Study Week 117: Isa. 41:10, "Still In One Peace"
Week of August 29, 2010
FEAR! Just the word conjures up imagese from the movie JAWS! Spine tingling, creepy, scary, disorienting, and discomfiting feelings --- all arising out of the emotion of FEAR. Real fear can be paralyzing, terrifying. It compels an uncanny inward focus, a shutting down, a form of self preservation. I don't like fear.
More
Study Week 115: Mark 6:31, "Not So Fast"
Week of August 15, 2010
"Slow down, you're moving too fast." Yeah, 1960's something. Simon & Garfunkel. It was a song that marked the times. It's no less relevant today. And you ask ... is it scriptural?! Of course. It's like oxygen to our souls. Taking time out to ... refresh, renew, recover, and recharge. Mark records
More
Study Week 114: 1 Peter 3:8-15a, "the grace of good news"
Week of August 8, 2010
Often we think of missionaries as people who tell others about the "good news" of Jesus Christ. That's true. In part, that's what they do. However, I have a more nuanced understanding of what it means to be a missionary after my recent short term mission experience on the Amazon River
More
Study Week 113: Rev. 2:1-5a, "the grace of first love"
Week of August 1, 2010
In my reflections about our mission trip to the Amazon River (14 went from MPC), one thing stands out above all else. The trip helped me remember my first love for Christ, a love that erupted nearly 38 years ago!. It's THE benchmark in my life. The trip helped me remember how it felt to be moved from
More
Study Week 112: Matthew 12:46-50, "the grace of family"
Week of July 25, 2010
I come from a large family. I'm the third oldest of ten children. At times, life as a clan seemed like chaos. Most of the time, it was a blessing. I'm still very close to my brothers and sisters. As we grew up, we became best friends: we were fountains of
More
Study Week 111: Matthew 4:18-22, "The grace of leadership"
Week of July 19, 2010
One thing that is hammered home in torts class in law school is the principle of "but for causation." There must be a legal cause and effect relationship between a person's negligent conduct and the ensuing injury before a plaintiff is allowed to prove the amount of damages. So what? Well, let's just
More
Study Week 110: Mark 10:7-8, "Is This The End Of Marriage?"
Week of July 11, 2010
Being single is a gift from God. Cf. 1 Cor. 7:36-40. Being married is a gift from God, too. But that's not necessarily what many in America believe. Marriage is taking a beating as evidenced in a lead article in Newseek, dated June 11, 2010, entitledd "I Don't: A Case Against Marriage." All sorts
More
Study Week 109: Galatians 5:1-15, "Expensive Freedom"
Week of June 27, 2010
Greg's topic for this July 4th Sunday, is a double entendre entitled, "expensive freedom."
More
Study Week 108: Acts 2:42-47 & Heb. 10:23-25, "Declaration of Interdependence"
Week of June 20, 2010
It seems that the CHURCH gets a bad rap these days in our culture. Why is that? Should we care? If we do care, what can we do to change that perception? Despite what our culture may say about the CHURCH, I believe the CHURCH is the most important organism and
More
Study Week 107: 1 Cor. 13:7, "Love never quits!"
Week of June 13, 2010
God never quits on us! His love is unfailing. As a kid I lived in the country on a farm, and I loved going to the local rodeo. Calf roping was an event, and I often think of it when I think of God's tenacious love for us. God's in "hot pursuit"
More
Study Week 106: 2 Cor. 8:7, "Grace-onomics"
Week of June 6, 2010
God never asks us to do something out of character either for God or us. That makes sense since we're made in God's image and likeness. God asks us to give, because God gives. God asks us to be generous, because God is generous. God encourages us in the realm of
More
Study Week 105: 1 Cor. 13:6, "The Joy of Truth"
Week of May 30, 2010
There is someting exhilartaing about knowing TRUTH exists ... and that it is revealed to us by the love and grace of God. Knowing that we can know TRUTH, and direct our lives according to its compass transforms us from the deepest core of our being. Life truly gets more exciting when
More
Study Week 104: 1 Cor. 13:4-5, "Love keeps no record of wrongs."
Week of May 23, 2010
All of us have a little voice in the back of our heads. Sometimes it's hard to shuf-off! And often times it's saying things that are destructive or negative, especially when someone has hurt us. I hate the nagging, negative thoughts I get when I feel someone has wronged me! How could
More
Study Week 103: 1 Cor. 13:4-5, "Love is ...not easily angered."
Week of May 16, 2010
REMEMBER ... BBQ/potluck tonight at church beginning at 6:00 p.m. Bring your own meat to BBQ and a side dish/desert. Now, where were we? This is our last in a series of 6 Wednesday evenings in Life Group on our church campus. Congratulations for joining us. I hope your experience
More