sabbatical

this blog is on sabbatical and will re-emerge in another format in a few months...
you should now book mark the blog i'm doing with Frank Matthews

Way to Go

Has sincerely been a delight to stand at 10am to lead us in worshipping God and have the sense that a good chunk of us are there and ready to go... ready to go to the throne together. Let's continue to build on this together. From the beginning to seeing scores of people hanging (donut in hand) long after the service..... it was a great day together as a church family.

Many of you asked about the corporate prayer of confession. I'm glad it helped you to probe your heart and come to God for healing. I got it from the Worship God Conference that our friends at Sovereign Grace Ministries just sponsored.

Worshipping God is...

“Christian worship is the response of God’s redeemed people to His self-revelation that exalts God’s glory in Christ in our minds, affections, and wills, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”more definitions:

Sunday voting

On Sunday you'll be asked to cast your ballot--IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE-- towards the elective that will be offered
1. Marriage
2. This Jacked-up World and what Jesus is doing about it
3. Bible Overview
see details here

May it be so in our midst Sunday

"I read in a periodical the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. By God himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how he thinks of us. It is written that we shall 'stand before Him', shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, shall actually survive that examination, shall find approval, shall please God. To please God…to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness…to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is." --C S Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Internet Amazement... at what is available

Not sure how... but i stumbled across access to a lecture (audio, powerpoint & PDF) by a brilliant Christian, entitled:
Has Science Eliminated God? Richard Dawkins & the Meaning of Life
Alister McGrath - Cambridge CiS-St Edmunds Public Lecture

Engage your heart

The puritans use to speak of preparing our hearts for corporate worship.... like this:

You come up on a fire that is almost out... a few coals remain. You must tend what is there gently and seek the result of a raging fire. So it is with my heart, usually. Yours? So we post the worship folder every Thursday. Here is a bit of our prayer of confession of sin this week:

LEADER: We have had other gods before You.
ALL: We have worshipped and served the creature rather than the
Creator. We have sought satisfaction in this world’s pleasures rather
than in You. We have loved to praise our own glory more than Yours.

So, where have you sought satisfaction?

Wednesday Night at the Bagel Bakery 7:00

Our own Greg Doles and Sydney Schaef will be playing and singing with Mo Leverette of Desire Street new orleans.... located in publix plaza on corner nw34th and 16th ave

Vision Night By Extension

The audio & documents from Friday's Vision Night are available on our site:

Go there, you'll see on the left hand side 4 options...and click on: Latest news and updates

Discipleship Course Update

If you are considering taking the Discipleship Course from me this Fall... and you DO NOT have your materials... please phone 379-4949 immediately.... like POST HASTE-- I need to know you are taking the course AND get you the materials! Here is more info:
Discipleship Course, Fall 2006

Purpose: Raise up gospel-driven & kingdom-minded leaders for God's glory in the church, home, marketplace, world

Methods:

<>Instruction from Rob

<>Homework: at least 60-90 minutes per week, depending upon your temperament

<>Interaction with accountability partners

<>Scripture Memory (Romans 3:19-26) {we will all memorize the ESV for harmony in our memory}

Workshops will include:

<>Life History evening,

helps understand God's sovereignty over your life and His gifting and calling of you

<> Prayer & planning evening,

thinking prayerfully through your family’s life & ministry together

Curriculum:

~Bible

~Gospel Transformation from World Harvest Mission

~Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger & Shorter Catechism

Please pay as much of $30 per person as you can.


Nightly format

1. Share memory work and 1 key concept with accountability partner. (Not your spouse, they tend to be too lenient.)

2. Worshipping God together through singing and prayer

3. Teaching from Rob with 5 minutes of sharing & prayer mixed in per half hour

When?

11 Wednesdays in the Fall, beginning September 6th and ending November 15

7:15-9:15pm weekly at Hope Church (corner Tower & SW 24th ave)


Childcare:
babies are welcome to come with parents; all others are your responsibility




This course –at this time--is not for everyone and you should feel no pressure. If you prayerfully consider it and have a “not now, thanks” response you are ok with me. If you prayerfully consider it and say, “I’m in” then be ready to be “in.” This will be the most intensive and intentional training I’ve done in the last 5 years.

This learning community will be operating together on the following understanding…


Believing that continuity is important to the development of a unique learning community and knowing my own weakness…

* I will purpose to attend both hours of all 11 Wednesdays of the discipleship course.


* I will complete lessons 1-6 of GospelTransformation PRIOR to the first class meeting on September 6th.


* I will memorize Romans 3:19-26 PRIOR to the first class meeting on September 6th


* I will purpose to complete the weekly homework.

STARTS NEXT WEEK! Update...here:
Friends,

How about some grace right out of the gate? I’m updating what you have to have done prior to next Wednesday.

You need to show up at Hope Church (Tower & 75th) on Wednesday

more here soon

Vision Night Excerpts

Soon the audio from Vision Night will be posted on the church website. We're also compiling the praises you offered in answer to the question:
IN WHAT ways are you thankful to God for what He is doing in the life & ministry of Christ Community?

Here are a couple:
"The children's ministry and youth ministry."
"The gospel centered focus and the impact that has had on my life."
"For the desire to reach out to our unbelieving friends."

Initiative #3 Authentic Community

We are seeking to UP this aspect of CCC... so the community life time of our service must be important, right? right

and those who were valiantly serving in children's ministry would want to hear the audio, right? Sure
Or those missed our worship gathering entirely because they slipped and fell on the way-- would want to hear the audio, right? Sure
So we are now putting this on our siteChrist Community Church - Gainesville Florida - Downloads

Y O U said what?

Thankful to God for:
~ the rich relationships that I have in Christ Community
~ the biblical foundation our children are receiving

we'll post more all week... you need to hear the encouraging things that you all said at the Vision Night

Great morning in worship

How thrilling to sing with your strong voice this morning. And to those who were actually seated before 9:58... wow!

Several single folks asked me if the discipleship course I'm offering is open to non-married. Yes! When I was originally pitching it to folk, they were all married and I didn't update the text. All are welcome!

Bob Dylan

:: cawleyblog :: : World Magazine Cover Story: Bob Dylan

sunday we ascend....

... we'll gather 'round the throne of God

Great Vision Night at Hope

Highlights for me:

--Seeing one our students sitting at table with a number of our wonderful "senior saints"

-- Watching people clean up as a team to get things done

-- That our people enjoy each other so much I have to scream on the microphone to get the room quiet

-- The kindred spirit i feel when speaking to this group about Christ and His Kingdom

-- more to come

Gathering tomorrow is at 10am in the theater of Oak Hall... seek to be there "ready to go" before 10, please.
Greg Hamilton is leading Children's Church during the sermon.
Here is the worship folder for tomorrow. Read/pray/think through the elements... may God give us His presence tomorrow!

I just dropped by Hope Church...

and the place is really looking groovy... 7:00PM tonite you will enjoy great desserts, coffee, friends, and we'll dream together of a Beautiful Day

I've put together a 5 page word.doc that I'll walk you through... throughout today and tomorrow I'll post some excerpts from it...

Here is the link to the first excerpt
more: Discipleship Course

and the 2nd:
Worship

We are a SIGN, a foretaste... an instrument

Mission is the creating, reconciling and transforming action of God, flowing from the
community of love found in the Trinity, made known to all humanity in the person of Jesus,
and entrusted to the faithful action and witness of the people of God who, in the power of the
Spirit, are a sign, foretaste and instrument of the reign of God. --Anonymous, for now

Church as SENT People

For most of us...This will take some paradigm reworking by the Spirit

"Unlike the previous notion of the church as an entity located in a facility or in an institutional organization and its activities, the church is being reconceived as a community, a gathered people, brought together by a common calling and vocation to be a sent people." (page 81 Guder)

quotes on us as God's Sent People

"A church is a community of God's people who live into the imagination that they are,
by their very nature, God's missionary people living as a demonstration of what God plans to do in and for all of creation in Jesus Christ." --Alan Roxbourough

“We have come to see that mission is not merely an activity of the church. Rather,
mission is the result of God’s initiative, rooted in God’s purposes to restore and heal creation.
‘Mission’ means ‘sending,’ and it is the central biblical theme describing the purpose of God in
human history” (Darrell L. Guder, ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America)

quotes about vision toward vision nite

“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.” --John Maxwell

Pulling out the compass

Why does a traveller pull out their compass?

Why does a singer want to hear a pure note struck?

Among other things... to re-center themselves... to remember what is central and to receive guidance.

THAT is what we're trying to do Friday night at 7pm

Who is Rod Whited? And why is he speaking Friday?

Rod Whited will be addressing the Vision Gathering for 5 minutes on Friday Evening...

