Last night was Davo's b-day... Bunch of us went downtown to hangout at Tir Na Nog as one of our own companions (Arron Chappel from Alabaster Suitcase) was doing a little acoustic rock set...
Thanks to all that made it out... I had a blast...
Happy Birthday to Dave ...
-Holla
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Need Help???
If you are aware of a need and could use some help getting it taken care of; post a comment here and there should be someone in contact with you on how they can help...
If you are excited about helping meet others needs; please check for these posts regularly and feel free to follow-up on your own with those that are listed...
If you are excited about helping meet others needs; please check for these posts regularly and feel free to follow-up on your own with those that are listed...
Anything going on this weekend...
Feel free to "post a comment" and let people know what you've got going on... It would also be good to let people know how to get in touch with you if they want to meet up...
Rescue...
Our discussion last night at hungry took us to place of "understanding a rescue"... It's pretty obvious that there is something about a book, a movie, or story that gets our heart pounding when a dramatic rescue is taking place. Someone giving up something or risking something just for the sake of something or someone else... That gets us going...
Jeff pointed out there has never been greater "giving up of something" than when Christ left his place in heaven... I really do wonder what that was like when The Father turned to Jesus and they both knew what lied ahead. I mean he had heard all the prophecies... He new exactly where this road led... All for a people that would in large reject Him... Can you imagine for the first time feeling cold... Hungry... Reliant completely on the very humans he created.
But then the rescue... not just death on a cross for the forgiveness of sins... But also teaching us how to live... how to care for one another... to restore fellowship between us and God... So that we could somehow know this "mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" - (Colossians 1:26-27)
Hopefully we can go into this Christmas season not just celebrating a birth... but celebrating the greatest, most sacrificial, most life-changing rescue of all time...
Jeff pointed out there has never been greater "giving up of something" than when Christ left his place in heaven... I really do wonder what that was like when The Father turned to Jesus and they both knew what lied ahead. I mean he had heard all the prophecies... He new exactly where this road led... All for a people that would in large reject Him... Can you imagine for the first time feeling cold... Hungry... Reliant completely on the very humans he created.
But then the rescue... not just death on a cross for the forgiveness of sins... But also teaching us how to live... how to care for one another... to restore fellowship between us and God... So that we could somehow know this "mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" - (Colossians 1:26-27)
Hopefully we can go into this Christmas season not just celebrating a birth... but celebrating the greatest, most sacrificial, most life-changing rescue of all time...
Monday, December 06, 2004
Loving our neighbor...
Just this past week I have been overwhelmed with hearing of people, everyday people doing amazing things for people just because God is working in their lives and His goodness is showing... People giving money to single mothers, spending time with her children, guys going to work on computers at house for the less fortunate, college kids taking homeless guys out to eat, friends using their Christmas money for other friends... I gotta tell you it is moving to see God move in peoples lives...
Not that anyone here on earth has it all together but it is so encouraging and God glorifying to see people "Loving God and loving their neighbors..." There is something magical about making a small decision to put someoneelse in front of yourself... And it is almost just as magical to see someone else do it... It is amazing to see God moving in a community... I gotta beleive this is what is meant by "they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"... (Matthew 5:16)
Not that anyone here on earth has it all together but it is so encouraging and God glorifying to see people "Loving God and loving their neighbors..." There is something magical about making a small decision to put someoneelse in front of yourself... And it is almost just as magical to see someone else do it... It is amazing to see God moving in a community... I gotta beleive this is what is meant by "they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"... (Matthew 5:16)
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Hungry (last night's gathering)
Wow, what a night... We are going through a series on Colossians and Jeff started last night in verse 9 of the first chapter. The focus was really on prayer for each other in our community. In the passage we see Paul praying for this community that is about the size of ours within Hungry. He goes on to say they are praying for "God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Paul must have had it in his head that praying for people really does have a purpose. Jeff's point was "What if other people's spiritual wisdom and understanding did have some sort of dependence on our prayers for them." What if our prayers or lack there of really impact people's lives.
He used a great illustration of his children. He made the point that he could only imagine how much it would mean to him if one of his children came to him in concern for his brother (which would be Jeff's son also - in case you didn't catch that - hah). I have to think that God's love for his children is so much greater than anything we will ever know in this life. God must smile when He sees his children, His creation passionately pleaing for one another. Personally I think that is a large part of God's dream for His church.
