Monday, May 26, 2008
Life @ the Park-Memorial Day 08'
Enjoy the pics from our 3rd annual - Life @ the Park. IT WAS A BLAST!
Every year it gets bigger and better and this year was no exception. Thank you to all who came out and just had fun. It was so relaxing to sit down with old and new friends.
If you have a favorite moment, then please take time to share that with us and post a comment.
BTW....my favorite moment was when the adults SMASHED the youth in volleyball. What's that I smell? A SKUNK! Maybe next year youngsters?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Water Baptism (June 15th)
Hey LC family,In a few weeks we will be celebrating water baptism. This is a great opportunity for any person who has entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ to take the next step and follow his example in water baptism. If you are interested in taking this next step be sure to email or call Pastor Rich at (319) 594-0837 / pastor.rich@LifeChurchNow.org. There will be a short baptism orientation the week before for any person being baptized on the 15th.
Forgiveness
Check out our latest Life Church video on forgiveness. We got the idea from a Church in DC and personalized it a little.
Bottom of the Sea from LIFEchurchnow.org on Vimeo.
Bottom of the Sea from LIFEchurchnow.org on Vimeo.
God, you love too much!
At Life Church we have adopted an ethos statement that goes like this,
"Mission is why we exist and Love is the context."
We affirm strongly that the Church is an organic representation of God with the express purpose of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. We have a mandate from Jesus to take this message to the ends of the earth. The second half of this statement explains the method or the context. Jesus once said,
"the world will know that you are my disciples by your love for each other."
This past weekend we talked about Jonah and how he didn't buy this idea that God loves everybody. In the story of Jonah God's grace extended even to the brutal Assyrians. This angered Jonah that God would be so merciful and forgiving.
One of the major themes from scripture that we as a faith community have sought to fully embrace and practice is God's unending love for all of humankind. To reach out with compassion and care to those who are broken, lost and maybe even antagonistic toward Christianity. This communal practice starts with individual commitment. I want to challenge all of us to spend the next few days meditating on God's love and then intentionally live it out in our circles of influence. We can be difference makers (true disciples) by intentionally loving those around us.
It would be awesome if God was accused of loving too much when people experienced his love through us. May we be known by our love!
rgg
"Mission is why we exist and Love is the context."
We affirm strongly that the Church is an organic representation of God with the express purpose of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. We have a mandate from Jesus to take this message to the ends of the earth. The second half of this statement explains the method or the context. Jesus once said,
"the world will know that you are my disciples by your love for each other."
This past weekend we talked about Jonah and how he didn't buy this idea that God loves everybody. In the story of Jonah God's grace extended even to the brutal Assyrians. This angered Jonah that God would be so merciful and forgiving.
One of the major themes from scripture that we as a faith community have sought to fully embrace and practice is God's unending love for all of humankind. To reach out with compassion and care to those who are broken, lost and maybe even antagonistic toward Christianity. This communal practice starts with individual commitment. I want to challenge all of us to spend the next few days meditating on God's love and then intentionally live it out in our circles of influence. We can be difference makers (true disciples) by intentionally loving those around us.
It would be awesome if God was accused of loving too much when people experienced his love through us. May we be known by our love!
rgg
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Life @ the Park
Hey guys,This Memorial Day (May 26) Life Church will be celebrating our third annual Life @ the Park. Each year it has been an incredibly fun event. Lots of activities for all ages, lots of food and plenty of fun. Everyone is invited and we encourage you to bring a friend or two or ten. You don't want to miss this event. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know some people that you only see casually on Sunday. Check out some pictures of our previous Life @ the Park. Life @ the Park 07
Directions: Kent Park (map) - After entering Kent Park follow the signs to the Deer Run Shelter
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Following Jesus a.k.a. Discipleship
As I was reading Rich's previous post, I started thinking on how the term "discipleship" probably isn't easily accessible to those outside the church walls, or those we would call "seekers" (What's discipleship anyway??). For those of us who've been in the church a long time, we typically think of discipleship in terms of the process, the way one grows from a "baby" (Christian) to a "mature" believer, the way our faith is strengthened over time and through relationship with Christ, the way his transforming power in our lives begins to transcend, struggle by struggle, the conflict within ourselves and our relationships.
