this week

tuesday: women's bible study 10:45am
wednesday: Coffee & Conversation for women 7pm
thursday: intro to christ community, session one (of 3) 7:00-8:15
...plus community groups et al... see website for info

Katrina Trip Friday

We are all set to depart Friday and return Sunday. All types of work needs to be done. Most vehicles will leave Friday at 1pm. The details of our stay and work are being ironed out now. We are planning to make sure that all who need to be back before 9pm sunday are back. Make sure we know that this is your situation as we plan. To help with planning or to let us know you are interested, contact jemacgregor AT hotmail DOT com

Before going you'll need, at least:
1. Personal insurance
2. Updated tetanus shot & Hepatitus shot
3. Replaced yourself and your commitments (example: Rob was supposed to preach, he recruited another preacher--and a good one at that!)
4. Readiness to be flexible 5. Check this site for updates this week

There will be future trips. If this doesn't work out for you because you made prior commitments to serve somewhere or just can't make it... you'll get another opportunity!

Report from East Orlando

Y'day we prayed for the launch of this new congregation. Here's a report from them:
The public worship ministry of Christ Kingdom Church began tonight with a boom! What a great night of praise and thanksgiving. God brought together all the details. We had about 200 adults/children in attendance. Although many were well-wishers from University Presbyterian Church, many more were guests who had responded to the advertising or been invited by people on our launch team. Hopefully, we’ll have some pictures up on our web page soon to help you share in the experience.

Please join us in praising God for his goodness tonight and please ask Him to bless this new church with an overflowing power from His Holy Spirit. I am so thankful too for the incredible launch team that He assembled for this too. Everyone worked as a great team this weekend. Pray that we will be diligent in following up with the guests too.

Thanks for your incredible partnership with us. Please continue to pray!

sunday

9am Classes for all ages
adult class--THE COMPASSION OF JESUS--begins in media center/library

10am worship
>there is NO children's church this week
>We'll send Ray Treadwell off to serve overseas; and continue looking at "Jesus' Anger & Ours" aka The upside of anger... beautifully angry... etc

after worship, lots happening:
1. Very important meeting for all those in children's ministry
2. Details meeting for sept 23-25 Katrina trip (come to row 1 for mtg)
3. something else?

7pm at church house.... Youth Group!

backpacks for gulf coast children

Sunday, September 18th, we are preparing backpack to deliver to the children of the Gulfport Mississippi area. After church, the children in the church or college students or adults will have the opportunity to 'stuff the bags' with goodies

What is the church is providing?
1. Backpack/bag
2. Gator Toy
3. The Lion, the Witch, and Wardrobe Book
4. Some minor other items that I can get donated

We are asking for donations to help cover the cost. $20-25

What the families need to bring?
1. School Supplies
2. Toys
3. Candies
4. Children's Book

Does it need to be new?
No, but it should still be useable. We don't won't any toy that will break the first day. Candy must be new and unused;) .

Can I donate something for all the bags?
Yes, if you want to donate goods to be stuffed. Please bring them to the 'sound room' on Sunday. Please try to think compact. The bags are not very large and the children will still need to carry them during several moves potentially.

What if more than 25 kids want to make bags?
Praise God then we will use temporary bags then purchase more.

pray for frank stankunas as he gives his testimony...

to the fca at bronson hi school early wednesday morning

**UPDATE** God was with Frank as he did a great job testifying to the grace and power of a pursuing Savior.

Made for Anger

As human beings made and remade in the image of a holy God, we are hardwired with the capacity for anger at wrong, as an expression of love both for God and for those harmed by wrong. --david powlison

katrina trip 23-25

this trip is coming together! there will be an info meeting immediately after the service sunday ***If you are scheduled to be in the children's training meeting--GO!--you can get the info later****,
we'll meet in the front 2 rows of the theater; also, we really need an administrative type who is planning to go on the trip to step up NOW to help us plan this thing so that it is as effective as possible
call office now to volunteer for that 379-4949 or email
robp AT christcommunitychurch DOT com

ruf & crusade retreats are that weekend. go on the retreat if that was your plan, there will be another Miss. coast trip soon

ccc group had great trip to Miss. coast

Just got off phone with Nathan Currier. Nathan and about 7 other people from Christ Community headed up to Miss. coast last week. You'll hear from them very soon. This video is on the Mission to North America Disaster Relief site

Fall Women's Study STARTS tuesday

10:45am at stankunas' house
y'all come, all women welcome
PERSON OF JESUS study

map to stankunas houseMap of 2310 Sw 110th Ter Gainesville, FL by MapQuest they live right next to big and beautiful QUEEN OF PEACE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

A Little Summin' Summin'

i wrote this for my fellow u2 fans, as i reflect on Anger of JesusWar & Peace: beautifully angry thoughts

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus!
(Octavius Winslow, "My Times in God's Hand")

Oh! the unutterable blessings that flow
from a vital union with the Lord Jesus!

All of your cares are His cares.
All of your sorrows are His sorrows.
All of your needs are His supply.
All of your sicknesses are His cure.

Believer, nothing can....
separate you from the love of Jesus,
nor sever you from His care,
nor exclude you from His sympathy,
nor banish you from His heaven of eternal blessedness!

Fly to Jesus in the confidence of a loving Friend.
Reveal to Him your secret sorrow.
Confess to Him your hidden sin.
Acknowledge your backsliding to Him.

