Living the Message

Naming

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Amy talked about Revelation 2:12-17 in the first of a series of sermons based on the art shown at MCC during ArtPrize. Today, we heard from Jim VanderMolen about his piece, Column of the Spirit.

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

13. I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives.

14. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.

15. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

In the Bible, we see that by naming something, we have authority over it. God gave some people (ie. Abram and Jacob) new names which signified a transition or a new status. In Isaiah 62, it says on the day that God returned, His people will be called by a new name.

Even though we deserve a black stone, God will give us a white stone because of His grace. We were invited to write the name that we believe God will give us on a white stone and place it at the base of the sculpture.

Jim VanderMolen's Artist statement: My proposed sculptural installation, Column of the Spirit, draws on my experience as an architect, artist and child of God. Inspired by various liturgical furnishings and towers I have created for church clients, as well as odd bits and pieces from off-the-shelf and discard bins, this work invokes the creative, dynamic power of the Holy Spirit that dignifies the ordinary with joy and grace.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

Today, Pastor Mary read Mark 10:13-16 and talked about the upside kingdom we have been learning about in the beatitudes. We have to accept God's kingdom with the trust of a little child!

And Jeremiah gave us some food for thought at the end... it is better to be humbled than to be successful.

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:51:00 +0000

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. The Message

Today Pastor Mary talked about this beatitude and read the story of the poor widow's offering. Even though her offering wasn't as much as the other's, Jesus saw her heart. She gave all she had out of her poverty. A person who is pure in heart would be innocent and untainted by evil. As creatures of the fall we can never have perfectly pure motivations, but we need to work on making sure Jesus is the grounding part of our life. We heard about the part in David's life when he became more of a king than a child of God and threw his weight around in the wrong way. After he realized where he had gone wrong, he wrote Psalm 51. Verse 10 says "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." May we should always seek God to make our minds and heart put right.

Blessed are the Merciful

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:34:00 +0000

Today Pastor Mary talked about this beatitude and read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows us who our neighbor is. This story is so well known today, but it was radical in Jesus' time. She also read Genesis 1:26-31 emphasizing verse 27 where we are created in God's own image. We can be merciful because God has shown mercy to us.

Mary shared a quote from Dorothy Day who said, "I really only love God as much as the person I love the least." This is a powerful quote to think of when we think about loving our neighbors and showing mercy to them. In the end we learn, as Henry Nouwen did, that when we show mercy, we ourselves receive such amazing mercy - the Holy Spirit goes with us!

Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Pastor Mary has been continuing with the series on the Sermon on the Mount, however, I haven't posted for a few weeks with vacation, etc. She covered these: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Last week, we learned that meekness is a trait that Jesus wants us to have. With meekness, our lives will be about Him and not our own agendas.

Today, Pastor Mary talked about the next beatitude: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled. We read the story of the woman at the well whom Jesus told that the water He gives is living water. Whoever drinks it will not be thirsty.

As we sat on the hillside listening to Pastor Mary, it began to sprinkle. Mary and others made a good call and headed indoors for it soon turned into a downpour. It seemed ironic to be speaking of the water we thirst for as the downpour came from heaven, but as Jeremiah rightly pointed out, the water from Jesus satisfies our spiritual thirst.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:26:00 +0000

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." Matthew 5:2 The Message

Today, Pastor Mary talked about the first of the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." She illustrated how this works with the story of the unclean woman in Matthew 9 who had been bleeding for 12 years. She touched the edge of Jesus' cloak and was healed because of her faith. She was at the end of her rope, realized that she could not be made better on her own, and put her faith in Jesus. We realize we are most blessed when we are in the time of greatest need or when we realize our need and we know we can't save ourselves on our own.

Things to think about:

Read the account of this story in the book of Luke and Mark. How are they the same? How are they different?

How is God working in your life today? How can you reach out - or let yourself be reached?

We can't do it ourselves - we need our Savior!

Simplicity

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Today, Pastors Henry & Amy talked about the spiritual discipline of simplicity and what it means to practice this. We read Matthew 6:25-34:

25. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
28. "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31. So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Christian simplicity is more than just living with less. We need to learn to live without worry which distracts our minds from God. Simplicity starts with our hearts where we put our possessions in their proper perspective. Richard Foster in his book on Christian disciplines suggests 3 ways to put our possessions in perspective:

1. Trust God to care for the things He has given you.
2. Receive what you have as a gift from God.
3. Allow the things you own to be available to others.

Outward simplicity starts on the inside. Where is your heart focused today?

Solitude

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Today at MCC, we talked about solitude which is the spiritual practice of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes. Pastor Henry read Psalm 62 where the psalmist is waiting quietly before God and finding his rock, salvation and fortress in God alone. Jesus also gave us the example of solitude and silence by retreating to spend time alone with His Father. Here are some reasons why solitude is good for us to periodically engage in:

1. To develop a better, deeper relationship with God,
2. To see things in a spiritual perspective,
3. To hear the voice of God,
4. To express faith in God.

