from al mohler
My family and I attended a media screening for The Nativity Story last night. Here is my instant review -- the movie is in season and on message. In other words, the movie faithfully presents the main thrust of the Christmas story. That is no small achievement.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Christ the Matchmaker
“For the Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another!” The friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others.” --C.S. Lewis
Vows
1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope, except through his sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust him alone for salvation as he is offered in the gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the church in it's worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?
These are the vows people take to unite themselves to Christ Community.
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust him alone for salvation as he is offered in the gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the church in it's worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?
These are the vows people take to unite themselves to Christ Community.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Pray for Mo
Please pray for Morrow Omli. She caught the
dengue fever while in Haiti. After going to ER last night, she is now resting at home. Pray for strength, healing, and joy.
devotional thoughts on isaiah 1:1-9
During this Advent/Christmas season you are encouraged to read through the first few chapters of the writings of the prophet Isaiah. I will seek to post some devotional thoughts on each section.
Isaiah 1:1-9, Reading for Sunday December 3
The prophet's name--Isaiah-- signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in the affairs of their souls! Not considering what we do know in religion, does us as much harm, as ignorance of what we should know. The wickedness was universal. Here is a comparison taken from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness, no good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul. Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's fall. This passage declares the total depravity of human nature. While sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing these wounds, and preventing fatal effects. Jerusalem was exposed and unprotected, like the huts or sheds built up to guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the East, where fruits form a large part of the summer food of the people. But the Lord had a small remnant of pious servants at Jerusalem. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil nature is in every one of us; only Jesus and his sanctifying Spirit can restore us to spiritual health. --Matthew Henry
Isaiah 1:1-9, Reading for Sunday December 3
The prophet's name--Isaiah-- signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in the affairs of their souls! Not considering what we do know in religion, does us as much harm, as ignorance of what we should know. The wickedness was universal. Here is a comparison taken from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness, no good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul. Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's fall. This passage declares the total depravity of human nature. While sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing these wounds, and preventing fatal effects. Jerusalem was exposed and unprotected, like the huts or sheds built up to guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the East, where fruits form a large part of the summer food of the people. But the Lord had a small remnant of pious servants at Jerusalem. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil nature is in every one of us; only Jesus and his sanctifying Spirit can restore us to spiritual health. --Matthew Henry
Monday, November 27, 2006
Parental Reminder
More info here:... but bottom line...
Childrens Christmas Rehearsals:
Monday, November 27: 5:30-7:30pm, Pizza dinner provided. Held @ the Church House
Childrens Christmas Rehearsals:
Monday, November 27: 5:30-7:30pm, Pizza dinner provided. Held @ the Church House
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
A Psalm for giving thanks.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; [1]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; [1]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Bible: A Biography of Song in the Church.... giving props
I failed to mention on Sunday where i got the overview of song and music in the bible. I was using work done by Reggie Kidd in his book With One Voice. Here is an excerpt...
In the biblical history, ironically, music begins outside the
covenantal line as God’s gift to nonbelieving Jubal. But song
eventually comes to mark the most significant of moments in
the relationship between Israel and Yahweh, Israel’s redeeming
Lord. In fact, over the course of Old Testament history, singing
emerges as a sure gauge of Israel’s relationship to the Lord and
the progress of her redemption.
Yahweh parts the Red Sea and the children of Israel sing, play
instruments, and dance. Just before Yahweh takes them across the
River Jordan, lest they forget what is going on, Moses teaches the
Israelites a song about who is waging the upcoming campaign of
conquest. Singing gets built into the covenant relationship both
as fortification for battle and as warning against faithlessness.
(you can read chapter one of this book here)
or you can read the rest of this little riff here
In the biblical history, ironically, music begins outside the
covenantal line as God’s gift to nonbelieving Jubal. But song
eventually comes to mark the most significant of moments in
the relationship between Israel and Yahweh, Israel’s redeeming
Lord. In fact, over the course of Old Testament history, singing
emerges as a sure gauge of Israel’s relationship to the Lord and
the progress of her redemption.
