Delivery tests

Well, you probably have figured out that I am experimenting with this
blog. That could explain why you may have gotten a bunch of
duplicate emails in your inbox the other day.

Well, hopefully that is all over. You should get, at most, one email
a day now with the days posts on the blog.

Hey, its your blog! Comment and write away! Its all open, I made it
that way on purpose.

I figure, why write something no one will read?

Yesterday

Well, yesterday was a good day. We had 8 in the class and Ryan came
in newly-graduated from High school. He is wanting to go into the
Air Force in just about a month or two and is already making plans to
do that, so be in prayer for him and lets make it a good couple of
months for him.

Also, Robert really did a good job teaching on commitment and how
Israel said that they were going to obey with their mouths in Joshua,
but really failed miserably when it came down to it in Judges. So, I
hope we will start to be more committed this week.

And I was glad to see Joel around. We all went out before and after
church and it was pretty fun. Melissa spent the weekend in North
Carolina with a friend, but should already be back by now. Watch out
for them. They are sly-trickster-slick salesmen, and if you let them
talk to you, you are going to end up with a security system for your
lawnmower. They are good. Too bad they are leaving at the end of
the summer. Maybe we can get them to stay.

I hope you are all excited about what God is doing and wants to do
with us. God is already starting to bless so I pray that you will
keep coming and working and learning. God has some amazing things
for us.....just wait, you'll see.

Tomorrow

Well, I am excited about all that is going on. Today the teens had a
big garage sale to raise money for their missions trip to Peru in
just a few weeks and the whole church was buzzing all day.

A couple of us went to invite people to the church and probably
invited over 100 or more just with the people i was with. Then I
went to try to eat sushi, but it was closed. Now, we are getting
ready for tomorrow, the vacation Bible school coming up, and trying
to think of ways to allow more people to hear the gospel through us.

Tomorrow, should be exciting. Robert will be teaching the class and
I know he will do a great job. Somebody will tell a little about
Kyrgyzstan, and we will find out some of the things going on this
week. I hope you will make sure you are there for it.

We should have a few people that havent been with us before in our
class, so considering all this, it should be a great day coming. Be
praying and working and we will see you in the morning!

Mental Stimulation, part 2...

maybe i can explain it a little better....

i guess it is really almost like a personality or curiosity or desire.  lets say X subject comes up.  you could ask what i think, and i could just give the correct answer. short and simple. or i could say, "ive really thought about X a lot, its funny that you ask me about that because i was just wondering about that and dont really understand it fully.  it seems like everyone is just skipping over this obvious point that comes up when you start to study it a little, you know?? have you ever thought about that?"  and you would answer, wow, i was kinda wondering the same thing, but didnt want to say anything..."  or somethign like that.

i am really not thinking about studying books only, i am talking about evaluating life, situations, people, circumstances, reactions, etc.  and finding out how i should then live.  so i can be fully persuaded in my own mind. 

i think this is one of the main areas that people probably miss it on relationships, and miss out on a lot.  two thinking people helping and stimulating the other to think.  staying out of the status quo.  recognizing mediocrity.  pointing out thoughts that are unchallenged and untested and strengthening them.

and, i think it is Biblical:

 - God asks us to search for Him and promises we will find him when we search with all our heart

 - If we look at the guy God used to be the apostle to the Jews, gave the keys to, chose to preach on Pentecost, it was the guy asking the questions and seeking out the answers.  arguing, questioning, and evaluating.  but as a result, passionate.

 - draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

He wants us to know Him, not facts.  so seek to know Him.  Ask the questions and have the courage to find the answers!

Mental Stimulation, Part 1

I have been thinking lately about relationships among ourselves and others and have been learning some things that i wanted you all to think about.  i have thought of 4 areas of a relationship:

  

    1. Spiritual - foundational, formational, and permeating all other levels of the relationship - most time should be spent strengthening this level!

    2. Mental - what we are talking about, thinking rightly

    3. Emotional - very real, but mainly dependent on what happens in the other areas 

    4. Physical - an obvious one.

but then there is the one i am wondering about.....mental stimulation.  i thought about how to describe it a lot before i wrote this and i think "stimulation" is the best word to use.  i want to provoke you to think, and i want you to provoke me to think.  "iron sharpeneth iron..."

but it that requires two people that are independent in their thinking.  Not 2 people that just agree with each other at all, but 2 people that challenge one another, and provoke one another.

this really isnt dependent amount of intelligence, but rather a method of thinking.  there are tons and tons, like 90% of the world, that just accept what they have been taught, believe what they have heard, repeat what is supposed to be repeated, and are satisfied.  but they never really know it experientally!  well, i dont want to be one of those people.  i want to see something, evaluate it, analyze it, see if it is really true, meditate upon it, think about things that could be better about it, and then act on it.  you know what i mean??  and if you dont think like that right now, that's fine, i just think if you dont, you would really enjoy starting:)

to be continued tomorrow....

4th of July Cookout Wednesday

Ok, here is all of the information for the grill out this Wednesday. 

It starts at 5:00, so everyone should have enough time to sleep in and go visit their family and then come our party. You need to bring FOOD! Everyone brings something and then we will have enough food for everyone. But like always if you are unable to bring something, you are still invited to come! 

The location is going to be at Mark Coffey's house at 5395 Tallantworth Xing, Cumming, GA 30040. You can arrive early late, whenever, just come. If you need a ride you can call me at 770-883-2224. Invite you friends and family. This is a good way to invite those who might not come to church but would come to a cook out.

Bible Study

Well, I never use this blog, but I think I am going to try to start.

We had a Bible Study last night and had a good time with some good
discussion about the promises and direction that God gives us through
His Word and then invites us to test Him out. Pretty amazing but can
get scary some times. Just make sure you are really acting on a
promise that is in the Bible and not a promise that you pulled out of
your hat.

Sunday we talked about the partnership of the Holy Spirit and the
Bible in our lives to work the work that God wants done. Often we
will read the Bible and ignore the Holy Spirit, or, never read the
Bible and expect the Holy Spirit to guide us, but He doesnt work like
that. So, this week, read your Bibles and be sensitive to what the
Holy Spirit is working in your life through it!

How have you seen God motivate you to holiness and service?