Who is he? A 70 year old man who is passionate about Jesus, the gospel, and the Church.

An executive with MA BELL, Rod took an early retirement and became a pastor. He planted and pastored Pinewood Presbyterian Church for 20 years. He was on the ground floor of the Presbytery Committee that brought me to Gainesville.

~In the last 6 months... He's come to monthly elders meetings, concluding most visits by having dinner with 4 (non-staff; non-elder) leaders from the church. Many people have gotten to experience his humor and heart as he has given his wisdom and time to us. He also was the chair of the search committee that found Frank Matthews for us. (The others who served on that committee were Charlie & Debbie Staples, Rebecca Schackow, and Billy Crow)

Prayer Meeting

Friday Mornings at 9am at the church house (1603 SW 122nd street)
on parker road, just south of 8th Ave


There is a small group of folk gathering to pray specifically for the Lord to come down in our public worship gatherings on Sunday morning.


Lord to come down? Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence— (isaiah 64:1) Feel free to join us! Physically on Parker Road... or spiritually around God's throne.

Thursday August 31 at 7pm

you saw a veiled reference in Sunday publication... to MANLAND, an event for men...

this is quite simply an opportunity for men to gather and hang
what men? all men age 16 and up

what will we do?
there will be fooseball, checkers, chess, darts, billiards, chips & drinks, etc
Also, at 8pm we'll flip on the tube and (for those interested) keep one eye on ESPN as Steve Spurrier seeks his first victory in Starkville, Mississippi. Apparently the S.Carolina coach had trouble winning there with his former school.

The location is TBA

A number of parents have been inviting their friends kids

I have heard from numerous parents of youth that they wanted to get a packet of events into the hands of some friends... well

Youth Packet is here!

Evening of Vision... What we'll do

After a time of gathering and informal hanging out together... I will lead us:
~ through a brief time of celebration together, a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God
~ in listening to a brief presentation by Rod Whited, Chairman of the Mission to North America Committe of the North Florida Presbytery
~ in looking at the 5 major initiatives that I believe Christ Community must undertake with vigor to accomplish the next phase of our mission as the sent people of God

Then we'll hang together some more (as long as your schedule allows) and call it a night.

Friday Night and Our Future Together

August 18 started in my mind as an opportunity ....

a chance to come together as a church family and say... What is next?

If we exist to simply be a stable church... we are there. God save us from existing for that purpose only!

We exist to experience and extend the grace of Jesus Christ. How will we do that in the next phase of our mission? What is God calling us to devote our attention to next?

What are you dreaming about for Christ Community? For the Kingdom of God in Gainesville?

But we aren't...

The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer (1961) writes,

Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms.

But we are not left to ourselves. Tomorrow we'll gather together to seek together to fight our reductionistic tendencies... and step into reality. 10:00am

Looking in all the wrong places

Sunday we'll confess our sin together and a portion will be:

WE have looked for redemption everywhere but in your arms.

Where have you looked recently?

I am not my own... I have been bought

Sunday we will enter God's presence with Praise... that always (if we're sane & sober) leads to a "GOD HELP! I'm not like you!" cry. So we'll enter a time of renewal when we confess our sins, are reminded that He's removed our guilt, and celebrate with words and songs of celebration and assurance. Which brings me to a public statement of faith we'll make together. Think on this prior to Sunday, please.

My only comfort in life and death is that I am not my own.
I have been bought body and soul,
by my Saviour Jesus Christ who has fully paid for all my sins
with His precious blood.
He has set me free from the power of the devil.
Without the will of my heavenly Father,
not a hair can fall from my head.
The Holy Spirit assures me of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing to live for Him.
Indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.

Pray for our banner?

Well, the banner is OK and doesn't need prayer. But as a special banner is scheduled to be hung on the fence at Oak Hall Friday afternoon... I just wonder if there aren't people driving down Tower Road who might need hope.

Pray that they might see our banner and commit to come find hope at 10am. Join me in this. Finally, pray that God will make you and me ready to welcome them?

The Cross Chart

  

Pray for 2 sinners...

Frank Matthews and Rob Pendley are spending Wednesday planning and praying for Christ Community and Gainesville. Ask God to pour out His Spirit on them, please.

Why knowing Christ's love is so urgent

“Christians who are no longer sure that God loves and accepts them in Jesus, apart from their present spiritual achievements, are subconsciously radically insecure persons-much less secure than non-Christians, because they have too much light to rest easily under the constant bulletins they receive from their Christian environment about the holiness of God and the righteousness they are supposed to have. Their insecurity shows itself in pride, a fierce defensive assertion of their own righteousness and defensive criticism of others. They come naturally to hate other cultural styles and other races in order to bolster their own security and discharge their suppressed anger. They cling desperately to legal, pharisaical righteousness, but envy, jealousy and other branches on the tree of sin grow out of their fundamental insecurity…it is often necessary to convince sinners (even sinful Christians) of the grace and love of God toward them, before we can get them to look at their problems. Then the vision of grace and the sense of God’s forgiving acceptance may actually cure most of the problems. This may account for Paul’s frequent fusing of justification and sanctification”. (Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life).

Adoration of the Lamb

Jan Van Eck, 1437 "Holy Holy Holy" 

Tuesday Haiti Meeting 7:30 PM TONITE

Mildly interested? Really planning to go? Somewhere in between?

THere is a meeting tuesday nite at Omli's house to hear more.

contact info coming, or see website

Worship Preparation for when Christ Community Gathers

Sunday morning there are NO CLASSES

We begin promptly at 10am with our worship service. Children age 5 through grade 2 will have opportunity for children's church during the 2nd half of the service. (Thank you to Will Harrell and Pierre Delinois for leading.)

We're asking you to begin preparing now (whenever you read this) for Sunday at 10am when we gather for worship...

Why prepare? The Puritans used to call it "stoking the fire". You know what I mean... before you go to Chicago you read up on the Sears tower and Wrigley Field et al. Same idea... you prepare before you get somewhere, so that when you arrive, you are more quickly oriented and can move from "getting your bearings" to experiencing your surroundings.

Ways to prepare:
1. Read one or all the hymns/songs we're singing
2. Read one or all the prayers we're praying

Please be seated in the theater prior to 10:00. The childcare workers are ready to receive your child at 9:50... so plan now for early arrival.

More to come on Communion and other ......

The Excellency of Christ

Christ's holiness never so illustriously shone forth as it did in his last sufferings, and yet he never was to such a degree treated as guilty.

--J. Edwards in this sermon

Sunday we gather at 10:00am

Frank Matthews and I will put info here on Friday that will be important in prepping to worship. Please check back.

Worthy is the Lamb

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the
elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of
thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to
receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing!” Rev. 5:11-12

read, think, digest

our Communion Prayer this sunday...

Father, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living again, he declared your love, gave us grace,and opened the way to glory. May we who share Christ's body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so that we and all your children shall live in perfect freedom, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Last Women's Study

Today at 10:45am... at home of Tara Gallagher... details at www.christcommunitychurch.com

look at the changes

Lizette Crossan has done some great updating to the website.... use it this week
Christ Community Church - Gainesville Florida - Welcome

upcoming

Tuesday, women's study 10:45am

Sunday, classes at 9am; worship 10am
4pm til 6pm BASH at Pendley's home (3838 SW 78th Street) drop by for 15 minutes or stay a couple o' hours

Friday August 18th, Fall Vision Night... 7pm... location TBA soon

Sunday when Christ Community gathers at Oak Hall

9am classes
10am worship (children's church--for age 5 thru grade 2-- during the message


Come ye sinners, weak & wounded by sin...
Come, and receive...

