tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53075688834462597262024-02-02T19:28:24.946-05:00The Ripple EffectSpreading the love of Jesus by doing life together.Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-14219846802062268352013-09-24T10:16:00.000-04:002013-09-24T10:19:50.077-04:00Careful What You Ask For… You Might Get It<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">“Simple Prayer involves ordinary people
bringing ordinary concerns to a loving and compassionate Father. There is no
pretense in Simple Prayer. We do not pretend to be more holy, more pure, or
more saintly than we actually are. We do not try to conceal our conflicting and
contradictory motives from God—or ourselves. And in this posture we pour out
our heart to the God who is greater than our heart and who knows all things (</span></i><a href="file:///1%20john%203/20"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1 John 3:20</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">).”</span><span style="color: #4e4e50; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: #4e4e50; font-size: 16pt;">—</span><a href="http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Teach-Me-To-Pray-A-Video-QA-with-Richard-Foster-Deborah-Arca-10-07-2011.html"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Richard
Foster, Prayer</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">Prayer is an integral part of helping
to <i>lead people into a growing relationship with Christ</i> in every area of
our church. It’s also vital to building the kind of community that supports
spiritual growth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">During the worship service this past
Sunday I explained that Jesus is actively fulfilling God’s purposes of the
church’s mission through His followers (AKA: disciples). I explained</span><span style="color: #4e4e50; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Acts 1:8</span></a><span style="color: #4e4e50; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">describes what Jesus’ believers empowered by the Holy Spirit, were
expected to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Next I shared the story of Phillip
and the Ethiopian Eunuch found in </span><a href="file:///Acts%208/26-40"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Acts 8:26-40</span></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;">, as an example of a new disciple hearing and obeying the
guidance of the Holy Spirit which eventually leads to the expansion of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to Ethiopia (thought to some to be the “ends of the earth” in
that day). It is a powerful story
that shows not only is God concerned about “quantity” (Phillip, earlier in </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="file:///Acts%208/1-26"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Acts: 8</span></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;">,</span></span><span style="color: #4e4e50; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">hearing
and obeying the Holy Spirit, was responsible for large numbers of believers
from several cities and villages in Samaria) but also “quality” (Phillip worked
one on one with the Ethiopian Eunuch).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">At this point, before I knew it, I
went “off Script”… meaning I deviated from the sermon notes I had prepared, and
I challenged the congregation to pray that the Holy Spirit would lay a person,
persons, family, or situation on their heart that God wanted them to share the
“Good News” of Jesus, be an encouragement to, meet a need of, or whatever they
felt God was leading them to do. I
reminded everyone that you can’t stay “here” and get to “there”. It would require each of us to listen,
obey, and “GO”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">I also reminded everyone that sharing
the Good News of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">- Can
disrupt their normal routines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">- Will
require them hearing AND obeying God’s prompting (through the Holy Spirit)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">- Acknowledges
God is always at work, and is asking them to join Him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">- Will
transform coincidences into Divine appointments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">- Many
times makes you the answer to someone else’s prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">At the conclusion of the service, I
asked people to send me some of the stories later this week, of how God
answered their prayers. These
stories would be a personal “witness” of God’s activity in their lives and in
the lives of others, which they spoke to.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">Weird how even a preacher, who has
prepared all week for a message, can sense (hear) “something” from the Holy
Spirit in the midst of his “normal routine” of speaking on Sunday mornings, and
“deviate” or “Go” to a different place than what he had originally
planned. What my congregation
didn’t know at the time… they were witnessing Acts 1:8 being lived out right in
front of them, and many of them didn’t realize it, until they read about it here in the previous
sentence!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 16pt;">By the way, after the service, as I
spoke individually with several people, I realized God had just transformed the
coincidences of the LifeSpring congregation worshiping together on a rainy
Sunday morning in September, to a Divine Appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I hope to share some of these stories
later in my blog. If you have any </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">personal stories that might be your witness for Jesus,</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> feel free to share them with me too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Dorsia</span><span style="color: #4e4e50;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-18667934647057938062013-09-05T14:01:00.000-04:002013-09-05T14:01:43.022-04:00It's too early to give up
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Have you
every just felt like quitting?</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Balancing being
a church planter, pastor, spouse, father, son, friend, and disciple of Jesus is
difficult to say the least. Any
one of these carry with it responsibilities and pressures that easily could cause
me to be consumed with frustrations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Combine
these responsibilities and pressures with my past or current failures as I
attempt to improve in each area (becoming a better church planter, pastor,
spouse, etc), and you have a perfect storm that leads to many emotions, beating
myself up, feeling down and deflated to the point I just want to quit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Satan uses
our “failures” as heavy bricks that are placed in our backpacks of life. He convinces us that our “failure
bricks” are weighing us down and are such a burden to carry that we would be
better off to just quit trying to get better. This way, we eliminate the
chances of creating more “failure bricks” in the future, because we’ve quit
trying to improve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Jesus teaches us something
different about how to handle failure.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A1-5&version=NIV">Luke 9:1-5</a>, Jesus sent
His disciples to go out and preach the Good News (God is with us: hope
for those who have all but lost hope) and to perform miracles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Jesus tells his disciples, “<i>If people do not welcome you, shake the dust
off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Jesus
wanted these disciples to model themselves after Him. He gave them power and authority over demons and even the
power to heal the sick, yet he also prepared them for rejection and
failure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
Jesus knew that not everyone was going to receive the truth about Him, and
these disciples might be tempted to let this failure stop them from
continuing. He wanted them not to
take the “failure brick” and put it in their backpack and weight them down to
the point of quitting. Rather,
Jesus wanted them to use their failures as fuel to fire them up and so they
could continue on and not quit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Matt Emmons, an Olympic medalist in rifle shooting knows this all to
well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In the 2004
Olympics, he was leading the 50-meter rifle three positions when he shot at the
wrong target on his last shot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">That zero
scored dropped him from first to eighth. In the same event in <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2012/07/matt-emmons-and-dealing-with-olympic-failure.html">Beijing in 2008</a>,
Emmons had a misfire on his final shot to drop from first to fourth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Emmons could
have easily quit. He probably thought, “Why fail again on a public stage such
as the Olympics? I’m not going to
put any more ‘failure bricks’ in my life’s backpack. I quit.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">But he
didn’t! In <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/london2012/ci_21183106/team-usa-olympian-matt-emmons-stays-target-through">2012 Olympics</a>, Matt <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/sports/olympics/emmons-wins-bronze-in-olympic-50-meter-rifle-3-position-shooting.html">Emmons took the bronze meda</a>l! He
decided not to quit, and put his past failures behind him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Next time
Satan uses your failures to weigh you down to the point you want to quit
getting better at being a spouse, parent, employee, friend, a disciple of Jesus…remember
the words of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Norman Vincent Peale <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">“It’s too early to quit”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-57726866887798062272013-08-29T10:49:00.000-04:002013-08-29T10:49:20.328-04:00The Battle of the “SNOOZE” Button
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>The prelude of the battle begins when I set the alarm clock
each night before I go to bed. Doing
mental calculations of the numbers in reverse… you know what I’m talking about,
many of you do the same thing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What time do I need to leave? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much time do I need to get ready? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which now leads to the variables in this daily calculation….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much time for breakfast? (many days I skip this one) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much time do I need for devotional time? (unfortunately,
I skip this one too many days) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What time do I need to get up? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s at this moment the battle lines start to be drawn up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many times will I SMACK the “SNOOZE” button, 1 or 2
times? On my alarm clock, each SMACK of the “SNOOZE” button gives my weary
bones another 9 minutes of sleep time. (<i>My wife claims this is sometimes the
best sleep of the nigh</i>t)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decide on 1 SMACK for the “SNOOZE” Button on this day (<i>I
make plans to actually use this 9 minutes to pray for those in my life, before
I get up for the day</i>). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The calculations are complete. The battle lines are drawn up on the boarder of “1 SMACK of
the SNOOZE ”, and the alarm is set.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But something happens in the night. The enemy infiltrates
our camp and filles my head with propaganda that becomes evident the next
morning 9 minutes after I’ve SMACKED the “SNOOZE” the first time. This voice in my head of the enemy
says…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Just 9 more minutes,
hit the SNOOZE one more time.”</i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to admit, in the time span of only 4 or 5 “beeps”
of my alarm, the enemy has given me at least 15 great reasons why I should hit
the SNOOZE button a second time.
And before I know It, I’ve SMACKED the SNOOZE a 2<sup>nd</sup>
time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9 minutes later, that battle intensifies. The enemy begins to dig deeper into his
bag of tricks. Now my head is
filled with all the things that I can “skip” and make up time for to get the
rest I deserve. And before you
know it, I’ve SMACKED the SNOOZE a 3<sup>rd</sup> time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the next sound of the next alarm, the enemy now uses his
strongest weapon of all, GUILT.
Now he begins to make me feel guilty for the first 3 times I SMACKED the
SNOOZE , and begins to make me feel as though I’ve messed up so bad, I might as
well skip going to the meeting and just call in over a conference call…. It’s
only a “white lie”. Just blame my tardiness on sickness, or the traffic, or a
detour in the road…. And I sadly SMACK the SNOOZE a 4<sup>th</sup> time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I finally arise for the day, I have this feeling of a
grey cloud over me. I have a
combination of anger and resentment both at myself and at my enemy for this
happening to me again. The result
of this raging war with the SNOOZE button is having a negative impact on my
whole day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point of all this. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many times have you SMACKED the SNOOZE button on the
Holy Spirit in your life?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God has provided the Holy Spirit to guide us toward His one
and only Son Jesus. And for many, we
continue to listen to and believe the enemy’s propaganda and we SMACKED the
SNOOZE over and over again, avoiding getting up and following Jesus. This leads to people walking around
during the day, feeling like a grey cloud of guilt is over them and it effects
all aspects of their lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Others have awaken to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and have
begun to serve and follow Jesus as one of His disciples, but when the Holy
Spirit points them to doing something outside their comfort zone, like getting
involved in a small group, becoming more active in their church, forgiving
people who have hurt them in the past, adjusting their lifestyles and choices
to match those of Jesus, they just “SMACK the SNOOZE” and quite God’s Spirit in
them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you battle with “SMACKING the SNOOZE”, I’ve got good
news. In a way, God’s Holy Spirit
is just like our alarm clocks at home.
