Project Serve Squared Before

I have been thinking a lot about what it means to serve lately. And we were talking about it a lot this week at church and I think that sometimes we get so consumed with this attitude that I need to serve other people that we forget to serve God. Another question that came up as I was studying this is who do I allow to serve me?

I think that we are so use to serving other people that we don't remember that sometimes we need people to help us or serve us. If I can be honest this question makes me uncomfortable. I don't like being served I like to do the serving. It makes me "feel" better to serve than to be served.

How do I let people serve me? I'm not talking about a person at a hotel serving us or having a server. I'm talking about really reaching out to someone and telling them what is going on and why I need help.

I think that serving becomes something that we can easily get addicted to. These are a couple of thoughts that are entering my mind as we are heading into project serve.

One thing that I want student to walk away with is knowing that they are not the only people in this world. That people are in need all around them. But, it takes us asking those tough questions to find the need.

I don't know some of these answers and I feel like these are questions that have been wrestling in my spirit for a while. So, I'm left just thinking which is a good place to start

Peace,
Scott

Sunday ReCap, high school

What does Back to the Future and Leviticus have in common? Not much to be honest. Back to the future is about a time machine, which runs on electricity, but needs a nuclear reaction to create the 1.21 gigawatts of power to achieve time travel.

Leviticus is a bunch of details about how to properly sacrifice when performing different offerings, what is clean and unclean, various laws about sideburns and tattoos, and which feasts the people of Israel are supposed to keep.

However, consider this. Time travel can be dangerous...mainly because of the hazards that are involved with nuclear technology and stolen plutonium. If you notice all the precautions people take when dealing with the stuff (plutonium, not time travel) then you can see some similarities on how the priests of Israel were to approach God. Very Carefully. Special clothes, special cleansing (before and after), special rules. God can be dangerous if not approached properly. Check out Leviticus Ten to see how dangerous...

Se what we get in Leviticus is that we have a very Holy God that can not look upon sin. That is why He demands the sacrifices for the forgiveness of our sins. So if we have a mighty and holy God who we can't approach because we are sinners, what do we do today when we don't have priests making offerings on our behalf all the time? What do we do today to approach this mighty and holy God?

I am glad you asked! Today, we don't do all those offerings. Today we don't have priests go in on our behalf to sacrifice to the Lord. Today we don't have to fear coming into the presence of God. Today things are different. Today we have a great high priest. That man is Jesus. Check out what Hebrews says about our great high priest, and how different it is today!

Hebrews 4:14-16 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who as been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Memorize it. Seriously. Do it. It will do wonders for you.

When you are going through rough times, it will help you. Believe me. When you don't think you can go to God because of what you have done, remember that we can approach the throne of grace with confidence because of what Jesus did for us!

much Love,
johnny

Generosity when you need it the most

This is a personal post about something that God taught me recently. In early October it was Carina's birthday and we went out to celebrate. When we were out to eat someone thought that it would be cool to break into our car and steal my backpack which had a laptop, a camera and the Bible that Carina got me for our wedding. When it happened I was really upset. I did not know why someone would do that to us. I definitely played the role of the victim. I did not know how we were going to regain the stuff that I had lost. It's funny how you feel like you can't live without something until you live without something.
Anyways, Carina and I started the process of finding a new laptop. The great thing about my old laptop is it was a Macbook and if you have ever used a Mac you know how awesome it is. We had a little bit saved so we could look at computer that were cheap but when we were going through the process of looking for a new laptop I got really frustrated again. I told Carina I did not want a laptop I wanted my laptop. We decided that we wouldn't talk about it right now and we would continue to save for a while. I know that this wasn't the worst thing ever but it just felt frustrating at the time. I finally sat before God and just said that we don't need it.
The next day I got a phone call from my dad who called to tell me that my Grandma who lives in San Fransisco had heard about our laptop situation and said that she wanted to buy us a new laptop. She said that she wanted us to get a new MacBook. I'm not writing this because I feel like if you pray for a new computer than you will get a new computer I am writing because I am blown away by my Grandma's generosity. I am blown away at how much she gives. The amazing thing about my grandma is she doesn't care how much it is just that she is able to help provide.
So I guess the challenge for me now is how do I give. Do I give generously or do I not even care? Do I see those who are in need and don't even care? Do I give my time to help those that are hurting? Do I give a care to those seeking justice? Do I give generously to those who need it the most? Well, if I were to answer that today I would say no. If I was to answer this question in a month I hope that would change. Join with me in giving generously not just in this season but make it a continual practice.

Peace,
Scott

Sunday ReCap, high school

Crosstalk High School continued their series on "The Bible Jesus read," which is essentially an overview of the Old Testament. We covered Exodus last week, which is a wildly popular story on how God delivers us...ie. the story of Moses.

