Interesting...

from http://www.unlessthelordmagazine.com/articles/Church%20w%20Family%20Only.htm

Reasons for a Local Church
A key part of the evangelism efforts of the apostles was the formation of local assemblies of believers. The work of evangelism was not complete when people came to Christ, nor when they had sat under an apostle's teaching for 6 months. The job was not done until there was a functioning local body of believers that could perpetuate itself. This assembly served the purposes of: maintaining unity, maintaining correct doctrine, evangelizing unbelievers, discipling new believers, and correcting those who strayed. It also offered a family of believers from which to receive love, encouragement and practical assistance. The church was to be the main vehicle for Christian growth and for serving God together.

Many churches do not perform these functions well. They become social clubs with little true spiritual encouragement. The Sunday gathering is mostly just sitting in a pew, passively listening to one man preach or teach (who may or may not have much to say). For children, church often becomes the place for doing crafts, listening to Bible stories and playing with other children. With many churches, the whole focus becomes growth for growth's sake. More members mean more boasting rights, more money for pastors and staff and larger and more beautiful facilities. Growth is encouraged with recreation facilities and endless varieties of programs, classes, and church sports. Though many churches have many failings, is that sufficient reason for us to abandon church altogether? Did Jesus make a mistake in deciding to use churches for the building up and spreading of the kingdom of God?

what am i doing!?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways," declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts"  (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

in a funk...

I'm in a funk, in a funk, in a funk...

I cannot do anything on my own strength...

I am seeking Him, but currently in a funk, waiting...

I would like an audible answer, please!?

how many kings...

Our HOME Group has been reading through the book of Phillipians over the past couple months and we've had some really great discussion.  I just LOVE it when our scripture readings match up with our Sunday morning gatherings...God is cool like that, isn't He!?

The verses that struck us the most this past month were:

Phillipians 2:5-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, bring made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that as the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

It goes along with the lyrics of one of my favorite songs...

by Downhere

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me.

These verse and lyrics came up again today during our Staff meeting devos (this week led by Jim Rathbun)  Funny how God puts the things in our heads and hearts for specific times...on repeat mode...trying to sink it into our thick skulls!  (at least I know mine is THICK!) ;)

Anyway, my thought keeps coming back to verse 5...

my attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus

and his was one of humilty...He was God and is God and always will be.

Yes, I am His child, but I am nothing in comparison and yet I do things w/ an attitude of selfishness...who am I to act that way and say the things and think the things that I do?

Father, help me...

May I live my life in obedience to you...may I have the attitude of Jesus in my heart everyday! May I put Christ Jesus at the forefront of my days and ask His direction in everything I do...

You stepped down from your throne and loved on EVERYone w/o an attitude of self righteousness...help me to strive after your heart and bring that love into the lives of others.

In Jesus Name...

interesting figures...

...pretty darn interesting and shameful!!!

BREAKDOWN OF INCOME & TAXES PAID BY CATEGORY

Income Category 2006 AGI % OF ALL INCOME % OF INCOME TAXES PAID

Top 1%   >$388,806   22%   37%

Top 5% >$153,542 37% 57%

Top 10% >$108,904 47% 68%

Top 25% >$64,702 66% 85%

Top 50% >$31,987 87% 97%

bottom50% <$31,988 13% 3%

Data Taken From Kiplinger.com 1/27/2009

put a new song in my mouth...

Today's morning devotional was my life verse...

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."  Psalm 40:2-3

Mercy is when we don't get what we deserve.

Justice is when we get what we do deserve.

Grace is when we get what we do NOT deserve.

Thank you Jesus for your grace...

:)

New President...New Start?

Wow...as I watched and listened to the inauguration on cnn.com and on the radio, I was amazed.  I don't know or at least remember another one quite like it. 

 

The invocation delivered by Rick Warren was amazing...He was asked to think about taking "Jesus Christ" out of the prayer and he didn't.  Instead, Rick Warren chose to use multiple names in closing his prayer...Jesus Christ, Jeshua, etc.  Some believe that he spoke on unity instead of focusing on the Christian-way.  I took it in a different light...I believe that Rick Warren is a mighty man of God.  I thank him for delivering the prayer in the way that he did on Tuesday.  I think he was praying for unity among our American brothers and sisters in the fight for bettering our country and our world...and he did so in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ's name...AMEN to that brother Warren.  

And for those who think he shied away from the whole gay rights thing...I'm ashamed!  I read somewhere online that the quote, "He (God) is loving to everyone He has made" was being thought to include homosexuals and abortionists...well DUH!!!  God DID create everything and everyone and YES He DOES love everything and everyone that He created...including sinners!!!  FYI...we are ALL sinners!  

I am thankful that created me in His image and I believe that His image would be thankful for President Obama's choice in Rick Warren leading the invocation in His name.  I also believe that God has BIG plans for President Obama, his cabinet, this country, this world, and His people!  

Let's always focus on Jesus Christ as our example...He was sent to provide us with a "Dumbie Guide" for how to live our lives...afterall we are dumbies compared to Him, right!?

  

LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS!!!

I am proud of our new administration and look forward with great hope...and YES we should pray for our leaders...both democratic and republican the same...for we have ALL fallen short of His glory.

throwing away the key to lies...

Back to school...Spring 2009 is in full swing! :)

As I opened my online course information for my World Civilization to 1600, I began to realize that this would be a long semester course for me.  I'm not much of a history buff...especially ancient history!  (However, Greg eats this stuff up...he's a nerd about history.)  Anyways, as I read through my course syllabus and requirements, I noticed that there will be much discussion on the history of religion.  My professor is of Middle Eastern descent and is a practicing Muslim.  I read on and discovered that much of our semester learning will be on Globalization and Universalism...two things that God's word warns us about!!!  I began to struggle with the thought of taking this course vs. dropping it due to its content...

I finished by printing off the 1st month's worth of readings and assignments and went on with my morning routine...well kinda routine, Micah doesn't go back to school until Wednesday! ;)

So, on with my "routine"...next up, my morning devotional led online by "Girlfriends in God."

The verse of the day = "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5

WOW!  I just LOVE how God knows our days and our "routines" before they even take place!  He knew that I was going to struggle with the thought of pursuing this class and He knew that I needed a reminder of His word...

I have prayed through my morning devo and have prayed over my textbook and course syllabus and I am pursuing this course for Spring 2009 with God's help and strength and wisdom and TRUTH, I will complete this course and cling to His word!  (who knows, maybe God will allow my discussion forums to breathe His truth into this course and into our professor's life.)

I have placed this verse in my book and also in my folder for this class...as a reminder that His word is TRUE and this class is only a small requirement for my schooling.  I pray that this semester will be an area of learned lessons...of taking each thought captive and making it true to Christ!

And I say it again...

I WILL... demolish arguments and every petition that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV