11.29.2007

five3challenge: bookmark for week 4

five3challenge: John 12 (Part 2)


"Jesus was an awesome performer"

John 12:37 says,

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
Why?

Why after such clear evidence did so many people still reject Jesus. What after "seeing for themselves" did people who witnessed the miracles first hand still not turn to follow Jesus?

There are many reasons I am sure, but one basic one is at least true.

They did not want to.

You know, this is true still today. Some people raise all kinds of objections to faith, God, the bible, Jesus, etc... but really these are just a smoke screen for their own desire to not believe.

Why would someone not want to believe in Jesus?

That is simple... if you believe in Jesus... then you have to live like you mean it... You have to let him be the God of you life and you have to serve him...

Thoughts?

11.28.2007

five3challenge: John 12

Jesus smelled really good...sometimes...

Not long after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus is having dinner at his house. At the dinner Mary, Lazarus sister, took some very expensive perfume and poured on Jesus feet. Then with her own hair she wiped his feet.

As many have pointed out... this perfume was most likely intended for Mary's wedding, but following Jesus raising of Lazarus... life would never be the same for Mary

Even if she married, she would never get over knowing that she had met the One who had power of Death.

She had experienced such wonderful things in Jesus... that all the treasures of life were now secondary... even human love.

She was ruined for Jesus...

But Jesus was so fragrant that the whole house was filled with the smell...


Have you been ruined for Jesus yet? What crazy things have you been moved to do simply because you love him so much?

five3challenge: John 11:37-57

Jesus was the LIFE of the party!


When Jesus showed up to late to save Lazarus, many people murmered about him, saying things life,

"Could not the one who opened blind men's eyes, save this man?"


Even Lazarus' sisters were disappointed that Jesus had not done more...

But Jesus was not swayed by the opinions of others... he knew what would bring the most glory to his father, and it was not healing this time. It was Resurrection.

Jesus told Mary (11:25-26),

"I am the resurrection and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"


So at Jesus command, the people present removed the stone that covered the grave of Lazarus, and when Jesus prayed to his father, Lazarus rose. He had been dead for three days.

Why let him die and then resurrect him?

"Father... I have said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."


Jesus was trying to help his followers to understand who he was and to trust him no matter what. After all... if he could raise the dead, what could possibly not be possible for him.

How much do you trust him? Has it occurred to you what he is capable of?

11.27.2007

Roots Series: Connection (prayer)

We were made for connection with God.

Once, in the garden of Eden, this connection was face to face as the first humans walked with God...

after the humans disobeyed God their connection with him was broken. This connection could only be re-established by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.

Now the connection is available to everyone who follows Jesus. Still many choose to segment their faith to only certain areas of their life.


This means that God is more than a Genie, and prayer is more than simple "wishes."

Prayer is communicating with God.



We were designed for constant connection with God, but often we forget about him for long stretches of our day, week, or life.

If we really want to know him and follow him, then we must learn to establish a constant connection with him.

Whats the the bottom line?

Prayer is about connection with God... it is mysterious... through it we enter into relationship with the invisible world that surrounds us all the time...

Some questions to consider about this topic:
1. . How connected do you feel with God?

2. What are your current habits regarding God's prayer? What keeps you from talking with God, and developing that connection? What has worked for you?

3. What would help you to stay connected with God all the time? Is there a prayer equivalent to text messaging or IM?


4. How do you think you could begin to grow a rhythm of prayer in your life?

5. If you really believed that whatever you prayed for would come true in 30 seconds... what would you pray for first? Second?

Sno Rodeo: Ordinary Hero Teaser!

Check it OUT!

five3challenge: John 11

"Jesus sometimes got a little weepy."

In John 10:22-40 Jesus was almost stoned for claiming to be one with the father, or in other words... Jesus claimed to BE GOD HIMSELF...

After the crowd tried to stone him, Jesus retreated out of the region around jerusalem and went back to the Jordon where John used to baptize before he was imprisoned and executed.

Not long after Jesus arrived, word comes in John 11 that his good friend Lazarus is really sick and will most likely die. The problem is that Lazarus lives back near Jerusalem where the mob just tried to stone Jesus.

