I am amazed at the many ways that it is possible for us to take hope, peace, truth...salvation to people around the world. Everyday individuals meet up at church online and get to see glimpses of who our God is. God told us in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." It excites me that this avenue is reaching the people who maybe wouldn't set foot into a church or maybe those people who just accidentally stumble onto the website. Church Online is connecting people and bringing community in such unique way. Last week we had a run through of an online experience and even during the run through, which wasn't publicized, there were 44 people from 7 different countries. One of those 44 people became a Christ follower!!! I hope that we keep creating and exploring new ways to bring "the Good News" to the world that God created.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
church online
Tonight is the launch of Grace Community's church online experience through Lifechurch.tv! I am so excited. So excited in fact that all day yesterday I was singing an adaptation of little orphan Annie's song, "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, our online church launch is tomorrow!"
I am amazed at the many ways that it is possible for us to take hope, peace, truth...salvation to people around the world. Everyday individuals meet up at church online and get to see glimpses of who our God is. God told us in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." It excites me that this avenue is reaching the people who maybe wouldn't set foot into a church or maybe those people who just accidentally stumble onto the website. Church Online is connecting people and bringing community in such unique way. Last week we had a run through of an online experience and even during the run through, which wasn't publicized, there were 44 people from 7 different countries. One of those 44 people became a Christ follower!!! I hope that we keep creating and exploring new ways to bring "the Good News" to the world that God created.
I am amazed at the many ways that it is possible for us to take hope, peace, truth...salvation to people around the world. Everyday individuals meet up at church online and get to see glimpses of who our God is. God told us in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." It excites me that this avenue is reaching the people who maybe wouldn't set foot into a church or maybe those people who just accidentally stumble onto the website. Church Online is connecting people and bringing community in such unique way. Last week we had a run through of an online experience and even during the run through, which wasn't publicized, there were 44 people from 7 different countries. One of those 44 people became a Christ follower!!! I hope that we keep creating and exploring new ways to bring "the Good News" to the world that God created.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
conformity vs. transformation
This past Sunday, we started the series Margin. Let me just tell you that this series is already kicking my butt…IT IS ONLY WEEK ONE!
Craig used Romans 12:2 as one of the passages on Sunday, and this verse has stuck out and been on my mind all week. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Do not conform…be transformed. Am I conforming? Am I allowing transformation to take place? Or, am I hindering it?
The past couple of weeks I have been studying a few of the kings mentioned in the Old Testament. There are two that stand out to me and their stories have helped me process the idea of creating Margin in my life. King Ahaz and King Hezekiah were kings of the Nation of Israel. King Ahaz was not a good king. King Ahaz’s story: knew God…forgot about God…started building idols to other gods…defiled the temple…was influenced by pagan people…left the nation of Israel in pretty bad shape. God’s response to this in Isaiah 7 was, “ If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God offered King Ahaz the opportunity to ask God for help and King Ahaz didn’t take it. He was captive to his sin. Flash forward…King Ahaz dies and his son Hezekiah becomes king. The Bible says that King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He recognized that his people (and his father) had been unfaithful to the Lord. King Hezekiah worked to make a covenant with God. They worked to purify themselves and to make things right. He allowed God to transform his kingdom and his life.
If you keep reading about Hezekiah you see that he slips up. The bible refers to the nation of Israel as His chosen people. All through the Bible we see that they were chosen to experience the blessing and the fullest life that God had laid out for them. Interesting enough though, when you read the Old Testament you see over and over about how God’s people resisted God’s blessing and seemed to forget about this beautiful covenant relationship with God. God proved Himself faithful over and over. He never left Israel…they seemed to forget about Him. The Old Testament is a roller coaster of conformity and transformation, much like our lives. God has offered us this rich blessing but we get caught up…we get distracted…we get disconnected. One king conformed and the other allowed himself to be transformed. If I examine my life, the margin in my life, am I more like King Ahaz or King Hezekiah?
Romans 12: 1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. “
Craig used Romans 12:2 as one of the passages on Sunday, and this verse has stuck out and been on my mind all week. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Do not conform…be transformed. Am I conforming? Am I allowing transformation to take place? Or, am I hindering it?
The past couple of weeks I have been studying a few of the kings mentioned in the Old Testament. There are two that stand out to me and their stories have helped me process the idea of creating Margin in my life. King Ahaz and King Hezekiah were kings of the Nation of Israel. King Ahaz was not a good king. King Ahaz’s story: knew God…forgot about God…started building idols to other gods…defiled the temple…was influenced by pagan people…left the nation of Israel in pretty bad shape. God’s response to this in Isaiah 7 was, “ If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God offered King Ahaz the opportunity to ask God for help and King Ahaz didn’t take it. He was captive to his sin. Flash forward…King Ahaz dies and his son Hezekiah becomes king. The Bible says that King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He recognized that his people (and his father) had been unfaithful to the Lord. King Hezekiah worked to make a covenant with God. They worked to purify themselves and to make things right. He allowed God to transform his kingdom and his life.
