Category: Faith

rest

Adam Mashni2 Comments

I just came out of a 2 week run of back-2-back retreats, and all the planning that’s involved with those.  it was crazy.  by time my sunday night drive home came after Velocity i was literally trying to keep my eyes open.  i had even skipped a few days of my bible reading plan due to the busyness.

all that to say that the past 2 days have been amazing.  summed up in one word:  rest.

i am a podcast junkie as of late, and the one i am loving is Mark Driscoll’s weekly message to Mars Hill Church in Seattle.  during my run yesterday, i listened to his latest talk.  he said one phrase that caught my attention –

“you have no business enjoying restful solitude unless you have poured yourself out in ministry.”

and

“If Satan can’t make you sin, he’ll keep you busy.  Not doing bad things, but neglecting first things.”

interesting.

thoughts?

you can’t fool god

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i, along with a few others, am reading through the gospels in 40 days.  in matthew 25 i came across this passage that i’ve read many times, but this time something new stuck out.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

if i was a shepherd, i would hope that it would be very easy for me to distinguish between a sheep and a goat.  i imagine it’s the same with God.  those who aren’t living for Him are not fooling Him.  He knows a goat when he sees it.  i pray that my life is lived in such a way that it is obvious that Jesus lives in me.

Ted Haggard @ Elevation Church

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many of you remember the scandal Ted Haggard was involved with. this past weekend, Steven Furtick brought Ted and his wife, Gayle, in for an interview.  what was life like then?  what is life like now? (2 1/2 years later) how did Gayle muster the forgiveness to stay with Ted?  all these questions and more were asked.

it is definitely worth the watch. they talk about forgiveness, the power of sin, and the even greater power of the gospel.

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it’s great to see someone, who has previously fallen, come back and prove the power of forgiveness and redemption.

thanks ted haggard

benefits

Adam Mashni2 Comments

steven furtick gave a message this past sunday on the benefits of the LORD.

How often do we overlook these?  it was such a great reminder

psalm 103:1-4

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits–

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

what i’ve read lately

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psalm 119:135 – make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees (TNIV)

i find that I want the first part (God’s favor on my life), but I tend to ignore the second part (learning God’s ways). i wonder if the first part comes without the second part?

psalm 119:45 – i will walk about in freedom, for i have sought out your precepts (TNIV)

it seems that in order to walk in freedom (and one could argue, have God’s favor), i must be seeking God’s “precepts” … his ways, not mine.

velocity update – march 1, 2009

Adam Mashni1 Comment

redletters_hd

this past weekend in velocity we our opening talk for “red letters.”  i have the talk, and i was pretty excited about it.  i talked out of matthew 9:9-13.  jesus walks up to matthew, an outcast in that society, and asks him to follow.  so crazy.  i took it from two angles

the disciples:  no doubt the ones already following jesus were a little confused as to why a “tax collector” was joining their bunch.  i asked, “who in your life are you denying the life-changing love of jesus?”  we mainly do that because of decisions those people have made…we think jesus wouldn’t want them following him.

matthew:  we’ve all been here, i’m sure.  i know i’ve felt sometimes that i’m not good enough to follow jesus.  oh boy does jesus shatter that thinking.  anyone can change.  this is jesus we’re talking about…the same dude who rose from the dead!  wow, the power in believing that is immense.  who do you know that is “too far gone?”  even when everyone thinks a person is “lost” … he is still worth being found in God’s eyes.

next week bill is tackling some red letters.  stay tuned for a recap

weekend update + series ending

Adam Mashni1 Comment

this weekend was a bit busy.  I spoke in all 3 of our Junior High services…which went really great.  Bill Holbrook did wonderful leading volunteers so I wouldn’t have to worry about any of that.

my talk was on boundaries in dating. great subject for jh kids.

then sunday night came.  this time bill spoke in velocity, which was a nice break for me.  we wrapped up our “goin’ all the way” series with a talk on loneliness.  bill hit it out of the park.

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our next series is called ‘red letters.’ watch the promo video here.

another key event this weekend:  i was given a free iPhone.  a volunteer decided to bless me with his 4G 1st generation iPhone.  i am now an AT&T customer.

i’m still reading crazy love and tribes

what i’m excited about:  like having an iPhone isn’t enough?!?  i’m excited to solidify our summer trips, as well as plan for our EMERGE weekend experience.