You can intentionally set aside time for solitude and read a Bible passage to meditate on or you can view opportunities when you have to wait for something as a time to focus on what God is doing.

When was the last time you spent in solitude with God?

Service and the Spirit

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:33:00 +0000

Today Pastor Amy read Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit came down to live in the hearts of the disciples and all those who believed. We learned that the meaning of "spirit" is breath or wind and it stands for the most basic thing we need to live. The Holy Spirit fills the church with what it needs to live. It reveals wrong(sin) and right(righteousness).

If the Holy Spirit is involved in our service, it should look different. We'll do it with a Christ-like attitude.

What does your service attitude look like?

Meditating

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:43:00 +0000

1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Today Pastor Jason read Psalm 1 and talked about meditiation which is an invitation to apprehend God. When we medititate on His word, we are opened up to the mind of God, His world and His presence in the world. God's word enters us and changes us. In verse 3, the person who meditates on His word is compared to a tree planted by streams of water. God turns us into the people He wants us to be when we love His word.

What passages we meditated on affected you today? What caused them to affect you in that way?

Fasting to Remember

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Pastor Henry read Deuteronomy 8 today where the people of Israel are standing on the banks of the Jordan waiting to cross over into the Promised Land. Moses is telling them to remember the Lord and His provision for their lives as they enter the Promised Land. He knew of the danger that a land with many good things would bring - pride, amnesia and stupidity - forgetting that all good things are from God.

The cure for this is in verse 3 - fasting. This is refraining from food or other things for spiritual purposes, or letting go of our appetite to seek God on matters of deep concern for others, ourselves and the world. In Matt. 6:16-18 Jesus warns us of one the the dangers of fasting - that is, making it about ourselves instead of about God.

From what is God calling you to fast? Think about what is consuming your life and feast on God instead.

Your View of Prayer

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Jason read Luke 11:1-13 when Jesus taught his disciples about prayer. The view we have of prayer forms who we are as disciples of Jesus. It's possible we think of prayer sometimes as wishful thinking or serious desparation or manipulation. But Jesus is teaching them how to pray so that their prayer becomes true worship - so that the asking in prayer is done for the purpose of God's glory. He may not give you the things you ask for but He does give the Holy Spirit. God answers our prayers for His glory.

What are your ideas about prayer?

Fearless & Bold, In Jesus Name

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Amy read Acts 9:19-31 where we see what happened to Saul after his encounter/experience with God. He began preaching boldly and fearlessly that Jesus is the Son of God which is a significant shift from the way he was. People noticed that he had been changed! We see what happened to the people as a result of this preaching in vs. 31:

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Pastor Amy about the lines we can cross in our journey with Christ.
1 - I believe in the gospel enough to benefit from it.
2 - I believe in the gospel enough to contribute comfortably.
3 - I believe in the gospel enough to give my life to it.

We definitely see that Saul has crossed the 3rd line. Where are you and where do you want to be?

Turning Point

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Henry talked about the turning point which can be described as a time in our lives marked by the making of a serious commitment which changes our life. Disciples of Jesus have turning points in their lives. We looked at the case of Saul in Acts 9:1-31 where he had an encounter with the risen Christ and was changed. He saw a blinding light and couldn't see for 3 days. During this time, he became changed by God's spirit.

When did you encounter the Risen Christ and what effect did it have on your life?

Your Spiritual Journey

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Today, we began a new series at MCC about our spiritual journey and how we go from being searchers to followers, a process called discipleship. Pastor Jason talked about Galatians 1:11-21 where Paul is talking about his past as a Pharisee and how God, in His grace, called him out of that to become one of the church's most effective missionaries. He was looking for God in rules and regulations but it was the wrong direction.

The handout we were given outlines 7 possible steps in discipleship: Not interested, Curiously seeking, Searching assertively, Faith commitment, Experiencing new life, Grwoing in Community and Living Missionally. Where are you on your spiritual journey?

Risen!

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Henry read the Easter story found in John 20:1-18 where we see the different reactions of Mary Magdalene, Peter and John to the empty tomb. Dead bodies don't just move - Mary naturally concluded that someone had taken the body. Later when she was crying near the tomb, the risen Jesus came to her and asked why she was crying. When she recognized Him, she believed He was risen and her outlook changed. Now she knew, as do we when we believe in the Resurrection, that this life here on earth is not all there is to it and death is not final.

Who or what are you looking for this Easter?

Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Today, we read Luke 23:32-49 and Pastor Amy talked about when Jesus told one of the criminals next to Him on the cross, "I tell you the truth, today, you will be with me in paradise." This might make us think of the parable in Matthew 20 in which a landowner paid the same amount (a denarius) to the man who only worked for the last hour as the man who worked for him all day. Jesus has a different view of getting what we deserve. God wants us all to live with Him in paradise, but none of us deserve it. We can't earn it or buy it. It is only by believing in Jesus' life and death that we can deserve this paradise.

Question of the Day: What do you imagine paradise to be like? Why do you want to be there?

Father, Forgive Them...

