Okay it’s been a week…

Apologies to everyone who’s been checking the blog for the past week and seen no update… it’s been quite the week. Probably the busiest, most stress filled week we’ve experienced since moving. Is it ok for me to be honest that way? I am pleased to say that we were able to enjoy a great evening with some new friends on Saturday evening that proved to be a huge stress reliever… even found a great little coffee shop called Professor Java – it was a quintessential Portland coffee experience – good coffee and weird people. Anyhow – should be back on track this week. I’m looking forward to rejoining the blogosphere.

Weekend Reflections

Had a full weekend at Cornerstone – membership experience on Saturday morning followed by two great weekend services on Sunday with Mike Servello jr.

Tale of Two Cities – a journey from Offendedville to Pleasantville.
Offenses will take you further than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, keep you longer than you want to stay.

We all travel the same path when slipping down the path of offense…
Anger & Hurt Street (Matt 18:7, Eph 4:26-27) Be angry, but sin not. Learn how to handle anger.
Justification Drive (Matt 5:44-47) Deception begins when we begin to believe something other than what the Word of God says… Anger begins to settle into our minds.
Visualization Street (Gen 4: 5, 8.) Now having rehearsed the offense in your mind it begins to move to your emotions. Anger begins to be misdirected toward a person rather than a circumstance or situation. We typically begin to dehumanize the person.
Actualization Avenue (Heb 12:15, Matt 18:23-25) You now begin act out on your offense

So how do you get back to Pleasantville? (its simple but not easy)
Realize how much you’ve been forgiven
Give up your right to get even (1 Peter 2:23)
Humble yourself (pray, bless and give to those who have offended you)

Apple Picking in New York

Had a great day today – taught membership class this morning. We discovered together that membership isn’t about joining something – it belief that’s tied to belonging, which mean ownerships of the vision and participation in making it a reality – we’re all called to win souls, care and contribute. Vacuumed my car, cleaned the old apartment and then went apple picking with the kids. An absolute blast – fall has started early. Enjoy the pictures. I’m about to enjoy some homemade apple pie – way to go Jennie!

Quote to consider

“Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.” – Ken Hakuta

Building a Home…

Been buried over the past couple of days working on an new approach to our membership class taking place this Saturday. It’s been a lot of fun to delve into the purpose and meaning of the local church. I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what makes a house a home and what kind of church we find in the book of Acts. It’s intriguing that our family moved into a new house at the same time and I’ve watched as all the members of our family have poured their hearts into and worked hard to make our house a home – not just by organizing furniture, hanging pictures and unpacking boxes. It’s also been about spending time together, playing on the floor together, doing homework, eating dinner, clearing the table, talks and bedtime stories. There have been all kinds of responsibilities… and benefits as we’ve been intentional about making our house a home.

For everyone of us that are part of local church I believe our heavenly Father is asking us to make the house a home… so what does that mean? I have four words for you to ponder – community, ownership, belonging and purpose.

As we take a closer look at the blueprint we find in the book of Acts five thoughts become evident about the church:

• It was a church that is marked by the presence of God and the impossible becoming reality.
• It was a church that purposefully reached out to those they interacted with daily, and strategic in reaching out globally.
• It was a church that gave itself to generously serving God and others with their time, talents and resources.
• It was a church that built a unified, enviable, cause-centric community.
• It was a church that resulted in changed lives becoming more like Christ.

So how are you are you doing at making your house a home?

Adjectives

What adjectives would you like people to use to describe you? What adjectives do you think they would use to describe you?

Never give up on your dream!

For all the Brits reading the blog you’ve watched this guys journey… If you don’t cry watching this  I don’t know… You might feel like a little lump of coal… don’t give up on your dream!