Help Matthews' Unload Friday 5:45ish

610 SW 127th Street, just off Parker Road

From church house:
--Go north towards Newberry Road
--turn LEFT onto W.University Ave
--when that road dead ends, turn left, they are several houses down on the RIGHT

Or, from Newberry Road, TURN LEFT onto SW 127th Street, travel south until their home... 610 SW 127th Street

Lost? contact 359-6597
Rand McNally - Get a Map

A Great Gift

“Perhaps the great gift any father can bestow upon his children, apart from the covenant blessings of parish life and a comprehension of the doctrines of grace, is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives a knowledge of the world, and it offers experience of a wide kind. Indeed, it is nothing less than a moral illumination.” --Thomas Chalmers

The Tailenders July 25 PBS

On July 25 PBS will air a documentary entitled The Tailenders, featuring the missionary organization Global Recordings:
P.O.V. - The Tailenders . Film Synopsis | PBS

great lectures online can be helpful

Covenant Seminary - Ministry Resource Files: "Perfectionism
Part 5 in Schaeffer Lectures - Restoring a Glorious Ruin
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio
Perfectionism Discussion
Part 6 in Schaeffer Lectures - Restoring a Glorious Ruin
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio
Fall 2002 Francis A. Schaeffer Lectures
The Shaping of Homosexuality: Genetic, Psychological, and Sociological Factors
Part 5 in Schaeffer Lectures - Human Sexuality and Homosexuality
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio
Is Change Possible?: The Evidence Considered
Part 7 in Schaeffer Lectures - Human Sexuality and Homosexuality
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio
Friday Nights @ the Institute
Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment
Rediscovering Passion and Wonder
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio
Spring 2004 Francis A. Schaeffer Lectures
The Daily Assault on Human Dignity: From Conception to Old Age
Part 4 in Schaeffer Lectures--Human Dignity: Who Gets a Seat at the Table?
Richard Winter
Download MP3 Audio



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Covenant Theological Seminary
12330 Conway Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone: 314.434.4044 Fax: 314.434.4819

The Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)

Quick Links Home Page About Covenant Seminary From the President Our Distinctives Mission & Core Values Covenant Community Campus Maps Attending Covenant Sem"

I am not my own

Westminster Theological Seminary: "Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not my own,[1] but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death,[2] to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.[3] He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil.[5] He also preserves me in such a way[6] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;[7] indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.[8] Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life[9] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.[10]

[1] I Cor. 6:19, 20 [2] Rom. 14:7-9. [3] I Cor. 3:23; Tit. 2:14. [4] I Pet. 1:18, 19; I John 1:7; 2:2. [5] John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14, 15; I John 3:8. [6] John 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; II Thess. 3:3; I Pet. 1:5. [7] Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18. [8] Rom. 8:28. [9] Rom. 8:15, 16; II Cor. 1:21, 22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13, 14. [10] Rom. 8:14."

First, experience God's love in Christ

"You cannot destroy love for the world merely by showing its emptiness. Even if we could do so, that would lead only to despair. The first world–centered love of our hearts can be expelled only by a new love and affection—for God and from God. The love of the world and the love of the Father cannot dwell together in the same heart. But the love of the world can be driven out only by the love of the Father. " --sinclair ferguson

How would this change the way you come to the Lord's Supper? How you approach God in prayer? What you do when you blow it? Read whole article at this link:
Expelling Worldliness with a New Affection article:

Following Christ Maximizes Sensory Pleasure?

Question: Christianity helps us to maximize sensory pleasure. How?

Answer by author: In "The Pleasantness of Religion" J. Edwards explains that seeking pleasure without any checks or balances can actually boomerang to pain. Who hasn't been to a smorgasbord, only to waddle out muttering, "Why did I eat so much?" Edwards shows us the proper pursuit of pleasure. The sting of conscience can eclipse pleasure, but Christians may pursue pleasure "peaceably" and not in "slavish fear." We can enjoy sensory pleasure because we realize that God has made this world for us to enjoy and to savor, or as Edwards would put it, to relish. Edwards often uses the illustration of honey. We should enjoy its sweetness just as we should enjoy all of God's gifts.

This interview is from WORLD magazine... with an author who wrote book about J.Edwards teaching on the Bible's teaching about living here on earth with a vision of the physicality and reality of the new heavens and new earth of eternity.

"What is the Christian method? I end with a text. It is not, 'Set about imitating Christ, adopt His moral ethical teaching, and try to put it into practice'. It is not, 'Get away and become a monk or a hermit'. But just where you are in the midst of the world, with evil and sin rampant round and about you, and everybody and everything doing all they can to discourage you and to drag you down, just as and where you are, 'Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil.' It is not retreat, it is not escape, it is not attempting something that is impossible. No, it is this supernatural, miraculous Gospel that enables us to be 'more than conquerors' over everything that is set against us."
--D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Jesus, Wine, and Life--Women's Study Tuesday

Jesus, The Lord of the Wine is the title of a talk on John 2 that the women will be hearing and discussing.

10:45 at the home of Tara Gallagher, in Kenwood Subdivision off Tower Road (aka SW 75th Street)

Questions: 379-4949

Sunday with Christ Community

Sunday's Scheduled Events
9am classes for all ages
10am worship service, preaching from Acts 25
(no children's church)

4:30 Youth Leadership Team Meeting
7pm Youth Meeting at the Pendley's home

facility stuff

Traditionally, churches have seen their buildings as ‘our sacred space.’ But we want the building to be shared community space, a place of hospitality. We want to say to our neighbors, “This space does not only belong to us—what uses will benefit the whole area of town?” --tim keller

Many today call not for churches without buildings nor for traditional church buildings, but for church buildings that serve as ‘proximity space’ in which believers can meet, live with, and know their neighbors.
See Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21 Century Church (Hendrickson, 2003.)

source

Wonderful

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

Tanzania Orphanage Update

The place where the team is heading to construct an orphanage in November has put together a newsletter. Check it out on this page

Friday August 18th 7:00

Fall Vision Night
Plan on it
(Childcare Provided)

Want the elders to pray for you?

Tonight (Tuesday) the elders of Christ Community meet for the purpose of shepherding the flock of Christ Community. A portion of this is done by praying for you. If you would like to submit a last minute request for prayer, please email me by 6:30pm at
robp AT christcommunitychurch DOT com

Women's Bible Study Starts TODAY

10:45am.... looking at John chapter 9

meeting off Tower Road in Kenwood Subdivision details

Sunday July 9

9am classes for all ages
10am worship

I'll be preaching on Acts 24

Frank Matthews will be interviewed/received by the presbytery on Saturday and we'll celebrate that on Sunday.

july 2 schedule

9am classes
10am worship

next letter excerpt

Sunday Summer Schedule: It’s been a little confusing and hard to keep up with the changes around here but the final summer Sunday School schedule has been set. We will continue with our 9:00am Sunday School classes through the month of July for all children and adults. Then in August we will take a break and cancel our 9:00am classes until after Labor Day. We also plan to offer children’s church each Sunday in August. The fall children’s Sunday School Kick-Off will be on September 10th with new classes to begin on September 17th. For additional information contact Kacy O’Grady our new Children’s Ministries Director at 379-4949. Worship will continue to be at 10:00am.
you can read the entire thing at:
http://robyadayada.blogspot.com/2006/06/letter.html
UPDATE: Frank Matthews' wife and children will be moving here around 20th of July. Frank will be in Gainesville starting July 8th.

letter excerpt #2

This is part of a series of posts which are excerpts from a congregational letter going out soon...

New Assistant Pastor: We are very excited about the announcement of Frank Matthews’ as our Assistant Pastor. On July 9th, Frank will begin his life and ministry with us. Frank and his wife, Suzanne, have made an offer on a home located a few blocks off Parker Road and are currently waiting for the final details to be completed. Frank will move here prior to actually having a place to live, and then Suzanne and their 3 boys will join him once they own the home. We’ll welcome Frank on July 9th and then do something for the whole family at a later date.

there's a letter in the mail this week

that should reach your home on saturday... but you can get the info 1st here. I'll be posting each section over the next couple of days. Here is the first portion

Dear Friends,

Summer's here and any sense of rhythm or schedule is out the window. So, I wanted to communicate some information in a way that has the best chance of reaching all of you.

topic 1.New Assistant Pastor:

topic 2.Where we are on the building/land:

topic 3 Sunday Summer Schedule:
topic 4 Mark Your Calendars: On Friday, August 18th, from 7:00-8:30pm we will have an important informational meeting. I will be giving a presentation entitled “Christ Community, Version 2.0... The Next Phase of Our Mission.”
Plan now to come enjoy being together and get the latest updates on the “happenings” around Christ Community. Childcare will be provided for younger children. Dessert will be served.

God is faithful. Look expectantly with me for how Christ will care for and use His church.

Rob

Save the Date

Friday August 18th, 7pm

Baptism Saturday

11am at the Hamilton's home on SW Williston Road
directions will be available on church website (click link to the right)

after Josiah Hamilton is baptized their will be a luncheon party to celebrate

Is that it?

Yesterday, we baptized another child into the covenant community of our Triune God. People from my heritage don't tend to wrongly assume--"That baby just became a Christian!"-- but i fear that many do wrongly assume
A.) OK, put it on the shelf and we'll check back with the kid around 13 and hope she wants to be a follower of Jesus
and/or
B.) This kid is "IN" until they make it absolutely clear that they want "OUT".

As I've gotten older, parented and pastored more... I find myself taking children and youth more seriously. Both their professions of faith and interest in Christ and His kingdom... AND their disinterest in the same. That leads me to the quote I read this morning:
"But, oh children of Christian parents, take heed that you do not remain barren and unfruitful in the sunshine of all these privileges (of the gospel): beware lest your heart remains hard, impenitent, and worldly, notwithstanding the many advantages you enjoy. You cannot enter the kingdom of God on the credit of your parents' religion. You must eat the bread of life for yourself, and have the witness of the Spirit in your own heart. You must have repentace of your own, faith of your own, and sanctification of your own." ---J.C. Ryle

I'm talking to children and youth (of my own and of the church) more like that. Is it loving? Is it biblical? Pray that Christ Community would be a church-family whose children and adults are shepherded with integrity, passion, and wisdom.

You can't be serious

Often when I articulate (however clumsily) that God is really in charge of the world... I get comments or looks that say things like:
"You can't be serious."
"My God isn't like that."
"Then how can God be good?"

First, I'm NOT saying, "This is the way it is, deal with it by stuffing your questions/fears/pains..." I am saying that i believe the deep conviction that God rules over all things in our lives AND He is good... leads to joy and strength. So, Rob, if this is new to me and I want to hear or read more, where would i go?
Start here by throwing some of these on your ipod.
Or read, WHEN GOD WEEPS, by Joni Tada... available at amazon.com

AND, talk to someone who has lived through hard times and believes the things I mentioned about God. I'm praying today for you.

sunday June 25 as Christ Community gathers

9am classes for all ages

10am worship (with children's church for ages 5-2nd grade)




also... youth group sunday night is at the Hamilton's home

vbs pics

here

Bible School is Smashing

The 1st 2 days have been wonderful occasions. God has been gracious to raise up key strong leadership to pull this off. Children are:
-having fun
-being creative
-learing the gospel
- being loved by adult leaders
- developing their friendships
- making memories

5pm til 8pm all this week, new folk still welcome!

waterpark trip for the youth

the youth group is heading to Wet-n-Wild Waterpark in ORlando on Friday.
Cost is around $25. For details contact Erik Folgate 352.871.0794 or Greg Hamilton 352-284-8655.

More on scourging and simul justis

here

5pm today at Oak Hall

Monday thru Friday this week.... 5pm til 8pm nightly
Bible School promises to be a fun family time together

teaching children the Scriptures
exposing many to the purposes of God for the world

Pray for the many unchurched children and families who have been invited to participate with us.

Cry out to God that the children of CCC will be gripped with this gospel of grace and respond with passionately Godward lives. It is so sad to see and hear about the many many "church kids" who squander away this great inheritance offered them in Christ. Only if the Spirit comes in power will we see the children of CCC joyfully claim their inheritance. Ask. Seek. Knock.

Sunday with Christ Community

9am classes for all ages
10am worship

after the worship service some of our folks are taking flyers and heading just up the road to the apartments on 8th avenue (just west of Tower Road) to invite the kids there to our Vacation Bible School (VBS)... which starts Monday evening.

Plan to join them?!

Oh yes, Oak Hall says that they have the A/C in the theater fixed!

What is your plan?

How were you planning to fight sin today?


"No gloomy uncertainty as to God’s favor can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this…" --Horatius Bonar, 19th century

wear shorts to church

IF IF IF
There is a group of people hitting the streets after service. Going up to the apartments on corner of SW 8th and Tower Road... for the purpose of passing out info flyers, inviting and registering those children to participate in vbs with us. Plan on it.

computer help

If you have some experience with HTML and/or "mambo"... could you give Lizette a call at 379-4949

Satan the Insurgent

I don't think Satan has a kingdom, as such. All authority comes from God (Romans 13). Satan certainly has dominion, like Osama bin Laden has dominion over his minions, which he enforces by fear and perhaps admiration, but he is no rightful ruler.
Excellent concise words to follow up Sunday's mention of our enemy
here

Wrath & Grace

Only those who are aware of God's wrath are amazed by God's grace. --Jerry Bridges (i think)

this probably strikes me today b/c a friend just informed me that many Christians are giving up belief in Hell... and i think, "How sad on many levels. One of those being that i don't see how you can enjoy the gospel (and by extension Jesus) very long after you stop seeing that through it Jesus delivers you from something." For me i think it would be about 5 seconds.

june 11 with Christ Community

9:00am Classes for all ages

Adults in the Media Center, looking at cultural background of the bible as it helps us understand God’s Word.


10am worship
I’ll be preaching from Acts 22 which you can read here.



7pm Youth Group is at Horner’s home



Also, let me remind/encourage you to display the hospitality of God to each other and newcomers. I know of several folks who have just begun attending in recent weeks and would be deeply encouraged by being greeted by you. There are also new residents of Gainesville who will be visiting with us on Sunday. Finally, please arrive in the theater prior to 10:00am. I was reminded last week how much richer our gathering time is when we have loads of people there at 9:59am. Oh, and could we go crazy and move to the middle upon arrival? Yeehaw!

Come ye needy, come, and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify.

Baptism on Friday 5:30pm

at the Stankunas' house, arrive promptly as this is a brief service and you don't want to miss it by being late!
Rand McNally - Get a Map: "2310 SW 110th Ter
Gainesville, FL 32607-1228"

Educating Children

A
great article in Detroit News today... written by a classmate of Steve Lammers challenged me in a couple of ways. Here are excerpts and then a shout out to CCC teachers who are in the game.

Teaching is no longer a respected profession and our best and brightest citizens develop a social aversion to pursuing it. Why is there no honor given to those are charged with equipping, forming, and shaping the hearts and minds of our world's future?

Second, students are not encouraged to value learning about the world.
Visionless parental pragmatists actually dissuade their children from taking courses that they don't "need" if there's not a direct future financial benefit. How can you not "need" more knowledge about the world furnished by any legitimate area of intellectual inquiry?

SO.... Nate Henkel (Chiles Elem); Melissa Henkel (Westwood Middle); Greg Hamilton (Bronson Middle); Jordan Miller (Ft. Clarke Elementary); Sylvia Olmsted (UF Journalism); Lisa Griffin (Newberry High School); there are more i'm sure, forgive me... straight from my head-- the point is to honor these people who are bringing the blessings of God's Kingdom into very strategic places

Opportunity to serve one another...

From Jason MacGregor
"Quick summary, this summer Kelly is directing the King and I in Lake City. There was no one to play the lead, so she had to cast herself. The costumes were too expensive to rent, so Kelly had to make them herself. Well, we are about 2 weeks to opening and she is only done 60-70 out of the 120 costumes. She has planned to give up sleeping to get it done (not a good plan). This Saturday, I am looking to recruit as many volunteers as possible to help put a big push to finish most of this up. If you can operate a pair of scissor then you can help. If you can sew and do more, then you are a bigger help. We have 5 or 6 sewing machines. I cannot stress enough that Kelly needs help but does not even have the time to call and recruit people.

Kelly will be starting at 6am on Saturday and probably stopping just before church starts on Sunday. If you can come for even a couple hours during that window, that would be unbelievably helpful. I will make sure there is plenty starbucks, snacks, etc. etc. etc. If you want to pick stuff up and work at your home that would be a huge help too. So just come by when you can. questions, contact jemacgregor AT hotmail DOT com "

Baptism

The baptism of Joy & Abigail Crow has been moved.

The baptism is to be held at 5:30pm Friday, at the Stankunas' home on SW 24th, next to queen of peace catholic church

5:30 Friday

"Rob, tell me about your bracelet."

I've been asked to explain a few times lately... Here's the answer:
Invisible Children - Invisible Children

Vacation Bible School

GCP | VBS: One Continuing Story of God's Covenant Love in Five Parts

Day 1—The King Created
The story of Genesis is the beginning of God's relationship with man. From the time of creation, God in Christ had the perfect plan for his people.

Day 2—Separated from the King: Genesis 2
Children examine the dreadful consequences of disobedience to God as they study the Fall.

Day 3—The King Is Coming
From Genesis 3:15 and throughout the Old Testament, Jesus Christ was promised, pictured and prophesied to die and save his own.

Day 4—The King Has Come (Genesis 22 & Galatians 3)
Through his death on the cross, resurrection and ascension, Jesus paid the price for his covenant people fulfilling God's promises.

Day 5—The King Is Coming Again (John 14 & Revelation 21-22)
God's people anticipate the return of Christ to the earth. Christ has promised believers an eternal home with him in heaven."

James Smith Narrative

Here's where i got the James Smith story used during yesterday's service.
Together for the Gospel

9am adult class meeting in THEATER...

... not in the Media Center.

Sunday with Christ Community

9am classes for all ages
In the THEATER our new pastor, Frank Matthews, will be giving his "Life Story" and opening up the Scriptures along the way.

10am worship will include Holy Communion

after the service hang and snack for a few minutes at a reception in Frank's honor.

Peace,
Rob

My childhood friends will disown me...

