Reflections: January 18, 2009

This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

This Sunday we started a new series designed to prepare us to go out in our community to love and care for others in the name of Jesus. The focus of week one was packing for our trip. We used the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12 as our packing list. As I reflect on this passage there are a couple of things that stand out.

 

First, the beatitudes are not to be seen as a multiple choice type of deal. The follower of Christ cannot pick and choose which ones they want to to live out. We are to embrace all of them. Which one of the eight is the easiest for you? Which one is the hardest?

 

Second, each of the eight are not a once and done deal. When we cooperate with God, He builds these eight qualities into our lives. We are people in process and so our list of beatitudes is something we will never perfectly achieve but are charged by Jesus to pursue as we live reflecting Him. What does this mean to you? Does it give you encouragement to try? OR Does it make you want to give up trying?

 

The last thing I want to mention is verse six. We are told that "God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied." I think this is so cool because if we come craving righteousness as a person craves food and water, the promise is that we will be satisfied. God will help us achieve doing right as we intensely pursue righteousness. What a promise of God!

 

What are you reflecting on after hearing the message this week?

Reflections: January 10-11, 2009

This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth

As we see the importance of getting off of our church grounds with the intention of getting involved in our community, what are some ways that you have done this in the past? What are some opportunities that you foresee having in the future? In relation to that, what are some projects that we can get involved with on February 22 for our Outward Bound day of service? Please give whatever suggestions you have and be sure to consider the gifts, talents, and resources that God may want to use in this outreach. In weeks to come, sign-ups for these projects will begin and we encourage everyone in the LBF church body to sign up and participate in any way they can or feel led.

Reflections: January 3-4, 2009

This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

In part one of this two-week series I talked about two ways we have "hit our thumbs." One of those ways talked about how our church is getting older and that part of our focus this year will be to reconnect with a generation that, for the most part, is missing from our church. That generation is the 23- to 38-year-olds. People in this age group can be either single or married and either have young children or have no children. We are still in the learning process of how to reconnect with this age group. As you think about this age group or are in this age group yourself let me ask you to respond to a couple of questions:

 

What are the needs that you know of for this age group?

What are the questions they are asking?

What are the unique challenges they are facing?

What needs to change to help make LBF an attractive place for this generation?

 

Let me know what you think. Use the blog link below.

Reflections: December 27-28, 2008

This week's "Reflection" by Matt Sasso, Pastor of Jr. High Ministries

If you were able to join us this past weekend we looked at what scripture has to say about a new way to human. This new humanity the journey that God leads us through as He shapes us into the person he created us to be. The reason God does this...because of His amazing love for you! Discovering a new way to be human is to become the person God created you to be. So, what will you do with your new identity, new community, and new eternity? How can understanding these aspects change your life? That is what God wants to reveal in and through you.

If you weren’t here this weekend make sure to download the podcast or watch the message online. I would love to hear your thoughts on how this can new humanity is shaping you personally. If you would like to share please post your comment or question on the Reflections Blog. May God’s abundant grace and love fill your life.

God Bless,
Pastor Matt 

Reflections: December 13-14, 2008

This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth

Does joy have to be so elusive? Does the Christmas season have to be a joyless time? How can we get joy to stick? The four things we talked about this week in regards to joy were:

1. Choose to believe truth. (You are a loved and forgiven child of God.)
2. Choose to do right. (Right and wrong choices both effect our ability to have joy.)
3. Choose to live joyfully. (Sometimes joy is something we have to choose to find and acknowledge.)
4. Choose to remain in God's love. (Love people and live fearlessly.)

How are you doing with joy? What are some ways that you find joy in the midst of difficult circumstances? Your responses could be a huge encouragement for those struggling with joy. Please re-gift joy to us all with your stories of joy from your own life.

Reflections: December 6-7, 2008

This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

Peace is an elusive quality of life to experience and yet I think we all want to have peace. There may be certain environmental issues working against us here in Southern California, but I still am personally optimistic that experiencing peace is possible. This weekend we learned that to experience peace we need to live under the Sar Shalom.  Who is the Sar Shalom? None other than Jesus Christ. Sar Shalom is Hebrew for the name of Jesus found in Isaiah 9:6 where Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Jesus is the one in charge of peace. any peace we experience in life comes from Jesus - he gives us our peace.

 

As you consider how to have peace, what are the obstacles that block you from living in peace? How can you let Jesus be the Prince of Peace in your life?

Join the blog below and let's learn to live in peace together.

Reflections: November 29-30, 2008

This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth

Hope is something everyone desires, but all too often what we try to put our hope in collapses around us. Jesus' birth demonstrates how seriously God desires to have relationship with us and how committed He is to loving us, that He would give us His only son to mend our relationship with Him. How do you practically put your hope in God? What has that looked like in your life?

How can you re-gift this hope that Jesus has given us to others?