tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77145793012492017532024-03-05T06:45:48.178-08:00Acts 2 ChurchTogether in LifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-61308703849633165182017-01-14T16:12:00.002-08:002017-01-14T16:12:36.132-08:00Vision 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Join us this Sunday at 10:30am as Pastor Bill continues casting our church vision for 2017! </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-90362474623024449022016-10-24T14:40:00.001-07:002016-10-24T14:41:06.346-07:00You're invited to Western Sunday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsyVh-RFQJWm9doipoKKWSHqduggWHFi_FS8cjA6N4NF1GFyjt8TCwJX7P1PwF4uVaJ9KZrJHnjIynu47MsB6aIAQ9gq7ocrxW31rkdbsTnGwHdaRhItnoPknIShNdpUwQwbbMjeNRd13/s1600/A2+Western+Sunday+Invites+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsyVh-RFQJWm9doipoKKWSHqduggWHFi_FS8cjA6N4NF1GFyjt8TCwJX7P1PwF4uVaJ9KZrJHnjIynu47MsB6aIAQ9gq7ocrxW31rkdbsTnGwHdaRhItnoPknIShNdpUwQwbbMjeNRd13/s400/A2+Western+Sunday+Invites+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-72421923539972451072016-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:002016-04-21T06:00:43.616-07:00What are You Doing?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger</div>
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“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it
gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 5:14-16</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxWNiovYwkieD_kh06XddTifKFSASiBshrjzP0WYa8oWUBP-FHwOPjBjU8EiORilZDeEkGVE4SmYbO8Xg9j-SRb00i9uDReJxZj2BidFjBX8jqoQ18kRKpvbNkg5kbyHGop-hAXnw_4hz/s1600/bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxWNiovYwkieD_kh06XddTifKFSASiBshrjzP0WYa8oWUBP-FHwOPjBjU8EiORilZDeEkGVE4SmYbO8Xg9j-SRb00i9uDReJxZj2BidFjBX8jqoQ18kRKpvbNkg5kbyHGop-hAXnw_4hz/s320/bill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are you doing? </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That question, like most, can have many
different meanings, depending on which syllables the speaker puts the
emphasis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often ask our kids this
question, with a clear message that they shouldn’t be doing whatever it is that
prompts the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often ask myself
that question when I make a dumb decision to try to go for the green after a wayward
tee shot, rather than pitching out to the fairway, only to result in
compounding my mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, perhaps,
Christians don’t ask themselves this question enough when it comes to living
our faith. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Many Christians doing nothing, because we can’t earn our
salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our salvation is in Christ
alone. Full stop. Thus, they conclude, doing any good work would be trying to
earn that salvation, and because they wouldn’t want to take any of Christ’s
credit, they excuse themselves and proceed to nothing. Within the past week, I
was reminded twice, in powerful ways, of the flaws in that behavior.
</div>
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Last week, I flew to Nashville for a conference for work. On
the plane, I reread one of my favorite books, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Home-Inspiring-Chicagos-Dreams/dp/0310241073">“Safe
at Home” by Bob Muzikowski</a>. It’s the story of Muzikowski’s battle with
drugs and alcohol, how he was introduced to Christ’s love by a rugby playing
pastor of a NYC church, and how after turning to Christ, Muzikowski impacted
the lives of thousands of kids by starting little league programs throughout
the city of Chicago. One particular passage, however, struck me. After a
drive-by shooting during one of the little league games, Muzikowski received a
voicemail from a couple of coaches who “supported the vision” of the league,
but “didn’t feel called to coach anymore,” but would “continue to pray” for the
league. Muzikowski deciphers the Christianese of the message, and comes to this
conclusion<i>:</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We’ll ‘pray for you’
usually doesn’t mean anything. If everyone who promised to pray for me really
did, I’d be levitating. It happens so often that when I have other Christians
tell me ‘I’ll pray for you,’ I’m tempted to say, ‘Don’t pray for me. Either
coach third base or umpire the two o’clock game next Saturday afternoon.'</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s not that I don’t
value people’s prayers. I do. But any little old lady in a nursing home who
can’t get out of bed can pray. And a lot of them do. What we need even more are
volunteers we can count on. To show up on time. And not quit halfway through
the season.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>p. 227</i></div>
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Each time I read that passage, I feel compelled to ask
myself if I could be doing more, not to earn salvation, but so that those
around me would “see [my] good works and give glory to [my] Father who is in
heaven."</div>
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But, by the time the plane landed, and I was enjoying pulled
pork and country music throughout Nashville, the thoughts of what more I could
be doing to show God’s glory were less of a concern than the next line dance I
could learn.</div>
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Little did I expect, on the 2<sup>nd</sup> day of the
conference, at a luncheon with 1,000 of my colleagues, I would be reminded once
again to ask myself, “What are you doing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the portion of the luncheon where we are introduced to the local
charity our organization is raising funds to support during our conference, a
young woman stood on stage and told us of her life of drugs, prostitution, and
82 arrests (including 2<sup>nd</sup> degree murder). But, the reason she was
standing in front of us was to share how she was “saved by love” through an
organization called “<a href="http://thistlefarms.org/">Thistle Farms</a>."</div>
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To make a long story short, a woman began Thistle Farms as a
community to support those who have survived prostitution, trafficking, and
addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They employ these women in
various social enterprises, which include a natural body care company, a café,
an artisan studio, and a few other ventures. The woman standing before us,
broke down in tears, sharing the story of how Thistle Farms, because they were
willing to love on her, provide her with job training and skills, and remind
her that her past does not have to define her. They were willing to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> something for her, rather than just
talk about it.</div>
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You see, love is a verb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It requires action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are
called to share God’s love, we are called to put it into action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time we take seriously our call to
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What that’s going to look like
for our church, remains to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
let’s do it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s let our good
works shine and give glory to our Father.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-24372452671274400522016-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:002016-03-08T16:20:36.629-08:00Prayer Series 8 - Deep and Wide<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i> by Dina Sleiman</i><br />
<br />
<i>Deep and wide, deep and wide.</i></div>
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<i>There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.</i></div>
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<i>~ Traditional Bible Song </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66MeeaYPEzOpwd0_V3dab8x3GYBCqPdjKASMXKB8-9r9VUGmGMgkZHS_dQ_nqSWasqFjFm_PN5oaTw1DeK__dNIhw-fuHL-K_w9Tdso3SWDWKvhqugbsXU2BSJOrUZ-rHDppNJk-aEInc/s1600/blog+pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66MeeaYPEzOpwd0_V3dab8x3GYBCqPdjKASMXKB8-9r9VUGmGMgkZHS_dQ_nqSWasqFjFm_PN5oaTw1DeK__dNIhw-fuHL-K_w9Tdso3SWDWKvhqugbsXU2BSJOrUZ-rHDppNJk-aEInc/s200/blog+pic2.jpg" width="133" /></a><i> </i>Throughout this prayer series, I’ve been talking about how to tap into
that flow of the Holy Spirit, and how to develop an intimate
relationship with God. Thinking about that river of life, that fountain
of living water, calls to mind the traditional Sunday school song
above. It reminds me that in addition to going deep into God’s word and
prayer as I’ve been encouraging us to do, it’s also important to go
wide. So let’s look at deep and wide in reference to our prayer and
devotion time in several areas.</div>
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<b>Personal Communication with God<br /> </b>Most of the topics I’ve been writing about for the past few weeks have
encouraged you to go deep into your prayer life, spending quality
intimate time with God.</div>
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However, it’s also important to go wide in our communication with God.
To always have him in our hearts. To direct our thoughts to him
throughout our day. In this way a concern becomes a petition. Joyful
moments become a time of praise. Thankful moments an act of worship.
Painful moments a sacred encounter. Remember to keep your thoughts
continually tuned to God, but to take that deep time to really focus on
him and listen for direction as well.</div>
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Another area we should remember to go deep is in spiritual warfare.
When under attack from the enemy, it is important to take out that
shield of faith and that sword of the spirit of the word of God and to
go on the offensive to do battle in spiritual realm, giving quality
time and attention to the issue<b>.</b></div>
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<b>Intercession for Others</b></div>
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Similar to personal communication with God, we should be regularly
sending petitions to him for those we encounter throughout the day.
When we hear an ambulance siren or see a crashed car, take a moment to
whisper up a prayer. When we hear about a sick child on facebook or see
someone looking sad in the grocery line, offer up a petition.<br />
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But we should also take time to go deep into prayer for other people,
offering them before the Lord. Holding them in the light of his glorious
presence. Speaking scripture promises and blessings over their lives,
and going to battle in the spirit for them as well<b>.</b></div>
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<b>Bible Reading </b></div>
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In one of my posts I talked about an ancient Bible reading technique
called lectio divina. This calls us to read small sections of scripture,
taking time to mediate and picture specific words or phrases that
stand out and shimmer to us. Incorporating prayer and listening into
our Bible reading time. I love this technique. It truly brings God’s
word alive. Another great way to go deep into God’s word is by
memorizing scripture. Finally, copying it in your own handwriting is
great for getting God’s word deep into your heart.<br />
<br />
But it is also important to go wide in God’s word. To make sure that
you’ve read the whole Bible, hopefully several times. We should know
the voice of the good shepherd and not follow that of a stranger. The
best way to learn God’s voice is by reading his word in large chunks.
All of the techniques I’ve mentioned for hearing God’s personal voice
and direction work best when you are well-acquainted with God’s written
word.<br />
<br />
And these days there are so many opportunities to go wide in God’s
word. You can listen to scripture on CD while driving or exercising.
You can read the Bible in multiple translations online. My church has
held Bible reading marathons where people take turns reading the
scriptures out loud. If I remember right, you can read through the
entire Bible in a 24 hour marathon<b>.</b><br />
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<b>Praise and Worship</b></div>
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We can also go both deep and wide in praise and worship. I think most
Christians know about focused praise and worship through music on Sunday
mornings. However, it is also a huge blessing to your mind and your
spirit to keep praise and worship playing in the background throughout
the day whenever possible.<br />
<br />
You know, this whole topic of deep and wide is similar to what we call
quality time versus quantity time. And since experts have argued over
which is more important in relationships, I think it’s safe to assume
that both are essential. We need to know God on a deep level, but we
need that quantity time spent with him and his word as well for
familiarity and a sense of closeness. So remember to go both deep and wide in your prayer time.<br />
<br />
That concludes my series on prayer. I hope that you've grown more connected to God and closer to him during this time. Be sure to check out any previous installments that you missed: <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/01/prayer-series-1-you-have-spritiual.html">You Have Spiritual Senses</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/01/prayer-series-2-eyes-of-heart.html">Eyes of the Heart</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/02/prayer-series-3-shut-up-and-listen.html">Shut Up and Listen</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/02/prayer-series-4-divine-reading.html">Divine Reading</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/02/prayer-series-5-time-to-pray.html">A Time to Pray</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/02/prayer-series-6-place-to-pray.html">A Place to Pray</a>, and<a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/03/prayer-series-7-put-your-mind-at-ease.html"> Put Your Mind at Ease</a>. May God bless you in your prayer times!</div>
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<br />
<i>Which are you better at spending in relationships, quality time or
quantity time? Which do you find more important? What are the benefits
of each? Please share any of your personal tips for going deep and/or
wide with God.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-90828007225295092402016-03-01T03:00:00.000-08:002016-03-01T03:00:04.454-08:00Prayer Series 7 - Put Your Mind at Ease<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><sup> by Dina Sleiman</sup></i><br />
<br />
<i><sup>15</sup> So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I
will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I
will also sing with my understanding. ~ I Corinthians 14:15</i><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGFvXQMcVrmxHaL9RNHHmqFHzJ8bFnJYAaJaNbATazgHO8CPmMeNdJEbKdS1xo4Vk5XjHJk97pOiUm_P2_yG9opWaHsT0suOX0kt_fKRKZGyNKCLbhNXBclnN4dPEsw2cv0Jm-qcqKMl_/s1600/blog+pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGFvXQMcVrmxHaL9RNHHmqFHzJ8bFnJYAaJaNbATazgHO8CPmMeNdJEbKdS1xo4Vk5XjHJk97pOiUm_P2_yG9opWaHsT0suOX0kt_fKRKZGyNKCLbhNXBclnN4dPEsw2cv0Jm-qcqKMl_/s320/blog+pic2.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
Today I'm continuing my series on prayer. Please be sure to check past posts if you missed any installments. My hope is that these posts will help you better connect with God and grow in your relationship with him.</div>
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Several years ago I led a ladies Bible study for a few close friends. One of
the ladies had a hard time praying. She would feel anxiety and even
panic when she prayed. How sad! For this woman prayer was scary. A
performance of sorts. As if God was judging her words and deciding if
he would magically grant her wish or strike her with a lightning bolt
for her shoddy job.</div>
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If you've been following my series on prayer, hopefully you
already understand that prayer is not a performance. Once this woman
realized that simply basking in God’s presence, merely listening to his
voice, or dwelling on a scripture could be a form of prayer, things
began to go much better for her.</div>
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Paul instructs us to pray with both the understanding and the spirit.
