Current Community Groups ~ February 21, 2011

Current Groups: (All groups Wednesday @ 7pm unless noted)

3D Youth  ~ Jeff and Kelli Robinette, Youth Pastor

  Church Office 1509 S Kanawha St, Beckley, WV 25801

   304-573-4141

  (Open from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to accommodate travel time)

The Blessing of Fellowship ~ Jason Lowe, Lead Pastor
  117 Cajun St, Beckley- 304-237-7934

Crazy Love by Francis Chan ~ Mark Dawes
  205 Granville Ave, Beckley, WV 25801—304-255-0442

Monvee ~ Sam Peterson, Executive Pastor

  100 Bishop St, Beckley, WV 25801—304-255-5044

Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith ~ Angie Harding

  (Ladies Group) 231 Market Rd., Beckley, WV 25801 - 304-253-1466

Fellowship, Food, and the Word ~ Debbie Marks / Cindi Atkins

  (Monday morning) 214 Price Lane in Daniels, WV 25832 - 304-255-5606

Ladies Bible Study ~ Dee Peterson
(Every other Monday evening @ 6:30pm ~ check calendar on back)

  Church Office 1509 S Kanawha St, Beckley, WV 25801 - 304-255-5044

Transformed Vessels (Widow’s Ministry) ~ Debbie Neal

(Every other Monday evening @ 6:00pm ~ check calendar on back)

  Church Office 1509 S Kanawha St, Beckley, WV 25801 - 304-573-8591

Couples Group ~ Keith and Tara Webb

 1210 Old Grandview Rd. in Beaver, WV 25813 - 304-763-0271

Tuesday Group ~ Sharon Toney

February 15-March 15 from 2:00-3:00pm

Church Office 1509 S Kanawha St, Beckley, WV 25801 - 304-860-1940

This Too Shall Pass

As I wrote the title above I couldn't help but think of the line from Lord of Rings when Gandalf says, "Yoooou, shalll nottt passs!" to the Balrog.  My boys, especially Ben, love those movies, and I like them too - great allegories.

Unlike the Balrog, however, who did not pass if you haven't seen the movie, the various seasons of our lives do pass.  I have been a little mentally and physically exhausted this week, and things always look more difficult when you are worn out.  I am generally very optimistic (some might say foolishly optimistic; a dreamer), but it has been harder this week to see everything as possible.  There are thoughts that creep in attempting to discourage, but I've been around the block enough times by now to know what is going on internally.  I need rest.

So many times, however, I have seen people get lost in certain seasons of their lives and allow temporary circumstances or feelings to swallow them and do permanent damage.  It is so easy from the outside looking in to see that everything is not as bad as they perceive it to be.  Maybe they just need a break, maybe they need to stop being so hard on themselves, maybe they need to stop expecting perfection from others, but whatever it is, it is smaller than they think, and will pass soon if they let it.

Nobody is "UP" all the time, so don't beat yourself up with that lie.  If you are going through a rough stretch right now, just close your eyes, breath in, breath out; turn your heart to God, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how small today is in the scope of eternity.

Save Your Life

In our time together yesterday we talked about two things that are so important.  Recognizing the parrallel tracks in our lives of "Spiritual" and "Non-spiritual," and crying out to God.

I am in a position where I get to hear a lot of stories of people blowing up their lives, and it is sad and avoidable.  The solution is so simple that I feel like an idiot saying it, "Live a godly life."  Sure the "advice" takes different forms in different situations, but it boils down to "live a godly life," "God's way really is the best way," or "that may feel good, or right, now, but it isn't godly and it won't feel that way later."

By the grace of God choose to save your own life.  Prevent situations by taking time to think about areas of your life that aren't "integrated."  That is to say, "Are there areas of your life where God is absent, or you know that, if you really thought about it, are wrong?"  Those things might seem managable now, but they are entry points for things that will destroy your life.