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Jason talked about one of Jesus' last words on the cross... "Father, Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." We read the context of these words in Luke 23:32-41 and saw that Jesus said these words in the midst of being sneered, mocked and spit upon. Jesus forgives these awful, hateful things and it might make us wonder what we did that was so bad that needs to be forgiven. But we have a tendency to want to make our own rules for our lives which drives a wedge between us and God, and for this we need to be forgiven. And the good news is that God forgives everyone who accepts this prayer of Jesus on the cross.

Question of the Week: What things in your life are driving a wedge between you and God?

Why?

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Today at MCC, we started a series for Lent focusing on the last words of Jesus on the cross. Pastor Henry read the story of the crucifixion from Mark15:1-41 and talked especially about verse 34, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? '--which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"

Pastor Henry talked about how the answer to this question could be found in Psalm 22. In the Jewish tradition, when someone would refer to one line of Old Testament scripture, others would know that he was referring to the whole text from which it came. Thus, when Jesus said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?", He was referring to Psalm 22. In this Psalm, we see that this question was also asked by Israel's greatest king who in the end was delivered. And at the cross, we would see that though horrific, this is not the end.

Question of the week: What do you hear when Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When we hear this cry of desperation, I think we can also hear how great Jesus' love for us is since it was our sins that put him there so we wouldn't have to suffer what He did.

How Do We Experience God?

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:48:00 +0000

In the last of a series on "The Shack", Pastor Amy talked about the picture we have in our minds when we think of our experience of who God is in the last sermon in the series on "The Shack." God is infinitely beyond our comprehending, He is beyond our comprehension, yet parts of Him are knowable. The image of Him that we carry around with us affects our relationship with Him.

We read Psalm 18 together which gives an excellent view of how David pictured God. The Bible gives us the most accurate picture of who God is since it is His inspired word.

Question of the Week: What aspect of God was new to you today?

Forgiveness

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Today at MCC, Pastor Henry read Colossians 3:1-17 and talked about the challenge of forgiveness, one of the themes in the Shack. Verse 13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Forgiveness is not about forgetting, it's about letting go. People are responsible for their own actions and God says, "it is mine to avenge, I will repay." (Romans 12:19). If we don't forgive people, soon the weight of bitterness crushes us.

Question of the Week: Who do you have to forgive? What makes it so difficult to forgive them?
In a way, I think we have to continually be willing to forgive other people for not being God to us and fulfilling all of our needs. When people hurt us, we should remember that they are broken too.

Rules or Relationship?

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Today, Jason talked about Colossians 2: 26-23 where Paul is addressing the problem of legalism. We have a tendency to set up rules so we know what to expect. God did give us the 10 Commandments as a rule for our lives, but He knew we couldn't keep them. We are dependent on His grace in Jesus Christ to fulfill the law. In "The Shack", Mack has a discussion with God about this very thing. God tells him that He wants a relationship with His people and not for them to just be following the rules.

In Christ, we have freedom from the rules that society puts on us - the things that other people might expect to see from what their view of a Christian should be. What does it mean to die with Christ? Perhaps it means to die to that part of ourselves which is trying to gain acceptance from society by following their view of the rules. We are then free to live a life of expectancy to the good things in Christ.

He is Always With Us

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Today, Pastor Henry started a new series based on a fictional novel, The Shack. In this novel, the main character Mack is faced with unspeakable suffering and is questioning God. Suffering and pain can cause us to forget God's promise, to doubt and to question Him. Henry asked us to think of the questions we might ask God if we were given the opportunity.

Henry told us something a former teacher of his told him... "I am often struck by what God doesn't promise." What He does promise is found in Isaiah 43:2,

"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."

What a promise! He promises to be with us no matter what our circumstances are.

Question of the Week: How do you acknowledge the truth of Isaiah 43:2 in your life?

I have this image in my head when I think of what the future could hold of God being with me in even the darkest of times and I am very thankful for the peace it gives me.

Rehoboth Sunday

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:44:00 +0000

Today, the Rehoboth Team shared stories from their mission trip to New Mexico during January 10-18, 2009 which illustrated how God is at work.

The team also gave the chapel which they had given twice - for Rehoboth Christian School and Zuni Christian Reformed Mission School. The chapel was about purpose and how fear of rejection can get in the way of our purpose. Jesus knows about rejection and He promises to never reject us. "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:6.

Question: How can fear of rejection get in the way of your purpose? How does God's provision help your purpose?

In His Image

juliasmilde@comcast.net (Jewels) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:46:00 +0000

This morning, Pastor Jason talked about Genesis 1:26-31 when God created man in His image. It's kind of like looking in a mirror - when we see the image that is reflected and not the actual thing. We learn in John 4:24 that God is spirit and His followers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. What else does it mean to be created in His image?

1. We are above nature - we must care for it.
2. To be created in God's image is to reflect God's desire for life.
3. In verse 31, God looked at all He had made and said that is is very good - this puts a lot of weight on us to be His reflection. We messed it up, but through Jesus' sacrifice, He declared it is finished.

One way we refelect God's image is a desire to see life flourish.

Question of the Week: Can you think of other ways we reflect God's image?