How People Change

Adam and I were out of town for this past week's Soul Revolution. However, I was getting together with my accountability partner/friend Jill on Tuesday and she wanted us to share our Spiritual Inventories (which was a part of Sunday's message) so I decided I had better listen to the message before we got together. (I also needed to do the inventory so I had a busy Tuesday morning). So I listened to it and took some notes that I will share with you. Feel free to listen to it yourself here.


Soul Revolution Week 5

Spiritual Inventory
>Am I living as if my sins are the main event rather than God's work and grace on my sins?
>Am I allowing my sins to label me?

This reminded me of a Stuff Christians Like post I had just read on Monday about focusing on our failures rather than our successes (I was doing catch up there as well). I recommend you check it out.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

1 Timothy 4:8 - spiritual workout
>Put spiritual practices in place so that when trials come, we will turn to God rather than responding with our old habits. (Spiritual practice info in next week's message which I will also miss due to being in the nursery but you will be able to find it at the church's website where this week's message is linked).
>Work out in community.
>We can have a greater impact as a group than as individuals.
>Spiritual growth is not a solo sport.


I did enjoy the message. Especially how it related so well to the SCL post the previous day. I definitely liked Jon Acuff's point that it is "NO CONDEMNATION" rather than "SOME or A LITTLE CONDEMNATION" that we sometimes tend to believe. Romans 8:1 is a verse that needs to be written on my heart.

If you are wondering what exactly the Spiritual Inventory is, check out the post after this for more information along with my experience with it.

Soul Revolution

This Sunday our church began our new series, Soul Revolution. Not only is it a nine week message series, but there is a book that we are reading, a study for small groups AND a running partners option. Running partners is like an accountability group for the Soul Revolution study. As if our lives are not going to be saturated enough with Soul Revolution things, there is a challenge in the book/study/message series called the "60-60 Experiment", which I believe I mentioned in a previous post. Needless to say, if one is fully involved in this experience, there should be some growth/change that occurs in one's life. That's my hope.

I was in the nursery once again this Sunday so I don't have message series notes. I did listen to it on my way home from work today so it is somewhat fresh in my mind. What I got most out of it is that without God in our lives, it is like we are all steering our individual Titanic ship. We are on our own, not heeding advice, and bound to crash at some point. Jeff also talked about how, because we are very aware that, while God created us with some great plans and purpose for us, we are nowhere near living that life. There is a gap between where we are and where we could/should be. And so we may feel that God is disappointed in us and thus we feel guilt or shame. We then try to span the gap on our own strength and merit, which is not really possible. However, we learn in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God doesn't want to punish us for not being able to do it on our own. He wants to come alongside of us and help us to become the people he created us to be.

I like the part where Jeff said that we really struggle with turning our life over to God because we don't know what that means and we like to feel like we're in control. However, when we do ask God to take over, this is what he says: "You steer the ship. However, remember that I am the captain. Listen to me and seek my advice and I will help you get through the dangerous waters and into safe passageways." (Well, that's not exactly what Jeff said. It's my paraphrase.)

I really enjoyed the message and it encouraged me to really dive in to the 60-60 experiment which started on Sunday as well. I am hoping to make time to blog about my experience with that as well, which I will do for the first time after this post. I would encourage you to listen to the whole message here. If it sounds interesting, perhaps get your own copy of the book Soul Revolution by John Burke.

With 2

I am quite behind in posting my notes from our second week of the With series. And I'll be even farther behind with week three because I wasn't here to hear it and have yet to make it to the website. I am so slack these days. Anyway, here's a very belated recap of the message two weeks ago.


I'm With Stupid

Joseph - coat of many colors, dreams of superiority (Genesis 37-45): didn't exactly do the smartest thing by showing off his favoritism and sharing his crazy dreams.

Sometimes we think that if we are with the right people, then everything will be okay.

We think relational happiness comes from finding people who are easy to get along with.

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray." (Isaiah 53:6) -> We all make mistakes and hurt others by our words and actions. The big thing is to admit our failures and take responsibility for our part.

