Church is not a Building (John Eldredge)

Church Is Not A Building
09/24/2008
Church is not a building. Church is not an event that takes place on Sundays. I know, its how we think of it. “I go to First Baptist.” “We are members of St. Luke’s.” “Is it time to go to church?” Much to our surprise, that is not how the Bible uses the term. Not at all. When the Scripture talks about church, it means community. The little fellowships of the heart that are outposts of the kingdom. A shared life. They worship together, eat together, pray for one another, go on quests together. They hang out together, in each other’s homes. When Peter is sprung from prison, “he went to the house of Mary the mother of John…where many people had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12:12).

Anytime an army goes to war or an expedition takes to the field, it breaks down into little platoons and squads. And every chronicle of war or quest will tell you that the men and women who fought so bravely fought for each other. That’s where the acts of heroism and sacrifice take place, because that’s where the devotion is. You simply can’t be devoted to a mass of people; devotion takes place in small units, just like a family.

We have stopped short of being an organization; we are an organism instead, a living and spontaneous association of individuals who know one another intimately, care for each other deeply, and feel a kind of respect for one another that makes rules and bylaws unnecessary. A group is the right size, I would guess, when each member can pray for every other member, individually and by name.

This is the wisdom of Brother Andrew, who smuggled Bibles into communist countries for decades. It’s the model, frankly, of the church in nearly every country but the U.S. Now, I’m not suggesting you don’t do whatever it is you do on Sunday mornings. I’m simply helping you accept reality – that whatever else you do, you must have a small fellowship to walk with you and fight with you and bandage your wounds. This is essential

New Music from Victor on iTunes

Redeeming the Thorns

Redeeming the Thorns; Staying Close to Gods Heart By Victor Tarassov, MS Have you ever wondered why we sometimes just can’t seem to overcome our battles by shear will power? We do the same things over and over even though we don’t want to. I know I have been wrestling with that question. It is hard if not impossible to overcome or deal with a thorn by yourself. And I think I am finally coming to grips with the fact that the Christian’s life is totally impossible to live unless… Keep reading. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians in chapter 12:7-10 NIV describe the thorn that he has, he asks the Lord to remove it three times, (how many times have we asked) and yet the answer Paul is given is "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness" v.9 Humm. That goes against every addict’s or persons thinking in recovery that wants to be self-sufficient or do it in their own way. Actually there is an implication here that says we may have thorns in our life, but the Lord may chose not to remove them but give us the grace to deal with them. I have struggled with loneliness, depression and other struggles. I have asked the Lord to remove them but what I am finding is that these thorns can be an invitation and gift from the Lord for intimacy and deep fellowship. I believe that this is true and when I don’t go to Him I lose life. Maybe some of us need to reconsider the thorns in our life and see them not as a curse but a gift to make us dependent on the Lord and a call to intimacy with Him. I know that I have had to come to this place even with all I know, my education, experience, etc. I still cannot overcome my pride and other issues by myself. My pride can kill my spiritual walk. Ask yourself how are you doing in this garden of thorns? **************************************** We do the same things over and over even though we don’t want to. **************************************** In John 15:5 Jesus says apart from Him we can do nothing. I think it is impossible to live the Christian life with out our complete radical dependence on the Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Sprit. So this passage points out again that it can’t be done alone. We will have to choose whether we will move to numbing or escaping pain i.e. addictions and acting out which leads to death or dependence on the Lord, which leads to life. In the book of James chapter 1:2-4 we are told that we will not escape trials/temptation. But if we do stand up to them and make healthy choices that depend on the Lord for help we will receive a crown of life v.15. We need the Lord but we also need community/people to help us handle our thorns. We may have put the thorns in our life, but to be in recovery means I can’t do it alone I need the Lords and the Lords people to help me. I just want to make sure that no one thinks it’s just the Lord and me. God created community and gave us the church so we can heal and recover from the consequences of sin. This is done in fellowship with the body of Christ the church. **************************************** God created community and gave us the church so we can heal! **************************************** May we see our thorns, whatever they may be as a gift to grow closer to the risen Lord and experience His grace? Some action steps: 1. Admit we have them and identify them. 2. Talk with the Lord about them, we can ask Him to remove them but if they are there let’s see them as opportunity to deepen our dependence on Christ. 3. Share with others in a small group or support group setting as well as a close friend or pastor. 4. Allow for time with Gods grace to begin to strengthen and change your character you so you can respond in new healthy ways that lead to life and not death. 5. Prayer as a constant chat with the Lord and a constant connection to Him in your mind. 6. Clean out our garden where there are thorns. What do we watch on TV? Where do we go with our free time? Clean house. I wish you all a blessed Christmas and pray that the thorns in your life will drive you to the passion that brought Christ (Emanuel) on earth for us. Peace be with you, Victor This article is by Victor Tarassov, MS

