Month: September 2017

What do you like to double-up on?

Maybe a favorite run….adding in an extra 4 miles?

Maybe a Starbuck’s drink….gimme an extra shot of expresso?

Or maybe my personal favorite…..a double-cheese burger!  Can I get an “amen” to that!

Hopefully, you’ll also love doubling-up on our homework for this coming Friday!  After a week off, I’m excited to regroup and “double-up” on Chapter 13 (John 19:30) and Chapter 14 (Romans 1: 3-4) !

Cornwell Center….same as every other time!  7:30 am to gather and 7:45 am to have fellowship!

See you then!

We won’t hold FMMF this week due to a larger than normal number of planned absences.  So rather than cover the next chapter to a smaller audience, we’ll simply “double-up” NEXT Friday!

Here’s the plan (spelled out for the engineers and accountants in the group):

• SEP 22:  No FMMF
• SEP 29:  Chapter 13 (John 19:30) and Chapter 14 (Romans 1: 3-4) Mike leading
• OCT 6:  Chapter 15 (Romans 3: 21-26) Leader TBD
• OCT 13:  Chapter 16 (21: 1-4) and series wrap-up.  Leader TBD

Then from OCT 20 – NOV 3, we’re going to spend some time allowing men to share their faith testimonies.  Details coming on that and our plan is for 2-3 men per Friday.

Tentative plan is to begin a new series on/about NOV 10th.

Enjoy the “rest day” this week…..don’t forget to read the next two chapters in prep for SEP 29th.

Peace!

We’re nearing the end of our current study of The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses by Chris Bruno.

So what’s next?  Bring your ideas this week or email me if you can’t make it this week.

I’ve gotten two recommendations already…but we can consider a few more!

True Spirituality by Chip Ingram

Summary:  Christians today live in a world that is activity heavy and relationship light. The result is spiritual emptiness. We struggle to know what God wants from us and for us . . . and we’re unsure what a real relationship with God really looks like. But that was never God’s idea. HIS idea of faith is not about rules or religion— it’s about relationship. That’s where God tells us to start. In Romans 12, God gives us a clear picture of what Christians should look like at the root level. If you’re ready to move from “in” to “all in,” then you’re ready to become a Romans 12 Christian. The next steps of your journey toward true spirituality start here.

Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur

Summary:  Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God’s work. Look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men – fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots – and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. MacArthur draws principles from Christ’s careful, hands-on training of the original twelve disciples for today’s modern disciple – you.

Peace!

Lots of changes coming this week as we transition to the Gospels / New Testament.  After weeks of covenants made, covenants broken, and covenants made again, we find the Gospel of Mark sharing Jesus’ praise of “the time has come….”.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  MARK 1:15-16

But is it an announcement or a warning?

If it was an announcement then maybe the fishermen were following Jesus out of a sense of curiosity.  Or if it was a warning, perhaps it was out of a sense of fear.

We may never know and that’s the beauty of this week’s passage.  Whatever the reason, we learn about the initial casting of Jesus’ net to find “fishers of men”.

Jason Schubert leads us this week on Chapter 12 of our study.  Gather at 7:30 am, ready to dig into our message at 7:45 am.

Also, we have two dates in mind for the Habitat build opportunity in Grier Heights:

-Saturday, OCT 7 (Jason is planning to register)

-Saturday, OCT 28 (Mike is registered)

Pick one or both of these dates if you can!  More on that this Friday at FMMF.

Peace!

Selfishly, I wanted to lead this week’s discussion on Isaiah 65:17.

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (NIV)

One of my favorite themes that’s constant in the Bible is this message of “creating, then re-creating” again and again.

Such is the message for this week’s passage.

But, what is our role in the creation stories that come up again and again?  Where are we expected to play a part?

Someone once told me:  “You’re either busy living, or busy dying…”  This week, as we discuss God’s promise of a new heaven and new world, I’ll challenge you to get busy….as God wants us to be!

Gather at 7:30 am….I’ll kick things into gear promptly at 7:45 am.

Peace!