Tell Him your needs, your sufferings, your fears.
Tell Him how chilled your affections to Him are.
Tell Him how reserved is your obedience.
Tell Him how imperfect is your service.
Tell Him how you long to . . .
love Him more ardently;
follow Him more closely;
serve Him more devotedly;
and to be more wholly His.

how many things that you read 3 years ago do you remember today?

this article is one of mine:War & Peace: justice & our children: "our children are not our cause; they are given to us to train for the great causes of mercy and justice in a prejudiced, pain-filled, and perishing world"

Next 2 Sundays, "Jesus' Anger & Yours"

putting some great stuff i'm finding on anger here

trailer at Oak Hall saturday and sunday

this is good info for you to pass on to non-ccc folk, they can drop things off at Oak Hall anytime saturday.

sunday

++Remember there will be a 30 foot trailer bound for Miss. coast... scroll way down to find list of what to bring

9am
<> class on the importance of the mind (for all non-parent adult types)
<> open house / orientation for grades 8 and below and their parents

10:00
worship in theater
children's church

11:30ish
<> at church house: reception for parents of grades 6-12... at church house, to meet youth leaders

4:30-6:00 Club 45 (monthly bible study & fellowship group for grades 4 & 5)at CHURCH HOUSE
7:00-8:30 Youth Group, at CHURCH HOUSE

pray for these, also... raiderfan congratulates pats on their victory, even without "tuck rule" this time!

30 foot trailer we need to fill

I'll have much more info on how things are going with our work on the Miss. gulf coast---check here tomorrow. til then, remember that bill larson will have a trailer at church on sunday....non ccc-folk might be able to contribute by dropping off on saturday, i'll let you know here Friday

this list came From Pascagoula, Miss thru nicole mytyk: Children who now have no homes to speak of, do not have any of the things available to occupy their minds. No only are they scared and terrified by all the hurricane damaged, and they have nothing to help take the stress off their minds. Items to help them like: coloring books, crayons, small toys, games, even some bicycles would be greatly appreciated. Personal hygiene items for both men and women are definitely very need. baby diapers, pull ups, baby bottles, body/baby wipes, baby shampoo, and everyone needs sunscreen. Sleeping bags, peroxide, ammonia, soap, multi-pack matches, small battery radios and extra batteries, zip lock bags, gallon size, plastic utensils, plastic cups, plates, Neosporin, polysporin, band aids, hand sanitizers, tooth paste, toothbrushes, disposable razors, and many other items. Many people have asked for Bibles and children’s bibles, and bible story books.

planned trips

right now here are the planned trips involving ccc people
departing tomorrow: 3 carloads of students, led by our own Nathan Currier (to Miss.coast)
departing next week: bill larson and that 30 foot trailer
Sept 23-25 Frank Stankunas leading a "Get-r-Done" trip (to miss. coast)
November 11-14 sheri valera coordinating

This little boy visited the relief site we're helping on the Mississippi Gulf coast. Isn't it great to think of that tangible love of Christ? Making the day of some little guy who probably lost everything... 

McGovern's New Baby...

was born last night at 9:47pm. “Patrick Mitchell McGovern” weighed 6lbs., 11oz., and was 19in long. He was born in Tampa and they hope to take him home, at the latest, Friday!

Anger

The next 2 sundays we will look at the anger of Jesus. It begs these 2 questions, at least:
1.) When were you last angry? Briefly describe the circumstances.
2.) What makes you angry?

I've turned the comments ON because i want to hear you

housing opportunities

there is a website helping to connect people displaced by the hurricane with families that could spare a room while repairs are being done. There may be Tulane students looking to transfer to UF....

http://openyourhome.com/

you can also register your home at http://www.pca-mna.org/

note from group leaving Thursday

nathan currier is leading a team going Thursday afternoon thru Sunday night
Please let the church know that we are going if anyone wants to join us, to contact me via email ( ncurrier AT gmail.com) , specifically they asked for non-perishable food items and ice. Also will need water and money for gas. I'm willing to pay for gas and supplies and hopefully split the cost with whoever is going. --more later

Relief workers and supplies at First Presbyterian of Biloxi, Mississippi. This effort is being coordinated by North Florida Presbytery's Disaster Relief Team, one of the 3 places Christ Community is sending financial support. 

Phegley baby born 11:50 SUnday nite!

i don't know how to spell her name... alyssa? alissa? 9lb 5oz
20 inches

Fall Women's Study STARTS tuesday

10:45am at stankunas' house
y'all come, all women welcome
kim pendley introducing PERSON OF JESUS study

Sunday at Oak Hall when Christ Community Gathers

alot going on...
9am Prayer Meeting focused on Katrina follow-up (see below for details)
EVERYONE is welcome in the media center/library...
10am Lord's Supper service, kickoff of new series Being Changed by Seeing Jesus Anew, or something like that.


9am in media center:

9:00-9:10 summary of information on our Katrina response

9:10-9:40 prayer

So it is more of a prayer meeting that will contain some information, rather than an information meeting that will have a prayer at the end.

2 Corinthians 3:18

--Kistemaker commenting on "we are being transformed"...
The verb is in the present tense and passive in voice, which means that transformation is a process with an implied agent doing this work in us.

The Greek verb is metamorphousthai (to be transformed)

made me think of CS Lewis' words in Mere Xnity:
Did you ever think, when you were a child, what fun it would be if your toys could come to life? Well suppose you could really have brought them to life.
Imagine turning a tin soldier into a real little man. It would involve turning the tin into flesh. And suppose the tin soldier did not like it. He is not interested in flesh; all he sees is that the tin is being spoilt. He thinks you are killing him. He will do everything he can to prevent you He
will not be made into a man if he can help it.

