To share your thoughts and read others, click on the comments link following the Reflection that you would like to respond to.
March 15-16, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching/Youth
The more I think about it, the more it excites me to see how Jesus was willing to use people, like His disciples, who had issues and struggles in their faith, because it demonstrates God's willingness to use people just like any of us!!
How are you encouraged in your life and faith to know that Jesus knew you were coming and followed through with His purpose to die so that we can live? What are some ways this knowledge can play out in our everyday life? And as we look forward to celebrating the resurrection next weekend I hope we will all take time to go before the Lord and express our gratitude for His sacrifice, to give us the opportunity to have a new beginning in Him.
The more I think about it, the more it excites me to see how Jesus was willing to use people, like His disciples, who had issues and struggles in their faith, because it demonstrates God's willingness to use people just like any of us!!
How are you encouraged in your life and faith to know that Jesus knew you were coming and followed through with His purpose to die so that we can live? What are some ways this knowledge can play out in our everyday life? And as we look forward to celebrating the resurrection next weekend I hope we will all take time to go before the Lord and express our gratitude for His sacrifice, to give us the opportunity to have a new beginning in Him.
March 8-9, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Matt Sasso, Pastor of Jr. High Ministries
This week we looked at how “He [Jesus] knew what He was doing.” For us as believers we can find comfort, hope, and even peace that Jesus knew what He was doing because He knew why He came. It is my hope that we can see how Christ came to be like one of us so that he might experience what we experienced and ultimately conquer life and death. He knew that He came to reveal the Father to us so we might truly know what God looks like and that we might have a relationship with God.
As I shared this weekend, one of my favorite passages is John 17 because it is a prayer that I believe Jesus prays for us. I would encourage you this week to take 10-15 minutes and read John 17. Would you examine how you are letting Christ’s authority be lived out through you? Would you look at the way you view God and how you might grow your relationship with Him? Would you share your thoughts and experiences on the Reflections Blog?
March 1-2, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching/Worship
The Beginning of the End...of the Beginning: Jesus knew who He was!
I realized that I mis-spoke during the message on Sunday. During the message I talked about our calendar being separated in time by the birth of Jesus; B.C meaning before Christ and A. D. meaning after the death of Christ. A.D is after the death of Christ, but A.D. is really a Latin word, "Anno Domini," referring to the year of our Lord. The time of the change is centered around the birth of Christ not His death. I'm sure some of you wondered about this. I hope this clears it up.
Beyond that it seems clear to me that Jesus knew who He was. Jesus knew He was God in the flesh when He said, "Before Abraham was even born, I Am" (John 8:58 NLT-SE). This claim of Jesus demands a response of some type from each of us. We can accept this claim and allow it to change our life. We can reject it, calling Jesus a liar or something worse. Or we can be somewhere in the middle, seeking answers. What we cannot do is ignore Jesus. Every person at some point in their life must make a decision about what Jesus said about Himself. If you are still seeking, what questions do you still have about Jesus? What do you need to understand? Please feel free to send me an email or make a note on the blog below. Let's talk! Please just don't ignore Jesus. His claims demand an answer!
February 23-24, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching/Youth
Well that's it. We made it through 1 Peter and I know that I have come to understand a lot better what God expects from me and the way I live my life to be different for Him. How about you? As we have gone through this series in 1 Peter, what are some ways that God has challenged your heart to be "a little different" in how you live for Him? What are some of the areas in your life that you have just gone with the flow, but now feel the tug from God on your heart that you need to make some different choices and live for Him? Your story can be so encouraging to others facing the same challenge to be different. I hope you'll share your story with us.
Well that's it. We made it through 1 Peter and I know that I have come to understand a lot better what God expects from me and the way I live my life to be different for Him. How about you? As we have gone through this series in 1 Peter, what are some ways that God has challenged your heart to be "a little different" in how you live for Him? What are some of the areas in your life that you have just gone with the flow, but now feel the tug from God on your heart that you need to make some different choices and live for Him? Your story can be so encouraging to others facing the same challenge to be different. I hope you'll share your story with us.
February 16-17, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching/Youth
Nobody likes suffering, but there really can be joy found when suffering is due to choosing to follow what is right and living our lives by God's standards.
Have you ever suffered for your faith? Maybe it was someone giving you a hard time at work or school, or maybe it was someone making it very clear that you need to keep your beliefs to yourself and just go with the flow. How did you handle these experiences?
As we have gone through this series in 1 Peter, what are some ways that God has challenged your heart to be "a little different" in how you live for Him? What are some of the areas in your life that you have just gone with the flow, but now feel the tug from God on your heart that you need to make some different choices and live for Him? Your story can be so encouraging to others facing the same challenge to be different. I hope you'll share your story with us.
February 9-10, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching/Worship
Relationships - Aren't they the most challenging part of our lives? The Bible speaks often and plainly about how we are to relate to one another. The message this weekend may have been simply stated, but I dare say the ability for us to live it is anything but simple. I want to stay focused this week on the four keys Peter gave us by being humble in spirit, confident in God, realistic in expectation, and hopeful in eternity.
I plan on working this week on all four of these, but especially the expectation one. Miriam mentioned to me that many may think based on my story about driving that when I get behind the wheel of a car I become this angry person. Let me assure you that is most often not the case. But it is a place where, when people do unsafe things near me, I need to be confident in God and hopeful in eternity.