We actually went into a deeper discussion of what all that means but personally I was challenged just by the idea of us praying for each other. I mean really praying. And praying with the mindset that I am making a difference in the life of our community and our world.
We left the night with an opportunity for individuals write down prayer requests and to take others with the challenge to really be a community that pleas and prays for each other. The hope is that this will become a natural value of our community that we will constantly "pray without ceasing" for each other and for our world.
Thanks for reading...
He used a great illustration of his children. He made the point that he could only imagine how much it would mean to him if one of his children came to him in concern for his brother (which would be Jeff's son also - in case you didn't catch that - hah). I have to think that God's love for his children is so much greater than anything we will ever know in this life. God must smile when He sees his children, His creation passionately pleaing for one another. Personally I think that is a large part of God's dream for His church.
We actually went into a deeper discussion of what all that means but personally I was challenged just by the idea of us praying for each other. I mean really praying. And praying with the mindset that I am making a difference in the life of our community and our world.
We left the night with an opportunity for individuals write down prayer requests and to take others with the challenge to really be a community that pleas and prays for each other. The hope is that this will become a natural value of our community that we will constantly "pray without ceasing" for each other and for our world.
Thanks for reading...
Sunday, November 28, 2004
So much to be thankful for...
I'm getting ready for bed rethinking this past week of "Thanksgiving"... If you don't know I spent the week in Houston and in LA with some of my most beloved friends in the world...
Currently I'm reading a book by Leonard Sweet entitled Out of the Question... Into the Mystery. I'm only a third of the way through the book however Sweet has hammered on the idea of God being a relational God. He makes several conclusions that I'm sure I'll talk about in more detail later as to how we can't even come close to proper obedience (even if acting obedient) without a proper relationship (what Sweet refers to as relationship, I would use a different word; maybe fellowship).
Anyways my epiphany of sorts brews out of this as follows... If God created us to be relational and that's what He longs for... There has got to be something to our relationships here and now... I'm sure this is not rocket science nor do I intend it to be... BUT from a guy who has been really busy the past few months and just had a chance to slow down a bit with some people that he loves, Man... there is something to this relationship thing... Something inside you can't help but come alive when you're loving someone or get this... letting someone love you.
I guess what I'm trying to remind myself is that this life is about loving God and loving people. And in order to love God and love people I have to spend time with God and people... I don't mean spend time like scheduled prayer and reading time or a scheduled lunch appointment with a friend. I am referring to real time with no agenda other than just to be together and love each other.
This past week I have learned something I have always known and I still don't completely understand it... There is something special about just being with people that you care about and that care about you... In the craziness of life may we stop for a few and be thankful for those in our lives... And may we stand in awe of a God who created us in a way that we would come alive at the very thought of love and one who loves us far beyond our own comprehension...
Currently I'm reading a book by Leonard Sweet entitled Out of the Question... Into the Mystery. I'm only a third of the way through the book however Sweet has hammered on the idea of God being a relational God. He makes several conclusions that I'm sure I'll talk about in more detail later as to how we can't even come close to proper obedience (even if acting obedient) without a proper relationship (what Sweet refers to as relationship, I would use a different word; maybe fellowship).
Anyways my epiphany of sorts brews out of this as follows... If God created us to be relational and that's what He longs for... There has got to be something to our relationships here and now... I'm sure this is not rocket science nor do I intend it to be... BUT from a guy who has been really busy the past few months and just had a chance to slow down a bit with some people that he loves, Man... there is something to this relationship thing... Something inside you can't help but come alive when you're loving someone or get this... letting someone love you.
I guess what I'm trying to remind myself is that this life is about loving God and loving people. And in order to love God and love people I have to spend time with God and people... I don't mean spend time like scheduled prayer and reading time or a scheduled lunch appointment with a friend. I am referring to real time with no agenda other than just to be together and love each other.
This past week I have learned something I have always known and I still don't completely understand it... There is something special about just being with people that you care about and that care about you... In the craziness of life may we stop for a few and be thankful for those in our lives... And may we stand in awe of a God who created us in a way that we would come alive at the very thought of love and one who loves us far beyond our own comprehension...
Friday, November 26, 2004
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