Jaz gets stripes
Unfortunately, I am even redder.
“CHRISTIANS, JUSTICE AND LOVE”
Series: “Inside Out”, part 6 of 12
Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 5:00 pm and
Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 9:00 and 11:00 am
Big Idea: “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up! You’re Kingdom subjects. Now live like it.” Matthew 5:48 from The Message
Bullet: “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up! You’re Kingdom subjects. Now live like it.” Matthew 5:48 from The Message
Text: Matthew 5:38-48
Its been a while since we’ve been on vacation and I am due. I am really looking forward to getting away with the family and just decompressing for a while.
Back in my early 20’s I lived in Virginia Beach for a while. During my stay there I made a friend named “Bear”. Bear was appropriately named, as he was a Samoan guy of considerable proportions. Among other things, Bear taught me to surf. Bear and I worked together and many mornings before work we would drive down to the outer banks, usually Nags Head and surf for an hour or so. I was never really good, but I really loved being on the board. You spend a lot of time waiting for the right wave and during those waiting times, Bear and I would have great discussions about work, girls, fun stuff and life in general. I have often missed being able to get up early and head down to the beach. So that’s the plan for the next week. We’ve rented a beach house with four other friends on the outer banks. I am planning on surfing each morning and then enjoying relaxing days playing on the beach with family and friends. I know this will be a good time for all of us. It is necessary to get away from the daily problems so that you can get a fresh perspective.
“KEEPING YOUR PROMISES”
Series: “Inside Out”, part 5 of 12
Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 5:00 pm and
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 9:00 and 11:00 am
Big Idea: God is a truth-teller. He wants us to be the same.
Bullet: Our commitments define who we are.
Text: Matthew 5:33-37
I haven’t posted much recently. The last couple weeks have been really busy.
Last week, I spent a day off site with my team (the connect team) working on strategy for 2009. This is one of my favorite things to do. I like to facilitate and I really like working towards a goal as a team. The off-site went very well, and we started defining goals for the year. Stay tuned, I will share more about that at another time.
On the heals of the off-site, I was part of the First Impressions (formerly Guest Services) seminar that Greg Ballard hosted. I had the opportunity to hear Greg cast a great vision for First Impressions and remind us why we do what we do. During the conference I taught a break out session on the invite and invest model of team work. This was a lot of fun, and I will probably post on this topic in the future.
This week and next week we are at the height of budget season, which always keeps me very busy. I will be working with my team to finalize and submit all our budgets for 2010, before I leave on vacation on June 27th. I will be spending the first week of July relaxing and enjoying friends and family. I may post at this time, but we’ll see how that goes! 
So, if its quieter than usual here for a couple weeks, don’t be alarmed. I will be back to a normal schedule come the second week of July.
There is a lot going on at Grace this summer as we refocus our energy for the coming year. One of my responsibilities at Grace is communications. I would really like to know what you want to know about Grace in the coming months. Tell me how you think Grace is doing overall at sharing whats going on with you and leave me some ideas of how we can do it better. I am looking forward to you comments.
“GUARDING YOUR HEART”
Series: “Inside Out”, part 4 of 12
Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 5:00 pm and
Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 9:00 and 11:00 am
Big Idea: Living a sexually pure life begins with a commitment to cultivate a pure heart.
Bullet: There is no pit so deep that the love of God does not go deeper still. Corrie Ten Boom
Text: Matthew 5:27-32
Keep an eye on the video box to the right, I am adding sermons videos as often as possible. Hopefully we will get the process down so that they are updated weekly.
Rex delivered another great message this weekend from the sermon on the mount; changing from the inside out.
Check it out!
“IT’S AN INSIDE/OUT JOB”
Series: “Inside Out”, part 3 of 12
Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 5:00 pm and
Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 9:00 and 11:00 am
Big Idea: The Gospel penetrates to the deepest crevice of the human soul and changes who we are. Then as a result, what we do begins to change, too.
Bullet: All lasting transformation must be an inside/out job.
Text: Matthew 5:17-26
“A LIFE WORTH FOLLOWING”
Series: “Inside Out”, part 2 of 12
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 5:00 pm and
Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 9:00 and 11:00 am
Big Idea: Lives lived faithfully for Christ will draw people to Him like magnets.
Bullet: Our life speaks so loudly most people can’t hear a thing we say.
Text: Matthew 5:7-16
I had a great comment a while back on one of my posts:
Maybe the good old fashion preaching of God’s word (2 Tim 4) will solve
the issues you’ve described after all isn’t that sort of how the church
was built. Wasn’t built on movie clips, comedy and watered down truth
(which isn’t truth) . The youth will have His word planted and the old
will be edified and continue to grow. End of problem.
I truly wish it were that easy. In fact, there was a time in our country when it was. There was a time when we could assume most people had a basic understanding of Christian tenants; a time when confrontational evangelism worked well. But this is not the world we live in today. As we strive to share the good news with those who need it most, we are most often met with indifference.
This is very similar to the culture Jesus shared the good news with. The people of his day were steeped in legalism and condemnation. Jesus had a message that was radical to his audience. So, how did He go about sharing the good news? Did He just recite the scriptures? Did He simply read from the books of the law and interpret as the scribes and teachers of his day did?
No. Jesus told stories. Stories that engaged the culture. Stories that stirred the emotions and the imagination. He used stories of relevant issue. He inspired and convicted through teaching that was easily understood by those who he was addressing and he used the medium of the day. He drew in the dirt, He used fish and bread, He used money, demons, fishing, farming and disease to share his message.
This is our goal as well. To use the medium that our culture can readily relate to and communicate messages in a way they can hear and understand. We want to inspire, stir the imagination, touch the emotions and capture the hearts of those who most need the good news. We want to do what it takes to convey the good news, because that’s what Jesus did and he’s our role model.