If you keep reading about Hezekiah you see that he slips up. The bible refers to the nation of Israel as His chosen people. All through the Bible we see that they were chosen to experience the blessing and the fullest life that God had laid out for them. Interesting enough though, when you read the Old Testament you see over and over about how God’s people resisted God’s blessing and seemed to forget about this beautiful covenant relationship with God. God proved Himself faithful over and over. He never left Israel…they seemed to forget about Him. The Old Testament is a roller coaster of conformity and transformation, much like our lives. God has offered us this rich blessing but we get caught up…we get distracted…we get disconnected. One king conformed and the other allowed himself to be transformed. If I examine my life, the margin in my life, am I more like King Ahaz or King Hezekiah?
Romans 12: 1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. “
conformity vs. transformation
This past Sunday, we started the series Margin. Let me just tell you that this series is already kicking my butt…IT IS ONLY WEEK ONE!
Craig used Romans 12:2 as one of the passages on Sunday, and this verse has stuck out and been on my mind all week. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Do not conform…be transformed. Am I conforming? Am I allowing transformation to take place? Or, am I hindering it?
The past couple of weeks I have been studying a few of the kings mentioned in the Old Testament. There are two that stand out to me and their stories have helped me process the idea of creating Margin in my life. King Ahaz and King Hezekiah were kings of the Nation of Israel. King Ahaz was not a good king. King Ahaz’s story: knew God…forgot about God…started building idols to other gods…defiled the temple…was influenced by pagan people…left the nation of Israel in pretty bad shape. God’s response to this in Isaiah 7 was, “ If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God offered King Ahaz the opportunity to ask God for help and King Ahaz didn’t take it. He was captive to his sin. Flash forward…King Ahaz dies and his son Hezekiah becomes king. The Bible says that King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He recognized that his people (and his father) had been unfaithful to the Lord. King Hezekiah worked to make a covenant with God. They worked to purify themselves and to make things right. He allowed God to transform his kingdom and his life.
If you keep reading about Hezekiah you see that he slips up. The bible refers to the nation of Israel as His chosen people. All through the Bible we see that they were chosen to experience the blessing and the fullest life that God had laid out for them. Interesting enough though, when you read the Old Testament you see over and over about how God’s people resisted God’s blessing and seemed to forget about this beautiful covenant relationship with God. God proved Himself faithful over and over. He never left Israel…they seemed to forget about Him. The Old Testament is a roller coaster of conformity and transformation, much like our lives. God has offered us this rich blessing but we get caught up…we get distracted…we get disconnected. One king conformed and the other allowed himself to be transformed. If I examine my life, the margin in my life, am I more like King Ahaz or King Hezekiah?
Romans 12: 1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. “
Craig used Romans 12:2 as one of the passages on Sunday, and this verse has stuck out and been on my mind all week. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Do not conform…be transformed. Am I conforming? Am I allowing transformation to take place? Or, am I hindering it?
The past couple of weeks I have been studying a few of the kings mentioned in the Old Testament. There are two that stand out to me and their stories have helped me process the idea of creating Margin in my life. King Ahaz and King Hezekiah were kings of the Nation of Israel. King Ahaz was not a good king. King Ahaz’s story: knew God…forgot about God…started building idols to other gods…defiled the temple…was influenced by pagan people…left the nation of Israel in pretty bad shape. God’s response to this in Isaiah 7 was, “ If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God offered King Ahaz the opportunity to ask God for help and King Ahaz didn’t take it. He was captive to his sin. Flash forward…King Ahaz dies and his son Hezekiah becomes king. The Bible says that King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He recognized that his people (and his father) had been unfaithful to the Lord. King Hezekiah worked to make a covenant with God. They worked to purify themselves and to make things right. He allowed God to transform his kingdom and his life.
If you keep reading about Hezekiah you see that he slips up. The bible refers to the nation of Israel as His chosen people. All through the Bible we see that they were chosen to experience the blessing and the fullest life that God had laid out for them. Interesting enough though, when you read the Old Testament you see over and over about how God’s people resisted God’s blessing and seemed to forget about this beautiful covenant relationship with God. God proved Himself faithful over and over. He never left Israel…they seemed to forget about Him. The Old Testament is a roller coaster of conformity and transformation, much like our lives. God has offered us this rich blessing but we get caught up…we get distracted…we get disconnected. One king conformed and the other allowed himself to be transformed. If I examine my life, the margin in my life, am I more like King Ahaz or King Hezekiah?
Romans 12: 1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. “
Thursday, January 7, 2010
toasting a new year
this is probably the best new year's toast ever. it makes me want to live 2010 with greater expectations.