There are a number of prayer techniques used throughout the ages, that
allow our minds to rest and our spiritual awareness to blossom. </div>
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<b>Spontaneous Creative Expression</b></div>
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Let’s start with one that shouldn’t be too scary. Art. Art is a form of
communication. Anything we can do with speech, we can do through
singing, dancing, painting, writing poetry, etc... And yes, through
these means we can pray. </div>
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Letting your mind flow free to worship God and express your heart
spontaneously through the arts can provide an amazing experience in
God’s presence. Little wonder most churches begin with music. And while
planned music or dancing can work well as worship and prayer, how much
better to engage in our own personal artistic prayer experience. Allow
your emotions to well up from within and express them to God through
your chosen medium, engaging your spirit and giving your mind an
opportunity to rest. Bask in the tone of the music, the color of the
paint, the texture of the clay.</div>
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Acts 2 Church even allows for such expression on Sunday morning during service. But I
encourage you to consider adding your favorite form of artistic
expression to your personal time of prayer as well. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk6esDpVr5q9K1MAhqEnFBFzIPxNLOe7uuKNkt4VdyYTISLgHeHw7YZBsjPYk8nT_Vxpqbdotgje7qSvNKIlpdkOyMO45kJBzjVWWMX8EivYEbIRvJBmOyocN8uXwGTwHn6M6uEOpUkY/s1600/lisasrisen.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk6esDpVr5q9K1MAhqEnFBFzIPxNLOe7uuKNkt4VdyYTISLgHeHw7YZBsjPYk8nT_Vxpqbdotgje7qSvNKIlpdkOyMO45kJBzjVWWMX8EivYEbIRvJBmOyocN8uXwGTwHn6M6uEOpUkY/s320/lisasrisen.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Risen! - by novelist Lisa Samson</i> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Repeated Scripture</b></div>
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Choosing a significant scripture and repeating it in a rhythmic pattern
in time with your breath is a prayer technique that was used by both
the ancient Hebrews and medieval Christians. This method of prayer is
one of the most soothing techniques I’ve ever experienced. And it gives
one a sense of entering the kingdom of God deep within. </div>
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Here are some of my favorite scriptures that I like to pray:</div>
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<i>~“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty”</i></div>
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<i>~“King of Kings and Lord of Lords”</i></div>
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<i>~“In Him I live and move and have my being”</i></div>
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<i>~“Be still and know that I am God”</i></div>
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<i>~“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”</i></div>
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<i>~ "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" </i></div>
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Any short scripture of personal significance can work. As you repeat
these scriptures, allow your mind to dwell on them, to picture them.
Imagine what your life would look like if these scriptures were fully realized in it. Allow them to do a work deep in your heart. Imagine
the change that will take place when you truly begin to believe them.</div>
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<b>Prayer in the Spirit</b></div>
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When reading I Corinthians 14:15 in context, you will discover that
Paul is specifically referring to…dare I say it? I'm tempted to just
call it the "t-word," but that doesn't seem right considering that the New
Testament refers to speaking in tongues on numerous occasions. Although Acts 2 is technically a Baptist church, we have always encouraged the gifts of the spirit. Speaking in tongues has
taken a bad rap in parts Christendom, and not without good reasons. Despite the fact
that I was raised in a charismatic church, even I have held
reservations about this technique, mostly because it was often taken to extremes and because it caused division in the body of Christ. </div>
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However, just because something causes controversy doesn’t make it
wrong. In fact Christianity itself is quite controversial these days.
The only theological argument I’ve ever heard against praying in
tongues is a single scripture. And I would argue that a single
scripture not taken in light of the entire word of God, at the very
least, begs for reconsideration. Many churches avoid tongues not for
theological reasons but because it is hard to control and has been
abused. But that does mean it cannot be done decently and in order. Or
even just privately at home. And who’s to say God would not like us to
give up our control from time to time and give him the reigns.</div>
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As I’ve been doing this series on prayer, I’ve felt God prompting me to
reexamine speaking in tongues. And it occurred to me that speaking in
tongues serves the same purpose of many other prayer techniques. It
eases our mind, it allows us to pray God’s words and not our own, and it
is a way for the Holy Spirit to speak through us and to us. Paul
prayed in tongues more than anyone around him, and there is
something to be learned from that.</div>
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Praying in tongues can seem intimidating because it by definition can’t
be understood with the logical mind. We might worry we’re speaking
gibberish, or something we heard someone else pray rather than an actual
earthly or heavenly language. But Paul says in Romans 8: 26, “For we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” And I
suspect it might be the release from deep in our spirit that matters
more than the specifics of the words themselves.</div>
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Maybe speaking in tongues isn’t the thing for you. No
worries. The important thing is to be open to how God is leading you to
pray. However you choose to pray, remember that prayer is not a
performance. Remember to pray both with your spirit and your
understanding. And remember that it’s okay to put your mind at ease.</div>
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<i>Are you able to put your mind at ease when you pray? Have you ever
tried or had an experience, positive or negative, with any of these
techniques? How is God leading you to pray?</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-57578699313899211312016-02-23T03:00:00.000-08:002016-02-24T17:41:17.703-08:00Prayer Series 6 - A Place to Pray<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> by Dina Sleiman</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you
won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and
honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and
you will begin to sense his grace.” ~ Matthew 6:6</i></div>
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For several posts I’ve been sharing my thoughts on tapping into the
spiritual realm and truly communicating with God. And while this
requires honing our spiritual senses, the physical environment around us
can either contribute to or diminish our prayer process. As we see
above, Jesus recommended we go into a small, quiet room and pray.<br />
<br />
In his book <i>Mystically Wired, </i>Pastor Ken Wilson asserts that
many Christians fail in their prayer and devotional lives because they
make it too hard on themselves. They make unrealistic demands and set
themselves up for failure. God intended for us to enjoy prayer. It is
meant to be a relaxing and refreshing time in His marvelous presence.
I’ve mentioned some techniques that might help enrich your prayer time
including <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/02/prayer-series-3-shut-up-and-listen.html">listening to God</a>, <a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/01/prayer-series-2-eyes-of-heart.html">imagining meeting with God</a>, and ruminating
on specific words from scripture. But today let’s spend some time
considering where we pray.</div>
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We should prepare for prayer the same way we might prepare for a date
with our spouse, making it a special time to meet with the lover of our
souls. Choose a place that is quiet and comforting. A place that will
bring you joy. A place that is special to you. That way when you go to
this place, your body will immediately respond with positive
associations. As you have wonderful prayer times in this place, those
associations will continue to grow. It doesn’t always have to be the
same exact place. I have three places in my house where I like to pray.
Find what works best for you.<br />
<br />
Next, think about your posture. What helps you enter into prayer and
focus on God? Kneeling, laying prostrate on the floor, sitting with
your hands folded? For me it’s usually sitting cross-legged or with my
knees tucked to my chest in an overstuffed chair or on a plush carpet.
It could be lying in bed…or showering…or driving in your car. There’s
never a “bad” place or way to talk to God and petition him. However,
some environments and positions help us to better enter his presence
and hear from him in return.</div>
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<br />
When you first begin to pray, consider taking some slow deep breaths to
relax yourself and enjoy the moment. Imagine breathing in the presence
of God and breathing out all the stress of your day.<br />
<br />
Here are some other tools that might contribute to your prayer experience.</div>
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<b>1)</b><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><b> </b> </span><b>Art work: </b>Anything beautiful that lifts the soul, photos of nature, religious artwork, even a relaxing screensaver</div>
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<b>2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Water:</b> a trickling fountain or sounds of the ocean or rain</div>
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<b>3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b> Fire: </b>candles, a fireplace, a campfire, or a virtual fire</div>
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<b>4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Scent: </b>incense or a relaxing aroma like lavender or vanilla</div>
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<b>5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Bible:</b> a special Bible with personal significance in a translation you love</div>
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<b>6)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Devotional Books: </b>prayers, scripture collections, poems, writings in God’s voice</div>
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<b>7)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Journal:</b> for recording what God speaks to you and your own poems and prayers</div>
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<b>8)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b>Music:</b> classical music, instrumental music, especially worship music<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I keep this website book marked because it streams beautiful “soaking” worship music all day long. <a href="http://www.soaking.net/">http://www.soaking.net/</a></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_Hfk8_bL1UDK9iriLvjzy3Gw6wbR1dLPf6QfjL1SeFqqOizT3jB45Lg3JZ7D2SCM8oflvxhWjaLm8cBEGLL-BOl3_qG0GysxphtbPiDJuiyZ95P4fMPOXwfunEbDptlc9IfhI-We9rc9/s1600/mystically+wired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_Hfk8_bL1UDK9iriLvjzy3Gw6wbR1dLPf6QfjL1SeFqqOizT3jB45Lg3JZ7D2SCM8oflvxhWjaLm8cBEGLL-BOl3_qG0GysxphtbPiDJuiyZ95P4fMPOXwfunEbDptlc9IfhI-We9rc9/s320/mystically+wired.jpg" width="210" /></a>
Give thought to what blesses you during your prayer time and keep those
items handy in one place. It won’t be all of the prayer aids I
mentioned. Certainly not all at the same time. I once experimented with
lighting a scented candle, running a fountain, and playing worship
music all at the same time. By the time I was done I had entered
sensory overload and was completely distracted. But I have been blessed
by all of these items individually during my prayer sessions.<br />
<br />
This post would not be complete without mentioning the place I spend most of my personal prayer time—what Ken Wilson calls the <b><i>“outdoor cathedral.” </i></b>Like
many others, I feel closest to God in nature with no ceiling over my
head. I love to listen to the birdsong, the rustle of the breeze. To
watch scampering squirrels, waddling ducks, and soaring hawks. Even
little ants busy at work. There I can see, feel, hear, taste, and smell
God all around me.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "wingdings";">So take time to prepare for a special meeting with God. It will be worth the effort<i>.</i></span><br />
</div>
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<i>This post should allow for some good discussion. How do you enjoy
praying? Where do you pray? Do you use any aids in prayer? Might any of
these suggestions enrich your prayer life? Do you have any suggestions
for us today?</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-67439435890320933242016-02-16T03:00:00.001-08:002016-02-24T17:45:41.333-08:00Prayer Series 5 - A Time to Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>by Dina Sleiman</i></span></span></h3>
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<i>16 Rejoice always, 17 pray
continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s
will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</i></div>
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<i><br />
</i>“Today we’re going to talk about prayer.” The youthful pastor
glanced over the faces of the congregation lining the pews. One by one
smiles turned to frowns of guilt and remorse. Several sets of eyes
glazed over with disinterest, while others turned away from him. A
sweet, elderly lady in the front row continued to gaze up with a
beatific grin.<br />
<br />
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He rubbed his hands together in
anticipation. This should be good. “How many of you have heard a sermon
before that instructed you to rise early each morning and pray?”<br />
<br />
Every hand in the audience shot up. “How many of you have tried to do this?”<br />
<br />
Over half the hands stayed in the air. “And how many have succeeded?”<br />
<br />
As
he suspected, only five or six remained, including the saintly
white-haired woman up front. “Well, I have good news for you. Jesus
liked to pray at night.” <br />
<br />
A few sighs met his ears, followed by a murmured, “Thank God.”<br />
<br />
The pastor chuckled. “Different question. How many of you have been taught that you should set aside an hour a day to pray?”<br />
<br />
Again
every hand rose. “And how many of you actually pray an hour a day.”