Yahweh parts the Red Sea and the children of Israel sing, play
instruments, and dance. Just before Yahweh takes them across the
River Jordan, lest they forget what is going on, Moses teaches the
Israelites a song about who is waging the upcoming campaign of
conquest. Singing gets built into the covenant relationship both
as fortification for battle and as warning against faithlessness.
(you can read chapter one of this book here)
or you can read the rest of this little riff here
Monday, November 20, 2006
Psalm 98....
Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord
A Psalm.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
A Psalm.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
We get questions
Recently i was asked what i thought of the term "free will".... well, per usual--my homey JI Packer says it the way i would if i was (were?) smarter and knew more of my bible and history...
FALLEN HUMAN BEINGS ARE BOTH FREE AND ENSLAVED by J.I. Packer
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? JEREMIAH 17:9
Clear thought about the fallen human condition requires a distinction between what for the past two centuries has been called free agency and what since the start of Christianity has been called free will. Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and others spoke of free will in two senses, the first trivial, the second important; but this was confusing, and it is better always to use free agency for their first sense.
Free agency is a mark of human beings as such. All humans are free agents in the sense that they make their own decisions as to what they will do, choosing as they please in the light of their sense of right and wrong and the inclinations they feel. Thus they are moral agents, answerable to God and each other for their voluntary choices. So was Adam, both before and after he sinned; so are we now, and so are the glorified saints who are confirmed in grace in such a sense that they no longer have it in them to sin. Inability to sin will be one of the delights and glories of heaven, but it will not terminate anyone’s humanness; glorified saints will still make choices in accordance with their nature, and those choices will not be any the less the product of human free agency just because they will always be good and right.
Free will, however, has been defined by Christian teachers from the second century on as the ability to choose all the moral options that a situation offers, and Augustine affirmed against Pelagius and most of the Greek Fathers that original sin has robbed us of free will in this sense. We have no natural ability to discern and choose God’s way because we have no natural inclination Godward; our hearts are in bondage to sin, and only the grace of regeneration can free us from that slavery. This, for substance, was what Paul taught in Romans 6:16-23; only the freed will (Paul says, the freed person) freely and heartily chooses righteousness. A permanent love of righteousness—that is, an inclination of heart to the way of living that pleases God—is one aspect of the freedom that Christ gives (John 8:34-36; Gal. 5:1, 13).
It is worth observing that will is an abstraction. My will is not a part of me which I choose to move or not to move, like my hand or my foot; it is precisely me choosing to act and then going into action. The truth about free agency, and about Christ freeing sin’s slave from sin’s dominion, can be expressed more clearly if the word will is dropped and each person says: I am the morally responsible free agency; I am the slave of sin whom Christ must liberate; I am the fallen being who only have it in me to choose against God till God renews my heart.
FALLEN HUMAN BEINGS ARE BOTH FREE AND ENSLAVED by J.I. Packer
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? JEREMIAH 17:9
Clear thought about the fallen human condition requires a distinction between what for the past two centuries has been called free agency and what since the start of Christianity has been called free will. Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and others spoke of free will in two senses, the first trivial, the second important; but this was confusing, and it is better always to use free agency for their first sense.
Free agency is a mark of human beings as such. All humans are free agents in the sense that they make their own decisions as to what they will do, choosing as they please in the light of their sense of right and wrong and the inclinations they feel. Thus they are moral agents, answerable to God and each other for their voluntary choices. So was Adam, both before and after he sinned; so are we now, and so are the glorified saints who are confirmed in grace in such a sense that they no longer have it in them to sin. Inability to sin will be one of the delights and glories of heaven, but it will not terminate anyone’s humanness; glorified saints will still make choices in accordance with their nature, and those choices will not be any the less the product of human free agency just because they will always be good and right.
Free will, however, has been defined by Christian teachers from the second century on as the ability to choose all the moral options that a situation offers, and Augustine affirmed against Pelagius and most of the Greek Fathers that original sin has robbed us of free will in this sense. We have no natural ability to discern and choose God’s way because we have no natural inclination Godward; our hearts are in bondage to sin, and only the grace of regeneration can free us from that slavery. This, for substance, was what Paul taught in Romans 6:16-23; only the freed will (Paul says, the freed person) freely and heartily chooses righteousness. A permanent love of righteousness—that is, an inclination of heart to the way of living that pleases God—is one aspect of the freedom that Christ gives (John 8:34-36; Gal. 5:1, 13).
