Today we launch the third service.  I’m excited.  We’re about an hour and 15 minutes out and I’m excited to see how the service goes! A lot of people have put in a lot of work to get this service off the ground, and I’m hoping that we see this service become yet another place where people can come and hear about Jesus.

This morning in high school we talked about the old self vs. the new self, or the flesh vs. the Spirit.  Paul writes a LOT about these contrasts, and how we need to be careful to not let the old self win (the patterns and habits that we lived in before we knew Jesus) and that we need to follow the new self (the promptings of the Holy Spirit, living the way that God intended for us).

Here are a few passages to focus on to get a little background on the old and new self: Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 4:22-32, Colossians 3:5-11, 1 Peter 4:3-5, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Galatians 5:16-24.

As you read those passages, keep in mind that God is so good to us that even when we’re tempted to sin and go back to the old self, God gives us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

And remember that God has made us to live differently because we’re not from this world.  Our home is elsewhere.  Like Romans 12:2a says,  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Sherman the giraffe is a good example of that (see above picture).  He is covered in blue and purple spots.  Kinda random, but he’s different in a good way.  He stands out and chooses to be different from other giraffes. Yet he’s still a giraffe. He has spots, a long neck, and like horn-thingys atop his head. And like him, we need to be like other humans (being genuine, showing our failures and our victories, our hopes, our dreams, etc.) yet remaining different because we’re not like all other humans (we have the hope of Jesus in us, and he has changed us from the inside out- “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:26-28)

Be bold, and different, and confident in that.

Not creepy different, or weird different, but with humble confidence- you have the love of God, and His Spirit within you.

<Tim>

A few other things/ideas that I walked away with:

God uses men in the Bible to pull out of other men what He has put in them (Paul and Timothy, David and Johnathan, Jesus and John, etc).

When you receive an invitation from God to work for him, the only available position is slave.

Luke 12:42, 47-48 Jesus says that to whom much is given, much is required. As God’s children, we have been given much, and we are invited and expected to give much.

Bishop Sherwood Carthen said during the conference “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know God will see me through.”

We also heard a christian comedian who was pretty funny, and a few testimonies that were pretty powerful. All in all, a day well spent.

Next conference: Synergy 2010, next Saturday, March 6. See you there.

<Tim>

Just started listening to a seminar/message from Matt Chandler (teaching Pastor at The Village Church) entitled “Culture & Theology: God and Sex” and was blown away by how solid the teaching and discussion was. I went to their website and found SO MANY other good resources. Thought I’d share.

You can check out the resources here, or go on iTunes and search for The Village Church. Loads of great stuff.

<Tim>

Here are 3 documents that Mex team members need. All team members need to input their support lists on the Support Raising Sheet.

Second, you need to download 1 of the testimony sheets.  If you are a veteran, download the “Veteran Testimony Sheet”.  If you’re a first-timer, download the “First Timer Testimony Sheet”.  I know, it’s almost too obvious.

After you have downloaded the appropriate testimony sheet, answer the questions and use them to draft up your testimony.  You MUST have a rough draft by Sunday’s meeting.  Grace, peace, and love.

<Tim>

support raising sheet

Veteran Testimony Sheet

First Time Testimony Sheet

Review of today at church:

Mike spoke on love, and how it is the greatest gift of the Spirit (look at 1 Corinthians 13 if you disagree).  It was a really good message, focused on how God gives us the ability to love others deeply, and how without that love, we’ve really got nothing.  Mike compared (as does Paul in 1 Corinthians 13) not using spiritual gifts with love to a song played entirely on cymbals. Annoying. Not very effective. And probably hated by most.

This was our second week running the volunteer table, in hopes of eliciting volunteers for our 3rd service (as well as beefing up our other 2 services). If you’re interested in volunteering during the 3rd service or at some other service, click here. The theme was “Work it for Jesus. Volunteer.” and we dressed in construction worker-esque costumes. Clearly Jim was in the spirit of things…

In high school, I spoke on John 6 and the feeding of the 5,000. Our focus was on lunch boxes, like this one:

Seriously, what mom gives their kid a lunchbox that says “Tonight we dine in Hell!”? Ridiculous.  Anyway, we discussed the idea that God has given all of us lunch boxes (meaning skills, talents, gifts, etc), like the kid in John 6, and we can choose to give our lunchboxes to Jesus or keep them for ourselves.  Like the kid in the story, if we give our lunchbox to Jesus we’ll see how He can use it for so much more.

So chew on that.  What’s in your lunchbox? Why do you have those particular skills/abilities? Who around you might benefit from those things? Who around you has God placed on your heart?

After that, the band finished it off with a few worship songs: Extravagant Worship, Above All Else, Came to My Rescue, and Everything About You.

It was a good day.

<Tim>

<Tim>

Parenting Teens Class email

Hume2010regletter

You need this form to attend any off site church events.

Mexico 2010 is upon us!  Attached below is the application for the 2010 student trip to Mexico.  We have had a great relationship with Pastor Carlos and the community of San Luis and I’m so excited to be with them again.  Applications are due by Jan. 24 at 12:30 (after church; grades 9-12 and college age students are welcome to go.  Sorry jr. high…). If you have any questions please let Tim (tim@crossroadsgrace.org) or Heather (heather@crossroadsgrace.org) know ASAP.

Mexico 2010 application/info packet