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Archive for the ‘Formation’ Category

The God of Absolutes

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on April 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »

This Sunday our series on the nature of God continues.  Last week we took a look at the fact that God is personal.  God is not some nebulous gas floating around in space with no interaction with us.  But, as Christian Smith pointed out in Soul Searching, God is not the cosmic loving Santa Clause that exists to make sure my every wish is granted.

God is personally connected to those who seek that relationship.  As if that concept is not amazing enough, this week we will be looking at God’s absolute-ness.  God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever present.  When we think of God in this way, we should be humbled by the fact that God – the absolute being that defies our attempts to describe and grasp – wants a one on one relationship with you.

If you are in the neighborhood on Sunday at 10:45 stop by.  But if not, rest in the thought that there is no being greater than God.  And this great God knows you completely, loves you perfectly and wants the absolute best for you today!

Be blessed!

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Farther Along

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on April 4, 2013| 2 Comments »

This morning I woke up wanting to hear some Josh Garrels.  Does that ever happen to you?  So on my way to the office, I put in my earbuds and clicked on my music app.

The first song I played was from his Love & War & The Sea Between album.  Farther Along was the song I chose.  As I listened I had to ask myself if I am farther along in my walk with Christ than I was at this time last year.

You see, our relationship with Jesus is a journey – a process.  That is why the New Testament occasionally referred to believers as followers of The Way.

Being transformed to the image of Christ does not happen over night.  It is a process – a progression.  Along the journey of life and the following in The Way we will experience turns and ups and downs.  But our desire should always be to push forward, to always be progressing.

So my question for you today is this:  Are you farther along in your journey today than this time last year?

If so, why?

If not, why not?

I would love to hear your story.

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One Big Question

Posted in Formation, Hope on April 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

What is God like?

Now that is a question for thought isn’t it?  This week we will start a new series on the nature of God.  I have to be honest, I am a bit intimidated to take on a topic like this so I do so with humility.

You see, we are human and God is not.  Our minds can only understand what God allows us to understand.  We tend to try and make God human or put God into a box so that we can live with the illusion that in some way, we understand God.  We need the security of being able to explain things.  But God . . . ?  How do you explain God?

The reality is – you can’t.  The best we can hope to do is look to scripture to get a glimpse of God’s nature.  So that is what we will do for the next three weeks.

I ask for your prayer as we lead up to Sunday.  And if you happen to be in the neighborhood on Sunday morning at 10:45, stop by.  The one thing I know for sure – God will be here!

Be blessed today!

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Living Like the Resurrection Matters

Posted in Formation, Hope on April 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Yesterday, people all over the world came together to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.  We sang and clapped and remembered.  We remembered that Jesus died for our sins but he did not stay dead.  We thought about the fact that the true power of the cross is in the empty tomb.

But now it’s Monday.

Will resurrection Sunday bleed over into Monday?

Jesus came to free you from the power of sin and death.

Will you live that kind of life today?  Will you live like the resurrection matters?

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Walking the Path To the Cross, Part 4

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on March 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

We have arrived at that fateful day.  The darkest day in human history.  The day we killed Jesus.

That Friday, Jesus endured watching his closest friends and followers run and hide as he was led away by the soldiers.  He was paraded before the religious leaders and then back and forth between rulers, no one wanting to make a decision.  Finally, he was placed before a crowd of people, many of which were most likely along the road as he entered the city to the shouts of “Hosanna” just a few days before.
Given the choice between Jesus and Barabas (a known criminal), the voices rallied to release Barrabas.  So Jesus was sentenced to endure a beating and then to be crucified.  He was tortured, nearly to the point of death.  Then he was made to carry a cross through the city to a hill just outside the city gates where he was nailed to it to die.
We walk this road today listening to the jeers of the people, the shouting of the soldiers and the groaning of our savior.  Stay with him all the way to the end.
For you see, the reason Jesus endured all of the pain, abandonment and then death, was to pay the price of our sin.  It was our sin that put him there.  It was our selfishness and rebellion from God that made his sacrifice necessary.  Scripture says that even though he did not know sin, he became sin for you and for me.
Don’t turn away.
And just when you think you can’t take any more, remember – Sunday is coming.  The cross event has meaning and power because of an empty tomb!
Stay with him.

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Walking the Path To the Cross, Part 3

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on March 28, 2013| 1 Comment »

By this point in the week, the tension was beginning to mount.  Followers were falling away.  What had seemed like a good idea when Jesus rode the colt into the city – the praising and celebration – began to look more like a mistake.

If this man was going to overthrow Rome, then why is he turning the religious leaders against him?  Didn’t he know that he would need this group to lead the new Israel?

Confusion.  Frustration.  Tension.

In the midst of the swirling emotions, Jesus pulled his disciples together for one final Passover meal.  With full knowledge of what would happen in just a few short hours, he took a basin and towel and gave the disciples one of the most powerful lessons of his ministry.  He explained that he would not be with them much longer but they must carry on by serving and and loving one another.

Can you sense the anxiousness in the hearts of the disciples.  They knew something was about to happen.  But what could it be?

After that supper, the group headed into the garden to pray.  Some stayed with him longer than others, but one by one they all dropped out.  By the end of the night, even Jesus’ most vigilant follower would turn and run.

