Monday, February 28, 2011

Our God Reigns, and it is for our good

26. Q. What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and all that is in them,[1] and who still upholds and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence,[2] is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father.[3] In Him I trust so completely as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul,[4] and will also turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this life of sorrow.[5] He is able to do so as almighty God,[6] and willing also as a faithful Father.[7]
[1] Gen. 1 and 2; Ex. 20:11; Job 38 and 39; Ps. 33:6; Is. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15. [2] Ps. 104:27-30; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11. [3] John 1:12, 13; Rom. 8:15, 16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5. [4] Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25, 26; Luke 12:22-31. [5] Rom. 8:28. [6] Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39. [7] Matt. 6:32, 33; 7:9-11.
27. Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. God's providence is His almighty and ever present power,[1] whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures,[2] and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty,[3] indeed, all things, come not by chance[4] but by His fatherly hand.[5]
[1] Jer. 23:23, 24; Acts 17:24-28. [2] Heb. 1:3. [3] Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2. [4] Prov. 16:33. [5] Matt. 10:29.
28. Q. What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?
A. We can be patient in adversity,[1] thankful in prosperity,[2] and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love;[3] for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot so much as move.[4]
[1] Job. 1:21, 22; Ps. 39:10; James 1:3. [2] Deut. 8:10; I Thess. 5:18. [3] Ps. 55:22; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:38, 39. [4] Job 1:12; 2:6; Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:24-28.

taken from the Heidelberg Catechism, which is here

World Magazine on your iPad

DIGITAL REVOLUTION | WORLD's iPad app is out of development and has been submitted for Apple's approval. As soon as we receive a thumbs-up from Cupertino, iPad owners will be able to go to the iTunes store and download the inaugural digital edition of WORLD. MORE >>

The Prattle of Religious Small Talk

"The book of Job is not only a witness to the dignity of suffering and God's presence in our suffering but also our primary biblical protest against religion that has been reduced to explanations or "answers".  Many of the answers that Job's so called friends give him are technically true.  But it is the "technical" part that ruins them.  They are answers without personal relationship, intellect without intimacy…On behalf of all of us who have been misled by the platitudes of the nice people who show up to tell us everything is going to be all right if we simply think such and such and do such and such, Job issue and anguished rejoinder.  He rejects the kind of advice and teaching that has God all figured out, that provides glib explanations for every circumstance.  Job's honest defiance continues to be the best defense against the clichés of positive thinkers and the prattle of religious small talk."

Eugene Peterson

“Ramifications of Technological Change”

"Ramifications of Technological Change" 

http://christianstudycenter.org/mondayclass/ramifications-technology

Shame on me for not realizing that this series started weeks ago and that our own Scott Perry kicked it off.

Tonite my friend and next door neighbor Dr. Jay Lynch will give a brief recap of the upside of technology and then delve into some of
the problematic effects on our lives.



Tonight- MONDAY at 7:30 pm  112 16th St (one
block North of Library West off University) Some parking free on site or paid
on corner of University and 16th or on lot behind St. Augustine.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Debtor to Mercy Alone


1. A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on,
My person and offering to bring.
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Savior's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view

2. The work which His goodness began,
The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is yea and amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
Not all things below nor above
Can make Him His purpose forego,
Or sever my soul from His love.

3. My name from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is given
More happy, but not more secure,
The glorified spirits in heaven.


--words by Toplady, music by Twit

Serving during service on Sunday February 27



Piano: Anna Meyer
Vocals: Dale Anderson & Erin Taylor
Violin: Caeli Tolar
Guitar & vocals: Nate Taylor & Carter Davis
Liturgist (Leading the service): Rev. Dr. Richard Horner
Preaching: Rob Pendley
 

Jubilation from the Generations

Exodus 10:1-2 says God is humiliating Pharaoh with and thru the
plagues---so Moses (and by implication us) can tell his kids and
grandkids, "Our God reigns!!"

See also

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the
coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and
the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works
of God, but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and
rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

One of our peeps

Currently finishing his Phd and raising support to move to Uganda with
www.whm.org

Are all drinking from the fount of wisdom that is Carter Davis?
OR
Are they pleading with him not to "do his Hendrix thing"?

