One Verse Comment

Please see the post "The Bible Passage For This Coming Sunday" and look at the comment. Funny. LOL. Good comment.

John 6:9 will be the verse for this Sunday.

The Bible Passage For This Coming Sunday

1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
John 6:1-13 The Message

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Priorities 7-29-07

This past Sunday, 7-29-07 Sunrise ended the series Catch the Wave. The service was about making the most of priorities and living in and with priorities. The word priorities often leads people to think about time management, to lists, or accomplishing certain task by a deadline. We live by priorities whether we realize it or not. At Sunrise we want people to be aware they are living by priorities and to think through priorities. Forming and living by priorities is Biblical (Genesis 1 and 2, Micah 6:8, Luke 19:10, John 3:16, Philippians 3:13) and and will lead us to really think through life issues and what is really important. Priorities will determine decisions that lead to destiny.

Sow a thought, reap and action.

Sow and action, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Our priorities are what we think about, dwell on and eventually live out, so it is important that we think about our priorities. Some benefits of thinking through, setting and living by priorities are: Priorities help us prioritize. Priorities help us accomplish purpose. Priorities simplify life. Priorities help us establish boundaries. Thank God that he has helped us with a priority list that will honor him and bear good fruit. Three priorities that God set forth are: 1) Worshipping God. Realize that there is a God and you are not him or her. 2) Relationships. Healthy, vibrant, growing relationships in your family, with friends, and co-workers is a priority for God. 3) Work. Yes, work. God created us to be productive and and create. Work, not just your job, but various types of work on the job, at home, or ministering to others. By the way they are given to us by God in 1, 2, 3 so that is how we should prioritize them and then set our priorities. Priorities will determine decisions that lead to destiny.

I Choose...

I choose faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment.

I Choose...

I choose kindness...

I will to the poor, for they are alone. to the rich, for they are of afraid. And to the unkind, for such is how god has treated me.

I choose goodness...

I will go wita dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overbooked before I boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

Renewal in Ezekiel

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26

In this verse and in this passage God is speaking to people and encouraging them to look to him for renewal and for restoration. May you and I look to God and allow him to turn our hearts toward Him.

Renewal from Lamentations

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Lamentations 3:19-25

13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
Lamentation 5:13-21

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Renewal 7-22-07

Sunrise continues the them of Catch The Wave. On 7-22-07 the service was planned around the theme of renewal. GLARE did an awesome job of leading us to worship and encounter God via music and there addition of U2's the Streets Have No Name to I Am Free was sweet. Look forward to singing it again this coming Sunday. Renewal is something we understand and desire. In order to be renewed this week and in weeks to come keep in mind and heart the following.

Be Made New. The first and foremost step to renewal is being made new in Jesus Christ. When you and I accepted Christ we were made new. this is the theme throughout the Bible. God makes people new for His glory, for His Kingdom, for Him. God is into to new and renewal. Be made new. When you become a follower of Christ God and all of heaven rejoices over you. You are made new and you become a saint of God. Yes, you are a saint of God. Today, heaven is rejoicing over you and you have the opportunity to walk in sainthood. Hopefully that is encouraging.

Allow God to Renew You. Throughout days, weeks, months and sometimes years we will become tired, weary, worn down and even downcast. In these times seek god and allow Him to renew you. Stop. Look. Listen. Stop. Be still and hear from God. Even if you do not hear from Him be still and be in His presence. Look. Look to God. Look to His power. Look for His renewal. Look beyond your circumstances and look to the God who really does care for you. I am aware of difficult and hard circumstances. So are you. But may we not dwell in them and even look to them. When you feel as if you are about to breakdown look to God for a break through. Listen. Listen to god through His written Word. The Bible is more than a book. The Bible is God's Word. The Bible is power. The Bible is renewing and refreshing. Listen to God. Draw hope and renewal from God as you listen to Him through His word to you and me.

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Found in the Bible

Renewal

I just finished up my message for this coming Sunday, July 22, 2007. Allow me to rephrase, I just finished up the message for this Sunday, but it is never complete because the complete work is God's work. I have prayed, planned, prepared and asked God to work in and through the message and the service. The service has been planned and is going to be an excellent experience. Many people are involved in putting the service together and it is a good feeling to see the service come together with the whole intent of all involved for people to encounter God and experience life change and eternal hope. May we experience renewal this weekend as we look to the Almighty God.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

II Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
II Timothy 1:7 Found in the Bible

I Choose...

I choose patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who took my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment.

