I'll bet her parents have broken hearts and spent everything in their search for Crissy.

I'll bet that's how God thinks about every person who has not yet been found by Jesus.

We can help in the search for God's missing kids.  Becoming Contagious is a four session on line resource that will help us all learn how to partner with God in His search for people who are searching for God.

Join us in the search!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.   Luke 19:10

His plan was and is to create an ever-expanding company of women and men dedicated to reach the world with the Gospel.

“CONTAGIOUS” is the theme of our Group Life Conference 2012.  Together, group leaders, table leaders, apprentices, and prospective leaders will be inspired and equipped to lead the way with an exponential ripple in our groups, our families, and our friends and neighbors.

Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 8:30 – 10:30 am.  Bring two or three members of your group with you, and pray we all become contagious!

Click here to register!

People from ancient times have called out to God to do amazing things in their hearts.

LORD, I have heard the news about you.
   I am amazed, LORD, at the powerful things you did in the past.
Now I pray that you will do great things in our time.
   Please make these things happen in our own days.  Habakkuk 3:23 ERV

Join me and hundreds of others from Rolling Hills that God will "do great things in our time" - a spiritul awakening.

A new study for groups and individuals is being launched on February 26, 2012.  Groups and individuals can access the resources on line at www.rollhillchurch.com/contagious  We are praying God will use Becoming Contagious to do again great things in our time - a great spiritual awakening.

Something you can't get from yourself - "unmerited favor."

The most powerful source of grace is when it is extended by the wounded party.

Are you an extender of grace or are you holding out for justice?

Luke 10:37

Yes.  SOAP - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.  A simple tool for groups and individuals to dig deeper into the Bible.  And when we dig deeper our confidence goes UP!

Now you can discuss and SOAP the sermon.

Keep it simple!

Observation  Jesus offers a debt relief when he stands and says "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...He has send Me to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."  What is "the favorable year of the Lord?"  It is a game changing reference to an ancient principle that states "ALL DEBTS CANCELLED."

Jesus says in effect "This is what I am all about - canceling debts" and to "seek and to save that which was lost", and to restore broken relationships.

Application  Two thoughts stand out to me as I leisurely read Luke 4 over a cup of fresh brewed coffee.

First, Jesus was and still is all about forgiveness, short sales on our souls, fresh starts.  Jesus is not a bank officer unwilling to extend a helping hand.

Second, Jesus invites those of us who take Him up on the "ALL DEBTS CANCELLED" offer, He says "HELP ME HELP OTHERS" who are upside down in their lives.  Jesus calls His followers "salt and light" as though they were bank representatives on every street corner or grocery store bank kiosk.

Prayer  This is a new year for me Lord, a fresh start, a clean slate.  I feel lighter in my soul than I have for a long time.  I want to follow You today as salt and light as I meet and talk with people who are still hoping for a short sale of their soul.  Train my ears to hear Your coaching, to follow Your prompts.  Thanks that I am not alone and that You are in me, with me, and for me today!

This posting is from my personsl SOAP from the "run" reading plan.  Check out the reading plans and begin today.

PS  Contact me if you are interested in hearing more about debt relief for the soul.

I want to think his first draft was personal and intimate.  What if his thoughts began What joy I have found!  The Lord Jesus has come to rescue and live in me!  (emphasis on "me!")

What a radical thought that is.  Joy to the world is out there - non specific, a blanket joy - very real and profound as the love of Jesus is for all.

But "joy to me!"  How intimate.  Personal.

And that is who Jesus really is.  Yes Jesus is the Savior of the world - and yes Jesus is MY savior.  If mine, then yours.  What good news!

As we move closer to the day we celebrate Christmas, let us all make room in our hearts to receive Jesus as King, as Lord, as simply Amazing.  A simple honest prayer can start or restart the adventure of joy in your life.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!

Ahh yes!

And wonders of His love

And wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His love!

Trust sees and feels, and leans upon a Person, a great, true, living heart of love.  So let us trust in him through all the delays, in spite of all the difficulties, in the face of all the denials, even when we cannot understand the way.  The way will open, the right issue will come, the end will be peace, the cloud will be lifted, and the light of an eternal noonday shall shine at last."  [Streams in the Desert 12/15]

Trust?

You can.

This Christmas Season - trust Jesus with all your heart.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

O  Here we have Paul, the Apostle, writing perhaps his final letter to his young protege Timothy.  Pregnant words.  Lasting words.  Encouragement and principles to love, live, and lead by.

A  What got a hold of me in today's reading [2 Timothy 1-4] was that Paul had come to a place where at last his life was characterized by a clear conscience.

How does one get a clear conscience?  Choices made in line with what one belives?  Decisions to act out of conviction?  Radical "If your hand causes you to do something stupid cut it off" lifestyle u-turns?

A clear conscience, for me, is priceless.  Hope flows out of a clear conscience.  Will, the force of my will is set free by a clear conscience.  So too is my ability to love my wife, listen to my kids, perform my duties.

And what of a dark conscience?  Things all to familiar.  Sickness to my soul.  Shame like a wet winter coat.  Dread.