I've done a few things that have made my Mississippi friends look at me with puzzled faces... like "What happened to you, Rob?" Cheering for Gators, enjoying living in Florida, etc. But if they knew how excited i am about The World Cup... they'd disown me. For you fellow U2 and/or Futbol fans... here are 4 must see spots on the game. ONE GAME CHANGES EVERYTHING

Christ Community Church - Gainesville Florida - Downloads

sunday's worship folder is up... prepare your heart and mind to give worship and receive grace
Christ Community Church - Gainesville Florida - Downloads

Church News

1.) Abigail and Joy Crow will be baptized next Wednesday, June 7.
2.) We've got a new Children's Director, Kacy O'Grady. more to come on this
3.) Frank Matthews (and his family) will be with us this weekend. Please plan to come at 9am when he'll share his testimony in the Media Center.

from Psalm 86

"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name."
Psalm 86:

Christ Community to the County

Today our plans for building on Parker Road will be submitted to the county for preliminary approval.

We should hear back from the county in about 6 weeks.

memorial day prayer

"We live in dangerous times and we pray
for the pacification of iraq for the
end of genocide in darfur
we pray that our blessed mediator who sits at your right hand may so exercise
the kingdom of his power in all the world as may best induce to these ends:
that the gospel may go forth with freedom and with power and that your
people may be gathered to you from the ends of the earth
equip us, we pray, to serve you in our generation. --Prayer by David
Clyde Jones, grammatical errors by Rob"
entire prayer here:

You better not...

... arrive at Oak Hall prior to the service this Sunday. Our 9am classes are OFF this week...

SUNDAY with Christ Community
10am Worship Service (there will be children's church)

New Chapter in CCC Life

On Tuesday the Pastoral Search Committee brought in a candidate to interview for the position of Assistant Pastor. They unanimously gave an enthusiastic recommendation of him to the elders. The elders met with him and our response was to throw a couple of more logs on the fire that was beginning to blaze.


On Wednesday night I told Frank Matthews that it was our strong desire to bring him here to serve alongside us as we seek to experience and extend the grace of God to Gainesville. Earlier today-Thursday-- Frank called to say that God was calling him and his family here.

So, as we move along the elders would really want the people of Christ Community to meet the Matthews family. So, they will be with us June 2-4 to meet as many of you as possible. In addition to getting to know Christ Community more thoroughly, there are still bridges to be crossed with transferring his ministerial credentials to this area. Please be in prayer for all the logistics of this family's move to be with us.

You can read alot about Frank Matthews and his family here.

--Plus, i'll post more later and i'll talk alot about it Sunday

Huge News to be announced

... developing...

a prayer

O Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on me. Move, I beg You, upon my
disordered heart. Take away the infirmities of
unruly desires and hateful lusts. Lift the mists
and darkness of unbelief. Brighten my soul with
the pure light of truth.

Make my soul . . .
as fragrant as the garden of paradise,
rich with every goodly fruit,
beautiful with heavenly grace,
radiant with rays of divine light.

JS on DVC at CSC

Just a reminder that this evening, Monday, May 22, at the CSC (that's code for Christian Study Center) John Sommerville will be addressing the question of why the DVC (that's code for the Da Vinci Code) has become such a phenomenon. You do not need to have seen the movie or even read the book for this session to be of interest.

In case you are not aware, Dr. Sommerville has now spoken on this subject numerous times and in a wide variety of settings over the past couple years both in Gainesville and eleswhere. We are privileged to have him speaking to us tonight.

Hope you can join us at 8:00 p.m. in the Study Center classroom.

Sunday with Christ Community

9am classes for all
10:00 worship

A Bowl of Soup and a Listening Ear

One of the points of Acts 21 is Hospitality... here;'s an article good A Bowl of Soup and a Listening Ear - byFaith Online

how did we get here?

apparently, the beautiful woman whose naked pics are the download du jour is a "Good Roman Catholic" who has remained a virgin and opposes abortion.... how did we get here? that a human would be able to think (and act!) clearly on certain points while being out of it on other--just as obvious--points.... excerpt

The GQ interview includes the following curious points:

I take it you’re religious?

Yes! I am Catholic. [she pulls out the cardboard scapular hanging around her neck, under her big gray sweater]

Wow. A scapular. Do you go to church?

Of course! Every Sunday.

Is there anything in the teachings of the Catholic Church that you don’t agree with?

No.

Are you pro-life?

What do you mean, pro-life?

How do you feel about abortion?

I think it’s a crime.

[. . .]

Are you a one-guy woman?

Of course! I’m a Catholic.

Look, I’m Catholic, too, but there’s a lot of things about the church that make it hard to date within its rules, don’t you think?

Like what?

Birth control, premarital sex…

Well, you know, sex is just for after marriage.

Say what?

Sex is for after marriage.

Are you saying you’re not going to have sex before marriage?

Exactly.

You mean you’ve never had sex?

That’s why I have to say.

You sure about this?

Yes.

How do men respond to the fact that you plan to, you know, wait?

I don’t care. They have to respect that this is my choice. If there’s no respect, that means they don’t want me.

As the movies say, "No animals harmed in making of this movie." I've viewed no images of this woman... i read about this here, where the author concludes:
"Having been raised as a Catholic boy, I can sadly say that I think I understand how she got to this weird point of being the naked porn fantasy of men across the world while simultaneously being devoutly committed to sexual chastity before marriage. It seems that she only sees sins of commission and does not understand sins of omission. This explains why she is proud of not committing the sin of fornication (sex before marriage, for anyone to whom that is a new f-word). And it also explains why she does not see her sin of omitting her clothes from her body as a sin. Apparently, she does not see lust as a sin but does see sex as a sin, which is the kind of theological reasoning one would expect from a supermodel."

Finally, from rob.... Lord, have mercy on me for my blindness
have mercy on us for our blindness

Absured...

“Absurd” is how J.V. Field, president of the Leonardo da Vinci Society and historian of art at the University of London, described the book’s theory about Leonardo’s putatively hidden messages. “Everything I know about how pictures were used to communicate indicates that the theory is absurd,” he told News-Press. “This means that I should require very strong evidence indeed to make me take it seriously—such as a document written by Leonardo himself giving an explanation of the procedure he followed; and the authority of the document would need to be established by unassailable provenance. In the present case, that is clearly an unattainable standard of proof.” Authentic history requires proof, said Field, but “The Da Vinci Code offers none that scholars would recognize.”
from an article online
http://maclaurin.org/article_detail.php?a_id=53

weddings and the gospel

The history of the human race begins with a wedding in a garden when the Lord gave away the first bride. The glory of the gospel was prefigured in the splendid Temple-garden imagery throughout the Song of Songs. And the Lord Jesus, the promised seed of the woman, meet Mary Magdalene, a type of the Christian Church in a garden just after His resurrection from the dead. This was the betrothal, and the consummation of all things is coming, when the day of the Lord arrives, and we will all sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. God has something important to say through weddings, and that something is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
--Douglas Wilson

all in one site

for da vinci resources, from Westminster Seminary in Philly
http://thetruthaboutdavinci.com/

the knockoffs are pouring in...

some of you have sent me great fun-pokes at da vinci code

norman rockwell code starred barney fife's grandson

albino code is also up but i haven't seen it yet

A Heart That is Established in Grace

"Many there are who, at first, fail in the full apprehension of the utter ruin of nature, as looked at in God's presence, though their hearts have been attracted by the grace of God, and their consciences tranquilized, in some degree, by the application of the blood of Christ. Hence, as they get on in their lives, they begin to make deeper discoveries of the evil within, and, being deficient in their apprehensions of God's grace, and the extent and efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ, they immediately raise a question as to their being children of God at all. Thus, they are taken off Christ and thrown on themselves, and then they either take upon themselves ordinances in order to keep up their tone of devotion, or else fall back into thorough worldliness and carnality. These are disastrous consequences and all the result of not having 'the heart established in grace'." C H Mackintosh (Plymouth Brethren Pastor, England 1879)

5 questions from da vinci

1. Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene?
2. What about these alternative gospels that aren't in the New Testament?

and three more, with responses....at
Christian Bible Studies: Bible Study, Bible Courses, Curriculum, Small Groups, Church Leaders, Sunday School Classes

Bringing the Bible to life?

I have really appreciated the way the Sunday 9am class has been publicized.
I have always been uncomfortable with the phrase i put in the title... so the words below summarized a much more helpful (and accurate) way to speak about such things:

"I understand the intent of the people who seek to make the Bible come alive. On the whole I believe that their intentions are pure but their wording is imprecise. In most cases I would suggest that these people are attempting to "bring the history of the Bible to life" or to "bring the setting of the Bible to life." This is a far different task than bringing the actual Scripture to life. It is a far more noble task. The Bible is, after all, a historical document that was written within particular places and within particular cultural contexts. It may be helpful, at times, to bring to life some glimpses of the culture, customs and history of the Bible."

more here:

do you have ?

