The last several weeks we have been lookin at the Christmas story accounts from a larger picture... from God's and Satans view point. That as Jesus entered the world and was born, an invasion began where God sent his best... his son to save us from the enemy known as Satan.
Over the last few weeks we've explored Christmas from Revelations Chapter 12... great cosmic, big picture view. WOW!
We've looked how God invaded the power of the day and deeply distrubed Herod and all the people.
What disturbs you about Christmas and aboutr Jesus?
This week we saw how God invaded the dreams of people as Jesus arrived. It's a harsh reality when God has to first "Shatter our dreams before he can invade them." Have your dreams been shattered so that God can give you his bigger, better, bolder dreams?
As he invades our dreams he says "don't be afraid". "Change Directions, enter unknown territory" and "Act on the dream".
This invasion series has touched people in ways that goes beyond whatb I had dreamed of myself. I'm so excited as to how God is invading and reshaping people this Chritsmas season. Have you been invaded by God? Are you moving and helping to advanced the invasion that began 2,000 years ago?
Monday, December 11, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTERS
Emotions are like Roller Coasters... you go up, you go down and you scream!
This month we're holding discussions on "Overcoming Emotional Roller Coaster". Yesterday we began by look at how to overcome DEPRESSION. It's amazing how depression has grown from rarely ever being talked about publicly... to now it's talked about everywhere. There are so many variables to trigger depression in people. Man that makes it tough to be prepared.
Studies show that 1 out of 5 adults will face a major depression in the life.
Women are twice as likely to face a major case of depression.
Depression hits people off all ages and races.
Depression is one of the top reasons kids commit suicide.
How sad are those few facts!
I have to admit, I haven't personally gone through a depression state. I have had several major events in my life that easily could have helped get me severally depressed. I never slipped that low. (Thank God... really!!!!!) Yes, I have faced the blues... we all do. But depression is different. It's longer, darker, colder, and emotionally embarrassing for many to admit to.
Jeremiah, the OT prophet, was known as the "Weeping Prophet" by his people. That's a man with a serious depression problem to overcome. Yet, he did overcome it. He learnerd to be real and face it. Sadly it never really went away, not even after 40 years of serving God. I guess that's what gives me hope. I can look at a real life example of a man 100% sold out to God, laughed at by many people, depressed and deeply hurt... yet he fulfilled his calling by God! He stayed in the real work, walked the streets of his city, faced the people and even survived prison. HOW?
He was real with God and others. He believed that God was bigger, stronger than even his depression. His heart was pumping compassion and love... even as his words rang out "doom and gloom". Yes, medicine can and does help people with depression. But the real medicine can only come from God and Godly people committed to helping others overcome the ugly, out of control emotional roller coaster called depression.
I pray, when depression hits me... I can be like Jeremiah and overcome because I know "Jesus has overcome the world".
This month we're holding discussions on "Overcoming Emotional Roller Coaster". Yesterday we began by look at how to overcome DEPRESSION. It's amazing how depression has grown from rarely ever being talked about publicly... to now it's talked about everywhere. There are so many variables to trigger depression in people. Man that makes it tough to be prepared.
Studies show that 1 out of 5 adults will face a major depression in the life.
Women are twice as likely to face a major case of depression.
Depression hits people off all ages and races.
Depression is one of the top reasons kids commit suicide.
How sad are those few facts!
I have to admit, I haven't personally gone through a depression state. I have had several major events in my life that easily could have helped get me severally depressed. I never slipped that low. (Thank God... really!!!!!) Yes, I have faced the blues... we all do. But depression is different. It's longer, darker, colder, and emotionally embarrassing for many to admit to.
Jeremiah, the OT prophet, was known as the "Weeping Prophet" by his people. That's a man with a serious depression problem to overcome. Yet, he did overcome it. He learnerd to be real and face it. Sadly it never really went away, not even after 40 years of serving God. I guess that's what gives me hope. I can look at a real life example of a man 100% sold out to God, laughed at by many people, depressed and deeply hurt... yet he fulfilled his calling by God! He stayed in the real work, walked the streets of his city, faced the people and even survived prison. HOW?
He was real with God and others. He believed that God was bigger, stronger than even his depression. His heart was pumping compassion and love... even as his words rang out "doom and gloom". Yes, medicine can and does help people with depression. But the real medicine can only come from God and Godly people committed to helping others overcome the ugly, out of control emotional roller coaster called depression.
I pray, when depression hits me... I can be like Jeremiah and overcome because I know "Jesus has overcome the world".
Friday, January 06, 2006
UNCIVILIZED the series
This week our church is beginning an eight-week look at discipleship as it was in the first century and how it can still be lived out today. As we explore this amazing idea of become more and more "uncivilized" in our relationship with Jesus and really live an untamed faith, we're going to track our movement. Week-by-week, theme -by-theme I invite you to share your thoughts, questions, impressions on what being "uncivilized" as a disciple of Jesus means for you.
This week we looked at a short video called "BULLHORN" by NOOMA dvd and pastor Rob Bell. The over riding theme was how we, as Christians, are viewed by others. Often it is not LOVE (The defining mark Jesus labeled his disciples with), but rather condemnation. Rob encourages and challenges us to, "put down the bullhorn" and really love people with out an agenda. Love as God loves.
We closed out our time looking at 1 Corinthians Chapter 13. The chapter ends with three attributes that we as Christ-followers should take on. The same three the Jesus taught his team and that the first century disciples lived out.
As the Apostle Paul writes, "Faith, Hope and Love..... but the greatest of these is love."
So here is our first challenge as 21st century disciples, what do you think if we were people (a church) who....
Lived by FAITH,
Were known by LOVE,
And was a voice of HOPE.
What do you think that would look like to our world, city, neighbors, classmates, officeworkers?
Would that be "Bullhorn guy" or would that be an "UNCIVILIZED" follower of Jesus.
Anyone reading this I invite you on this amazing adventure of exploring discipleship and hear what "DUST" is al about this Sunday.
This week we looked at a short video called "BULLHORN" by NOOMA dvd and pastor Rob Bell. The over riding theme was how we, as Christians, are viewed by others. Often it is not LOVE (The defining mark Jesus labeled his disciples with), but rather condemnation. Rob encourages and challenges us to, "put down the bullhorn" and really love people with out an agenda. Love as God loves.
We closed out our time looking at 1 Corinthians Chapter 13. The chapter ends with three attributes that we as Christ-followers should take on. The same three the Jesus taught his team and that the first century disciples lived out.
As the Apostle Paul writes, "Faith, Hope and Love..... but the greatest of these is love."
So here is our first challenge as 21st century disciples, what do you think if we were people (a church) who....
Lived by FAITH,
Were known by LOVE,
And was a voice of HOPE.
What do you think that would look like to our world, city, neighbors, classmates, officeworkers?
Would that be "Bullhorn guy" or would that be an "UNCIVILIZED" follower of Jesus.
Anyone reading this I invite you on this amazing adventure of exploring discipleship and hear what "DUST" is al about this Sunday.
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