Category: Practices

Gordon MacDonald on Resilent Living

A Resilient Life February 22, 2004 – by Gordon MacDonald

The
event is engraved upon my soul much like words carved into marble face
of a monument. I have described it often because it shaped the way I
look at life.

I was standing at the starting line-the leadoff runner-in a mile relay championship race at the world-renown Penn Relays in  Philadelphia.  Our team had drawn the second lane. The first lane was occupied by a
runner who, a few weeks before, had broken the American record in the
100 meter dash. He was fast..and he was cocky.

"May the best man win," he said as he hammered his starting blocks
into the cinder surface of the track. "I'll be waiting for you at the
finish line."

It was trash talk, 1950's style. And it was intimidating to a skinny
15 year old who was competing in a large stadium with thousands of
people for the first time.

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John Townsend on Relationships (1 of 3)

Secrets of Great Relationships February 22, 2004 – by Dr. John Townsend

Welcome
to our series on GREAT RELATIONSHIPS and how you can have them! We all
desire the good things a thriving, healthy relationship provides-things
like love, tenderness, intimacy, companionship, security, protection,
help and more. God wants you to have all these things, and He provides
a way for you to experience these good things: through connection. God
created you for connection, both with Himself and other people, and He
has designed ways to help you grow into the relationships you need and
long for. We are excited about your own prospects to create great
relationships, whether you want to improve a struggling one, or make a
good one great.

In this first article of three, we wanted to start with the foundation and beginning of any great relationship. That foundation is grace. This
is a word that you often hear describing our spiritual relationship
with God, and that is the origin of it. Grace is, briefly defined, unmerited favor,
and is the basis of how God relates to us, by favoring us through love
and not through performance: "For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph.
2:8)." It is favors that God provides to us that we could never provide
for ourselves.

Continue reading “John Townsend on Relationships (1 of 3)” →

3.1 Fill My Cup, Lord

03Read Matthew chapter 9.  Jesus healed the paralytic, the bleeding woman, the blind, and the mute because of their faith. He raised a girl from the dead because of her father’s faith, and Matthew followed Jesus because of his faith.  Yet Jesus is questioned for engaging unsavory characters and for not practicing traditional rituals such as fasting.  What rituals and rules of society are keeping you from having a closer faith with Christ?

4.2 – Assurance of Strength – 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Memorize 2 Thessalonians 3:3

The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one (NRSV).

The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (NIV).

Reflect on 2 Thessalonians 3:3

  • Read Paul's benediction to the Christians of Thessolonika in the NRSV, the NIV, or The MESSAGE.
  • Paul asks the church to pray for two things: that Word of the Lord would spread quickly and that Paul and his companions would be rescued from evil people.  The basis for this hope is contained in the above verses.  What is Paul depending on?  What are you being invited to depend upon?
  • Our modern ears often ignore or downplay words about evil people or the Evil One, (daibolos – "devil" in the Greek, ha-satan – "the enemy" in the Hebrew).  Step back and honestly examine your workplace, school, neighborhood, community, and world.  Where do you see evil?  What do you need from Jesus so that you can guard against the Evil One?

4.1 – Assurance of Strength – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (NRSV)

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (NIV).

Reflect on 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

  • Read Paul's teaching on Jesus' resurrection in the NRSV, the NIV, or The MESSAGE.
  • The many "fear nots" ("do not be afraid" in the NIV) in the Bible are mirrored in today's prideful advertising slogan "No Fear!"  Paul tells us that we can live without fear because God through Jesus has already won the victory for us.  What do you fear?
  • What about death?  Do you fear death?  Does USAmerican culture fear death?
  • What one risk will you make for God this week?

Zan Holmes on “Do We Look Like Our Picture?”

On Sunday February 20, 2005 the Sanford District of The United Methodist Church welcomed Dr. Zan Holmes to its Lay Rally.  He offered some challenging words around the question: “Do We Look Like Our Picture?” He recalled a moment in his life when he almost missed a ride at a strange airport because he “did not look like his picture.”  Let’s center on to several verses from the book of Acts:

After his suffering Jesus presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God; While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:3-5, NRSV, also see Acts 2:1-12).

What does the picture of the early church look like? 

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2.4 Fill My Cup, Lord

02_4Read Matthew chapter 8.  There are several healing stories in today’s reading.  A leper approaches Jesus with a “I hope heals me” attitude, a centurion’s solid faith reveals an “only command it and it will be done” attitude, and Peter’s mother seems to busy herself in the role of the hostess with a “who knew I could be healed so quickly” attitude.  Which character do you most identify with?  What healing do you need from Jesus this week?

2.3 Fill My Cup, Lord

02_3Read Matthew chapter 7.  At the end of today’s reading you will have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in its entirety.  What one saying really grabbed your attention?  Where did you want to know some more?  Where were you challenged?  Where were you comforted?  Bring your questions to Jesus remembering to “ask and it will be given you, search, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matthew 7:7).

Countdown to Easter – Family Activities

Forty ways to celebrate the greatest event in history by Annette LaPlaca

Lent is the 40 days,
not counting Sundays, before Easter. These Scripture readings, fun
activities, discussion points and hymns to read or sing will help your
family focus on the most pivotal Christian truth: Christ died and rose
to save us from sin!

Continue reading “Countdown to Easter – Family Activities” →

Countdown to Easter – Family Activities

Forty ways to celebrate the greatest event in history by Annette LaPlaca

Lent is the 40 days,
not counting Sundays, before Easter. These Scripture readings, fun
activities, discussion points and hymns to read or sing will help your
family focus on the most pivotal Christian truth: Christ died and rose
to save us from sin!

Continue reading “Countdown to Easter – Family Activities” →