IDK

As I have been reading scripture over the past few days I have found myself saying "I don't get it!" 

I would like to say that I have or at least can find a good understanding of the scripture I read. But lately I just don't get it. So I'm asking for help. If you haven't read Judges 17-19 take a few moments and read and then give me your thoughts maybe we can learn from each other. 

3 People Acts 14

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. (Acts 14:19, 20 NLT)

3 People. 

Some Jews - traveled to Iconium to oppose Paul and the gospel. They had a mission to stop it. I relate these "some Jews" to some Christians. It's not everyone but there are some in the church that go out of their way to oppose the gospel moving forward. They preach tradition and conformity. They throw stones of accusations. I don't want to be part of this group. 

Believers Gathered - there are powerful things that happen when the people that believe gather together. Things come back to life. The broken and bruised are healed and restored. Encouragement come from a gathering of believers. 

He, being Paul - Notice that Paul was stoned for preaching the gospel. Some say he was dead. But when he got back up (maybe even back from the dead) he went back into the city, the same place he was stoned. Maybe it was a show of Power. The Power of the gospel will move forward. The power of the Holy Spirit > is He who is in you than he who is in the world. The power of passion for e mission of God. 

Which are you?  

It's been a minute. Circles

I know it's been a while sense anything has been posted so I thought it would be good to start something. 

At church we have been reading through the books of Judges and Acts. Two radical books in the bible. So I'm going to try to post a few thoughts from these books. 

Circles. 

Judges Ch 13. 

Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord ’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. (Judges 13:1 NLT) 

This is a common scripture you will read throughout Judges. I ask the question as to why or maybe how long will the followers of God walk in this circle. The circle = doing evil in Gods sight -> bondage -> crying for help from God -> God rescues. 

You would think that after several times walking in this circle they would get it. But then I remember how many times I fall short of obedience. How often I can walk in the circle of the same temptation. How many times have I cried out to God for salvation. 

I guess I am not that different👎. 

 So here's the beauty of this seemingly depressive scripture, God's mercy! God's grace! God comes to the rescue every time they turn back to Him. Every time they or we cry out, which is repentance, God comes to the recuse. 👍.

 I don't think it's wise to continue to walk in the same circle. I want to grow into walking a path of growth and moving forward not walking in circles. I get to dizzy. 

Here's one more thought from Ch. 13. 

The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. (Judges 13:3 NLT)

When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. (Judges 13:24 NLT)

Notice that God gave direction and Manoah and his wife took action. They had to do their part. If you know what I mean. 

This is crucial to understand as we listen and hear from God. As we partner with His plan we move from circles to paths that lead to freedom. 

Happy Christmas

 

may you be blessed with the joy of good food

remembering its never too cold for ice cream!

 

may you avoid the Christmas skimming

and have your coffee hot and steaming!

 

may your celebrating be filled with

peppermint, eggnog, coffee, ice cream!

(all together would be interesting)

 

may you find the worlds best cup of coffee

and please tell me about it!

 

may you find a clear direction

for 2013! 

 

may you find the time to give personal gifts

because that's what God gave us!

 

may you find peace with God

through Jesus!

 

may you and your family have peace

understanding we can disagree and still love!

 

may this crazy dark world see your light!

 

 

 

SteveNikki

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Sunday rewind

We kicked of a new series yesterday called Presence. Here are a few thoughts from Sunday.

• God's Presence in your life + your presences in some one's life = Christmas.
• Christmas is a celebration of presence! Without presence there is no celebration.
• God's presence brings presents into our life.
• His presence claims our panic and brings Joy.
• We read the story of the shepherds Luke 2:8-10
• God's presence brings Joy because (v10)
• He makes it personal (I bring you! v10)
• He brings good news
• For all people

Respond by embracing God's presence and sharing Gods presence.

Make your Christmas more Joyful!