This point does not escape Thomas and the disciples. In 11:16 Thomas says, "great, lets return with Jesus so that we also may day" This could be taken many ways, but I think it might be sarcastic, and that Thomas is pointing out how foolish such a return would really be.

Regardless, they do return, but not until Lazarus has already died...

When Jesus finds out, he weeps.

What do you think we learn about Jesus... and God... that he sometimes cries? Why do you think he cried in John 11?

11.26.2007

five3challenge John 10

"Jesus is awesome with Sheep"

John 10 is all about how Jesus is the good shepherd. To understand what this means , you sorta have to understand shepherding... which not a lot of people do...

So... back in the Day... like way back BC style... people made there living as shepherds... they would watch over other peoples flocks and make sure that they did not wander away...

In this passage, Jesus is basically saying that we are sorta like his sheep. We are his flock if you will.

Here is what is the most cool. Jesus sheep follow his voice. The recognize it when they here it and they do what it says.... because they remember that their good shepherd has led them to the best grass to eat and water to drink... that he has protected them from lions and bears... that he has taken care of them when they were sick... Jesus loved his sheep and so they loved him... and followed his voice...

Whose voice are you following?

11.24.2007

five3challenge: John 9

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

This is the question that Jesus asked the previously blind man that he healed in John 9.

This phrase, son of man, comes from the old testament and often refers to the expected Messiah, or savior of Israel.

The blind man was confused and responded, "who is he?"

When Jesus revealed that it was He himself who was the Son of Man.... the previously blind man, worshipped him and told him that he "believed!"

When the Blind man realized who Jesus was, worship and faith were his immediate response.

Worship is more than singing songs... it is a recognition of the superior nature of Jesus to us. Worship is admitting that God is God... and we are just humans... we owe him our devotion and affection. Often worship would involve falling on your face or covering your eyes.

When is the last time your truly worshipped God with all that you are?
..

11.22.2007

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Hey everyone, Happy turkey day! I hope you eat lots of fat turkey and stuffing and have a good time with your family.

Just thought I would share with you my personal connection with turkeys.

I grew up in Tremont, a small town in Illinois. Tremont had an annual festival called the turkey Festival where we set world records for how many turkey sandwiches people ate.

Now, because turkeys we so big in tremont, our school made out maskot a turkey.... We were the Tremont Turks.

You can imagine how much teams loved to play us...

"Roast the Turks"

"Gobble up the turks"


And it only got worse.

So... go ahead and eat your bird but just don't make fun of the Tremont Turks!

five3challenge: John 8:31 - 59


"Jesus just is..."

This is one of my favorite sections in John.

Let me point out just a few of really cool things he says:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

This passage is pretty straight forward. It is those who really try to do what Jesus tells us to that are his students, or disciples. When we follow his teaching, we live the best kind of life and experience a freedom that many never do. What kind of freedom?

Truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.


Often people think that Jesus is trying to keep them from all the fun things in life... but the truth is that all those "fun" sinful things that go against his word are traps. They promise fun, and sometimes they even deliver, but as soon as you start, the also come with chains. The chains are the consequences which may not come immediately but will come eventually. And many of these behaviors also can be addictive... enslaving us to our desires!

truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!"


THis statement is given when Jesus is trying explain to some skeptics who he is... He has always existed... he just is...

11.20.2007

five3challenge: John 7:53 -8:11

The Bible is a complicated book.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New testament was written in Greek. The whole bible was translated into Latin at some point.

The Bible is also a collection of shorter stories. Each story has its own history and ended up in the Bible in different ways. I think that history has proven the 66 books that we currently have to be the most reliable.

That said, from time to time there would be minor differences in two different scrolls containing the same book.

John 7:53 - 8:11 is one of the biggest and most famous examples of this. It simple is not in many of the ancient copies of John.

What does this mean? Well, it is interesting that almost all modern versions of the Bible set the passage apart somehow. The NIV uses lines to mark it off from the rest of the text.

I think that many people feel that this account of the adulterous woman is a true account. Even though many scholars believe it is true, many feel like maybe it was added to John later than some of the other material.

