Tuesday, September 28, 2004

just sent this to yahoo group

Hello Friends,

 

Hoping on this Tuesday morning that you are safe and getting back to something like normal life.  If you need assistance of any sort, please contact the church office (379-4949) or Frank Stankunas (258-3241) or Jason MacGregor (359-6603).

 

<> I will be meeting with anyone who is available tomorrow at Hope Community Church (corner of Tower & SW 24th) for prayer and sharing and mutual encouragement.  Children are welcome at this 45 minute meeting.  The genesis of this was:

a.) Thinking some just might need to receive prayer following Jeanne

b.) We’ve missed our Sunday gathering 2 of last 4 weeks

c.) There’s a lot to pray about (besides Hurricane stuff)

 

So, if you can come out, come on.  If you can’t, and this is totally understandable, no guilt. 

 

<> Now, on to SUBJECT 2, reminders:

1.) Women’s bible studies are meeting per usual today, 9:45am and 7:30pm.

2.) There is a meeting to discuss family business this Sunday (October 3) at 6pm.

 

 

<>Quote from Women’s Curriculum:

The gospel humbles me out of my pride, showing me that I am a sinner. But it also values me out of my fear, showing me what Jesus was willing to do for me.

 

just sent this to yahoo group

Hello Friends,

 

Hoping on this Tuesday morning that you are safe and getting back to something like normal life.  If you need assistance of any sort, please contact the church office (379-4949) or Frank Stankunas (258-3241) or Jason MacGregor (359-6603).

 

<> I will be meeting with anyone who is available tomorrow at Hope Community Church (corner of Tower & SW 24th) for prayer and sharing and mutual encouragement.  Children are welcome at this 45 minute meeting.  The genesis of this was:

a.) Thinking some just might need to receive prayer following Jeanne

b.) We’ve missed our Sunday gathering 2 of last 4 weeks

c.) There’s a lot to pray about (besides Hurricane stuff)

 

So, if you can come out, come on.  If you can’t, and this is totally understandable, no guilt. 

 

<> Now, on to SUBJECT 2, reminders:

1.) Women’s bible studies are meeting per usual today, 9:45am and 7:30pm.

2.) There is a meeting to discuss family business this Sunday (October 3) at 6pm.

 

 

<>Quote from Women’s Curriculum:

The gospel humbles me out of my pride, showing me that I am a sinner. But it also values me out of my fear, showing me what Jesus was willing to do for me.

 

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Gospel-Driven Accountability

REAL INTIMACY:
AN ALTERNATIVE TO ACCOUNTABILITY


Accountability is often based on questions that touch only on external behaviors. For example: Have you looked at pornography? Have you masturbated? Have you thought about doing either? And, have you lied about the previous questions? If relationships are going to help bring maturity, we must enter a process that goes beyond externals and simply measuring up to a standard. Such questions fail to penetrate the internal functioning of the deceitful heart. To care deeply by asking tough questions gives the opportunity of establishing real intimacy. The questions are not a check-up, but a process for growth and intimacy. Real intimacy is learning to love well. Loving well is not manipulation for positive answers, it is a process of maturing. You should be pursuing feedback from others to begin to discover the arrogance and deceit of your own heart (Mk. 7:20-23.) The process is more for the purpose of developing humility and godliness than demonstrating or achieving successful relationship.

The Right Questions: 1

How would your friends, relatives, and/or spouse answer the following? If the answers are consistently positive, then either your friends, relatives, or spouse have been dishonest, you are deceiving them, or you have been glorified.

1. Am I open to honestly acknowledging sin in my relationships with you/family/friends?

2. Do I regularly ask for your feedback regarding my relational weaknesses and deceitfulness?

3. Do you see me openly and honestly facing my personal struggles?

4. Do you see me pursuing God as a man/woman who is hungry and starving?

5. Am I too focused on the externals of godliness and not on a commitment to love God and others?

Continue To Ask Yourself:

1. Who am I? Describe difficult events and circumstances that have impacted your relationship with God and others. What emotions, thoughts, and desires are you left with as a result of events in your life?
2. Where am I? How do these events affect your relating to others? What relational patterns have developed as a result of these events?

3. Who am I in my marriage, family, or among friends? If I invite honesty, what am I like to live with?

4. Are you a person of integrity? What questions do you want others to ask you? What questions would God ask you?

5. What things do I take more seriously than God?

6. Am I responding out of worry or fear to my circumstances or out of a deep growing faith in God?

7. Can I honestly say to my spouse or best friend that I hope only in God? Would they believe me?

Suggestions:

1. When you pray, work at seeing the bigger issues of redemption and not your own circumstances.

2. Think about the price Christ paid for you to have access to God?

3. When you pray, be aware of your motives—to get God to do things your way or to get you to do things His way.


Ó 1997 by Dr. Harry W. Schaumberg. For information on STONE GATE Resources and Brief Intensive Counseling call toll-free: (888) 575-3030. Email: stonegater@cs.com. Web Site: www.stonegatersources.com. This information may be copied without further permission if done so in it’s entirety and included this copyright information.


1




Dan Allender, “Humility; Antidote to Shame,” Perspective, vol. 2, no. 1 (1987,) page 42.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Larger Catechism

Question 135: What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behavior; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.
Question 136: What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge;all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and: Whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.

Finding Mercy in the Fury of the Storms - from Orlando PCA

Finding Mercy in the Fury of the Storms - byFaith Online