I read a promise in Romans this morning and it struck me that I can base my Thanksgiving this year on it.
The passage says, "...does that mean that God will break his promises? Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this? That God's words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them" (The Way, Rom 4:3b & 4).
May God's Word be a blessing and a source of strength for you this Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Three thoughts on prayer
A few weeks ago I attended the C&MA Metro District Prayer Conference which is held annually this time of the year. I share three thoughts on prayer from that event. Which one stands out to you today?
1. “God is the only one who hears and is able to attend to what he hears”. Professor David McGrew
2. “A prayer-less soul is a Christ-less soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian”. Charles Spurgeon
3.“Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need, as a burden we must lay on God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as accurately as our own. To make intersession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them". John Calvin
1. “God is the only one who hears and is able to attend to what he hears”. Professor David McGrew
2. “A prayer-less soul is a Christ-less soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian”. Charles Spurgeon
3.“Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need, as a burden we must lay on God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as accurately as our own. To make intersession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them". John Calvin
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Next Steps for PAC Community Groups
We are at the end of our six week campaign to build new community at PAC. We have heard many reports from Community Groups that are encouraging to us. Groups have been revitalized, the material was relevant to people’s needs, people who don’t attend our church have connected with these groups and are continuing to attend… on and on.
Looking ahead, we hope most of the 80 plus Community Groups will decide to continue on together as Community Groups at PAC!
Our first suggestion is that you take a six week holiday before you start a new study. This time period does include Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do continue to meet several times during this six week time but don’t start a new study until January. Instead enjoy and celebrate as a group knowing God, developing community and bringing hope to the world with the activities of the holiday season just ahead.
Some study content options you after January 1st are:
The first option would be to continue with the “Doing Life Together” DVD series which included the “Growing to be Like Christ” material just completed. We have two recommendations for you. If you want to focus in on the basics of Christianity, then the “Beginning Life Together” DVD is a good choice for you. This series deals with finding God’s purpose for your life. A second option is if you want to continue with content centered on fellowship, we recommend another DVD in the series called, “Connecting with God’s Family”
The cost of the “Doing Life Together” DVD series materials for either option is $65 to be paid for by your Community Group. PAC will help you in obtaining these materials if you need help.A third option if you don’t want to continue with the DVD series is to do your own study. We have many recommendations of content material for you. Contact your Community Pastor for more information.
For your Community Group to continue to meet, you need to do the following:
1. Select the leader for your group. In many cases you probably already know who this person. Community Hosts did not have to be members of PAC to facilitate a group. However, to be a leader of a Community Group going forward, you do need to be a member of PAC.
2. To become a member of PAC, you can attend our next membership class which will be held this Saturday, November 17, at PAC. The class is called Discovery Community and is held from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. More instruction will be given to you that morning regarding membership.
Please call PAC and ask for Alicia to register for this course. Currently 54 have registered for Saturday’ class.There will be leadership training available for all Community Leaders. Details are forthcoming.
Even though many of the Community Groups may not have 10 participants, please stay together as a group. With even with as few as 4 people in your group, you provide a future opportunity for others to connect with you. New people always want to connect to PAC and they may be looking to join your group.
Your Community Pastor will be contacting you during the next six weeks to help you through this time with your questions.
May God bless you as you build Community Groups in your neighborhoods, so we all can bring hope to the world!
Looking ahead, we hope most of the 80 plus Community Groups will decide to continue on together as Community Groups at PAC!
Our first suggestion is that you take a six week holiday before you start a new study. This time period does include Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do continue to meet several times during this six week time but don’t start a new study until January. Instead enjoy and celebrate as a group knowing God, developing community and bringing hope to the world with the activities of the holiday season just ahead.
Some study content options you after January 1st are:
The first option would be to continue with the “Doing Life Together” DVD series which included the “Growing to be Like Christ” material just completed. We have two recommendations for you. If you want to focus in on the basics of Christianity, then the “Beginning Life Together” DVD is a good choice for you. This series deals with finding God’s purpose for your life. A second option is if you want to continue with content centered on fellowship, we recommend another DVD in the series called, “Connecting with God’s Family”
The cost of the “Doing Life Together” DVD series materials for either option is $65 to be paid for by your Community Group. PAC will help you in obtaining these materials if you need help.A third option if you don’t want to continue with the DVD series is to do your own study. We have many recommendations of content material for you. Contact your Community Pastor for more information.
For your Community Group to continue to meet, you need to do the following:
1. Select the leader for your group. In many cases you probably already know who this person. Community Hosts did not have to be members of PAC to facilitate a group. However, to be a leader of a Community Group going forward, you do need to be a member of PAC.
