Fruitful Words

Question: What one thing is experienced by 100% of all people?

Answer: Conflict!

Conflict is something that everyone has in common. We all get stressed from it. We all, at times, handle it badly. Sometimes we are the receivers. Sometimes we are the initiators. What can we do about the conflicts we all experience?

Pastor Mike has an answer. Starting September 23rd he is guiding the church through a new series on peacemaking. This eight week series will present the tools needed to handle conflict in a way that is satisfying, helpful and biblical.

Small Groups will also be going through the same information. That way we can practice using these tools. “We grow through copying deeds, not just listening to words, through examples as well as precept, through habit and not just insight and information” (Os Guinness).

Watch the bulletin for details on the small groups. Sign up in the foyer. Contact me if you are interested in becoming a small group leader.

• Spending time with Nasim, a 20 year old woman who is desparate to improve her English. She struggles with self-doubt regarding her scholastic future. Nasim wanted extra help so I asked her (yesterday) to write an essay about one of her dreams and how to accomplish it. It is evident that she worked hard on it. It is also evident that she’ll become fluent in englsih (which she speaks with an english accent). My hope and prayer is that I’ll be able to pass along some encouragment to Nasim.
• Nezam brought the hummous, etc. Very tastey. And more importantly we are buidling a freindship bridge. Nezam is a gentle, caring woman who wants to make us feel welcome here. We do!
• I was able to spend a few minutes praying with two Believers. I prayed in English and they prayed in Arabic. I’ll  get to see both of them at church on Sunday. I am anxious to hear how God answered our prayers of supplication.
• Playing ping pong and “little football” with some of our teen students. I believe that Bryce has some footage on his video blog. Spoiler alert - Shula and Yanzan won all 3 games. We don’t call it foose ball because here foose means fart. 
• Shula and I were invited to visit Awatif. Hopefully we will be able to schedule a time for next week.
• Jessica and I had a long talk about this land, the work going on here and politics. She is such an informed, but gentle speaker, it was a joy to listen, learn and “debate” with her.  

I feel so privileged to be able to be here teaching english, listening and learning. Thank you for your prayers. I still make cultural mistakes, but so far nothing too drastic.

I’m going on a Mark hunt. I’m on Step one.

Are you game?

I am examing the gospel of Mark  for a ladies study we’ll have next year. I love starting new books, don’t you?

I thought I’d share how I approach a new study. There are 3 parts to my studying: observation, interpretation ,and finally, application.

Observation

First, I like to read through the book several times. My intent is to get the flow of the story. After a week of doing this, I find (and record) major book-wide themes, words to look up, and new things I hadn’t noticed before. I try to read as large a chunk as possible, in each sitting, like I would a novel.

Secondly, I then thoughfully read each chapter several times. After a week of reading only one chapter (or smaller portion of Scripture) each day, I come up with book-wide themes, words to look up and new things I hadn’t noticed before.  I put all these thoughts into a journal.

Thirdly, towards the end of the week, I write down any other observations I have. I try to record at least 20 things.

• Significant points
• Record the 4 W’s of who, what, when, where
• Summarize the main content in my own words
• Anything else God brings to mind

I don’t do research at this point. I am still recording my observations.

Fourthy, I record the details of the 4 W’s.

• Who - Audience, writer, people named
• What - Events and primary principles
• When - Time period it was written
• Where - Geography and location of author, audience and action in the book. Look out those maps!

Since most of the above is academic “work,” I make sure I spend some time just being in God’s Presence:

• Praising God for His eternal Truths
• Singing songs that celebrate who He is
• Being quiet

That’s the end of my observation phase of Bible study.

Here’s part of our True/False quiz and their answers.

