Sunday, September 12, 2021

The Lonely Hearts Club

 
The Lonely Hearts Club
Welcome Home: Finding our place in God's plan
APPETIZER: WHAT DO YOU HUNGER AND THIRST FOR?

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." -Jesus (Matthew 5:6)

RIGHTEOUSNESS: Relational rightness, justice, loveliness; being in right relationship, with God and others; a gift of grace declared over us and infused into us by God.

Secular approach: We focus our fight for justice on laws and systems without offering a solution to the human heart.


Religious approach: Creating safety through rule-keeping and rigid boundaries.


Kingdom approach: We focus our desires toward being in right relationship with one another, modelled and taught by Jesus.


THE ROOT PROBLEM: To be human is to be, at some level and at all times, in every moment and in all circumstances and experiences, deeply and disturbingly lonely.


"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to fuse their insulated ecstasies into a single self-transcendence; in vain. By its very nature every embodied spirit is doomed to suffer and enjoy in solitude. Sensations, feelings, insights, fancies—all these are private and, except through symbols and at second hand, incommunicable. We can pool information about experiences, but never the experiences themselves. From family to nation, every human group is a society of island universes." -Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception
Bruxy's favorite quote 

THE BRUTAL CYCLE OF LONELINESS: Loneliness > Hypervigilance/Critique > Suspicion of others and/or preoccupation with self > Others move away

Loneliness
Hypervigilance criticism self absorbed
Suspicion of others preoccupation with self

We need communities of patience and perseverance to break the cycle!
Let's be family. I'll never run away even when you become difficult

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -Jesus (Matthew 6:33)

DINE IN: THE CHURCH AS GOD'S MISSION
Ephesians 2:14-22
Bruxy's favorite passage
Masks post at Bruxy.com
No after party
Paul is opening the need to get along between cultures. The Jews were victimized by their enemies. 
Christ himself is our peace. He destroyed the hatred. There is now no dividing wall. 
The purpose the why behind the cross. 
and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,
Ephesians 2:16‭-‬17 NET

A single plurality and a plural singularity.

"You [plural] are the light [singular] of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your [plural] light [singular] shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16)


"We [plural] are the temple [singular] of the living God." -The apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16)

"You are like living stones [plural], being built into a spiritual house [singular]." -The apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:5)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies [plural] as a living sacrifice [singular], holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." -The apostle Paul (Romans 12:1)

The church is not given God's mission and is not on God's mission – the church is God's mission!

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." -Luke the Physician & Historian (Acts 2:42-47)
Love is nimble. Law just is. Love can be flexible. 
We love God by loving your neighbor is New Covenant
Adam and Eve didn't need words. Sin means separated. The Holy Spirit connects us. 

Acts 2.42.47 they shared 3 ways. 
Large gatherings Learning
Home groups Living
Communities interacting with all the people GIVE
You ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST

TAKE OUT: MY NEXT STEP
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -Jesus (Matthew 6:33)

How will you do this? Start by pursuing three spaces of grace…

SPACES OF GRACE…

Temple = Central large group [LEARNING]
Homes = Local small groups [LIVING]
Communities = interacting with "all the people" [GIVING]

Next Steps This Week

1. Sign up for Home Church (let's practice what we preach)

2. Take 15 minutes every day to invest in a close relationship (give the gift of your full attention to a family member or friend)

3. Do one thing every day to invest in a distant relationship (be intentional about connecting in some small way with a stranger or neighbour)


Further Study…

Together by Vivek H. Murthy, M.D.
The Search to belong by Joseph R. Myers
What is the Church by David E. Fitch
Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson, M.D.
The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, M.D.
Remember to use these questions like a menu, not a checklist. These questions are not mandated material you have to cover, but options to help guide your discussion as much or as little as you like.

HANG OUT | Large Group
1. What about the Sunday teaching stood out to you?

2. Have you tried any of the next steps in the Take Out? Talk about your experience.

HEAR | Discussion Groups
3. Read Ephesians 2:14-22.

a) What stands out to you in this passage? (If processing your thoughts around this question is all you have time for, this is enough!)

b) Read God's Grand Plan in Ephesians 1:10. How does this connect with Paul's thoughts in chapter 2?

c) Paul encourages Gentiles to "remember" what life was like apart from Christ. Why encourage anyone to think back over the negative aspects of their life while also considering the newness that Jesus brings? What might be the benefit?

d) Jesus "destroyed" the Law through the cross, yet we can still learn from the Old Testament scriptures (see 2 Timothy 3:15-17). Talk about how we can use the Old Testament today. What are its benefits? It's limitations?

d) Paul saw grace, not race, as defining our identity. Being Jewish or non-Jewish was infinitely secondary in forming one's sense of self. The Christian household, the family of Jesus, the church was a completely new way of being human (also see Paul's language in 1 Corinthians 10:32). So, what are the benefits and dangers of celebrating our particular nationality or ethnic origin today? How can the church do a better job of uniting as one distinct "race" or family?

f) Take time to meditate on verse 22. Then talk about what God might be showing you.

HUDDLE | Huddles
4. Recall question 3c above. What has Jesus helped you "remember" differently?