As long as the alarm is “ON”, no mater how many times you’ve “SMACKED
the SNOOZE”, in just a few minutes, the alarm will go off again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, Stop SMACKING the SNOOZE. Get up and get on with your day. We’ve all wasted too much of our life, just lying there
waiting on the next alarm. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-4297239798259019392013-07-21T08:36:00.004-04:002013-07-21T08:36:34.811-04:00WHO are you trying to please? REALLY!
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">WHO exactly are you trying to please? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">They don't offer a Nobel Peace Prize for most of what we do, so
if not the judges, then WHO? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Try <b>Colossians 3:23-24</b>
It works great for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #262626; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from
the Lord as a reward. <b><u>It is the Lord
Christ you are serving</u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So, when you are feeling a little under appreciated, or when you
feel the urge to bow down to the <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynics?s=t">Cynics</a> of the
world, or things seem a little CRAZY <i>(<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Seal/_/Crazy">CRAZY Video</a> & <a href="http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/18380/">Lyrics</a> by Seal)</i> because
you’re following Jesus, just remember what Jesus said to Peter in <a href="file:///John%2021/22">John 21:22</a>. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-69886693194812397162013-07-16T17:16:00.001-04:002013-07-16T17:16:59.144-04:00Relationships: Becoming the “Right” person
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In my message; </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/relationships-becoming-the-right-person/">RELATIONSHIPS:
Becoming the “Right” Person</a></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, I challenged the singles in the LifeSpring
Community to become the “Right” Person, as they’re searching for the '”Right”
Person" (for those married or in a committed relationship I challenged
them to become the "Right" person their spouse or loved one
deserves).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I asked everyone to be “<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intentional?s=t">intentional</a>”,
not leaving this to chance, and do everything in their power <b>to become the person</b> who the person
they’re looking for is looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve had many
conversations with couples prior to their marriage (during their pre-marital
counseling sessions), as well as numerous conversations with couples whose
marriages are struggling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One thing I have found in
married couples or couples in a committed relationship trying to overcome
struggles between the man and woman is very rarely did they have “Chemistry” or
“Passion” problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What they almost always
had was “RELATIONSHIP” problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In many cases I was
dealing not with a marriage with marriage problems, but with two single people
problems combined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They had spent so much
time on their “Chemistry” or “Passion” earlier in their time together, that
they forgot to work on developing a good “RELATIONSHIP” with one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">BTW, here are my telltale
signs of individuals spending too much time on “Chemistry” or “Passion” when
dating or in marriage:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1) <b>Compromising</b> <b>who I am</b> <b>and what I believe,</b> (2) <b>Accelerating</b> <b>the process</b>
<b>of a good relationship,</b> or (3) <b>Being Fake</b>, in order to physically
please the other person or to be pleased myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s the deal: God created RELATIONSHIP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God created us for
RELATIONSHIPS (Relationship with God, Relationship between male and female,
Relationship with humanity).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I would say that we were
DESIGNED for RELATIONSHIP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, with that said, how do
we change? How can we be
transformed from focusing on “Chemistry” or “Passion”, to <b>becoming</b> <b>the person</b> the
person we are looking for, is looking for? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
By understanding what LOVE is and how important it is in any relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So the congregation and I
agreed to read </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:4-8a&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1 Corinthians 13:4-8a</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> once a day for 7 days to
better understand the key ingredient in becoming the “Right” person: LOVE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By practicing each of
these characteristics of LOVE, in every current relationship we are in now, we
start actively <b>becoming</b> <b>the person</b> the person we are looking
for, is looking for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After you’ve read 1
Corinthians 13:4-8, let me know;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Which of these qualities is the most
difficult for you to exhibit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Which quality do you value most in some
you want to date, your spouse, or significant other?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-88213904620582955572013-07-10T19:58:00.000-04:002013-07-10T19:58:13.408-04:00Do I have to love me to love you?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
the last message of our series called </span><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/progress-report-personalizing-your-system/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Progress
Report</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> at </span><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/connect/what-we-do/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LifeSpring Church</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, I began
with a passage from the Bible that is sometime known as the Great Commandment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:35-40&version=NIV">Matthew
22: 35-40</a>, while explaining what the greatest commandment was, Jesus tells
His audience “<i>Love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind</i>.” He continues to tell people the next
greatest commandment was to “<i>love your
neighbor as yourself</i>”. He placed added emphasis on these two <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/explicit?s=t&ld=1144">explicit</a>
commands by saying, “<i>all the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On
the surface, it seems Jesus’ comments mean the top two commands are: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">#1
Love God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">#2
Love others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well,
sort of… you see, there is an <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/implicit?s=t&ld=1144">implicit</a>
command I believe many people don’t really want to deal with: <b><u>Loving</u> <u>yourself</u></b>. In fact, since Jesus said for us
to <i>love our neighbor as ourselves</i>,
He’s indicating we must love ourselves <u>BEFORE</u> we can love others. By loving ourselves before we love
others, we’re providing ourselves with a reference point, comparison point, or
measuring stick of how to love others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> This
means, before we can love others: our parents, siblings, best friend, girl
friend, boy friend, children, spouse, co-workers, the check out clerk at
Wal-mart, the missionaries in India, the homeless guy down the street, we have
to love ourselves. In fact, based
on this scripture, I would say that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No One Can
Love Another </span></i></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More </span></i></span></b><b style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Than </span></i></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’ve Historically Loved Themselves.</span></i></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> So
what’s so hard about loving ourselves?
Who knows my good qualities and attributes better than me? I know what I like, what makes me
happy, what brings me joy. We know
all the things that are loveable about ourselves, so what’s the problem we have
with loving ourselves? Why can’t I
love ME?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Because
I also know my BAD qualities! I know where I’ve failed, lied, cheated, stolen,
been prideful, been “fake”, and nasty.
I know when the things I said didn’t match my heart and how I really
felt. Truth is, many of us feel as
thought the bad in our lives out weigh the good and therefore we feel as though
we are unworthy to be loved. We believe we just don’t deserve to love
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ah,
but here’s the twist. Since the
way we love others is based on the way we love ourselves… what should the way
we love ourselves be based on?
Here’s a hint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rule
1: God Loves You! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rule
2: When you’re in doubt or confused and feel as though you can’t love God
anymore, can’t love yourself or can’t love others, refer back to Rule 1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
way we learn to love ourselves is by watching and learning how God loves us
first. The way God loves us even
when God sees both the good and the bad in us. Even when he sees our impatience’s, anger, arrogance,
disobedience, filthy thoughts and desires, God still loves us. God still loves
us enough to pursues us. God still
loves us enough not to give up on us.
God still loves us enough to send His one and only Son, Jesus to model
Love for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> {This
would be a good time for to look at Paul’s description of what love is in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&version=NKJV">1
Corinthians 13</a>}</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
So
the next time you can’t love someone whose hurt you, the next time you can’t
love that jerk that cut you off in traffic, or you can’t love your child
because they disobeyed you, or you can’t love your boss because he just won’t
do it your way, or you can’t love yourself because you screwed up again, or you
can’t love yourself because you’re a quitter, just go back to Rule # 1: GOD
LOVES YOU….pause and reflect on the way’s that God loves you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> When
you do this, I think you may understand the same thing that one of Jesus
closest friends and disciple did when he wrote in 1 John 4:19 the, “<i>We love because he first love us.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-65343149010903130132013-07-02T21:28:00.001-04:002013-07-02T22:51:01.982-04:00Investing In others: Using God's R.O.I.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
past Sunday, my message to our <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/connect/what-we-do/">LifeSpring Church</a>
family, <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/progress-report-investing-in-others/">ProgressReport: Investing in others</a>, was as followers of Jesus (AKA: Disciples in training) we are
called to invest in others by helping them to …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">live into <b>Their
POTENTIAL </b>for their life <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">live into <b>God’s
PURPOSE </b>for their life <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">live into <b>Jesus
PROMISES </b>for their life <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">One of the definitions for the word “<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/investing?s=t">Investing</a>”
found in Dictionary.com is <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #262626; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose
or to achieve </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">something:</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In the business world, there is an <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/acronym?s=ts">acronym</a> called
ROI: Return on Investment. It is a
ratio used between the amount (usually money) that a person invests in
something and the return (or profit) that is received by the investor for their
investment, usually over some period of time. This ROI is typically expressed in the form of a
percentage. The higher the ROI
percentage, the more a person can expect to receive from their initial
investment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
Given the choice of investing a $100 in “product A” that has a 50% ROI, and
investing $100 in “product B” that has a 100% ROI, the wise investor would go
with investing in “product B” because they could expect twice the amount of
return for the same initial investment of $100.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Here’s the thing about being a disciple of
Jesus. When Jesus calls his followers
to “go and make disciples” in his <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=NIV">Great
Commission</a>, he never asked them to “calculate the ROI on their investment
of their personal time, energy, or resources” while doing this. He just asked them to be obedient and trust
that he would be with them while they were doing it, even “to the end of the
age”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">However, some Christians today want to
“Pick and Choose” who they invest their time, energy, and resources into while
helping others become disciples too.
Many times they look at the outward appearance and decide, that a
certain person’s ROI is too low, and wait on a better person to invest in. Some are still waiting to find the best
person to invest in , while hundreds of people pass by them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In choosing the person to succeed King
Saul as the leader over Israel, God once told the prophet Samuel, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do not look on his appearance or on the height of
his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees:
man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2016&version=ESV">1
Samuel 16:7</a></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The bottom line is this. God has already calculated the ROI of
every individual who has ever lived,
and God’s calculations are perfect! He has determined that every person is worth the
investment of our time, energy and resources. In fact, God backed this up by investing the most valuable
thing to Him, His one and only Son Jesus Christ, to provide the opportunity for
people to restore their relationship with God, and have eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So why would I choose my personal ROI calculations
about who to invest my time, energy and resources in, over God’s, when it comes
to investing in others. I think I
will trust Jesus and do what He says…. “Go, and make disciples” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-17435231048505733432013-06-19T11:26:00.000-04:002013-06-19T11:26:08.606-04:00Progress Report- Give IT Your All
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/progress-report-give-it-your-all/">This
past week my message</a> revolved around the 180 degree turn King Josiah (</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022-23%20&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 Kings 22 & 23</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">) made after he allowed the
Truth found in the scriptures to transform his life. Not only did this transform him as an individual, but Josiah
also allowed it to transform his kingdom.