We've a story to tell

We have something to tell our children and our
grandchildren. It is the story of Jesus Christ, the Moses of our salvation,
who brought us out of the Egypt of our sin. It is a true story based on the facts
of history: his virgin birth, his virtuous life, his vicarious atonement, and
his victorious resurrection. 

What a story! It explains everything a child really needs to know. It explains 
who we are: the people of God. 
where we came from: a life of sin and misery.
  where we are going: to live with Christ in mansions of glory. 
 who God is: the Father of mercy and love. 

And it explains why we are here: to glorify God by living for Christ.

--Phil Ryken

Matthew Henry on 10:26

 Moses said: "Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there."

Moses gives a very good reason why they must take their cattle with them; they must go to do sacrifice, and therefore they must take wherewithal. What numbers and kinds of sacrifices would be required they did not yet know, and therefore they must take all they had. 

Note, With ourselves, and our children, we must devote all our worldly possessions to the service of God, because we know not what use God will make of what we have, nor in what way we may be called upon to honour God with it. 



What the Academy Award Nominees for Best Picture Tell Us About Ourselves - Drew Trotter, Host




The Academy Award nominees for Best Picture may not always be the biggest box office triumphs of the year, but they are among the most influential movies for the nation's cultural gatekeepers. The nominees reflect what Hollywood thinks of itself and of American culture. Drew Trotter is the Executive Director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers. He has written on film and popular culture for more than 30 years. This lecture explores just what those values are by looking at each of the films, their ideas, and their likely influence on, and reflection of, America in the present day. 

» Watch Video

If you want to take a deeper look at Hollywood's cultural relevance, listen to our one-on-one interview with Dr. Trotter about what we can learn from movies like Toy Story 3, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech and more. 

» Listen to Audio 





Oscars

These are the nominees for Best Picture. I wonder if Drew Trotter has written on these?

  • "Black Swan" Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
  • "The Fighter" David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
  • "Inception" Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
  • "The Kids Are All Right" Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
  • "The King's Speech" Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
  • "127 Hours" Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
  • "The Social Network" Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
  • "Toy Story 3" Darla K. Anderson, Producer
  • "True Grit" Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
  • "Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers


Double Miracle for Iranian Secret Believer


From the folks at "Open Doors"

Double Miracle for Iranian Secret Believer


When Iranian convert, Sarah, was shot in the neck by robbers some years ago, medics did not expect her to survive. But today, by God's grace, Sarah is still living for Christ in Iran—ranked #2 on the new Open Doors World Watch List.

Read More



Friday, February 25, 2011

Good times at Invisible Children

Darkness

Exodus 10:21-29 is the account of God sending darkness over Egypt for
3 days. Due to t. Edison we don't exactly fear the darkness. But
imagine if we were too experience 72 hours of darkness, combined with
no artificial lighting.

"Deep, total darkness of the sort God imposed on the Egyptians would
also cause sensory deprivation, leading to disorientation and
psychological distress. More than just those people inclined to
light-deprivation depression would be severely depressed by the third
day. A sense of doom would pervade all minds". -- Douglas Stuart

Reminds me:
1) dude just moved to Fla from way North said, "easier to feel happy
with all the sun you get here".
2.) the children of Uganda walk from the villages into the cities
because the night brings terror

Jesus is LIGHT and promises He's making us light to the world.

No plagues for the righteous

We all experience hardship in this fallen world, but in the scope of
eternity, there are no deadly plagues for the righteous, but only the
promise of a good land for them and their children.

--Phil Ryken

Did you know?

On our website each week you can find the Worship Folder and CIA flyer?
Below is taken from the "Sunday Morning" section of our website



We would love to see you this Sunday.

Our Schedule:
8:30am Worship Service, with childcare provided
10:00am Classes for all ages
11:15am Worship Service, with childcare provided

Meeting Location:
1603 SW 122nd Street
Gainesville, FL 32607
352.379.4949
(map)

Downloads
February 27 Worship Folder (8:30 & 11:15); Community in Action Flyer

Thursday, February 24, 2011

When All Thy Mercies-- Sunday we sing

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From Whom those comforts flowed.





