Begin Living Your SHAPE

The more we get what we now call "ourselves" out of the way and let him (God) take over, the more truly ourselves we become. C.S. Lewis

The absolute surrender of everything into his (God) hands is necessary. If our hearts are willing for that, there is no limit to what God will do for us or to the blessing he will bestow. Andrew Murray

Basketball

Watching some Bball. These guys are good. Went to a high school Soccer game last night with my daughter. Those guys were good.

www.sunrisecc.org

New site going public this Sunday, April 1, 2007.

Cardinal

The past two mornings I have been able to set on the porch for my morning prayer, read, focus time. Each morn there has been a cardinal that sits in the top of a tree near our porch and sings, and sings, and sings. He is bright red and his song brightened my morning. His song is beautiful. It is as if he knows God is listening, and he gives it his all. What a way to live. Singing with everything you have to God.

For SCC - 3-25-07 Learning from Experiences

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Soren Kierkegaard

Yesterday the weekend service focused on learning from the past. We were encouraged to think about positive achievements and painful experiences in our lives that are meaningful and have somewhat formed the way we live and think and will help us minister to others as we begin to live in SHAPE. We are not to live in the past, but we need to be aware of the past. We live in the now. We relate in the now, and yet God uses past achievements, painful experiences, family backgrounds, past training, careers, and education to help form and SHAPE us in order to live a life that brings glory to Him and fullness and meaning to us and others.

Painful experience quotes stolen from others:

Allow your mess to become your message.

Allow your crisis to become your catalyst for ministry.

The passages below from the Bible will help you understand how God works in all of our experiences.

II Corinthians 1:1-11 Look closely at 4, 9, and 11

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of All Comfort 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Romans 8:28

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Isaiah 6:1-8

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 43:2

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

This morns read and prayer time

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:1-8 found in the Bible

Student Ministry Move

Sunday, April, 15 the Student Ministry is changing meeting locations in the school building. Due to spiritual and numerical growth the student ministry will gather at the Teacher's Lounge area and them move to the Auxiliary Gym which is located behind the main gymnasium. Parents: Look for the fylers about this move that are all over the school building on Sunday morns.

Website Launch

Sunday, April 1, 2007 SCC is launching a newly constructed website. www.sunrisecc.org

Weekend Services April 8 - 29, 2007

Born to be wild.

www
World Wild Witness
4-8 Easter Sunday Morning
9:30 Continental Breakfast
10:00 Concert
10:30 Wekend Service
4-15 www
The Church:
A Wild Celebration
(Reaching Up: Worship)
4-22 www
The Church:
A Wild People
(Reaching Out: Sharing)
4-29 www
The Church:
A Wild Party
(Reaching In: Community)

Proseucomai (pros-yoo-khom-ahee)

Keep Praying. Stay in prayer. Pray at all times.

SHAPE

This coming Sunday, 3-25 there are 19 persons attending "The Hour of SHAPE" in the morning and 9 attending in the evening. This is good stuff. We are going to have a great time getting into SHAPE. Lookin' forward to it.

For SCC - 3-18-07 Abilities and Personality

What are some of your abilities? The following list will help you think this question through.

Cooking

Teaching

Partying

Welcoming

Listening

Sewing

Underwater Basket Weaving

Dancing

Building

Breaking

Writing

Mechanic

Decorating

Analyzing

Designing

Camping

Hunting

Athletic Abilities

Coaching

Organizing

Photography

Acting

Singing

Burping

This is just a start. What are some of your abilities? Remember: Availability is more important than ability.

What is your personality groove? Let the following help you determine.

Extrovert or Introvert

Party Animal or Wall Paper

Rock n Roll or Country

Quiet of foot in Mouth

Spinner Rims or Plain Rims

Outdoors or Indoors

Bookworm or Doofus

Wild Thang or Cool Cat

Plain Jane or Cool Cat

This is just a start. Have some fun. Be you. Remember: Availability is more important than personality.

St. Patrick did not invent green beer but he did help many people become followers of Christ in Ireland in 400 AD because he was sincere, he cared, he introduced others t0 Jesus and he was available. Ed Lane helped many people in TX and CA experience Jesus Christ and enter into a new realm of life because he was sincere, he cared, he lived for Jesus and he was available.

Become available. Move forward.

Your abilities are important. Your personality is important. AVAILABILTY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

Please see the Psalm 139 post to begin to understand just how important you are to God

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139 found in the Bible

Passion is more than a fragrance

The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad things, but that we are not passionate enough about good things.
Larr Crabb, Finding God

Passion is the fuel of life. It is the great source of energy and drive. It's what makes us explore new vistas, develop new relationships, and seek solutions to perplexing problems.
Bob Buford, Halftime

We were created with a passion to live. Erwin McManus, Stand Against the Wind

From morning reading

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 found in the Bible

From morning reading

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 found in the Bible

For SCC - 3-11-07 It Is a Matter of the Heart

On Sunday, 3-11-07 we took another step forward in discovering our SHAPE and living a full life that honors God and touches the lives of many others. Steve Gabriele and all his muscles "pumped us up" after GLARE (God's Love Audibly Reaching Everyone) pumped us up by presenting to us a song about wanting to live the life that God created us to live. the "H" in SHAPE is for Heart. The "H" is about living with passion or living out of your passion. Living life with some zeal. Heart = Desire. Heart = Passion. Passion for life. Living with passion. Discovering what is important to you and living to make a difference. Andera led us in some exercises that got our hearts pumping and pulses up. Passion is about living life "pumped." Living for something. Check your pulse. Discover your SHAPE. Live.

Faith in People

I am working through Becoming a Person of Influence by John Maxwell with Steve Gabriele. He and I meet together on Thursday afternoons and have a good time laughing, sharing, and learning. Today are discussion was about a chapter in the book that spoke about having faith in people. We both enjoyed the read and the discusson. We see God working in people's lives and consider it an honor to be a part of that work. We are grateful that God has faith in us even when we may not have faith in ourselves. We want to be men who have faith in God and faith in others. Steve and I are thankful for the life-change that God is accomplishing in our lives and are pumped about people wanting to know God, grow in Christ and begin to discover their SHAPE.

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1:3-6 found in the Bible

"Spring Forward" on Saturday evening, March 10, 2007.

A Helpful Book

For those who enjoy reading. This book will be beneficial to you during the SHAPE series.

For SCC - 3.4.07 Open the Present: Spiritual Gifts

We have started a new series called Getting Into SHAPE. This past Sunday we looked at the S in the acrostic SHAPE. Spiritual Gifts. We discovered that Dodge ball is not a spiritual gift even though it is a blast to play. We also were reminded that god wants us to move forward with Him in His service and His work and in a relationship with Him. Part of moving forward in Jesus Christ is knowing our SHAPE. As we looked at Spiritual Gifts this past Sunday the following is the Cliff notes of what we uncovered.

What are spiritual gifts?

A God-given special ability, given to every follower of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit of God to strengthen the church and reach others.

Who receives spiritual gifts?

Every believer (follower of Christ) receives spiritual gifts.

Why does God give spiritual gifts?

To strengthen the church and bless others.

How do I know what gifts I have been given?

Spiritual growth, affirmation of others, and serving and sharing.

What to do?

Enter into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and move forward.

I have posted a few passages from the Bible that speak about spiritual gifts. Take a few minutes this week and give them a read. Have fun.

Spiritual Gifts: Ephesians 4:11-12; I Peter 4:7-11

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4:11-12

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 4:7-11

Spiritual Gifts: I Corinthians 12 and 13

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13

Spiritual Gifts: Romans 12

1 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. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12