It is worth observing that will is an abstraction. My will is not a part of me which I choose to move or not to move, like my hand or my foot; it is precisely me choosing to act and then going into action. The truth about free agency, and about Christ freeing sin’s slave from sin’s dominion, can be expressed more clearly if the word will is dropped and each person says: I am the morally responsible free agency; I am the slave of sin whom Christ must liberate; I am the fallen being who only have it in me to choose against God till God renews my heart.
Old Guys Continue Turkey Bowl Dominance
In both the Division I game and the Division I-AA game the older fellas came out victorious y'day on a glorious afternoon for football.
The injury report is beginning to roll in... i (rob) type this with my middle finger "buddy-taped" to the ring finger... i know matthews has a gash in his hand... and rumor has it that the old guys had an IBUPROFEN party after the game... feel free to send in your aches and pains
great job putting TB4 together: b.schackow, m. o'neal, s.donovan
The injury report is beginning to roll in... i (rob) type this with my middle finger "buddy-taped" to the ring finger... i know matthews has a gash in his hand... and rumor has it that the old guys had an IBUPROFEN party after the game... feel free to send in your aches and pains
great job putting TB4 together: b.schackow, m. o'neal, s.donovan
Sunday, November 19, 2006
When God Sings...
When I think of the voice of God singing I hear the booming of
God throws a party
“We must banish from our minds forever any thought that God admits us begrudgingly into his kingdom, as though Christ found a loophole in the law, did some fancy plea-bargaining, and squeaked us by the Judge. No way! God himself, the Judge, put Christ forward as our substitutionary sacrifice, and when we trust him, God welcomes us with bells on. He puts a ring on our finger, kills the fatted calf, throws a party, shouts a shout that shakes the ends of creation, and leads in the festal dance.” --John Piper
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Our text on Sunday
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. --Zephaniah 3
“Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which he bears to his people that he breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.” (Spurgeon)
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. --Zephaniah 3
“Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which he bears to his people that he breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.” (Spurgeon)
A story from Haiti trip taken by our folks
This young girl came to the medical clinic with 104 degree fever. We immediately gave her IV fluids suspecting she had meningitis. We prayed for her healing.
At our request, she returned for 2 more days to receive additional IV fluids. She always wore a beautiful dress. Her temperature returned to normal after the third day, and she left clinic with a candy bracelet and a smile on her face.
(more stories to come... kevin phegley, and mo & steve omli travelled to haiti this month on a medical/construction trip)
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
should we get married?
such a good question... and i'm glad to have THIS resource on our website to help people who are asking this question and working w/ people who are asking that question
How Can I Keep from Singing?
These next 2 sundays we are focusing on the role of song in Scripture and in the Christian life... while preparing I have found numerous quotes and hymns that you might be helped by
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
And though the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Rock I'm clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing? --composed during Civil War, by Anne Warner
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
And though the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Rock I'm clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing? --composed during Civil War, by Anne Warner
Turkey Bowl IV
College age boys versus older fellas
immediately after the worship service--Sunday November 19... bring your clothes!
immediately after the worship service--Sunday November 19... bring your clothes!
Community Groups Why we need them part 1
As a new blogger-recently introduced by Roberto- I figured I would focus on one of the key areas we are continuing to grow in at CCC- Community Groups
While there are several great groups already going- why is there a need to start more?? The biggest reason lies in the word Fellowship which is a commonly used word in the NT. This word is used to describe our relationship with Christ and our relationship to each other as the body of Christ.
It denotes something that is vital to a Christan's spiritual health and central to the church's true life... The church, CCC included, will flourish and Christians will be strong only whin there is fellowship.
more to come, please join us on Sunday mornings in the hour before church if you would like to study this idea more. I am leading a study on this topic then-all are welcome.
While there are several great groups already going- why is there a need to start more?? The biggest reason lies in the word Fellowship which is a commonly used word in the NT. This word is used to describe our relationship with Christ and our relationship to each other as the body of Christ.