Trailer for 30 minute film we'll screen Friday night

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Grief

Last week I met a lady whose son had just lost his wife to cancer.  She was very desirous of encouraging him during his time of grief.  This article is one of the things I'll be sending her.

Grief & Glory, by Jim Cofield

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/grief-glory/

Arbor House, one of our partners


Empowering homeless single mother families

A living and learning motherhood community offering long term housing and programs to homeless single mother families while they pursue goals that lead to self-sufficiency.

Yutes (youth) at Christ Community

Just had a great discussion with Nate Taylor about some great things happening in the YUTES of Christ Community.  Repentance, faith, reaching out, prayer etc.  Great things.

Hallelujah what a Savior!  Hallelujah, what a salvation!

follow it at:
http://youthatccc.blogspot.com/

Regarding Friday Night Film Screening and Children

"Our documentary is not explicit in nature but does have mature content. The documentary explains the history of the war as it began in Uganda and the current ongoing conflict in the Congo as well as the Kampala bombings that happened this past July because the only American casualty, Nate Henn, was a full time volunteer with Invisible Children. This all ties in with the main focus of our film, Tony, who was very young when the war struck in Uganda. Tony was a dear friend to Nate and was there in Kampala with him during his final moments, and will be on this national tour with 16 other Ugandans sharing his personal story and advocating for the people of Congo who are now experiencing the effects of the LRA in their war torn region."

--
7pm on Friday Feb 25: Invisible Children film screening @ Christ Community.  Trailer here
 

Friday Night 7pm


"Invisible Children uses film, creativity, and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity."



I'm hoping some CCC folks wind up in prison



On October 20-23, 2011 a Kairos team will bring the bring Christ's love and forgiveness to the incarcerated men at Marion Correctional Institution in Lowell, Florida. Lowell is located about half way between Gainesville and Ocala. There will be five required team training meeting, May 7, June 4, July 16, August 6, and September 7, 2011. If you are interested in serving on this team or would like more information about Kairos Prison Ministry, please go towww.kairosprisonministry.org or contact Fred Cantrell at 
fhcantrell at yahoo dot com

 

a story that answered all the big questions

The exodus was not just any old story; it was the story, the story that shaped
the Israelites into the people of God. It was the story of their salvation. It
was a true story, a story based on the facts of history. It was a story that
explained everything the children of God needed to know. It explained who
they were: the people of God, delivered from slavery. It explained who God
was: the Lord God of Israel, the God of all power and glory. It explained
where they came from: out of Egypt. It told them where they were going: into
the land of promise. And it explained what their purpose was: They were
saved for God’s glory. By sending his plagues against Pharaoh, God was giving
his people a story that answered all the big questions: Who am I? Where
did I come from? Where am I going? What is the meaning of life? Is there a
God? If there is, how can I know him, and what does he want me to do?


--phil ryken

Epic

The whole exodus is an epic adventure. 

It had everything: a wicked tyrant, an unlikely hero, a bitter conflict, a daring rescue, a national triumph, a spiritual quest, and a happy ending, with lots of miracles for special effect. 

What a story!


-Phil Ryken

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

How Firm a Foundation--Sunday we sing

Just pray thru this hymn. Meditate on the glorious God we meet here. 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.







Saturday, February 19, 2011

Middle school retreat

Here they are before hitting the road Friday

Tomorrow's offertory

Holy, Holy, Holy Lyrics

Sufjan Stevens


Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
There is a sign at the sight of thee, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
There is a sign at the sight of thee, there is none beside Thee;
God in three Persons, God in three Persons, God in three Persons, God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
 



Law & Gospel

This is from Mike Horton's new book The Christian Faith:

In the Reformed tradition, the law-gospel distinction was interpreted within the historical context of distinct covenants in history. The covenant of creation (also called the covenant of works or law) was based on the personal performance of all righteousness by the covenant servant. The covenant of grace is based on the fulfillment of all righteousness by our representative head and is dispensed to the covenant people through faith in him. There is still law in the covenant of grace. However, it is no longer able to condemn believers but directs them in lives of gratitude for God's mercy in Christ.