In fact, one of the greatest statements made about a person was written
about Josiah….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Neither
before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he
did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in
accordance with all the Law of Moses. </span></i><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 Kings 23:25 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are 6 things that Josiah did with the Scriptures (the Bible of his time), which
helped him to become such a remarkable leader of Israel. For many of us, if we could do these
same things with the teaching of the Bible, I believe, no I’m counting on God
using the Truth found in the Bible to not only transform our lives but also our
communities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1)
He <b>FOUND</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022:10&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 22:10)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.demossnewspond.com/americanbible/press_kit/bible_statistics"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On
average, 85% of U.S. households own a Bible; the average number of Bibles per
household is 4.3</span></a><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Can you find your Bible? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2)
He <b>READ</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022:10&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 22:10)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, actually someone read it to him. The great thing about reading from the
Bible yourself is that you can go at your own pace. Yeah, it’s big, and for many of us it is the biggest book
we’ve ever picked up to read. But
remember what they say about how to eat an elephant, ONE BITE AT A TIME. Small portions are best!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3)
He <b>BELIEVED</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022:11&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 22:11)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Josiah believed what he read… but that doesn’t
mean that he understood all of what he read. Some of us digest food at different rates that others. The same is true of how quickly we
understand passages from the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4)
He <b>PRAYED ON</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022:13&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 22:13)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seeking God for understanding and application of
the Truth found in the Bible to our lives should be high on our priorities.</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5)
He <b>COMMITED TO</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023:1-3&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 23:1-3)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Living by the Truth found in the Bible takes
commitment. Especially when we
don’t know where that Truth will lead us.
For many Christians, this is the area that they struggle with the most.</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6)
He <b>LIVED</b> It. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023:4-24&version=NIV"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">2 Kings 23:4-24)</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Josiah was born and raised during a very
confusing, dark, and evil time for those following God. Many teachings by evil men had taken
root in their culture to the point that human sacrifices were made outside of
their city walls. Male prostitutes
live in the Temple of God.
Multiple false gods were sacrificed to and worshiped in the same Temple
that was original built by King Solomon for the worship of the one TRUE
God. Once Josiah read from the
Bible and realized that many things he and the people of Israel once believed
to be true were in fact misrepresentations of the truth, he took immediate
actions to change things. For him
and for those he was responsible for to lead. </span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
know, I know, some of you reading this are saying.. “I know, I know…. I get it,
I get it! I’ve heard this all before. For your information, I’m a believer of
Jesus Christ. I’ve skimmed through
parts of the Bible, and I basically get the jest of it. There’s no need for me to keep reading
it over and over. I GET IT!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
take a look at this blog from Seth Godin about people who said “</span><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/06/i-get-it.html"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I GET IT</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-11829756742949873992013-06-12T16:46:00.000-04:002013-06-12T16:46:15.152-04:00Blowing A Still: A Christian Progress Report
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
recently read a great blog by Seth Godin called, “</span><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/lyf89gxDIow/sethsblog~Sure-but-thats-not-a-plan.html"><b><span style="color: #103cc0; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sure,
but that's not a plan</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">”, that caused me to reflect on the “shortcuts to success”
that people are spending so much time and energy searching for in hopes of
achieving a dream, goal, or a solution to some problem or difficulty they are
having (like financial struggles, relational dilemmas, weight or health issues,
etc). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For
some, their “financial plan” to success is to continue to play the lottery,
picking numbers from a “divine selection process” (meaning they pick numbers
and pray that God will intercede and allow the balls to match their lotto picks).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Others
pray that God will “bless this food to the nourishment of my body, and help me
to reach my target weight goal”, as they bow their heads over their afternoon
snack of Moon Pies and Cheetos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In
my message Progress Report: Blowing A Still at </span><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">LifeSpring Church</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, I shared the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">BIG IDEA: </span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Continuous
steps in the right direction will get us to the right place over time.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> This Big Idea is also known as “A PLAN”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Periodically
we need to “</span><a href="http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-28424-stock-footage-navy-officer-blows-whistle-medium-shot-betacamsp-good-audio.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Blow A Still</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">” in our lives and review
our PLAN and our PROGRESS in working the PLAN. (Blowing a Still is an old maritime expression still used in
the Navy that calls for sailors undivided attention while pausing what they are
doing and reflecting on (1) what am I doing, (2) what should I be doing (3)
what adjustments do I need to make next (4) redeploy to that activity at the
next strategic opportunity). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So,
what would happen if Christians, the followers of Jesus, were to regularly
“Blow a Still” in their spiritual lives and give themselves a PROGRESS REPORT
on how well they are living out their PLAN to do the Great Commandment and
Great Commission Jesus asks of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
Great Commandment <b>Matthew 2:37-40</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">37 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">38 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
is the first and greatest commandment. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">39 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And the second
is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">40 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All the Law and
the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
Great Commission <b>Matthew 28:18-20</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">18 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">19 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">20 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A
Christian PROGRESS REPORT should contain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Honest
<b><u>ASSESSMENT</u></b> of your progress
(answering the question “<i>What am I doing?</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Recast
the <b><u>VISION</u></b> (answering the
question “<i>What am I suppose to be doing?</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Course
<b><u>ADJUSTMENTS</u></b> (answering the
question “<i>What do I need to change and do
next?</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Start
to <b><u>REDEPLOY</u></b> (Begin again at
the next strategic activity with your adjusted plan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Next
week I will talk more of specifics you and I can do to help us improve our PLAN
as well as systems and motivation to live into that PLAN.</div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-66708826265442344842013-05-29T19:25:00.002-04:002013-05-29T19:25:40.614-04:00What Does LOVE Require Of Me?
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Recently, my messages for LifeSpring Church were
based on a similar sermon series and small group study taught by Andy Stanley
called <i>Christian, It’s Not What You Think</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Over
the last couple of weeks I’ve tried to raise the awareness of our congregation
that “Christians” and “Disciples of Jesus” are not always the same thing. I did this by placing an emphasis on Jesus’
teaching & His modeling of what many call </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A36-40&version=NIV"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Great Commandment found in Matthew 22</span></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> with His followers (insiders) and others (outsiders), along
with Jesus’ own definition of what the defining characteristic of His
Disciples…</span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“A new command I give you:<u> Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another</u>. By this everyone will
know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” </span></i><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">John13:34-35<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This past week, I concluded the message by
challenging everyone to ask of themselves (at least once a day) … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">WHAT DOES LOVE REQUIRE OF ME?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have received several texts, emails, and I have
even had multiple conversations with people who have been wrestling with this
question since last Sunday’s message.
The comments range from <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I don’t know what love requires of me” to “I
think I know, but don’t think I can do it”. This combined with other comments
like “I don’t think I’m worthy to be a Disciple of Jesus”, “I love God, but
struggle with loving others”, “thinking about what Love requires of me makes me
very uncomfortable” leads me to believe that I have touched on a very important
issue for many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well I have good news for those of you who are
struggling with this question! This Sunday, June 2<sup>nd</sup>, I will give
everyone the answer to this question.
The answer is based on what the Bible teaches and will be life altering
for many people who hear it. You
do not want to miss this message.