All hands fell. Even his friend in the front row lowered her wrinkled
one and wobbled it back and forth to indicate hit and miss. Then one
brave soul in the back raised his hand high. Several nearby
parishioners glared at him and grumbling exploded about the building.<br />
<br />
Oh,
great. The last thing he needed was to get in trouble with the senior
pastor. Again. “Settle down everyone. Today we’re going to talk about a
different approach to prayer.”<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
Would
it surprise you to know that every school morning for almost nine
years I’ve had a devotional time with my children? Often when I
mention that to people, I’m met by disbelief, glares, or guilt. But
we’ve found a simple formula that works for us. And if ever one child is
running late, another will fuss at them because they love our prayer
time. They crave that special moment to start the day.<br />
<br />
However, we do not wake up early, and we don’t spend an hour. Allow me to share our recipe for prayer success.<br />
<br />
1) Keep it short: Our prayer time is five minutes long.<br />
2)
Build it into your daily routine: We pray every morning by
the front window right before they have to catch the bus.<br />
3) Have a plan: We say the Lord’s Prayer together, then I
read a 5-15 verse passage of scripture from a specified book. Finally, one of us closes with a prayer for our day .<br />
<br />
Perhaps
that sounds too simple. Too easy. But prayer is meant to be enjoyed. Not dreaded. Let’s
look at these simple steps in more detail.<br />
<br />
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</div>
<b>Keep it short.</b>
When you first attempt to enter into a daily habit of prayer, start
simple. Choose a reasonable goal that you feel confident you can
conquer. Five minutes a day. Ten at the most. Once this becomes a habit
and you begin to enjoy your prayer time, chances are you will find this
time too short and want to pray longer. But take it easy on yourself
and start out slow.<br />
<br />
<b>Build it into your daily routine.</b>
What do you do everyday? Have a cup of coffee in the morning and read
the newspaper? Check your email when you get home from work? Read
before you go to bed? Take a lunch break? Go running? If you’re super
busy then what about drive to work? Or take a shower? Choose one of
these times and add your five minutes of prayer to it. Once it
successfully becomes a habit and you are enjoying it, consider
extending it, or adding a second, and later a third time<b>.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Have a plan:</b> It certainly doesn’t have to be the same
as my family’s plan. Maybe you’d like open with a worship song, read a
devotional, listen quietly, and close with an out loud prayer. Maybe
you’d like to read a scripture and meditate on it and then journal about
it. Maybe you’d like to begin with a time of thanksgiving, then pray
for friends, and finally for yourself. You might enjoy trying something
different such as deep breathing, repeating a single scripture, and
imagining meeting with God to talk about your day. Traditional folks
might like to use a liturgical prayer and light a candle. Our more
charismatic friends might want to incorporate praying in the spirit or
even dancing. The plan is only to help you, and you get to set it. One
day you might want to change it, or scrap it completely. No problem! But
a plan will help you see how you can easily fill that time. In fact,
before long you’ll find that five minutes is not nearly long enough.<br />
<br />
And
this is just a starting point to help you enjoy your prayer time. Soon every hand in our audience
might go up when the pastor asks who prays an hour a day. The goal is
not to sit miserably, whiling away the time. The goal is to enjoy God’s
presence so that you seek it more and more. To long to meet with him
again. To dream of those moments. To pray without ceasing. <br />
<br />
Because you want to!<br />
<br />
<i>Do
you have a prayer routine that you’d be willing to share with us? What
helps you to enjoy your time with God? If you don’t have a regular
prayer time, what might help you establish one?</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-45584260014294939632016-02-09T03:00:00.001-08:002016-02-09T08:07:58.806-08:00Prayer Series 4 - Divine Reading<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i> by Dina Sleiman</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.001px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.0015px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Let the word of Christ dwell in you [live in you] richly in all wisdom.”</i><span style="; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.001px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.0015px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.001px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.0015px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">~ </span>Colossians 3:16</span> </i></div>
<br />
A few weeks ago in my prayer series post titled “<a href="http://acts2churchvb.blogspot.com/2016/01/prayer-series-1-you-have-spritiual.html">You Have Spiritual Senses</a>” I passed along
this premise: we are all spiritually wired, but we are also spiritually
challenged. We have spiritual eyes, and ears, and feelings, but we
don’t know how to use them. We don’t trust them. They often get crowded
out by our physical senses. And this is probably most true in the
Western culture. Think about it. Why are there more miracles in third
world countries? Is it simply because they need them more? Or might it
be that without our Western logic and education, they are more open to
mystery and wonder?<br />
<br />
I find it helpful to go back before our current culture to traditions
used by ancient Hebrews and medieval Christians to learn how to tap into
our spiritual wiring. To use our spiritual senses. To discover the
divine. </div>
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I had the pleasure of being an editor on a book that focused on one specific technique called <i>lectio divina. </i>According to Wikipedia, “<b>Lectio Divina</b> is Latin for <i>divine reading</i>, spiritual reading, or 'holy reading,' and represents a traditional Catholic practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul.”</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIsJFVzNFGB5mHnNQ4ZuY0XQ7FOSuyxq6PwWc4dvUqyiCWHKR2RSRg2utT6wWc167oqpq8EquDxT1Ktd45Pc96vLbGRhWmRKYSgtSZr4YVp3Y13T0wc3327TGmB07u7j5f3IJyst9tQij/s1600/catching+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIsJFVzNFGB5mHnNQ4ZuY0XQ7FOSuyxq6PwWc4dvUqyiCWHKR2RSRg2utT6wWc167oqpq8EquDxT1Ktd45Pc96vLbGRhWmRKYSgtSZr4YVp3Y13T0wc3327TGmB07u7j5f3IJyst9tQij/s320/catching+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent resource on Lectio Divina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In <i>lectio divina</i>, you don’t rush through scripture trying to
meet your quota of chapters for the day. You relish it. You dwell on
it. You read until you find that one word that really sparks something
in you. That word that lights up, full of life. Then you pray about
that word throughout the day. Meditate on it. Mull it over. Ask God to
speak to you his truth about how this simple word or phrase should
impact your life. In Hebrew the term is a <i>rhema</i> word.<br />
<br />
Really, it’s just another method for finding intimacy with
Christ. For awakening those inner senses and hearing from God. Because
what good are lifeless words on a page without the Holy Spirit to help
us rightly understand and divide the word of God. Without God’s
direction and inspiration, we all know, people can read nothing more
than their own prejudices and presuppositions into the Bible<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Lectio divina </i>is only one of many techniques for tapping into
God’s kingdom that dwells within you. In the coming weeks I hope to
cover many more. But maybe, just maybe, this will be the one to spark
you and bring your spiritual senses alive in a new way. If you’ve
struggled with your quiet time, why not give it a try. Read just a few
verses, and allow God to speak his <i>rhema </i>word to your heart.</div>
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Let me end with a quick little poem I wrote years ago on this topic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> I am giddy with the words of God</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> that flow like amber wine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">They are honey sweet, delicately spiced,</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">each one a world to itself, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">alive and teeming, sparks flying,</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">glimmering in multi-faceted rays,</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">a rainbow of truth to touch each heart</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">with the idyllic shade of light.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Otherwise, too bright, white hot,</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">like gazing into the sun.</span></div>
</div>
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<i>What scripture or specific word has stood out to you recently? What
techniques have you found that enrich your quiet times with God? How do
you tap into your spiritual senses?</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-88574733571749840802016-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:002016-02-02T06:21:25.389-08:00Prayer Series 3 - Shut Up and Listen!<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> by Dina Sleiman </span></span></i></h3>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You don't believe because you're
not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they
follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from
the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The
Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the
Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and
the Father are one heart and mind. </i><i>~ John 10:25-30</i><br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>I
don’t know about you, but I always had the impression that prayer was
mostly about talking at God…with words. And this process, for reasons
I’ve shared during my last few posts, didn’t work that well for
me. So I’ve been blogging about different tools to add to our prayer
and devotional times to help us better tune into the spiritual world
and truly communicate with God<i>.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>This
week I want to talk about the simple process of listening to God with
our inner ears. Considering the fact that God is all-knowing and
all-powerful, you’d think we’d want to stop and hear what he has to say.
I mean, I could spend hours talking to him about my problems. Maybe
that would make me feel better. Probably it would just get me more
worked up. Besides, he’s already intimately acquainted with me. So
wouldn’t it be better to listen and hear what he wants me to know?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yet
don’t most people spend 90% of their prayer time spouting lists at
God, or worse yet, trying to order him around and inform him how he
should fix the world. I’m sorry, but this strikes me as a terrible
plan.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So
why don’t people spend more time being quiet and still and listening
to God? Maybe because it can be a little scary. Maybe because we’re
afraid we’ll fail. Maybe because it requires a loss of control. But
listening to God is the most life-changing kind of prayer there is.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Meditating on words and
phrases from scripture or imagining God can be helpful in listening prayer.
Deep breathing, quoting short scriptures, soaking in quiet worship
music, or time spent in nature can also be helpful. I'll go into some of these more in upcoming weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Perhaps
the most helpful tool is journaling. By writing down the thoughts,
feelings, and impressions that bubble up from that well deep inside of
us, we allow them to flow free. Choose not to analyze, but just to
capture it all on paper. Then later you can compare what God has spoken
to you with the word of God or share it with a spiritual advisor.