5. Talk about what God has been saying to you this week, and/or about how you are doing in your lives, and pray for one another.
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Sunday, September 05, 2021

The Meeting House September 5


Cheryl Nembhard (Co-Founder at Exousia Media Group)
Maintaining a Posture of Faith
Jesus People
APPETIZER: WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THE RINGER
Joshua 1:6-9
"Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance.
Joshua 1:6 CSB

If we're honest, many of us would agree that the past 18 months have served up some of the biggest challenges of our lives:

Global pandemic job losses, losses losses losses
Racial tensions
Natural disasters earthquakes 
Political upheaval Taliban persecuting Christians
Mass job loss
Trying to people in this is hard
So many of us have been deeply changed by the events that we have experienced and are left wondering what life will look like on the other side of this new normal.
How do we navigate from here? Joy? Freedom? Abundance? 
Joshua is encouraging. 40 years they looked for the Promised Land until their beloved leader passed away. Pain. Prayers being answered. 
In the midst of devastation God is still good. God is still leading. 
2020 was hard. 7 people in our family died last year. An Ocean of grief. Wave after wave. Getting crashed against the rocks. Why me? Why another one? 

DINE IN: OUR FUTURE IS STILL BRIGHT
In order to get into the land that God had for them, the people of Israel had to cross the river Jordan. No small feat, and they had already been through so much. But through it all God was faithful. Through it all God was still going before and leading His people.
God is faithful.
Step out of the prison of why. Shift to what? What can I be grateful for. My heart opened up to see the blessings of God in the storm. Some storms clear a path to something new. Speak on social justice. Crossroads See Her Love show. Words for 2020 
Resolute hope
Purposeful. Hope is the glorious holy posture of deviance against the darkness. Hope. Trust. Reconnect. God is calling us to Hope. Trust. Reconnect. God's promises. Trust humanity. Love our neighbor. Step out of the bubbles. 
God is still God. In everything. Still Good. 
Pray for strengthening faith. Plans for the future. 
Ps 42,11 why am I sad? I will hope again. 
Elijah had a posture of faith praying for rain. 6x no. Yes on the 7th.
He had seen the fire of God. God answers prayer. 
Abraham had faith. Willing to sacrifice his son trusting God to raise him from the dead. 
Only God is God. He doesn't want us to understand, just trust HiFree fall into God's hands
Paul and Silas sang in their hardship. 
Daniel's friends stood on faith in God's power. God can. I will trust no matter what. 
Hope is defiance against the darkness. 
and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:20‭-‬22 CSB
God is calling us to live open handed. Not pandemic fatigue. Pray. Care. 
Self centredness. God is saying. Turn back. Worship. Trust. Not be apathetic. Ignite faith. 
God is good and faithful. 

TAKE OUT: GOD WANTS TO REIGNITE OUR HOPE
Hope in our God is this glorious holy posture of defiance to the overwhelming darkness that tries to surround us.

He is still God and He will never leave you without hope.

Stand in faith on the promises of God – Jeremiah 29:11
Encourage yourself – Psalms 42:11
Put your hope in the promise keeping God – Isaiah 46:8-10
Worship – Acts 16:26
Stand your ground – Daniel 3:17-18
Remember that we serve a Great God!

Remember to use these questions like a menu, not a checklist. These questions are not mandated material you have to cover, but options to help guide your discussion as much or as little as you like.

HANG OUT | Large Group
1. What about the Sunday teaching stood out to you?

HEAR | Discussion Groups
2. This week, we're going to apply the HEAR method to our Home Church discussion...

H- Highlight key themes in the passage
E- Based on your reading, explain what the passage means in its context
A- Draw application for our own lives
R- Respond back in Prayer (in Huddles)

a) Read Joshua 1:1-9. What are the themes of this text? Highlight the challenges that Joshua and the children of Israel were facing. Explain all the things that God told Joshua, including His promises to him.

b) Read Daniel 3:17-18. In what way does this passage impact your faith?

4. If you were to describe your current posture in this season, what would it be and why?

HUDDLE | Huddles
5. Talk about what God has been saying to you this week, and/or about how you are doing in your lives, and pray for one another. 
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Sunday, August 29, 2021

God @ Church

The Meeting House Bruxy Cavey 

God @ Church
APPETIZER: WE'RE ALL SO LONELY
THE PROBLEM:

To be human is to be, at some level and at all times, in every moment and in all circumstances and experiences, deeply and disturbingly lonely.

How compact your bodies are. And what a variety of senses you have. This thing you call language though, most remarkable. You depend on it for so very much. But is any one of you really its master? But most of all, the aloneness. You are so alone. You live out your lives in this shell of flesh. Self-contained, separate. How lonely you are. How terribly lonely.

-Spock/Kollos (Star Trek, Season 3, Episode 5 (Is There in Truth No Beauty?)
A race of telepathic beings is authentic in communication. Makes comment on Spock's life. Processed that for a long time. 
Abraham got an extreme command that made him lonely. Only depend on God. Absolute. Huxley. He wrote the best stuff outside of the Bible. 

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

-The Apostle Paul (Romans 8:26-27)

DINE IN: GOD'S SOLUTION FOR OUR SEPARATION
John 20:19-20, Romans 8

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

-Jesus (John 14:16-20)

We have the mind of Christ.

-The apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 2:16)
Hanging out in the game world Red Dead Redemption and making friends there. 

PROFOUND INTIMACY:

John 14:16-20, John 14:23; John 15:1-17; John 15:26; John 16:12-15; John 17:26

Romans 8:14-15, Romans 8:26-27;
The Spirit of God. No condemnation. V14 led by the Spirit of God. Not slaves. Sonship. For men and women. Crying ABBA Father. Now Co heirs. Jesus is our brother. 
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we feel down and alone the Spirit prays for us. 
Lack of engagement drains our energy. We need to contact our friends. 
We don't have to find the words. Just hang out with God. 
Groan moan the Spirit gets it. He'll groan with you. 
Be open and honest with each other. Jesus's presence is increased when you meet with others. 

Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 2:3-7; Ephesians 3:14-15; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Peter 1:3-4

Perichoresis: The persons of the Trinity interpenetrate one another.

Theosis: We are welcomed into the love life of the Trinity.


TEMPLE
Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 21:22; Acts 17:28

BODY
Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:24

FAMILY
Matthew 12:50; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Timothy 5:1-2

For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.

-The apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 5:3-4; Colossians 2:5)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)

Acts 2 and onward… With the Spirit they are truly together, truly one, even though they move out into the world, often in different directions.

TAKE OUT: MY NEXT STEP
Hey, I'm hungry. Wanna grab dinner together?

Hey, I'm lonely. Wanna grab dinner together?

My Next Step This Week…

1. Read and meditate on the Scriptures in the sermon notes.

2. Read a book on the importance of soul friendship (e.g. Vivek H. Murthy's Together).

3. Confess your loneliness to one trusted, wise, and loving person.

4. Spend 15 minutes each day investing in your closest relationships.

5. Look up "one another" commands in the Bible and start researching for learning together in September. (Just make sure your research includes learning by doing!)

Remember to use these questions like a menu, not a checklist. These questions are not mandated material you have to cover but options to help guide your discussion as much or as little as you like.
Bob asks: if loneliness is human, When is it a crisis? Live a life of love and light. Tune into the lonely around you and share. If it prevents you from living life get help

Ask questions is refreshing. Patina. Questions need to be part of our love language. Blocking questions creates loneliness. I don't worry about unicorns Hinduism and other things I don't believe. Doubting your faith means you have faith. 

Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
John 20:20 CSB

HANG OUT | Large Group
1. What about the Sunday (and/or After Party) teaching stood out to you?

2. Have you tried any of the next steps in the Take Out? Talk about your experience.

HEAR | Discussion Groups
3. Read all of Romans 8. (And keep in mind our theme of experiential intimacy as an antidote to loneliness, and spiritual family as an antidote to the dislocation and disorientation of our time.) NOTE: If time is short, just read verses 26-end.

a) What stands out to you? Talk about wherever this passage leads your thoughts.

b) In Christ our intimacy with God and one another is fundamentally nonjudgmental, without condemnation. How can we manifest this well in a community where we as a family are also supposed to rebuke and challenge one another?

c) We have living in us "the Spirit of God", "the Spirit of Christ", and "Christ" (verses 9-10). Is Jesus in heaven or in us or both or what? Try to explain this to one another simply. (Recall the concept of "perichoresis".)

d) Have you ever experienced the "wordless groans" of the Spirit? What is this experience like for you? (Or what do you think it might be like?) Take time to meditate quietly on verses 37-39. Then talk about any new thoughts or feelings.

HUDDLE | Huddles
4. Talk about what God has been saying to you this week, and/or about how you are doing in your lives, and pray for one another.
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Sunday, January 10, 2021

Attention: Editor. Extended lockdown distressing and counter productive.

I'm a strong Conservative but I agree with the NDP on this one. The Premier needs to be the one facing the public. A butt protecting bureaucrat should never be given the power to destroy the economy. He should not be seen in public. 


Every year approximately 5,000 Canadians per million die of all causes. This last year, 500 deaths per million were attributed to COVID. This is not a pandemic. Total death rate in 2020 was slightly lower than in any of the previous 4 years.

Thousands of Manitoba businesses are needlessly closed or limited due to our government's health orders, while big businesses remain open and unaffected. Why is the government forcing us to shop Amazon? These orders do not promote equal opportunity to all Manitobans.

 Myself, along with the vast majority of Manitoba business owners believe that the incomes of all Manitobans are essential. We are calling on our government to reopen all businesses effective immediately. We will not tolerate a government that dictates whether we are able to earn an income and provide work to employees.

 The safety of Manitobans is important. Our businesses can and must reopen safely and responsibly by implementing the same safety and hygiene protocol used by the businesses which have remained open. 

The local Smitty's and Sals have taken isolation protocols seriously and are not contributing to the spread of COVID. They and their customers should not be punished. 

Blocking the sales of books and Christmas cards is beyond silly. The recent kerfuffle of vilifying churches that choose to hold drive-in services, is another way to discredit the province's efforts at controlling the virus. Please don't continue to stoop to those levels of silliness and then forget to protect our vulnerable seniors. Dr Roussin should be replaced or hidden.

There are proven tools for fighting Covid infections. Use them. https://budesonideworks.com/
https://thezelenkoprotocol.com/ and more info at http://ZephyrBus.com/cure.pdf

 I look forward to your reply. 

Raymond Dueck
204-782-2112
www.ZephyrBus.com

The wisdom of many is better than the wisdom of one.
www.DonateBibles.net
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Sunday, October 04, 2020

Falcon Lake Church

Art Dueck shared that he was in a serious accident. He discovered he was not in a hearse but in an ambulance. He was happy that his inheritance is guaranteed. 

Howard Moore Stonewall
Let's sing
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
God is faithful

Stories are good
Howard grew up in Saskatchewan 
Has traveled all over the world. Ended up in France at a camp. 
Was pastor in Stonewall
Became Director of Greater Europe Mission. One of the neediest areas in the world. Now back in Manitoba. 
Info in the back. 
Ministry started by an injured US SERVICEMAN 
Nov 1 annual General Meeting

It is well with my soul

Covid-19-Pandemic is affecting us more. Suspicion. Uptight. Confusing. 2 granddaughters wanted grandma and grandma to meet them on the first day of school. The bus driver insistent on masks. Frustration. 
These times speak of who God is. 