Rob Pendley

Friday, February 18, 2011

Next Friday Night 7pm

From the invisible children website

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Josiah sermon is on iTunes & website

Get in there.

WHAT A BOUNDLESS, FATHOMLESS OCEAN!


by Octavius Winslow (1808 - 1878)


Eternal love moved the heart of Jesus to relinquish heaven for earth—a diadem for a cross—the robe of divine majesty for the garment of our nature; by taking upon Himself the leprosy of our sin. Oh, the infinite love of Christ! What a boundless, fathomless ocean! Ask the ransomed of the Lord, whose chains He has dissolved, whose dungeon He has opened, whose liberty He has conferred, if there ever was love like His!

What shall we say of the ransom price? It was the richest, the costliest, that Heaven could give. He gave Himself for us! What more could He do? He gave Himself; body, soul and spirit. He gave His time, His labor, His blood, His life, His ALL, as the price for our ransom, the cost of our redemption. He carried the wood and reared the altar. Then, bearing His bosom to the stroke of the uplifted and descending arm of the Father, paid the price of our salvation in the warm lifeblood of His heart!

What a boundless, fathomless ocean! How is it that we feel the force and exemplify the practical influence of this amazing, all commanding truth so faintly? Oh, the desperate depravity of our nature! Oh, the deep iniquity of our iniquitous hearts! Will not the blood drops of Jesus move us? Will not the agonies of the cross influence us? Will not His dying love constrain us to a more heavenly life?


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Shout out

http://youthatccc.blogspot.com/


Rob Pendley

Invisible Children overview/background

On Friday Night February 25, Christ Community is hosting her 1st ever film screening.

To get an overview of the group that is bringing a film for us to see, see the 2 minute video below

Christians and Art

"I'm interested in patterns and rhythms in my works," the Covenant College art professor said. "Pattern is an organizing strategy in our lives. Every day we start with a blank sheet and have to find a way to structure our lives."

from an article (which includes a video) by the magazine of the Presbyterian Church in America (aka PCA, by the way)
http://byfaithonline.com/page/arts-culture/do-christians-need-art
--

 

pray for Christians in Egypt


I got this from a group called "Open Doors"



I have been told that Muslims are turning to their Christian neighbors. Christians passed out water to thirsty demonstrators who marched for a better government. It's an extraordinary time for the advancement of God's Kingdom… showing the love of Christ!

Despite these recent developments we must remember that this is not a country that is always favorable to Christians.

According to the Pew Research Center when the Egyptian population was polled:

  • 84% believe that any Muslim who converts to Christianity should be executed.

Just days ago eleven Christians were murdered in a town about 150 miles south of Cairo. Forty-two Christians have been killed since the beginning of the year. It's a paradox of circumstances. Today Christians and Muslims link arm-in-arm in solidarity against a common enemy (the government)… but those alliances can turn overnight.

That is why this is such a critical time for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Egypt and they need your support to advance the gospel and reach out to their surrounding neighbors in love.

Please pray that their strength of faith will endure through this crisis. And pray for our ministry partners who labor tirelessly to help Egyptian Christians by providing training, Bibles, and other critical support to withstand the persecution.

Join International Friendship for an Italian Dinner- American Style!

GREETINGS FRIENDS, 

Please join us on Thursday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. for our next IDEA Feast. Come and enjoy a delicious American dinner and then listen to a lecture about Leadership principles. This is a great time to have a delicious meal, meet new friends, and talk to native speakers. It's FREE for internationals, so bring your friends!   

Topic:            Leadership Principles

Speaker:         Mr. Mitchell Cruit
                        Graduating Senior at UF
                        BS in Business Administration
 
Meal:             Baked Ziti (pasta with tomato sauce),
                        Salad, Garlic Bread and Dessert.
                                    (vegetarian meals available)         

Come enjoy a great meal and some great friends. We are located in the Baptist Student Union located at 1604 W. University Avenue.