Since it is such a popular story, that of which we already know the overview, we decided to look a little deeper at the calling of Moses and the assuring of his call.

We have a God who calls us and assures us of that call.

In Exodus 3 we saw how God calls us. It goes something like God:us:God. God draws us near (say for example with a bush that is on fire, yet is not consumed), then we take a step of faith toward God (like Moses saying to himself "I will go see this site"), then God giving us a clear Call and direction He wants to take us (the rest of chapter 3). Take note of the God:us:God format. We are all in the process of God:us:God. Whether He is drawing us closer, we are stepping out in faith, or we are getting a clear calling.

We have a God who calls us and assures us of that call.

Moses gets assured of his calling in chapter four when he starts to doubt his ability. In verse nine he's like (paraphrase warning) "Dang, God, You can do this without me! I can't do it, I am crappy at talking good."

The next verse rocks! God is like, "Who do you think gave man speech? Who makes man to talk and hear, and dumb and deaf?"

God assures Moses of his calling, regardless of the weakness he thinks he has.

Paul summed it up nicely for us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"But He said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my grace is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Read it again.

No, really, read it again.

His grace is sufficient for you! When you are weak you are strong, because there is less of you and more of Him!

We have a God who calls us and assures us of that call.

much Love,
Johnny

Here's the cat...heres the bag

If you have been on the edge of your seat wondering where this years' student mission trips are going to be, you had to wait no longer than yesterday! I was so pleased to see the parents' interest in taking part in the meeting and getting the information first hand, a big thank you from Scott and myself!

So, after much prayer and consideration, we are staying close to home; relatively.

Vancouver, BC, Canada is relatively close to us, yet it seems like another country. That is where Scott is headed for his 7th and 8th grade missions trip (he prefers the "s" on the end). He is excited to lead the trip and watch how God can grow in the hearts of the middle schoolers. The dates for this trip are March 30th to April 2nd. You do need a passport, so get started on that soon!

As for the High Schoolers, our mission trip (no "s") is relatively close. Meaning a 10 hour drive to beautiful Glacier Park, Montana; where we will be working on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation bringing the hope of Jesus to a community that has been struggling to regain their hope for a hundred years. This trip is scheduled for early or mid July, depending on how many spots are available, we will know the dates for sure by December.

So there you have it. The cat is officially out of the bag, mostly.


IMPORTANT NOTE!
We had the Crosswalk Gala Auction meeting as well. Remember, remember, remember, that if you want to go on either trip you must participate in the auction. Please start to collect your items now, for the gala on February 7th.

much Love,
johnny

Upcoming event: Desperate People

We have an event this Saturday! It is called desperate people. Are you desperate to give back instead of take? Are you desperate to serve God? How about desperate to worship Him? You can do all that this Saturday!

This is an area wide event where we are getting together with other churches in the area to serve our community and worship God. The cost it ten dollars, but that includes three meals, serving all day, and amazing worship at night. We will meet at 8am at Chapel Hill, and in the evening at Believers Fellowship with dinner and worship.

This is a great opportunity to serve God and meet others who desire to serve Him too!

much Love,
johnny

Sundy ReCap, high school

We are back in our series "The Bible Jesus Read" which is a basic overview of the Old Testament. This week we looked at the Patriarchs, with a focus on Abraham. We see in the story of "Father Abraham" that he was an amazingly faithful guy. Picking up and leaving his comfortable known surroundings of his hometown and going to the place that God would show him. Very faithful. Trusting God to give him a son in his old age. Also very faithful. I love that it says Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Yes, he had faith in God, and it put him in right standing in God's eyes. Abraham must of been practically perfect to have faith in God and be in right standing with Him.

WRONG!

Yes, I said wrong. Abraham was faithful. I am not taking that away from him. But to put things on the realistic side, he was human. Just like you, and just like me. He made mistakes. Just like you and just like me.

Take for example Genesis 12. He had faith in God because he went to the new place...but when it got hard (a famine coming into the land) he high tailed it down to Egypt. It gets worse, he then lied to Pharoah about being married to Sarah. They took Sarah, because she was a very beautiful women (even as a senior citizen). Abe got paid off the dowry and all was looking pretty good. But God had plans for Abe and Sarah and would not let his sin get in the way of those plans. He rebuked Pharoah, Sarah went back with Abe, and they went back to Canaan.

This was just one example we looked at...but we see that God still forgave Abe and used him for His plans. Do you realize what this means? We can still be used by God! Even when we make a mistake, we humble ourselves, seek God's forgiveness, and move on. How refreshing grace is!

We also talked a lot about spinny rides vs. roller coasters. But that is the stuff you had to be there for.

Much Love,
Johnny