Heading off to Maggie Valley

Please be in prayer for the youth group as we head off to Maggie Valley this week. We will be doing mission projects through a place called Outdoor Mission Camp. This has truly been a blessing to us and the great thing about it is that it is a Youth For Christ camp. We love working with Youth For Christ and now we have an opportunity to help them with some of the maintenance needs of the camp. You all keep praying ----- especially that our hearts will be touched by God's overwhelming presence and that we will come away from this time refreshed and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

The one who prays.....

As I have been reading through Ephesians 3.14-21 one thing that has just hit me like a ton of bricks is that this is a prayer. Now, I know that might not be earth shattering to some of you ----- but to me that is of utmost importance. Notice how Paul prays. Paul prays for the Ephesians strength, that they might have power in the Spirit and that Christ may dwell in their hearts. In my Christian Theology class Dr. J. Kameron Carter said: "the one who prays is a theologian and the theologian is one who prays." Paul is a theologian ---- a praying theologian. How do we live out our Christianity in prayer? Are we a people that pray? And how do we pray?

Ephesians 3.14-21

This passage from the book of Ephesians has such beautiful poetic language. Paul says in verse 18: "I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height an depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Notice that word power. This doesn't seem to be power in any sense we think of power in modern day politics, economics or business. This is the power to comprehend God's love. It is a love that surpasses knowledge. I think many of us have experienced that love that seems to move beyond logic and beyond comprehension. One way that I have experienced that love is through wonderful friends that seem to always come beside me during dark and trying times. What are some ways that you all have experienced that love of God?

Tab Mix Plus

Hey you all. I wanted to give you a heads up about tab mix plus for firefox. I don't know how many of you all use firefox ------ but I personally love firefox compared to microsoft explorer. Well I just found the new tab mix plus for firefox. Just do a google search on tab mix plus firefox 3.5 developer. This will take you to a link that will help you download that. If you have no idea what I am talking about then please just scroll down. But if you do know what I am talking about you will know that tab mix plus is awesome for firefox. If you have questions you can email me.

Youth Mission Outings

We worked hard up at the Christian Help Center.
This was all in downtown Roxboro.
We didn't get all the paint on the walls.
To God be the glory, honor and power.

Ephesians 2.11-22

This coming Sunday I will be preaching from Ephesians 2.11-22. This is one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible when it talks of the reconciliation that is found at the cross. Verse 14 puts it this way: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." The two groups that Paul is referring to are the circumcised and the uncircumcised (v 11). But, isn't it beautiful how Paul puts that ----- it is in the body of Jesus [in his flesh] that the dividing wall can be done away with. Can you imagine that in your life? The dividing wall being destroyed between you and your enemy ----- you and your spouse ----- you and the bully at school ----- between white folk and black folk ----- between the Sunnis and the Shiites ----- between parent and child. And Paul says that this dividing wall is destroyed in Jesus' flesh. How do you think the world would look if this was realized?

Youth Mission Outings

Last night (which was Sunday) we kicked off Vacation Bible School at Warren's Grove. Our theme is Camp E.D.G.E. It was awesome and I am looking forward to tonight as well. The youth group all did something different. We went out and did highway clean-up. You can see how good we did with this picture above. I would love to have any of the rest of you come out as well. We are going to be painting at the Christian Help Center, going visiting at the Nursing Homes and then we are having a big lake party on the last night. I look forward to seeing you all then.

Ephesians 1.3-14

This Sunday I will be preaching from Ephesians 1.3-14. As I have been reading through this passage of scripture a few things have stuck out to me. First of all in verse 13 it says: "In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit." How do you think we are marked today when we hear the truth of the gospel and believe? Also, verse 9 sticks out to me where it says: "he has made known to us the mystery of his will." What is the mystery of God's will for us? This is a rich passage for us and I am truly enjoying diving into this study. Come and journey with me.

Camp E.D.G.E.

Camp E.D.G.E. is starting up for us this Sunday, July 12th at 6pm. I hope you all can come out and experience God in a new and awesome way. If you have any questions check out our website: www.warrensgroveumc.org

Check this stuff out

I love the face recognition thing.

Declaration

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

A-1 Commercial

This is something that is really not designed for WikiWorship ----- but this was made by two local Youth For Christ folks and also I just thought it was hilarious. Enjoy!

2 Corinthians 12.1-10

This Sunday I will be preaching from 2 Corinthians 12.1-10. This passage is the one where Paul talks about someone being caught up into the third heaven. I have always assumed that this was Paul talking in some sort of cryptic language about himself being the one who is caught up. And if that is the case then I wonder about verse 4 that reads: "was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat." What did Paul hear that he could not repeat to mere mortals? And why in the world does he tell the Corinthians about this experience if he cannot share it with them? I would love to hear what you all think.