• Make it personal - the gifts you give make them personal. Spend time with friends and family!
• Make a commitment to share Good News only. Lets silent the bad news. (at least for this season) 
• Connect with someone outside your normal friends and family.

The Woodland High Advance Choir was a great  highlight!

I will try to add some audio of the gathering soon! 

Keep on Keeping on!

Do you ever get tired? Do you ever just want to quit? Life seems like it always going uphill. And when the down hill comes it only reveals more uphills. What do you do when life is like this? A friend of mine gave me some great wisdom for riding a bike uphill, "Just keep pedaling!"
I think this is good wisdom for life. Sometimes we just have to keep on keeping on. As I was reading the bible the other day I came across the story were Jesus was asking God for some much needed relief. You can read it in Luke 22:41-
After reading this story I had a few thoughts if you feel like your constantly going uphill.

Jesus went about a stones throw beyond - if your constantly in a struggle try unplugging for awhile. Remove yourself even if its for a few minutes. Find a quiet place! Not just in your mind but really a quiet place. Hide in the closet at work for a few minutes. And if someone opens the door jump out and walk away. (Just thinking about someone doing that makes me laugh) How about this turn off your cell phone! Dont log unto facebook, twitter, or whatever. Unplug for a moment

He prayed - While you are unplugged from the struggles plug into the one the has strength. Pray. The bible teaches us not to worry about anything but rather pray about everything. Re-connect to God through prayer. Try this in the closet and now you have a prayer closet!

Jesus asked for relief but wanted the mission to move forward. Not my will (what I want) but your will be done (God's mission) Remember the mission. The why in the what you are doing. If you are just serving your selfish desires you will live very ill. We all need something bigger to connect to. Gods mission, what He wants is where we need to be. What has God told us to do. Well keep on that!

Notice Jesus spoke these things. Not my will but yours be done. Think about what comes out your mouth. Do you speak more about the struggle than the mission? Do you speak more negative mess then positive words. Make sure your speech lines up with your belief which equals salvation BTW

Jesus gets up and moves toward the cross - Who said this is going to be easy, sissy walk. The cool thing is the angels came to minister to Him. This only happened after He was willing to move forward. Keep pedaling

Just keep pedaling - Just keep on Keeping on! The ones that make it to the end shall be saved. I want to be counted as one that finished the race before me. God will send you supernatural strength as long as you are connected to Him!

     

Unleash

I'm currently reading Unleash by Perry Noble. (Along with a few other books)
I have been following Pastor Perry for a few years now and at first I didn't know what to think. He is very straight forward, funny and very real. Needless to say the work he does for the kingdom of God is very effective.

I was excited to hear about his book and wondered if he could bring the same style (from the stage) translate it to the pages of a book. After reading it I believe he did.
A few things I really enjoyed. The stories. I could really relate to the Jr high dances. I too went and did not dance. I guess I was too cool.
I also have taken a lot from Perrys short sayings like; “God created us on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose.”
“If our view of God is small and manageable and normal then we will have a small view of what He wants to do in and through us.”

Unleash tackles the issue we all fight, normalcy. Why live a normal, average, run of the mill life. We serve a Big God with Big plans. I believe God wants us to live unleashed.

Read this Book.

unleahbook.com

Spiritual Battles

The more I read the more I learn. The less I read the more I depend on others opinions. This is very true when it comes to understanding the Holy Scriptures and church life.

