... Laugh at animals doing wierd things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0-lkl9TzsU
Have a great weekend BCSMers.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Parenting a New Generation
You want to attend the Parenting a New Generation class but can't make it to Midweek U?
You're in luck.
You now have two chances to attend!
The Parenting a New Generation class will be offered during first worship (9:30) , starting October 9th. The class will be lead by Grant and Trudy Pierron, and will meet in the Brown House.
The class will also still be offered during Midweek U starting Wednesday, October 5th.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Rejection.
ANGER.
This 5-letter word packs a mean punch. It carries so much weight. It does so much damage. Like a tornado ripping through your heart.
Anger is a powerful and complex emotion, with many causes: stress, impatience, unmet expectations, referees who couldn't see a pass-interference call if it was sitting in their lap... sorry... bitter memories.
Many sparks can ignite the flame of anger, but most often the fire that burns hottest is stoked out of rejection.
There are many stories of anger and rejection throughout God's Word.
The story of Cain and Abel is the first appearance of anger in the Bible. The Lord accepted Abel, but didn't accept Cain because of His dark heart and evil intentions. (Gen.4:4-5).
King Saul was rejected by his people when they started to favor the heroic, golden boy David over himself. (1 Samuel 18:7-8).
And Jonah. He had a whale of a problem with anger. (Sorry...couldn't resist). Jonah didn't believe that the Ninevites were worthy of mercy, but God did. When God poured out his limitless forgiveness on the people of Nineveh, He was actively rejecting Jonah's opinion, which initially displeased and angered Jonah. (Jonah 4:1).
Even Jesus, the human form of the eternal God, faced a constant slew of rejection. God sent His son to take our sins on His shoulders, to save the world - a real life superhero, and people rejected Him. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Matthew 21:42).
Rejection and anger aren't restricted to those old guys in their white robes and leather sandals. These are things that we deal with daily. You encounter rejection when you don't make the varsity cut. When you don't get the lead in the play that you wanted. When that girl you've been pursing for so long shoots you down. When your best friend finds someone else that they'd rather hang out with. Sometimes we even feel rejected by God. In the midst of trials and darkness, it's easy to think that God has forgotten you; that He's not listening and He doesn't have your back anymore.
But Christ feels your pain. He knows what rejection feels like; He's lived it. God's grace and love are exceptional in that it has no exceptions - God loves you no matter what and will never turn on you. If we think God is harsh and unfair, we will treat people harshly and unfairly. But when we discover that God has doused us with unconditional love, that should make a difference in how we regard people and situations.
"As you come to Him, the living Stone - rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to Him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy preisthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ... Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:4-5, 10).
Take your bitterness to God, who knows you better than anyone else and who understands your feelings. Leave your resentment at the Cross. When others reject you, let Christ accept you. He adores you. He sings over you. Take a long drink from His limitless love, and cool down.
This 5-letter word packs a mean punch. It carries so much weight. It does so much damage. Like a tornado ripping through your heart.
Anger is a powerful and complex emotion, with many causes: stress, impatience, unmet expectations, referees who couldn't see a pass-interference call if it was sitting in their lap... sorry... bitter memories.
Many sparks can ignite the flame of anger, but most often the fire that burns hottest is stoked out of rejection.
There are many stories of anger and rejection throughout God's Word.
The story of Cain and Abel is the first appearance of anger in the Bible. The Lord accepted Abel, but didn't accept Cain because of His dark heart and evil intentions. (Gen.4:4-5).
King Saul was rejected by his people when they started to favor the heroic, golden boy David over himself. (1 Samuel 18:7-8).
And Jonah. He had a whale of a problem with anger. (Sorry...couldn't resist). Jonah didn't believe that the Ninevites were worthy of mercy, but God did. When God poured out his limitless forgiveness on the people of Nineveh, He was actively rejecting Jonah's opinion, which initially displeased and angered Jonah. (Jonah 4:1).
Even Jesus, the human form of the eternal God, faced a constant slew of rejection. God sent His son to take our sins on His shoulders, to save the world - a real life superhero, and people rejected Him. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Matthew 21:42).