What will God’s voice sound like? Fair enough question.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great book on this subject</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
God
rarely speaks in an audible voice. You have to quiet your own thoughts
to hear his still quiet voice deep in your heart. And it does tend to
feel as if it come from somewhere in your chest. God’s words will often
take you by surprise and sound like nothing you could have come up
with on your own. There is a sense of “flow.” They will bring peace and
comfort. They will sound of authority. Even if they convict, they will
do so with love and compassion. They will strengthen you and give you
hope. They should always align with scripture and will sometimes even
take the form of scripture.<br />
<br />
Our
own thoughts usually come from somewhere in the vicinity of our head.
They tend to be logical and predictable. Sometimes critical and
judgmental. Sometimes lenient on sin. Most of us are pretty familiar
with our own thoughts. They often run in circles and get us nowhere.<br />
<br />
Satan’s
voice can be the trickiest, but you’ll quickly learn to tell the
difference. This voice brings negative emotions: fear, anger,
hopelessness, condemnation, bitterness etc… It might sound good on the
surface, but you can tell it by the fruit it produces. It accuses and
twists the truth. Satan loves to use words like “always” and “never” and
work you into a frenzy, the opposite of the peace of God. His words
twist in your gut and can feel like they come from that area. Rebuke the
devil in the name of Jesus when these thoughts attempt to invade.<br />
<br />
Don’t
focus on Satan, though. Focus on God. He is the good shepherd and his
children know his voice. Spend time with him. Learn to listen to him.
Use the tools that best help you to relate to him and hear him speak.<br />
<br />
So the next time you pray, remember, stop talking so much and listen already<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<i>What helps you listen to God? How do you identify his voice? Have you ever tried keeping a prayer journal?</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-54022169080011693422016-01-26T03:00:00.000-08:002016-01-27T17:02:16.968-08:00Prayer Series 2 - Eyes of the Heart<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Dina Sleiman</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i>I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance in his holy people. ~ Ephesians 1:18<span class="p"><br /></span></i></div>
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In last week's post, I proposed that we have
spiritual senses, but they are generally crowded out by our more
powerful physical senses.<br />
<br />
This
week I would like to talk about a style of relating to God that has
revolutionized my personal life more than any other. It is the simple
practice of engaging the imagination, otherwise known as the eyes of our
hearts, in encountering God.<br />
<br />
For
much of my life I had a hard time praying, meditating on God, and
hearing from God. What would happen was basically this, I would try to
talk to God in words. Meanwhile, my mind would be flooded with images,
daydreams, feelings, and distractions. It was like I was trying to talk
at God through a radio script while the television was blasting right
in front of my face. And I didn’t know how to turn the dumb thing off.
As far as listening to God in such a state, well…just forget it.<br />
<br />
Then
I finally learned the secret. While you can’t turn off that inner
television set, you can change the channel. You can use that inner
imaging system to focus on God. You can picture meeting with him.
Looking into his face. You can tune your thoughts to a favorite image of
God from the Bible. The shepherd. The king on his throne. The loving
father. Jesus the carpenter. The dove. Or something in nature that
speaks to you of God’s divinity. The ocean. The mountains. A sunset. A
campfire. You name it. Perhaps you can even meet with God on that
mountaintop or beach and have a conversation, or hug, right there.</div>
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Somehow
I had never thought of that. It seemed too simple. Almost like
make-believe. But it is the way to engage all of ourselves in the
process of prayer. To focus our whole minds on God’s presence. And here I
thought a vision would have to be all super-natural and block out my
normal eyesight. Not that it couldn’t happen, I suppose. But don’t you
find that God often moves in much gentler, simpler, harder to pin down
ways that require a bit of faith.<br />
<br />
The
ancient Hebrews knew about this. They understood dreams and visions.
They understood that we had spiritual eyes that needed to look into the
face of God. <i>Imagine</i> is one definition for the Hebrew word for meditate. The medieval Christians understood this as well. They called it <i>Visio Divina. </i>Who knows, maybe every Christian in the world besides me somehow understood this. <i>“Turn
your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things
of earth will grow vaguely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” </i>Seems
like this idea has been around for a long time. Maybe I just missed
it. But since I did, I want to make sure no one else misses it like me.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDFjzbaaA3YA8YzKvGVRWJhfKUD1GqT4HNZLgioWz5m8n1_YxoKwX5PgB5TjKDPWfgZJ8BGPdXIutryUQ2MdqlFAlTc_B3otqg1XMhMdecM5ruLHViTxV7D4v286SjvgErWq2n3cjTgHV/s1600/4+keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDFjzbaaA3YA8YzKvGVRWJhfKUD1GqT4HNZLgioWz5m8n1_YxoKwX5PgB5TjKDPWfgZJ8BGPdXIutryUQ2MdqlFAlTc_B3otqg1XMhMdecM5ruLHViTxV7D4v286SjvgErWq2n3cjTgHV/s320/4+keys.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great book on inner vision</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In
fact, while reading the Bible you can use this same inner imaging
system. You can picture yourself living Bible stories. Imagine what it
would have been like to walk with Paul, to listen to Jesus on the Mount
of Olives, to go to battle beside King David. More importantly, you can
engage your faith by picturing what it would look like if scripture
were truer than your circumstances. How that would change your life.<br />
<br />
I
first stumbled upon this concept when my kids were small. I would
worry when I left them with the babysitter, picturing all sorts of
horrible things happening to them. Prayer didn’t seem to help. Quoting
scriptures just felt like some fear-ridden attempt at Christian magic
spells. Finally it hit me. I could pray, maybe quote those scriptures,
then I would picture the kids safe at home playing happily with their
babysitter and surrounded by the angels. What a difference that made. My
fear would melt away, and I could enjoy my outing.<br />
<br />
Maybe this isn’t the thing for you. Or maybe
you aren’t as dense as I am, and you figured this out long ago. But for
others of you, this simple technique might hold the key to deepening
your awareness of the spiritual kingdom, relating to God, and hearing
his voice. I hope for someone today, this is just the thing you’ve been
searching for<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<i>How
do you picture God? Where is your favorite place to meet with him? If
you could take a three day vacation, just you and God, where would you
like to spend it?</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-50148562460394314162016-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:002016-01-19T10:16:49.245-08:00Prayer Series 1 - You Have Spritiual Senses<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> by Dina Sleiman</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Over the next two months I will be doing reposts of my favorite series
that I've written. Enjoy these thoughts on prayer and devotion. I hope
they will help you discover God in a new and more meaningful way. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<br />
<i>And
we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are
being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which
comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~ II Cor. 3:18</i><br />
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When I started to write this post, I intended to call it “Through a
Glass Darkly” or even “Dark Glass Ponderings.” You see, these words
have been rolling through my head. I’ve been
ruminating on their definitions and their impact on my life. What does
it mean to see through a glass darkly? To look into a dim glass and
ponder? What do we detect? Over time do we begin to distinguish shadows
and shapes? Do our eyes attune to something very real on the other
side?<br />
<br />
Perhaps this all started when I picked up a book called <i>Mystically Wired</i>
by Ken Wilson. Don’t worry, I’m not about to go all New Age on you.
Simply substitute the word “spiritual” for “mystical” and relax.
Wilson’s basic premise is this: we are all spiritually wired, but we are
also spiritually challenged. Our minds have actually been created by
God to fellowship with him and to discern the spiritual kingdom in and
around us. Scientists have proven that prayer stimulates a unique area
of the brain and that spiritual interest is at least in part based on
genetics. As the Bible describes, we have spiritual senses, spiritual
eyes and spiritual ears, perhaps even more. However, we are also
mystically challenged, meaning we do not typically know how to use them.<br />
<br />
Our
normal five senses for detecting the physical world are so much
stronger and clearer than our spiritual senses that we tend to dismiss
them. I like to say that God is always speaking if only we’ll be quiet
enough to listen. Our physical senses tend to crowd out our spiritual
senses. They clamor for our attention. In order to regularly and
efficiently commune with God, we must go to that still quiet place and
learn to engage our spiritual senses. We must attune that inner ear and
that inner eye. Take time to stare into that glass until the shapes and
patterns become familiar enough that they begin to make sense. Until
we trust ourselves to detect and understand them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great book on this subject</td></tr>
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<br />
Wilson
takes this analogy even farther by talking about something called
“blindsight.” This occurs when a person’s eyes work, but the processing
center for sight in the brain is somehow inhibited. Although
individuals experiencing this condition cannot “see” in the traditional
sense, they show a remarkable ability to dodge unfamiliar obstacles.
While their brain is not giving them the visual messages in a logical
manner, they are in fact able to see on some sort of intuitive level,
and can even learn to better use and trust their “blindsight."<br />
<br />
Faith
is like “blindsight.” Although we can’t quite grasp it with our minds,
some part of us “knows,” and we must learn to trust in that knowledge
and harness it to change our lives. Prayer can feel like “blindsight.”
We can’t prove that God is speaking to us and giving us visions, yet
we “know” that he is, and that awareness of God will transform us
into his image.<br />
<br />
I
had planned to leave the post there. Looking into darkness. Then this
morning, I was having devotional time with my sons and came across the scripture above in II
Corinthians 3:18. It seems that when we were dead to sin our spiritual
eyes were completely veiled, but that as we are transformed into the
image of Christ we begin to see his glory more and more clearly. Perhaps
that glass begins to shine and glow as we stare into it and are
changed by it. Perhaps our spiritual eyes can be unveiled as we are
transformed into the image of Christ. Perhaps things don’t have to stay
so dark on this side of eternity.</div>
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Something new for you and me to ruminate about over the next few months<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<i>I
encourage you to pray about this scripture and ask God to reveal a new
depth of meaning to you. Which word stands out? What might God want to
show you about this word? So many good ones to choose from “unveiled,”
“contemplate,” “transformed,” “ever-increasing,” “image,” “glory” just
to name a few. Consider journaling about one of these words. Trust
your inner senses and allow God to speak to you. And if you don’t mind,
share with us as well.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-61127338389841456372016-01-06T14:46:00.001-08:002016-01-06T14:49:50.599-08:00Home Mission<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.” ~ Acts 1:8</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4owIv6x4_zE5n1TtEdZCszsAUO-ULXfsCzZtvd24Bks22Hiv43FZjozh-RTSmKEcw0Ub7BuhJSSUt5pdkgSRuib31GVLHPzlMbpG-y4GXoZs_3kQj5oE1jL1C0qCBudnA3jBsFFhMWvN/s1600/bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4owIv6x4_zE5n1TtEdZCszsAUO-ULXfsCzZtvd24Bks22Hiv43FZjozh-RTSmKEcw0Ub7BuhJSSUt5pdkgSRuib31GVLHPzlMbpG-y4GXoZs_3kQj5oE1jL1C0qCBudnA3jBsFFhMWvN/s200/bill.jpg" width="200" /></a>Go to any major Christian conference and it’s bound to
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll hear a story of a lost
soul in faraway (likely impoverished) land, and your heart will break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your soul will be stirred and you’ll find
yourself asking, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God, is this for
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you really want me to serve as a
missionary</i>?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The answer, of course, is simple, yet not always what we
expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, the answer could very
well be that God wants you to serve as a missionary, either as part of a
short-term mission or a long-term one. And, that mission could undoubtedly be
to a part of the earth you never expected to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the answers we often “hear” in that
moment of high emotion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, if we really listen, or more aptly, read God’s Word,
it’s easy to find a definitive answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
see, we are all called to be missionaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No matter where we are, or where we go, in some sense, we have been
“sent” to our current location to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems that for some reason, we have created tiers of evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hold the full-time missionaries in the
faraway land at the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put
ourselves and our everyday lives talking to our friends, family, and neighbors
about Jesus at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as a
result of this, we often ask ourselves, “God, can you really use me? I mean, I
can’t give my entire life to the mission field, so maybe it’s just best for me
to write a check for someone else to do it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, perhaps, the reality is that God wants us to be a
missionary right where we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get
this wrong? In no way am I diminishing our responsibility to make disciples of
all nations. Our commitment to reaching the lost includes going wherever they
may go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our partnerships with
missionaries and missionary organizations are of the utmost importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our church-wide missions trip to West
Virginia was a dream come true. However, as believers, we must understand
Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8, when he said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two major points in those words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, we are all called to be his
witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t need special powers,
special education, or even a special “calling.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are all called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us, at
least intellectually, get that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
second point, however, is more often missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much too frequently, we jump to the end of the verse and focus on “to
the end of the earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we miss that
Jesus starts with our calling “in Jersusalem.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was an indication to the hearers of this
word that they were to be witnesses at home, right where they were.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What if it is our neighbor down the street is needs to hear
the gospel? Could it be the mom of your kid’s soccer teammate is your mission
field? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real message of the gospel is that each of us have been
saved by the grace of God alone, and with that, we are all called to be bearers
of the Good News.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have been called to go on an international missions
trip, humbly submit yourself to God and watch him do powerful things in and
through you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will partner with you.
