2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Ministry through unity is done alongside one another, working together, serving together and living life intentionally with one another. Flying solo in ministry is lame. If you are walking alone doing church by reading sports illustrated and listening to Cat Stevens cd's...recycle your magazine, sell you cd at Hasting's and get connected with others in a church. Life is short, don't miss out on the value of community.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
For tomorrow..
Phil. 3:15-21
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Paul invites the Philippians to follow his example and pay attention to the "pattern" of life that is lived in front of them. Knowing Christ and making him known to others requires our lives to be lived differently than those who live as enemies of Christ.
The road ahead is intended to be one that points toward heaven and not in the opposite direction which maintains and eye only on earthly things. So, as we follow God now we must live in the tension of making Christ known fully without being consumed by what we see in front of us in the present.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Paul invites the Philippians to follow his example and pay attention to the "pattern" of life that is lived in front of them. Knowing Christ and making him known to others requires our lives to be lived differently than those who live as enemies of Christ.
The road ahead is intended to be one that points toward heaven and not in the opposite direction which maintains and eye only on earthly things. So, as we follow God now we must live in the tension of making Christ known fully without being consumed by what we see in front of us in the present.
Phil. 3:12-14
Today's reading...
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The destraction of what lies behind us can make all of our forward hope in Christ turn sideways. It's important to remember that God has done in a work in us, but He is not finished doing that work in us either. With that in mind, lean forward into the present with a intentional hope toward the future. Good things lie ahead!
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The destraction of what lies behind us can make all of our forward hope in Christ turn sideways. It's important to remember that God has done in a work in us, but He is not finished doing that work in us either. With that in mind, lean forward into the present with a intentional hope toward the future. Good things lie ahead!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Phil. 3:10-11
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Today as a staff we talked about the end goal of our lives. It seems that there are a couple traps we can fall into as Christians.
1. We think think only about the present.
2. We think only about the future.
By doing only the first, we engage fully in the social elements of the gospel without considering the needs of the future.
By doing only the second, we dream about the future and miss the chance to express love in the present to those who may need it most.
I know this is an oversimplification and there is a raging debate in Christianity about how to embrace the full gospel, live the gospel out and then continue to share it and I think this what Paul is driving at..he talks about his identity before Jesus, his identity after he met Christ and then he moves on to these verses as a reminder on how to know Christ and how to make him known as we live presently in Christ and hope eternally in Christ.
Wherever you are on the map of following Christ...embrace him fully and not partially. It's so easy to be engaged only in the morals of Christ without having to wrap ourselves up fully in the difficult things he called us to do and be as his followers.
Today as a staff we talked about the end goal of our lives. It seems that there are a couple traps we can fall into as Christians.
1. We think think only about the present.
2. We think only about the future.
By doing only the first, we engage fully in the social elements of the gospel without considering the needs of the future.
By doing only the second, we dream about the future and miss the chance to express love in the present to those who may need it most.
I know this is an oversimplification and there is a raging debate in Christianity about how to embrace the full gospel, live the gospel out and then continue to share it and I think this what Paul is driving at..he talks about his identity before Jesus, his identity after he met Christ and then he moves on to these verses as a reminder on how to know Christ and how to make him known as we live presently in Christ and hope eternally in Christ.
Wherever you are on the map of following Christ...embrace him fully and not partially. It's so easy to be engaged only in the morals of Christ without having to wrap ourselves up fully in the difficult things he called us to do and be as his followers.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
New things..
So, for the longest time I've focused on only things that I know I can accomplish with ease. Playing the guitar, networking with people (new or familiar), organizing people for a project, putting resources together, preparing lesson for teaching, starting small groups and connecting people into those small groups.
Today, I installed an alternator in my truck. I learned in general more about my 1992 Ford F-150 that I've been driving for the last 15 months. I've gained so much respect for Grandpas, Dad and others who can easily look at the interworkings of an engine and know what the heck they are doing.
I'm reminded of the value of doing something new each day and how valuable these small experiences are in everyday life. It's easy to become complacent with what we know and never explore the things we don't understand. In my case, mechanics. Regardless, of where your passions are, strive to learn something new today.
Today, I installed an alternator in my truck. I learned in general more about my 1992 Ford F-150 that I've been driving for the last 15 months. I've gained so much respect for Grandpas, Dad and others who can easily look at the interworkings of an engine and know what the heck they are doing.
I'm reminded of the value of doing something new each day and how valuable these small experiences are in everyday life. It's easy to become complacent with what we know and never explore the things we don't understand. In my case, mechanics. Regardless, of where your passions are, strive to learn something new today.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Today's reading
Philippians 3:4-9
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
It's easy to get so caught up in who we are, what we have done and where we've been that we can miss the reality of why we are here in the first place. I think it is to know Christ and make him known to others.
If we only get a taste of what it means to have a real identity, a sense of what God has done, and a compelling life that shows that our faith is more than knowledge we begin to truly worship and draw others to the source of that worship. For what it's worth, I've been caught in a rut of thinking about my efforts only, more than the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
What an incredible gift..
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
It's easy to get so caught up in who we are, what we have done and where we've been that we can miss the reality of why we are here in the first place. I think it is to know Christ and make him known to others.
If we only get a taste of what it means to have a real identity, a sense of what God has done, and a compelling life that shows that our faith is more than knowledge we begin to truly worship and draw others to the source of that worship. For what it's worth, I've been caught in a rut of thinking about my efforts only, more than the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
What an incredible gift..
Phil 2:19-24
Wednesday's reading...
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul's description of this relationship with Timothy and E. (for short) is unique. He trusts them with the work of the church,
the message of the church
and the call to give up their lives.
Ultimately, to know Christ and make him known.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul's description of this relationship with Timothy and E. (for short) is unique. He trusts them with the work of the church,
the message of the church
and the call to give up their lives.
Ultimately, to know Christ and make him known.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hold Me Jesus
It's hard to believe it's been over ten years since Rich has been gone. Here is one of my favorite songs he wrote.
Working out our salvation with fear and trembling
I read this article and it seemed relevant based on the reading from Phil 2:12-16 today.
http://theresurgence.com/beaumont_words-and-deeds
http://theresurgence.com/beaumont_words-and-deeds
Phil 2:12-16
Today's reading is...
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
A couple of questions that stick out to me..
1. How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
2. How unique of a community was Phillipi that they were challenged to do everything with complaining or arguing?
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
A couple of questions that stick out to me..
1. How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
2. How unique of a community was Phillipi that they were challenged to do everything with complaining or arguing?
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