Friday Five...9/28/12

Here they are, this weeks 5 favorite things to inform and brighten your day!


1.  Favorite 5 Year Old - My son turned 5 this week... unbelievable!

2. Favorite Upcoming Event - DATE NIGHT (Oct. 13th - 7-9:00 PM) - You can still sign up.

3. Favorite Marriage Video - Married People

4. Favorite Parenting Article - "Word Power" by Dave Stone, Southeast Christian

      - Seriously, click the link and read the article. It's worth it. Then pass it on.  

5. Favorite Picture - from Awkward Family Photos.com

**You gotta wonder what was going on. Love it!

Wednesday's Word...Rhythm (Part 3 of 4)

This is part three of a four part series called Rhythm. If you haven't read them, you can click on part 1 or part 2)


Rhythm...

Everyone has times of insecurity. I'm not terribly athletic. I can't count the number of times I heard from the guys in high school, "If I were your size, I'd be unstoppable...I'd be able to bench press 250 lbs, or I'd dunk the ball easy!" One of my first memories of feelings of insecurity was in 4^th grade, a kid named Chip called me Dumbo. I never knew that I had big ears until that moment, and what he said hurt me and caused me to be very self-conscious about my ears for a number of years. We have all had moments of insecurity.

Since we've been talking about rhythm, we could all probably say that we've been out of rhythm with ourselves at some [read: many] point in our lives. Insecurity, anger, guilt, frustration, and abandonment all throw us out of the rhythm we were created for. How do we respond? What can get us back in rhythm?

The foundation of everything in your life is...well...you! You are the one involved in everything you do. You can't take you out of the equation. We are created to be in rhythm--rhythm with God, others, and ourselves. The problem is that when we aren't in rhythm with ourselves, we can't be in rhythm with God or others.

What does rhythm with God, others, and ourselves mean? It means that we are to love--show love, demonstrate love, and express love. Rhythm is displayed in love.

Here's what it comes down to: If we don't care what's done to us, how can we care about what is done to others? If we don't understand that we are worthy of love, how can we genuinely love others?

When we're not happy with who we are, we are afraid to let others see the real us and confirm our worst fear--that we really are unlovable. The Bible tells of an encounter Jesus had with a woman near a well. She was there hiding and avoiding others because she had secrets.

“[Jesus] left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, ‘You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’
Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’
‘But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,’ she said, ‘and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?’ “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’

‘Please, sir,’ the woman said, ‘give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water’” (John 4:3-15 NLT).

You can imagine this is a very confusing moment for this woman. This man enters the scene and offers eternal life. Most of us think that eternal life is something that happens when we die. Jesus sees it differently, eternal life begins now! Jesus is letter her know that there is more to life than how she is living now, out of rhythm with God. There's something "off" in her life and Jesus know's it. This woman is wearing a mask.

“‘Please, sir,’ the woman said, ‘give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.’
‘Go and get your husband,’ Jesus told her.
‘I don’t have a husband,’ the woman replied.
Jesus said, ‘You’re right! You don’t have a husband for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now’ “ (John 4:15-18 NLT).

Jesus says, “Life isn’t working for you, is it? Let Me offer you another way of living, the way you were created to live.” He is not simply implying that she repeat some words after Him and everything will be okay when she dies. Life after death is just a portion of what He is offering her. He is implying she needs rhythm with herself now--something she can only have when she is in rhythm with God, herself and others.

We are great, just like this woman and Adam and Eve, at hiding our baggage. You know what I'm talking about. You look great on the outside, but it's just glitter. You live life, fingers crossed, hoping that no one knows what's going on inside.

Sin got this woman out of rhythm with God, but she was out of rhythm with herself as well. She determined that "out of rhythm" was the only option she had. That led to falling out of rhythm with herself. 

To be in rhythm with yourself is to love yourself. When you don't love yourself, you naturally begin not to love God. We can try to hide from others, but you know you can't hide from God. Everything you've said, done, or thought -- He sees and doesn't run away.

If the rhythm with you and God is off, maybe it's because you don't like you. Maybe it's not the person you are mad at, maybe it's not with your job, spouse, kids, or boss; maybe the issue is...well...you?

How can you begin to love yourself?