For you are no longer thinking simply about right and wrong; you are trying to catch the good infection from a Person. It is more like painting a portrait than like obeying a set of rules. And the odd thing is that while in one way it is much harder than keeping rules, in another way it is far easier.

The real Son of God is at your side. He is beginning to turn you into the same kind of thing as Himself. He is beginning, so to speak, to 'inject' His kind of life and thought, His Zoe, into you; beginning to turn the tin soldier into a live man. The part of you that does not like it is the part that is still tin.

also...Kistemaker:
We know that Jesus, who changes our lives, is the wellspring of our transformed inner being. This change occurs through the working of the Holy Spirit (see v. 17). “Our whole transformation is the work of the Lord in and by and through the Spirit.” RCH Lenski

Hurricane Katrina — A typical House — The Remains

This is the kind of cleanup help people will need.

New Website where you can sign up

to house a displaced person or a family, you can choose a family who is a part of one of our sister PCA churches, if you wishPCA Relief -- Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response

A Marathon, not a Sprint

That’s what World Vision said about Tsunami relief - it would be long-term. We need to think the same way about New Orleans.

Urban Onramps:

Prayer Requests from Desire Street in New Orleans

Pray for the safe relocation of our staff and the children and families we serve. Pray families that have been separated will be reunited and find their loved ones alive and in good health.
Pray that the looting and violence in New Orleans will come under control and that those still in our community and city will be evacuated quickly and safely.
Pray for our senior staff as they make critical decisions about how best to serve our community, a community now spread across many states.
Pray we are able to find a location to restart Desire Street Academy as a boarding school. This is one of our highest priorities as we move forward beyond immediate recovery.
Pray that the love of Christ will shine through our ministry and that God would bring true hope during this time of great despair.

while jogging y'day...

... this: song came on my Ipod and i wondered if it might be on the lips of those suffering along gulf coast

"You speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I’m waiting on the crumbs from your table

Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die
Three to a bed
Sister Ann, she said
Dignity passes by"

an example of The Connected Church at Work

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response Summit Meeting - byFaith Online

Katrina Friday Morning Misc.

several things today
1. YOU CAN BRING STUFF SUNDAY
There is a group leaving after church sunday to spend Sunday thru Thursday doing debris removal and necessity distribution in Biloxi, Mississippi. Please bring
~non-perishable food items that don't require can opener
~hygiene necessities (diapers too!)
~lightweight clothing, it is hot (doesn't have to be new, can be used)
(I need someone to volunteer to help coordinate the stuff that comes in and getting it to the people leaving... robp AT christcommunitychurch DOT com

2. Update on needs of our church in uptown New Orleans, i was involved in RUF at Miss.State with pastor's wife (fyi this is also the congregation that Danny Wuerffel? was involved with)
Please pray for the rescue of several people from Jeffrey’s congregation who are apparently “trapped” in flooded areas/buildings and unable to leave: Paul Verret, a female nurse, and an elderly man.

Please pray for the restoration of law and order in New Orleans since this is a serious obstacle to the rescue workers continuing their search.

Please pray for Jeffrey’s family who are moving to Memphis temporarily: his three children (Lucy, Jeffrey, and Bedon) are seeking to enroll in Memphis area schools and have their interviews tomorrow. Jeffrey and Cathy are especially concerned that their children can be re-settled quickly with a minimum amount of difficulty; they earnestly seek prayer for their children during this time.

Please pray for wisdom for Jeffrey and Cathy as they seek to care for each other, their children and the Redeemer-New Orleans congregation.

3. From the Desire Street webpage:

Latest Information
Thank you for your prayers during this very difficult time. We hope to update our site as often as possible in the coming months to keep you posted on our staff and the children and families of Desire and the surrounding communities.

Our staff members are almost all accounted for and are living with friends and family from California to Florida, but most remain between Houston and Atlanta. Many staff evacuated with youth from the community and will serve as surrogate families for the time being. We are working hard to locate everyone and provide them with resources.

We are establishing a hub of operations in the Atlanta area and are working to relocate as many children and families as possible. Churches and individuals have offered many resources, from housing and supplies to funds and ready workers. We are very grateful and hope to corral these resources to impact the families we are called to serve.

As you know, it will be quite some time before we can get back into the city of New Orleans to start any type of recovery process. In the short term, we are working with World Relief, an agency that has access to the city. In the long term, we look forward to linking arms with the body of Christ as we work to rebuild our community.

Our greatest immediate needs are for prayers and funding. We are determined to keep as many of our staff members as possible, so operational support is critical. Job descriptions will certainly change, but our calling to minister to the children and families of Desire remains the same.

5. This is from a guy like us, member of pca church in gulfport--(i think we were in the same church as children--believe it or not!) The reality is beginning to set in for us. Holly has been amazingly strong but tonight while working on some FEMA documentation she began to break down. I am still numb/cold. But I am beginning to come to grips with the fact that we may be financially kaput. We have been cared for in so many ways by so many people. Our hearts are warmed and comforted by the outpouring of support. But we are afraid. The coming months will become a great test of faith and endurance.

Again, I cannot begin to thank all of you who are finding ways to help us. The show of love and kindness and compassion is truly remarkable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. -Batch Batchelder

Sure some of the relief money will wind up going to those who have wrongly looted and seem 'demanding' on TV. But i believe 95% of your $$ and donations is going to people like Batch and his family.


