Reflections: February 22, 2009

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

Yesterday 670 of us went out and served the community. That was a first for our church, but may it never be an end. With the key word being "flexibility," we – for the first time – cancelled two of our services and actively became the church to people who may never come through our doors.

 

I for one had a great but tiring day. I'm not a cook, but with the right kind of oversight I was able to contribute to making a hot meal for those people living in Ontario in a place we call "Tent City." The people we served were genuinely happy to see us and grateful for what they were receiving. After the meal was served I met a lady named Mary Alice. She has been living there since the first part of 2007. She had a goal of being out by May of last year, but a sickness and 10-day hospital stay set her back. Her new goal is April of this year. Hearing her story reminded me once again that these are people who God loves. I look forward to seeing her again next month when we go and serve another hot meal.

 

I know there must be more stories out there. In fact I'm sure there are 679 more. Would you take a few minutes a write them on the blog below so we might see how God was honored and glorified yesterday? Outward Bound has only just begun!

Reflections: February 15, 2009

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

As I take a few minutes to reflect on the message this week, the words "it's not about me!" keep ringing in my thoughts. This has been a wonderful journey we have been on for five weeks. Spending time with the very words of Jesus will make an impact on our lives if we will embrace them.

 

This week we changed our focus from growing in internal righteousness to expressing that development into "acts of righteousness." The key thing for us to remember is Jesus wants us to focus first on our hearts before we attempt to serve others. Let's be in prayer this week not only for the people we will serve but also for our own hearts.

 

As we serve next Sunday I will be reminding myself that it's not about me but about bringing glory to God. May God use us as a church and as individuals to represent Jesus well.

Reflections: February 8, 2009

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

How's the experiment going? Have you had an opportunity to pray for someone who ticked you off yet? What did it do to your mood and attitude?

In case you were not at church this weekend and have not watched the video or listened to the podcast, one of the things we talked about was loving people who make life difficult for us. Matthew 5:44 says, "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" The experiment is to see what praying for someone who makes you angry or wrongs you does to your attitude and heart for that person. Instead of allowing it to boil inside you and generate anger or resentment that could cause us to respond in an unloving way, take it to the Lord. So try it this week: When someone offends you or makes you angry, right there in that moment pray that God will work in you and through you in the situation. Pray that hearts would be open and God would give you the opportunity to be salt and light in the life of a person who is your enemy.

Reflections: February 1, 2009

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

I was surprised that so many of you have experienced turbulence in an airplane. I would have thought that most flights are turbulent-free, but it looks like that's not the case. I wouldn't be surprised though to know that most of us have experienced turbulence in our relationships. The reality is that it is just plain hard to live with other people up close without some sort of turbulence.

 

Today I shared three important lessons from the Sermon on the Mount. First we learned that contempt is sin. The second lesson was that it is our responsibility to reconcile. Thirdly we learned that it is more important to reconcile than to be right. As you consider these three lessons, which one is the hardest for you? What has been your experience when you have tried to reconcile with other people? As we prepare to go out into the community how do you think today's message will help?

 

I'm looking forward to February 22 – I hope you will join me and sign up for a project real soon. You can even sign-up before next Sunday online.

Reflections: January 25, 2009

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

Ephesians 4:17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

This is a pretty straight forward approach to being salt and light, yet very hard to accomplish in life. What is one thing either on this list, or in your own life that you need to give to God in order to allow Him to move freely in you and make a difference in the lives of the people around you and circumstances you find yourself in every day? What is an aspect of your life that you need prayer for an increase in faith and expectation that God can move and use you to make a difference?

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.