Marie Nelson is gathering household items that Ada Perry needs...

Pots and Pans (no Teflon—)
Stackable Washer/Dryer --


email Marie: man1 AT ufl DOT edu

current 9am dvd series

The DVD series that Charlie Staples mentioned yesterday is excellent. In fact, here is a link to a website that can give you a feel for the kind of things you will pick up in the faith lesson section of the class.

9am bible classes for all ages
10am worship service
children's church dismissed prior to message

no youth group sunday nite, due to Mother's Day

Confusing Indicative and Imperative

Everywhere the Scriptures provide both the declaration of who we are in Christ (indicative) and the command to respond to that particular declaration in a certain way (imperative). For instance, Paul does not simply issue an imperative like, "Stop living with your boyfriend." He says, "How should we who have died to sin live any longer in it?" Paul does not call people to die to sin; he does not invite them to enter into a higher level of abundant life; there are not appeals to become something which the believer is not already. The believer has died, is buried, is raised, is seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and so on. These are not plateaus for victorious Christians who have surrendered all, but realities for every believer regardless of how small one's faith or how weak one's repentance.

Thus, we must stop trying to convert believers into these realities by imperatives: "Do this," "Confess that," "Follow these steps," and so on. Union with Christ ushers us into conversion and conversion ushers us immediately into all of these realities so that, as Sinclair Ferguson writes, "The determining factor of my existence is no longer my past. It is Christ's past" (Christian Spirituality: Five Views, Zondervan, p.57).

For those who speak as though the filling of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, justification, the new birth, and union with Christ are things to be attained by obedience to imperatives, Paul insists, "But of him[God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'" (1 Cor.1:30-31).
Union with Christ by Michael Horton, Ph.D.

Keller on Repentance

The gospel creates the only kind of grief over sin which is clean and which does not crush. It says: “Look at Jesus dying for you! He won’t leave you or abandon you…it is not because he will abandon you that you should be holy, but because this is one who at inestimable cost to himself has said he won’t ever abandon you!…See the GRACE of God argument? It is the only argument which cannot be answered. This creates the only motivation that leads you to hate the sin without hating yourself. It is the only motivation that will bring sin to lose its attractive power over you.

How can this be? The sight of Christ dying for you is at once both the one thing in the world that most convicts you to be holy and yet most assures you that you are infallibly loved. If he died for you—that is conviction. But if he died for you—that is the comfort.

More Mercy

Puritan Richard Sibbes from The Bruised Reed:

“There is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in me.”

Tension

God’s mercy, patience, and love must be fully preached in the church. But they are not credible unless they are presented in tension with God’s infinite power, complete and sovereign control of the universe, holiness, and righteousness. --Richard Lovelace

Old Books

Old is relative... last night I watched an episode of "The Brady Bunch" with my 11 year old son and my wife. Seems like they lived on a different planet! Mrs. Brady was sitting under a hair dryer!

Anway, i'm including a couple of books from 70's (1970's!) in my list of "old books" you might consider reading this summer.

Knowing God, by JI Packer, 1973
This is, quite simply, the first book that every Christian should read

Basic Christianity, John Stott,
Absolutely the best brief summary of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Mere Christianity, CS Lewis, 1940's or 50's
This collection of essays is absolutely stunning in readibility, persuasiveness, and heart-warming.

Morning & Evening, Charles Spurgeon
A twice-daily devotional from 19th century London minister

Spiritual Depression, Its Causes & Cures by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 1964
Oh my! This medical doctor turned preacher helps you understand the human heart's struggles and points you to Christ beautifully.


Pretty sad so far that my "old book list" goes back only to 1800's.

What's up with sprinkling?

Christ Community has always wanted to be a "Mere Christianity" kinda church, one that majors on majors and ... well, you know, minors on minors. From time to time we get asked why we baptize by sprinkling or pouring. I'm working on putting together a very brief explanation... until then, here's a quote i'm fairly happy with:

While the Greek bapto means 'to dip', baptizo - the usual New Testament word - is a multi-modal concept signifiying 'to wash' whatever mode is used. Through contact with water, irrespective of the quantity, it illustrates the believer's union with Christ. On careful examination of every instance, it simply cannot be proved that immersion or dipping was ever used in the New Testament. References to Old Testament ceremonial washings (see Heb. 9:10) use baptismos to describe them. It is certain that these washings were by sprinkling (see Numb. 8:7; 19:13-21). Clearly, sprinkling was to be used in the New Testament Church according to the prophecies of Isaiah (52:15) and Ezekiel (36:25). With great respect to "dunkers", what has union with Christ in his death and burial (Rom. 6:3-6) got to do with immersion in water?
Our Lord was buried horizontally in a tomb not six feet down in the ground, and certainly not in water. This passage-Romans 6--simply does not teach baptism by immersion.

Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch both 'went down into the water' (Acts 8:38). Arguably, they walked together down to the water's edge, where, both standing in the water, one was sprinkled by the other. It is not necessary to the text that the eunuch was immersed. Noting Paul's reference to Israel's 'baptism into Moses' in 1 Cor. 10:2, the most that can be said is that the Israelites were sprinkled with sea spray. It was the Egyptians who were immersed!

da vinci offerings at study center

We will begin on Monday, May 15th with an introduction by Leo Sandgren, who did his PhD at UNC with Bart Ehrman and is very familiar with Bart’s argument and story. (Professor Sandgren teaches Hebrew Scripture and New Testament classes at UF, and he is also the one whose inner light has given us gnowledge.) The title for Professor Sandgren’s talk is "Misquoting Jesus—but getting Ehrman right: reflections on what we can Gno, how we Gno it, and why we care."


on Monday, May 22nd John Sommerville will lead a discussion of the book and the movie. (Dr. Sommerville is Professor, Emeritus, in History at UF, and he has become one of Gainesville’s resident experts on the Da Vinci phenomenon.) 8pm at study center
more at www.christianstudycenter.org

Lewis on OLD BOOKS

C.S. Lewis:

Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. --Lewis

have you thought of what old book you might read this summer? i'll try to post a suggested list soon-- pendley

emilianoscafe.com

several fellas are meeting here for lunch Tuesday at 11:30, join in!

Was Jesus Married?

As those of you familiar with the DA VINCI CODE know... a key premise is that Jesus was married... to Mary Magdalene.

Here is a brief and helpful article on this

Da Vinci and Truth

This week i'll post some helpful, so i think, wisdom on the da vinci code phenomenon...

'We Christians tend to give the impression that we will hold on to the outward forms whatever happens, even if God really is not there. But the opposite ought to be true of us, so that people can see that we demand the truth of what is there and that we are not dealing merely with platitudes. In other words, it should be understood that we take this question of truth and personality so seriously that if God were not there, we would be among the first to have the courage to step out of the queue.' — Francis Schaeffer (From his book, "The God Who Is There")

the doc on da vinci i referenced y'day

The Da Vinci Code Phenomenon - byFaith Online

Marleigh Schackow

 


reminder you can stay updated at www.marleighschackow.blogspot.com 

Sunday with Christ Community

9am classes for all ages
adults starting new video class called That the World May Know (Filmed on location in Israel, brings God's Word with astounding relevance for modern believers.)


10am Communion Service
Christ in this sign perceived through the senses sets forth the grace of God in Christ and the blessings of his covenant. They communicate, seal, and confirm possession of those blessings to believers, who by responsively receiving the sacraments give expression to their fatih and allegience. In them God "remembers" his covenant toward us in Christ and does not give us the just wrath we deserve. The Supper is rightly viewed as a means of grace. The efficacy of the sacraments ...resides not in the faith or virture of the minister but in the faithfuness of God. As the preaching of the Word makes the gospel audible, so the sacraments make it visible, and the Holy Spirit stirs up faith by both means. (some concepts from JI Packer)
brief Lord's Supper overview

Hope

If it is hope that maintains and upholds faith and keeps it moving on, if it is hope that draws the believer into the life of love, then it will also be hope that is the mobilizing and driving force of faith’s thinking, of its knowledge of and reflections on, human nature, history and society.
--Jurgen Moltmann

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

Big day today. Another voice, created to give praise to God, came into our world. Marleigh Schackow was born to Brian and Rebecca. After a very rough start all the reports today have been increasingly encouraging. Being early, she needs your prayers. Particularly Thursday thru Saturday. This means the world to Brian and Rebecca. You can stay up to date on Marleigh's progress at the website below

http://marleighschackow.blogspot.com/

da vinci resources

look here for help w/ da vinci dialoguemarkdroberts.com

Lean Hard

LEAN HARD!

"Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you." Psalm 55:22

It is by an act of simple, prayerful faith we transfer our cares and anxieties, our sorrows and needs, to the Lord. Jesus invites you come and lean upon Him, and to lean with all your might upon that arm that balances the universe, and upon that bosom that bled for you upon the soldier's spear! But you doubtingly ask, "Is the Lord able to do this thing for me ?" And thus, while you are debating a matter about which there is not the shadow of a shade of doubt, the burden is crushing your gentle spirit to the dust. And all the while Jesus stands at your side and lovingly says, "Cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain you. I am God Almighty. I bore the load of your sin and condemnation up the steep of Calvary, and the same power of omnipotence, and the same strength of love that bore it all for you then, is prepared to bear your need and sorrow now. Roll it all upon Me! Child of My love! Lean hard! Let Me feel the pressure of your care. I know your burden, child! I shaped it—I poised it in My own hand and made no proportion of its weight to your unaided strength. For even as I laid it on, I said I shall be near, and while she leans on Me, this burden shall be Mine, not hers. So shall I keep My child within the encircling arms of My own love. Here lay it down! Do not fear to impose it on a shoulder which upholds the government of worlds! Yet closer come! You are not near enough! I would embrace your burden, so I might feel My child reposing on My breast. You love Me! I know it. Doubt not, then. But, loving me, lean hard!" by Octavius Winslow (1808 - 1878)





http://www..gracegems.org/Winslows/Christ_sympathy.htm

Some of my favorite prayers

Sometimes I love the long ones from the Puritans... but sometimes Anne Lamott's liturgy serves me best:

In the morning: "Jesus, help!"

At bedtime: "Jesus, thanks."

good teaching on "losing salvation"

THE “APOSTASY” PASSAGE, Hebrews 6:4 - 6 (compare 10:26 - 31) has historically been the focus of considerable theological and pastoral dispute.
The nub of the question is, can genuine believers lose their salvation? Some Christians reply affirmatively, though it is hard to square such affirmations with, for instance, the “golden chain” of Romans 8:29 - 30 or the unqualified assertions of John 6:39 - 40, 44. Some Christians have therefore suggested that what Hebrews envisages is not falling away from eternal life but falling away from useful service.
On the face of it, the language of Hebrews 6 and 10 is sterner than that. Others postulate that the warning is merely hypothetical or even beneficial — a means of grace that guarantees believers will not apostatize. But if we know that, it is difficult to take the warning seriously, for we are assured in advance that the set of apostates is an empty set — and that makes the warning slightly ludicrous and not the desperately serious thing that the author of Hebrews thinks it is. Still others argue that elsewhere the New Testament may teach the perseverance and the preservation of the saints, but here it presupposes that some will fall away — and we must simply live with the tension, not to say contradiction.
My own view is that the issue turns on two points, with an important pastoral implication.
First, it is not as if Hebrews teaches one thing and Paul and John another. Paul entreats Christians to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5), yet constructs the golden chain. John warns that branches in Christ (the true vine) may be cut off (John 15:1 - 8), yet insists that Christ will preserve all those the Father has given him. There is therefore nothing useful to be gained by pitting Hebrews 6 against, say, John. It aligns very well with one element in John and Paul.
Second, one must ask if the individual descriptions (“enlightened,” “tasted of the heavenly gift,” etc.) in Hebrews 6 and 10 require us to think of genuine Christians. The answer to this question is tied to our theology of conversion and to what is meant by “genuine Christian.” The New Testament gives many instances of people who taste enough of God’s grace to turn their lives around and join the visible church, even though they do not have the kind of grace that enables them to persevere. Even Hebrews 3:6, 14 presupposes as much. Under such a “tight” definition of genuine Christian, none falls away. The question then becomes, “Will you persevere? Is your experience of grace so light that you can walk away from the cross?”
What are the pastoral implications? The reflections suggest that the Bible provides wonderful reassurance to the weak and fainthearted, but threatens the openly defiant with a stern probing of the genuineness of their profession of faith. (DA Carson, commenting on HEbrews 6)

Online Course from Covenant College

WANT TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WITHOUT CREATING DEPENDENCY? Learn how through the "Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry" email-based distance learning course scheduled for August 28 - September 22, 2006. This course is offered by the Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development, a training center housed at Covenant College that equips the church worldwide to minister to the poor.

The Foundations course is designed for an individual or a ministry team doing community outreach among the poor - pastors, church planters, ministry leaders and lay staff, and missionaries. It lays the foundation for understanding appropriate goals and strategies for Christian community development in low-income communities.

Topics covered are:

* Understanding poverty
* When to do relief and when to do development
* Harm that can come from inappropriately doing relief or development
* The response of the local church to poverty
* How to integrate Biblical principles into development programs

The "Foundations" course is an email-based guided-reading program with weekly written assignments and peer-to-peer interaction with the other course participants. Since the course format is e-mail based, slow dial-up speed from a remote location will not limit participation. On average, the course requires 8-10 hours of work per week.

Group rates and Two-Thirds World rates are available.

To learn more about this course or to register, visit www.chalmers.org, call
706-419-1805 (U.S.), or e-mail chalmers@covenant.edu. When registering, use Reference Identifier MK-CGC-04/06.

Must-see movie

according to a source i trust the pik that sbux has been pushing is really good
"akeelah and the bee"

God is

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble. Psalm 45

Hell

sunday will be week 2 of ccc's "2 sundays in heaven series"

so, this is good opp to say that same loving God who created heaven also created hell

as always, tim keller offers a fresh way of talking to your friends about this aspect of God's world
Preaching Hell

Thursday nite fellas

sex romance and glory of God
discussion at Phegley's home

Get All that You Can

"If God, in His great grace, has given Jesus to you, get out of Him all that you can, and do not think that He will consider you to be intruding. It is the delight of His heart to give out of His fullness to His needy people; He is best satisfied with you when you are best satisfied with Him; He gets most from you when you get most from Him." Charles Spurgeon

Extending the grace of God

Christ Community exists to experience and extend the grace of Jesus Christ. The extension of that grace involves all of life. I'm thrilled to announce that our own Sylvia Olmsted is now an Associate Dean at UF! Sylvia's servant leadership will bring the blessings of the kingdom in ways that will benefit many people.

Here's the link.

Sex, Romance, and God's Glory

this workshop for men concludes Tuesday 615am at hope church (for morning guys)
and
Thursday night at Phegley's for night owls

Christ Community online sermons

Christ Community sermons are available on our website. We get reports that they are being downloaded from as far away as 13th Street!
Here they are

Revelation, John Piper, and Left Behind

Item 1: Several people mentioned being helped by today's sermon. I'm glad. Steve's work (which I've seen already) in Revelation next Sunday is really good.

ITem 2: One person asked, "So you don't seem to follow the Left Behind series." Correct, i don't.

Item 3: Another wondered if I could re-state the John Piper comment.
#1. I'm not worthy to carry John Piper's shoes. As a preacher, dad, husband, anything.
#2. He is in the top 10 influences on my life.
#3. When he says, "Do you enjoy more making much of God or having God make much of you (paraphrase)?" I think there's a false choice he's making me make.

I totally get that much of American christianity doesn't make much of God and that is rubbish. But I think there is a better way to say it than he does. He is so popular and right on 99% of the time (wait, baptism if off too, make it 98%) that we all need to be reminded to be like the Berean church in Acts.
All that said, John Piper is one of the men who i sincerely thank God for putting in my path. If I could run 1/100 as faithful a race I would be thrilled.

Sunday with Christ Community

9am classes for all ages
10am worship, there is children's church (Kristin Williams & Lindsey Wagner) this week
this is the 1st of "TWO SUNDAYS IN HEAVEN" as the preaching will focus on helping de-bunk myths of boredom and awaken/arouse anticipation of our life in the City of God.

4:30 CLUB 45 at church house, ends at 6pm
7pm Youth Group at church house

what will we do in heaven?

Much of the language of what we'll do in heaven has to do with ruling, reigning... it ain't watching Oprah... it has a feel of work without the frustrations we normally experience in work. Dallas Willard says:

"We should not think of ourselves as destined to be celestial
bureaucrats involved eternally in celestial administrivia.