--more to come, Rob

"We're All Homeless" -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Shares in its City's Suffering

brief story here

New info

Bill Larson, has a large, enclosed trailer (~30ft.) that he is wanting to fill up with supplies for the relief effort for New Orleans.
they are taking donations to fill this trailer up.

-light weight clothing

-non-perishable food

-necessities
The trailer will be at our service at Oak Hall on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11. If you need to make arrangements to drop things off before then... call bill.

Bill Larson: 352-213-5040(cell) 352-378-5025(work)

katrina relief update

Dear Friends,

We have all watched with horror the various tragedies of the past week. People are suffering and need help. The elders sent money to the relief effort from our mercy fund earlier this week. We’re also receiving donations today that we’ll direct towards New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. For now, it appears that the best way we can help them in the long run is to fund ministry in their midst until the community’s rebuild - which could be years. We’ll let you know as things grow clearer. For now, Christ Community are represented in the area by people helping stage relief efforts from Jackson and Biloxi. It appears that you will be able to physically go and help anytime you want in the next weeks and months. We will seek to organize at least a couple of trips in the coming month.


Your best method of staying updated is www.robpendley.blogspot.com and christcommunitychurch.com



God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

--William Cowper, 1731-1800

Our Mississippi Family is Fine

Friends, many of you have kindly inquired about the recent destruction in mississippi. Kim's family and mine are safe in their homes. No power but plenty of thanksgiving. Thanks for caring.

The overwhelming pictures and news of this storm can tempt us to forget the personal nature of it for thousands of people. So, I put this together from emails i've received:

Jeffrey Lancaster, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, and his family have lost everything they own. His words, however, were inspiring:

"Pray for us, these are very bizarre times. My life has wildly changed, but my God has not – I’m thankful for our rock."

Mo Leverett, also a PCA minister and friend of many in Christ Community, heads up one of the most effective inner city ministries in America, “Desire Street Ministries”, named after the Desire Street housing project. It is located in Ward 9, which is completely under water and one of the hardest hit areas. Mo and his family are safe, but like Jeffrey, they have likely lost everything they own, and the ministry of Desire Street will have lost everything it owns as well.

Reports are that many Desire Street families are at Twin Lakes Camp outside of Jackson Mississippi. They are there as guests of 1st Presbyterian Church of Jackson.

Katrina and Christ Community

The elders have begun discussions about how we will respond as a congregation to this great tragedy.

For certain we'll be partnering with Faith Presbyterian and perhaps Seven Rivers Presbyterian to send physical relief help, when that time arrives.

Visit here daily for updates.

From Our Mission to North America Disaster Relief Department

MNA - Working Together To Transform North America: "Hurricane Katrina – August 30, 2005 Update

As we continue to follow the news from New Orleans, reports tell us of increasing flooding and loss of life continues to grow. Accordingly, we are realizing the need to respond at a level unlike any previous natural disasters in recent history in North America.

Within the next few days, Mission to North America will gather a group of PCA key leaders from Louisiana and Mississippi to make plans for relief efforts. Mission to the World has also graciously offered to seek involvement from those who normally assist with disaster response overseas.

We seek your active involvement:

Prayer: For those whose family and friends have died in the storms. For those who are left without homes to return to. For all who will have to rebuild their lives and their homes and recover from their losses. For God’s leading to us, as we look for the best ways to serve and to testify of God’s mercy and grace in these difficult times.



Volunteers: Ron and Judy Haynes will coordinate PCA volunteer efforts. Over time, all types of skills and time commitments will be welcome. Please register on the MNA web site, or send an email to rhaynes@pcanet.org, or call them at 636 299 1424.



Financial Donations: we anticipate great financial needs, both for the expenses of relief operations and for direct assistance to PCA families. Please prayerfully consider making a generous financial contribution. Checks should be made to MNA, designated for Hurricane Relief. You may also donate by credit card on the MNA web site, or by sending your credit card donation information in writing to MNA.



Donations of food, clothes, etc: for now, make these kinds of donations to other organizations who are making appeals for them in your area. If we later seek specific types of donations, we will let you know. "

this week's sermon text...& a comment

2 Corinthians 3:12-18: "The word katoptrizesqai, it is true, has a double signification among the Greeks, for it sometimes means to hold out a mirror to be looked into, and at other times to look into a mirror when presented. 23 The old interpreter, however, has correctly judged, that the second of these is the more suitable to the passage before us. I have accordingly followed his rendering. 24 Nor is it without good reason, that Paul has added a term of universality -- 'We all,' says he; for he takes in the whole body of the Church. It is a conclusion that suits well with the doctrine stated previously -- that we have in the gospel a clear revelation from God. As to this, we shall see something farther in the fourth chapter.

He points out, however, at the same time, both the strength of the revelation, and our daily progress. 25 For he has employed such a similitude to denote three things: first, That we have no occasion to fear obscurity, when we approach the gospel, for God there clearly discovers to us His face; 26 secondly, That it is not befitting, that it should be a dead contemplation, but that we should be transformed by means of it into the image of God; and, thirdly, that the one and the other are not accomplished in us in one moment, but we must be constantly making progress both in the knowledge of God, and in conformity to His image, for this is the meaning of the expression -- from glory to glory."

Calvin on 2 corinthians 3-18

2 Corinthians 3:12-18:

from our disaster relief people

Before we move in to help, we have to have contact with our churches to know the damage, to know where we can stage so we can bring in our volunteers.
To volunteer please send email inquiries to rhaynes AT pcanet DOT org
Please be patient as we continue to assess the needs for volunteers.