2. To become a member of PAC, you can attend our next membership class which will be held this Saturday, November 17, at PAC. The class is called Discovery Community and is held from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. More instruction will be given to you that morning regarding membership.
Please call PAC and ask for Alicia to register for this course. Currently 54 have registered for Saturday’ class.There will be leadership training available for all Community Leaders. Details are forthcoming.
Even though many of the Community Groups may not have 10 participants, please stay together as a group. With even with as few as 4 people in your group, you provide a future opportunity for others to connect with you. New people always want to connect to PAC and they may be looking to join your group.
Your Community Pastor will be contacting you during the next six weeks to help you through this time with your questions.
May God bless you as you build Community Groups in your neighborhoods, so we all can bring hope to the world!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Week 5 - A Taste for God's Word i.e. Jesus Lived so we could really live!
One fine day a few years ago, Chloe and I were enjoying a perfect summer afternoon, riding our bikes on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay when we happened upon a garage sale. The residence looked appealing so Chloe’s bike veered effortlessly to the right up the driveway and I instinctively followed her. We browsed for awhile enjoying the treasures, when I came upon what would become a very good friend of mine. I am always drawn to old books at sales like these. Rummaging through the piles I came upon “The Way”; a Bible popular in the early 1970s with college students (my generation) published by Youth for Christ. Holding it my hands brought back enjoyable memories of those days. I brought it to “garage sale checkout” and found out it was free so I took it. This free book has become my favorite Bible for my devotions. In the front of the book is a convenient table where I keep track of the chapters I’ve read. I have kept track of my reading progress for a few years now.
Recently, I decided to start my day in the Gospel of Luke. The Introduction to Luke pounded me to alertness. It states, in part, “Victory, defeat, joy, pain, birth, death – life is all of these. Jesus knew joy - and tears. He knew birth and life and – death! But after He was murdered, he rose from the dead! And that was His life was all about. He lived so we could live – really live – and that is why He said we can know joy which runs so deep that no disappointment can fully squelch it. And through Luke’s account of Christ’s life you will see Him “fleshing out” this kind of living – the integrity and depth and power all of us want, so that so that when our successes and accomplishments disappear like smoke and all that we have left is sand in our mouths, we still have what He had. Life.”
With “fleshing out” in mind, I started Chapter 1. These are familiar verses to me about the events leading up to the birth of Christ so I thought I would breeze through them quickly so I could check them off as read. What happened to me was completely something else. Thirteen verses in Chapter 1 spoke to me directly this morning! Amazing! One verse in particular that spoke to me was Luke 1: 37, “For every promise from God shall surely come true”. Another was verse 79, “and heaven’s dawn is about to break on us, to give light to those who sit in darkness, and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
What happened that morning was so powerful to me that I carefully read only one chapter of Luke a day for the next 24 days. Each day, I underlined verses where God spoke to me; “fleshing out” promises and truths giving me the path to peace and the life He has for me. Jesus lived so we could live – really live! Unconstrained, bottomless study in the book of Luke, one chapter a day, helped me to flesh it out and personalize it to my life! This has become a good discipline for me and each day I look forward to spending time with a very good friend of mine, “The Way”.
Recently, I decided to start my day in the Gospel of Luke. The Introduction to Luke pounded me to alertness. It states, in part, “Victory, defeat, joy, pain, birth, death – life is all of these. Jesus knew joy - and tears. He knew birth and life and – death! But after He was murdered, he rose from the dead! And that was His life was all about. He lived so we could live – really live – and that is why He said we can know joy which runs so deep that no disappointment can fully squelch it. And through Luke’s account of Christ’s life you will see Him “fleshing out” this kind of living – the integrity and depth and power all of us want, so that so that when our successes and accomplishments disappear like smoke and all that we have left is sand in our mouths, we still have what He had. Life.”
With “fleshing out” in mind, I started Chapter 1. These are familiar verses to me about the events leading up to the birth of Christ so I thought I would breeze through them quickly so I could check them off as read. What happened to me was completely something else. Thirteen verses in Chapter 1 spoke to me directly this morning! Amazing! One verse in particular that spoke to me was Luke 1: 37, “For every promise from God shall surely come true”. Another was verse 79, “and heaven’s dawn is about to break on us, to give light to those who sit in darkness, and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
What happened that morning was so powerful to me that I carefully read only one chapter of Luke a day for the next 24 days. Each day, I underlined verses where God spoke to me; “fleshing out” promises and truths giving me the path to peace and the life He has for me. Jesus lived so we could live – really live! Unconstrained, bottomless study in the book of Luke, one chapter a day, helped me to flesh it out and personalize it to my life! This has become a good discipline for me and each day I look forward to spending time with a very good friend of mine, “The Way”.
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