Will you stay with him?  Will you walk with him to the cross?

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Walking the Path To the Cross, Part 2

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on March 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Jesus was in and out of the city that week.  He spent some time in the Temple courts observing, teaching and calling the leaders to account.

One of the most vivid stories from this week is the story of Jesus running the money changers out of the Temple courts.  The Jewish religious system had become a business in many ways.  People didn’t have to come to the Temple with sacrifice in hand any more.  Now, they could simply walk into the outer Temple court and step up to a sacrifice “vending machine” and select the sacrifice that fit their need for forgiveness – and, for a surcharge, viola, they could have their sacrifice to carry to the priest.

This sacrificial system had become big business.  So Jesus called the religious leaders onto the finely woven Persian rug.  He got their attention by turning over the tables and running the people out of the Temple.

All of the sudden, the people who shouted “Hosanna” a few days before became very confused.  Was this the same man who was supposed to come to town to rally the people to overthrow Rome?  Why is he jumping all over the religious leaders?  Doesn’t he know that this is how we do things?  His focus should be on the Roman soldiers and Caesar, not the priests and Pharisees!

Things began to turn.

And all along . . . Jesus saw the cross coming ever so quickly.

Stay with him a few more days.  Walk with him along the path to the cross.

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Walking the Path To the Cross, Part 1

Posted in Formation, Hope on March 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I got up early this morning.  I couldn’t sleep and felt compelled to go and sit and pray.  Nothing earth shattering happened – I saw no visions or heard no voices.  But as my mind raced with all the things I need to get done this week to be prepared for our three Holy Week services and of course, Easter morning I began to get anxious about all the little details.  Which is normal for me by the way.

But then it hit me.  I absolutely cannot let myself be so pulled into the work that I forget the meaning and significance of this week on the Christian calendar.

This is the week we remember.  We remember Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem.  We pause to think about that scene and utter hysteria of joy as the people welcomed the messiah to the city (all the while Jesus knowing what lay ahead at the end of the week).

This week, we need to think about Jesus’ journey to the cross.  He knew his mission and calling and there was nothing that would weaken his resolve.

Take time to walk with him this week as each day gets us closer to the cross.

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God Is Still At Work

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope on March 4, 2013| 3 Comments »

Have you ever wondered if the days of seeing God at work are long gone?  I am not talking about discounting what the Bible tells us that happened during those times.  But have you ever found yourself thinking – “that was common when Jesus was here on earth but not any more” or “miracles were common place with the disciples but those things just don’t happen today.”?

I think if we are honest today, we would all have to say it has at least crossed our minds.  It has crossed mine.

But last night, I was reminded that God is still at work in the lives of people.

We had a couple join our family yesterday.  I had met with the couple a few times.  Last week, they called and asked if I could meet with them in their home.  I drove over to their home and for about an hour or so, I listened as they told me how God has been at work in their lives.

So yesterday, they came to be a part of what God is doing in our 1st B family and I could not be more excited about their decision to join us.

So last night, Joe shared with our church family just what God has done in his life over the last few weeks.  He has been sick off and on since the first of the year, but on February 13, he had to be hospitalized in the ICU in a Lubbock hospital.  After being admitted, Joe slipped into a coma and for four days he continued to decline.  His organs began to shut down and the doctors gave no hope.  In fact, they explained to Norma that she needed to call in the family because Joe was not long for this world.

So the family gathered.  They circled his bed and sang songs together.  They prayed over him and had people all over the world praying for him as well.

After four days of being in a coma and with family gathered around praying and crying, Joe woke up and asked what was going on.

A few days later he was back home.

As I sat and listened to Joe tell his story last night, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that he is a walking, breathing, living testimony to the fact that God is still in control and still at work in the lives of people.

So today, regardless of how bleak things may seem, remember this – God is still moving.  God is still in control.  God loves you more than you can possibly begin to understand.  God has this!

Be blessed today!

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The Focus of Lent

Posted in Formation, Hope on February 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »

We find ourselves right in the middle of the season of Lent.  For many, this time of year carries little significance.  For some denominations (mine included), Lent is not something that is observed – but that fact is slowly changing.

For most people, when we hear the word “Lent” we automatically think “give something up.”  While self-denial is large part of Lent, we need to look behind the practice and understand the purpose.

The observance of Lent is patterned after Jesus’ time in the wilderness.  The forty days Jesus spent in solitude were not the result of punishment.  He had just been publicly proclaimed as the chosen one.  No, Jesus was led into solitude for a different reason.  He spent his time in preparation for the next leg of his journey.  He faced the temptations to trust in things other than God, but affirmed his commitment to trust only in God.  His focus was sharpened over those forty days on what truly matters.

That is why we observe Lent.  It should be less about what we give up and more about our trust in and focus on God.  When we deny ourselves of something in observance of Lent, it shouldn’t be seen as punishment but rather as a way of realizing that we can’t trust in the things of this world that we tend to turn to for comfort.  Instead, our focus should be on God and our calling to follow in the Way.

So what grabs your attention today?  What coaxes your focus away from God?

Put your complete trust in God today.  Nothing else will do.

Be blessed.

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