Kevin Philips Preaches on a Sundy Eternal Prospective

http://www.sdlife.org/images/audio/Sermon%20April%206%202008.mp3
Click above to hear Kevin Philips preach. Cut and paste in your url browser.

Hearing God Psalm 85;8

Slip and Slide

Its interesting to me to see that I can be so strong one day and really think that I am very spiritual, and then in a day or less slide away. The enemy, flesh find it so easy to turn and do what I ultimately know is not right. I cant stand it. Its like when Paul said "I do the things I dont want to do and the things I want to do I don't" Well for many of us we stop there and say a big yes with Paul. We however forget that there is victory but it is only in Christ not ourselves. Jesus tells us that with our him we can do nothing. So do I really want to depend of Christ day in and day out moment by moment to life the christian life. God help me say and do yes

The DeVoe Connection Its Nice to be Connected

It was very nice to get this post on this blog from Al. There a connection that we both have and share as well as many others and that is out love for guitars and especially Lester DeVoes. We all know what its like to get on the list. Then wait a few yeas and then get the call to be told "Im starting to work on it" (from Lester) then we cant seep and we just think about it. Its like a long lost lover that we found and will soon see again. I am perfectly in tune with Al's statment bellow. I am so glad for Al. I also cant wait to be one of those who own a Devoe in a few weeks. Lester just finished my guitar. It is awaiting a Calton case before it ships to Alaska. I too enjoy Ottmar's music. I am looking forward to playing La Luna on my own DeVoe. There is another guitarist, Jin Oki who is very good and plays a DeVoe Negra out of Japan. He has one tune on Youtube and if you do a search his one video will come up. The sound quality is very low but the power of the bass in that guitar comes through. So you went with a peg head? I have one guitar with a peg head and have played it since 1972. I love them and they are very easy to tune (and quick). What rosette did you decide on? The first DeVoe that I saw was around 1985 and it had the roses. That is the rosette that I have always wanted. Ever since Lester started working on mine I have had this grinding feeling in my stomach in anticipation. Wow! I know you understand perfectly. We can share this because we have both been there and there is just something nice about understanding because we have shared this and this give us a cool connection.

Al Koenig

Enjoy your DeVoe. For my birthday this year my wife ordered another for me. I think this one will be a very traditional blanca.

What are are Commitments and Agreements that we make?

I have been listing to a book on iTunes by John Eldrenge Waling with God check out there web page hear http://www.ransomedheart.com/ One of the things that the author spoke about was commitments or agreement. In the approach I use I use the term life depends on? Or my greatest perceived threat is? Life Depends on? yet I have felt that I been missing something and when John spoke about agreement and commitments that rang so true. What do we really believe about our self and what will happen in our live. I have meat so many people who say " I suck" " I will never be loved" those are agreements that we make and they come from the evil one. They are lies. We are created in Gods image and we have value. We were woven in our mothers wombs by God Psalm 139. He know us and made us the way we are and it was good. So many times we go through life and what happens to us is that others interpret life for us and we pick up the message that "I suck" "no one will love me" and if we go unchecked we come to believe that this is so and its true. These commitments rob of of connection with others and kill our soul.

Wecome to the Sacred Soul Care Blog

Hi and welcome to Sacred Soul Care blog. This blog will be a journal entry where we explore what its like to love God with all your heart might soul strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.