I love the ministry. I love the people, the chance to teach, the opportunity to share God's Word in a meaningful way. I love the endless challenge and the chance to grow and develop.
Recently I have been given a new chance to minister. The Conference which is the regional Free Methodist Church is beginning a new church planting initiative. They have asked me to help them lay out a fund raising plan. I am very excited to use the fund raising skills I have picked up in such a wonderful way. So I am praying and thinking and waiting for what God will lay out
New opportunities are energizing. They make everything fresh and new. I can hardly wait to get started!
Just Connie
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Study Day
As I have often shared, Mondays are my study and sermon preparation day. I love Mondays. I love the process of sermon development. I am always so amazed as the sermon lays itself out. It is exciting to see the sermon take shape, thought by thought and verse by verse.
I am currently preaching through the Book of 1st John. It has been very good and I have never preached a series from there before. One of the things I like about preaching through a Book is that it brings me to passages I would not normally preach from. It stretches me and that is a very good thing.
I feel like there are limitless possibilities stretching ahead and that is a very good feeling.
Just Connie
I am currently preaching through the Book of 1st John. It has been very good and I have never preached a series from there before. One of the things I like about preaching through a Book is that it brings me to passages I would not normally preach from. It stretches me and that is a very good thing.
I feel like there are limitless possibilities stretching ahead and that is a very good feeling.
Just Connie
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Counterfeit Christians; Is It Me?
Today we will be looking at 1 John 2:18-26.
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
Here John is specifically warning against counterfeit Christians. Those who seemed to be part of Christianity, but are not in reality. He goes so far as to name them anti-Christs, the opposite of Christ. How do we know who these false teachers are? Here are some guidelines to help us.
1. Be anointed
a. Know Jesus Christ
b. Be filled with the Spirit
c. Walk & Live in Christ
2. Know the truth
a. Know who Christ is
b. Know what Scripture says
c. Be teachable
3. Identify the lie
a. Does Scripture support it?
b. Does tradition support it?
c. Do respected teachers support it?
Conclusion: There are those among us who would draw us away from the truth. We need to know the truth and be able to identify the lie. We also need to look at ourselves. Am I on track? Am I in the truth and can I identify any lies in my own life?
It comes down to being willing to give over everything we are and let the transformation begin. and Lord let it start with me.
Just Connie
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
Here John is specifically warning against counterfeit Christians. Those who seemed to be part of Christianity, but are not in reality. He goes so far as to name them anti-Christs, the opposite of Christ. How do we know who these false teachers are? Here are some guidelines to help us.
1. Be anointed
a. Know Jesus Christ
b. Be filled with the Spirit
c. Walk & Live in Christ
2. Know the truth
a. Know who Christ is
b. Know what Scripture says
c. Be teachable
3. Identify the lie
a. Does Scripture support it?
b. Does tradition support it?
c. Do respected teachers support it?
Conclusion: There are those among us who would draw us away from the truth. We need to know the truth and be able to identify the lie. We also need to look at ourselves. Am I on track? Am I in the truth and can I identify any lies in my own life?
It comes down to being willing to give over everything we are and let the transformation begin. and Lord let it start with me.
Just Connie
Friday, February 4, 2011
Ford Foundation
Today was the first day of my new leadership classes. The ford Foundation has a special rural initiative to help train leaders int eh community and to enable them to network effectively. Today's class was very good.
Among other things we did was to take a Myers Briggs personality test. I had not had one in 15 years. It had not changed that much. I am an ENFJ. That means I am an extrovert, Intuitive, Feeling and Judging. I thought it hit it right on the nail head. I get energized by being around people, I am more interested in relationships and I am highly organized. I was very glad to have the chance to refresh this test.
I am looking forward to tomorrow and all that we will learn. I think the next 6 months of classes will probably stretch us all in new ways. I could use some stetching .... hmmmmm if only it was a bit more comfortable.
Just Connie
Among other things we did was to take a Myers Briggs personality test. I had not had one in 15 years. It had not changed that much. I am an ENFJ. That means I am an extrovert, Intuitive, Feeling and Judging. I thought it hit it right on the nail head. I get energized by being around people, I am more interested in relationships and I am highly organized. I was very glad to have the chance to refresh this test.
I am looking forward to tomorrow and all that we will learn. I think the next 6 months of classes will probably stretch us all in new ways. I could use some stetching .... hmmmmm if only it was a bit more comfortable.
Just Connie
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Pastor's Cabinet
I met with my new Pastor's Cabinet tonight. It is a great group of people. We talked about the health of the church and threw around ideas for outreach and ministry. It was a good brainstorming session. The thing that soon became evident is that they have a passion for people and that is a wonderful gift.
I am looking forward to working with them over this next year and I am looking forward to what God will be doing in the days ahead. I think there are exciting things in store for all of us. There are good days ahead.
Just Connie
I am looking forward to working with them over this next year and I am looking forward to what God will be doing in the days ahead. I think there are exciting things in store for all of us. There are good days ahead.
Just Connie
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Starry Sky
It is a clear cold night. That is pretty rare in Oregon in February. Not so much the cold part, but the clear part. When I came out of the church tonight I just stood there and and looked with awe at the sky. There were a myriad of stars spread out across the heavens. It was gorgeous.
As I stood there I was so humbled by the vastness of creation. Hundreds and hundreds of stars in the sky and God knows every one of them. Universe after universe and still God knows every hair on my head.
The beauty of the night and the reminder of God's love and care has filled me with a sense of peace. And that is a very good feeling.
As I stood there I was so humbled by the vastness of creation. Hundreds and hundreds of stars in the sky and God knows every one of them. Universe after universe and still God knows every hair on my head.
The beauty of the night and the reminder of God's love and care has filled me with a sense of peace. And that is a very good feeling.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Day at the Beach
I played hooky today. It was a wonderful, beautiful and relaxing day. The sun was shining and there was a crispness to the air that reminded me it is only February. Being the dedicated Pastor that I am, I took one look at the day and my heavy schedule for the rest of the week and ..... packed up and headed to the beach.
My friend Lorri and I toodled over to Lincoln City. We walked on the beach in the sun, we had a wonderful lunch and Mo's, shopped a bit and even found the time for ice cream before we headed back to Willamina. The day was filled with laughter, good conversation and even a few tears.
So here I am tonight, pleasantly tired, relaxed and happy. I am feeling blessed and that is a very good feeling.
My friend Lorri and I toodled over to Lincoln City. We walked on the beach in the sun, we had a wonderful lunch and Mo's, shopped a bit and even found the time for ice cream before we headed back to Willamina. The day was filled with laughter, good conversation and even a few tears.
So here I am tonight, pleasantly tired, relaxed and happy. I am feeling blessed and that is a very good feeling.
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