About 3 or 4 Sundays every year, my wife and I head to the lake with our Bibles and drink coffee while we sit by the shore and read.
I admit it - we're skipping church.
We're the first to agree that this is not what God intended - although not just because of what the 4th Commandment says.
In the letter to the Hebrews, the New Testament writer reminds the early church:
Hebrews, Chapter 10
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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."
Note to self from that passage: Do not give up meeting together (as some are in the habit of doing).
Good passage to mention when friends decline your invitation to church ("I don't really go for organized religion - I have my own way of doing that....")
I heard a radio preacher read that verse from a Bible that translated "not giving up meetng together" as "do not forsake the community..."
And Paul looked to the church community for example:
1Timothy 3:15
"if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
We don't need to choose a particular denomination for our friends, but we should encourage each other to join and participate in the community of Believers. We're stronger together !
What do you believe?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Packers, Superbowl, Rodgers and Jesus
Nice article about Superbowl Champion and Greenbay Packer, Aaron Rodgers - written by Mark Darnall & Bruce Darnall on Athletes for Action website.
An excerpt here:
(by Mark Darnall & Bruce Darnall)
"Rodgers looks to his father as a model—one who exemplifies humility, integrity and honoring his elders. “I use that model as I relate to my friends and family, my teammates and coaches,” Rodgers says. “I want them to see that I really love and care for them as individuals. I try to build relationships. I feel if you are not personally invested in the people you spend every day with, then you are missing out on building a relationship and wonderful life experiences. That is what I like about Jesus: Jesus is about relationships.”
A verse that is special to him is John 10:10: “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” Rodgers summarizes, “The Lord is my Rock. He has always been there, always present at good times and bad; and to me when I feel His presence, my life is full.”
What do you believe?
An excerpt here:
(by Mark Darnall & Bruce Darnall)
"Rodgers looks to his father as a model—one who exemplifies humility, integrity and honoring his elders. “I use that model as I relate to my friends and family, my teammates and coaches,” Rodgers says. “I want them to see that I really love and care for them as individuals. I try to build relationships. I feel if you are not personally invested in the people you spend every day with, then you are missing out on building a relationship and wonderful life experiences. That is what I like about Jesus: Jesus is about relationships.”
A verse that is special to him is John 10:10: “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” Rodgers summarizes, “The Lord is my Rock. He has always been there, always present at good times and bad; and to me when I feel His presence, my life is full.”
What do you believe?
I feel guilty about your guilt
A friend and I had a healthy debate about how to share the gospel with a young adult we know.
I thought it fine to convey a sense of urgency, because we never know what tomorrow brings. My friend thought we should plant seeds but wait longer to talk about a personal commitment. In the end, my friend did proceed to meet the young adult and explain personal salvation, but felt my comments had "guilted" her into it, rather than encouraging her to seek God's timing.
I did second guess myself about being overly aggressive, but still felt there's never a bad time to explain the Gospel. And my friend second guessed herself because she realized she could have spoken up about the gospel more often, before I ever mentioned it. We both acknowledged our flaws in this - and give God the Glory for whatever He accomplishes amidst our imperfection!
In true e-fashion, we "texted" parts of our conversation on this, while the apostle Paul wrote about a similar experience to his friends on parchment. It sounds familiar!
2 Corinthians Chapter 7 verses 8-10
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
What do you believe?
I thought it fine to convey a sense of urgency, because we never know what tomorrow brings. My friend thought we should plant seeds but wait longer to talk about a personal commitment. In the end, my friend did proceed to meet the young adult and explain personal salvation, but felt my comments had "guilted" her into it, rather than encouraging her to seek God's timing.
I did second guess myself about being overly aggressive, but still felt there's never a bad time to explain the Gospel. And my friend second guessed herself because she realized she could have spoken up about the gospel more often, before I ever mentioned it. We both acknowledged our flaws in this - and give God the Glory for whatever He accomplishes amidst our imperfection!
In true e-fashion, we "texted" parts of our conversation on this, while the apostle Paul wrote about a similar experience to his friends on parchment. It sounds familiar!
2 Corinthians Chapter 7 verses 8-10
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
What do you believe?
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