If you are unable to attend personally, please visit our <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/category/media/">listen to the podcast or
watch it online</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-68182438588889786092013-04-23T10:26:00.000-04:002013-04-23T10:26:12.840-04:00Inside vs. Outside the Church<div class="tr_bq">
Hey Everybody,</div>
<br />
I cannot BELIEVE what a Sunday we just had. Thank you SO much for coming out.<br />
<br />
As a follow up, we posted this on our<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeSpringGA"> Facebook</a> page to see our what type of responses we would get.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” <br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205:12&version=NIV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:12</a><br /><br />How does this passage challenge your assumptions about what the Bible says regarding judging others? As Christians we have to hold ourselves accountable rather than judging nonbelievers.</blockquote>
In response, I just wanted to give you guys my answer.<br />
<br />
In this past Sunday’s message, I used 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, I also used 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, and connected them to John 13:34-35 <br /><br />I explained that when we Love one another as Jesus Loves, then we will be recognized as Disciples of Jesus. This type of love draws “outsiders” or “non believers” toward Jesus and encouraged “insiders” or “believers” to learn more of Jesus teachings and together with the encouragement and help of others, live them out daily. <br /><br />I summed it up by saying…<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Loving one another as Jesus loves means: <ul>
<li>Loves both Insiders and Outsiders</li>
<li>Stop judging OUTSIDERS </li>
<li>Hold Insiders ACCOUNTABLE</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />Too often, followers of Jesus do exactly what Paul chastised the Corinthians for doing—judging nonbelievers, while failing to hold themselves and other followers of Jesus accountable for their behavior. <br /><br />It’s not a Christian’s job to judge the behavior of a nonbeliever. <br /><br />In fact, followers of Jesus lose influence when they approach nonbelievers with anything but love. <br />
<br />
When we connect this with Matthew 28:19-20, we find that Jesus commissioned us (His Disciples) to “go and make disciples…”. In other words, help “outsiders” become “insiders”. <br /><br />Now, let’s clear this up here and now. <br /><br />1) It’s not a disciples place to try and do the job of the Holy Spirit. <br />2) The Holy Spirit guides people toward the choice or decision to accept the Truth of Jesus or reject it (John Wesley would call this the Prevenient Grace of God.) <br />3) The Holy Spirit uses the actions of the Disciples, as well as many other ways, to accomplish this. <br />4) Just because the Holy Spirit works through the actions of a Disciple, it doesn’t make that Disciple the Holy Spirit… just an instrument of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />Once an “outsider” accepts the Truth of Jesus and becomes a believer, or “insider”<br />(John Wesley would call this the Justifying Grace of God), <br />then the Holy Spirit guides the “insiders” to learn and obey the things that Jesus taught… “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you….” <br />(John Wesley would call this the Sanctifying Grace of God.)<br /><br />When I read “teaching them to obey”, I feel this is the point where accountability comes in for Disciples. <br /><br />Notice in the great commission that Jesus gives His Disciples, that it is only “AFTER” the outsider has been baptized into the body of believers, AKA “insiders”, that the “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” occurs. <br /><br />You see, for the most part, Jesus is saying “I taught you 1st, you must teach them, but it won’t make sense to them and they won’t be able to fully give themselves to this way of living until they accept me as their Lord and Savior. Because once they accept me, then I will send them the Holy Spirit to help them in their efforts to obey my commands. And remember this, You are not alone, nor are they. I will be with you all, to the ends of the time. So what are you Disciples of mine waiting for….”<br />
<br />
Your Pastor,<br />
Dorsia Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-62865217259698034322012-09-10T16:24:00.002-04:002012-09-10T16:33:30.352-04:00Text the Pastor Answers: Why did wars begin? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">Recently during one of our worship services we decided that the sermon message would be based off of questions that our congregation "Texted to the Pastor". Because of time, I was not able to answer all the questions during the service, so over the next several weeks, I will be answering the ones I didn't get to in my blog. Some may be long answers, others shorter, but hopefully they will stimulate you to consider your own answers to these questions. So, here we go!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Why did wars begin?</span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">Wars on earth are merely a result of (or an extension of) a war (battle/conflict) that occurred in heaven between Satan and God and continues today on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2012:%207-12&version=NIV">Revelation 12:7-12</a> we read about this war between Satan and God; between Satan and his angels (Satan’s followers) and God and his Angles (God’s followers, lead by Michael).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">We see that this battle originally took place in heaven, with Michael winning this particular fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Satan is overpowered and cast to earth (forced to retreat) with his followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Note</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">1) Satan was not destroyed, simply caste out of heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">2) Satan didn’t change his ways, rather he just change the location of where the future battles would take place.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">So, what caused this fight to begin in heaven in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean its heaven, right? Everything is all good, streets of gold, peace & harmony, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><br />If we take a look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2028:14-17&version=NIV">Ezekiel 28: 14-17</a> we get what I think is a description of what the cause of this war was back then <u>and it is still the cause of many wars today</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Satan was an “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">anointed cherub</i>” who was in heaven “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the holy mountain of God</i>” and walked and moved about with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">perfect in his ways from the day”</i> he was created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Note</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">3) This does not mean that Satan was perfect on the inside…just at that point his actions were perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">It is then that there was an “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">iniquity found in</i>” Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whatever this “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">iniquity</i>” was, it caused him to be “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">filled with violence</i>” and led Satan to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Note</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">4) What was inside of Satan (the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">iniquity”) </i>took over Satan and began to drive his action, causing Satan to move form being “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">perfect in his ways</i>” to sinning against God.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">We then read that Satan was cast out of heaven “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the mount of God</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then in verse 17 we start to read about what might have been the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">iniquity</i>” that drove Satan to sin (<u>and still drives many of us to sin…and is the cause of many of the wars that have ever been</u>).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Satan’s heart became PROUD </span></u></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">because of his 1) beauty 2) wisdom 3) splendor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Note</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">5) Other angels in heaven followed Satan into battle, so the Pride in Satan must have been contagious to some of those around him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><br />So, what was the source of Satan’s contagious pride that changed him and some of those around him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let’s take a look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014:12-15&version=NIV">Isaiah 14: 12-15</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Isaiah describes Satan’s down fall in verse12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then in verses13 & 14 we see it. Isaiah describes the root of what was going on in Satan’s heart (the root of Satan’s pride).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Satan wanted to take over God’s throne in heaven</span></u></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin">Satan wanted to be like God.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">In some warped way Satan thinks he can be God by defeating God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Satan, who hasn’t created anything, nor can create anything, is trying to destroy the Creator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Since that isn’t going to happen, Satan then turn to God’s creation (the cosmos… AKA: Earth, and its inhabitants… AKA: Humanity) and tries to get them to join him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">And when would Satan try to do this? … look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203:1-19&version=NIV">Genesis 3:1-19 </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Pay close attention to the actual temptation of Eve… it’s not the apple… the temptation is found in verse 5 “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>you will be like God</u></b>, knowing good and evil</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Up to this point, things were perfect; Adam and Eve’s actions were perfect (like Satan’s were at one time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But like Satan, something wasn’t right in the hearts of Adam and Eve, and Satan could see it (ever heard that phrase “it takes one to know one”? That phrase holds true here). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Satan tempted humanities heart with the same temptation that his heart yielded to…. wanting to be “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">like God</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And what sin did this cause? Disobedience to God. (not a good thing.) How things might be different with more self-discipline when it comes to temptations like this… <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Guess what. Even though humanity was tempted into sinning against God, that still didn’t make Satan God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So, Satan’s focus turned to destroying the one and only heir of God, the one who would one day take over the throne of God… God’s one and only Son, Jesus the Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Having said all that, I’m back to the original question… Why did wars begin?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Because humanity continues to succumb to the prime deception of Satan that one day some person (or group of people) might be in control of everything (like God is) and can implement their own will (how they want things to be) on all that they control. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">So one side fights to do it their way… and another fights to stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">One side starts out defending something (like freedom or democracy, etc) only to fall to the temptation of becoming the Master of (Controller of, God of) freedom and democracy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">One side’s passionate fight for justice leads them down a slippery slope called pride, where they implode in the battle because they lose sight of why they went to war in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">The internal urges to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">be like God</i>” (doing things “my way”) when unchecked by the self-discipline provided to those who love God and are guided by his Holy Spirit, to live and love as His one and only Son Jesus does, will always lead to wars and rumors of wars.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Hopes this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Dorsia <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-58180811104352639322012-03-17T15:51:00.002-04:002012-03-17T16:03:22.023-04:00Loving Through AwkwardI hate being in places or situations that make me feel awkward. Don’t you?<br /><br />It’s not that the places or situations that I am in are “good” or” bad” that cause me to feel awkward, usually I feel awkward because I have not been in that particular place or situation before, and I don’t know how to act or behave. (Heck, I have been in the same place or situation many times again, and I still felt somewhat awkward.)<br /><br />Think about your first kiss. Was that awkward? Come on now. Think about all the things that led up to that first kiss. All the thoughts that went through your mind weeks and days before that kiss. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">The things you `watched on TV or in real life to get a heads-up on what a good kiss should look like. Remember the conversations you had with your close friends (some who had already experienced their first kiss, and others who hadn’t, but since they were your best friend you listen to their first kiss advice and tactics anyway)</span><div><br />Awkward, I tell you. AWKWARD.<br /><br />But thank God, I didn’t quit.<br /><br />Heck, many of us learned to get over that awkward feeling so well that we would actually look forward to sitting around with a bunch of our friends, spin a bottle, and then a guy and a girl would go into a closet and have their “first kiss” with each other while the rest of the group made strange noises outside the door. (Shut up, you know you’ve done something like this…or at least heard about it)<br /><br />So many good things can happen when we learn to overcome awkward in a healthy way. In fact, if I had avoided kissing in order to avoid awkwardness, I wouldn’t have gotten a second kiss (or a third kiss for that matter). Yes, avoiding “awkward” could have cost me 29 years of a happy marriage.<br /><br />Jesus had the same kind of approach when it came to overcoming (not avoiding) awkward.<br /><br />Time and time again in the Bible, we see Jesus coming across a situation that was awkward…like the time some religious leaders brought a woman <u>caught in the act</u> of adultery to Jesus, in order to get his nod of approval to have her stoned to death (which their laws said was just and reasonable punishment).<br /><br />Talk about AWKWARD!<br /><br />Awkward for Jesus…Awkward for the woman…Awkward for the religious leaders.<br /><br />But awkward didn’t scare or intimidate Jesus. Jesus didn’t hide from awkward, or avoid it, but rather Jesus overcame awkward.<br /><br />How?<br /><br />With Love.<br /><br />Jesus loved through awkward! He loved & forgave the woman who had messed up…His words to her, “go and sin no more”.