knows?". The next day the horse came back and following it were another dozen wild horses. "Such good news!" The townspeople said. "good news, bad news, who knows", replied the Wise man. The next day, the man's only son was out breaking in the wild horses and was trampled, loosing his ability to walk. "Such bad, bad, news" said the townspeople. "Good news, bad news, who knows?" Replied the man. The NEXT day, the military came through recruiting all the able bodied young men to go fight in the war. The man's son stayed home and did not loose his life in battle as the other boys in the town did... Good news bad news, who knows? God knows! We should stop pretending we know WHAT to label a situation (a blessing, a curse???) seems to me just about anything can end up a blessing if it's under God's sovereignty. And really, what's not?
Great example...
One thing I am challenged by lately is not labeling things. My biggest challenge is to stay GRATEFUL for whatever is provided or not provided. When I am focused on this I am truly living LiFE...
Thoughts, questions, comments ...
-LiFE
Heidi said...
My eyes and ears are heightened this week to the word 'blessing'. We (as humans) are quick to decide and label a situation "good news or bad news". We think "good news" must be a blessing from God. "Bad news" must not be. But our perspective is SO Limited!Here's a story: A poor but WISE man in a small village had a son and 1 horse. One day the horse ran away. The town's people said, "oh such bad news!" The wise man replied, "good news, bad news, who knows?". The next day the horse came back and following it were another dozen wild horses. "Such good news!" The townspeople said. "good news, bad news, who knows", replied the Wise man. The next day, the man's only son was out breaking in the wild horses and was trampled, loosing his ability to walk. "Such bad, bad, news" said the townspeople. "Good news, bad news, who knows?" Replied the man. The NEXT day, the military came through recruiting all the able bodied young men to go fight in the war. The man's son stayed home and did not loose his life in battle as the other boys in the town did... Good news bad news, who knows? God knows! We should stop pretending we know WHAT to label a situation (a blessing, a curse???) seems to me just about anything can end up a blessing if it's under God's sovereignty. And really, what's not?
Great example...
One thing I am challenged by lately is not labeling things. My biggest challenge is to stay GRATEFUL for whatever is provided or not provided. When I am focused on this I am truly living LiFE...
Thoughts, questions, comments ...
-LiFE
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Oct. 8 - Recap - Todd M. JOhn 10:10b
The question: What was the last meal you ate that made you full? Apparently Manny's steakhouse was a big hit. Maybe we need to have an outing this winter?
Teaching:
JOhn 10:10b "Abundant Life" is connected to the paradigm that Jesus set forth in John 9:3-5. Jesus says to his disciples that the blind man was healed to show God's work in his LiFE and we should get busy doing that work God has for us becuase time is running out.
John 10:10b is also connected to JOhn 10:9b, which says, Those who come in through the gate(Jesus) will have life and they can come in and go OUT and have pasture.
Abundant LiFE is not just about recieving or coming in the gate but leaving back out the gate to find "pasture"...Although I didn't say this today but "pasture" is a symbol of land that one would occupy. I would liken that to a ministry that you take up whether that be in a soup kitchen or having your neighbors over for dinner.
Then we looked at John 20: ???, the story of doubting Thomas and how that connects to abundant life. Does Doubt play a role in abundant life? or should we have the answers?
This line of thought maybe random but led me to think about other ways we might need to look at abundant life differently like in Politics, Health, Wealth and even how we use the word "Blessing"
My Challenge was to watch how you use the word "blessing" this week and ask yourself whether or not you are talking about Abundant LiFE?
Lynn Camp shared a 5 min. testimony about how she is challenged by her affluence and how she thinks Jesus has been shifting her paradigm. See you mid-week.
-LiFE
Teaching:
JOhn 10:10b "Abundant Life" is connected to the paradigm that Jesus set forth in John 9:3-5. Jesus says to his disciples that the blind man was healed to show God's work in his LiFE and we should get busy doing that work God has for us becuase time is running out.
John 10:10b is also connected to JOhn 10:9b, which says, Those who come in through the gate(Jesus) will have life and they can come in and go OUT and have pasture.
Abundant LiFE is not just about recieving or coming in the gate but leaving back out the gate to find "pasture"...Although I didn't say this today but "pasture" is a symbol of land that one would occupy. I would liken that to a ministry that you take up whether that be in a soup kitchen or having your neighbors over for dinner.
Then we looked at John 20: ???, the story of doubting Thomas and how that connects to abundant life. Does Doubt play a role in abundant life? or should we have the answers?
This line of thought maybe random but led me to think about other ways we might need to look at abundant life differently like in Politics, Health, Wealth and even how we use the word "Blessing"
My Challenge was to watch how you use the word "blessing" this week and ask yourself whether or not you are talking about Abundant LiFE?
Lynn Camp shared a 5 min. testimony about how she is challenged by her affluence and how she thinks Jesus has been shifting her paradigm. See you mid-week.
-LiFE
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Mid-week LiFE...Stirrings
Twins are down 0-2...very sad!
Our hope is that this mid-week challenge will stir something in you or make you restless about God's work in your life...
Take 10 minute and sit down and answer this question...what did you do today? Was it worthwhile? What did you do for others?
Did you experience real life...
-LiFE
Our hope is that this mid-week challenge will stir something in you or make you restless about God's work in your life...
Take 10 minute and sit down and answer this question...what did you do today? Was it worthwhile? What did you do for others?
Did you experience real life...
-LiFE
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Oct. 1 . Recap Todd M. - John 10:10
the question: Share a movie that kept you guessing?
The teaching: John 10:10b "I have come to give life and give it abundantly"
This verse is used commonly and there is a whole lot behind it. So we backtracked to get some context to this verse. As we backtracked to find the context, we found that in order to understand this one verse we needed to begin back in John 9:1 where Jesus heals a blind man but ultimately Jesus sets down a new paradigm about how things work in the world to his disciples. When Jesus heals the man a religiuos argument ensues between the healed man and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. Read John 9:1-34 to get a clearer picture of the silliness that occurs. In the end, the Pharisees toss the man out of the synogogue because they revert back to the old paradigm that the disciples first asked about in John 9:1.
As Christians, there are ways that we too are the religious leaders of our time. Just like Jesus switched the prardigm on the Pharisees he is asking us to follow his new way of thinking. I believe in all of our lives we have had moments where God spoke into our lives and after that moment we could no longer think, act or behave the same. How has God seriously changed your view on something?
Want to add your thoughts to the recap, feel free.
If you blog or have a website leave your link and we will add you to our list.
LiFE
The teaching: John 10:10b "I have come to give life and give it abundantly"
This verse is used commonly and there is a whole lot behind it. So we backtracked to get some context to this verse. As we backtracked to find the context, we found that in order to understand this one verse we needed to begin back in John 9:1 where Jesus heals a blind man but ultimately Jesus sets down a new paradigm about how things work in the world to his disciples. When Jesus heals the man a religiuos argument ensues between the healed man and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. Read John 9:1-34 to get a clearer picture of the silliness that occurs. In the end, the Pharisees toss the man out of the synogogue because they revert back to the old paradigm that the disciples first asked about in John 9:1.
As Christians, there are ways that we too are the religious leaders of our time. Just like Jesus switched the prardigm on the Pharisees he is asking us to follow his new way of thinking. I believe in all of our lives we have had moments where God spoke into our lives and after that moment we could no longer think, act or behave the same. How has God seriously changed your view on something?
Want to add your thoughts to the recap, feel free.
If you blog or have a website leave your link and we will add you to our list.
LiFE
