When You’re Oh So Right
Peter, a devout Torah-keeping Jewish follower of Jesus, was fueled by deep convictions. As we walked through his story on Sunday we discovered that God leads us to new and unexpected understandings of faith and life. We sang of a God who opens blind eyes! Peter's story is our story. We dig our heels in, resist...sometimes loudly, insisting, openly or quietly, that God is on our side. Yet God comes and gives us new eyes to see what he is doing.
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- Jan 26, 2020When You’re Oh So Right
When You’re Oh So RightPeter, a devout Torah-keeping Jewish follower of Jesus, was fueled by deep convictions. As we walked through his story on Sunday we discovered that God leads us to new and unexpected understandings of faith and life. We sang of a God who opens blind eyes! Peter's story is our story. We dig our heels in, resist...sometimes loudly, insisting, openly or quietly, that God is on our side. Yet God comes and gives us new eyes to see what he is doing.
- Jan 19, 2020When It’s Disappointing
When It’s DisappointingDisappointment. It happens to all of us in varying degrees...minor to major. The story of Hagar is a story of disappointment. But her story doesn't stop there. Her story of disappointment is also her story of discovery. Hagar discovered that God hears (Ishmael), God sees (El Roi) and, amidst a culture that discounted her life, God sees ME (Beer-lahai-roi). Hagar's story is encouragement to us. While time and culture separate us, we find common ground in disappointment. We find common ground in Ishmael, El Roi and Beer-lahai-Roi. God hears and sees. God sees you and me. We are valued. God is present with us. We are not abandoned. We are not alone.
God is with us. - Jan 12, 2020When It’s Good
When It’s GoodThe story of Mary and Joseph invites us to see how God can show up and take life in new and unexpected...even initially unwanted directions. God speaks saying, "Don't be afraid." Mary and Joseph were courageous. They let go of precious things that made life good for them. In faith and obedience they stepped out of their boat and partnered with God in His redemptive work. Let's remember Mary and Joseph as we begin to discuss our future. Might God be calling us to a new and vibrant chapter of life and ministry?
- Oct 27, 2019Transforming
TransformingGod desires to transform our lives, to fashion us in his image...a holy character. Holiness is not sour and dour. Holiness can be filled with laughter and dance. Holiness is the good, the fullness of life God created each person to live into and out of. When holiness begins to define our character others are blessed. They see and experience the high quality goodness within God's people. As this holy goodness spills over and blesses others, they are drawn to God's people and to the God who is forming us in his image.So how is holiness formed in me? John 15:4,5 calls us to ABIDE, to rest and remain in Jesus. Abiding is the cultivation of a love relationship, to experience Jesus' lavish love for us and to allow that love to form a fullness of devotion to Jesus as the very epicenter of our lives and relationships.The simple question on Sunday was, "Do you love Jesus?" Invite the Holy Spirit to form a deepening hunger for more of Jesus, for deeper love and devotion. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within a Jesus-follower's life. May you ABIDE in his presence and love this week.
- Oct 20, 2019Holy
Holy"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, early in the morning our song will rise to Thee." This beautiful hymn is made more beautiful when we understand that God's holiness/purity is beautifully expressed in his Agape/love which desires the best for us and God's Pathos/wrath which directed against anything that harms or hinders us from becoming all that God has created us to be. We were asked to chew on this question: If God's love were to "burn" or "consume" something out of your life that is holding you back, what would it be?
- Oct 6, 2019Love
LoveOn Sunday we reflected on the story of the prodigal son. 3 quick take-aways to shape our thinking and living in relationship with God, ourselves and others: 1. God welcomes sinners...just think about that and marvel! 2. God is the prodigal. The word means extravagantly excessive and that's exactly how the father responds to the younger son who has made his way home. 3. I am the older brother. Many of us "stayed home" in regards to God. We lived the churchy life, and that's great. But the older son, the good boy if you will, viewed himself as a servant and not a son. He had done his duty as a servant but did not experience the joy of being loved and welcomed as a son. Both boys lived in a type of tragic life. God's desire is for both to come home.
- Sep 29, 2019Generous
GenerousOn Sunday, we sang and heard about the generosity of God. God does not respond to us as if we have deserved or merited anything from him. God generously pours out, lavishes his grace, love, mercy, kindness upon us. But here's the thing, we often operate out of an "earn it" mentality. If I have not earned it, why would God give me anything...especially his love? The parable of the workers in the vineyard challenges us to see and joyously embrace the incredible divine love, welcome and acceptance which God offers us freely in and through Jesus. As we sang on Sunday, our response is, "Beautiful One I love you. Beautiful One I adore. Beautiful One my soul must sing!"
- Sep 22, 2019Trustworthy–Guest Speaker Jenn Strobl
Trustworthy–Guest Speaker Jenn StroblBecause we tend to compartmentalize our lives, Sunday worship does little to form our lives in the coming week. So can I ask, "Are you pursuing God's trustworthiness?" It's easy to fall into the mold of putting everything on ourselves. "I've got to take care of this. I"ve got to make it happen." And while initiative and hard work are commendable, even desirable, this perspective can easily eliminate the presence, power and love of our heavenly Father. God's desire is to give "good gifts" to his children. The metaphor is both beautiful and hard. How do I lean into trusting God? What does that look like while I'm planning and acting in response to life? Perhaps we can start by resting in God's presence. And in these intentional quiet moments acknowledge God's presence, goodness and trustworthiness. Give thanks for these realities and invite God into your circumstances, planning and implementing. Ask the Holy Spirit to walk with and guide you so that, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We can begin this practice and value it because God is trustworthy.
- Sep 15, 2019Good
GoodOn Sunday we focused on the goodness of God. Tragedies in life are not the judgement of God on you or others. Tragedies happen in a broken creation. But the response of God to such things is compassion motivated by loving goodness. Jesus' response to the man born blind challenges any narrative of a smiting, angry God who balances the accounts. Instead Jesus shows us that God's very nature is good. In his goodness God moves to bring flourishing through liberation, forgiveness, and empowerment. So while I hope your week is going well, if something bad has happened, please know that God is not punishing you. God is audaciously in love with you.
- Sep 8, 2019Available
AvailableOn Sunday, we looked at the story of Jesus, God in the flesh, who invites us to "Come and see." He invites us to walk with him, hang with him, be with him in life. In this context Jesus tells us the true story of God and of ourselves. The challenge is, will we believe and embrace Jesus' story of God and us? The way to being fully human and fully alive is indeed to embrace these truthful and life-giving stories of Jesus.