P  Father, thank You for your patience on my life journey.  You have seen every bonehead move I have made, every mess made in publice and in private and every time I have come back You have welcomed me with open arms.  Thank You that in a few key areas of my life I have a clear conscience - no secrets - just gratitude.

My journal entry from the "run" reading plan.  SOAP daily helps grow a Godly lifestyle.

Our emergency ham collection will be this Sunday, December 11th at the main building entrances.  Thank you for partnering with us to feed 100 families for Christmas!

January 8, 2012 Sermon Discussion Guides will return!

Most  groups take a winter break during the Christmas Season.  What this can mean is:

1. Meet 1 or 2 times during December
2. Plan a fun group "Christmas Pot-Luck" and invite friends not in your group to join you
3. Set a date in January to resume meeting weekly

Join me and remember the Reason for the Season!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

When we are confronted with questions about our faith and do not have an answer, the temptation is to steer around the question or make something up! Other times we are asked questions that seem superficial or unimportant and we dismiss them as nonessential to faith. The reality is, what is nonessential to us may be the one thing holding someone back from walking over the line of faith in Jesus. The key to building relationships centered on faith is taking seriously the journey and the objections of others.

First, lets talk about objections or questions. A few weeks ago in church we showed a clip from the Showtime series Dexter. In this particular scene Dexter was asking Batista about faith, specifically how he knows there is a God. Batista tells him these are good questions and then begins to answer him with religious words and ultimately meaningless jargon. He says, “There is a God (long pause), because in everyone of us there is a powerful sense of moral goodness…” to which Dexter responds, “ok (confused look)”. In the TV show The Office, Michael Scott answers a similar question this way, “Is there a God? If not, what are all these churches for and who is Jesus dad?” Both scenes portray confusion and seem to move the seeker further away from grasping the reality of God.

Sometimes nothing said is better than grasping and pulling for answers from the sky. We all have this burden that our friend, our father, our neighbor will not accept Jesus as their Savior unless I have all the right answers and take advantage of the perfect moment. The reality is, some times simply listening is more effective for the seeker than cliché religious responses. This does not mean that we should not be prepared. Really this is an argument for preparedness and knowledge. But when you are unsure of what to say or how to explain an attribute or reality about God, ADMIT IT. Walk the journey with your friend to find the answer. You may find an increasing desire to know about God and include you in their journey.

Second, respect their journey to Christ. Not everyone is ready now to make a life changing commitment to Jesus Christ. That is okay. God draws people to himself and he has a bigger plan than we can see or understand.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” [EPHESIANS 1:5]

Respecting another person’s journey is to trust that God is in control of their eternity. Be used by God, take advantage of every opportunity, and watch as God in his timing draws people to himself. I often become frustrated when I do not see the results I want in the timing I expect. It is in these moments I lose sight of God sovereignty and love. No one loves our friends, our neighbors, or our family members more that God and no one has the power to save them except Jesus. We have to trust God in the journey and be patient. Hear me, I am not saying be lazy, lackadaisical, or half-hearted – be urgent, passionate, and dedicated as you trust God to reach the world!

Scripture  "Hold on to the good."  1 Thessalonians 5:21

Observation  My default is to let go of things after the new car smell wears off, or when the flat screen is everywhere, or what I have becomes so common I don't miss it.

Application  So, hold on to the good - what does that mean???  What is it the writer is trying to say?  I think it goes something like this;

If what you have as a follower of Jesus is worth anything make sure it becomes everything.

If what you have as a follower of Jesus has become ordinary make it everything again.

How?

By letting go of the plastic things, the digital images, the approval of others, the desire for the new the flashy the quick fix.

Prayer  I have traded away some rich blessings Father, help me regain them moment by moment as I made wise choices, following close to You today.

This SOAP is from the run reading plan.

Scripture "...go quickly and tell..."  Matthew 28:7

Observation  Two women came to the empty grave of Jesus and were met by an angel of God and told to "go quickly and tell others."  Note the angel gave clear instructions to these followers of Jesus.

Application  I don't feel particularly contagious about going and telling others.  Three thougths come to mind about getting contagious;

1. I become contagious being around invected people
2. I become contagious by practicing gratitude [fake it till you make it]
3. I become contagious reading, reflecting, and applying the Bible to my life

But there is a deeper principle than being contagious.  Note the words from the angel were "go quickly and tell" not "go get contagious and then tell." And so I would add another;

    4.  I become contagious when I go quickly and tell others.

Doing precedes feeling frequently.

Prayer  Father help me be open to the prompting of Your Spirit to go quickly and tell others.  I'm counting on You go know what to say, or simply love people rather than hit them up about You.

This SOAP is from the run reading plan.

Observation  Paul, an old war-horse of a pastor,  is writing to remind himself and others that it is God who leads the way, God who gives us hope, God who touches that small private place inside each of us that wants to stop where we are.

Application   Illness, family issues, hard hearts, and things that don't go my way are wings for giving thanks today.  What is impossible to me is possible to God.  How cool is that?

Prayer  A few minutes ago God I talked with you about things which are out of my control that I am concerned about.  Help me do today what I can and trust You for the rest. 

Reading plan for this SOAP is from the "run" reading plan from November 15.