Words from "Young Adult" Community Group

"There is a new Bible study group starting this week, creatively entitled the "Young Adults Group." We are really excited about the new group - many of us don't know each other well yet, so it is a great time to join. At this point, it looks like we have a nice mix of singles and couples, and a nice variety of ages among "young adults" (by the way, if you think of yourself as a "young adult" then, as far as we're concerned, you are!). We hope this group can be a source of fellowship for many of the young adults in our midst who are either working, grad students, professional students, or others who are no longer part of "student ministries" or who would like a church-based group in addition to their student ministry participation.

For those interested, our first meeting is (and future weekly meetings will be) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. We meet at Rob and Sarah Hamersma's house, 2631 NW 33rd Place (feel free to call us at 352-376-1471 if you need directions) . We'll have dessert first, with some time for chatting and meeting people, and then we'll do our first study. We are going to be studying Nehemiah, using J.I. Packer's book "A Passion for Faithfulness." Since we don't have the books yet, we are going to start out this week by having a discussion of the general story and context of Nehemiah. We've asked people to read or skim the book of Nehemiah so that you can assemble any questions or thoughts that might be helpful in the discussion. We look forward to seeing many of you there!"

The Holy Spirit and the Last Days

article by a great teacher, for those of you spending time on this issue right nowKerux...The Online Journal of Biblical Theology

Market Street Pub Men's Group

will begin meeting again on Tuesday September 6th... Larry Eubanks & billy Crow are contacts for that

I just got this note about KATRINA

Please contact your congregations and ask for volunteers who may be wiling to
go for a few days to the disaster area and volunteer. For those who cannot go
and offer personal aid, please also consider asking for financial contributions
to help the victims and help fund those who can go and transport goods or offer
service. If anyone wants to make financial contributions please encourage them
to make contributions to your churches and then in turn you can send the funds
on to Pinewood PCA but please include a note or clear identification that the
funds are to be used for "Disaster Relief". As you can imagine, one major
expense is going to be fuel cost to transport the goods needed by those in this
disaster. Pinewood already has a trailer loaded with goods that wil be taken
over as soon as the authorities will allow. --from the Disaster Relief committee of The North Florida Presbytery (of which Christ community is a mission)
more later...

Katrina and Youth Workers

In the flurry of people speaking this morning i neglected to pray about Hurrican Katrina. As i write this it seems poised to strike the Miss/La/Alabama coast. Please join me in praying that God would have mercy and that people would be given faith and strength. We will respond in some way. You can keep an eye on this website for ways you can be of help.

http://www.pca-mna.org/disaster%20ministries/disaster.htm


On another note, Christ Community is rich with good people who want to pour into the lives of youth and children. This is a great gift. Pray for their effectiveness and for the word of God to increase in and through our youth and children.

all FRESHMEN are invited to lunch at Lammers

Sunday at Christ Community

Promises to be a wonderful day together. There is Sunday School teacher training at 8:45am in the Media Center (Library).

Small Group Training in Room 11.

At 10am we worship in the theater. CHildren's church will be offered to kindergarten thru grade 2. Older than grade 2? Then you're gonna hear Steve Lammers preaching on Psalm 23.

Club 45 leadership team meets at 5pm at church house.

(Our "normal" sunday schedule returns Sept 11)

A Different Understanding of Friends

Friends, it is clear from Jesus' words in John 15, are those who are loved RATHER than those who love. --BB Warfield, from an amazing article i'm reading called
THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF OUR LORD

Lewis & Tolkien avoided the "Christian Ghetto"

When C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien decided nobody was writing good children's stories any more, they set out to write the best ones anywhere and they did. It wouldn't have occurred to them to retreat to a default role as "Christian children's book writers." They were both Christians who could write and so they wrote the best stuff they could and brought it to the open market.--Dick Staub

So excited

This fall on sunday mornings i'll be preaching on the person of Jesus. Here's an old hymn that--if read reflectively--can get you excited about dwelling upon our Savior.

1. The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

2. His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3. For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4. I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

A Yet to be Named Group

is having a BBQ sunday from 1pm until...

Led by Rob & Sarah Hammersma they are inviting all types, particularly post-university twentysomethings.

For more info contact Rob or Sarah at sarah.hamersma AT cba DOT ufl.edu
or rhamersma AT hotmail DOT com

open house 

open house for "church house" was a blast yesterday... thanks to Jason & Mandi Tovey and others who helped! 

Introducing Club 45

A place for 4th and 5th graders to come together monthly to

Learn
Grow
Have fun


AGENDA:
~Boys & Girls Small Group Bible Study
~Games



DATES

September 11th Club 45 4:30-6:30pm

October 9th Club 45

November 13th Club 45

All 2nd Sundays so far

December 11th or 18th, depending on Christmas


Interested in being on the servant/leader team?

Planning Meeting will be Sunday August 28th at 5:30pm—6:30pm at the Church House

Better than coffee?

If you are like me it is difficult to start day w/out the fruit of heaven--coffee! Yet Martin Luther had a good idea:
"In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say: 'God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen." Further directions follow: say the Apostles Creed, pray the Lord's Prayer. … Then "you are to go to your work joyfully."

I guess this could be done with coffee in hand.