1 Peter
Peter was the spokesman. He denied Jesus. Jesus forgave him. 
He was the brave one at Pentecost. There was serious persecution of the church. What does Peter say to them? 
From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen
1 Peter 1:1 NET
Doesn't start with you poor persecuted
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!
1 Peter 1:2 NET
He starts off reminding his audience about who they are. A strong sense of relationship with God. Chosen. Loved. Remember who you are in Christ. Start each day remembering who you are. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:4 NET
We march to a different drumbeat. 
Great mercy. By the God that raised Jesus from the dead. We have an inheritance. 
We have been supported missionaries for 35 years. Not substantial support. Karen's parents were becoming older. Bought the property. Received a significant inheritance. Now installing services to subdivide the property. Lost money on the stock market. 
The inheritance we have in Christ is sure. 
God is at work in you now. We don't know the future. God is shielding us. But we may have to go through difficult things. We have a wonderful guaranteed inheritance. 
V8
You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8‭-‬9 NET
You are going through difficult times. God wants his church to shine. We are representatives of God here. 
It's important for us as we go through stress to remember God is on the Throne. He has something wonderful for you. 
In the 1st and 2nd century there were at least 2 pandemics and the Jesus followers risked their lives to help the suffering. They made the Romans look bad. 
As believers we can reach out to people with our perspective of eternity. Let us be reminded of how Peter reminded the believers. 

A Shelter in the Time of Storm
The Lord's our rock

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Monday, September 28, 2020

All Peoples Church Falcon Lake

Many people received a blessing in meeting outside during the summer getting to know more people. 

Ambassadors of Christ Canada president. Having an International meeting in Atlanta. Brian has now slipped into the position of International Director. 

Mrs Eleanor Gingrich passed away this week. Remember her family in prayer. 

Howard Moore will be speaking next week. 

We have heard the Joyful Sound
Jesus Saves

Acts 28

2 years Paul lived in a rented house in Rome and proclaimed the Gospel unhindered. 

Acts 1 Jesus left after proving He was alive. He spoke over and over about the Kingdom of God. 
The heart of the Christian message is that Jesus is alive. Where 2 or 3 are gathered together Jesus is there. ❤ He has given us the Holy Spirit. 
Every step we need to ask what should I be doing? 

There was an expectation that the Messiah would restore King David's Throne. There were misunderstanding of the kingdom
1. Not a territory. 
Not a new power Centre of the world. Be witnesses. 
The disciples were narrow minded thinking that the Israel kingdom was going to be restored. 
God's kingdom is within you. Your heart. Not a human territory. 
2. Timing. Now? No. God knows. Don't bother guessing. Lots of people think we're in the end times now. The China virus has stopped the world. Hundreds of dates have been predicted for Jesus's return.
Don't be concerned about the timing. 
3. The kingdom is about the Holy Spirit. It's here now. Since the day of Pentecost. That's when he came to live in us. 
The Kingdom of God is here now. Half of the world has never heard of the 1st coming. Why be worried about the 2nd coming? 
Be anointed with the Holy Spirit to do your ministry. Surrender to the Kingdom of God. Lord what is your will for me today? God works through us. Your kingdom come through me. My kingdom is done. 

God is the King. He helped the disciples turned the world upside-down. All except John died a an early unnatural desk. 

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot


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Sunday, September 06, 2020

Fwd: All Peoples Church Falcon Lake

Sawatzky special music:
Michelle is on the way back from BC so her sister in law Shannon, her daughter, Michelle's father, and brother provided the special music for the church on the lawn.

Series from the book of James 
Last week, The brevity of life

What do we do with our troubles? Pastor Brian Hamilton

Pray for essential workers

James. The last in the series for the summer. 
"Just Do It" is the theme of the book.
This is a controversial passage
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
James 5:13‭-‬18 NLT

We all have troubles. Pray. Look at Job as an example. Troubles don't magically disappear. 
Persevere. You've been forgiven so you are righteous. Elijah is just like me? No rain? Miracle food? A boy came to life. Ignite the sacrifice? 

Jezebel threatened to kill him and he ran. Got depressed. Just like us. Nothing intrinsically special about him. 

Pray. Praise. Acknowledge what God has done. 

3. Sick? Call the elders. Controversial. Anoint with oil. Be healed. God doesn't always heal. Sometimes He does. 
7 points. 1. Sick. 2. Call the elders. Pray OVER him. Someone mature. James was the 1st book. Elders was a new term. Leaders of the church. 
3. Anoint with oil in the name of the Lord. Sacramental? Medicinal? Symbolic? Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. 
4. Prayer of faith. Doesn't always work. Peter's shadow healed people. His handkerchief healed people. Jesus only healed 1 person at the pool of Siloam. Paul had a thorn in the flesh and God didn't heal it. V14 under the authority of the Lord and His will. We need to conform to God's authority and Will.
Listen to God. Spend time with him. Subject to His Will. Trust him. Your Will be done. Not my way. 
Be careful not to bring leanness on your soul. 
Prayer of faith. We're confident that He can and will if he chooses. 
6. Confess your sins
7. God will raise him up. Believe God can do it. Stan was healed on pastor Brian's prayer.

This world is not my home, I'm just passing through. Pray. Raise him up may be to bring him into eternity. 
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Sunday, May 10, 2020

Bruxy Cavey - Heads Up!

Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is…. 
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
~ The Apostle Paul (Colossians 3:1-2)
This is not organized religion, but organized irreligion. 
This is not achieving, but accessing what we have already been given. 
Hebrews 4:10-11
The road less travelled… Matthew 7:13-14

Study Meditation Prayer need to be mixed. Get a study Bible or 2. 

1. READ the passage, study to satisfy your intellect. 
2. PRAY the passage, conversing with God, talking and listening. 
3. MEDIATE on one sentence, phrase, or word. 

Two Categories of Meditation:
• Apophatic ("the way of negation") 
• Kataphatic ("the way of affirmation")

Read pray listen read pray listen becomes synergistic

The Holy Ghost highlighter will bring you back to what God wants you to meditate on. 

***Matthew 5:1-10***

Still. Here. Meditation. 
1. POOR IN SPIRIT = "We admit that we are powerless" (AA Step 1) to enter the kingdom
2. MOURN = We receive and give comfort in the kingdom now
3. MEEK = Gentleness is God's road to world domination
4. RIGHTEOUSNESS = Firstly within us (personal/15:19), secondly around us (systemic) 
5. MERCIFUL = We will be judged the way we judge (7:1-2)
6. PURE HEART = Sin and distraction will cloud our vision of God
7. PEACEMAKERS = We are most like God when we love our enemies (5:44-45)
8. PERSECUTED = The kingdom conquers by absorbing rather than reflecting hatred
TAKE OUT: Moving From the Curious to the Committed
For more on meditation, see the three-part blog series at Bruxy.com.
Start here:

Dear God,
Thank you for this good news about your love for me and the life you have for me. I no longer want to run away from you, or ignore you, or live for any purpose other than you. I accept your life and your love for me as a gift, and I trust in Jesus to lead me forward. Thank you for being my friend. I'm excited to be yours. 
Amen
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Sunday, February 23, 2020

Witness to the Gentiles Mark 7:24 - 8:9

After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he was not able to escape notice. People were completely astounded and said, "He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Mark 7:24‭, ‬37 NET

Johnny Dodsworth www.EasTview.org 
Who do you say Jesus is?
He's a leader, healer, teacher, trouble maker, disruptor, confusing, shepherd, fence breaker. 
Fence bad. Shepherd good. 
The story is also in Matthew
The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:26 NET
Strikes against: woman, gentile, Syrophoenician
So many fences
Syrophoenician from Tyre very non Jewish enemy "that God hates"
Jesus waited for his disciples to engage the situation. They said send her away. They had not yet learned compassion. 
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Matthew 15:28 NET

All the peoples of the world are to be blessed. 

Jesus came to reclaim Israel to bring blessing to the world. The woman understood that there is enough bread for everyone. To bring others into the shepherd's fold. 

Read Gospel Unpacked book

Acts 10:34-36 Peter finally got the message. God does not show favoritism. 

We're able to show there is room in the fold. Share with people to bring people into relationship. The spirit will lead. How will the world know Jesus? Share your Jesus relationship with others. 
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Sunday, February 16, 2020

Witness to Jews Mark 6 & 7

Youth worship team:
I reach out to you
I will rejoice in the simple gospel

Reading through the book of Mark
Then he went around among the villages and taught. And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Mark 6:6‭, ‬56 NET

Johnny Dodsworth pastor www.EasTview.org

Jesus is teaching with authority. Healing people. Sends his disciples out. 
Who do we say Jesus is? 

Jesus had a different leadership style. We're all leaders. Parents. Church. Leadership is influence. Influence is leadership. 

Coaching 3 and 4 year olds in soccer is chaotic. They played ring around the roses any time.
They needed to be contained within the field. 

Herod had a banquet and John's head comes off. 

Jesus teaches the crowd and feeds them miraculously. 
The crowd had religious, regional and Roman leaders but Jesus says they need a shepherd that stays with the sheep at all times. They need someone to take care of them. 

Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?" They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.
Mark 6:36‭-‬37‭, ‬42‭-‬43 NET

Jesus is the shepherd by teaching and providing for them. Jesus enters into our lives. Not make more rules. Not legalism. 

Washing hands had nothing to do with cleanliness only rituals. A fence by the religious leaders. 
God wants a shepherd not a fence. 

He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ' This people honors me with their lips, but their heart  is far from me . He also said to them, "You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him."
Mark 7:6‭, ‬9‭, ‬15 NET

We're sheep. I don't want to be a pharisee. 
What ways does Jesus want you to go? Witness to someone. 
How does Jesus want you to lead and shepherd? Take an awkward person for coffee. 
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Sunday, February 09, 2020

Jaime Saint

Grandson of Nate Saint Auca martyr
Grew up in a mission family
Business people help missions do what they do. 
Jim Elliot was a missionary friend to his grandfather. The missionaries were fathers. 
The Auca now Huaorani would kill anyone they didn't like and all their family. They killed each other. None if them would be left alive today if not for the missionaries. They were scattered over 6,000 miles. Eventually they found them and did some bucket drops over a period of weeks. They exchanged gifts for a while, including roasted monkey meat. Book END OF THE SPEAR written by Nate's son. 

They built a tree house. Eventually a man and 2 women came out to spend a friendly day with them. A few days later all 5 were dead. 

That wasn't the end of the story. We like stories with a happy ending. Not all have that. 

All who follow Jesus shall suffer. That's normal. 

The man who killed Nate taught Nate's son how to hunt. In 1995 we moved into their community to live. Foreigners come at their convenience to help. They wanted someone to teach them how to care for each other. Started Indigenous People's Technology and Education Centre, a or I-TEC for short, a Christian non-profit agency. https://www.itecusa.org/

In 4x100 race when the first runner makes the lap the next runner takes the baton. Missionaries need to learn to do that. 