Rejection and anger aren't restricted to those old guys in their white robes and leather sandals. These are things that we deal with daily. You encounter rejection when you don't make the varsity cut. When you don't get the lead in the play that you wanted. When that girl you've been pursing for so long shoots you down. When your best friend finds someone else that they'd rather hang out with. Sometimes we even feel rejected by God. In the midst of trials and darkness, it's easy to think that God has forgotten you; that He's not listening and He doesn't have your back anymore.
But Christ feels your pain. He knows what rejection feels like; He's lived it. God's grace and love are exceptional in that it has no exceptions - God loves you no matter what and will never turn on you. If we think God is harsh and unfair, we will treat people harshly and unfairly. But when we discover that God has doused us with unconditional love, that should make a difference in how we regard people and situations.
"As you come to Him, the living Stone - rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to Him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy preisthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ... Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:4-5, 10).
Take your bitterness to God, who knows you better than anyone else and who understands your feelings. Leave your resentment at the Cross. When others reject you, let Christ accept you. He adores you. He sings over you. Take a long drink from His limitless love, and cool down.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Symphony
I love watching those segments on America's Funniest Home Videos where people get scared. You know, the guy jumping out of a trashcan, or popping up at a window wearing a Scream mask, or hiding in a locker waiting to shock the unknowing passerby.
Life is full of surprises - typically not the jump-out-of-a-dumpster kind or the there's-a-cat-in-your-mailbox kind; just the usual unexpected situations or events that sneak up on you daily. A pop quiz, or a phone call from a long lost friend, or some questionable medical test results; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Even though I like watching people get surprised, I've never been a huge fan of the unexpected.
But one thing that brings me peace in these times of discomfort and not knowing what lays ahead for me?
The fact that God has never been surprised.
Not once.
"I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." - Isaiah 45:7
No struggle will come your way apart from His purpose and permission.
Chance and luck are eliminated.
He superintends every circumstance in our lives and delights in doing us good.
God, the author of Creation, knows all and designs all. Not one leaf falls without His permission. That time your car didn't start? Yeah, He knew. That text that just made your day? Yeah, He wrote that into your story.
God wrote our symphony - now we're just following the chords.
Wow. Drink it in. Drink deeply from His Lordship.
Nothing comes your way that has not first passed through the filter of His love.
Nothing comes to me that hasn't passed through you.
God's ways are always right, even if they don't make sense to us. We may be thrown into some difficult, or uncomfortable, or painful situations, but they are right.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called to His purpose for them." - Romans 8:28
You make all things work together for my good.
Don't fear the unknown. Don't avoid the blind spots. God has authored every single word of your story.
Trust Him. Let the Lord of all reign in you today.
Life is full of surprises - typically not the jump-out-of-a-dumpster kind or the there's-a-cat-in-your-mailbox kind; just the usual unexpected situations or events that sneak up on you daily. A pop quiz, or a phone call from a long lost friend, or some questionable medical test results; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Even though I like watching people get surprised, I've never been a huge fan of the unexpected.
But one thing that brings me peace in these times of discomfort and not knowing what lays ahead for me?
The fact that God has never been surprised.
Not once.
"I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." - Isaiah 45:7
No struggle will come your way apart from His purpose and permission.
Chance and luck are eliminated.
He superintends every circumstance in our lives and delights in doing us good.
God, the author of Creation, knows all and designs all. Not one leaf falls without His permission. That time your car didn't start? Yeah, He knew. That text that just made your day? Yeah, He wrote that into your story.
God wrote our symphony - now we're just following the chords.
Wow. Drink it in. Drink deeply from His Lordship.
Nothing comes your way that has not first passed through the filter of His love.
Nothing comes to me that hasn't passed through you.
God's ways are always right, even if they don't make sense to us. We may be thrown into some difficult, or uncomfortable, or painful situations, but they are right.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called to His purpose for them." - Romans 8:28
You make all things work together for my good.
Don't fear the unknown. Don't avoid the blind spots. God has authored every single word of your story.
Trust Him. Let the Lord of all reign in you today.
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