Pride Kills

Where do I even start? Pride...the root of all my sin. The choosing of my desires over the desires of my Lord. I am continually reminded of just how long suffering our heavenly father must be to love us/me unconditionally! Whether it be my control issues or my arrogance of believing that the Lord needs me as opposed to him merely choosing to use such an unworthy vessel, I am continually humbled as His holy spirit shows me my sin. The past few months have been extremely busy to say the least, but I am never too busy to be still before the Lord. Oh, how easy it is to fall into such a quandary. We begin to replace our quiet time with our teaching preparation and our time in prayer to the Lord grows shorter and colder. Father, may you guard me from subtly slipping into a life that is complacent. I must daily submit before I can live a life that is pleasing to Him! Thank you Lord for your work on my behalf! Over the next few months, things will slow down a bit and I am thankful for this. Our homeless outreach is on November 13 and I pray specifically that our labors are fully devoted toward sharing Christ. May You receive the glory! Until next time, Sola De Gloria!

What is Man?

What is man...that He(The Almighty Lord) would show gracious favor. Yet we continue in the societal normality of the fear of Man. We should fear God...beginning with a terrifying fear, for we are an unclean people with a floating, ever-present anxiety. This initial fear shifts after faith in Christ to a terrifying"reverent submission that leads to obedience"(Ed Welch). Our heart, the world, and the devil are tools to lead us further from the proper fear of God, and closer to the improper fear of man. More specifically, the root is found in our own hearts, but is influenced by the latter. SO...the continual striving for a fear of the Lord is a path of intentional warfare. Praise God that we have been equipped with the necessary tools...the Word, the Spirit, and the Body. For the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour, but resist him, firm in your faith...He Himself will return and will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Press on with sober minds and humble hearts and be encouraged. What is man, nothing without Christ!

Just some thoughts

The gospel is why we live; it's why we can live, and its what we strive to live for. Scripture tells us to minister to the poor, so I find myself there. I interacted with quite a few people who are homeless and I heard alot of their stories. Real life is so different for everyone, but nonetheless, it is real. When James tells us to consider it all joy when we suffer, we must take him seriously. I can't look at a homeless man and tell him that he will have a house next week, a job tomorrow, or food after I leave, but I can tell him that in a relationship with Christ...amongst all of his earthy sufferings, he can have hope! His hope must lay its rest in something that never changes or passes away. Not a job, or a woman, or a home, or mere religion, but in Christ. A personal relationship with Christ and nothing else can give him this hope. This is how I can bridge that gap. Christ and him crucified comes to life in a wonderfully practical way, and I can boldly proclaim this with love and gentlenss.

Youth Leadership Meeting

When: August 1, 2010
Where: Student Room
What Time: 4:45PM

Be there or be triangle! Wow...I'm not even funny to myself anymore

STUDENT FAMILY FELLOWSHIP

Where: ROC
When: Immediately following evening activities on Sunday July 25, 2010
Why: TO EAT AND HANGOUT OF COURSE!

PARENTS MEETING

Where?: Student Room
When?: 5PM on Sunday February 28th, 2010

Youth Leadership Meeting

February 21st @ 5PM in the Student Room

Be the CHURCH!!!

It is always interesting to ask the age old question..."What is the Church". Here's the walls, here's the steeple, look inside and here's the people. The answers that often show their faces when this question is asked are: "the people", or "the body of believers" etc. Both of which are right, but when one takes the question further, answers get a little shaky. Let me give you an example. I may ask, "Ok so we know what the church is, now what do we do?" or "what is the church's purpose?". Once again, a variety of answers follow, but in my experience one central thing seems to be missing in most of the answers. COMMUNITY!!! We know that we are to be salt and light, and tithe, and pray, and feed the homeless, but what about community. What about the encouragement and edification of one another in order to be victorious over sin, and to bear one another's burdens, and to make disciples. We live in a world that needs the gospel, so we go and tell them, but if there is no community....the church becomes anemic. Very little edification, very little victory over sin, very little bearing of burdens, and very little discipleship. So I ask again...what is the Church. I don't claim to have it all together, but my prayer is that we may search the Scriptures a little deeper to find the answer to this question. May we strive to be more like a biblical church for the Glory of our Lord