Crying out to God means calling on Him with the realization that He is your only hope.  We like to think that we are strong enough, smart enough, savy enough, or attractive enough to make our lives into what we want them to be.  The truth is we are not.  We need God, and any area not plugged into Him is eventually going to be unfulfilling or a destructive force.

May the Holy Spirit lead us on this journey!

Psalm 15 "LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  . . . He who swears to his own hurt and does not change . . . He who does these things shall never be moved."

The Purpose of the Church

The passion of my heart is discipleship, which I see as helping Jesus followers live like Jesus.  This has always contrasted with my evangelistic side which is that part that wants to see people coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus; entering into a relationship with Him and making Him Lord of their life.

As we think about the purpose of the church it is easy to say that we should do both equally.  However the reality is that you are going to lean one way or the other.  You can't offer an infinite number of programs in the local church, so do you offer more discipleship or more outreach?  You can't share two messages on Sunday, so is this Sunday going to be discipleship or outreach? (What was last Sunday? What is next Sunday?)

It is obviously a great church growth strategy to trend toward non-believers because there are more of them out there to reach.  But, for me, I think that in over emphasizing that aspect you end up with a room full of shallow believers (inch deep, mile wide).  However, an overemphasis on discipling people who already believe leads to a group of people that are so inwardly focused that non-believers are made to feel like outsiders walking into a conversation that they are not a part of mid-stream.

As in everything we have to find a balance and avoid letting the pros on one side swing the pendulum too far.

What do you identify as the greatest responsibility of the church?

Avoid Relationship Emergencies

It is human nature to avoid things until they are broken.  We don't often times think about the oil in our car until the light comes on, or eating right until the doctor or scale give us a warning.

Relationships are the same way.  We often neglect them until there is an emergency or reason for alarm.  In our society and culture that is so inundated with relationships (read Facebook/Twitter) it makes even more difficult to keep track of our more valuable relationships.  It is helpful to think in terms of there being three levels of relationships with: 1 - being those closest and most important to us; 2 - important friends and co-workers/classmates; and 3 - acquaintances/people who you know their names but not their story.

As you categorize the people that you know, clarify if you are giving your best energy to people in group one, or if 2 and 3 have hi-jacked your thoughts and calendar.  Think of a way to systematically "check-in" with those people in group 2.  I have a list of names that I try to cycle through monthly to make sure that I keep my relationships connected with the goal of knowing what is currently going on in their lives.  My group 3 is primarily maintained through random social media contact, and an attempt to contact people on their birthdays for a once a year "check in."

You may think it is crazy to try to come up with a system of maintaining relationships, but the truth is that it is easy to disconnect from people through the busyness of life and those connections are important!  I can think back now to relationships that I wish I had better maintained and not lost in the flow of life.

Checking in regularly and giving your best energy to group 1 also helps to avoid relational emergencies.  You never want to be the person whose marriage train wrecks, or relationship with their children vanishes, and you are caught saying, "I didn't know there was anything wrong!"

As Christians we should allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us as well!  When is the last time you sat down in your prayer time and said, "Holy Spirit, you know everything!  Can you tell me what I can do to make my important relationships better?"  I know from experience that God will bring things to your mind and heart that you need to know to strengthen your relationships!

Be Healed, Be a Healer

I have been reminded lately of the healing power of the things of God.  There is healing power in reading the Bible - just reading and taking in the Word of God will heal you mentally, emotionally, and physically.  This is also true of prayer and fellowship with godly people. 

Above all there is NO DOUBT that there is healing power in our words.  Jesus says it this way in Matthew 15:11, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  He pointed to the fulfillment of all the Old Testament dietary laws as being the realization that our words are powerful!  If you read through Leviticus (which I know is on the top of your list), then you will see there are a lot of dietary laws and this is truly a powerful statement!

Proverbs 18:21 cannot be underestimated!  "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."  We need to take seriously the exhortation to speak life and not speak death.  You have the power to speak life over yourself and those around you.  Be a healer!