Toby Sorrels

Executive Director
International Friendship 
 
Transportation:  We always provide transportation home after class.
 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Extra-ordinary Prayer

Some good things happening on the prayer front in CCC.
 
1st Sundays of each month at 6pm we will be holding kingdom-advancing prayer meetings.
Also, there are some students mobilizing prayer that will take place DURING the worship services---each one seeking God's favor on THAT service and the life of CCC and our connected ministries.
Stay tuned.

--

Communion Service cancelled

There will be no communion service tomorrow evening.  I am sorry for the inconvenience.  My schedule just won't allow it.
 
The next opportunity to celebrate Holy Communion will be during the morning services on March 6.

Grace & Men recap

Great weekend.
 
Thanks tons to people who helped in special ways: Mark Sheplak, Rick Smith, Rob Hamersma, Christian Smith.
 
Also, all you who made it out----was i right, or was I right?
 
 
 
The audio will be available soon.

--

Why I need Jesus--and maybe y'all too


Jesus taught *the inward origin of human evil*.  Its
source has to be traced neither to a bad environment nor to a faulty
education (although both these can have a powerful conditioning
influence on impressionable young people), but rather to our 'heart',
our inherited and twisted nature.  One might almost say that Jesus
introduced us to Freudianism before Freud.  At least what he called
the 'heart' is roughly equivalent to what Freud called the
'unconscious'.  It resembles a very deep well.  The thick deposit of
mud at the bottom is usually unseen, and even unsuspected.  But when
the waters of the well are stirred by the winds of violent emotion,
the most evil-looking, evil-smelling filth bubbles up from the depths
and breaks the surface -- rage, hate, lust, cruelty, jealousy and
revenge.  In our most sensitive moments we are appalled by our
potentiality for evil.

--john stott

Monday, February 14, 2011

A deep, insidious energy


If our sin is mere failure to conform-simply a mistake to do what is right---forgiveness is really the granting of an opportunity to try again.  In that light, it is like forgetting to finish one's homework.  

We deserve a low grace, and grace becomes merely the privilege of doing it over to get a higher mark.  Such a view of grace might generate appreciation, but it would never drive us to worship.  If, in fact, sin is not only failure to hit the mark of God's perfection, but also a deep, insidious energy that desires to eradicate from our existence an affronting God who demands perfection, then forgiveness becomes breathtaking, incredible, and wonderfully insulting.


   Dan Allender, in the book Bold Love


Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Four Spiritual Laws

Today in his wonderful sermon Josiah mentioned these   

The four spiritual laws are:

  1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
  2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans3:23, Romans 6:23)
  3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
  4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8,Revelation 3:20)


Rob Pendley

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Guys Sang this today

Thou Lovely Source of True Delight

1. Thou lovely source of true delight
Whom I unseen adore
Unveil Thy beauties to my sight
That I might love Thee more,
Oh that I might love Thee more.

2. Thy glory o'er creation shines
But in Thy sacred Word
I read in fairer, brighter lines
My bleeding, dying Lord,
See my bleeding, dying Lord

3. 'Tis here, whene'er my comforts droop
And sin and sorrow rise
Thy love with cheering beams of hope
My fainting heart supplies,
My fainting heart's supplied

4. But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene
Is clouded o'er with pain
My gloomy fears rise dark between
And I again complain,
Oh and I again complain

5. Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light
Oh come with blissful ray
Break radiant through the shades of night
And chase my fears away,
Won't You chase my fears away

6. Then shall my soul with rapture trace
The wonders of Thy love
But the full glories of Thy face
Are only known above,
They are only known above

©1998 Kevin Twit Music.

back to top

 



Rob Pendley

Accapella singing of Holy Holy Holy was tremendous

Grace and Men

Friday, February 11, 2011

Grace & Men, 7pm

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Crown Him! (Sunday we sing!)

