On Sunday, our regular pastor was away and one of the others filled in for him. While he is not my favorite and his lessons are never as dynamic to me, I had to share the link for the podcast here. In the middle of the service, the worship team performed a version of Amazing Grace that was just phenominal. It's funny how songs you have heard your entire life can just strike a cord on a certain Sunday and this one definitely did.
I also just finished The Shack by William Young, so I think I was especially tuned into Amazing Grace. Our church is big on saying, "It's a Relationship, not a Religion" and The Shack follows that same idea. I definitely recommend it.
Showing posts with label Monday Mention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday Mention. Show all posts
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Monday, November 05, 2007
A Nice Night
Last night, after my excrutiating experience with the esthetician, Larry and I took the boys to Bonefish Grill for dinner. Larry was leery as he had been with Peyton and Shey for three hours that afternoon and they were both whining and carrying on. I armed us with a notebook and 64 pack of crayons and off we went.
The boys were . . . surpisingly good, really good actually, as in we can do this more often good. Shey had fun coloring on the tabletop paper, Peyton completed his word search and Larry and I shared a bottle of wine. Peyton and I also played about a million games of tic-tac-toe and while there were some I let him win, he won on his own almost as often. As we were leaving and on the ride home, I raved over their behavior hoping the positive praise would stick and they would see happy mommy is so much more pleasant than screeching crazy mommy.
Speaking of sticking, our pastor used duct tape to illustrate a point in his lesson on Sunday, The Perfect Church for Imperfect People, which is the second part of a five part "No Perfect People Allowed" series. It never fails when I don't go to church for a few weeks that the message feels like it is directed right to me when I return.
The boys were . . . surpisingly good, really good actually, as in we can do this more often good. Shey had fun coloring on the tabletop paper, Peyton completed his word search and Larry and I shared a bottle of wine. Peyton and I also played about a million games of tic-tac-toe and while there were some I let him win, he won on his own almost as often. As we were leaving and on the ride home, I raved over their behavior hoping the positive praise would stick and they would see happy mommy is so much more pleasant than screeching crazy mommy.
Speaking of sticking, our pastor used duct tape to illustrate a point in his lesson on Sunday, The Perfect Church for Imperfect People, which is the second part of a five part "No Perfect People Allowed" series. It never fails when I don't go to church for a few weeks that the message feels like it is directed right to me when I return.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Monday Mention
SEX - Yep that's what this series is all about. We're already two lessons in, so here you go - Bringing Sexy Back and Big Sex are available for download.
A brief synopsis. For those of you who hadn't heard, God invented sex. And according to Genesis, all that God created is Good. Hence, sex is good. Within the right cicumstances, of course. Pastor David explains that the church should discuss sex and how it relates to our lives. He stressed that God wants us to have BIG sex, with our spouses. He explained that God intends for Sex to be a valued item in our life, and just like other valued items (cars, big screen TV, etc.) there are rules around sex. When we limit sex to the physical and just see partners as an assembly of body parts, we are missing the bigger picture. We have little sex. We need to understand that as humans, created in the very image of God, we are multi-faceted and engaging in an activity that connects us to another human being is a very big deal.
Pastor David also explains that on the continium of sexual regrets, most people are on the more regretful side. He shows that you don't have to live with these regrets. Jesus leaned towards the people who are in most need of a friend. He used the people who made the biggest mistakes to show great examples of forgiveness.
These lessons are quite humorous in spots and I recommend them for anyone who has been reading these Monday Mentions, but not yet checked out the service.
As a plus, I've been reading You: On a Diet, and they suggest regular healthy monogamous sex as a means of losing weight. Go figure! Have fun. :)
A brief synopsis. For those of you who hadn't heard, God invented sex. And according to Genesis, all that God created is Good. Hence, sex is good. Within the right cicumstances, of course. Pastor David explains that the church should discuss sex and how it relates to our lives. He stressed that God wants us to have BIG sex, with our spouses. He explained that God intends for Sex to be a valued item in our life, and just like other valued items (cars, big screen TV, etc.) there are rules around sex. When we limit sex to the physical and just see partners as an assembly of body parts, we are missing the bigger picture. We have little sex. We need to understand that as humans, created in the very image of God, we are multi-faceted and engaging in an activity that connects us to another human being is a very big deal.
Pastor David also explains that on the continium of sexual regrets, most people are on the more regretful side. He shows that you don't have to live with these regrets. Jesus leaned towards the people who are in most need of a friend. He used the people who made the biggest mistakes to show great examples of forgiveness.
These lessons are quite humorous in spots and I recommend them for anyone who has been reading these Monday Mentions, but not yet checked out the service.
As a plus, I've been reading You: On a Diet, and they suggest regular healthy monogamous sex as a means of losing weight. Go figure! Have fun. :)
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday Mention
Today's Monday Mention is a bit different that normal. I'm not going to touch on the next lesson in the series Escaping the House of Blues: Stormy Weather, but rather a series that was taught back before I started attending regularly. The series was reminiscent of the Miami Heat going to the championship and was entitled The Finals: How to Beat the Heat. I'm sorry I can't link to it, but it appears to be before they started saving the lessons. The four part series spoke on the Rapture, the Tribulation and finally the Judgement. As scary as all of this is, I've always been fascinated with it.