Church life can be crazy sometimes there are soooooo many opinions about everything. What you should do and what you should not do. How you should act and how you should __________(fill in the blank).
One topic I hear a lot of opinions about is spiritual warfare. It seems some church goers want to be fighting all the time. "Im just fighting the Devil" (church lady voice). "Im in a Spiritual battle right now." What do we mean when we say these things? Are we in a MMA fight, octagon cage with a demon or worse the devil himself. And if that is the case why in the world would you want to be there. I like to fight but dang not on those terms. And yes I do believe there is an enemy of our soul that wants nothing more than to take me out. And I do know we wrestle not against flesh, well you know the rest.
The less I read the more I depend on others opinions. So this is what I read the other day...
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (Ephesians 2:2 NLT)
Well that's interesting.
The devil works in the heart of those who refuse to obey God. With the help of the Spirit this is what I see in this Holy Scripture.
The battle I face most of the time is simply obeying God. And when I choose not to, it's as if I'm inviting the spirit of darkness into the octagon ring of my heart. "spiritual warfare"
My warfare happens everyday. It's the battle against my jacked up desires. It's the battle against my selfishness. It's the battle against my lack of compassion and so on. And yes the enemy of my soul plays a role in helping me see things. But I have a good plan to defeat this and win. I strap on two gloves for the battle. One is called obedience the other endurance. Maybe the battle you are facing is to be obedient or disobedient?
Maybe your battle can be won with just being obedient to God every day!

Ding, Ding, Ding... Round 1.

Shallow thoughts for deep people

Something I want to share with the StockbridgeAssembly family.

Each Sunday we have the opportunity for two very important things to happen.

1. We have the opportunity to be empowered and empower others. We get to experience the idea of community worship and hearing the word together. We also get the opportunity to be obedient in our giving and pray for each other. Each one of these experiences are empowering.

2. We have the opportunity to engage the unbeliever or not-really-a-believer. We have the honor of pointing others to the life change Jesus brings. We get to love others with a love that is engaging. It is very important that our church engage the unbeliever. Remembering that we were once on the outside.

I believe in empowering the believer and engaging the nonbelievers!  We need to believe this and hold it close to our hearts. Here are a few things you can do to help create and empowering and engaging atmosphere when you attend.

• Bring the presences of the Living God in with you! This is a gathering or an assembly not a service.
• Pray that you will receive what God has for you and pray that others would come to know Him through Jesus.
• Remove all external distractions. Turn all communication devise to silent. If you use your phone to read the bible great just turn the sound off.
• Amening the preacher or highfiveing your neighbor may be a part of the gathering. You talking to your neighbor about lunch or the latest gossip probably not a good idea.
• If you have a young beautiful child - we have a nursery that your child will love!
• Limit you movement during the gathering. Use the bathroom before the gathering starts. You don’t want to be a distraction to others around you by moving around during worship or the preaching. If you have to leave and return, sit in the back until the gathering is over.
• Embrace the importance of what is happening on any given Sunday. Someone's life may change for all eternity or someone may get the answer to what they have been praying for or someone may be challenged to shift their selfish life.

You play an important part in each and every gathering. Thank you for journeying with us as we follow Christ.

Pastor SH

I Promise

For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. 2 Cor 1:20

God desires for us to live in His promises

Some thoughts about how/what living in a Land of Promise looks like 

Grow our mindsets (how)

• • Grow past thinking we are defeated
• • Grow past the past
• • Grow to a place of knowing you have victory in Christ

Gain New strength (how)

• • Stop relaying on our own strength
• • Relay on the Spirit of God that is the strength that works in you
• • Burn out comes from a power source that is tapped out
• • God gives us NEW strength. This is strength you didn’t even see coming.

Step Up (how)

• • We need to be addicted to answering the call
• • The call is to step up from where we are to a higher place
• • To use the gifts God has given
• • To love, connect and serve with a new strength

Gain new territory (what)

• • God doesn’t desire His people to live an average life.  Or in a land of just enough.
• •  Average relationship, average resources, and average lives. Just getting by. 
• • The land of promise brings much fruit into our lives
• • Fruitful relationships, fruitful resources, and fruitful lives

Possess the Land of Promise

 

serve 101

Notes about being a servant

What makes the difference between good and poor restaurants, hotels, and places of business? The service!

Serving separates the professing from the practicing

My opinion of what qualifies a five star rating

• A place that pays attention to the details
• the blessing is in the details
• A place that acknowledges me as a individual
• I am not just a number or a reservation
• A place that produces what is promised  
• If you say you have the worlds best cup of coffee, it better be good!