We will support you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, if your
mission field is the street you live on, the school your children attend, or
the soccer team you coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no less
of a calling. Humbly submit yourself to God and watch him do powerful things in
and through you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will partner with
and support you just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
have a calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for us to live
like the missionaries He has called us to be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-84839957852809053652015-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:002015-12-22T03:00:06.362-08:00Courage in the Everyday<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Dina Sleiman</i><br />
<br />
<i>...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you... ~ I Chronicles 28:20 </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last week Acts 2 Church went Christmas caroling in a trailer park where we
deliver food for our food ministry. This simple little excursion got me thinking about the courage needed to reach out
to others in our everyday lives.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEJ0RAfYfJ203Jdh-UrKnehTiluY5HedkeOMMm4MHBfoltJ065GblpZdE9cA0V6ofsiyvUGxYFh8_ybEw-AQuHa2pNCZyt5l6lhGtFOkBnVKXjw0jBcWbU-ju23Xr1hXM7741RAedoJhy/s1600/IMG_9972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEJ0RAfYfJ203Jdh-UrKnehTiluY5HedkeOMMm4MHBfoltJ065GblpZdE9cA0V6ofsiyvUGxYFh8_ybEw-AQuHa2pNCZyt5l6lhGtFOkBnVKXjw0jBcWbU-ju23Xr1hXM7741RAedoJhy/s320/IMG_9972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of our caroling groups</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Going
door to door, knocking on a stranger's home, in a neighborhood
that's a bit rough, takes some courage,
especially when you have a bevy of children in tow. By the end of the
Christmas cookie fellowship following the caroling, our kids were all
running around in the pitch dark. We didn't know if we'd face rejection,
harassment, or even drunken threats, but we went to spread Christmas joy and
cheer nonetheless--to spread Christ's love. It would have been easy for
someone to talk themselves out of going and facing those risks.
But reaching out takes courage and inconvenience. Living life to its
fullest involves taking risks.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJ9ZFbHwB5MJgvVC-_7t7l33SwJXKJFOvE8o6njwBjZC308xqEyuHgWZi5eAd-o9Bg6xDxWfegwaw7KbI44eDLQeod8Rg5-L63nRMi58Ra8-5LUdD2wdriIFwSeT7ZzSmThd1bYaBKhv/s1600/IMG_9976.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJ9ZFbHwB5MJgvVC-_7t7l33SwJXKJFOvE8o6njwBjZC308xqEyuHgWZi5eAd-o9Bg6xDxWfegwaw7KbI44eDLQeod8Rg5-L63nRMi58Ra8-5LUdD2wdriIFwSeT7ZzSmThd1bYaBKhv/s320/IMG_9976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These neighbors tagged along and joined in the fun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And
when God calls you to do something, those risks pay off! By the end of
the caroling many wonderful neighbors had joined in with us to sing. We concluded
the evening with a fellowship including a fire pit and Christmas
cookies, and about 25 people from the neighborhood came to hang out with us :)</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJkDpXwKwHD9aBrKirWV27aJ_KDQ8Qi2AweofSv4uCDNj-lSp-IEZKBwZjiPMeL-T27kd1lPTsoD0e_wBzu62kZm_qrtl6SkyzGDuqPAARQ3dD-SOLju95iHtNdyT0MCspcul_aIQ53LA/s1600/IMG_9977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJkDpXwKwHD9aBrKirWV27aJ_KDQ8Qi2AweofSv4uCDNj-lSp-IEZKBwZjiPMeL-T27kd1lPTsoD0e_wBzu62kZm_qrtl6SkyzGDuqPAARQ3dD-SOLju95iHtNdyT0MCspcul_aIQ53LA/s320/IMG_9977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christmas cookie fellowship was a big hit. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm
sure it would have been safer and easier for the Good Samaritan to have
left the beaten man on the side of the road, but God calls us to a
higher standard. Will you dare to reach out and take risks? Will you
find the courage to live life to the fullest?</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-37240032678987928752015-12-08T06:12:00.000-08:002015-12-08T06:19:48.102-08:00Advent - Preparing for Jesus<div style="text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]--><i>by Pastor Bill</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span><sup style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 0; position: relative; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">2</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 0; position: relative; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">3</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'" ~ Mark 1:</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">2</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">-3</span></span></span></b> </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyjNJ1sPPRgbvA-nh4_b7jRLKRj72STq3ekrFoGH4EMnrUHVvTMejLVHRrfIBoPRESege3EtByTKpMFpNcBKe3C0574GgkuUsP1zjTOHqDYV5uccWSUnhFvlzvHMXZRudhP3iCE9sZ2Z7/s1600/bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyjNJ1sPPRgbvA-nh4_b7jRLKRj72STq3ekrFoGH4EMnrUHVvTMejLVHRrfIBoPRESege3EtByTKpMFpNcBKe3C0574GgkuUsP1zjTOHqDYV5uccWSUnhFvlzvHMXZRudhP3iCE9sZ2Z7/s200/bill.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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It’s the Christmas season. Christmas lights are on the
houses. Christmas songs are on the radio. And, department stores everywhere are
open Christmas hours. Christmas is a joyful time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spirits are generally high. Christmas holiday
parties with Christmas treats are held in offices all over the country. But,
sadly, by mid-January, it seems that Christmas is just a faded memory.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps, as Christians, we need to worry less about the “war
on Christmas,” and focus more on what the entire season is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, perhaps, we need to look no further than
the liturgical roots of the season and come to a deeper understanding of
Advent.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re right in the heart of our Advent series, and right in
the heart of Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, for many of
us, even many believers, our knowledge of Advent is very limited. In fact,
despite the fact that I grew up in liturgical churches where there was great
devotion to Advent colors and the Advent wreath, I assumed it was simply a
celebration of the Christmas season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What better way to prepare for Christmas than open a little window of an
Advent calendar and get a piece of chocolate for 25 straight days!</div>
<br />
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Beyond the Advent calendar, I had never given much thought
to the Advent season until a few years ago. It was then that I decided to
really study Advent, what it meant, and why it was an important season
(assuming it was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnkVQ2cnh841Tqg4QcMNXow6_VPbJeF-5_rcvpTfPu7fwVSs_hB_Tdn_ETNyALU2bnbLO84cJSN66m94Th-2qxTuxoA_aFMC-3hV5043USf0183JJKbe4f5VSXMUFgS88LkCfHg2VEHB6/s1600/advent+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnkVQ2cnh841Tqg4QcMNXow6_VPbJeF-5_rcvpTfPu7fwVSs_hB_Tdn_ETNyALU2bnbLO84cJSN66m94Th-2qxTuxoA_aFMC-3hV5043USf0183JJKbe4f5VSXMUFgS88LkCfHg2VEHB6/s1600/advent+wreath.jpg" /></a>To make a long story short, the word “Advent” comes from the
Latin word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adventus, </i>which means
“coming” or “visit.” As <span style="color: black;">Christians,
we are to prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing
of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we’re reminded of how much we ourselves
also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as
we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. The word “Advent” comes
from the Latin word<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">adventus</span></i>, which means “coming” or
“visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of
Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While certainly
the birth of our Savior is worthy of celebration, much like each of our
birthdays, it’s far too easy to celebrate the remembrance of our birth on one
given day, and quickly move on with the busyness of life. But, this should be a
season of so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advent is a
season of hope, a season of preparation, a season of joy, and a season
of love. It’s a season of reflection of our deep need of the Savior who came
some 2,000 years ago. It’s a season of expectation that He will return again to
reign forevermore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, that we would spend more energy on anticipating the
return of Christ than we do worried whether the grocery clerk wished us a
“Merry Christmas” or a “Happy Holiday!” Let’s take this season and reflect on
why Christ came the first time and that moment when he returns. You see, when
we focus not just on Christ’s birth, but also on his return, we don’t have to
experience a post-Christmas letdown. Our excitement, our hope, and our
anticipation can last, long past the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-37542261541811551172015-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:002015-12-01T03:00:03.624-08:00Supertones Was His Name<br />
<header class="entry-header">
<h1 class="entry-title" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Written by Pastor Rob Stevenson in 2006</span></h1>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1John-4-10" id="en-NIV-30614" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."</span><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;"> ~ 1 John 4:10</span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
</header>
<br />
<div class="entry-content">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhINCsik-UXbuE8yW_NG8oIf9n0hz_CpKLmA_xz1nNioUncSKsm7PssYScXjoxDZ5WwDbrNovr9_OFeyxFTfhrT8h0mRpOg3ZgPt2yulWlBEexaPFx8cJErFnA3ND2g82wm9KV1b37vuL0/s1600/Pastor+Rob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhINCsik-UXbuE8yW_NG8oIf9n0hz_CpKLmA_xz1nNioUncSKsm7PssYScXjoxDZ5WwDbrNovr9_OFeyxFTfhrT8h0mRpOg3ZgPt2yulWlBEexaPFx8cJErFnA3ND2g82wm9KV1b37vuL0/s200/Pastor+Rob.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(April 12, 2006) – Supertones was his name, after a Christian band
popular in the 90s. I didn’t want this active, little Dalmatian puppy
10 years ago when he came to us, but Bev and I felt like the Lord was
saying, “Take him.” So we did. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">About a week later, he contracted parvo
virus, a deadly infection that few animals recover from. He was a
deathly ill little pooch. One night, after many days of him not eating
and being extremely sluggish, I stayed up all night with him. I cradled
Supertones in my arms, and hand fed him. To my joy, he started
nibbling on some regular dog food in the wee hours of that morning
ordeal. I was thrilled! It was the beginning of his come back. <span id="more-485"></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span font-size:="" small=""><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He hated my neighbors though. Over time he had bitten the two kids,
and jumped on and scratched the mom. It was too much for me to handle
having a dog I so enjoyed, that could act so hostile. I had to put him
down. This was the HARDEST decision and action I have ever made. I
didn’t realize how difficult a task until after it was done, but taking
him to the vet was hard enough.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I brought him into life by my
hands, and I sent him to death by my hands. I honestly could not see it
any other way. I felt as if I had to be the one, because he was my
dog. Then, afterwards, I realized each time I walked into the laundry
room that I was thinking of him. It dawned on me that I had fed him
over 3,600 times in that place. I had given him water over 3,600 times
each morning when I got up, walked into the kitchen, and was greeted
with his expectant stare. No wonder it was so tough. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, it hit me that our Father God
had sacrificed His Son so that we might live. In addition, His Son had
been totally innocent. Even though our pets are animals, we have a
capacity to love them, don’t we? And the Father, His capacity to love
us and to go through the agony of seeing His Son brutalized and killed
had to be a devastating experience. He did it for us. Jesus did it for
us. Such love has no bounds, no limits, and no equal. Hallelujah!
