Recently, a friend of mine gave me a book by Frank Viola. It has helped me understand the New Testament by putting everything in context and the order it happened.
While I was reading I had a prayer. “Lord I want to give everything I have to helping church planters. But I will only do it if you will keep them from failure.”
Then I read this verse about Paul and his church planting journey. He had it ruff. Not every church plant made it. Several of them made huge mistakes. I may have to change my prayer. Why is it so hard to give your life for something. Especial when everything you worked so hard for could fall apart.
This verse has been sticking with me for a few weeks:
19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.
That was the Message translation and seems so much more personal than other translations I read. When it says “a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage” I can relate to that. I know it doesn’t need to be part of my life.
Because small actions make big impressions.
The visual act of taking notes says:
1. I think you’re smart.
2. You’re saying something worth writing down.
3. I’m willing and anxious to learn.
4. I’m contentious.
This week we are at New Life Church in Little Rock, Arkansas for another ARC Basic Training. Our first night, was spent in Kidslife. WoW! There were two AmAzInG things to point out. The first is how much energy those kids have. I don’t remember having that much energy when I was a kid. Second, kids ministry really doesn’t have to be expensive. This guy in the sun glasses had them entertain by running around with a stick horse. They played some fun games too.
I finished another book. This one was awesome. I love Pastor Craig Groeschel’s book’s.
Five Awseome Takeaways – The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
The Tag Line- Believing in God but living like he doesn’t exist.
No fights before marriage. He and his wife didn’t have a fight until 3 years into their marriage. People said that Courtney and I had to have a fight (disagreement) before we got married. Thanks for the advice. NOT
Preparation- studying and thinking about what you’ll say will give you confidence. Especially in sharing your faith He used this verse: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 Sharing my faith is difficult for me. If I spend time in preparation maybe this will get easier/ more effective.
He say’s this one pretty well so here is a picture from the book :
He was addicted to adrenaline. I’m still getting over mine.
