This morning Jay Lorenzen continued our "flyover of the terrain of the book of Ephesians." He told us that chapter 1:10 is the "continental divide of history and time"... He shared this translation of the verse with us: "It is God's plan to unite all things in Heaven and on Earth under one ruler. The ruler is Christ."
Jay also spent time explaining to us that the message of God's love, mercy and grace flows both vertically (in relationship to God) and horizontally (to those around us). He shared a quote from Carl Henry that said, "God is a God of justification, and a God of justice."
Jay encouraged us to look at Acts 19:8-20:1 and reflect on Paul's story of a vertically and horizontally connected community, and also 20:17-38 for Paul's conversation with the leaders in that community.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
We don't have commercials like this in America
I know we all enjoyed this wonderful commercial this morning, for an overseas apartment complex.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Ephesians With Chip
This morning we spent an hour on our own, everyone getting some time with the Lord, and then the Autumn Film led us in worship. After that, Chip Scivicque got up and led us in the book of Ephesians.
I appreciated a lot of the things Chip shared, and I cried like a baby during parts of it. I kept looking around, thinking, "Surely Andy McCullough planned for this and is going to send someone down the aisles with tissues." But he didn't. :)
Here are a few things Chip shared with us:
"Paul's central paradigm for the Chrisitian life is that the more we understand God's grace, the more we desire to live a life of worship."
"The gospel is good news about a victory that has been won."
He also shared that we have been chosen for adoption (Eph 1:3-6) by sharing the beautiful story of his family adopting Amber. He showed us that God has redeemed and forgiven us (vss 7-10) and that He has given us a great inheritance, which is His presence (vss 11-14). He told us about God's lavish grace "for the praise of His glory"... that His grace glorifies Himself and moves us to live lives of worship.
I appreciated a lot of the things Chip shared, and I cried like a baby during parts of it. I kept looking around, thinking, "Surely Andy McCullough planned for this and is going to send someone down the aisles with tissues." But he didn't. :)
Here are a few things Chip shared with us:
"Paul's central paradigm for the Chrisitian life is that the more we understand God's grace, the more we desire to live a life of worship."
"The gospel is good news about a victory that has been won."
He also shared that we have been chosen for adoption (Eph 1:3-6) by sharing the beautiful story of his family adopting Amber. He showed us that God has redeemed and forgiven us (vss 7-10) and that He has given us a great inheritance, which is His presence (vss 11-14). He told us about God's lavish grace "for the praise of His glory"... that His grace glorifies Himself and moves us to live lives of worship.
HAIL!
It hailed like crazy today, cancelling our trip up the mountain for lunch. We were all disappointed.
I decided I wanted to walk out in the hail, so that I could feel it cool and fresh on my face and be filled with joy!
But actually it hurt.
I did go up the mountain later, though... if you get a chance head up the ski lift, it's beautiful.
I decided I wanted to walk out in the hail, so that I could feel it cool and fresh on my face and be filled with joy!
But actually it hurt.
I did go up the mountain later, though... if you get a chance head up the ski lift, it's beautiful.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Christ Alone -- The First Night of Global Briefing
Tonight was a great way to kick off our week together.
I particularly loved the energy that our many flag bearers brought into the room as they raced around with a variety of countries represented.
And, of course, it was incredible to have our friends the Autumn Film leading us into worship.
I know what most of you want, and that is the footage of the incredible documentary footage of Keith Bubalo that MCs Eric and Emily brought to our attention. As Eric pointed out, there was a time when Keith had to make a choice between targeting a chance at becoming the national director of WSN or following his Olympic Dreams. Here's the video of what might have been.
Keith walked us through the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3. He showed us how this story illuminates God's desire to reveal Himself to us in a way that is unmistakably Him. And he reminded us that we all have "burning bush" moments or we wouldn't be sitting there in the room tonight, about to embark on stint.
I was particularly moved as people in the audience stood and shared the many places where God has revealed Himself to them: in a park, in the Oxford cemetery, in a corner of a bedroom, at 4 a.m. or on the plane to Rome, talking with friends and strangers, during traffic accidents, at coffee shops, at conferences and in lonely places.