Monday's Mentions

• Four men were ordained as Deacons yesterday during 2nd service. What an exciting time in the life of Campbellsville Christian Church. I am excited to see what God will do through the lives of Richard Dicken, John Hill, Spencer Sidebottom, and Dennis Brinley as they serve the Lord in this new leadership role. Continue to pray for all of our church leaders; Elders, Deacons, and Staff as we seek to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ "the author and perfecter of our faith."

• I love the song that we sang before communion yesterday called "The Stand."

Have a blessed week!

 

Friday Five - 9/21/12

Here they are...five things to brighten and inform your day! Have a great weekend.

1. Favorite Tweet - "@JudWilhite The real you emerges as you see yourself in light of who God says you are in his written Word."

2. Favorite Marriage Article - "Two Marital Minds"
      - Positive Sentiment Override
      - Negative Sentiment Override
      Which One Are you? I know which one I am...and which one I would rather be. 

3. Favorite Infographic - Teens & Text Messages - From fortune.cnn.com The graphic is probably outdated, but still eye-opening. 

4. Favorite Upcoming Church Event - Date Night: October 13th, 7-9PM. Sign up in the church bulletin this week or contact the church office. (Also, the follow-up study is going to be just as great!)

5. Favorite Picture - In light of Halloween's approach...

Wednesday's Word...Rhythm (Part 2 of 4)

This is week 2 of 4 of this blog. (Click here if you missed last week)


Rhythm...

When I'm working on a lesson or sermon I like to listen to Pandora radio. I tune it to the Film Scores channel and let it block out the noise of the office, traffic, and anything else that would serve to distract me. It's not standard "white noise" but it does the trick.

White noise is simply noise that fills the air. It has no real meaning. I think, for many of us, there are many things about our faith that have become "white noise." We've heard it all and seen it all. 

We know God is big, but we live like He's so small and we've got Him all figured out. We know God knows everything, but we live like He doesn't really care.

What if we saw God for who He is? Who he really is? What if we went beyond all the "white noise," the stuff we've heard before and were actually surprised by God? What if the God you thought you knew so well showed you something new about Himself?

Everyone was created with a sense of wonder. I see it everyday in my children. We want something to amaze us. But, somewhere along the way, we settle for another song. 

“The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’
The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”
‘You will not surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman” (Genesis 3:1-4 NIV). 

 A big part of being in rhythm with God is living in wonder of God. It's how we are designed. When something else captures our wonder and focus, we lose rhythm with God. Adam and Eve became focused with something other than God. But it wasn't just that, they also began to lose their sense of wonder about who God is.

“ ‘You will not surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’ ” (Genesis 3:4 NIV).


The serpent described a God who seems so "human" that He would tell Adam and Eve not to eat something because He's insecure and afraid that they will be like Him. Suddenly, they lose their wonder and rhythm with God and they don't feel as close as they once did. You probably know the story from here...

...they eat the fruit...suddenly they realize they are naked and they go hide...sin is here.

Wonder is at the center of being in rhythm with God. Wonder is when our words, affection, attention, and soul can't explain or get enough of something. When something seems too unbelievable to grasp and amazing to be true, it has captured our sense of wonder.

In our lives, we have things that steal our attention and grab our affection. Not all of them are bad or sinful things, but they have the potential to distract us from our created source of wonder, our Creator. 

Our wonder is designed by Him. When we lose it, we lose rhythm with Him.

Today, my question for you is: What has captured your wonder?

Monday's Mentions - 9/17/12

It was exciting to dedicate the expansion of the Family Life Center to the Lord yesterday morning. There is so much potential for ministry in the extended kitchen and multipurpose room (or "The Loft"  as we call it), plus, we don't have to bump into chair racks anymore. That's a big plus. Much hard work was put into that project by the building committee and they are to be commended.

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There are times when you meet or hear about someone and you realize how woefully deficient you are at following God at His word. For me it was last October at a Conference in Atlanta when I first heard Katie Davis speak on stage. She was about to release her book, "Kisses From Katie" and blew me away with her testimony of God's work in her life. Here's a 3 1/2 clip of her. If you can't bear to watch it all, fast forward to 2:25. 