In Joseph's story, no one ever tries to work out their issues with one another. The brothers don't ask Joseph to stop wearing the coat or sharing his dreams. Instead they sell him into slavery.

Our tendency is to avoid issues/conflict/confrontation with others.
>Avoidance kills community (no one grows or changes)
>When things go unaddressed and undealt with, relationships suffer
>"Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26)

Is there anything you need to talk about with someone that has not been addressed?

People who love authentic community prefer the temporary chaos of conflict to the peace of permanent superficiality.

We need truth tellers to remind us of our values, let us know where we get off track, and to encourage us to do the right thing.

Genesis 39:2, 20-23 "The Lord was WITH Joseph...
>Just because he had difficult times doesn't mean God wasn't with him.

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Genesis 50:20 -> "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

Some of the best things in life come from the most unlikely of places.

Romans 8:31,34,35,37 What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger of sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.


This was such an encouraging message that helped me to remember that no matter what is going on in my life, God is still with me guiding me through. I also really liked the comment about authentic community. I am not good at small talk and surface relationships. I want honesty and depth and real life. While these types of relationships are sometimes hard and messy, I desire them more than the easy breezy no-commitment ones because there is a richness to it that you don't get staying at the surface. I like to feel connected to people. To have people who know all about me - the good and the bad - and still choose to be in relationship with me.

So what would be my personal application? I guess to continue to put myself out there in order to build authentic community. To be honest with my issues as well as to be bold enough to confront others when necessary. I do struggle with conflict. I'd much prefer to let things smooth over, but that doesn't make anything better. I am growing slowly but surely in this area. I think marriage helps. Well, what really helps is to have a relationship that you are invested in and desire for it to be the best and healthiest it can be which means sometimes doing the hard thing of dealing with issues. I guess that's why marriage comes to mind, because it is one of those relationships for me.

What about you? Do you have any relationships that you are invested in enough to deal with conflict?

The Wonder Years

This past Sunday's message was shared by Neal. It's about the years between Jesus' childhood and adult ministry. Below are notes and application. You can listen to it here.

Luke 2:41-52

We don't know much about the life of Jesus between when he was a child and age 30. What we can know is gleaned from Luke where it begins with the family's trip to Jerusalem when he was 12.

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." v52

Neal expounded on this using alliteration.

Stature - physical growth (Jesus grew up like a normal, typical Jewish boy)

At this point, I was thinking, how can wisdom be an "S" word? Wisdom....sage....sagacity! I then whispered the word to Adam shortly before Neal confirmed my skills.

Sagacity - wisdom (everyone was amazed at his knowledge of God)

Spirituality - favor with God (extremely devout family, Jesus was putting into practice what he was learning from God)

Socially - favor with man (relationships, drawing people to God)
>The average man and woman loved Jesus, it was the hypocritical religious leaders that didn't like him.
>Jesus was invited to a wedding indicating that he was well liked and fun. When there was a crisis, people turned to him indicating his dependability in tough situations. This is where he performed his first miracle (John 2:11 - indicating that he hadn't shown any inclination toward supernatural powers previously).

When Jesus was growing up, he was preparing himself for what he was going to do. What are we preparing ourselves for?

Romans 8:15-17 - we are God's children, heirs with Christ; we are also to share in Christ's glory

God has a part for us to play. We need to prepare ourselves and step into our God-given role. Jesus didn't have to fulfill his appointed role. He chose to do it. And so must we.

What is the stage of life you are being called out of for something new? Are you growing in the four "S"s? What is at least one area you can grow in this summer?

Personal Thoughts: I am part of the women's walking group for the summer which indicates social and stature (relationships and health). There is also an element of the spiritual as we have mini devotions and are encouraged to pray for one another and to develop an accountability relationship with another woman. I have that covered in Jill. I am also trying to reach out more to our neighbors as indicated in a previous post and am involved in tennis with others in the neighborhood. I can always use more wisdom and favor with God. I have been remiss at adding scripture to my heart so that it can become part of my life and actions. I should put more effort into practicing what I am learning from God as well as meditating on His Word.