Discipleship programs often masquerade as the tool to get you from from point A to point Z in ten tidy steps, but the truth is, a series of discipleship classes will be just the jumping off point for a lifetime of following Jesus. A synonym for disciple is "follower," and following has no finite ending. That is, unless we turn away. So perhaps when we talk about discipleship classes for seekers, we're talking about something not unlike an orientation for a walkabout in the Outback. Here's the gear you'll need. You're tour guide's name is Jesus. Here's where to find water. (Don't touch the rattle snakes.)
Ever since I've been on the journey, I've sidled up to followers who've been walkign longer than I have. I want to learn whatever I can from them, get whatever help I can get along the way. For those who've only been following for a few days to a few months or years, a series of classes--really, hanging out with others on the journey and paying attention to the observations of a more experienced follower--could be quite helpful in navigating the Christ-trodden path and answering a follower's most important questions. Where does Christ go? What does he say? How does he get there? How do I do it too?
Discipleship programs often masquerade as the tool to get you from from point A to point Z in ten tidy steps, but the truth is, a series of discipleship classes will be just the jumping off point for a lifetime of following Jesus. A synonym for disciple is "follower," and following has no finite ending. That is, unless we turn away. So perhaps when we talk about discipleship classes for seekers, we're talking about something not unlike an orientation for a walkabout in the Outback. Here's the gear you'll need. You're tour guide's name is Jesus. Here's where to find water. (Don't touch the rattle snakes.)
Ever since I've been on the journey, I've sidled up to followers who've been walkign longer than I have. I want to learn whatever I can from them, get whatever help I can get along the way. For those who've only been following for a few days to a few months or years, a series of classes--really, hanging out with others on the journey and paying attention to the observations of a more experienced follower--could be quite helpful in navigating the Christ-trodden path and answering a follower's most important questions. Where does Christ go? What does he say? How does he get there? How do I do it too?
Discipleship at Life Church
Last year we talked about a paradigm for discipleship and growing in Jesus Christ. It was taken from Acts 2:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Without going into much detail four elements can be found in this passage:
rgg
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Without going into much detail four elements can be found in this passage:
- Seeker (spiritual dimension) - "everyone was filled with awe..."
- Learner (intellectual dimension) - "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."
- Influencer (relational dimension) - "All the believers were together..."
- Investor (financial dimension) - "had all things in common...and gave to anyone as he had need..."
rgg
Great Opportunity!
Since the beginning of 2008 we have had our eye on Life Church's kids ministry. We had been planning to raise the level of Kidmo by developing a stronger team of committed children's ministry workers. We thank God that Kriss Armento has taken on the challenge to lead this new endeavor. Please pray for her as she develops her team.
Recently a great opportunity has been made available to us. The Assemblies of God has guaranteed us $5000 in the form of a matching grant. We would have to raise $2500 and in turn they will give $2 for every $1 that we raise. These monies will be used to upgrade the Kidmo area with partitions, a new projector and screen, banners and other print material, sound equipment and additional curriculum. I am asking our Life Church community to consider giving toward our children's ministry. All it would take is for 25 individuals to give $100 each. We can do this. Help us create an atmosphere where our children can become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Recently a great opportunity has been made available to us. The Assemblies of God has guaranteed us $5000 in the form of a matching grant. We would have to raise $2500 and in turn they will give $2 for every $1 that we raise. These monies will be used to upgrade the Kidmo area with partitions, a new projector and screen, banners and other print material, sound equipment and additional curriculum. I am asking our Life Church community to consider giving toward our children's ministry. All it would take is for 25 individuals to give $100 each. We can do this. Help us create an atmosphere where our children can become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Wired
We had our first worship and prayer night (we call it Wired) on May 2nd and what a great time we had.
It was a lot of work to get everything setup and ready for the event, but I will say that is was all worth it. I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to Pastor Rich for all the help with setup.
I would love to continue doing this on a regular basis (once a month) for our own community of faith but for others as well. In the future, I would also love for other church leaders to be a part of leading worship and advocates for the prayer time. I don't know of another church in the area that is doing anything like it, so I'll be the catalyst.
I would love to hear from those who attended, any thoughts?
Chris Cary
Creative Arts Pastor
It was a lot of work to get everything setup and ready for the event, but I will say that is was all worth it. I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to Pastor Rich for all the help with setup.
I would love to continue doing this on a regular basis (once a month) for our own community of faith but for others as well. In the future, I would also love for other church leaders to be a part of leading worship and advocates for the prayer time. I don't know of another church in the area that is doing anything like it, so I'll be the catalyst.
I would love to hear from those who attended, any thoughts?
Chris Cary
Creative Arts Pastor
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