I want to say that I want to become that rooted in God's love. But truthfully, for now, I want to want to be that rooted in God's love that I would obey Him no matter how crazy it might seem. I am thankful for living examples like Katie.

Thoughts?

Friday Five

1. Favorite Tweet: @TheFaithfulFam: You'll make plenty of mistakes in your parenting and marriage. Today is a new day--repent of yesterday & allow Him to make all things new!

2. Favorite Video - Birth to 10 Years old in 1 minute 25 seconds

3. Favorite Marriage Article - 10 Things Your Husband Wants To Tell You - Clayton King
Insightful article that will certainly spark some great conversation with you and your spouse! (I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Comment below.)

4. Favorite Quote - "As Christians, we can't huddle in our churches and expect the world to become a better place. Rather, we need to be the scattered church -- empowered to stand against the wrongs in our world." - Kate Thomas

5. Favorite Goodbye to Summer Video - Tripp Crosby

Have a great weekend! 

Protecting Your Family In An Online World

We are offering a one night seminar on Wednesday, October 13th. I want to custom-fit this for you. Would you take a minute and let me know what you would like to learn more about? I appreciate any input you can give. Hope to see you there.

Wednesday's Word...Rhythm (Part 1 of 4)

Today I will begin a four part post, each posting on 4 consecutive Wednesday's. 


Rhythm...

I am a musician, in the loosest sense of the word. That is, I play guitar. When I first started, it was easy to play (except for the painful callouses on my fingers). I could play as fast or as slow as I needed to because I was playing by myself. Then in college, I was asked to play in a chapel praise band. Wow...different story all together. I learned quickly the importance of rhythm. Rhythm holds everything together in music. As a listener of music I never payed any attention to rhythm, that is, unless it was not present. Then it's quite noticeable. 

Rhythm is an invisible quality that holds everything together, not just music. We are created to exist in rhythm with God, with ourselves, and with others. In the beginning, the "conductor" (God) began assembling the band and putting the song together:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:1-4 NIV).

There was rhythm between God and humanity, between man and woman, and between man and himself. But then the song fell apart.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6 NIV). 

Every action has consequences. Sin affects one thing; then it begins to affect another.

Our problems begin when we lose rhythm with God. We were designed to be in rhythm with Him. Sin breaks that rhythm.

Here's what's interesting (and where we will leave off for today): When Adam and Eve disobeyed in the garden, God didn't simply walk away, He went looking for them! (see Genesis 3:8-9)

We were created to be in rhythm with God, to walk in step with Him. Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." 

Are you feeling like your life is just out of sync? You, my friend, might have a rhythm issue bigger than just the circumstances around you. What is we began asking the question "Is my life in rhythm with God?" before we began asking so many why's? It might put things into perspective.

(Next week we'll take a closer look at what it means to be in rhythm with God)

Monday's Mentions...9/10/12

It's the time of the week where we celebrate someone the cool things that are happening in our church and community. Here are this week's "mentions!" 

1. "God is as concerned about what you keep as what you give." - Joe Hatchett - From the new Stewardship series. Good stuff!

2. Small groups. There are around 130 adults from C.C.C. engaged in small groups this fall. I can't tell you enough how exciting this is. God created people for community: a place where we are free to be ourselves, share God's Word together, and move forward to become who we were created to be.

3. We've been short 1 custodian for 6+ weeks (we have 2) now and still have at least two more to go while Nancy has been recovering from surgery. Ever wonder how the hallways, bathrooms, and trash gets taken care of before 100+ Center for Education students come in the next morning? Well, there's an anonymous someone who comes in after you leave on Sunday's and Wednesday nights and cleans our building. Betcha didn't realize that! Willingness to serve in a position that no one really wants to do...That's worth a mention.

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– (Matthew 20:26, 27 NIV84)

Take root this week:

- Deeper Life: Cliffs Notes, Lessons from Judges, and Men's Group all start at 6:30 Wednesday. Supper at 6.

- Sunday Morning Stewardship Sermon Series continues this Sunday.

Friday Five...(9/7/12)

Five of my favorites...hot, fresh, and ready to brighten and inform your day!

