Reflections: July 5, 2009

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

So, did you take the comprehensive "According To Jim" Quiz? The answersare at the bottom, but resist the temptation to cheat! And remember...God does not tempt us! (There's a hint.)

Quiz: According To Jim

1. When our faith is tested we should… (James 1:1-11)

A. Freak out
B. Resolve to try harder
C. Ask God for wisdom

2. God… (James 1:12-18)

A. Tries to get us to sin
B. Calls us His treasured possession
C. Tempts us

3.  Real religion is… (James 1:19-27)

A. Caring for widows and orphans
B. Going to church
C. Singing songs

4.  Playing Favorites… (James 2:1-13)

A. Is what God does
B. Is what we should do
C. Is a sin

5.  Works/good deeds… (James 2:14-26)

A. Is what saves us
B. Completes our faith
C. Is not mandatory

6.  The tongue… (James 3:1-12)

A. Is harmless
B. Can only produce good
C. Can be used for good and evil

7. Jealousy… (James 3:13-18)

A. Is godly
B. Is demonic
C. Is understandable

8. God wants believers to… (James 4:1-12)

A. Choose who they will serve
B. Do what they want
C. Fight it out

9.  Planning… (James 4:13-17)

A. Is bad
B. Is all up to us
C. Should be done with a heart open to God's plan

10.  Rich people… (James 5:1-6)

A. Are better
B. Will be well-off in heaven
C. Will pay for their actions

11.  When life gets hard… (James 5:7-12)

A. Panic
B. Be patient
C. Call Pastor Gary

12. Prayer… (James 5:13-20)

A. Is powerful
B. Produces results
C. Should be asked for
D. ABC

As you look back at our journey through James, what were some of the things that were discussed that were especially meaningful to you? What were some of the topics that you have been made aware of in your own life that you have allowed God to affect change? I hope this study was as meaningful to you as it was to Gary and I. Have a blessed week as we go out to live as changed people for Christ.

Answers: 1.C;  2.B;  3.A;  4.C;  5.B;  6.C;  7.B;  8.A;  9.C;  10.C;  11.B;  12.D

Reflections: June 28, 2009

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

This weekend in our study of James we talked a lot about waiting and patience. If you were in the service you know that waiting for me is not easy. I'm one of those people who want it and want it know. And yet God is at work in me developing patience – developing the ability to wait. I have several personal issues in my life right now where God is asking me to wait. I tell you this is not easy, but I'm trusting that "the catcher will catch me – the flyer" (the trapeze story).

 

I'm so thankful for the word of God that keeps me focusing on the important stuff. This past week the two key passages from the Bible of importance to me were Psalm 37:7 (Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act) and Psalm 5:1 (O Lord, hear me when I pray...Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly). I know I'll be going back to them again because I'm sure that this Christian characteristic of patience is still a work in progress for me.

 

I do know though that waiting on the Lord is a confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God. Waiting on the Lord is the continual, daily decision to say, "God, I will trust you and I will obey you even though the circumstances of my life are not turning out the way I want them to." Will you join me in the journey? I'd love know how this week's message touched your life and heart. Just click on the link below and share with me your thoughts and reaction and I'll get back to you.

Reflections: June 21, 2009

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

Today in week 10 of our study through the book of James, we were challenged in the use of our wealth. How timely! With the reality that many in our nation have literally lost their wealth, this recession is changing America. Gone are the days when people would flaunt their wealth as a badge of honor. Today, living in a recessionary time with high unemployment, flaunting your wealth is less acceptable. Many people are changing their attitude toward money and from what I can see, that is a good thing.

 

Regardless of whether we feel it or not, we are still a wealthy people.  When we who live in this Southern California lifestyle with all its pressures can stop for a moment and gain a little perspective, I think we would appreciate more the fact that we are wealthy. Given what James said about the misuse and abuse of wealth what do you see yourself doing differently after listening to this weekend's message? Which of the four corrections from James is something you will consider working on this week?

 

Click on the link below and share your thoughts.

Reflections: June 14, 2009

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

All that we talked about this week in the second half of James 4 can be summed up with this, "Hold your plans loosely." It is not bad to make plans, and God certainly designed some people with the special ability to plan long-term. We need to remember that He did not design us to be independent of Him, but to be in relationship with Him.

What are some of the plans that you need to hold more loosely? What are some of the things in life that you have mapped out that may restrict your ability to hear and follow a plan of God that may be different than your own?

This week as you look at your plans, my prayer is that we would all be willing to hold them more loosely, that God would have free reign, and we would find ourselves within God's plan of life He's designed for us.

Reflections: June 7, 2009

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

This Sunday we learned in James (4:4-6) that we cannot be fence-sitters - having on foot in the world and one foot following Christ. How does this work for you? The reality is that we live in this world full of its values and voices calling us. It is also a reality that at times we listen and respond, and then hopefully repent and return to Christ.

 

Understanding that the term friendship in the first century meant a life-long pact to the values of the person you are friends with, what does it mean for you to be a friend of God with the challenges we facing living in this world? How does this make sense to you as you live your life desiring to be friends with God?