These are choices I definitely need to make and want to make. I choose patience.

God's Grace

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8For it is by free grace [God's unmerited favor] that you are saved [delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation] through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] Ephesians 2:8-9 (Amplified Bible)

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Grace 7-15-07

On Sunday, July 15th Scott Salsman spoke to us about catching the wave of grace. He presented to us in a very clear and thought provoking manner to need for God's grace versus us relying on good works to get us into heaven. He presented the idea of the American work ethic and that America was built by people with a good work ethic. This idea of the work ethic tends to filter over into religion and Christianity. Meaning: Good People = going to heaven. This seems to make sense. It seems to be a fair system, it motivates people to be good, it is consistent with the idea of a good God, and it lends most people to thin that they will make it to heaven , which by the way is whee most people want to go after they die. Makes sense?? There are some pretty clear and understandable problems with the good people make it to heaven concept. 1. There is no clear standard for what is good and bad. Different people, people groups, religions, nations, leaders, even you and I may differ on what is good or bad. Even in different phases of life we may change our mind on what is good or bad as we grow and mature or immature. But the Bible, God's Word makes it very clear no matter what you or I think about being good or bad that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Roman3:23) and that there is none righteous, not one (Romans 3:10). So therefore by God's standard good in my opinion or your opinion just ain't good enough. 2. Even if we could be good enough we would not be real clear on just how good is good enough to find God's favor by doing good and therefore make it into heaven. On a grading scale do wee need a 70 or 80 or 65 for that matter. Do we have to make up for the bad. Is the good enough stuff that we do only for a certain amount of time in our lives. Just how good do we have to be? 3. It makes a liar out of Jesus. If good works is the way to heaven and they way to have a relationship with God then Jesus Christ is a liar. Jesus made it pretty clear that even some good people who thought they knew they way of good deeds to heaven may not make it into heaven. He also accepted people as were and did not tell them to be good all the time and that would assure them a place in heaven. In His teaching, living, dying, and being raised from the dead He made it clear to his followers and all that God in His grace has provided the way to heaven. That way is Jesus Christ. Not by good works, but by God's grace and provision for all (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Catch the Wave of Grace. Move past the good works or good deeds syndrome and and enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and be sure of your place in heaven and god's Kingdom because of God' provision and God's plan.

Thanks Scott for the very clear, thought provoking and GOOD message.

I Choose...

I choose joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of my circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see peole as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive that I may live.

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment.

Paradoxical Commandments

Steve Gabriele closed his message this past Sunday with this reading he found in the book Becoming A Person Of Influence.

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

Innovative Leaders

Four Qualities of Innovative Church Leaders
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Buzz Conference in Washington, D. C. Craig Groeschel, the pastor of LifeChurch.tv was one of the main speakers. One of his sessions he shared what he thinks are four great qualities of innovative leaders. I thought I’d pass them on to you here today.
First, innovative leaders heal the sick. Jesus sought out those in need and met their needs. Unfortunately today, too many churches are inwardly focused and are not meeting the needs of unbelievers. Craig said that in order to reach those who no one is reaching, we will have to do things that no one else is doing. Our goal is to reach people for Jesus however we can (short of sin), and in order to do that, we need to teach our people to love people who don’t know Christ. His question to us was, “Who is God calling you to reach that no one around you is reaching?”
Second, innovative leaders break the rules. Jesus broke the Sabbath rules. Craig used the analogy of Nascar. “Go straight, turn left. Go straight, turn left.” Innovative leaders don’t take the common path. They turn right! Every great movement of God was started by a leader making a right turn. Quest: What is God calling you to do that’s never been done before?
Third, innovative leaders offend the Pharisees. When you do something new to reach people for Jesus, the Pharisees WILL attack with a vengeance. But Craig said we shouldn’t worry when the Pharisees are shooting at us. We should worry when the aren’t. He asked, “What new thing will God call you to create that will be hated today and embraced tomorrow?”
Fourth, innovative leaders redefine success. Instead of saying how many people they are reaching and bragging about numbers, innovative leaders are constantly reminded how many people there are still to reach. We cannot be impressed with ourselves. We need to stop building attendance and start building the Kingdom.
It was a great lesson on leadership.
So… you have my (and Craig’s permission): Heal the sick. Break the rules. Offend the Pharisees. And redefine success!

This is taken from an e-letter I receive called mondaymorninginsight.com. Graig is the lead pastor of http://www.lifechurch.tv/ in OK and other states. Steve Nethery