1. Favorite Parenting Article - "The Cure for the Common Complaint" - Most of us won't need to read this. Only the ones whose kids have ever complained.

2. Favorite Senior Picture - Courtesy of Awkward Family Photos -

3. Favorite Video - Average Clothing Line - Via Tripp & Tyler

4. Favorite Shameless Self-Promotional Recycled Blog Post from Three Years Ago - Consistently Inconsistent?

I went back and read some of my old blogs from when we had an active blog. I liked this one. Maybe you will too.

5. Favorite Reality Gut Check - Sex Trafficking Is Closer Than You Think - I used the word "favorite" loosely to mean...wow...I had no idea. I bet you didn't either.

Thoughts? Comment below!

Wednesday's Word...See Through (Part 2)

See through (part 2)

For part 1 click here.

Last week I talked about our tendency to live "fake" lives in an effort to put up the facade of perfection that culture seems to call us to.

If we're honest, sometimes we feel freedom in wearing these masks, hiding who we really are. But is that really freedom? How can we start living see-through lives? Becoming free from the "fake" starts in being content with who you are.

Being content with who you are is much easier to say than it is to love. Contentment is very difficult to find and keep. Trying to put on the air of perfection and "fitting in" with culture or community can sometimes limit our freedom. We can become prisoners of our own choices.

Remember last week we talked about how our feelings of insecurity can cause us to:

• Embellish our accomplishments at work. This creates the pressure to continue embellishing to impress our peers. (aka as lying and building on lies and we know what a tangled web that can be!)
• Go into debt to get that house or car to "keep up." We find ourselves so strapped for cash that it adds undue stress on our marriage and families. We feel the weight of a responsibility we are not capable of handling on our own.
• Faking our spiritual depth.
• Shying away from opening our homes to others because we don't want anyone to see what we don't have or how we live.

All of these things can imprison us and limit our freedom.



What is the solution? Contentment. Ah...again, easier said than done.



The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11 - "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Paul faced public stoning, beatings, and imprisonment and that's just touching the surface. Yet somehow, we found contentment.



I would admit that early on in our marriage that Kari Jo and I felt the pressure to "keep up with the Joneses." It's only by the grace of God that we didn't get in over our heads with debt. But our desire to have the things that the people around us had could easily consume our thoughts and time and before we knew it jealousy and envy crept in and had the potential to damage relationships with those around us.



How do we find the contentment Paul speaks of?

• Contentment comes with practice. It takes the determination to capture every thought and reframe it, realizing that there are blessings in your life. They might be different than you'd prefer, but they are there nonetheless. (There's also the other side of things...when we are envious of what others have, what's the liklihood that they are imprisioned by some of their own choices and the "perfection" you see in them is really just a mask? My guess...100% certainty.) The grass is always greener on the other side? It might do some good to stop and look down and see that you're grass is just as green, maybe just a shade different.
• Throw off the "fakeness" that hinders you. I love Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore,since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw offeverything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us runwith perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, theauthor and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured thecross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Remember that you are God's masterpiece created to do what He has prepared for you, not what He's prepared for someone else to do. Forwe are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which Godprepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Let me leave you with this challenge...give living a see-through life a shot. Determine to not care what others think. It's not going to be easy at first, but I can assure you there is great freedom to be found!

Comments? Leave 'em below!

Monday's Mentions (Tuesday Edition)

After a well-deserved long weekend, here are a few "mentions" to start your week...

- I was sitting in church Sunday and realized how much I take for granted the pretty flowers in the sanctuary. Someone had to put them there...you know who that is? Peggy Monson. She works hard to decorate the sanctuary each week. She "owns" that ministry. Something you might never thought about, but it's part of becoming rooted. Thank Peggy for using the gifts that God has given her in service to share Christ.


- McCall Turpin is trying to pour into the life of another. Rolf, is a young Haitian boy who is deaf and is in need of heart surgery. You can find out more about this opportunity here and watch the video below:

- Finally, some things that are coming up:

     - Wednesdays nights are continuing strong...stop in this week, even of you haven't tried it yet, you can always join in.

    - Mark Sunday, Sept. 30th on your calendar for Church-Wide Fun on the Farm at Heavenly Haven Farm. It's going to be a fun night for all ages.