Really we cannot be sure, which is why it is left in the Bible even though we are uncertain about its origin.

What is really neat about the Holy Spirit is that he is the one who guides us to all truth. And he has used this passage and many others in the Bible to speak to people throughout history.

When we read the Word and let it really fill our hearts and minds, it changes us.

What questions do you have about the Bible?

11.19.2007

five3challenge: John 8:1-30

"Jesus was really shiny!"

Jesus being the Light of the World is a important theme in the Book of John.

It first shows up in John 1
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.


In John 8:12 he says this,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


Jesus illuminates the right path for all to see, but only those who believe in him actually see it. When we follow him, he lights up our way so that we can live the best kind of life. He also gives us wisdom when our lives are confusing, and brings us light and hope in the darkest moments of life.

His light also shines in the dark places of our life and points our where we still have sin and doubt. When the light hits our shameful areas, we have the opportunity to embrace it, and confess our sins, or to turn away from the light and try to hide our sins.

But... whoever follows Jesus must walk in the light... even when the light reveals how sinful we are, God's grace is enough to help us to change and come back to the right path.

five3challenge: John 7:25 - 52

"Jesus is a rocking energy drink!"

One day while attending a festival Jesus makes a surprising statement...

"On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."


This passage has always intrigued me. The living water is talking about the Holy Spirit. This means that Jesus is better than Monster Energy drinks. Energy drinks give you lots of energy, but eventually they run out... But Jesus is better because once you drink of him, the energy never stops flowing.

11.18.2007

How to comment on the posts...

Some people have been having trouble figuring out how to comment on the blog... so I wanted to make a little tutorial.









Step one: Click the on the word "comments"










Step two: Select the option "Other"

~Then type either your first name... or a nickname (PS you can ignore the web page line)














Step Three: ~Write your comment in the box
















Step Four: Push "Publish Post" and watch the magic happen

11.17.2007

five3challenge: John 7:1-24

People wanted to kill Jesus.

Seriously... he had a way of pushing people to the edge...

Often he had to be cautious about where he traveled because there were so many people trying to kill him. Even Jesus own family were often frustrated with Jesus and sometimes even tried to tell him what to do.

Imagine that...
Jesus had brothers... who thought they could push him around too...
All of these people had their expectations of what the world should look like... of what Jesus should act like... or what church services should be like....

And into all of this infuriatingly unmet expectation... Jesus exhorted everyone saying, "
"Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."


Feast chart
Tabernacle info

five3challenge: week 2 & 3


Hey because we do not have nexus on the 20th due to turkey day, this weeks book mark has reading for two weeks. Check it out.

11.16.2007

New Pics of Service Project last weekend.

Check out the new photo's

five3challenge: John 6 (part 2)

Jesus even disappointed his closest friends.

After the crowds desert him in John 6, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks them some hard questions.

They respond,

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"


So then Jesus asks the Twelve,

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" ... Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.


There is some disappointment in Peter's reply. He could have said, "no way you are the best, we love you"... but instead he sorta says, "hey... we really don't have a choice... we are sorta stuck with you"

And so are we. Jesus is the incredible creator God of the universe, but he does not bend his identity and plan to us. Sometimes things we really want are not part of his plan. Sometimes he is not "exciting" to us. (this is more a reflection of us than it is of him... we desire and love things like iPod's but not the God who died for us... sorta wierd)

But he is the amazing Son of God who has the words of life.

We have no where else to go.

five3challenge: John 6


Jesus was a big disappointment.

According to John 6 Jesus did some really incredible things... He can feed 5000 men, plus women and children; he can walk on water (cool); he is a sought after communicator... BUT... HE is also a major disappointment.

After he had fed the 5000 and walked on the water to get to his next speaking engagement, Jesus ran into a little snag. Rather than respond to the miracles by listening to his teaching, the crowd just wanted more miracles and signs... more food.

"What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?"


They must be joking... he has already given them amazing signs! They are just stubborn and hungry. What they really want is more food.

Jesus correctly sees this and responds in the oddest way:

Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.