SUNDAY 10am...
Park Far Away
Sit Towards Middle
Expect to receive

You were created for community

In their book Resident Aliens, Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon say that, "American Christians have fallen into the bad habit of acting as if the church really does not matter as we go about trying to live like Christians." I think they present a valid critique of the way many Christians today view their role in the church. The importance of the church in the life of the Christian could scarcely be overestimated. The church forms community that provides the support and authority necessary for individual believers ultimately to be successful in their Christian lives. Those Protestants who downplay the importance of the church may well have taken the Reformation ideal of sola scriptura too far. For while Scripture is the only infallible guide to Christian faith and life, it is clear from those Scriptures that the church is to function as the community which binds believers together into the Body of Christ, and serves as a moral and spiritual authority—though not infallible—in the life of the Christian. It is true that the church—or more precisely, various local congregations—have often failed to function as the community they were intended to be. As a result many believers have felt hurt and absented themselves from that community. While this sort of hurt is understandable as a human response to an imperfect church, it does not excuse those believers who have been hurt from participation in the community. Each of us must continually remind ourselves that we are members of the Body of Christ because of who we are, not because of the benefits we obtain from that membership. Indeed, participation in the community of God is something for which humans were created; to the extent that we do not participate in the community, we fail to fulfill one of the purposes for our existence. And when we do not enjoy the community for which we were created, we are often tempted to look elsewhere for what prove to be poor substitutes.

great question

"Ellis Potter, a Zen Buddhist who became a Christian and a worker at Francis Schaeffer’s Christian retreat center, L’Abri, was fond of posing a thought experiment. Imagine asking ten non-Christians this question: “If you converted to Christianity today, do you think your life would be larger, fuller, richer, more attractive and creative, more involved with the people, circumstances, art, and culture around you? Or do you think your life would be smaller, narrower, more withdrawn, judgmental, and negative, less winsome and creative, less involved with the people, art, circumstances, and culture around you?”" found in an article on the life & music of johnny cash
Johnny Cash: Clouded by Pain, Colored by Grace :

Good News from Mississippi

Redeemer Presbyterian Church: Crossing Racial Divides - byFaith Online

Community

While i've been thinking about spiritual friendship in the recent past... these lines from U2 seem to get at something very true about biblical fellowship.

Tough, you think you’ve got the stuff
You’re telling me and anyone
You’re hard enough

You don’t have to put up a fight
You don’t have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Gathering for Women

tonite at Kelly MacGregor's... to hang out and create note cards & envelopes that are used to make a written contact from the church leadership a bit more unique...

372-5204

The Mark of the Christian - Francis Schaeffer

This is more a booklet than book. Truly perspective-altering.

Called together for a purpose

“Cotton Mather’s idea was to see clusters of believers who ‘would now and then spend half an hour together by themselves, in considering on that question, WHAT GOOD IS THERE TO BE DONE?’. His goal was that every believer be encouraged to develop an eye for human need, to see ‘who is any special adversity; and what shall be done to help “Our union with the Messiah and his desire to continue his earthly ministry by living his life through us are so strong that we may be said to share his three offices of leadership. We are priests as we pray for those near us and draw
them into the sphere of God’s mercy and blessing. We are prophets as we hold a biblicalstraightedge against whatever is crooked around us. And we are kings as we use whatever powers we have to straighten what is crooked, reshaping whatever falls within the scope of our responsibility until it reflects the order of heaven.” --Richard F. Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life, p. 168
19 Serving--Developing Mercy Ministries.pdf (application/pdf Object)

enda da summa

Well, the end of the summer is here. Sunday should be a great day of seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Couple of reminders.

Parking... will be an issue for us for the next months. I want to strongly encourage those who are physically able to park AS FAR AWAY as possible. No martyrs, please. If you are older, handicapped, or with young children... park close... park in the round circle drive that goes around the fountain.

Our 9:00am Sunday School classes are still NOT HAPPENING. They will return, with a tan and a new attitude, on September 11.
I know some of you have special training classes this Sunday. THOSE are on and childcare will be provided.
10:00am worship in the theatre... your arrival in the room by 9:59 would be so wonderfully helpful. Sitting towards the front and middle would be the cherry on top.

Think on this:
You too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ

These People

In my youth I was moving from city to city, going from school to school. I was given gatherings of people to study with, work with, play with--but it was fairly transient. And then it no longer was transient (when my education and preparation were done)---this was it. A congregation, improbably named the people of God. These people, for good or ill, but these people. --Eugene Peterson, on "Community" in the book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

The 6 Defeaters

A couple of years ago several young professionals in Manhattan were gathered to create a list. A list that answers the question: What are the main reasons you are not a Christian? After much discussion and pruning, being led by a faithful Christian... they came up with these:

1. There cannot be one religion that is right and the others are wrong.
2. There is too much evil and suffering in the world.
3. Human choice is too sacred. If I yield to any authority outside myself, I feel like I have given up some of what makes me human. I must decide my own ethics.
4. The record of Christians. Crusades, inquisitions, racism, need i go on?
5. I cannot believe in and love a god who demands a blood sacrifice before he can accept me. Sounds like divine child abuse, doesn't it?
6. The bible. An individual or culture embracing the bible's teaching will be regressive. Especially in issues of Race, gender, and sexuality

Do any of these resonate with you? Have you heard similar from your friends, family, co-workers?

