The Focus of 2011

Wow - we have made it to 2011. To be honest, I am a bit disappointed! Where are the hover boards from Back to the Future? Where are the space ships from 2010: The Year We made Contact? For that matter, where is the space ship from 2001: A Space Odyssey? We are WAY behind that film. Where are the computer systems from numerous other Sci-fi movies that came out a few decades ago?

However, as we move into 2011, I have come up with a resolution that challenges me to the core. It is actually pretty simple. Focus on people not on technology. I am a tech addict. I love techy things. The newer and cooler the better! I was blessed beyond belief this Christmas with techy things. I got a mini remote controlled helicopter. I got a bunch of DVD's and Blu-rays to add to my collection. I have recently been able to purchase a Droid Incredible phone (for work of course). Yet, I wanted more. I found myself on Amazon.com right after Christmas looking at other stuff I could buy (with gift cards...but still!).

Then I started reading two books that are rocking my world. They are both by Francis Chan. Crazy Love we are doing in all our Life Groups, as a Sunday School class as well as a Sermon Series. The Forgotten God we are reading through as a church staff. In both those books there is an emphasis on being different. If we are truly temples of the Holy Spirit, how can we look the same as everybody else? If the Spirit of Christ actually lives inside of us how can people not immediately know who we are and who we follow?

All around us there are people who are needy and hurting. What are we doing to meet those needs? If you are like me, you are sitting on Amazon.com looking at the next cool techy "need" that I have...completely oblivious to the needs around me. Or maybe, like me, you try to comfort yourself with the idea that you are oblivious to them, all the while you know exactly what needs are out there AND DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM!

Walk with me in 2011 as I think and pray about how to be more like Christ, more filled with the Spirit, more aware to needs and most importantly, willing to do something to meet those needs!

Back from Vacation

Amy, Callie and I were able to head to Sunriver Oregon this last weekend for a time of rest, refreshment and time of fellowship with good friends. It is times like these that remind me of how we are designed. We were designed to need rest. We also were designed for relationship. Exodus 20:8-11 is where God mandates that we take time off. Jesus Himself looked for opportunities to be alone and rest from His public ministry. Mark 1:35 we see Jesus seeking opportunities to refresh with His Father. In Genesis 2:18 we see that we require relationships with other people. So often we get lost in the business of life that we don't allow time with God or time with other believers to refresh. Let me tell you, it is needed. It is not optional. If you don't you will burn out. Oh, and by the way, it is Biblical! So take your family and go refresh with other believers and especially with your Heavenly Father! God desires that and commanded that!

A New Holiday Tradition

We all do Christmas Trees, listen to Christmas music eat the cookies, drink the cider and give gifts right? Ever wanted to do something more spiritual around the holidays? Check out this article on The Jesse Tree Tradition! http://www.crosswalk.com/11641703/

Election Day 2010

This is a day that many Christians today face with fear and trepidation. However, I came across a passage today that puts the election into perspective. It is Psalm 2.

1Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
³"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

The Great Gobbler Giveaway!

This year our church is giving away Turkeys to families in our community who have financial needs. This is a huge help in our community and we have literally 100+ that we try and give to. However, we cannot do it without you're help. Please let us know if you can donate turkeys or give money towards turkeys ASAP! Make checks out to Grace Community Church and write Turkeys in the note section. You can mail checks to 598 E Ellendale Ave. Dallas, OR 97338 or drop them in the offering plate on Sundays leading up to Thanksgiving.

Remember the words of Jesus, "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. 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, 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.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

How fleeting life is...

Please be in prayer for the Tawney family. They recently lost their son Ian who was a Marine in Afghanistan. If you are available, there is a procession down Ellendale at around 2:30 on Friday as they bring the body back to the family. The funeral is at Faith at 11am on Saturday.

This is a harsh way to be reminded just how fleeting and fragile life is. James 4:14 says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." 1 Peter 1:24 says, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall." We are so insignificant. Yet, to God we are very significant. Paul describes God as someone "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Let us celebrate our God given significance while humbly realizing the reality of our insignificance! We have a God who loves us and cares for us more deeply than any of us can understand!

Verse of the Day...

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

If you are like me, I cannot honestly say that I praise the Lord with "all my heart." What would that look like? I praise Him with some of my heart for sure! And then do I "tell of all Your wonders." What would that look like? Do I rejoice in Him? The only part of this passage I feel confident in is singing praise to His name. We do that each Sunday at Grace and I do it in the car to Lincoln Brewster worship albums. However, it seems I have a long way to go to capture the heart of these verses. How about you?