<br /><br />Jesus loved those misguided religious leaders who may or may not have had good intentions, but definitely missed the mark when it came to humility, empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. Jesus reminded them of what they really looked like in the eyes of God by saying, “you without sin, you go ahead and cast the first stone”.<br /><br />Jesus’ actions always match His words. Jesus always loves us through awkward.<br /><br />This is one of the things that I love so much about LifeSpring Church where I pastor.<br /><br />We all remember awkward…<br /><blockquote>The first time we visited the church, the first time we were asked to serve, the first time we met someone who had different values and upbringings, the first time we met people might know our past, our ex-spouse, our mistakes, our short comings, our failures, our lifestyle choices… </blockquote><br />And since we remember our awkward past, we don’t avoid awkward with others, we simply love others through it (like someone did to us).<br /><br />We are learning every day new ways to love others through awkward, just like Jesus loves us through awkward.<br /><br />Below is a blog post by <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/03/we-say-we-want-a-revolution.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29">Seth Godwin</a> that stimulated my thoughts about the hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing another. He reminded me that what we say isn’t the problem. It’s what we do.<br /><br /><b>I choose to love through awkward, what about you?</b><br /><br />Blog post by <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/03/we-say-we-want-a-revolution.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29">Seth Godwin</a><br /><br />We say we want a revolution...<br /><br />Of course, what we say doesn't matter so much. What we do is what matters and we have far more influence that we'd like to confess.<br /><br />We say we want local merchants to offer great service, deep selection and community values, but we cross the street to the big box store to save $3.<br /><br />We say we want companies to honor their promises and act transparently, but one new product or big discount from a business that has deceived us in the past and we come right back for more.<br /><br />We say we're disgusted with Congress, but almost all of us vote to re-elect the dufus we sent there in the first place.<br /><br />We say we hate spam, but we send it. And sometimes buy from it.<br /><br />We say we'd like people to think first and act later, but we get cut off in traffic and all bets are off.<br /><br />We say we love art, the brave work that touches us, but we listen to oldies and rarely head out to hear live music or visit a cutting edge gallery.<br /><br />Hypocrisy may be an epidemic, but the problem isn't in what we say. It's what we do.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-22266626756243959672012-03-07T20:59:00.002-05:002012-03-07T21:14:38.142-05:00Momentum: It’s essential to moving forward<p>Today I learned an important lesson on the ski slopes on Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia about MOMENTUM.</p><p>It's been nearly 5 years since my last attempt at skiing. In the first couple of hours, I am proud to say that I only fell once, and it really wasn't a bad spill. Skiing on a recovering stress fracture in my shin did have me moving very gingerly across the snow.</p><p>It was then that I came across a long, basically flat section of snow. After slowing down as I came down the hill (fear of falling at a high speed compelled me to slow down), I realized that I didn't have enough momentum to make it through this flat section of the ski trail.</p><p>I leaned forward as for as I could using my ski poles and upper body strength to keep me moving forward.</p><p>And then it happened. Moving at a snails pace, leaning forward, trying to pick up momentum, I lost my balance and fell face first in the snow. (For those of you who know me, no curse words came out…not because they weren't on the tip of my tongue, but after the word "OH…." came out of my mouth and before the next word did come out, my face was in the snow, my open mouth full of snow, and my skis were sticking straight up in the air…Imagine me kneeling face down to pray with my face on the ground and my backside up in the air, and you sort of get the picture)</p><p>My lack of momentum caused me to press forward hard to get it back, and I busted my face in the process (only a small cut, and some "snow rash" on one side of my face, and what looks like half my eyebrow hair is gone…I may blog about this another day).</p><p>Momentum is one of those things that when you have it, you know you have it, and when you lose it, well, you know you've lost it. Without it, there are times you feel like whatever you do, no mater how hard you try, you just can't get on track.</p><p>Momentum is important in skiing for sure, but it is also important in one's life and in the life of a church.</p><p>People & churches spend great amounts of time trying to get momentum, countless hours of energy trying to keep it, and when it's gone, they struggle trying to figure out "how the heck did we lose it".</p><p>The truth is, if we are going to find the results we as individuals are hoping for, and the "fruits" our church is striving for, we definitely need momentum in both areas.</p><p>Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church, outlines the two elements of momentum; creating it and sustaining it. Here are four of those points.</p><ul><br /><li>If you want to create momentum you are going to have to change something.</li><br /><li>Change always produces conflict.</li><br /><li>You have two choices to deal with conflict.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Choice one is to back off when you are in conflict. This will result in decline.</li><br /> <li>Choice two is to push through the conflict and the results will produce growth.</li></ul> </li><br /><li>If you want to sustain momentum you have to practice certain "key routines" in "excellent ways" over and over.</li></ul><p>Here's a couple of things I have learned about momentum in life, in the church and in skiing.</p><p>First, momentum is not constant. It comes and goes, moves up and down, and is a lot like a wave on the ocean.</p><p>Second, though many may disagree, I believe that people, a church, even a team can do things that can help them catch the wave of momentum when it comes by.</p><p>So, with all this said, how should I catch momentum, in my life, in my church, and in skiing?</p><p>Well, you really can't just sit back and wait for it…because momentum most likely won't just come to you. I could have waited for someone to come by and give me a "push" when I slowed to a stop skiing, but no one was stopping to do that (just like no one offered to help me up after my face first crash).</p><p>For many people, they are caught in this trap of hoping for momentum to just come back to them, and use this as an excuse to just do nothing while telling others they are actively watching and waiting on the signs that momentum is passing by, and then they will "jump on board".</p><p>I believe that if your have lost momentum in your life, your church, or your team, you have to begin by DOING SOMETHING…EVEN AT THE RISK OF FALLING FLAT ON YOUR FACE!</p><p><strong><u>Change something!</u></strong></p><p>Don't keep doing the same things and expect different results.</p><p><strong><u>Get a quick win!</u></strong></p><p>Don't just talk about it for 6 months, find a change that will have a positive impact on attitude, and JUST DO IT! Start something new every month if necessary, knowing that half will make it and half will "fall face first into the snow". The half that make it will give you enough momentum to overcome the crashes.</p><p><strong><u>Do certain practices well, over and over!</u></strong></p><p>The only way to sustain something is to do it well over time. Keep practicing! Don't give up! Don't let a failure, a head first crash, or a few people stop what you need to do! If they want to be critics in the stands, fine, but if you're like me, we're in the game of life and want old "mo" on our side.</p><p><strong><u>Lead by example!</u></strong></p><p>Understand that people watch what we do. If you try something to catch momentum in your life, church or team, and crash face first in the snow, and quit, what example are you sending to those following you (like your family, church family, or your self-esteem). Get up, try it again. Try something else. But don't quit after the 1<sup class="c4">st</sup> try. Let people know by your example it's ok to strive for something that is important and miss the mark, but it's not ok to quit after just a few tries.</p><p>Momentum is essential in moving a skier forward.</p><p>Momentum is essential to moving a congregation forward into a new future.</p><p>Momentum is essential to individuals move into their God given potential and purpose in life.</p><p>Momentum; GET SOME!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-1944701784566051882012-02-24T15:36:00.003-05:002012-02-24T15:53:56.467-05:00Is this a God Vision/Purpose for me or am I just talking to myself?<div>Earlier this week I was driving through town at night headed to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Southern-CCF/120468424668917">CCF</a> Devotionals & Dinner. I was in a congested part of town, when I see cars slowing in front of me. Then, I realized they were slowing down for an older lady, walking toward traffic, on the edge of the road (not off the road, shoulder area, but ON the road). The road was so narrow, that each driver had to move over into the oncoming traffic to avoid hitting her. She was carrying a bag of groceries, and a large over the shoulder big purse. As I passed by, I thought to myself, “Why is she waking ON THE ROAD? Why doesn’t she move over further to the shoulder OFF THE ROAD? That old lady is gonna get hit by a car! What an idiot! Somebody ought to help or say something to her. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">What grocery store is around here that she got </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">that loaf of bread she’s caring? She’s </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">got to be somebody’s grandma, why didn’t her family give her a ride? Where was </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I going…and what time am I suppose to be there? Boy oh boy, that was a crazy </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">old woman walking in the dark on the side of the road.”</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Now all these thoughts happened in my mind in a matter of </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">maybe 2 seconds (a couple of those thoughts are the curse of living with ADD: Attention </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Deficit Disorder.). But then, as I was </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">about a block or so away from the “crazy old woman walking in the dark on the </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">side of the road”, I heard a similar voice in my head say, “Turn around and </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">offer that lady a ride”. Long story made </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">short, after another block of arguing going on in my head, I turned around and </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">gave the lady a ride…to her AA meeting. She </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">was a 25 year sober recovering alcoholic. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I was truly blessed to have met and talked with this lady for those 12 </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">minutes she was in my car.</span></div><div><br />So, what’s my point?<br />In discerning God’s vision or purpose for our lives, in our preparation to pray a Sun Stand Still prayer like is found in Joshua 10:12-14;</div><div><br /><blockquote>12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:<br />“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,<br />and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”<br />13 So the sun stood still,<br />and the moon stopped,<br />till the nation avenged itself on[<a title="See footnote a" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2010:12-14&version=NIV#fen-NIV-6078a">a</a>] its enemies,<br />as it is written in the Book of Jashar.<br />The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!<br /></blockquote><br />How do we know if it’s God speaking to us or it’s our inner conscience? In other words, if we were to call in the experts to verify that our vision is authentic, what would the “real thing’ look like?</div><div><br />Here are 4 qualities of True Vision or Purpose from God:<br />1) The Vision or Purpose will be Biblically Based<br />a. Joshua’s Vision or Purpose came from an earlier conversation with God in Joshua 1:2-5.<br /><br />2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.<br /><br />God told him what God was going to do & what God wanted Joshua to do. IT DON'T GET ANY PLANER THAN THIS. Keep in mind that all the “how to do it” was not as clearly defined at this point…but make no doubt…the WHAT TO DO was very clear.<br /><br />b. For us it today, it means that the Vision or Purpose will be revealed through Biblically based prayers, reading and marinating in the scriptures (some people call this meditating on the scriptures you’ve read), worship, and life experiences.<br /><br />2) The Vision or Purpose will be Affirmed by key people<br />a. These people want God’s Vision or Purpose for your life as much or more than what you may want it.<br /><br />3) The Vision or Purpose will be focused on Jesus<br />a. What I mean here is that you won’t be the focus of the Vision or Purpose, Jesus (AKA: God) will be<br /><br />4) The Vision or Purpose will be tied to/bound to you passions, gifts, & life experiences<br />a. God won’t waste your passions, gifts & life experiences (even if the life experiences were not pleasant ones). God Vision or Purpose will require you to use those passions & gifts, and life experiences to be able to accomplish the great things God is calling you to do or be.<br /><br />So, was the voice in my head telling me to turn back and give a ride to the “crazy old woman walking in the dark on the side of the road”, God? It certainly sounded a whole lot like the earlier voice in my head that called her and “idiot”. I think the second voice was definitely God.</div><div><br />And I am thankful that I was able to distinguish between the two voices that sounded the same… or I would have missed a great blessing as God blessed another person through my obedience.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-11250917362529426052012-02-15T20:08:00.003-05:002012-02-15T21:14:38.211-05:00Sun Stand Still - Audacious Faith<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>749</o:Words> <o:characters>4272</o:Characters> <o:company>Student</o:Company> <o:lines>35</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5011</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">It’s time for Audacious Faith. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">This past week I began a <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/category/media/sun-stand-still/">new message series</a> called <i>Sun Stand Still</i> at <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com">LifeSpring Church</a>. It is based off the Biblical account of a prayer that Joshua prayed as recorded in Joshua 10:12-13. <a href="http://www.sunstandstill.org/">Steven Furtick</a>, pastor of Elevation Church, wrote a book about his churches experience as their congregation embraced the concept of developing their personal faith to the point that they dared to ask God for the impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">Now, I’m not talking about just praying impossible stuff, like “God, I really need $10,000,000” (5 years ago, that prayer would have been for $1,000,000, but with inflation and all, the amount had to go up). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">I also am not suggesting that people can grow their ordinary, mundane faith into a powerhouse of audacious faith, with the purpose of manipulating God for their own purposes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">What I am talking about is an individual developing an audacious faith which is lived out in their lives, that is based off of the understanding that the Greatness of God can be directly connected to a person’s potential to do great things on His behalf, when that person is connected with their God-sized purpose and potential. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Let me define for you what I think audacious faith is…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="Body" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Calibri;background:white">AUDACIOUS FAITH:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="Body" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Calibri;background:white">Having the boldness or daring to ask God for the Impossible, the thing(s) that only God can do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">We read about this happening throughout the Bible. Audacious faith that leads to miraculous healings, miraculous pregnancies and births, miraculous instances of financial restoration and blessings, seemingly broken and destructive relationships between family or loved ones being restored. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">In fact, in the course of my life, I have seen the impossible done on several occasions within my own family. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Any day I get in one of our 2 cars to drive, I am reminded of a time when Jodi & I were unable to afford a newer car, even though we were having “car problems” (and we all have had car problems at one time or another…you know the type…when it’s better to keep adding oil, radiator fluid, or giggling the ignition key to start the vehicle…or keeping one foot on the brake and other foot on the accelerator while sitting at a stoplight so the car doesn’t shut off…all because you don’t have the money to fix the car). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Then one day, out of the blue, someone I have never met before in my life, and have never seen since, delivered a newer used minivan to me at the church where I was leading a Bible study. This man said, “God wants you to have this”. I’m serious! It freaked me out a little at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">I made several attempts to persuade the man to tell me who the “human” or “humans” were who donated this minivan to Jodi & I, so I could personally thank them. It was then that the deliveryman finally said, “Those person’s names don’t matter. They are doing what God has told them. What does matter is that the God of the universe has just given you a minivan … And God let me be a part of that miracle by delivering it to you today”. And with a big smile on his face he said, “God bless you and your ministry”, and he got in car driven by some lady I had never seen before and they drove off, leaving me standing there with the keys and title to a minivan, with my Bible study group all looking out the window or standing on the porch wondering what the heck was going on and who was this guy that just interrupted their Bible study. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Let me just say, that was the first time in my life that I recall ever being so speechless that I couldn’t even finish leading my Bible Study (truth is, they were as dumbfounded & teary eyed as I was).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">So, here’s the BIG QUESTION for you today:<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Does the brand of faith you live by produce the kinds of results in your life that you read about in the biblical stories of men and women of faith?<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">If not, would you consider joining me, and the congregation of LifeSpring Church over the next 8 weeks, as we begin to explore the actions and faith needed to move from a warm “snuggie” faith of comfort to an audacious faith that allows God to do the impossible through us for His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">BTW, we have copies of the <i>Sun Stand Still</i> books, by Steven Furtick, available at our Next Steps table each week at LifeSpring Church for you to take and read. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">For those of you who missed the first message of this series, you can listen to it <a href="http://podcast.chrissterling.me/?p=episode&name=2012-02-12_2-12-12.mp3">here</a>. I have also included the completed <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zN46pP9U-BM_6mtmKeUyBYNYqzILnE8GIpRc8Ft8F7o/edit">message notes</a> for that week as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Feel free to share your thoughts and personal stories of how you have seen God at work in your life. And I DARE YOU to form your own Sun Stand Still prayer and stand back and be amazed at the work you will see God do… that is, if we ask Him audaciously.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-87288992804738248282012-02-09T20:10:00.003-05:002012-02-09T20:59:18.051-05:00Tybee 1/2 Marathon- The race that keeps on giving<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Today's blog is a combination of things that have happen since my running of the Tybee 1/2 Marathon Saturday, 2/4/12. </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">It was my first 1/2 & I did finish. HOWEVER, it nearly whooped my butt. It seems the pain in my right leg during the last 2 weeks of my training was not shin splints...but a stress fracture (found that out 3 days AFTER the race, after the Dr read the x-rays). </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">We had a group of 8 that trained together from </span><u style="text-underline:#0018ED"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#0018ED"><a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/">LifeSpring Church</a></span></u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A"> over the last several months. The final race times for our team ranged from Alex, who ran the fastest for the guys in his first ever 1/2 marathon and finished at 1hr. 41 mins. Next for the guys was Josh, who was not far behind Alex. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Deb, finished in 1hr & 50 mins. which was top for our girls, with Courtney & Shannon just a few mins or so behind her. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Dave, Rebecca and I, like Alex, were attempting our first ever 1/2. Dave and Rebecca did remarkable finishing in 2hrs. 44 mins & 2 hrs. 41 mins respectively. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Check out the pictures of the team racing on our facebook page called </span><u style="text-underline:#0018ED"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#0018ED"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/205195326212935/">LifeSpring Fitness Lifegroup</a></span></u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Then come the ole preacherman. Yep, 3 miles of running before the pain was so bad that I had to walk and run mile 4. From then on is was a slow, tearful, and extremely painful hobble, to the finish line that was 9 miles away.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">I had time to ask lots of questions: questions to God “why me”, and questions for myself “what the heck are you doing Dorsia”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">I had time to pray: Pray for my teammates, pray for the pain to stop, pray for the strength to endure the pain, pray not to throw up because of the pain, pray for that 100 year old lady not to pass me at mile 6…(she passed me, along with several hundred others).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">So, with all that time, I “shuffled on”, until I crossed the finish line..... at a blazing time of 4 hrs. 21 mins. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Since Saturday, I have been put in a walking boot and placed on crutches for 3-4 weeks, and told no running for 10 weeks (there was a time when that phrase “no running” would have been good news...but honestly, I already am missing running...crazy for an old, fat guy, right?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The doctor just shook his head and said, “the pain alone should have stopped you…unbelievable”, before he said “mid distal tibia stress fracture” and suggested I drink more milk and take calcium supplements.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">And, unbelievably, I even preached the next day…sitting in a chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Moreover, some said it was the best, emotional sermon they had heard from me… to bad we didn’t recorded it for posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">Below is a copy of an email that I sent to those who attended that Sunday’s worship service with a few things that I felt I needed to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope your will read it and that God will give you encouragement and hope through the words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#1A1A1A">From the LifeSpring Church message series titled RUN: the 2/5/12 sermon called: Execution. </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">As you could tell, this was an emotional message for me to deliver. Early on, as a young man, I was taught to keep your emotions in check… sort of like that old Secret deodorant commercial; “never let them see you sweat”… well, for me, it was; “never let them see you cry”. This is really difficult for a person who is as passionate about life as I am, and who also has my mother’s blood running through their veins (Momma Ruth will start crying when she reads just this much of the email…sorry about that dad).</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">Anyway, due to time on Sunday (and my emotional state), I was not able to tell you of the BIGGEST blessing I received during the ½ marathon race at Tybee. I feel that it is important that you hear this, and this is why you are receiving this email.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">This Sunday’s message, as well as the others in the RUN series revolved around Philippians 4:13 <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">“I can do EVERYTHING through (Jesus) who strengthens me.</span>” </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I spoke of about my goals for the race were: 1-having the endurance & stamina to finish the race & 2-not passing out or throwing-up in front of anyone.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I also shared some of my intimate personal commitments (aka…promises…covenants) I had made with Jesus over the years: 1) I will walk to you and with you 2) I will follow your plan 3) I will give you my all 4) I will give you glory in all areas of my life 5) I will do all this in a way that others will see the Life-Change I have is from you 6) I will lead others to a similar type Life-Change found in their living out Jesus’ purpose in their lives</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I talked about how I liked the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible when it uses the word “BELOVED” verses the New International Version (NIV) when it uses “Dear Friends”.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I spoke about the bonding that I had developed with my “Beloved” runners from LifeSpring, especially my running partner, during our training. I told of how the LifeSpring running team’s words of encouragement, as well as just seeing them running their race and achieving their goals as we passed one another on various parts of the race route, was so encouraging to me. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I even had an overhead that emphasized this by saying; “Christians are drawn together to strengthen each other, so they can stand alone.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">Yes, for over 3 ½ hours, the thoughts, memories, and past words of encouragement from my teammates helped me to continue hobbling toward the finish line. And maybe that is what has helped you get to where you are today with your spiritual journey with Jesus. The past thoughts, memories, and past words of encouragement from significant people in your past… your teammates.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">But, as Paul Harvey says, “here’s the rest of the story”… Hobbling alone in pain somewhere past the 11 mile marker, I heard a yell behind me…a yell loud enough I heard it over my headphones (Yes, even though I was injured and hobbling I was still listening to my “running playlist” of songs). I looked to see Lindsay & Laura, two LifeSpringers who had come just to support our running team & take pictures for historical documentation of this great event. Behind them were Alex and Rebecca, my running partner, who had just finished the race a good while earlier. I quickly turned my head and acted like I didn’t hear them, and proceeded to thank the nice policeman for his patience for waiting on me as he blocked traffic so I could cross through intersection of the road. As I kept hobbling, tears just started flowing out of my eyes like a water faucet. The good thing is since Lindsay & Laura had not been training to run, and Alex and Rebecca were exhausted from already running 13 miles, it took several minutes for them to catch up to me. This allowed for me to collect myself (aka “get my stuff together”) before they got to me. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">And do you know what? They all walked the last 2 miles of the race with me. In fact Josh, Shannon, Deb, Dave, all came back to walk with me (Courtney had also came, but she went a different direction looking for me and never found me). OUR WHOLE LIFESPRING TEAM CAME BACK FOR ME! Even though they had finished the race, had the car keys and had other things to do that day, THEY CAME BACK FOR ME. Even though there was a period of time when we were separated and alone, and had to rely on our thoughts, memories, and past words of encouragement from each other…they understood that wouldn’t be enough. AND THEY CAME BACK FOR ME! They went the extra mile (in my case 2 ½ miles) and walked it with me. They said things like, “we started as a team, and we’ll finish as a team”, “no one gets left behind…no one, not even you preacher”.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I’m not sure of what you are looking for out of life. I’m not sure what you are looking for out of a church. I’m not sure what your relationship is with Jesus. I’m not sure of how God is going to use you and our church to bring about Life Transformation in our areas of influence. I’m not even sure of why I am writing you this email, other than to say this….</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I am sure I am trying my best to follow Jesus wherever He leads. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I am sure our church will do everything we can to obediently follow Jesus wherever He leads. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I am sure you are invited to be a part of Jesus’ Team of Christians. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I am sure you are invited to be a part of the LifeSpring Team. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">And I promise you this, if you join Jesus’ Team & the LifeSpring Team, you may feel at times that you are alone… but YOU ARE NOT ALONE.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I also promise you this. Your fellow Christian teammates, especially the ones at LifeSpring, WILL COME BACK FOR YOU! You won’t finish the race alone! Because we believe that Life Changing encounters of Jesus’ love are best found when DOING LIFE TOGETHER. “We started as a team, and we’ll finish as a team”, “no one gets left behind…no one, not even you”.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">I hope to see you this Sunday as we take church to a “Whole ‘nother level” as we begin the SUN STAND STILL message series.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">Blessings,</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; color:#1A1A1A">Dorsia, Pastor of the most AWESOME LifeSpring Church</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1A1A1A"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"></span><p></p></span>Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-7059527003534329752012-01-16T13:09:00.005-05:002012-01-16T13:21:28.510-05:00May The Legacy of Truth Never Die<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>474</o:Words> <o:characters>2706</o:Characters> <o:company>Life Spring UMC</o:Company> <o:lines>22</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3323</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">I was reading one of my favorite blogs today written by <a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/">Seth Godin</a>, which is called </span><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/straight-up.