It denotes something that is vital to a Christan's spiritual health and central to the church's true life... The church, CCC included, will flourish and Christians will be strong only whin there is fellowship.
more to come, please join us on Sunday mornings in the hour before church if you would like to study this idea more. I am leading a study on this topic then-all are welcome.
Interesting, to me at least
On am850 this morning they interviewed someone with UF who reported that there are about 6,000 non-Americans (aka "internationals") enrolled at UF. Almost 1000 of these are from two countries, China and India.
What does it look like for the Christ's Church to respond appropriately to these "visitors" among us? What role does CCC play in that? What role do you play?
And yes, now is great opportunity to praise God for granting Sid Gaitonde new life in Christ. How rich is Christ Community due to the addition of this native of Mumbai? Yes, very.
What does it look like for the Christ's Church to respond appropriately to these "visitors" among us? What role does CCC play in that? What role do you play?
And yes, now is great opportunity to praise God for granting Sid Gaitonde new life in Christ. How rich is Christ Community due to the addition of this native of Mumbai? Yes, very.
FOUND: bible & shades
Recently found at Oak Hall
1 small bible
1 pair sunglasses
write to lizette AT christcommunitychurch DOT com if you think we found something that is yours
1 small bible
1 pair sunglasses
write to lizette AT christcommunitychurch DOT com if you think we found something that is yours
Great Hymn... posted in bite size portions this week
Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Christians and Tipping... Ouch
"I had an up-close and extremely personal view that night of how many people see American Christians. I hate to admit that my co-workers were right when they told me the “Church table” would be one of the most frustrating things I would encounter at my job. Now, because of the way my colleagues have been treated Sunday after Sunday, their hearts have been hardened to the message of Christ. I’m fortunate that I came to the truth earlier in my life and have the realization that not all who call themselves Christians actually follow the principles of Christ, or for that matter have any clue whatsoever what those principles are."
The full post is here.
The full post is here.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Elder Training Nominations... what's next?
The next step in the process that we've been walking through is for the men who were nominated, and their wives, to meet with Rob Pendley & Frank Matthews. An honest discussion of life situation and the training process will help determine if God is calling the man to enter into the elder training process at this time.
Please continue to pray for God to raise up elders in Christ Community.
Please continue to pray for God to raise up elders in Christ Community.
Steve & Mo Omli and Kevin Phegley return from Haiti
The trip's purpose was accomplished. Medical supplies were delivered and distributed and construction work on the orphanage was done. Praise God for bringing them back to us. You can look forward to hearing more from them about Haiti... as well as from Frank Stankunas about Tanzania.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Finishing Up Isaiah 6
As we complete our look at CCC's cycle's of worship... we'll look at Cycle 3: Commmitment
The text shows that it is:
I. Total
II. Purposeful
III. Compelled
The text shows that it is:
I. Total
II. Purposeful
III. Compelled
Union With Christ
Here's a list w/ tons o' passages on our living, loving, lasting connection with Jesus http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/8449/union.html
Friday, November 10, 2006
The List of Martyrs Grows
Assyrian Christian Boy Beheaded – source:Assyrian International News Agency (AINA)
The AINA has reported that a 14-year-old Assyrian boy, Ayad Tariq, was beheaded by Muslim militants in Baqouba, Iraq, on October 21. Ayad was beginning his shift of maintaining an electrical generator when a group of disguised Muslim militants approached him and asked to see his identification. When the Muslims saw his identification and noted he was a "Christian," they (called him) a "dirty Christian sinner!" They then threw him to the ground, held down his arms and legs, shouting "Allah Akbar!" (God is great), and beheaded him. Pray God will comfort Ayad's family and friends, giving them the supernatural gift of peace that comes from forgiving our enemies. Matthew 18:21, 22
The AINA has reported that a 14-year-old Assyrian boy, Ayad Tariq, was beheaded by Muslim militants in Baqouba, Iraq, on October 21. Ayad was beginning his shift of maintaining an electrical generator when a group of disguised Muslim militants approached him and asked to see his identification. When the Muslims saw his identification and noted he was a "Christian," they (called him) a "dirty Christian sinner!" They then threw him to the ground, held down his arms and legs, shouting "Allah Akbar!" (God is great), and beheaded him. Pray God will comfort Ayad's family and friends, giving them the supernatural gift of peace that comes from forgiving our enemies. Matthew 18:21, 22
Thursday, November 09, 2006
clarification on Elder Nomination
These nominations are for men to ENTER a season of training and evaluation to discover if God is calling them to the office of elder...