90% of missionaries are in countries that are considered reached. We're to make disciples and the disciples to make disciples. 

Is short term missions useful? Churches need to become self supporting and self propagating. I-TEC trains and equips the local church to walk on their own not to be mama mama. Shepherding is for the sheep.

Kids are net takers and become net givers. Churches need to learn to be givers. NA missionaries are always coming to fix the mission church. 

3 rules of mission is listen listen listen. 

They need us we need them. We need to work together. So many missionaries want to take credit for everything so they can raise more funds.

Not propagating the prosperity gospel. Name it and claim is not what Paul said.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

The sessions will be on youtube shortly. 
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Mark 4:35 - 6:6

Carol read the Scripture. 
Brigitta Schuler teacher www.EasTview.org 
She has the gift of teaching.
Open to Mark 5
On my drive I often listen to CHVN. A pastor on the radio always concludes with JESUS CHRIST IS GOD. 
The previous passage focuses on Jesus's teaching by word. Today's passage focuses on Jesus's deeds. 
The possessed man was scary demon possessed. He prostrated himself in homage to Jesus. 5000 soldiers are a legion. That's how many demons he had. Jesus knew that but wanted the disciples to know that. 
Then he cried out with a loud voice, "Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God – do not torment me!" They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind – the one who had the "Legion" – and they were afraid. But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, "Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you." So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.
Mark 5:7‭, ‬15‭, ‬19‭-‬20 NET
Jesus sent the man out to tell the community about what Jesus had done for him. 

An important leader falls at Jesus's feet:
Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.
Mark 5:22 NET
With no time to spare, Jesus takes time to heal a perpetually outcast woman. She is immediately healed.
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"
Mark 5:27‭, ‬30 NET
She fell at Jesus's feet. Completely healed. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
Mark 5:34 NET

Jesus validated her. He showed that he is the one who restores with love and gentleness. 

While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?" But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, "Do not be afraid; just believe."
Mark 5:35‭-‬36 NET

Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up." The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.
Mark 5:41‭-‬42 NET

Completely healed. Nothing is impossible with Jesus. 

In the previous chapter:
But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?" And he said to them, "Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?" They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!"
Mark 4:38‭, ‬40‭-‬41 NET

Chaos to calm. Only God can control the storm. See Psalm 107:29 Jesus proves he is God.
They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles. He calmed the storm, and the waves grew silent. The sailors rejoiced because the waves grew quiet, and he led them to the harbor they desired.
Psalms 107:28‭-‬30 NET

Do you display God in your life? We can't follow Jesus well if we don't know who he is. 
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Saturday, February 08, 2020

Missions in persecution

Nik Ripken
https://www.nikripken.com/
Nik and his wife Ruth are mission veterans of 34 years with the International Mission Board, SBC, having served in Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Germany, Ethiopia and the Middle East.

Nik was at a camp of refugees and he asked them if they knew his friend Jesus. Right away there was a crowd scaring him and eventually they said Jesus was at the other camp. 
He ran out of the camp and took a taxi to the airport and flew home. 
You get scars that only heaven can heal. 
Islam was hunting Christians and a lot of friends got shot and their bodies were disposed into the latrine or ocean. The funerals were held without the bodies there. Somalis were hunting them. 
16 year old son died of asthma. We vowed not to waste our pain. We learned how to witness to them. Jesus said I'm sending you sheep among the wolves. I was raised to be a sheep among sheep. 
This says the Lord. There are non negotiables. 
Matthew 10 Jesus pushes the reset button. You will be flogged on my account. The spirit will speak through you. Persecution is normal. We think we need to walk through it. 
30 pastors in FSU are not writing about persecution. It's normal for them. 
An evangelist told a bunch of muslims that they would burn in hell if they didn't accept Jesus. Evangelists are scary. 
You are as likely to be in jail in Muslim countries for being a Christian as for being a criminal. 
Why are we not on our faces asking God what to do? We don't need CNN to tell us what to think. God has defined what to do. 
Persecution is normal. If you have someone who is afraid of suffering for Jesus you need to deal with that. 
The number one cause of persecution is people coming to Christ. Where there is a great harvest there is persecution. Why are we not suffering persecution? There is no such thing as a free church or not. 
Pray for the persecuted Christians. They share Christ on a daily basis. They have given their lives to Jesus and they are giving him away. 
We are not persecuted because we are keeping Jesus to ourselves. Satan wants to keep you quiet. Then you are supporting the persecutors. 
We tend to witness to younger people. We need to witness to our peers. 
We must follow Jesus even when it costs our lives. Their suffering gives them purpose. 
3. Our obedience. We need to say blessed be the name of the Lord. 
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Abdu Murray

Abdu Murray
 https://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/speakers.html

There is always a barrier to truth. The crooked lawyer went for a walk. Meets a bear that knocks him over. He says oh my God. God responds by what do you want? Make the bear a Christian. Then the bear says thank you Lord for the food you have provided me. 

We don't want to lose our comfort. We hear what we want to hear. Evangelism is the effort to get someone to change their world view. That is hard. You are asking them to change their Sunday. That is painful. Not just good luck but we need to walk with them through the change. Help them. 
C. S. Lewis Quotes. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.

Apologetics is the seasoning the handmaid of evangelism. The answers are hard to accept. Took me 9 years accept the truth. 

In the Asian market you bargain for the price. Not what the sticker says but what the market will pay. 

Jesus tells you what the price is. You're a mess and you need someone to save you. You are promised that it will be tough. 

