10-18-09 Prodigal continued....

This is a simple question: How does the story of the Prodigal son and the older brother speak to you? Where do you find yourself in the story?

10-4-09 Living Under The Influence

We can summarize that Jesus basically came for 2 main purposes:

1) Provide, through His death and resurrection, a means of restoring a right relationship between man and God (John 3; I John 4; John 3)

(Romans 6:20-23)

²⁰When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

2) To announce and usher in the Kingdom of Heaven and that the purpose of that forgiveness, restoration and renewal in us is to allow us to reclaim our place in the Kingdom of God starting right now and lasting forever! (Mark 1:14-17; Matt 4:17; Matt 5; 13-14; John 14-16)

(John 14:23)

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Friends, here in the middle in our everyday lives, Jesus beckons us to live under the daily influence of the Holy Spirit, who reveals God’s Kingdom and our part in that Kingdom!

How are you doing this week living under the influence?

July 12...Take risks!!

If there's one thing we are hesitant to do here in our culture, it's to take risks....spiritually. Oh, we take risks with money, finances, what we do for a living, leisure activities...but, what about how we live and trust God? We're wimps for the most part!!! Afraid of what others will say...or worse...just afraid to put God in a position where He has to do what He's promised. Of course, we so skew what He's promised that we end up putting on Him what doesn't belong on Him, and not trusting Him in areas that He's promised to take care of.

What do you think about this? How do you live in regards to stepping out and trusting God?

July 5...Freedom!

As we journeyed together exploring what it means to live in true freedom, I more and more have been thinking about the freedom to be myself in a world that constantly tries to mold me into someone other than who God has dreamed for me to be!

I know that I need to stand in Christ firm and resolved...but I also know that sometimes that can leave me in the frame of mind to isolate myself and my family from everyone not "like me" and to become very judgmental and elitest. Jesus doesn't set that example for us. He walked, ate, talked, and did life with those who were in deep need in so many areas of life.

I think the question is: Will we allow the world to mold us or can we help mold the world by living out Christ among those who truly need Him but don't know where to find Him? It's not easy, but Jesus calls us to be witnesses to the world He's placed us in...not just to "witness" and then run home as fast as we can, glad to have gotten that over with.

I wonder sometimes...if true love casts out all fear, what are we so afraid about? Living Christ in the world by being in loving, non-judgmental relationship with not-yet-believers so they might catch glimpses of God in our life? hmmmm....:)

What do you think?

June 28.....Joseph...Expect God's Best!!!!

Welcome back to the BFCC blog! I"m hoping that we will continue our journey together and share with each other insights, questions, comments, etc., that will engage us to know more and more of Jesus and His plans for our lives!!!


Let's talk!!!!

Taking a short break till June 7...:)

The blog will ramp back up starting June 7th. thanks to all those who have journeyed so far...many miles to go!

May 3...Baby Day...but also...I.D. continuing....

What an amazing day today at BFCC was!!! Recognizing all of the 2 yr old and under kids with their parents was so fun. And it underscored the responsibility we all have to live out Christ daily!

Tell me what you thought of Pastor Darrel's statements on Discipleship and Evangelism....there was a lot there to chew on and share...:)