These nominations are not for these men to be an elder now.
Hope this helps. Remember, there's a primer on church site that might answer other questions.
These nominations are not for these men to be an elder now.
Hope this helps. Remember, there's a primer on church site that might answer other questions.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Sting & Believing promises
As i've been thinking about 2 peter and believing promises of God.... ie Faith, this song keeps popping in my head:
You could say I lost my faith in science and progress
You could say I lost my belief in the holy church
You could say I lost my sense of direction
You could say all of this and worse but....
If I ever lose my faith in you
Thered be nothing left for me to do
(Trivia: I saw Sting when he was member of THE POLICE, saw 'em twice! in Memphis... Ghost in the Machine tour & Synchronicity tour--yep i'm that old!)
You could say I lost my faith in science and progress
You could say I lost my belief in the holy church
You could say I lost my sense of direction
You could say all of this and worse but....
If I ever lose my faith in you
Thered be nothing left for me to do
(Trivia: I saw Sting when he was member of THE POLICE, saw 'em twice! in Memphis... Ghost in the Machine tour & Synchronicity tour--yep i'm that old!)
2nd Letter of Peter, chapter 1
God's divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Great Words: Resplendent
re·splen·dent
Function: adjective
definition:
shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor
Function: adjective
definition:
shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor
Discipleship Course
D'ship course reminders: lessons 14 (union w/ Christ) and 15 (believing promises) are the prep work for nov 8
nov 15 is lessson 33
nov 15 is lessson 33
Monday, November 06, 2006
Great Prayer Need
Christ Community needs laborers for the harvest in our ministry to children. Please pray.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Communion Sunday
It is our practice as a church family to celebrate Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday of the month. In preparation, I encourage you to meditate/reflect on
Your great need for a Savior/Rescuer...
and
The great Savior/Rescuer provided for your need...
When we come to the Lord's Table we are non-verbally saying, "I'm yours Jesus. You've bought me with your body & blood and I'm responding. Spend me."
Your great need for a Savior/Rescuer...
and
The great Savior/Rescuer provided for your need...
When we come to the Lord's Table we are non-verbally saying, "I'm yours Jesus. You've bought me with your body & blood and I'm responding. Spend me."
Helping you think about scandal
RP here: I just saw this on the front page of GOOGLE NEWS. I don't report it to gossip... but to help you think biblically to things people are and will be talking about. I think the post by Justin Taylor that begins below is helpful.
By now I'm sure many of you have heard that following news about Ted Haggard:
A Colorado Springs-based giant of the conservative Christian movement, with direct access to President Bush, stepped down Thursday as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals in the wake of allegations by a former male escort that the two had a three-year sexual relationship.
Read the whole post
By now I'm sure many of you have heard that following news about Ted Haggard:
A Colorado Springs-based giant of the conservative Christian movement, with direct access to President Bush, stepped down Thursday as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals in the wake of allegations by a former male escort that the two had a three-year sexual relationship.
Read the whole post
put this in your ipod
think your (or anyone's) relationship is a result of ANYTHING other than the tenacious kindness of God???? then unleash yourself with this....CH Spurgeon is one of the great preachers in the history of Christianity. Spurgeon also communicates brilliantly through the written word, and his giftedness to proclaim the doctrine of grace shines in his little gem, All of Grace. Many Christians believe that this small book presents better than any other non-canonical work the gospel of salvation alone by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This short book is one of the bright jewels in post-apostolic writings on grace.
Go to the Free Download Page at christianaudio.com and use the coupon code NOV2006 to redeem the digital download format of All of Grace.
Go to the Free Download Page at christianaudio.com and use the coupon code NOV2006 to redeem the digital download format of All of Grace.