Now, had Jesus wanted to he could have explained all of this away..."look I am talking in a metaphor... you do not have to drink my real blood" but he doesn't and as a result many desert him. He had disappointed them.

The didn't want Jesus for who he was... they just wanted him to give them what they wanted.

I think I do this to Jesus too.

11.14.2007

five3challenge: John 5

Jesus was a copycat.

Seriously I am not joking... look at what he says in John 5:19

"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."


Jesus copied his Father God in the way he lived... and now we can copy Jesus copying the Father.

This is why our mission statement for Mosaic is

"learning to live and love like Jesus"


If Jesus, being himself very God, thought that imitating the father was the right way to live... then we also should learn to be Jesus copycats. We should do whatever he does.

WHY?
Because Jesus also said this:
24 "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.


When we follow the son, following the father... We experience life as it was meant to be...

five3challenge: John 4

God is looking for people who will worship him.

John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.


I remember being thrown to think that God would look for anything, after all doesn't he have everything he wants? But in John 4, Jesus seems to indicate that God is looking for people who truly worship him with all their hearts and minds. People who do not just say the right words, but also live the right lives and love Jesus for real.

How about you... Will God find what he is looking for in you? Will he find it in me?

I think it would be so cool if God looked at me one day and was like, "Uh HA!, you are what I have been looking for... you really love me and worship me."

I hope that it does happen.

Roots #2: THE WORD


1. What is a "root?" A "root" is a practice in my life the renews passion for God and my strength to follow him.

God's desire is that we not be like the plant that withers...

Matt 13:20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to people who hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.


Ephesians 3... we are rooted in God's immeasurable love.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge




2. Our life comes from the WORD of God...

The word brings us life... John 1:1-4... the word keeps us on the right path. Hebrews 4


3 Growing roots in the WORD. (Hebrews 4, Psalm 119)

1189 Chapters... If you read 1 a day you would read the whole bible in just over 3 years... 3 a day... it was take just a year.


* the Hebrew is from Psalm 119 and asks the question... how can a young person keep on the right path? The answer... by keeping their life in line with God's word...

1. How serious are you about becoming like Jesus?

2. What are your current habits regarding God's word? What keeps you from reading it and "hiding it in your heart?"

3. Re-read Psalm 119:9-16 as a group. What is David's attitude toward the Word of God? Why is it so important to him? What does he say to do with it?

4. How do you think you could begin to grow roots into God's Word in your life?

11.13.2007

God's Word vs. Toilet Paper

Ravi Zacharias tells this story about Hien Pham on his web site here

I was ministering in Vietnam in 1971, and one of my interpreters was Hien Pham, an energetic young Christian. He had worked as a translator with the American forces, and was of immense help both to them and to missionaries such as myself. Hien and I traveled the length of the country and became very close friends before I returned home. We did not know if our paths would ever cross again. Seventeen years later, I received a telephone call. "Brother Ravi?" the man asked. Immediately, I recognized Hien's voice, and he soon told me his story.

Shortly after Vietnam fell, Hien was imprisoned on accusations of helping the Americans. His jailers tried to indoctrinate him against democratic ideals and the Christian faith. He was forced to read only communist propaganda in French or Vietnamese, and the daily deluge of Marx and Engels began to take its toll. "Maybe," he thought, "I have been lied to. Maybe God does not exist. Maybe the West has deceived me." So Hien determined that when he awakened the next day, he would not pray anymore or think of his faith.

The next morning, he was assigned the dreaded chore of cleaning the prison latrines. As he cleaned out a tin can overflowing with toilet paper, his eye caught what seemed to be English printed on one piece of paper. He hurriedly grabbed it, washed it, and after his roommates had retired that night, he retrieved the paper and read the words, "Romans, Chapter 8." Trembling, he began to read, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:28,38,39).

Hien wept. He knew his Bible, and he had not seen one for so long Not only that, he knew there was not a more relevant passage of conviction and strength for one on the verge of surrendering to the threat of evil. He cried out to God, asking for forgiveness, for this was to have been the first day in years that he had determined not to pray. Evidently the Lord had other plans.