I pray you have a great week being a little different by keeping your relational boat afloat. I'd love to hear how it's going. Use the blog below and let me know what you thought of the message and how it is affecting your life. God Bless.
February 2-3, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching/Worship
If you were in one of our services this weekend, you heard me talk about mutual submission in the context of the relationship between husbands and wives. I defined submission in marriage as simply putting the needs, interests, and desires of your husband or wife ahead of your own.
I don't think living in submission to your spouse is easy or comes naturally. We are encouraged though to be a little different than those in our culture who live first and foremost for themselves. How does this work itself out in your life? For wives, how have you lived in submission to your husband? For husbands, how have you lived with your wife in an understanding way? What plans do you have to take today's message and make your marriage better? If you're single, did the message give you any principles you can use now?
I'm sure we can learn from each other as we share our thoughts and experiences with each other on the blog below. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with myself and others.
January 26-27, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching/Youth
As I think more about this issue of submitting to authority, I think it can be tough. Our idea of what should be done or what is fair is not always the same as what an authority in our life thinks should be done or is fair. However, our willingness to submit says so much about our walk with God. I keep coming back to the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To go against authority means that at least one, but usually several, of these fruits must be lacking in our life.
In the area of submitting to authority, what are some of the struggles that you face? What are some of the fruits of the spirit that you feel you need to work on in order to have the attitude toward authority that God's chosen people are called to? Maybe you have overcome some of these struggles and could share what God has done as an encouragement to other people. It can be difficult to talk about our own struggles, but this is an opportunity to come together as a family and encourage one another so that our lives reflect God for who He truly is.
As I think more about this issue of submitting to authority, I think it can be tough. Our idea of what should be done or what is fair is not always the same as what an authority in our life thinks should be done or is fair. However, our willingness to submit says so much about our walk with God. I keep coming back to the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To go against authority means that at least one, but usually several, of these fruits must be lacking in our life.
In the area of submitting to authority, what are some of the struggles that you face? What are some of the fruits of the spirit that you feel you need to work on in order to have the attitude toward authority that God's chosen people are called to? Maybe you have overcome some of these struggles and could share what God has done as an encouragement to other people. It can be difficult to talk about our own struggles, but this is an opportunity to come together as a family and encourage one another so that our lives reflect God for who He truly is.
January 19-20, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching/Youth
Being "a little different" – probably something that all of us could
succeed at occasionally. However, one of the things that has hit me the hardest as we have been going through this series in 1 Peter is that we are called to be different for the purpose of making a difference, which means that it will take consistency. Each of us can probably muster up a positive comment or a good attitude when things are going well. We can all express our thankfulness in times when we feel that our needs have been met. We would probably all be more likely to stand up for what is right and make the right choices when there are 10 or 15 others willing to do the same thing. Unfortunately these ideal situations don't come along as much as we want and everyday we are faced with opportunities to either live in a way that will glorify God or not. Our decision is reflected in our reactions and responses to things as well as the choices and decision we make.
Being a little different does not work when it is only when we feel like it or when the situation plays in our favor. Anyone can do that. To be truly different we are called to live our lives marked as God-chosen people everyday, in every situation. Of course none of us will attain perfection, but I pray that starting right now, at this very moment, each of us would pray for a craving that would drive us to live differently. And that when we do stumble and fall, the craving to live for God would only increase.
Being "a little different" – probably something that all of us could
succeed at occasionally. However, one of the things that has hit me the hardest as we have been going through this series in 1 Peter is that we are called to be different for the purpose of making a difference, which means that it will take consistency. Each of us can probably muster up a positive comment or a good attitude when things are going well. We can all express our thankfulness in times when we feel that our needs have been met. We would probably all be more likely to stand up for what is right and make the right choices when there are 10 or 15 others willing to do the same thing. Unfortunately these ideal situations don't come along as much as we want and everyday we are faced with opportunities to either live in a way that will glorify God or not. Our decision is reflected in our reactions and responses to things as well as the choices and decision we make.
Being a little different does not work when it is only when we feel like it or when the situation plays in our favor. Anyone can do that. To be truly different we are called to live our lives marked as God-chosen people everyday, in every situation. Of course none of us will attain perfection, but I pray that starting right now, at this very moment, each of us would pray for a craving that would drive us to live differently. And that when we do stumble and fall, the craving to live for God would only increase.
January 12-13, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching/Worship
I want to fly high in my spiritual life, how about you? I mentioned during the services that I love to fly airplanes. This weekend I was able to spend some time at the annual air show at Cable airport. I watched Doug Jordan, an aerobatic pilot perform some hair-raising maneuvers. Here was a husband, father of seven, and owner of a business giving us his best. He was thinking clearly, exercising self-control, and doing things with a plane that the rest of us could only dream of.
I want to fly high in my spiritual life, how about you? I mentioned during the services that I love to fly airplanes. This weekend I was able to spend some time at the annual air show at Cable airport. I watched Doug Jordan, an aerobatic pilot perform some hair-raising maneuvers. Here was a husband, father of seven, and owner of a business giving us his best. He was thinking clearly, exercising self-control, and doing things with a plane that the rest of us could only dream of.
May we live a life that others can only dream of as we keep our hope in the Lord, by thinking clearly and exercising self-control this week. I know that my time in 1 Peter this week will change my life forever. I pray that learning from 1 Peter this week will change your life as well.
Have a great week flying high!