When things don't go the way they should,
God always makes them turn for good. --Bill Piper

new community group launching sunday

A community group meeting in the SouthWest starts meeting this sunday evening. Billy & Lorall Crow live just off Archer Road and invite you to come Sunday. Call them with questions 495-3525

Upcoming Open House

Sunday August 21st, immediately after the worship service at Oak Hall... plan to drive to the new church property on Parker Road for an Open House. 8/21/2005

10am tomorrow morning... Lord's Supper together

our 9am hour is still NOT HAPPENING... turn off the tv, read/pray/talk during this "extra" hour you have at home

Quiet Before the Storm

In the next couple of weeks tens of thousands of humans (mostly 18-23) will be coming to Gainesville.

I've been praying that God would make Christ Community and the entire Church of Gainesville would welcome them and seek to be a place of grace and truth during their time in our fair city. Join me.

On that note, ask yourself this question:
"What is stopping me from asking one of these students to join me and my family for lunch?"
If you aren't satisfied with your response, I'd suggest you walk up and issue an invitation. There should be plenty of opportunities beginning August 14.

Sunday

SUnday we'll look at what was happening to make Jesus be sorrowful, even to death.

Then we will eat and drink to celebrate what He accomplished. Please think on this.

ESV Bible Online: Passage: Mark 14:22-42: "�My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.� [2] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him."

Prayer

on this 1st wednesday of month... remember to pray for advance of God's Kingdom in and thru Christ Community
also
1. A minister on the staff of one of our churches in Jax (Jan Werson of Christ Church on St. Augustine Road) lost his 28 yr old daughter this week. She was tragically killed while jogging. Support the family in prayer please.
2. I speak at Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting on campus tonite. Partner with me by praying for God's Spirit to fill me.
3. Melissa Pope has arrived for the purpose of loving the Chinese people and teaching them English. PRay for her adjustment.

One more thing, if you (or someone you know), needs a free fridge, contact valerie payne
valpayne AT ufl DOT edu

Also, y'days quote was from Bono of U2.

40 points to the one who guesses correctly

Without googling this... who do you think might have said it?

"Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: 'I'm the Messiah.' I'm saying: 'I am God incarnate.' . . . So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. . . . The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's farfetched."

Thoughtful Lecture

If you are a listener to online audio AND interested in faithfulness to God in serving in this "postmodern" day... I think you'd be strengthened by the lecture on this page:
Entitled
"July 12, 2005
Family Bible Conference
Dr. Richard Pratt
Postmodernism Seminar
(62:17)
"

A problem or an opportunity?

There will be no corporate gathering to pray tomorrow. We've been offering gatherings at Hope Church and church office but won't be tomorrow. Please consider carving out a few minutes, between sundown tonite and sundown Wednesday, to pray for the advance of the Kingdom of God in and through Christ Community Church.
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done...

Sunday We Eat

Institution of the Lord's Supper

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the [1] covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
ESV Bible Online: Passage: mark 14:22-25

Spurgeon was helpful this morning

This morning i took my copy of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening out on the back porch with my coffee. Here's what he said that helped me. Perhaps you will be strengthened by God thru Spurgeon as well.

"Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: 'He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.' Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now?" CHS

Rest of devotionala>:

Land Purchase Nearing

Monday August 15: We close on the house + 3.8 acres on Parker Road

Sunday August 21: Immediately after the service at Oak Hall, drive around the corner to eyeball our new facilities on Parker Road. We're having an open house!

Celebrating fact that we then will own almost 9 acres plus a 2000 square foot house from which to do ministry.

Sunday at Christ Community

10 am Worship at Oak Hall (not 10:10 as those vicious rumors assert)
Parking, ugh. Remember those who are able might see just how far away they can park, saving those precious nearby spaces for elderly, those with young children, extremely lazy, etc.

Our 9am classes are on sabbatical for a few more weeks.


Here is a poet who would appreciate Acts 14, I think.
Totally like whatever, you know?
By Taylor Mali


In case you hadn't noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you're talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you're saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)'s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren't, like, questions? You know?

Declarative sentences - so-called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not -
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don't think I'm uncool just because I've noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It's like what I've heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I'm just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?

What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we've just gotten to the point where it's just, like . . .
whatever!

And so actually our disarticulation . . . ness
is just a clever sort of . . . thing
to disguise the fact that we've become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since . . .
you know, a long, long time ago!

I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.

Consecration

Consecration. This word came up in our weekly elders prayer/meeting/discussion time this morning. We are hoping to clarify this for you in coming weeks during the worship service. Here's my first pass at it.

Having confessed our sin TO God and being reminded BY God of the finished work of Jesus Christ FOR us... we consecrate ourselves TO God. Meaning we say simply, "We are yours. We will be yours. You have us. Your kingdom come, in my life and through my life."

John Calvin, who gets a rap for being some unemotional inventer of the doctrine of election had a personal seal (as did many in his day). And it sounds like a 21st century praise song
"I offer you my heart, Lord, promptly and sincerely."

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it... seal it for Thy courts above.

Rob: "No. Seriously... you couldn't have beat me. My watch must be broken. Plus my leg is seriously injured."

Sharon: "Whatever."

The Great Work of God: Rain

In our text this week (acts 14) Paul mentions to a group of people unfamiliar with the work of God through His people Israel.... that God's witness to Himself had been "good things" like rain. That made me remember this tremendous meditation on the miracle Rain: Here's a portion:
"Well, if one inch of rain falls on one square mile of farmland during the night, that would be 27,878,400 cubic feet of water, which is 206,300,160 gallons, which is 1,650,501,280 pounds of water.
That's heavy. So how does it get up in the sky and stay up there if it's so heavy? Well, it gets up there by evaporation. Really? That's a nice word. What's it mean? It means that the water sort of stops being water for a while so it can go up and not down. I see. Then how does it get down? Well, condensation happens. What's that? The water starts becoming water again by gathering around little dust particles between .00001 and .0001 centimeters wide. That's small."