Reflections: May 31, 2009

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

Envy, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Each of these things is understood by most people to be negative and harmful things for a person to possess. Then why is it that each of us possess varying degrees of them throughout our lives? Jealousy taints so much of what is positive and causes us to resent it. Things that could be a blessing to us and others are never good enough when viewed through the filter of envy and comparison. So why do we do it? Is there any way to get our eyes set on the things that God has for us, rather than always looking at what He has for other people and wishing it was ours? Is there ever going to come a day that I can see someone else succeed and not have that twinge in my heart that wants to let people know why I am better?

I believe we can begin to be set free from these things when we are willing to acknowledge the unique call that God has for us and stop believing that it would be better to live out someone else’s calling. This week, re-read James 3 and allow God access to your heart, with the desire to see where in your life you have been missing what God has for you because you have been trying to get something that is not for you. We are all in this boat and can definitely use some help in identifying how we are giving over our hearts to jealousy and selfish ambition rather than giving them over to God and allowing Him to work His unique purpose into our lives. My prayer is that as you do this, God will bring healing and understanding for all that He has for you. You are special, and do not need to envy anything or anyone because what God has for you is perfect...for you.

Reflections: May 24, 2009

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

This week we picked up our According to Jim series in James chapter 3. This is a very familiar passage for anyone who has read James more than once - the bit in the horse's mouth, the rudder of the ship, the spark that sets a forest on fire. All of these are great illustrations that James uses to help us understand the need for each of us to tame our tongue.

 

But I think the most impacting part of this weekend's message for me comes in verses 11 and 12. Here we learn that our tongue reveals who we really are. Oh, we can pretend for awhile, but sooner or later our tongue will portray what is really in our hearts. So may we be about submitting our hearts daily to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us and transform our tongues. My prayer this week will be focused on asking God to reveal my heart to me so I might grow into a more accurate picture of Jesus.

 

How did this weekend's message affect you? What are you reflecting on? Feel free to share it with me in the blog below.

 

God Bless! Have a great "taming of the tongue" week!

Reflections: May 17, 2009

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

As I continue to read through James 2:14-26, I am both discouraged and invigorated by the call that I have as a believer. There is a bit of discouragement simply because I see what a high calling to live as Christ is, and how short I fall on a pretty consistent basis. But there is also a real motivating aspect as I look at the challenge put before me as someone who has the opportunity to communicate God’s truth and love to those around me. As you re-read this passage and reflect on what is expected from those who call themselves Christ-followers, what are some opportunities in the past where you have responded to the call to live out your faith? Has God revealed anything to your heart in regards to ways that you can step out more faithfully in the future? Your story could be a real testimony to speak to others as an encouragement to live in a way that honors God and speaks of the faith we claim to have, so please feel free to share. Have a great week of living for God!

Reflections: May 10, 2009

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

This week's message was another direct and practical message from James. It feels like each week James addresses issues that are just as relevant to us today as to the people he wrote to in the first century. Yes, prejudice is still alive in the 21st century and the equally difficult truth to swallow is that prejudice is alive in the Christian church. May God help us to change this!

 

As I reflect on today's passage I think about the difficulty we all have when it comes to loving others unconditionally. I think this is hard because in the human experience we have very few (if any) examples to follow. So let me ask you a question: How do you grow when it comes to loving others unconditionally? How do you know when you are doing well in this area? How has the Bible been helpful to you in this growth area? After being in church today what plans do you have to grow in this area? Let's be a community and learn from each other.

 

By the way, thanks for those of who who said encouraging words about today's message. Way to live the truth I mentioned as part of the passage!

Reflections: May 3, 2009

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

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. (James 1:19)

Those are three very difficult things for me to live out in my life, but I have also seen that when these things are put into practice, relationships flourish!

This week I want to challenge each of you to think of a situation or relationship where you can implement silence for the purpose of being a better listener and hearing others out. Consider a relationship where maybe you have done most of the talking and have forgotten to try and understand what the other person may be trying to say. Maybe some of these situation or relationships have produced anger and need to be mended through prayer and good communication.

James tells us that if our “religion” is only theoretical and not being lived out, that it is worthless. This means that true religion is not about going to church or reading the Bible, but what you do with what you hear and read. Take some time this week and examine your “religion” and see if it stands up to the test of real life application. Have a great week!

Reflections: April 26, 2009

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

Temptation – that was the subject of our passage in James today. According to Jim, we learned the truth about temptation. I'm glad to learn about how I can win over temptation. How about you? What is the one thing you will take away from this weekend's message?

 

The image that will stay with me this week revolves around the word enticed, which literally means "lured by bait." I can visualize a fishing lure and how it is used to catch fish. I know I will be on the lookout for those "lures" that come my way this week. May I encourage you to join me to be on the lookout for the "lures" that tempt us to sin against God? Remember as we live in community we need each other in this area of temptation.

Reflections: April 19, 2009

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

As you go through this week, I just want to remind you to go before God and reflect on your heart and ask yourself the "three big questions:"

1.    How do I respond to, and view, adversity?
2.    What do I need to ask God for wisdom for?
3.    Where do I waver in my faith, putting trust in things other than God?