Communion and Rich Mullins
Listening to these words this morning made me think of the Lord's Supper
"There's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiments." --from song, If i stand, by rich mullins
My great fear is that many people, yes, even in Christ Community, are sentimental about the Lord's Supper.... viewing this as some cleaned-up talisman we can rub for good luck... but it is really about our declaring our small "l" loyalty to Jesus and his allCAPS LOYALTY to His people, which includes little ol' me. Anyway,
Here is a link to the 1st of a 4 part interview with the late Rich Mullins. Listening to him will make you:
--Mad
--Cry
--Laugh
and at every few minutes you notice you have moved across the room towards Jesus because you want to be closer to Him... people like this are such a rush...
"There's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiments." --from song, If i stand, by rich mullins
My great fear is that many people, yes, even in Christ Community, are sentimental about the Lord's Supper.... viewing this as some cleaned-up talisman we can rub for good luck... but it is really about our declaring our small "l" loyalty to Jesus and his allCAPS LOYALTY to His people, which includes little ol' me. Anyway,
Here is a link to the 1st of a 4 part interview with the late Rich Mullins. Listening to him will make you:
--Mad
--Cry
--Laugh
and at every few minutes you notice you have moved across the room towards Jesus because you want to be closer to Him... people like this are such a rush...
Christian venture capitalists
very interesting stuff (HERE) about connecting capitalism and bringing justice to world....
Thursday, November 02, 2006
grace at home
Keeping Grace in Place
Keeping grace in place in our homes, that is the task. We experience many temptations to leave out the grace and the hope of the gospel when our children require correction and motivation.
How does keeping grace in place look and sound? Your message to your children is this: “People who fail can find hope in the God of grace.” Think of it this way, the gospel must be the core of your nurturing interaction with your children. The gospel is more than just the simple plan of salvation. It is all the grace and power of the gospel - forgiveness, cleansing, internal transformation, and empowerment (Ezekiel 36:25-26).
rest is here
Keeping grace in place in our homes, that is the task. We experience many temptations to leave out the grace and the hope of the gospel when our children require correction and motivation.
How does keeping grace in place look and sound? Your message to your children is this: “People who fail can find hope in the God of grace.” Think of it this way, the gospel must be the core of your nurturing interaction with your children. The gospel is more than just the simple plan of salvation. It is all the grace and power of the gospel - forgiveness, cleansing, internal transformation, and empowerment (Ezekiel 36:25-26).
rest is here
set your heart on the Father's love
"This will be exceeding effectual to endear your soul unto God, to cause you to delight in him, and to make your abode with him. Many saints have no greater burden in their lives, than that their hearts do not come clearly and fully up, constantly to delight and rejoice in God—that there is still an indisposedness of spirit unto close walking with him. What is at the bottom of this distemper? Is it not their unskillfulness in or neglect of this duty, even of holding communion with the Father in love? So much as we see of the love of God, so much shall we delight in him, and no more. Every other discovery of God, without this, will but make the soul fly from him; but if the heart be once much taken up with this the eminency of the Father’s love, it cannot choose but be overpowered, conquered, and endeared unto him. This, if any thing, will work upon us to make our abode with him. If the love of a father will not make a child delight in him, what will? Put, then, this to the venture: exercise your thoughts upon this very thing, the eternal, free, and fruitful love of the Father, and see if your hearts be not wrought upon to delight in him. I dare boldly say: believers will find it as thriving a course as ever they pitched on in their lives. Sit down a little at the fountain, and you will quickly have a further discovery of the sweetness of the streams. You who have run from him, will not be able, after a while, to keep at a distance for a moment."
John Owen, Communion with God, chapt. 4
John Owen, Communion with God, chapt. 4
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Now it is there
Just spoke with Frank Stankunas. About a year ago I was having coffee with a student who told me about an orphanage in Tanzania that didn't have a place to keep the children... so these orphans were "homeless" during the nights. I put the student in touch with Frank Stankunas... and voila (almost) and by the enabling grace of God... there was a building built over the past week or so by Frank and a team he led. The children begin sleeping there in January. An idea and need was there, no there is reality. Thy Kingdom Come...
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