Thank you Lord for such a saving sacrifice.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Rob Stevenson</span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-48374408083033125742015-11-24T03:00:00.000-08:002015-11-30T11:54:55.974-08:00Enjoy a Breath of HeavenToday we bring you a blast from the past. Acts 2 Dancers performed this lovely piece to "Breath of Heaven" back in 2010. This is in our old building and several of the dancers have moved on, but the message still stands strong.<br />
<script src="http://www.godtube.com/embed/source/dwkykwnx.js?w=400&h=255&ap=false&sl=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; width: 400px;">
<a href="http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DWKYKWNX">Breath of Heaven Worship Dance</a> from <a href="http://www.godtube.com/danzingfool">danzingfool</a> on <a href="http://www.godtube.com/">GodTube</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-55249679307665322372015-11-17T03:00:00.000-08:002015-11-17T07:52:10.229-08:00Back to Church<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> by Dina Sleiman</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i><i><span class="text Heb-10-24" id="en-NIV-30158">And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,</span> <span class="text Heb-10-25" id="en-NIV-30159">not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ~ Hebrews 10:24-25</span></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span class="text Heb-10-25" id="en-NIV-30159"> </span></i>National Back to Church Sunday was celebrated not long ago. What
does back to church mean to you? How does it feel deep inside when you
hear those words: <i>back to church</i>? Most of us know people
who claim to love God, to even have accepted Jesus as their savior, but
who want nothing to do with church. Maybe you are one of those
people. Maybe the idea of church fills you with latent pain. Maybe with
anxiety. Maybe you picture walking in the door and being judged. Maybe
bitterness wells up inside of you as you recall all the hypocrites
you've dealt with at church. Maybe you just want to lay low and avoid
the drama<i>.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>And little wonder. The church is full of wounded, messed-up people. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
People not so different from you and me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But the church is also the expression on earth of the body of Christ.
And it is through that body that we can experience the fullness of
Christ. The church helps us grow in maturity, in the Word, and in
relationship with God. The church gives us a place to minister and be
ministered to. It joins us together with a group believers so that we
can increase our impact in outreach to others. And it gives us a place
where we can worship in a group and experience God in different ways
than we do when we are alone.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9OZAqeOzKfz8sozWUOqwnNtPRi135UN7iwfs553N4GAF1Ak_DOtMwhD-1UA6L3TcnhL_wpLermgSCFBsxjHEkI52mWYWvB5vikxWTYDgvbK599WQ7XNeEqDbZwuV2kmkya7IPLlLf1f9/s1600/mt30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9OZAqeOzKfz8sozWUOqwnNtPRi135UN7iwfs553N4GAF1Ak_DOtMwhD-1UA6L3TcnhL_wpLermgSCFBsxjHEkI52mWYWvB5vikxWTYDgvbK599WQ7XNeEqDbZwuV2kmkya7IPLlLf1f9/s320/mt30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One big happy family on our Acts 2 Mission Trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So how do we find a good church? Not a perfect church of course, because
that doesn't exist. But a relatively healthy church where we can grow
and thrive. Here are my top tips.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1) Find a church that exudes love and acceptance</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2) Find a church that focuses on Biblical teaching</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3) Find a church with a culture that fits you<br />
<br />
A culture? Aren't we talking about church? Didn't I already define the
"culture" in the word "Biblical?" Actually, no. Not at all. Much of what
legalistic churches try to promote as scriptural requirements for
worship are really more about culture and personality than holiness. The
truth is, healthy Bible-based churches come in all shapes and sizes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbnBVWu4nUk_zDikRF-QNOQIECWBdEJSIDoTWDaS-GVT0ZorHMAGgLL3ePdOc0oojXu3o3I-My7cCd-H9tQ1-z12QrrcNWR6Otnd6H0szygW6QdULiPBoNDZYRB0L7oILAuODHU7yhuno/s1600/praise+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbnBVWu4nUk_zDikRF-QNOQIECWBdEJSIDoTWDaS-GVT0ZorHMAGgLL3ePdOc0oojXu3o3I-My7cCd-H9tQ1-z12QrrcNWR6Otnd6H0szygW6QdULiPBoNDZYRB0L7oILAuODHU7yhuno/s320/praise+band.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acts 2 Contemporary Worship Band</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are big churches, small churches, contemporary churches,
traditional churches, casual churches, and fancy churches. There are
simple, cozy churches and flashy, high-tech churches. There are biker
churches and cowboy churches. Messianic and Mennonite churches. And
don't even get me started on music. Church music comes in about every
style. Chants, hymns, gospel, country, pop, and heavy-metal, just to
name a few.<br />
<br />
My guess is, if you don't like church, you just haven't met the right one.<br />
<br />
So what kind of church is Acts 2? We're small, Bible-based, family-friendly, casual, contemporary, and spirit-filled. Our music is mostly typical contemporary with occasional hymns, oldies but goodies, folk songs, and even rock style moments mixed in. We're a close knit family who also reaches out to the world around us.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeQCBSvLQcTp4PmR_cHRKN-UfzcAr_T9jVF9sTkmcsx7rw2jQHc2C7MfEpdhX5hUrvWyfpUGeIL2IEEjbhEZA5hlhY47xrGyCyYuvaGuLwIh6bBl45WPM73IxRRdjt_eluWhms_bOwGgW/s1600/mt38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeQCBSvLQcTp4PmR_cHRKN-UfzcAr_T9jVF9sTkmcsx7rw2jQHc2C7MfEpdhX5hUrvWyfpUGeIL2IEEjbhEZA5hlhY47xrGyCyYuvaGuLwIh6bBl45WPM73IxRRdjt_eluWhms_bOwGgW/s320/mt38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ministering to others on our Mission Trip to West Virginia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's simple really. We encourage
and uplift each other. We support one another in this Christian walk.
And when you think of it that way, "Back
to Church" sounds pretty appealing. If you don't currently have a church, we invite you to visit Acts 2 Church and see if we might be a good fit for you. You won't know until you try.</div>
<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-12935155675837695712015-11-10T03:00:00.000-08:002015-11-10T14:05:06.129-08:00Father and Son<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger</i></div>
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<i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i> “Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you.” ~ James 4:8</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc_NtwGOxlLlXmmEMZ58akt8ABIeTHgg2UsE7X89NFLO0i-wj12NPFPFTOHp-s6LvJUmirhBI2tzVeCqr1mfWknmkwRjHbj6SNnKblIabbEdNXSPEqhN-UHMppfCkGvZDubvNZmqz2wsk/s1600/bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc_NtwGOxlLlXmmEMZ58akt8ABIeTHgg2UsE7X89NFLO0i-wj12NPFPFTOHp-s6LvJUmirhBI2tzVeCqr1mfWknmkwRjHbj6SNnKblIabbEdNXSPEqhN-UHMppfCkGvZDubvNZmqz2wsk/s200/bill.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This isn’t a blog about sports. This is a story about a
father and a son. Of course, you would be right if you are expecting sports to
make an appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken Rosenthal of
Foxsports.com wrote a really good story about the new General Manager of the
Cleveland Indians and his father who works for a sports radio station in New
York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read the <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/cleveland-indians-gm-mike-chernoff-mark-chernoff-game-of-catch-family-tradition-110815">whole story here</a>. <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/cleveland-indians-gm-mike-chernoff-mark-chernoff-game-of-catch-family-tradition-110815"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unsurprisingly, this father (Mark) and son (Mike) bonded for
many years over their love for baseball. In particular, they spent countless
hours playing catch as the son grew from just a young boy in love with baseball
to a young man who found himself working for a professional baseball team. Mark
and Mike have taken the tradition of “having a catch” that so many fathers and
sons (or daughters) have enjoyed through the years and have taken it to the
next level. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Rosenthal’s story tells, it began innocently enough, but Mark
and Mike Chernoff have had a catch together at least once in every calendar
month for nearly 30 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As their
lives have become busier, it hasn’t always been easy. They’ve gone to some
extreme measures to keep their tradition alive. But, they’ve prioritized it,
and remain loyal to this special time together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, why am I writing about it here? Seemingly, this is a
nice tradition, but what does this have to do with our faith?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not an accident that God, the Father, refers to us as
his sons and daughters. I think he allows us to fulfill the role of parent so
that we could have a small glimpse into his heart. You see, Mark and Mike
Chernoff have prioritized their time together. They’ve been willing to spend
thousands of dollars on airfare, rearrange schedules, and suffer through having
catches in the cold, all to have that special time together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here’s the question. Do you prioritize a special time
with your Heavenly Father? Are you willing to go out of your way, to be
inconvenienced, to give up your own comforts to spend time with Him? How much
does he mean to you? How much does your time with him mean? Is it a real
priority or does it happen only at your convenience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your Father God is always ready for a catch.
Grab your glove and head to the backyard. I promise, you’ll find Him there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-53508726991899435772015-11-03T07:11:00.002-08:002015-11-03T07:11:54.614-08:00Lessons from Potiphar's Wife<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Bryan Stevenson</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Titus-2-11" id="en-NIV-29920" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup><i>For the grace<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of God has appeared<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that offers salvation to all people.</i></span><i><span style="color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text Titus-2-12" id="en-NIV-29921" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup><i>It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and to live self-controlled,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>upright and godly lives<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in this present age</i></span><i><span style="color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span></i></i><span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NIV-29922" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><i> - Titus 2:11-1</i></span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NIV-29922" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>2</i></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Titus-2-13" id="en-NIV-29922" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></b></i></div>
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I was in high school when I had an epiphany about the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+39&version=NIRV" target="_blank" title="Genesis 39">Genesis 39</a>.
I even wrote a song about it. The song wasn’t any good, but I remember
that Dad was predictably impressed. (He was always impressed by his kids
and grand kids, and he wasn’t shy about praising them.) The story spoke
to me because Potiphar’s wife represented any sin or temptation that I
was struggling with, and Joseph’s response illustrated one way to deal
with that temptation. He fled. That isn’t a very manly thing to do, to
run away and not even face down your enemy. It seems to show weakness in
the face of temptation. However, throughout my adult life I’ve applied
the tactic multiple times.<span id="more-567"></span><br />
<br />
Ideally, we’d all have the self control necessary to stand firm in
our convictions, but sometimes avoidance is an act of self control
itself. As an example, instead of buying ice cream and disciplining
myself to only have small servings on rare occasions, I will not buy the
ice cream in the first place. It is much easier to decide once, at the
grocery store, to avoid temptation, than it is to face it down every
single time I open the freezer. It turns out that <a href="https://blog.bufferapp.com/willpower-and-the-brain-why-its-so-hard-to-avoid-temptation" target="_blank" title="Science of Self Control">science supports this technique</a>.
