December 20, 2006

The Holidays Are Here!


This is just a short note to let everyone know of our hours over the holiday break. As both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve fall on Sundays, it was tempting to just do what we do. But, people away and all has made the following adjustments to our schedule:

December 24th: we are meeting from 2:30 to 5:30 for this one day only. It is all about Christmas on this day, with a Going Deeper set dedicated to singing and praying through passages related to "emmanuel--God with us" starting the day. We will have two Devotion sets where our leaders will sing from their heart and minister to God in preparation for the special day to follow. And, in the third hour, we are going to have what I like to call "The Gratitude Set", a time focused on bringing the gift of thankfulness to the King on his birthday. The mic will be open for all to come and express thanks to God about anything that moves them. We may even have a rapid fire session :)

December 31st: we are taking the day off! Many of our people are on their way to the big event in KC and we thought a rest now and then is a welcome thing at this point in our journey. We may be wishing for these kinds of natural moments someday if our path takes us to where I think we are going...

January 7th: we are back and beginning at 2:30pm as usual. There will be a new schedule of meetings in place for the new year. Check the schedule page in the weeks to come for themes and times. As well, come to hear teaching on our study of the Sermon on the Mount. We are going to take our time and go through it line by line, believing this is a basic framework for life in pursuit of God and living like the Son. Teaching begins each Sunday night at 6:30pm.

Have a great holiday!!

Brian Creary
Ministry Director

December 04, 2006

Shane Says More...


Last night, Shane told us a bit about the Holy One and our call to be holy as He is holy. Here is a brief recap:

-people don't like the idea of living a holy life...it hurts too much or it's considered unnecessary.

-the Sermon on the Mount in Matt 5-7 is the picture of a holy life.

-it is mandated to us by Jesus Himself.

-are we going to do it perfectly? Never!

-do we need to do it perfectly? Of course not...but we need to try.

-its all about the heart. Joel 2 says to "tear your heart as you turn wholeheartedly to God"...sounds like he really means "tear it!"

-Jesus said it too..."gouge out your eye"...did he mean it literally? No, but the level of severity toward sin is the point. Take it seriously.

-Grace is not permission to live as close to the edge of darkness as possible without getting caught or kicked out of the kingdom.

-Grace is empowerment to live a life "worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:10) and gives us the ability to say NO to sin (Titus 2:11).

-Grace is receiving what you do not deserve!

-God loves you more than you realize.

-God is committed to you living well and being with Him for eternity more than you are.

-there is a difference between immaturity and rebellion (and in your own heart, you know the difference...and God knows it too).

-God will give grace upon grace to an immature believer who is sincere in the journey to love God and hate sin. Rebellion will be resisted by He who knows everything and has all power in the universe. This sounds like a bad place to live...

-saying YES to God continuously, fighting to live right before Him even in the secret place of our heart, will be blessed by God and make a difference in eternity.

-the reward at the end is an eternity with this very same Holy God who has allured you forward all your life. All will be revealed at that time; the measures He took to win your heart and draw you to love Him instead of the pleasures of this world and the sin that so easily entangles. It will be worth it all!


Brian Creary
Ministry Director