The next day, Hien asked the camp commander if he could clean the latrine again. He continued with this chore on a regular basis, because he had discovered that some official in the camp was using a Bible as toilet paper. Each day Hien picked up a portion of Scripture and cleaned it off, and added it to his nightly devotional reading. In this way he retrieved a significant portion of the Bible.

The day came when, through an equally providential set of circumstances, Hien was released. He promptly began to make plans to escape from the country. After several unsuccessful attempts he began again to build a boat in secret. About fifty-three other people planned to escape with him, and Hien was taking the lead.

All was going according to plan until a short while before the date of their departure when four Vietcong knocked on Hien's door. When he opened it, they accosted him and said they had heard he was trying to escape. "Is it true?" they demanded.

Hien immediately denied it and went on to distract them with some concocted story to explain his activities. Apparently convinced, they reluctantly left.

Hien was relieved but very disappointed with himself. "Here I go again, Lord, trying to manipulate my own destiny, too unteachable in my spirit to really believe that You can lead me past any obstacle." He made a promise to God, fervently hoping that the Lord would not take him up on it. He prayed that if the Vietcong were to come back again, he would tell them the truth.

Resting in the comfort of that impossibility, he was thoroughly shaken when only a few hours before they were to set sail the four men stood at his door once more. "We have our sources, and we know you are trying to escape. Is it true?"

Hien resignedly gave the answer, "Yes, I am with fifty-three others. Are you going to imprison me again?" There was a pronounced pause. And then they leaned forward and whispered, "No. We want to escape with you!"

In an utterly incredible escape plan, all fifty-eight of them found themselves on the high seas, suddenly engulfed by a violent storm. Hien fell with his face in his hands, crying out to God, "Did You bring us here to die?"

As he concluded his story, he said, "Brother Ravi, if it were not for the sailing ability of those four Vietcong, we would have not made it."

They arrived safely in Thailand, and years later Hien arrived on American soil where today he is a businessman- forever grateful for America and praying that she would open her heart as a nation to Christ.

11.12.2007

five3challenge: John 3


John 3 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. John 3:16 in particular is often seen as the clearest Gospel presentation in the Bible.

For God so love the World that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.


I think this verse definitely does show God's love for people. He loved us so much that he gave his most precious Son so that we could be restored into a relationship with him.

What I think is important here is our response. In Verse 19, John writes that
"...Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil."


When you put these two together you do realize that God has reached out to humans in such a costly and meaninful way, but that humans continue to reject God's love.

Consider that it is how we live that demonstrates what we truly believe about God... not just what we say...

If I really believe something won't it change the way I interact with the world?

11.10.2007

Mexico 08: Make a difference with your summer


Interested in Mexico 08? Download an application here.

five3challenge: John 2 (Part 2)

Jesus was a crazy guy sometimes:

John 2:14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.


I think that we miss this in the church very often. I mean think about it... He made a whip and drove the hypocritical religious leaders out of the building...

Sometimes we try to tame Jesus down so that we feel more safe and secure... sometimes we do it to try to control others... But I think we serve a wild God who is passionate in his love for people and sinners... so passionate that sometimes he appropriately grabs the whip to make his point.


When was the last time you were so outraged about some injustice that you actually did something about it?

11.09.2007

five3challenge: John 2 (part 1)

In John 2 we immediately find the famous story of Jesus turning water into wine. Following a really interesting exchange between Jesus and his Mother he turns six jars of water into 180 gallons of wine... give or take a few...

Worth noting is that this wine was the best that had been served at the wedding... meaning Jesus knows a thing of two about making good wine... and that He is able to do truly miraculous things beyond our abilities.

Also worth noting is that John presents this as Jesus first miracle... It seems like for John, that this was the beginning of Jesus revealing his true nature to the disciples through miraculous signs such as this one.


It also begs a few questions:

1. When did Jesus know he was God?

2. When did Mary figure it out and what was she hoping Jesus would do?

3. Why does Jesus seem to tell her he is not going to do anything, but then do it anyway?

thoughts?

five3challenge: John 1 (part 3)


"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"


Jesus asked this question of two young men who were following him around wanting to be one of his disciples. It is a brilliant question really.