In fact, your willpower is finite. It depletes itself every time you
use it, and needs to be rested and restored periodically.<br />
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Self control
isn’t only about continually denying yourself, or continually choosing
to do what is right. Self control also requires the wisdom to know how
to most efficiently and effectively use it. For example, if you struggle
to set aside time to exercise, schedule to work out with someone who
will hold you accountable to be there. If you waste time or watch things
you shouldn’t on the internet, put up internet filters to protect your
home and your mind. If you abuse your credit cards, get rid of them. All
of these techniques require some self control to implement, but end up
helping you make the right decisions going forward. Like Joseph, you run
away once, and in this way don’t drain your pool of available willpower
unnecessarily.<br />
<br />
So, I guess Joseph was onto something when he split, leaving his coat
behind in the hands of the seductress. Of course, it didn’t turn out
perfectly for him at first. He ended up being accused of rape and thrown
in jail. However, he did successfully resist temptation. That set the
stage for even greater things in his life going forward, and the same
will be true for us as we exercise good judgement and self control.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-18968919300663701062015-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:002015-10-27T06:38:18.307-07:00Put Down the Headphones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Running and I have such an on and off relationship. Recently I have
loved it, but I fully attributed that to me finally downloading good
music and buying decent headphones. The burning in my lungs and the
fatigue of my legs somehow becomes fun while listening to "Hey Jude."<br />
<br /> I didn't run for most of my mission team training week because most of the days
were exhausting on their own. However on Thursday my team did not have
to meet until 10 A.M. We were stoked! My co-leader, Adam, and I decided to have an
optional time of prayer at 9 for those overachievers who were looking
for a challenge. I was exhausted. This was the break my body was
looking for. BUT this was training week which meant my spirit had a
much louder voice.<br />
<br /> I decided to wake up early. I put on my running shoes, grabbed my
headphones, and headed towards the door. That was when I remembered
that when I finally downloaded good music it had deleted my Kari Jobe
album and I was completely devoid of Christian tunes. "It's not a big
deal," I told myself. But it was. I was being intentional about not
only avoiding social media, secular music, and anything that could be a
distraction. So I said "Hey God, I am trying to challenge myself by
running, but I can't do it without headphones. Is it cool if I listen
to this music?"<br /><br />
He didn't tell me that it "wasn't cool" if I listened to secular
music. Instead, He asked if I would let Him be enough. Wow. That was
the moment I had to stop making excuses. God wanted to be my enough.
Well, I'm not a big fan of telling the creator of the universe that He
isn't enough, so I put the headphones down. Instead of jamming to "Say
Something", I prayed. I prayed for each of the members of my team. It
was hard, definitely harder than running with music, but it felt
glorious at the same time.<br /><br />
During the 9 A.M. prayer time my team had, I took a moment to write
down what God was telling me about each of my members. Those simple
sentences were later used to speak life and prophecy into the lives of
my team. Some of what was shown to me I was privileged to tell them
that day, other parts were saved for commissioning night, and some were
never told at all. That's not the important part. What was important
was that I listened.<br /><br />
I will always remember Thursday, May 7 as the day that I listened.
I woke up. I put down the headphones. I wrote down what God told me.
These were all three very small steps that set up my day to be
remarkable. In these tiny steps of obedience I learned that for each
step you take, the Lord takes a mile. God is omnipotent. He has the
power to do anything, but I believe that He often waits for us to make a
move. What better way is there for us to show faith? And love? And
then there are those times where it feels like we keep taking more and
more steps and yet we see nothing. I believe that He is still moving.
That is where true faith comes in, the kind of faith that Jesus
mentioned in John 20:29. Faith in that which you cannot see.<br />
<br /> I learned something else that day. Okay, I learned a lot of
lessons that day, but one that I have to tell you. Every hour spent
with God is an hour spent in victory. To me, God is not invisible. I
see Him in His creation, in little things like sunsets and tall trees.
These wonders are reflections of their Creator. Man, if those are just
reflections, I cannot begin to imagine the mind-blowing beauty of the
Lord. Every second spent serving this indescribable God is not deserved
yet freely given. And the enemy tries to distract and persuade us away
from this! He uses excuses like being too busy or having time later on
me all the time, so I bet he uses it on others too. He really isn't
that creative. Another way that my time of victory is robbed is when my
mind and heart are not fully engaged. It's like I'm having dinner with
God but texting someone else the whole time. Sure I still eat, but the
quality and purpose is completely lost.<br />
<br /> Compared to the insane amount of love and sacrifice the Lord pours
on us, He does not ask for much. However, what He does ask for often
seems like way too much in the moment. Or like it's not a big deal so
why even bother. I am making it a personal goal to look for the little
steps I can take, the minor moments where I can say "yes" to God so that
when the bigger moments come I already know how. On Thursday, May 7, I
put down my headphones. It was one of the best decisions I've ever
made.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-15230127510074898202015-10-20T03:00:00.000-07:002015-10-20T03:00:07.793-07:00Dancing with Passion<div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">There is a
time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a
time to be born and a time to die . . . a time to weep and a time to
laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-4</span></i></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div>
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I wear a few hats in life. In addition to being the Acts 2 Church administrative assistant, I also serve as the worship dance team leader, and outside of church life, I'm a published inspirational novelist. <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I often describe my writing as “lyrical stories that dance with
light.” My novels include books like, <i>Dance of the Dandelion</i>, <i>Dance from Deep Within</i>, and <i>Love in Three-Quarter Time</i>.<b> </b>Hmm.
Do you see a recurring theme here? Yes, I love dance. It’s a huge part
of who I am, how I live, how I write, and even how I relate to God.</span></span><br />
</div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span">
<div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">I have had the
honor serving as a worship dance choreographer and director for the better part of twenty-two
years, and I have discovered that dance is at its core, a form of
communication. It can be used in as many ways as words themselves:
worship, praise, prayer, intercession, warfare, prophecy, evangelism,
teaching, and yes, even fun and entertainment.</span></div>
<div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
</span></i></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">
<div style="display: inline ! important; font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ndanfvAKQiJCu_PAFuxtENXNv0qvX7DE_6uNfK1quOza_2raC5b_m0GedudG4PGuNN2GfhrGZc8CaLRBzftP0Kfif66s9Mnqy6ALvQjnEHOW-41cCDKNZXNhZcGee0eXvOKXlTw727C3/s1600/Dandelion+front.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ndanfvAKQiJCu_PAFuxtENXNv0qvX7DE_6uNfK1quOza_2raC5b_m0GedudG4PGuNN2GfhrGZc8CaLRBzftP0Kfif66s9Mnqy6ALvQjnEHOW-41cCDKNZXNhZcGee0eXvOKXlTw727C3/s320/Dandelion+front.jpg" width="213" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Throughout
my writing, dance becomes a metaphor for life: for the willingness to
step beyond yourself, to embrace the wonder about you, to move in
harmony with the universe. Yet dance is an actual physical expression as
well. As joy and celebration build within, they require an outlet. And
so, our hands and feet begin to move, our bodies begin to sing and flow,
releasing emotions from our hearts and culminating in dance. Even
releasing the heavenlies deep within through our fingertips and toes.</span></span></div>
</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Dance
is a fundamental form of human expression. It can be found throughout
history in nearly every culture. It can be found in the Old Testament as
a form of celebration, praise, and worship. Dance is often a community
expression, drawing us together in unity and love. David danced before
the Lord with all his might, and God was well pleased. Even Jesus spoke
of his frustration with the generation around him by saying in Matthew
11, <i>"We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.”</i> Yet how often do we stifle this wondrous outlet?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Most churches today that incorporate contemporary choruses sing songs about dance. <i>“Dance
with me, oh lover of my soul.” "Dancers who dance upon injustice.” “We
will dance on the streets that are golden.” “Dancing with my Father God
in fields of grace.”</i> The list goes on and on, but do we take it
seriously, or do we stand still and sing the words, hampering our bodies
from becoming living, breathing expressions of praise. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Romans 12:1 instructs, "<i>Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act
of worship."</i> Of course this scripture has many applications, but I prefer to take it quite literally.</span><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">I encourage you, in your church, at home, in your prayer closet, and
throughout your life to offer up your bodies as living sacrifices of
praise. Embrace and enjoy the wonder of dance. Take time to relate with
God through this amazing form of expression. And join me as I explore
the unforced rhythms of grace. </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-58522788086096445672015-10-13T03:00:00.000-07:002015-10-13T07:49:18.334-07:00Get Off the Sidelines<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<i>by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger </i></div>
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<i> <b><sup><span style="color: black;">19 </span></sup><span style="e; color: black;">Go</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>therefore and</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><span style="color: black;">make</span></b><span style="; color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>disciples of</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="; color: black;">all nations,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><span style="color: black;">baptizing</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>them</span><span style="; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">in<sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></sup>the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><sup><span style="color: black;">20 </span></sup><span style="color: black;">teaching</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>them</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">to observe all that</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">I have commanded you. And behold,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">I am with you always, to</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">the end of the age.”</span> ~ Matthew 28:19-20</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEigFYwyWCLoiYk1tpkV26u33xK5V4sWTDS1WZuc7wNFB43MeB7dwSlfazcDWdgOm9ezZBc15t0F77rORuwEJlVCDviec8xW0TzS4GcKIgYkNSI7BxuEbgbBbS8PBnKLDWIQidQdUnkCAu/s1600/bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEigFYwyWCLoiYk1tpkV26u33xK5V4sWTDS1WZuc7wNFB43MeB7dwSlfazcDWdgOm9ezZBc15t0F77rORuwEJlVCDviec8xW0TzS4GcKIgYkNSI7BxuEbgbBbS8PBnKLDWIQidQdUnkCAu/s200/bill.jpg" width="200" /></a>I’m a huge sports fan. I think some of the greatest life lessons are learned on the fields and courts of our society. Sport, in many ways, is a fascinating parallel to the church. On a playing field, you’ll have a few different roles. </div>
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There are the coaches: Encouraging. Uplifting. Correcting. </div>
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There are the players: Running. Jumping. Working. Sweating. Giving their all.</div>
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There are the referees: Keeping order. Enforcing rules.</div>
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Then, there are the fans. They are the most interesting. Many of them believe they have all of the answers. <i>If the coach would just say this or use this strategy. If the players would just work harder. If the referee would just be better at his job. Frankly, if everyone else did just what I say, this entire event would be better off</i>. Fans seem to have all of the answers. They don’t necessarily want to put in the work required to secure the victory, they don’t necessarily want to be held accountable when things go awry, yet they continue to offer up “ideas” through their vocal displays of displeasure.</div>
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Sadly, I think we have too many fans in the Church. Few feel “called” to do ministry. Fewer still feel a calling to lead others. But, many have plenty of ideas on how to “make church better.” Many church suggestion boxes and Pastors’ inboxes are filled each week with suggestions to do a particular Bible study, a particular missions trip, or volunteer opportunities in a particular neighborhood. Yet, far too few Christians want to be the actual players in the game. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The bible study is a good idea, if someone else leads it. The missions trip would be awesome; as long as it doesn’t conflict with my vacation. Serving that community could really be impactful, but I wanted to plant flowers and you’ve decided to paint houses.</i></div>
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I think many pastors simply get tired of hearing about good ideas for the church. It’s not that pastors don’t want to hear of new ideas. Most do. But, we need more players and fewer fans. The ideas are great, but it’s wholly unfair to expect the Pastor to implement every idea on his own. Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” New ideas are the easy part. We must, as James<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1038780248" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:22</span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>tells us, become “doers of the Word.” Scripture is full of action words.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Go, do, speak, exhort, oppose.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet, so many believers passively approach applying scripture to their lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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Brothers and sisters, the time of simply spectating is over. It’s time to get off the sidelines and get in the game.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-34241545377528822692015-10-06T07:56:00.002-07:002015-10-06T07:56:38.112-07:00Thoughts on Meditation<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Bryan Stevenson</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>May my <b>meditation</b> be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>. ~ Psalm 104:34</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSVkJTFSdZjSIkUi5iowmkZSbJRSbdYWNYgwz1cSlnE62mbNHZe1aodEZ1sLfdeSttgDq5OHUTb0UsLUHW9uqVdeGqo6YMCvFAIQsx9y3MW0ACcj9yJx7KyaHjAU_HZiRGP4U0V5fmOLv/s1600/bryan.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSVkJTFSdZjSIkUi5iowmkZSbJRSbdYWNYgwz1cSlnE62mbNHZe1aodEZ1sLfdeSttgDq5OHUTb0UsLUHW9uqVdeGqo6YMCvFAIQsx9y3MW0ACcj9yJx7KyaHjAU_HZiRGP4U0V5fmOLv/s200/bryan.jpg" width="200" /></a>I’m not writing about anything new. It’s not even new to me. One of
my pastors, Marty Angell, gave a message about meditation many years
ago. He explained how Christians would often question meditation because
of its ties with Eastern religions, but instead we should embrace it as
a vital part of a Biblical life. That stuck with me. I’ve had the head
knowledge, and I’ve intermittently put it into practice over the years.
