hi!

hey this is jenn - remember: the one who played piano sometimes? :) i got your blog invite and thought it would be cool to join yours too.

i have a blog of my own (you can feel free to check it out at www.jkak.blogspot.com if you'd like) but i'd love to be a part of this one! it looks like you have a good thing going here so far.

i don't have anything earth-shattering to post as of yet: i just thought I'd say hi and let you know i haven't forgotten about you even though it has been a while. i'll make sure i think of something interesting to post soon!

Spiritual Retreat

Well it's almost time for what I would consider "well deserved rest". We're going away to celebrate alone time... We are also going away to spend quality time reflecting on God's will for our future... While we're there we will do our best to spend much of our time in prayer... Why am I telling you all of this you ask? Well, I'm setting the stage to ask if anyone has any prayer requests.... If you do and you would like us to pray about them when we're away, comment to this post and we'll take your concerns along with us. The great thing is that others can be praying for you too by posting your requests. It will be nice to eventually have prayer notes posted.... We should totally keep track! Well, I'll check the blog again before we leave tomorrow at 5am. THAT'S RIGHT! 5AM!!!! lol

Keep 'em comin'!!!!

Hey guys! So glad that you're all taking the time to read the blog and to comment...

There are so many different types of people in this world. All have a very different way of looking at things, different ways of learning and certainly different ways of worshipping God. There are some people who simply don't feel comfortable singing whereas there are some that simply ADORE it!There are some people who are uncomfortable in a crowd setting whereas some people enjoy being the life of every gathering! That is why it is so important to reflect on these things. God doesn't want us to alienate any of His children therefore it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone feels accepted and that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves in worship toward God in a way that they feel confortable. For some, this may be through loud (and what some may consider obnoxious) music, for others it might be a contemporary praise song and again for someone else it might be that wonderful old hymn. Still some feel that they can express themselves better through art or even dance. There are some who feel that they can only truly worship God in solitude and prayer whereas others need the energy of a crowd to keep them focused.

All in all I hope to encourage all of you to stay "others focused" and to truly consider ways to help make others feel more confortable and able to express themselves in genuine worship. The term "bizarre" that I used in the last entry is simply another word for unconventional. Let us constantly be thinking WWJD? Jesus was constantly testing the people around him and the cultural boundaries. People of the first century found him to be "out of the box" and unconventionnal, he definitely stirred things up and often confronted the "conventionnal" way of thinking.

Don't feel limited to comment in the context of what we can do at Summit Park or at Rymal. Think about commenting in context to how we can affect our communities, our cities, our world...

A thought to ponder....

Ok , so since there is NOT going to be a Bible study this weekend... (unless of course one of you builds up the courage to take it on!!!) We thought that we would leave you with a serious question to ponder.

What in your opinion would be the most creative, innovative and bizzare way to do church?

Now take this question seriously and reflect on these things when coming up with a concept...
1. Will the churh be affecting people around me for God's Kingdom?
2. Will the church be following biblical principles?
3. Is this just something funny that I came up with or could this seriously work in our society/community?

Don't forget to post some comments on your thoughts. Here is scripture to back up this concept. We just might end up talking about this scripture at our next bible study (depending how this post is absorbed)

Matt 9:16-17

16 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
NIV

The Parable of the Fig Tree

Luke 13:6-9

6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

8 "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
NIV

1. What does the parable of the fig tree symbolize?
2. Why did Jesus tell the Galileans this parable? (Read it in context)
3. What does this parable mean to us today?
4. How can we ensure that we are also bearing fruit? (remeber your gifts and talents from last week... you know, the ding dings!!! lol)

Hehehehehe

I now know how to blog oh my!!!!

The Great Commission Bible Study

So here is another Bible Study. This one should bring on some awesome conversation! I will email the SHAPE material to all of you who let me know that you're coming on Saturday... This will be really fun. I hope to hear from you all soon!

The Great Commission

Matt 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
NIV
1. Who are the people in the community around us?
2. What challenges do the people in or community face?
3. Are we as individual’s community or outwardly focused?
4. How has God made us able to affect those in our community? (refer to your SHAPE profile)
5. How are we currently accomplishing the Great Commission for Christ?
6. What are ways that we can positively affect our community?
7. Devise an implementation strategy.



A GREAT READ TO FINISH THIS OFF!!!!

Isa 58

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back.Raise your voice like a trumpet.Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out;they seem eager to know my ways,as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 3'Why have we fasted,' they say,'and you have not seen it?Why have we humbled ourselves,and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,and in striking each other with wicked fists.You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,only a day for a man to humble himself?Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?Is that what you call a fast,a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness will go before you,and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,then your light will rise in the darkness,and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always;he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.You will be like a well-watered garden,like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day,if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable,and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
NIV

Saturday Night!!!!!! Who's Comin'?

WEll all, just wanted a heads up on who's actually coming out. Like I told Dave, um, I'm not making food...... I'll make tea and coffee but yall are bringin' the food this time! lol. So who's in? Who's bringing what? Let me know yall! Email me or call or whatever, comment if you want! It will be fun...

Mel

Bible Study - Ephesians 5:1-20 - Living a Holy Life

A picture of a library in Ephesus

Have you ever noticed how we always seem to make excuses for the things that we do? Well maybe not all of us...(who are we kidding! Of course it's all of us!) Sometimes we twist the words of the Bible to make them suit our lifestyles, etc. Well that's exactly why I love Ephesians 5! It is SOOO blunt about what God WANTS us to do and how He wants us to live...

Eph 5:1-20

5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

15 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV


PERSONAL REFLECTIONS...

1. Are there any areas in your life that you need to change that you may have justified by either twisting Gods Word or by letting someone else convince you that what you were doing was ok? (even though Gods Word speaks against such behavior?)

2. What things do you need to do to set things straight in regards to your walk with God?

3. Are you striving to achieve holiness? What steps are you taking to be more Christ-like? (sharing the steps that you are taking as a comment would be a great way to help others grow in their walk with Christ.)


WOW those are some deep personal reflections!!!! Now lets talk about the scripture itself... (Fellowship discussion questions)

1. In what ways have Christians become too leniant in regards to our principles for Christian living?

2. How is our sometimes hypocritical behaviour affecting the world around us?

3. What does Paul suggest that we do rather than to enter into the temptations of this world?

4. What does Paul mean when he says "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."?

It's been a long time! (since I've Rock and rolled....)

Ha ha ha!!!! Well, maybe I'm the only one that finds that funny. Um It's Led Zepplin! So how does everyone feel about an online Bible Study? Let me know what yall think. I think that it would be beneficial to all of us as we will be able to ask questions and then follow up on the weekend. Well let me know what you think!

Yup, see ya!

Mel