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">Seth Goldin’s Blog</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"> (real unique).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In his Blog, Seth placed a couple of quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">This sparked me to search and read more about <a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html">Dr. MLK, Jr.</a>, one of the greatest leaders, heart-moving speakers, passionate lovers of God, Jesus, and his fellow man we could all learn from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkjrday1.html">Martin Luther King, Jr’s</a> willingness to put his life of actions behind his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdTpU5WZHHM">words (words which were very Biblical based)</a> demonstrates one of the best modern day examples of a person living out a life of sacrificial love and leadership with the purpose of transforming a community (a state, a nation, a world) into the likeness of the Kingdom of God, that has been seen in the last 75 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><br />Take a few minuets and read some of these quotes and reflect on their truth…truth that continues to be lived out today in each of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When reading them, keep in mind the conversation between Jesus and Pilate found in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A37-38&version=NIV">John 18:37-38 </a></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A37-38&version=NIV"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>“</span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13.0pt;">What is truth?”</span></i></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">Martin Luther King, Jr. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:17px;">Born: 1/15/29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:17px;">Died: 4/4/68</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:17px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:17px;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.</span><span style="font-family: Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family: Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family: Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”</span><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.”</span><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.</span><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.</span><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”</span><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:7;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:13.0pt;">“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.</span><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;font-size:16.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-89195766247825241762011-11-17T10:07:00.005-05:002011-11-17T10:31:54.242-05:00Money MistakesIf you haven't heard yet, our <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/">Church</a> has started a new series about becoming <a href="http://www.lifespringeffect.com/new-teaching-series-balanced/">Balanced</a> in our finances. The more we dig into it together, the more we realize that we all have something that we're struggling with financially; whether that be trying to make ends meet from week to week or trying to get out of debt that we're in. <div><br /></div><div>The good news is, you are NOT alone! We all have something that we're struggling with in this area. We are trying to bring those things to the surface, seek after the Lord for His guidance & find ways that we can honor Him with our money. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things we discussed this past Sunday was knowing where we are. We need to know where we are currently sitting in our finances before we can make any changes. This requires us to be:</div><div><ul><li>Honest with ourselves</li><li>Honest with God</li><li>Honest with each other</li></ul>This also requires a certain level of vulnerability in admitting our mistakes and shortcomings. But we can't move forward to action into where we want to be until we come to terms with where we have been and where we are. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perry Noble is the pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina and has written a few blogs on his past financial struggles. He openly shares his failures and how he overcame them. Go check them out and see if you can relate in anyway. I know I sure can!</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://bit.ly/d7X3N2">Top 7 Money Mistakes I've Made Part 1</a></li><li><a href="http://bit.ly/cjtB87">Top 7 Money Mistakes I've Made Part 2</a></li><li><a href="http://bit.ly/nKPGwl">12 Reasons I was BROKE! </a></li></ul><div><br /></div></div>Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-70379929895445939112011-11-15T17:50:00.001-05:002011-11-15T17:50:48.881-05:00DO SOMETHING!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>460</o:Words> <o:characters>2623</o:Characters> <o:company>Life Spring UMC</o:Company> <o:lines>21</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3221</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>3 John 1-4</u></b> (NIV)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The elder, <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was reading today in 3 John how excited the author (John) was when he heard that a good friend of his, Gaius, who he had spent time with leading and teaching about the truth of Jesus, not only had a “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">faithfulness to the truth</i>”, but was “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">continuing to walk in the truth.</i>” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">John, full of excitement over this wonderful news then made this statement: </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.</i>”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I reflected on these four verses, I realized something. Yes, John had “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">great joy</i>” from hearing of Gaius “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">faithfulness to the truth</i>” but John’s greatest joy, came from hearing the Gaius was “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">walking in the truth</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In other words, John’s “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">greater joy</i>” came from Gaius putting his faith into actions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gaius had moved from being a hearer of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus in the worship service on Sunday morning or his weekly LifeGroup to a person who was willing to try and live it out daily.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gaius moved from a person meditating and thinking about “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus to a person who was willing to actually try and demonstrate “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus by how he treated those around him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The truth”</i> of Jesus wasn’t a just a good idea or theory to Gaius. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The truth”</i> of Jesus was an actual belief and faith that was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>so strong within him</u>, <u>that it couldn’t be contained</u></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had to do SOMETHING with what he believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He chose to allow “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus that was growing within him, to be shared with others by his actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To our knowledge, Gaius didn’t have to move to the mission field in another country, he didn’t have to go to seminary, or anything that earth shaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was just LIVING OUT the truth of Jesus right where he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And guess what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As Gaius LIVED OUT “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus in his daily life, word spread (how else would John have heard about it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And that positive word about how he was LIVING OUT “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i>, became a source of encouragement to his teacher, John (which was earth shaking to John).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus just another belief or good theory on paper that comes up in our conversations with others around the water cooler at work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Or is it an actual belief and faith that is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>so strong within you</u>, <u>that it can’t be contained</u></b> and you just have to DO SOMETHING, like living it out each day, wherever you are, so others can experience it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I promise you this, when we chose to take our faith in “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus to the next level and actually begin LIVING OUT “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus in our daily actions, not only will people experience the positive life change Jesus can bring, there will be such a contagious excitement within the body of believers that others will join with you as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Start the Ripple Effect of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">the truth”</i> of Jesus right where you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>DO SOMETHING!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-70001049710373221452011-11-09T18:05:00.002-05:002011-11-09T18:08:25.671-05:00Who am I?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>534</o:Words> <o:characters>3048</o:Characters> <o:company>Life Spring UMC</o:Company> <o:lines>25</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3743</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">What a beautiful day it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had a speaking engagement at the High School today that I had to prep for and was not able to jog this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So after a few text messages, I was able to switch around a few meetings so I could take a “Late Lunch-time Jog”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was so beautiful and warm, and I felt pretty good, so I half-heartedly stretched and decided I would walk for a while to loosen up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After 5 minutes of walking in the beautiful weather (which may not be this good much longer as winter is approaching), I thought, “why don’t I do some interval work.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Recently, I have been hanging around some real runners who take this stuff seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have jogged with a couple of them (until the leave me in their dust) and have heard them talk about doing “interval work”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You know, run as fast as I can for a couple of minutes, then walk 30-45 seconds, and then repeat, doing this for total of about 25 to 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That didn’t sound that bad, and if they can do it, so can I.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, off I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The first couple of intervals were good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, I was increasing my pace and stride length and feeling good about myself on this beautiful day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then it hit me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A burning pain in the back of my left leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pulled hamstring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>NO WAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s warm today, I sort of loosened up walking, and its beautiful outside, this can’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So I stopped doing intervals and just walked for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As the burning stopped, I started jogging. After 100 yards, there the burning in my leg was again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Long story short, I kept trying to jog and walk, but the last part of the trip was all walking (BTW, I should have headed back toward the house when this 1<sup>st</sup> happened instead of continuing heading away from the house… I ended up traveling a total of 4 miles, with 3 of that being on a bum leg) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, what’s the point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The outside environment (whether it is beautiful or not) doesn’t determine what is going on inside of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Beautiful, warm weather on an AWESOME day doesn’t mean my body was prepared to do what I was asking it to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mistake # 1: I didn’t prepare like I should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I just went through the motions, walked a little bit and was ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I should have stretched my muscles to begin with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No mater what the outside conditions were, no mater how much I wanted to get out there and get started working out, I STILL SHOULD HAVE PREPARED MYSELF for what I was about to do.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mistake # 2: I’m not a runner yet! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I tried to be something that I wasn’t ready to be yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just walking and jogging a few days a week doesn’t make me a runner yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hanging around with, talking to, and even jogging with runners, doesn’t make me a runner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Really, I’m a poser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I act like a runner, talk like a runner, but when it comes down to it, I haven’t put in the training or time yet to be a runner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am a “walker/jogger” right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Doesn’t mean I won’t or can’t become a runner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I just ain’t one now!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Truth is, there are people just like this in our churches today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, I’m not talking about “walkers/joggers” posing as runners (Thought there are some of those).