However, our recent trip with <a href="http://www.shorttermtrips.org/" target="_blank">The Center for Short Term Missions</a>, and Jaron’s trip with <a href="http://www.globalexpeditions.com/" target="_blank">Global Expeditions</a>, have made the concept more real to me than ever before.<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the benefits of leaving your home town for a missions trip is
that it forcibly pushes you away from your daily routine. It encourages
introspection and spirituality, both things that are lacking in a
typical American week. So, while in West Virginia we woke up, had
breakfast, and then spent an hour or so reading through a study, reading
the Bible, and having “quiet time.” (I think the term “quiet time” was
invented by American Christians as a substitute for the more
uncomfortable feeling word, “meditation.”) Jaron also spent time each
morning journaling and reading Scripture. We don’t do this in our daily
lives. Personally, I pray every day, typically while walking into my
office, or as I fall asleep at night. I’m obviously not very focused,
nor am I giving my best.<br />
<br />
My Indian co-workers tell me about the rigors of Hindu meditation.
Those practitioners take it seriously. They will often set up a shrine
in their house, sometimes in a separate room. The sole purpose of that
room is for meditation and prayer. There is something to this idea of
setting aside a time and a place in our lives for the spiritual. There
was a small prayer room at the Baptist church I attended in high school.
I always felt a sense of the sacred when I went into that room. The
atmosphere set the stage for an encounter with the Divine. I’ve had
similar experiences in nature, out on a small boat in the Atlantic,
standing in an icy stream just after dawn, watching the waves crash to
shore with the sun setting behind my back, or sitting on a patio in the
mountains drinking a cup of coffee with Dad. Those times of quiet
reflection will lead to personal growth if we allow them to take hold.<br />
<br />
The missions trip gave us two things that helped focus our
meditation. The first was purpose. The second was location. Now that I’m
back home I recognize that I need to set up those same two ingredients.
The purposeful setting aside of a time and a place to meditate on the
Lord, Scripture, the world, and my place in it.<br />
<br />
I’ve thrown the idea up against the wall … now let’s see if I can make it stick.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-30161237451367483972015-09-29T03:00:00.000-07:002015-09-29T05:07:15.667-07:00Unforgettable Individuals<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Christi Sleiman</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span 0px="" 16px="" 1="" 24px="" black="" display:="" float:="" font-size:="" font-style:="" font-variant:="" font-weight:="" important="" inline="" letter-spacing:="" line-height:="" none="" normal="" olor:="" start="" text-align:="" text-indent:="" text-transform:="" widows:="" word-spacing:=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text 2Cor-4-8" id="en-NIV-28868" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>We are hard pressed on every side,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but not crushed; perplexed,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but not in despair;</span><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text 2Cor-4-9" id="en-NIV-28869" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>persecuted,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.</span><span style="color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text 2Cor-4-10" id="en-NIV-28870" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-10" id="en-NIV-28870" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">~ I <i>Corinthians 4:8-10</i></span><i><br /></i></div>
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I'm an extrovert, so having a conversation is like breathing to me.
Yes, they are necessary to life for me, but not something that I really
think about. More of a natural thing. I had countless conversations
on my mission trip to Israel and Palestine, but like most breaths, almost all of them will be
forgotten. However, two people I spoke to left such an impression on my
heart that forgetting them is impossible.<br />
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<div>
<br />
One woman I spoke to translated for a youth service we did in
Bethlehem. She was upbeat and positive, but upon truly getting to know
her it was apparent that her life is full of pain. She is a member of
what we call the persecuted church. She doesn't fit in with the Muslims
for obvious reasons but also cannot get along with traditional
Christians. Her kids get in verbal fights at their catholic school
until they finally silence themselves about their faith. She can't let
her kids play at the park because the other kids won't accept them. Her
kids aren't allowed to run two minutes away to the store for candy
because the streets aren't safe for them. I cannot imagine trying to
explain to my children why they cannot live like the others around them.
She lives in fear of Isis mere hours and checkpoints away. I had the
honor of praying for her that day, and I continue to keep her and the
rest of her church family in my thoughts and prayers.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
At a block party hosted by a church, I sat down to have what turned
into the most insightful conversation of my life with a 90-year-old
man. He was charming and had kind eyes and became like a father to me.
What I thought would be five minutes of chatting turned into two hours
of learning about his past joys and pains. He was originally from
Jerusalem but was made into a refugee and relocated to Bethlehem after
Israel was reestablished as a nation. He went by Abu Jonny because his
oldest son's name was Jonny. My dad's name in that regard is Abu Jonny
too, so we connected on that fact. His son Jonny passed away, which he
told me while holding back tears. He has lost so much, yet his love of
life and love for God shine through it all. He taught me the value of
family. Yes, he told me about his past job as a judge and bus driver
instructor, but the only thing that really mattered to him was his loved
ones. It reminded me that when everything is said and done, family
will be all that is left.</div>
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I'm sorry that I could only scratch the surface on what these two
showed me. I can't fit into one blog post what was said and how it
changed me.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285870144973914982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714579301249201753.post-28615628298590322682015-09-22T03:00:00.000-07:002015-09-23T07:31:10.840-07:00Reasons for Reaching Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a church, Acts 2 has been stepping up this year in the area of outreach. In addition to our mission trip this summer, we are also planning more outreaches to the community than we have in the past. But why reach out? Some might suggest that evangelism is not about social programs, and there is some truth in that. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the good news to all men. But going into the community and blessing people is a primary way we can build bridges and create space for sharing the good news of Jesus in a receptive environment. Beyond that, reaching out to the poor and hurting fulfills a different but equally important instruction that Jesus gave us. Here are four very important goals for reaching out to our communities and beyond.<br />
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<b>1.</b> <b>Good Impressions. </b>Sadly, many people in our contemporary culture have a very bad impression of Christians and the church. Christians are often viewed as close-minded, hypocritical, judgmental, and downright mean people. Perhaps that's because those sort of misguided "Christians" tend to be the most vocal about their faith. But the quiet majority of goodhearted, true Christians need to rise up and change those impressions. We need to be loving, giving, accessible people of integrity who can be trusted. We need to exude God's peace and joy. We need to be reaching out to the world both through intentional outreach programs and also through our daily living. That combined with an occasional mention that we are indeed followers of Christ and that we do attend a wonderful church will begin to change those bad impressions to good impression, and open people to the good news of Jesus and to the church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6jQcURMVR5uLoJiYnQTb0kw0Oij9CfJAkbACgnYYZoHBnxOettdYopv7RRiQPqbGrXa5gaCIHWq_QsDlQFJjDM9K4WZUEHO68fy5iOWmF3UDeRtsxLBZLuo8Kc9dCIU4TtRcVns-hmaS/s1600/mt56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6jQcURMVR5uLoJiYnQTb0kw0Oij9CfJAkbACgnYYZoHBnxOettdYopv7RRiQPqbGrXa5gaCIHWq_QsDlQFJjDM9K4WZUEHO68fy5iOWmF3UDeRtsxLBZLuo8Kc9dCIU4TtRcVns-hmaS/s400/mt56.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acts 2 members reaching out through service</td></tr>
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<b>2. Have Conversations. </b>Outreach opens opportunities to get to know people. Not preach at them, but to ask them questions about themselves. To open a give and take of information that will show that you care about them as individuals. These conversations make a space for the Holy Spirit to move. If the conversation is going well, you might even bring up an issue related to faith. For example, "Do you attend a church?" or "What is your background with religion?" Maybe you're afraid that those sorts of questions might bring out anger in that person, but if they do, you will learn something very important about where the person is and how you can pray for them. You might even have an opportunity to apologize on behalf of Christians and share what true Christianity is all about. Or perhaps you're concerned that the conversation could bring up questions that you're not prepared to answer. That's a okay. Just say something like, "That's a good question. Let me think about that and we'll talk some more later." You can always take those questions to your church leaders and get their input. And guess what? You'll have a chance for another conversation.<br />
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<b>3. Prayer Invitation.</b> If a conversation goes well, you will also have an opportunity to ask someone to pray. Before you say good-bye, ask them if you can pray for them about anything. About half of the time, people will say yes. But don't be shy; take it a step further. If their answer is something friendly along the lines of, "Oh no. I'm fine. Thanks," ask if you can pray for them anyway. At that point the vast majority will answer yes. Prayer is another way we can show our love and concern in a tangible manner. More importantly, it opens a very immediate and powerful channel for the Holy Spirit to minister to their spirits. Because in the end, it's God's job to move in people's hearts and change them. We are merely the messengers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acts 2 kids having fun and reaching out</td></tr>
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<b>4. Jesus's Instruction. </b>But perhaps the most vital reason to reach out to the needy and hurting is because Jesus tells us to. By reaching out to other people, we bless the God who created them in His image and loves them. We also change our own hearts, both through humbly serving, and also through getting a better perspective on our own lives. So even if we never change another person, never get anyone to accept Christ, never add one member to our church, through reaching out and blessing others, we have pleased God and fulfilled His instruction. I will leave you with this powerful message from Jesus in Matthew 25.<br />
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-31"><span class="woj"></span></span><span class="text Matt-25-33" id="en-NIV-24042"><span class="woj"></span></span></i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-35" id="en-NIV-24044"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-36" id="en-NIV-24045"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’</span></span></i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-37" id="en-NIV-24046"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-38" id="en-NIV-24047"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-39" id="en-NIV-24048"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’</span></span></i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-40" id="en-NIV-24049"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>“The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-41" id="en-NIV-24050"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-42" id="en-NIV-24051"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,</span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-43" id="en-NIV-24052"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>I
was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you
did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after
me."</span></span></i></div>
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