Intro to Christ Community Church Seminar

The next Intro to Christ Community Church Seminar will be held September 22, 29 and October 6.

DVD of Christ Community

"Listen, why don't you just take this DVD. It is an overview of what you can expect at my church. It only lasts about 5 minutes, tops."

Several months ago a task force commissioned by the elders recommended that Christ Community develop a DVD that would "hasten the 1st visit" of a neighbor/friend/co-worker/family/new resident
known and loved by a Christ Communityite.

This morning I had the privilege of previewing that DVD. In a little while you will be blown away too.

Feeling Constrained By Grace

"And never does the sinner find within himself so mighty a moral transformation, as when under the belief that he is saved by grace, he feels constrained thereby to offer his heart a devoted thing, and to deny ungodliness." --Thomas Chalmers

My 4 year old saying Lord's Prayer

Because because because

Remember the song in Wizard of Oz. Weird that i'd think of that while reading the scripture. The point is ... look at WHY the psalmist consecrates himself to God by declaring his love for God and his intention to trust him the rest of his life.... because God has heard him. Because God gave mercy. Because God cupped His holy hand over His ear and LISTENED. And so shall I. And so shall you.

"I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live."
ESV Bible Online: Passage: Psalm 116:

House on Parker Road

Everything is progressing well for Christ Community to purchase the home and 3.8 acres on Parker Road on Monday August 15. We have not obtained the green light from the city to move our offices there (though we've been counseled NOT to expect problems). Besides strategically thinking about how best to use the space, we're working with the church calendar to set up a good time for the congregation to see the house and dedicate the house/property to God's glory.

new way of seeing

if all the unchurched people in the U.S. were to establish their own country, they would form the eleventh most populated nation on the planet.'

Larger excerpt...
Since the mid-1990s, the conversation among young pastors has evolved from reaching Generation X, to ministering in a postmodern culture, to a more mature and profitable investigation of what a movement of missionaries would look like, missionaries sent not from America to another nation but from America to America. This "reformission" is a radical call to reform the church's traditionally flawed view of missions as something carried out only in foreign lands and to focus instead on the urgent need in our own neighborhoods, which are filled with diverse cultures of Americans who desperately need the gospel of Jesus and life in his church. Most significant, they need a gospel and a church that are faithful both to the scriptural texts and to the cultural contexts of America. The timing of this reformission is critical. George Barna has said, "The first and most important statistic is that there are a lot of Americans who don't go to church—and their numbers are increasing. The figure has jumped from just 21 percent of the population in 1991 to 33 percent today. In fact, if all the unchurched people in the U.S. were to establish their own country, they would form the eleventh most populated nation on the planet."

What I am advocating is not an abandonment of missions across the globe but rather an emphasis on missions that begin across the street, like Jesus commanded (Acts 1:8).

http://www.christiancounterculture.com/articles/reachingout.html
link

They shook off the dust from their feet...

"their dust-shaking ceremony previewed the day when God himself will make an utter separation between those who have fled to him for refuge and those who have fled from him in rebellion. In a terrifying prelude to the final division, Jesus instructed his emissaries to give certain cities what they wanted: to withdraw the indicting and saving word of God from them." Dennis Johnson on Acts 13:51

If you need to cheat a little

Sunday Night at 6:30 we'll meet to discuss Pilgrim's Progress and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Here's some help.SparkNotes: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: Plot Overview
Come whether you've read the books or not. Great activity planned for children as well. 6:30pm Hope Church (Tower & SW 20th Ave)

The Streetchild Ministry of Our Connected Church

http://www.streetchildinternational.org/

Gospel Economics

It is always a good spiritual discipline
to reflect on the topic referenced
by Jesus more than
(almost) any other – Money.

We believe ALL of life
can only be properly understood
when viewed through the lens of
the gospel. It is only when we
understand our material possessions
in light of Christ’s sacrifi-
cial love for us that we can truly
have a healthy relationship
towards our material possessions.
Whose Money is It?
Historically there have been
several views on wealth and
property that influence our attitudes
today. Early Greek writings
reflect a view that money is
community property and should
be shared equally. Only in the
absolute redistribution of wealth
could a utopian society be
achieved. In sharp contrast to
this view was the Roman philosophy
that individuals had
absolute rights over their money
and property. Echoes of this
view are seen in our modern
capitalistic economy, and in our
tendency to bristle when the
topic of ‘our finances’ are discussed
in any kind of open
forum. A third view, as taught in
Scripture, is that we have a
‘qualified right’ over money and
property. In other words, God
has the ultimate ownership but
we have stewardship of our
money, property, and talents.
This view is radical in that it
teaches that we have been given
personal wealth and talents, but
that these gifts are to be invested
in God’s priorities.

Why is Money a “Problem”?
Understanding that all of our
possessions are actually on loan

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!"

Sunday at Christ Community

10am worship in the theatre at Oak Hall
(PARKING continues to be a problem due to Oak Hall's work... you who are able should park farther away to allow easier parking for visitors and those who physically need it, thanks!)

Risk the Rain

I am aware that storm clouds are gathering.

Let that not stop you from driving to Kanapaha Park for the picnic. We still hope to eat and fellowship.