It made me think of those times in my life, where God unmistakeably made His presence known to me. Once on a walk on an Oregon beach, once in a stand of bamboo in East Asia, another time in the still darkness of Joshua Tree National Park, where I thought to myself, if a bush caught on fire right now and was not consumed, I wouldn't be surprised.
And Keith reminded us that as followers of Christ, we will be people empowered by the burning presence of the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that "It's not normal to see a person on fire... they're different."
And then the worship set the band took us through was so powerful, and so clearly attuned to what Keith had shared. The band and Keith, by the way, didn't talk to each other about Keith's talk or the content of the worship songs. It was amazing the way they fit together so seamlessly. Which, to me, is evidence of God speaking to the band and to Keith, and of them being His conduit to speak to us.
Thank God for that!
I particularly loved the energy that our many flag bearers brought into the room as they raced around with a variety of countries represented.
And, of course, it was incredible to have our friends the Autumn Film leading us into worship.
I know what most of you want, and that is the footage of the incredible documentary footage of Keith Bubalo that MCs Eric and Emily brought to our attention. As Eric pointed out, there was a time when Keith had to make a choice between targeting a chance at becoming the national director of WSN or following his Olympic Dreams. Here's the video of what might have been.
Keith walked us through the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3. He showed us how this story illuminates God's desire to reveal Himself to us in a way that is unmistakably Him. And he reminded us that we all have "burning bush" moments or we wouldn't be sitting there in the room tonight, about to embark on stint.
I was particularly moved as people in the audience stood and shared the many places where God has revealed Himself to them: in a park, in the Oxford cemetery, in a corner of a bedroom, at 4 a.m. or on the plane to Rome, talking with friends and strangers, during traffic accidents, at coffee shops, at conferences and in lonely places.
It made me think of those times in my life, where God unmistakeably made His presence known to me. Once on a walk on an Oregon beach, once in a stand of bamboo in East Asia, another time in the still darkness of Joshua Tree National Park, where I thought to myself, if a bush caught on fire right now and was not consumed, I wouldn't be surprised.
And Keith reminded us that as followers of Christ, we will be people empowered by the burning presence of the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that "It's not normal to see a person on fire... they're different."
And then the worship set the band took us through was so powerful, and so clearly attuned to what Keith had shared. The band and Keith, by the way, didn't talk to each other about Keith's talk or the content of the worship songs. It was amazing the way they fit together so seamlessly. Which, to me, is evidence of God speaking to the band and to Keith, and of them being His conduit to speak to us.
Thank God for that!
How You Are Feeling
We've had a little survey going in the sidebar, asking the question, "How are you feeling coming in to the Global Briefing?"
Here's how you answered:
1) Relieved to be finally going somewhere.
(37%)
2) Sad to leave my family.
(6%)
3) Excited to be done with support raising!
(34%)
4) Scared of altitude sickness.
(17%)
5) Hungry. And Tired.
(6%)
6) Wait -- uh -- am I supposed to be going to that thing?
(10%)
If I were an amazing guru of numbers, no doubt I would discover many interesting things that would become a best-selling book. I will point out that same percentage of people are hungry and/or tired as the people who are sad to leave their families. I'm not sure what that means.
Oh, and for the ten percent of you who are wondering if you're meant to show up to the Global Briefing today... yes, you are. Better get to the airport!
We've added a link to a new survey at the top of the sidebar. If you'd take a few moments to fill it out, we'd greatly appreciate it!
Here's how you answered:
1) Relieved to be finally going somewhere.
(37%)
2) Sad to leave my family.
(6%)
3) Excited to be done with support raising!
(34%)
4) Scared of altitude sickness.
(17%)
5) Hungry. And Tired.
(6%)
6) Wait -- uh -- am I supposed to be going to that thing?
(10%)
If I were an amazing guru of numbers, no doubt I would discover many interesting things that would become a best-selling book. I will point out that same percentage of people are hungry and/or tired as the people who are sad to leave their families. I'm not sure what that means.
Oh, and for the ten percent of you who are wondering if you're meant to show up to the Global Briefing today... yes, you are. Better get to the airport!
We've added a link to a new survey at the top of the sidebar. If you'd take a few moments to fill it out, we'd greatly appreciate it!
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