February 8, 2009

The ache of loneliness
loneliness is not simply a personal lack of friends but a loss of community.
1. Loneliness originates from our basic need to be in relationships. Genesis 1:26, 2:18
2. Loneliness develops because of our inability to relate intimately.
3. Loneliness is often perpertuated by our choice to remain isolated.
easy to withdraw and difficult to engage in people.
a community of mutual effort, support, encouragement and strength.

1. Know that God understands.
2. Know that we are not alone.
3. Know that denial does not work.
4. Know that community does work.

January 25, 2009

The Anger within
Did Jesus get angry? Yes for example Mark 3:5, John 2:14-16
Getting angry when something dishonors God.
Stewer versus a spewer
Stop, Pray and Act
Nasa technique

Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


What will my anger accomplish?
What does your anger motivate you to get involved with?

Bethany going to Leon, Nicaragua for Water related missions work.
Nathaniel talking about Campus crusade debates. www.doesgodexist.ca

January 18, 2009

Unless the Lord Guards.
Rev. Kinson speaking
- pray for pastors preaching: there is definitely spiritual warfare going on.
- sharing about Nicholas and basket-ball parents
- winning and losing, low self-esteem and values
- what values do I have and where do they come from?

Some observations
What we all need:
1. security
- awareness of being unconditionally and totally loved
2.significance
- purpose and value

If we are lacking in these two areas, we will have problems relating to others.
Worldly significance as described by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:11
Success versus significance
The rich young ruler. Self-made wealth that he clings to. Could not let go of that maybe due to fear of rejection or loss of significance. The constant approval of God over the conditional approval of men.

Three things to think about if we struggle with significance
1) We are image bearers of God. (Genesis 1:27)
2) We are all broken but not worthless. Jesus comes for the us because of our condition (Mark 2:17)
3) We are ordained with purpose. God has a plan for us. (Psalm 139:14-16).

We are children of God. This means we have great security and significance in him.
Story of prodigal son.

Questions and thoughts.
1) Is it possible to balance worldly success and a healthy spritual relationship with God? What would it take to do this?
eg Luke 16:13. But biblical characters such as Solomon and Joseph were very successful in managing and building wordly affairs. Solomon was half hearted about God but Joseph was more obedient and focused on the will of God.

2) How does God express "I love you" to us? How can we recognize it every day?

January 11, 2008

Guarding the Heart: The Lies We Believe

Satan is looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour".
But the devil is a defeated foe -> no claws, no teeth.
Know the lie, throw the lie
Know the truth, follow the truth

Jesus is Lord and Savior.
You might focus on the savior part but forget about the Lordship part. Do we worship the Lord constantly?

Things we get deceived on
1. Devotion time with God. Not optional
2. Prayer. Not optional.
3. Bring your bible. How else will you learn about and reference God?
4. Lateness. Respect for God, not for church or speaker.

Personal thoughts and questions
1. Can love be deceiving? This is one of the strong arguments for homosexuality, pre-martial sex and euthanasia: Doing/choosing something because it we believe it's based love and you can't argue against love.

2. What then is the definition of love?
We are told God is love as in 1 John 4:7-16 and also to "love one another". Would love ever lead us to do something wrong in the eyes of God? How then can we equip ourselves to understand what is "true" love?

January 4, 2009

Psalm 127: Unless the Lord Guards...
Kinson speaking about his son Nicholas building a fort for security.
Also the most secure places in the world
Air force one
Area 51
Fort Knox
...

in vain meaning not fruitful, not successful
guarding our souls.
1 Peter 5:8
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Jermiah 17:9
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Guarding
1) The integrity within our hearts
1 Samuel 16:7
"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Proverbs 4:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

The quality of our lives depends on the condition of our heart.

2) Boundaries surrouding our lives.
Things that distract us?

3) Welfare of our community
guarding our role. carrying each others burdens.
Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Ephesians 4:28 "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."


Some thoughts and questions
1. What does the heart mean? Is this someone's will and feeling? How is this different from the the mind of someone?
2. What is the heart of God?
3. The verse in Jerimiah 17:9 indicates the heart cannot be trusted. Yet in verses 1 Samuel 16:7 and Proverbs 4:23 it indicates the importance of the heart. What should we make of our hearts then?

November 2, 2008: Holding onto God's Standards

What is the value of integrity?
Kinson's example of a $100 crisp dollar bill. Even if it's crumpled or dirty, it's still worth $100.
Its value is constant and intrinsic.

Recognize the value of integrity. Define your legacy in life. Were you authentic or fake?
Integrity will determine your influence on others. Integrity demonstrates your faith before God.

Some Scripture on integrity

Proverbs 28:6 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man leads a blameless life;
blessed are his children after him.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Job 4:6 Should not your piety be your confidence
and your blameless ways your hope?

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Psalm 101: 2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.

Moving towards integrity
1) Delight in integrity. Do not allow fear to guide your integrity rather it is the will of God and a love for integrity.
2) Be guided by God's standards.
3) Understand you are building a legacy

September 9

Lamentations
The writings of Jeremiah about the destruction and suffering of Jerusalem.
The people of Israel were facing great punishment for their sin. Enemies were taking over and destroying them. They were met with disaster and grief. God turned away from his people.
Despite this, Jeremiah still had hope for restoration and pleaded for God's mercy.

Some verses
1:8-10"Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed. The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations enter her sanctuary— those you had forbidden to enter your assembly."

1:18 "The LORD is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look upon my suffering. My young men and maidens have gone into exile.

Chapter 3

31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.

33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.

34 To crush underfoot
all prisoners in the land,

35 to deny a man his rights
before the Most High,

36 to deprive a man of justice—
would not the Lord see such things?

37 Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?

39 Why should any living man complain
when punished for his sins?

40 Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD.

41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven, and say:

42 "We have sinned and rebelled
and you have not forgiven.

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My thoughts...
- God is a just God who has anger and does punish sin. Sin deserves punishment. There is no escape from punishment. This is fair.
- The Israelites were God's chosen people. They had relationship with him and knew what their lives meant. They sinned greatly in the eyes of the Lord by compromising their holiness.
Today, the peoples of the earth will not acknowledge sin nor God. This does free them from punishment or judgment.
- Jeremiah pleaded for God's mercy and had hope that God is merciful.
3:33 "For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men."
- God wanted his people to be pure but they turned to sin and allowed pagan forces to desecrate his Temple
- I think the same thing is happening with today's Christians: We compromising on our faith to be inclusive in today's society. How can we reach out and be relevant to the lost world while standing firm and not allowing ourselves to be polluted by the world?
- How is God feeling about his people today? What manner of punishment or wrath is in store for the sinful?