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m talking about those who are posing as disciples of Jesus and aren’t prepared for what Satan is throwing at them, and are blaming God for them getting their butts kicked all over town by Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Take a look at Acts 19: 1 – 23 pay close attention to verse <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/acts/19-13.htm">13-23</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Remember the mistakes I made running today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1- I didn’t prepare like I should have and 2- I tried to act like something that I wasn’t yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /><br />Satan is just waiting for you to “get too big for your britches”, and when he gets through with you, a pulled hamstring might be the least of your worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-31415729283790554482011-11-05T19:17:00.003-04:002011-11-05T19:22:06.208-04:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Hey LifeSpringer's,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I received this copy of a <a href="http://statesborodistrict.blogspot.com/">Blog (As Iron Sharpens Iron) </a>from our District Superintendent & a good friend of mine, Ben Martin. It is pack with some AWESOME and Insightful comments, which I totally agree with. This is exactly the attitude and challenge that we, the Leadership and Congregation of LifeSpring Church (and every church) need to be reminded of. (I have also cut and pasted Ben's Blog to the bottom of by blog today)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">As I read each line of this blog, I found myself NODDING IN AGREEMENT with Ben's statements. But it is more than "head nodding" and "un-huh's", and even "Amen's" we need today. We need vision (direction), a plan, and individuals to be bold and courageous enough to step outside their comfort zone and DO SOMETHING!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">This Sunday (11/6), The LifeSpring Leadership Team will be meeting with me to - Remember our vision and internalized it, develop a plan to make that vision a reality, and then, with God's help, we will move forward with boldness and courage unlike any we have displayed before to invite, encourage, involve, and lead our congregation & community to the positive Life-Change found in Jesus Christ we all are called to.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Pray for us each day as we will for you as we move further outside our "comfort zone" to DO LIFE TOGETHER & making a Ripple Effect of Jesus love that change all of us!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">LORD, let it be so.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Dorsia</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi- Century Gothic"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://statesborodistrict.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-problem.html"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;font-size:18.0pt;color:#2E4247;">The Real Problem?</span></a></span><span style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;color:#434343;">Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:16 AM PDT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;font-size:16.0pt;"> Traveling across the District during this Charge Conference season I have heard many conversations about the economic challenges facing in our churches. It is not surprising therefore that when I attend conference meetings, one of the main topics of conversation is the economic challenge facing our conference. If the local churches are struggling the inevitable fallout is that the conference is struggling. Everywhere there is talk of scarcity, budget shortfalls, unpaid apportionments, staff and salary reductions, questions about our future. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;font-size:16.0pt;"> While we have to address those issues because they are real and immediate, it is disturbing that we have more conversations about a decline in giving than we do a decline in membership and worship attendance. While we search for ways to teach stewardship and decrease budgets, I have always found the most effective way to increase giving and meet budgets is to grow the church. We should be far more disturbed about the lack of confessions of faith in our churches than the lack of giving. Many of our churches are working hard, and rightly so, to audit rolls, correct numbers, and take off inactive members. We do need to know where we actually stand. But, are we investing the same energy into our efforts to reach new people? We are ready to entertain new ways of raising money and carrying on our ministry with less money, but are we as ready to entertain new ways to worship to appeal to unchurched and younger adults, new ways to open our doors to the community, new ways to share the gospel? <b><i>I would venture so far as to say it is not the economy that is killing our churches</i></b><i>.</i> In many places we have just gotten too comfortable with our church the way it is. Many of our churches have never decided that we wanted to grow (and in so doing have decided that we don’t). Too many of us have no passion to be intentional about meeting new people, and building relationships with people who are unchurched. Most of us don’t know the neighbors three doors down and sometimes even those who live next door. After twenty plus years of serving in the local church and never being out and about on Sunday morning, I have been shocked traveling from church to church to see how many people are at Wal-Mart and restaurants on Sunday morning. Maybe we are in the wrong place on Sunday morning. Undoubtedly the greeter at Wal-Mart has a better chance of sharing the gospel with someone who doesn’t know Jesus than we do in the church. We can no longer operate with a “build it and they will come” strategy in our local churches.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;font-size:16.0pt;"> Our mission is the same as it has always been, “Go therefore into all nations and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” Could it be that our financial struggles are simply the result of having lost sight of what we are to be about?</span><span style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-29627625577831315972011-11-03T21:44:00.005-04:002011-11-03T21:55:23.212-04:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Here’s my thoughts today on 2 Peter 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In reading vs. 12-15 several thoughts came to mind</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Peter is determined to remind the readers of “these things” (see vs. 1-11), even though he admits that they are “firmly established in <u style="text-underline:words">the</u> <u style="text-underline: words">truth you now have</u>”</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What is this truth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, I took a look at John 14:25-27 </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">will teach you all things</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">will remind you of everything</b> I have said to you. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Connecting these 2 thoughts is Peter speaking of the Holy Spirit that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you don’t think so… read John 14:15-19</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth</b>. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you</b>. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Peter wants to remind them of things they “know”, even though they know it (maybe they aren’t doing the things they “know”…hum)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What makes me forget things<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>I’m get distracted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>I treat something that’s important as unimportant<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>My focus shifts<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>I don’t memorize it<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>I don’t practice regularly what I know that helps me refresh my memory<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What things am I forgetting that I know about Jesus Love for me?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What things am I forgetting that I have recently learned about Jesus Love for me?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What things am I forgetting that I have experienced about Jesus Love for me?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Peter also wants to “make every effort to see” that they will “always be able to remember these things”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Why would Peter do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, who was Peter’s teacher?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And isn’t this the same thing Jesus did/modeled for all the disciples?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">do this in remembrance of me</i>…” when they were at the last supper….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will leave you “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">another Counselor to be with you forever…the Spirit of Truth”. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now’s the time for me to say WOW!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What about you?</p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-75866903769336710282011-11-02T15:05:00.001-04:002011-11-02T22:19:50.057-04:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>325</o:Words> <o:characters>1858</o:Characters> <o:company>Life Spring UMC</o:Company> <o:lines>15</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2281</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">This weekend is the beginning of daylight savings time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the Spring, we “sprang forward”, meaning we lost an our of our day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But in the fall, we “fall back” and actually gain an hour back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This Sunday, we get an hour we already have used back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of us will use that hour to catch up on our sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I have challenged our LifeSpring Leadership Team (LLT) to do something different this year with that hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe you would be interested in joining us. Here’s the challenge: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Take 15 minutes a day on Wednesday 11/2/11, Thursday 11/3/11, Friday 11/4/11, and Saturday 11/5/11 (15 minutes a day times 4 days equal 1 hour) and do the following</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Take 5 minutes & read 2 Peter chapter 1 and jot down anything God shows you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Read expecting God to show you something).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Continue to do this for the whole 5 minutes.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Take 5 minutes & memorize Proverbs 3:5-6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(speak it out loud as you practice)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Trust I the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”</i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Take 5 minutes & Pray about what you have read, and memorized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ask God to guide you and your church to becoming the loving, serving, & encouraging individual and community of believers that lead others to life changing encounters of Jesus love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pray about whatever God lays on your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is a sample of what I jotted down after reading 2 Peter 1:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vs. 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Peter identifies himself with Jesus as “a servant” and “an apostle” of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I looked at this , I realized that Peter is putting these words, these labels, in a certain order.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Peter sees himself as a “servant” of Jesus before an “apostle”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Though the title of “apostle” or “disciple” may seem to carry some authority and power behind it, Peter seems to rather be identified as a servant of Jesus Christ first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Maybe I should do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level3 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Would I rather have on my tombstone to identify what I did with my life …. “Pastor” or “Reverend” or “Husband” or “Father” or “Friend” or “Servant of Jesus Christ”. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As I look at these words in print, I realize that in order for me to be the pastor, reverend, husband, father and friend God desires me to be, I must FIRST be the Servant of Jesus Christ that God calls me to be.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307568883446259726.post-27488136709617623182011-04-06T14:19:00.004-04:002011-04-06T14:31:16.717-04:00Thoughts on John 8:1-12Here are a few of my thoughts and observations as I read <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:1-12&version=NIV1984">John 8:1-12</a>. I'd love to see your comments for additional discussion.<br /><ul><li>Jesus got to church (temple courts) pretty early to serve and to teach. You would think that there wouldn’t be that many people interested in being taught (especially that early in the morning), but we read that there were people gathered around him to desiring to learn.<ul><li><em>Is there an opportunity in my life to meet with people early in the morning, before work or school, to have a moment to teach/learn about Jesus and what it is to be an obedient follower?</em></li></ul><br /></li><li>Jesus sat down to teach them. This is a very good posture to teach from; sitting down among the people, with them at their level (I’m referring to their spiritual maturity level, as well as their physical position of their bodies) to teach them. There is a place for “lecture” or “monologue” methods of teaching, but when teaching about applying the truths of the scriptures to our lives, this is best taught in a group discussion format with sharing and empathy.<ul><li><em>How can I find and develop more “group discussion” dynamics with others to teach/learn about Jesus and what it is to be an obedient follower? Is social media an avenue to do this? If so, what are the pros and cons of doing it this way?</em></li></ul><br /></li><li>I’m not sure what Jesus wrote down in the sand, but I do know that he waited until he was ready to speak before He answered the Pharisees questions. No matter how much they continued to question or how persistent the Pharisees were, Jesus waited until He was ready to speak, not letting the actions of the Pharisees coaxing Him into responding unprepared.<ul><li><em>This is a good example of patience displayed to myself and others who tend to “shoot from the hip” when faced with a ton of important questions from others seeking our response. Being patient and getting oneself prepared to speak is a discipline we all need to practice.</em></li></ul><br /></li><li>In a way, when Jesus says, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” His actions and His words are basically comparing all sin (that an individual commits) as the same as adultery while not ignoring or lessening the consequences of the sin. Jesus is implying that all sin is worthy of death and requires grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome for us to sin no more. This is exactly what Jesus gave to the woman when He said, "Then neither do I condemn you" and "Go now and leave your life of sin."<ul><li><em>As an obedient follower of Jesus, how do I distribute grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to others so they can overcome sin’s control in their lives?</em></li></ul><br /></li><li>Just like the Pharisees, the religious leaders of that time, people today are always quick to point out the sins or problems in other people’s lives without giving much attention to the sin in their own lives. I guess it is easier to see other’s sins than our own. I think we also do this because it deflects the “light of truth” from us to others, and gives us a sense that our sins are “not as bad” as theirs sins, thus we must be better and more loved by God.<ul><li><em>Pointing others sins out does not lessen my sins in God’s eye, or justify my sins. Sin is just that, sin, and we should seek Jesus’ grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome our sins, as we freely give to others the same grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome sin.</em></li></ul></li></ul>So, what do you learn when you read John 8:1-12? Click "comment" below to join the discussion!Dorsia Atkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796805069932449497noreply@blogger.com2