Show the world what it's worth. Jesus said to Pilate:
So Pilate went back into the governor's residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  Jesus replied, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?" Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Then Pilate said, "So you are a king!" Jesus replied, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked, "What is truth?" When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, "I find no basis for an accusation against him.
John 18:33‭-‬34‭, ‬36‭-‬38 NET

Are you talking to a cynic or a skeptic? Thomas was a skeptic but Jesus accepted him. In the movie THE PASSION Pilate talks about truth a lot. 

Don't hide the radiance of the son from people. Lack of action by Christians is blocking their faith.

When we say God loves you people respond with their experiences. They don't hear what you say. 

Are humans free or predetermined? Is morality real. Atheists don't want there to be a God.

Ask open ended questions. 
What will happen next? 
Aren't those consequences enough to keep you from accepting Jesus.

Went to hospital to talk to sick Muslim. Thoughtful guy. He had no visitors. What would happen if you became a Christian? I would die alone. Gave him a Bible. Can I keep it? He asked. 

Ask the question and shut up and listen. That's the hardest thing. Get rid of your yeahbut syndrome.

A couple was volunteering at church but were not Christians. Went to see them. Asked her why she didn't get the Nobel peace prize? What had she done to deserve it? Why do you think you deserve heaven? 

Listen and
Commit and follow up. Where will you be when I make that commitment? Be there for them. Show them the value of paying the cost. Answer the people with their questions. Make people wish the gospel was true and show them that it's true. 

Joy is fundamental for the Christian. 

Know your value in God's eyes. What are you willing to pay for what you consider valuable? God paid for you with Jesus's death. That tells you your value. 

Because I live you also shall live, sums up everything. 

When we've been there 10,000 years, we've no less days to sing God's praise. Bring others with you. 

It's a privilege to do evangelism. 
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Friday, February 07, 2020

Missionfest 2020

Abdu Murray
Featured speaker
SEEING THE SON THROUGH THE FOG OF THE CONFUSION OF CULTURE TODAY

He was a Muslim evangelist. Most muslims are peace loving. God is greater. The greatest. 
Trinity is confusing to them. How could the God of the universe die on a cross? 

Those ideas are what makes so much sense. He did 9 years of searching before finding the truth in Romans 5:8.

Flotilla of ships crossing the Atlantic in the fog. Light up ahead. The captain. Change course. No you change. No You change I'm the lighthouse. 

Sometimes we think we are a tiny light and the flotilla of culture scares us. 

Gene therapy is happening. There are gene hackers changing people. What is life? What is Male and Female? Our society lives in fog. 

Cold war song Superman Where Are You Now? Could be written today. 

Children 8 years old can decide who they will be for the rest of their lives and society is enforcing that decision no matter what it is. Society likes confusion
Heroic
Bigoted
Regressive

What does post truth mean? Elevating feelings above reason. If you don't agree you're a Hitler. 

Post modernism there is no objective truth. Only perspectives. They reason. 

We have a struggle for autonomy. Not freedom. 
Self law. A law to yourself. You decide what's right or wrong. Everyone makes their own rules. Power wins. Your preferences are criminalized and you become a slave to the power brokers. 

Our purpose is to commune with God. Meant to be with God not to be following their own preferences. 

Post Truth bender. Clarity and truth have been sacrificed on human autonomy. Wisdom dies. 

Offer the freedom that truth brings freedom. 10s of thousands are coming together to search truth. Became a Christian because it is truth. T equals Full Truth.

Everyone has equal truth? Hitler Stalin etc. All paths lead to God? Sounds respectful. All paths don't lead to God. Buddha wants oblivion. Hindu says we are gods.

2015 sports team did a protest. A journalist was forcefully removed by the journalism professor. 

Integrity doesn't disappear quickly. Christians often don't follow truth. Posting false stories. Let's provide verified truth in our postings. 

Humanity is the measure of all things? Can we reach a rough agreement concerning values? No.

We have reached agreement to be rough.

We're becoming phone zombies. With information machines more powerful than all the computers that took man to the moon. 
We've humanized objects to dehumanizing humans. 

The Bible stands against autonomy but not against freedom. Freedom has boundaries. A picture has a frame. 

Freedom. Bought a house. Big back yard but a road required a boundary. We need moral law. Only God knows what that boundary is. 
Know the truth and the truth will set you free. Jesus. Our desire for autonomy blinds us. The SON sets you free. Preferences don't set you free. Jesus said I'll die and I'll rise in 3 days. That's truth. 

Global hope. Applies everywhere. Africa needs Christianity. Christians served the pagans. The Christians make the world a better place. There are no hospitals of the blessed nothingness. 

Christians change people's hearts. Liberty freedom brotherhood are from the gospels.

Truth leads to freedom. Does the resurrection have anything to do with it? We are made in God's image and meant to have a relationship with God. He died and rose to prove he was right.

I need someone to make me alive. Jesus. The truth is a person. 
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Sunday, January 26, 2020

Am I Following Jesus?

Submitted to our Master 
Andrea Toews Children's Pastor www.EasTview.org 
Just back from 4 month Sabbatical
Mark 3:13 Carol read the Scriptures
In Mark there is a lot of hurry up.
Twitter or Instagram define your value by followers. 
We follow people with our brand. Who do you follow? I follow Survivor. 40th season coming up. Love Disney World. 
Our world gives us lots of opportunity to be led. 
We declare ourselves as followers of Jesus. What does that mean? 

