We were sent these pictures of Vernonia lake
We hiked Forest Park's Wildwood from the Zoo to NW Portland. Brrrr. Cold but fun.Sunday, February 27, 2011
Snow Weekend
We were sent these pictures of Vernonia lakeWe hiked Forest Park's Wildwood from the Zoo to NW Portland. Brrrr. Cold but fun.
First Things First
BFC Sermon Notes
Pastor:Rick Fry (Pomona, CA)
Text: Revelation 2:1-4 (Letter to the Ephesian Church)
Title: First Things First
1"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Jesus lists four good things about this church: (1) their labor, (2) their patience, (3) their intolerance of evil, and (4) their skill at testing and discovering false apostles--liars. But the missed the most important part of life with Jesus: loving Jesus.
Peter is a great example of this. In John 21:7, he recognizes the risen Christ and plunges into the sea to get close to the one he had earlier betrayed. Getting close to Jesus is the best thing he could have done, and Jesus' words to him on the beach confirmed that Jesus' only concern for Peter was love--Jesus still loved him. [Interestingly,. earlier Peter was able to walk on water. This time the 200 strokes needed to swim to Jesus was worth it ... plenty of time to think, too, while he swam.]
Jesus is more concerned about your love for Him than anything else. He didn't die for us so we could serve Him or others better, He died so we could love Him better. At His right hand are pleasures forever more (Psalm 16:11).
Our problem is that we put God's first commandment after the second commandment. We are to love God first--with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength--then love people (Matthew 22:34). Hard labor without love leads to burnout.
In America, God has blown away much of our prosperity because He loves us so much, He blows the distracting idols away. He still loves and pursues us.
In this letter to the Ephesian Church, we see that we "leave" our first love, we don't "lose" it.
You can't love people until you love God well.
Joseph's story illustrates this very well. In the "slingshot of God's prophetic promise" circumstances look horrible. The further you move from the hope of God's promises, the more we need to love and trust him ... then, with surprising speed, we see the fulfillment of His good purposes for us,
Finally, Jesus said He wishes we were either hot or cold. He did not suggest that He wanted cold (indifferent or dead) passion or hot (exhausting, overactive) activities. He would never command to be hated. Instead, He wishes our love for Him was either as cool and refreshing as cold water or as vibrant and energetic as hot water.
Pastor:Rick Fry (Pomona, CA)
Text: Revelation 2:1-4 (Letter to the Ephesian Church)
Title: First Things First
1"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Jesus lists four good things about this church: (1) their labor, (2) their patience, (3) their intolerance of evil, and (4) their skill at testing and discovering false apostles--liars. But the missed the most important part of life with Jesus: loving Jesus.
Peter is a great example of this. In John 21:7, he recognizes the risen Christ and plunges into the sea to get close to the one he had earlier betrayed. Getting close to Jesus is the best thing he could have done, and Jesus' words to him on the beach confirmed that Jesus' only concern for Peter was love--Jesus still loved him. [Interestingly,. earlier Peter was able to walk on water. This time the 200 strokes needed to swim to Jesus was worth it ... plenty of time to think, too, while he swam.]
Jesus is more concerned about your love for Him than anything else. He didn't die for us so we could serve Him or others better, He died so we could love Him better. At His right hand are pleasures forever more (Psalm 16:11).
Our problem is that we put God's first commandment after the second commandment. We are to love God first--with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength--then love people (Matthew 22:34). Hard labor without love leads to burnout.
In America, God has blown away much of our prosperity because He loves us so much, He blows the distracting idols away. He still loves and pursues us.
In this letter to the Ephesian Church, we see that we "leave" our first love, we don't "lose" it.
You can't love people until you love God well.
Joseph's story illustrates this very well. In the "slingshot of God's prophetic promise" circumstances look horrible. The further you move from the hope of God's promises, the more we need to love and trust him ... then, with surprising speed, we see the fulfillment of His good purposes for us,
Finally, Jesus said He wishes we were either hot or cold. He did not suggest that He wanted cold (indifferent or dead) passion or hot (exhausting, overactive) activities. He would never command to be hated. Instead, He wishes our love for Him was either as cool and refreshing as cold water or as vibrant and energetic as hot water.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Here's a poem that Troy Bailey sent to me. It's from a friend of his in Bangladesh.
Joy to the World
Joy's Deep Heart beats full for me
On sweet-soft hay... on wretched-ripping tree...
You could never dream of all He longs to do,
To make you more like Him... and more like you...
Overhead His faithful star is shining deep and bright
To flood His world with joy and chase away the night.
Heaven's child is here, a Laughing-Weeping baby boy,
Ever seeking, serving, saving -- blessing with the ache of Joy...
"Will they drink the cup of Heaven, laced with pain and bitter herbs?"
On the praising angels' faces the unspoken cry is heard.
Resting near the beating heart His Joy will one day pierce,
Love is soft, and love is wild, and love is gently fierce...
Death is cursed for Joy is here, His Laughter rocks the world...
Dustin D. Miller
29 Nov 2008
Joy's Deep Heart beats full for me
On sweet-soft hay... on wretched-ripping tree...
You could never dream of all He longs to do,
To make you more like Him... and more like you...
Overhead His faithful star is shining deep and bright
To flood His world with joy and chase away the night.
Heaven's child is here, a Laughing-Weeping baby boy,
Ever seeking, serving, saving -- blessing with the ache of Joy...
"Will they drink the cup of Heaven, laced with pain and bitter herbs?"
On the praising angels' faces the unspoken cry is heard.
Resting near the beating heart His Joy will one day pierce,
Love is soft, and love is wild, and love is gently fierce...
Death is cursed for Joy is here, His Laughter rocks the world...
Dustin D. Miller
29 Nov 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
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