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously. I hope you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to be, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously. I hope you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to be, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman
Sunday, September 13, 2009
emo moment
there is this picture of my brother and i on the bookshelf in my living room. i stared at this picture tonight for the longest time. it was as if the people in the picture were just a couple of people i knew at one time. i can't figure out why. it hurts though. i have a completely different life that he isn't a part of at all. in a really strange disappointing way i feel like i have just moved on instead of whatever it was i was supposed to do. it is easier to just forget that it ever happened. but i obviously am not good at that. i guess the really completely devastating thing about it is that it just sucks!
when people you love die...it sucks. and you miss them so much but you have to keep going because life doesn't stop. nothing stops. even a year and half later you just need a minute to catch your breath and let it sink in that this is really your life and he really isn't here...but it doesn't. so you deal. and i will deal. but for the record, it sucks.
when people you love die...it sucks. and you miss them so much but you have to keep going because life doesn't stop. nothing stops. even a year and half later you just need a minute to catch your breath and let it sink in that this is really your life and he really isn't here...but it doesn't. so you deal. and i will deal. but for the record, it sucks.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
not so surprised
the last couple of days i have been able to spend time reflecting on the past week. i was having a hard time thinking of ways that God had "surprised me." i think that instead of God not "surprising me," it is more that God is not giving me what i want. the way that God has been working in my life lately has been revealing a lot of things about myself and about who He wants me to be...things i wasn't really ready for. it just isn't much fun. when my phone beeps every hour my prayer time has been really tough. instead of God "surprising me" with a million dollars or a parking space that i really really really really need, He has been showing me my limitations, areas in my life that need improvement, and challenging some of my beliefs.
maybe it's not that God just threw me a surprise and stepped up the realization in my life, but maybe it is that i actually took time out of my day to pursue Him. so just maybe the surprise is that i don't need to be surprised... i just need to pay attention?
maybe it's not that God just threw me a surprise and stepped up the realization in my life, but maybe it is that i actually took time out of my day to pursue Him. so just maybe the surprise is that i don't need to be surprised... i just need to pay attention?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
surprise me?
so this week at church we are kicking off Surprise me God 30/60 project or experiment. the reason behind this is to set a reminder every 60 minutes for 30 days to ask God to surprise you and also to remind you to look for the ways God is working all around you.
i am a slacker and while most people probably started on monday i am beginning the journey today. so the very first thing that i did this morning, well maybe like the 4th thing i did this morning, was ask God to surprise me. i got ready for work and hit the road. i needed to get gas so i pulled into the gas station and like any normal person stopping to get gas, i turned off my car took the keys out of the ignition and opened my car door. oh except one little thing...my car door wouldn't open. not only would it not open it wouldn't unlock. so after getting slightly agitated i tried the passenger side door. same problem. now i am hacked. the gas station is full of people because everyone is on their way into work. people are beginning to notice the crazy lady in her car. i crawl to the back seat and of course that didn't work. i am locked INSIDE my freaking car!!!!!!!! so after throwing a fit while locked in my car i crawled out the window, pumped my gas, crawled back inside the car and drove off.
of course, because i am unnecessarily dramatic, i was really "thankful" that God had surprised me (said with ten times more sarcasm than usual). the bigger issue is that, really, i did't want to have to spend money on fixing whatever the hell is wrong with my car. hello, things would just be easier if nothing significant or slightly irritating happened!!!
point of the story: i got to work and opened the mail that had been sitting in my purse for days. there were three letters from people back home. each letter had not only amazing things to say, but a check. God met my needs before i even knew about them. i don't know how much my car will cost; maybe it will be under warranty...maybe yara the yaris will fix herself. but i do know that God surprised me today with an overwhelming example that He is in my corner. it's not about the money...i don't even know if i will need the money. i am just always surprised that He cares.
surprise3060
i am a slacker and while most people probably started on monday i am beginning the journey today. so the very first thing that i did this morning, well maybe like the 4th thing i did this morning, was ask God to surprise me. i got ready for work and hit the road. i needed to get gas so i pulled into the gas station and like any normal person stopping to get gas, i turned off my car took the keys out of the ignition and opened my car door. oh except one little thing...my car door wouldn't open. not only would it not open it wouldn't unlock. so after getting slightly agitated i tried the passenger side door. same problem. now i am hacked. the gas station is full of people because everyone is on their way into work. people are beginning to notice the crazy lady in her car. i crawl to the back seat and of course that didn't work. i am locked INSIDE my freaking car!!!!!!!! so after throwing a fit while locked in my car i crawled out the window, pumped my gas, crawled back inside the car and drove off.
of course, because i am unnecessarily dramatic, i was really "thankful" that God had surprised me (said with ten times more sarcasm than usual). the bigger issue is that, really, i did't want to have to spend money on fixing whatever the hell is wrong with my car. hello, things would just be easier if nothing significant or slightly irritating happened!!!
point of the story: i got to work and opened the mail that had been sitting in my purse for days. there were three letters from people back home. each letter had not only amazing things to say, but a check. God met my needs before i even knew about them. i don't know how much my car will cost; maybe it will be under warranty...maybe yara the yaris will fix herself. but i do know that God surprised me today with an overwhelming example that He is in my corner. it's not about the money...i don't even know if i will need the money. i am just always surprised that He cares.
surprise3060