We should think of our destiny as being absorbed in a tremendously creative team effort, with unimaginable splendid leadership, on an inconceivable vast plane of activity, with ever more comprehensive cycles of productivity and enjoyment. This is the ‘eye hath not seen, neither ear heard' that lies before us in the prophetic vision (Isaiah 64:4)" --Dallas Willard

Sex Romance & The Glory of God

Tomorrow morning at 6:15am at Hope (corner of Tower Rd & 24th Ave)... we'll complete our workshop/class



Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God (you can listen to the incredible sermon here)

Well, a wise man once said to me... "Whenever you talk about sex, remember this:
<>There are men enslaved to pornography.
<>There are married couples who haven't made love to each other in years.
<>There are men and women so wounded from sexual abuse that the idea of "enjoying" sex feels like an oxymoron.
<> There are married couples who were sexually active prior to marriage and the guilt of it hinders their delight in each years later.
<> There are Christians with warped views... thinking that sex, even between man & wife, is at best tolerable and at worst dirty.
<> Etc.

We all need to be reminded that there is hope. The gospel is powerful and God has graciously given resources for gospel applications to each of our struggles. If this comes to someone's eyes who is ready to reach out for help, great. Contact a friend or talk with me or another elder. We're happy to help and help you find help.

Rob

Near Death Experiences

I won't have time to deal w/ NDE as part of talk on heaven.... here's article if you want.
Bottom line:
satan is described as masquerading as angel of light and so i'd say anyone who returns from NDE saying "it doesn't matter who you trust"... probably smells like smoke.

CLUB 45 sunday at 4:30

Monthly meeting/bible study for 4th and 5th graders
at church house, sunday 4:30-6pm

What you believe about the future

is the main determinant in how you process, how you experience, and how you handle circumstances in the present. --Tim Keller

thursday fellas

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God - New Class for Men

Learn what your wife wishes you knew. This course will focus on what the Bible says a
real man should be. We are offering this during two different times in the week.

for Night Owls, there is a Thursday Evening Class.
Thursday evenings, April 20th & 27th, 7:30-8:45pm.
Taught by Kevin Phegley at the Phegley’s home, just off Newberry Road
Map of 10826 Nw 18th Ct
Gainesville, FL 32606-5479, US

…on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a fair green country under a swift sunrise.

gold streets in heaven

In Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem is described as being made of pure gold
and precious stones (Rev 21:15-21). It seems that this is pointing to the ultimate
fulfillment of this “commonality of all wealth” theme. No longer is wealth and
power accumulated in the hands of the few. It is there for all of the people of
God.

If the people of God today could only begin to live this out, how much
different (i.e., set apart, holy) would we be from the rest of society? ---from hope for new york kingdom document

and--by the way--when you read....
No longer is wealth and
power accumulated in the hands of the few.

you shouldn't think, "Yeh, like right now Trump & Sam Walton have it all."

you should think, "Yeh, like right now we (americans) have it all."

sex in heaven?

one thing i'll mention while preaching on eternity is will there be sex in the new heavens & new earth? That doggone NARNIAN gets at it again w/ an answer:

I think our present outlook might be like that of a small boy who, on being told that the sexual act was the highest bodily pleasure, should immediately ask whether you ate chocolates at the same time. On receiving the answer no, he might regard absence of chocolates as the chief characteristic of sexuality. In vain would you tell him that the reason why lovers in their carnal raptures don't bother about chocolates is that they have something better to think of. The boy knows chocolate: he does not know the positive thing that excludes it.

We are in the same position. We know the sexual life; we do not know, except in glimpses, the other thing which, in Heaven, will leave no room for it. Hence where fullness awaits us we anticipate loss.

end of 4 part harmony

Unfortunately for the human race, this creation situation of harmony did not continue. Adam

and Eve, based upon the tempting of the serpent, began to doubt the goodness of God. Because

they doubted His goodness, they were led into disobedience (sin). As a result of their sin, the

world fell apart. This can be seen in the following alienations (ruptured relationships):

 

Heaven

to understand the promises of heaven and our eternal dwellings, you must see what was true at creation.... there was a 4-part harmony: we were cool with God, each other, our own selves, and the environment....

Theological: The relationship between God and people--obedience--humans acting in
accordance with the reality that God was looking out for their best interests; examples
that God was looking out for their best interests—abundant provision, God sees “it is
not God for man to be alone” so He provides for companionship.
• Intra-personal: The relationship of individual people to themselves--Naked and
feeling no shame. People were not ashamed of who they were before God or before
one another.
• Inter-personal: The relationship between people and groups of people--Mutual
delight and appreciation; Adam breaks out into poetry when he meets Eve; goal is for
unity to come from diversity—the two shall be one
• Environmental: The relationship between people and the environment--Nature
provides for mans needs—a river watered the garden; nature dependent on man’s
working to bring forth its fruits. Humans depicted as wise caretakers of the land.

later we'll look at why this is not the way it is right now for us...

Heavenly Escapism?

Isn't concern about Heaven escapist?

I answer the question with another question, from C. S. Lewis: Who talks the most against "escapism"? Jailers. Is it escapist for a baby to wonder about life outside the womb? Is it escapist for someone on a long ocean voyage to wonder about landfall? Is it escapist for the seed to dream of the flower? It is escapist if, and only if, Heaven is a lie. Those who call Heaven "escapism" are presupposing atheism.
(from Q&A on heaven, by Peter Kreeft)

According to Huckleberry Finn, “Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn’t think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said, not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together.

common questions

How can I be happy in Heaven if someone I loved deeply on Earth doesn't make it to Heaven?

Will there be animals in Heaven? Will my dead cat be there?

Will i be bored there?

Preaching will be on HEAVEN the next 2 sundays at Christ Community

Calling all men

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God - New Class for Men

Learn what your wife wishes you knew. This course will focus on what the Bible says a
real man should be. We are offering this during two different times in the week.

For Early Risers, there is a Tuesday Morning Class:
Tuesday mornings, at 6:15-7:30 a.m. April 18th & 25th
Taught by Rob Pendley at Hope Church*. Free Starbucks!
*(HOPE church is located on the corner of Tower Rd & SW 24th Ave)
Or
for Night Owls, there is a Thursday Evening Class.
Thursday evenings, April 20th & 27th, 7:30-8:45pm.
Taught by Kevin Phegley at the Phegley’s home.

He is Risen

Easter Services

9am
&
10:30am

Oak Hall School Theater
childcare offered during both service

Good Friday

5:30 Friday

a 30 minute guided reflection on the death of Christ

In this quiet service we will think together on the 7 statements Jesus made from the cross... and use them as our guide into thinking on his suffering and death for us.

The somber mood of this service is in anticipation of the celebration of Easter morning.

5:30 until 6pm at Hope Church (corner Tower & SW 24th)
no childcare

Easter

Easter Egg Hunt
10:00-12:00 on Saturday, April 15th.

Easter Services
9:00am AND 10:30am. Both services will be identicle and ~60min. in length.

Sunday, April 9th

Paul Boyd will be our speaker this Sunday.
He will be preaching on, "A Heart For Missions", Psalm 51:1-17.
Our Children will also be a part of our service this Sunday,
with their Spring Music Perfomance!
Sunday School Classes @ 9:00am
Worship Service @10:00am

You are inviting your friends

The many names that you are submitting are being prayed for. My heart has been strengthened by your desire to bring people to hear the news of the resurrected Jesus.
Way to go. And may God bring Himself much glory and honor in our midst.
Easter services 9:00am and 10:30am

beautiful scandalous night

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

rest of lyric

8pm Friday at Study Center... Melissa & Sydney Concert

husbands, here's help

C.J. Mahaney
Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God:
What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know
Listen | Watch |

Christ Preaching from the cross!

I think Augustine said somewhere that the cross was a pulpit in which Christ preached his love to the world. I can't remember (or just don't know) where he said this. That expression is a succinct way of drawing our attention to the holiness of God (a sacrifice was needed), His love (he provided the sacrifice), our sinfulness (we've been separated from God by our sin), His provision in Christ (his life and death) and our response (we need to hear this word preached and respond to it in repentance and faith). So there it is--the gospel is about our holy and loving God, creator and judge, His creation of us in His image, our sin against Him, His amazing provision of us in Christ, whose life, death and resurrection was for us. He then calls all who hear this message to turn away from their sins and trust in Christ alone for forgiveness of sins, restoration of a relationship with God, and even adoption as His children, now and forever! by mark dever

any group looking for way to serve?

oak hall has given us permission to put out sandwich boards announcing our 2 easter services

Thursday and friday from 4-7pm

if your group, or you individually, or your family... would like to pick up the boards at the church house on wednesday, then put them up and take them down thurs and friday... let debbie know at 379-4949 ext 12 or debbie AT christcommunitychurch dot com

Desire

O LORD,your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts. isaiah 26

Friends, I am in prayer for His name and renown to be spread through our Easter weekend activities at Oak Hall:

Saturday Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday services (9:00am and 10:30am)

Receiving information about who you are inviting would greatly be appreciated and enflame the prayer that is being kindled. Would you please take a minute in the next couple of days and email your hot list to info AT christcommunitychurch DOT com

thanks