Live Passionately!
Written by Pastor David   
Friday, 11 April 2008

Live Passionately!


Living Each Day As If It Were Your Last!


Luke 5:17-26


Luke 5:17-26 recounts Jesus’ miraculous healing of a paralyzed man whose friends brought him to Jesus. When they arrived at the home where Jesus was staying, however, the crowd was so large that they couldn’t get near the door or windows of the house. So they did something drastic. They took their friend up on the roof, tore a hole in the roof, and let their friend down into the house through the hole.



There are all kinds of things that have a tendency to crowd out our ability to come into the presence of Christ, and sometimes we may even need to make some drastic changes in our lives for this happen.


What is crowding out your ability to come into the presence of God?


What drastic change or action might the Holy Spirit be prompting you to make in your life, so that you can draw nearer to Christ?



The paralyzed man’s friends lowered him into the middle of the room, right in front of Jesus. They were great friends, who created space for their friend to meet Jesus.


What are some possible ways that you might create space and time to meet with Jesus?



The paralyzed man and his friends all expected Jesus to grant physical healing. Jesus saw a deeper need, however, and forgave the man’s sins. Jesus did the unexpected. When we make drastic changes in our life and when we create space and time with Jesus, He often does the unexpected in our lives. In fact, the scriptures would suggest that we shouldn’t be surprised by this, but that we should in fact expect Jesus to often do the unexpected.


How has Jesus surprised you as He has worked in your life?



At the end of the story, Jesus told the man: “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Isn’t it interesting that Jesus told the man to take his mat home with him, perhaps as a reminder forever of what the Lord had done for him that day.


When you think of the Lord’s work in your life, what are your “mats” that remind you of His gracious and surprising interventions?

Write comment (5 Comments)
Last Updated ( Friday, 11 April 2008 )
 
The Secret
Written by Pastor David   
Tuesday, 01 April 2008

I came across a comedian’s take on aging that I really like. It says, “Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids. If you are less than ten years old you are so excited about aging that you think in fractions. How old are you? I’m four and a half. You are never 36½ . You are four and a half going on five. That’s the key. You get into your teens and now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, even a few ahead. How old are you? I’m going to be 16 and you could be 13, but hey you are going to be 16. Then the greatest day of your life. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. You become 21. Yes, but then you turn 30. Ooh, what happened there. Makes you sound like bad milk. He turned, we had to throw him out. There is no fun now, you just soured. What’s wrong? What’s changed? You become 21. You turn 30 and then you are pushing 40. Whoa, put on the brakes. It’s all slipping away. Before you know it you reach 50 and your dreams are gone. But wait, you make it to 60. You didn’t think you would, but you make it. So you become 21, turn 30, push 40, reach 50 and make it to 60. You built up so much speed now that you hit 70. After that it’s a day-to-day thing. You hit Wednesday. You get into your 80’s and every day is a complete cycle. You hit lunch. You turn 4:30. You reach bedtime. It doesn’t end there. Into the 90’s you start going backwards. I was just 92 and then a strange thing happens if you make it over 100 you become a little kid again. I’m 100½.”


I hope we all live to be 100 ½. We spoke this past weekend of life coming at us so fast. Every day is so precious. I am excited to journey with you for the next 30 days and beyond. To learn to live passionately, love fully, walk humbly, and leave boldly.

Okay, so now you are wondering what "secret" I am going to reveal. Before I do, I want to thank you for visiting this web site. I hope we can use this medium as another Christ honoring tool to encourage and inspire one another with stories of how are lives are changing as a result of taking the 30 day challenge. Please share deeply and authentically with each other. We are committed to doing the same with you.


In Christ’s love,

Pastor David


Oh yeah, the secret. Well, speaking of aging. Many of you have commented to me over the past few years about my boyish looks. Some have asked if I had just graduated from college, or perhaps was just out of the seminary. Don’t worry if you have also made the same mistake, or thought similar thoughts. My free spirit, immature sense of humor, thick mane of hair, and "Arnold S.--like" physique would naturally cause many to underestimate how old I am. However, I cannot let the charade continue any longer. I must set the record straight. Yes, it’s true. I will be 40 at the end of this year. Of course, I did want to play power forward in the NBA, love Seinfeld, feel the jitters before I preach, wish I had more hair, and would love to be more musical, but none of these are the real secret. Please keep the secret to yourself. Encourage others to join us in TLC cyberspace and join us in living 30 days of no regrets.



Write comment (11 Comments)
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 April 2008 )