Growing up at a Christian school, that was based on the Church of Christ, which is the church I attended, we were taught that there would be one big judgement day, the big finale, and then the end. At the judgement, people were either sent to Heaven or Hell. I had vaguely heard the phrase, The Thousand Year Reign, but it was never discussed, and conveniently, I graduated before we could study Revelations. It wasn't until I was 20 or so and the Left Behind series came out that the words Rapture and Tribulation were brought to my attention. I never put much stock in them though, because it wasn't my core belief.
When I started attending Church by the Glades, I happened to be picking up the CD's for another series to send to my mom, when I saw The Finals CD's. I was curious to see what Pastor David had to say on the subject. Abbreviated version of his teachings: The Rapture occurs, which is when all of the Christ followers will be raised to Heaven in the blink of an eye. Chaos will ensue on earth because all these people will have just disappeared. The Rapture marks the beginning of the Tribulations, which is 7 years of literally hell on earth. The evil trinity will rise up, including the Anti-christ. Those who repent will be persecuted, and a satanic world religion will rise. There's also the Mark of the Beast. After the 7 years, there will be the 1000 year Reign of Jesus on earth, then the final judgement.
I know this is heavy, but I am curious to hear you guys beliefs and thoughts. Especially if anyone out there knows a good book that speaks on the differing ideas. I understand that this is not a point of salvation, but rather my curiosity on the subject. So come on guys, comment up!
Growing up at a Christian school, that was based on the Church of Christ, which is the church I attended, we were taught that there would be one big judgement day, the big finale, and then the end. At the judgement, people were either sent to Heaven or Hell. I had vaguely heard the phrase, The Thousand Year Reign, but it was never discussed, and conveniently, I graduated before we could study Revelations. It wasn't until I was 20 or so and the Left Behind series came out that the words Rapture and Tribulation were brought to my attention. I never put much stock in them though, because it wasn't my core belief.
When I started attending Church by the Glades, I happened to be picking up the CD's for another series to send to my mom, when I saw The Finals CD's. I was curious to see what Pastor David had to say on the subject. Abbreviated version of his teachings: The Rapture occurs, which is when all of the Christ followers will be raised to Heaven in the blink of an eye. Chaos will ensue on earth because all these people will have just disappeared. The Rapture marks the beginning of the Tribulations, which is 7 years of literally hell on earth. The evil trinity will rise up, including the Anti-christ. Those who repent will be persecuted, and a satanic world religion will rise. There's also the Mark of the Beast. After the 7 years, there will be the 1000 year Reign of Jesus on earth, then the final judgement.
I know this is heavy, but I am curious to hear you guys beliefs and thoughts. Especially if anyone out there knows a good book that speaks on the differing ideas. I understand that this is not a point of salvation, but rather my curiosity on the subject. So come on guys, comment up!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Monday Mention
We continue the series Escaping the House of Blues this week with another guest speaker, Tom Albright. I have to admit, Mr. Albright didn't quite hold my attention like our regular Pastor, but a friend I was with really enjoyed the lesson, so there you go, just a matter of opinion. The name of this section is Defeating Doubt. Mr. Albright used an interesting method of showing how we can trust in God, which was to discuss the times that God comes through, over and over again throughout the Bible. He even said to look back on your own life and the same pattern should emerge. There was a key group of scripture that spoke well on the topic, and just so you don't have to run off to find your Bible, I'll put it here.
Psalm 77
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
One more lesson in this series, and then in February, we move to The Bare Naked Truth on Sex. Now that should be fun.
Psalm 77
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
One more lesson in this series, and then in February, we move to The Bare Naked Truth on Sex. Now that should be fun.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Monday Mention
The lesson featured today is on of my favorites so far, and it wasn't even our pastor giving it. The series is still Surviving the House of Blues and the lesson was A Layman's Guide to Depression. The speaker was Don Southerland and he offered personal stories to relate the scientific/medical information to the general public. I'm not sure what it was exactly that drew me to the information; maybe just the way he presented it. Mr. Southerland is a very captivating speaker. He presented four types of depression and has each of the four people in his family suffer from one of the ways, he was able to give an emotional account of the toil depression can have on people. He finished the service by offering ways to get help, and he also didn't bash medication as some religious people may. I enjoyed this service so much, I bought copies of the CD for my mom and friend.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Monday Mention
I can't really say enough how much I love attending worship services at Church by the Glades. It's odd even for me, who grew up going to church, to actually feel as though I am getting something out of each service. It's like going to a college class, but for free! The website for the church has started podcasting the services, so I thought on Mondays, I could give a brief synopsis and if it is something you are interested in, then download the message for your own benefit. It looks as though they are pretty caught up and are running only a week behind, so I'll start there, which is the new series: Escaping the House of Blues.
The Thrill is Gone - Although most people are joyous throughout the holiday season, it is also a time of depression for some and this first lesson featured Elijah, who within one chapter went from being on top of the world to wanting to die. Pastor David expressed that we are not alone in being depressed, biblical figures also suffered from "the blues." This series is near and dear to me because I come from a line of women who suffered with depression, and I struggle with it myself. I'm looking forward to the remaining services.
The Thrill is Gone - Although most people are joyous throughout the holiday season, it is also a time of depression for some and this first lesson featured Elijah, who within one chapter went from being on top of the world to wanting to die. Pastor David expressed that we are not alone in being depressed, biblical figures also suffered from "the blues." This series is near and dear to me because I come from a line of women who suffered with depression, and I struggle with it myself. I'm looking forward to the remaining services.
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