A Christ follower is called to serve others

What does it mean to "Serve the Lord?"
I believe serving the Lord is broken down in two ways:

1. Worshiping Him

•  John 4:24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
• Spirit - The highest form of worship is a heart given to G-d. A life given to Him. A life dedicated to Him.(1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart.) 
• Truth - Following His word as a rule for our life. Extremely obedient
• We serve the Lord through living a life dedicated to Him and following His word

2. Work

• Romans 12:11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• Our attitude should be Christ attitude when it comes to serving
• Philippians 2:1-5
• His DNA was whatever, whenever, to whomever
• We are not saved by our works, we work because we are saved! 

 Our worship fuels our work.

Be a servant of the Lord and worship Him and work for Him

 

 

Bogota 2012

Just got back from Bogota, Colombia. We spent 7 days working with great Missionaries, Michael and Nomi Lawrence. Our team poured a concert floor to expand a school. And MAN! it was tough. Here are a few pics.

School shot from distant



Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

SA Team Bogota 2012

Sunday Connection

We kicked off a new thought this past Sunday - Connection. Well i guess its not a new thought considering connect is part of our mission.

If you missed it here are the main points

Relationships are not ment to be disposiable. Pampers are! We need to deepen our relations by

1. letting our tenderness out weigh our toughness - Col. 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
2. Love More- I Cor. 13
3. Care more and compete less - Phillipians 2:3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Joshua 4:1 says that all the nation crossed over the Jordan river. This impressed me. Over 2 million people working together to see the promises of G-d. Wow. They must have had a deep connection with each other.

 

Renew My Health

Some quick tips to jot down that will get you through your day!!

• Tame the hunger in your head. A lot of us eat out of stress, boredom, or when we are feeling down! Next time you reach for a snack, take a moment to decide if you’re actually hungry. And rather than “feeding your feelings” try going for a walk, praying, chatting with friends, or writing in your journal.
• 10 second fix – Strong arm your appetite! Next time the scent of fresh baked cookies entices you when you’re not hungry, make a fist and tighten your arm muscles. This clenching action boosts your willpower, giving you the strength to resist temptation.
• Eat what you love, but watch serving sizes. The typical bagel is equivalent to 4 slices of bread. An appropriate size of meat (3oz) is the size of a deck of cards.

The key here, as with anything, is moderation. God made our bodies very smart. It tells you when you’re hungry (my stomach growls at me J) and you know when you are full. Obey those signals and you will be amazed at how much less food you will eat!

 If you don’t do different, nothing will change!

Happy Days Ahead

Yesterday at SA we discussed the spiritual issue of our health. Our Health is a spiritual issue. This was part of a new series called ReNEW. Romans 12:1&2. The Big question I have asked myself from this scripture is what am I presenting to G-d? Is it holy? What about my physical body?

So here are some resources that I have ran across you may find helpful.

My friend Dr. Smiley Elmore – www.bodiesbysmiley.com

www.drasaoncall.com

Dr. Cooper “Faith-Based Fitness” book and website www.faithandfitness.net

Nikki’s tip to healthy living

Moderation – don’t deprive yourself from things you like just cut back on the portion size and how often you eat them. Discipline is the key to success. Discipline not deprivation

Change your mind change your behavior (i read that somewhere)