Many of us have heard of Jesus and following him around to some degree. I think that question of what we want from him is one we really need to wrestle with. Too much and we run the risk of wanting God to be our personal genie... to little and we have to ask are we really interested in Him at all...

Its like we are all asking Jesus what he wants with us... and he flips it and asks us what we want with him...

Thoughts?

11.08.2007

five3challenge: John 1 (part 2)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

This is such an incredible statement. What in the world would it have been like for the God who made everything to humble himself so much that he became a helpless baby who had to be fed and burped and changed when me pooped in his diaper. It is hard to even imagine.... but I tried... here is an extended version of the Birth narrative of Jesus if you are interested.


The baby inside her kicked awakening Mary from her troubled sleep. He would come soon. Joseph slept next to her in a small shelter outside of Bethlehem. They had traveled here because Caesar Augustus had issued a decree mandating a census of the entire Roman world be taken. To facilitate this process, everyone was to return to their hometown to register. Since Joseph was from Bethlehem they had packed up and come here to the ancient city of David, an ancestor of Joseph. The timing could not have been worse, as Mary's pregnancy was now in the final stages and traveling was very uncomfortable for her.
When they arrived from their long journey things had not gotten any better. Due to the census, the small town of Bethlehem was over run with people. Throughout the entire city no one had a guest room for the pregnant couple and they ended up in the stable where they animals were kept. Mary's stirring woke Joseph. He got up and looked at Mary. He had done his best to prepare a place for her to give birth, but this is not what either of them had expected when the angels told them of Mary's pregnancy. What a strange place for the birthplace of God's Messiah.
The stars shone overhead and the moon was now high in the night sky. In the fullness of time God sent his son , and Mary gave birth to her firstborn with Joseph's help. In this way Jesus, the light of the world, entered the world born of a woman in a humble stable while the world slept comfortably in their beds. The baby cried. Mary rocked him gently as Joseph borrowed a feeding trough from the animals of the stable to serve as his crib. They tucked him in and Mary spoke soothingly to him until he fell asleep. Their joy at his birth made the discomfort of their surroundings and the pain of childbirth fade greatly.
Mary and Joseph were not the only ones who spent the night under the stars with animals. There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks that night. As they settled in for the night on a grassy hillside, suddenly an angel appeared to them and the Glory of God burst forth, engulfing the entire hillside. The shepherds were terrified (Angels tend to have that effect on people). The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! I bring you wonderful news! Today in the town of David, Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, THE LORD!!!"
The shepherds looked at each other eyes wide in amazement.
"This will be the sign for you," the angel continued, "you will find the baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger that animals eat from." As the shepherds stood speechless, a great heavenly host appeared praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth!"
The joy of heaven concerning the birth of Jesus overflowed into the world in the praises of the angelic Host. As quickly as they appeared, the angels were gone and the hillside was dark again. It took a few moments for the shepherd's eyes to adjust to the dark night after the angels departed. Once they collected themselves, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful child for ourselves!"
So they hurried off traveling quickly into Bethlehem. In the animal stable on the outskirts of the village they found Mary and Joseph, as well as a beautiful newborn baby lying in a manger. Joseph rose in surprise as the shepherds ran into the stable. The shepherds could not contain their excitement, stumbling over their words as they told Mary and Joseph of their encounter the angel.
After spending some time with the family, the shepherds left glorifying and praising God and went forth telling everyone about the wonderful news that the angels had spoken to them, and about the beautiful baby they had found. They now knew that the angel's words were indeed true. Finally, after all of their suffering as a people, God had remembered them and sent their Savior.
Back in the stable, as dawn's light broke across the horizon, Mary reflected on the night and its strange encounters. She treasured these wonderful things in her heart.

five3challenge: John 1

I love John chapter 1. It is one of the passages of scripture that i read the most. I think I love it because of how many awesome things it reveals about Jesus, and because it is so mysterious.

John 1:1 reads:
In the Beginning was the WORD.... and the WORD was with God... and the WORD WAS GOD.