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter),
Mark 3:13‭, ‬16 NLT

Disciples believe and follow Jesus. Apostles were the 12 that he selected. 
Jesus calls. They had a choice. We have a choice to repent of our sin. 
Being with him building a relationship. 
Abide Always Being in Embrace
She's a wonderful singer. 
Went for a walk and there was ice in above freezing creek. 
Sitting with Jesus to have his embrace. 
You might feel closest to God when you sing or serve. V20 Jesus's mother wanted to interrupt him. Was he embarrassing them? The leaders thought he was possessed by Satan. 
Who is my brother? Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:35 NLT
Following is building relationships
Following is active. Not turn away. Pay attention to the beggar. 
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34 NLT
Read and abide in the message of the seed parable.
"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.  And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"
Mark 4:3‭, ‬20 NLT
In a not abiding season we might forget the message and be distracted. 
Respond available to Jesus. Building relationship. 
Following is choice 
Dave & Louise decided to follow Jesus into Thailand. 
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
John 8:31 NLT
Not just a fan. 
Blessing 
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:14‭-‬16‭, ‬20 NLT

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Sunday, January 19, 2020

Trouble with Authorities

Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way. For this reason the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Mark 2:23‭, ‬28 NET

Johnny Dodsworth www.EasTview.org 

As a kid my dad was the stay at home dad. He loves talking. We were always late. I had to run to keep up with him. 
There are always all kinds of gaps between people. 
The leaders of Jesus's day worked hard to maintain the gaps. Jesus worked hard to close the gap.

Jesus brings forgiveness outside the religious system. 
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," – he said to the paralytic – "I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home."
Mark 2:5‭, ‬8‭, ‬10‭-‬11 NET
He associated with traitors and sinners. 
When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"  When Jesus heard this he said to them, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:16‭-‬17 NET
Those who acknowledge their sin can get help. 
Jesus makes analogies. Wedding. Patching. Wine skins
Fasting. Sabbath. 
Jesus breaks the traditions. Why does he ignore God's sabbath law? 
Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27 NET
Religion had distorted the law. 
When Jesus entered the religion's territory he asked them questions. 
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?" But they were silent.
Mark 3:4 NET

Jesus closes the gap between God and the people. 

Like parents walking with the little kids. God is all about restoring lost people to himself. 
Are we like the pharisees? Or like Jesus closing the gap.
Look after others at food banks. Fight trafficking. Take the hungry for lunch. Walk with people. 

If you need healing, come to Jesus today. No matter how you feel about your life. 
Jesus cares about your motivations. You can be healed in life. Not just to avoid hell. 
Jesus is inviting you to join him in restoration. 
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Sunday, January 12, 2020

Patrick at Seine River church

The Lord of Hosts will sustain you. 

Break my heart for what breaks you. 
Kevin Janzen introduction of
Patrick Director Founder of Our Father school in Uganda

Speaker for today 
Greetings from Uganda. Arrived at midnight last night. 
Married to one wife and she's a beautiful woman. Have 2 daughters. 

We run the school and medical facility and a clean water well to lift the name of Jesus high. 
The late Pastor Ed was in Uganda to train 300 youth. We were expecting him again in December. Shocked to hear of Pastor Ed's passing. 
Still saying God is faithful. 
Pastor Ed was a friend, pastor, teacher. He spoke at our wedding. Spoke of joy. 
We shall see him again. Comfort Jessie his wife. 

We are trying to charge our spiritual lives. Jesus knows you. 
Pastor Philip has already preached
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
Luke 19:1‭-‬2 NET

In Africa the president has to consult the chief before he comes to a village. 
The chief tax collector Z had so much but not enough. He needed to see Jesus. He was too short. Pygmies in Africa had big heads and when they fell down they needed help to get up. 
Z had a wall bigger than Trump's. Had a friend that wanted to hate God. Prayed with him and he decided to follow Jesus. 
Jesus had never met Z but called Z by name. God knows you by name. That's enough. Trust Jesus. He knows you. What is Jesus saying about you? He is ready to stay with you. If it wasn't for Christ I might be in the gutter somewhere. 

Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: "Don't be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 NET

Look unto Jesus. He knows what you're going through. God knows you and has better plans. 
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Sunday, January 05, 2020

Who do you say I am?

Jesus kept answering the question Who do you say I am? 

That is the most important question in history. Mark answers it. 

Johnny Dodsworth Life Groups Pastor www.EasTview.org 

Advent has just passed. Anticipation of the second coming is where we live today. 

The people of the NT times had been waiting 400 years. 
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,  " Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,  the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ' Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight. '"
Mark 1:2‭-‬3 NET

Wake up. The story is continuing. Mark's readers would have known this passage well. A 4 second audio clip from Star Wars immediately brings to mind scenes. 

Mark starts at Jesus's baptism not birth. 

Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.  And a voice came from heaven: "You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight."
Mark 1:9‭, ‬11 NET

N T Wright said God sees us the same we he looks at Jesus 
 "You are my dear child; in you I take great delight."

We now live in Christ. The beautiful story of the gospel. We can live in Jesus. If you haven't been baptized yet, why not? 
February 9 we will celebrate baptism here. 

When we are defined by God as his children we are free indeed. Participate in his kingdom. 
If Jesus is just your influencer you are alone. You need to be in relationship with God. 

Who do you say Jesus is? 

"As for this temple you are building, if you follow my rules, observe my regulations, and obey all my commandments, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.  I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel."
1 Kings 6:12‭-‬13 NET

God's heart desires to dwell with His people. He wants you to live as his child. He wants everyone to walk with him. 

Pause. Reflect. Invite Jesus to speak to you. How are you inviting me to experience life as your child? 

Lord, what is in your heart for me this morning? 
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