Some is always Saying

"Who do men say that I am?" A question Jesus asked Peter, His disciple. Now it always gets my attention when someone "All-Knowing" asks a question. Im sure He wasnt asking because He didnt know the answer. But why was He asking? Im also sure Jesus had heard the rumors amd specualtion and all the talk around town. Thats to be expected with people right? Even "church" people? We've all heard it.... The "have you heards?? The Whats going on with the church down the street?? Well I heard....(fill in the blank) And we begin to focus and get so caught up in the "some say." As Peter answered Jesus. But then Jesus asked Peter another question. One that truely mattered more than the "some say." Jesus asked him, "Who do YOU say that I am?"
In our few years as being full-time pastors, the main thing that the Lord has had to work with me and thru me is putting aside what "some say!" I would love to tell you as I sit here that I have grown past the point that what "some say" and the "I heards" doesn't make me crazy!
But then my very patient and loving Father reminds me that the 2nd question is more important than the first...Who do you say that I am? Doesn't matter what people say about your church, your family, your methods, its all about pleasing Him. Because the truth is "Thou art the Christ!" That was Peters answer.The only thing that matters. Jesus replies, "flesh and blood did not reveal that to you but My Father in heaven." And on that revelation, Jesus decided to build His church. Seems like a good place to put it to me :) Not on what "some say" but on the TRUTH! On the revelation of Christ!
When you build your church, your life, your hope, your finances, your conversation on this revelation instead of worrying what everybody is saying, He promises that "The gates of Hell will not prevail against it!" Peoples words and opinions have no bearing on the outcome of your life unless you let them.
A wise pastor once said, " A major transition will happen when a decision is made to stop allowing bitter people to steal your joy!" (Neh 8:10)
Because as long as there is flesh, people will always be saying something!! But the most important thing is what YOU say and what YOU believe!

Used New Year

Welcome to a new year 2012. This year has never been lived in. This year is full of unforeseen days. It is new. The question I often ask myself is what do you do with this new thing.
Some folks like to keep new things new. I know some that like candles, but don't like to burn them?! Isn't that the purpose of the candle? Or others that will buy new table ware but refuse to use the new stuff.
We can treat a new year the same way. We can go into each day with no thought of how blessed we are to be living a new day. We can go into each week without any consideration of a plan for that week. We can walk month after month wishing we could experience something new but continuing to do old things.
Heres another way to move into a new year. Awake every day and realize it is a gift. A gift that should be used to the fullest. Used to renew yourself. Spiritual speaking, spend time connecting to the gift giver. It is G-d who gives us each day,
Used to renew relationships. Rekindle old ones and build new ones.
Used to help someone in need. We find more purpose as we give ourselves away.
Be intentional about using each hour of every day as a gift. A gift that you should use!
Burn the candle, use the china this year.

Jesus/buts??

Did you know that Jesus was into buts???? Crazy question I know. Now our ”buts” can be used as excuses to keep us from doing all kinds of things. But….. when Jesus gets involved, it changes everything.

Proverbs 3:32-33 – For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; BUT He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, BUT  He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Thank you Jesus for the “Buts !”

That was just a side thought. What really caught me about this passage was the part that says “He is intimate with the upright!” Intimate! Not close to us, not beside us, but He desires to be intimate with us. Now that’s a whole-nother level. The word intimate can be defined as: Closely personal. That says to me that He desires to be involved in every area of our lives. Every area! My aim for 2012 is to make Jesus, “closely personal” with everything that I have going on. I know this doesn’t mean that things will be perfect, but having the creator of the universe closely personal to me in my every day sounds like a good plan. How can you go wrong with that??

Nikki

Maybe not at the top of the list.

If I listed the things I'm grateful for it would probably be a lot of the same things on your list. Like friends, family, country, water, food, and salvation (wow how can you every express enough thankfulness for that).
So I was thinking about a few other things I could add to the list. Maybe not at the top of the list but very important
The Influencers - the people that inspire me to do better or hang in there. The people that influence my kids.
The faithful - the people that live their life consistent. They walk the walk and talk the talk. They are examples for all of us.
Winning - nobody likes to loose, need I say more. (I'm loosing in my fantasy football league to which I am not grateful)
Football- I really like football. ND
A smokin hot woman- named Nikki
Eggnog - I just had an eggnog pie. Very grateful
You- I may not know you, but thanks for reading. And if I do know you, and like you ; ), I'm very grateful.

What are the things on your list?

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