 
To Thee be endless praise
For Thou for us hast died
Be Thou O Lord thro' endless days
Adored and magnified



These Talks Look Great


Josiah Bancroft
"The Power of Truth"
"The Power of Joy"

John Sittema
"Good Theology Almost Killed Me"
"The Dangers of Quiet Time"

--
this will be a great time for guys of Christ Community and beyond---shout out an invite today

The Quiet Time: Not a Cleansing Rite

John Sittema will give a talk called "the danger of quiet time" to the
guys at Grace & Men this weekend

This is a helpful article ive read in the past that touches on the same

http://www.joethorn.net/2006/11/14/the-quiet-time-not-a-cleansing-rite/


Rob Pendley

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Grace & Men Schedule

F r i d a y E v e n i n g F e b r u a r y 13t h , 2011 ( PM) C h r i s t C ommu n i t y C h u r c h S a n c t u a r y
6:55pm   Mu s i c , S i n g i n g , & I n t r o d u c t i o n
7:10pm   J o s i a h B a n c r o f t , " T h e P owe r o f Tr u t h "
8:00pm   B r e a k (10 mi n u t e s )
8:10pm    J o h n S i t t ema , "Go o d T h e o l o g y A lmo s t K i l l e d Me "
9:00pm   Q & A wi t h J o s i a h B a n c r o f t & J o h n S i t t ema
9:30pm   C l o s e wi t h p r a y e r

S a t u r d a y Mo r n i n g F e b r u a r y 14t h , 2011 ( AM) C h r i s t C ommu n i t y C h u r c h S a n c t u a r y
8:00am   Op e n i n p r a y e r
8:05am   Mu s i c & S i n g i n g
8:10am   J o h n S i t t ema - " T h e Da n g e r s o f Qu i e t T ime "
9:00am   B r e a k (10 mi n u t e s )
9:10am   Q & A wi t h J o h n S i t t ema
9:40am   B r e a k (10 mi n u t e s )
9:50am   J o s i a h B a n c r o f t - " T h e P owe r o f J o y "
10:40am   B r e a k (5 mi n u t e s )
10:45am   Sma l l Gr o u p Di s c u s s i o n ( I n c l a s s r o oms a n d s a n c t u a r y )
11:45am    Q & A wi t h J o s i a h B a n c r o f t
12:15      B r e a k (5 mi n u t e s )
12:20     Mu s i c , F i n a l Wo r d s & P r a y e r
12:40pm    Di smi s s e d t o wo r l dwi d e Gr a c e & Me n A s s i g nme n t ( i . e . g o i n Go s p e l j o y & f r u i t f u l n e s s ! )



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Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Sunday we'll confess

Lord Jesus Christ, though being in very nature God, when you came to 
redeem us you humbled yourself and made yourself nothing. Though you 
were rich, for our sakes you became poor, so that through your poverty we 
might become rich.

We confess how unlike you we are in our attitudes and actions. We strive 
for recognition from others, and we sulk and become bitter if we do not 
get it. We attend to our own needs and concerns, yet fail to care for others 
except when it serves our purposes.

Forgive us our sin and renew our hearts. Grant us to realize that we only 
achieve greatness and gain our lives by giving them away. Work in us by 
the power of your Spirit so that we become more like you and so bring 
glory to our Father in heaven. Amen

from Books & Culture

In this week's podcast, Stan Guthrie and I discuss an extraordinary project from Crossway Books: The Four Holy Gospels, illuminated by Makoto Fujimura. (An iPad edition with additional commentary by the artist is also available.) Listening to one's recorded words can be a humbling experience, but apart from verbal imprecision and outright mistakes, I often find myself arguing with ... myself. In illuminating the gospels, Mako Fujimura drew on his mastery of nihonga, a labor-intensive style of traditional Japanese painting that involves pulverizing minerals to bring out their beauty. During my conversation with Stan, I remark that the technique itself, while certainly interesting, is not "important;" it could be used for many different purposes. True. (I had in the back of my mind the fetishism of materials and methods that is such a conspicuous feature of the contemporary art scene.) But in Mako's hands, the technique is very important, for it allows him to convey the palpable sense of God's splendor and prodigal generosity that we are inspired to feel when turning the pages of The Four Holy Gospels. Also true, wonderfully so.

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