As you read the passage, you start to realize that WORD is john's code word for Jesus. Whenever he says word... he means Jesus...

So...
in the Beginning was Jesus... and Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. Jesus was with God in the Beginning. I think this is so cool because it means that Jesus was already there in the beginning. He did not suddenly get created when he was born of Mary, he was already here...


In fact, he is doing a lot before he was ever born:

"Through Jesus all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."


Jesus was actually the one doing all the creating in Genesis chapter 1. Go read it, and just think about how cool it is that Jesus is secretly hidden in the text...

When you get to verse 3 all of a sudden God starts speaking and crazy things start to happen.

See if you can follow this: God uses his voice to speak everything into creation in Genesis 1....

then later Jesus is revealed to be the "word of God"...

maybe God's speaking... and Jesus being the Word are related somehow.

What do you think?

Five3Challenge Week 1

Each week a new book mark will be handed out at Nexus and Vintage. If you are not able to pick one up, I will post it here, so you can download it and print it out for yourself. As you participate in the challenge, check of the chapters for each day that you do it. It is an awesome way to keep yourself on track. Also, it helps sometimes to write things down. You can do this in a journal, or if you use blogger, myspace, facebook, or some other online networking site, you can write what you are learning in a blog or post. I will be writing what I am learning here.

Let me know how it is going for you, or if you have any questions!

Vote for Zach Hunter.

Hey, I have spoken many times about how impressed I am with the teenaged Hero Zach Hunter. He helped raise millions of Dollars to end slavery, and if you think he rocks and his cause is true, then vote for him for CNN youth Hero of the year.

Here is what my friend Mark O . wrote about it:

we at youth specialties just found out that zach hunter has been nominated as a cnn hero in the youth category. the winner is determined merely by vote (which, since zach doesn’t have a big organization behind him like some of the other nominees, is unfortunate). but we’d love to get the votes going!

winning would allow zach to appear on a prime time special with anderson cooper, to talk about modern day slavery, and how he (zach) feels god is calling his generation to bring freedom. there’s a cash price also; and zach has already said he would donate it for aftercare and education of rescued child slaves.

help us get the word out — to your churches and youth group and friends.

vote here (btw, the info is wrong: it says zach has raised $20,000 to end slavery. that’s how much zach has personally given, from speaking fees and book royalties. he has raised well over 10x that amount.)

you can vote as many times as you like until monday at noon.




11.07.2007

The Return of the Five3Challenge

Since roots is a series on learning how to grow closer to God, we thought we should dust of the Five3Challenge and do it again during this series.

The Five3Challenge is a simple commitment to spend:
5 minutes talking to God
5 minutes reading God’s word (from John)
5 days a week

We are recommending that you read the Gospel of John, as that is what I am going to read. I will be putting up a new post here almost every day, so please stop by and say hi. I would love to know what you are thinking as you read and pray over the next month!

This blog exists as a place where you can post your thoughts and ideas... questions... answers... dreams... pictures... etc. Let the world know how you are doing with the challenge!!!

SNO RODEO IS COMING SOON!!!

Set one year after the smashing success of Ordinary Heroes I: Calling all Ordinary Heroes, the series returns at Sno Rodeo this winter. Ordinary Heroes II: The Rise Of The Ordinary Hero continues to follow the struggle and success of the many Heroes trying to emerge in their ordinariness. Lacking personal super power sufficient to face the issues in the world at large and at hand, our Heroes turn to faith in He who is the source of all. Their journey will lead them beyond themselves and into the great adventure of faith.

Will they succeed in their journey and be victorious over the many enemies that face them... will they overcome personal demons and vice... will they learn to live the sacrificial lives of Heroes... only future generations will tell...


Need a Registation form?





Sno Rodeo is Mosaic's winter camp. This year's theme is "The Rise of the Ordinary Hero". We will again explore how students don’t have to be “Extra-ordinary” to make a difference in the world, because we serve a “Super” God. When connected to your super God everyone can make the world better for someone almost every day. This is part two of a trilogy, and adds a deeper focus on how a hero can rise up and face the challenges of his day.