1. True. God determines and defines what sin is.
2. True. God’s definition of sin can change. (Trace the eating of meat throughout the Bible.)
3. False. All sins are always sin. (Context is important. There are many examples of this besides the meat issue.)
4. True. Some sins are always sin. (Obvious examples are murder and adultery.)
5. False. Sin is eternal. (Only God is eternal.)
6. False. Thinking about sin is just as bad as committing the sin. (We’re talking about consequences here.)
7. False. All sins are equal in God’s eyes. (This one was hard for me to swallow as I’ve been taught this since a young Christian. I was told it is man who makes distinctions. Well, so does God. If all sins are equal, then the punishments would also be equal, but they are not. See  Exodus 22:1-4; Exodus 21:12-14; Matthew 5:19 and James 3:1; Luke 12:42-48; Galatians 6:7.)
8. True. God leads people to be tempted to sin. (Matthew 4:1)
9. True. God does not tempt people to sin.
10. True. God tests his children. (Genesis 22:1)

My Theology 2 class studied hamartiology (the doctrine of sin) on Monday.

Here’s part of our True/False quiz:

1. God determines and defines what sin is.
2. God’s definition of sin can change.
3. All sins are always sin.
4. Some sins are always sin.
5. Sin is eternal.
6. Thinking about sin is just as bad as committing the sin.
7. All sins are equal in God’s eyes.
8. God leads people to be tempted to sin.
9. God does not tempt people to sin.
10. God tests his children.

So, what are your answers? This turned out to be harder than I expected.

Last week I asked y’all to think with me on this book on the following question: What does this passage offer to aid me in my Christian growth and how will I apply it?

Here are my answers. 

• When times are going badly, it is good to review the mighty deeds God has done for me and others. This will encourage me to trust God in my today and tomorrow. This week when I’m discouraged, I will review God’s deeds and thank Him.
• When Habakkuk was pained by life’s injustices, he honestly talked to God about them. This week I will do the same when doubting God’s presence, goodness and ability. I’ll go to God in prayer and honestly say what I’m feeling.
• After Habakkuk prayed, he confidently waited for the answer. I want to do the same. This week when I pray, I want to confidently wait upon God for the answer.
• Constantly hearing about the evil in the world discourages and frightens me. I need to remember that I have a choice as to what I see and hear. This week, I want to be mindful of what type of news I am listening to. I want to make sure that the “good” news takes precedence.
• Many times justice does not happen as I think it should. This psalm and other places in the Bible make it clear that evil will not go unpunished. This week when I am tempted to doubt God’s justice, I want to read psalms like this one and remember that God is watching and at His given time there will be justice, which might not be on earth.
• It is a dumb thing to worship an idol. Unbelievers are not the only ones to worship them. I worship “things” that I dumbly think will rescue me. I need to tell myself the truth about gods versus God. This week, I want to remember and rehearse (in my mind) how much stronger, alive and willing my God is by going over past victories and relevant Scripture.
• When I get weary of the evil on this earth, I want to remember that this is but a dot in time. This week I want to worship by meditating on the idea of God’s glory filling the earth.
• Sometimes God is silent to the cries of Believers, even to my cries. This does not mean God is unloving, weak, displeased, etc. This week I want to take God’s silence in stride. I want to tell myself that God’s plans are not mine. And when I don’t hear back from Him, I can still trust and rejoice in Him.
• Sometimes Believers experience evil. I’ve been the butt of evil. These types of experiences can cause one to doubt God’s goodness and/or sovereignty. This week when I doubt God, I want to discern what lies I believe. Then I want to replace those lies with truth from Scripture.
• Habakkuk ended his book with deciding to rejoice in the Lord despite the evil around him. His rejoicing took the form of reviewing God’s mighty deeds in song. This week I want to choose to be joyful in the Lord. Some of that rejoicing will be in song.

Would you share your gleanings?

What does this passage teach us about God or His creation or their relationship to each other?   

I have organized my thoughts around 3 areas: God, Believers and Unbelievers.God . . . 

• Sometimes the Lord is silent and does not answer the call of His people
• How God rights unjust situations is not always understandable by man.
• Sometimes God uses the wicked to punish His people.
• God’s timetable regarding justice is not the same as man’s timetable.
• God will answer at the appointed time, when He sees fit.
• One day God’s glory will fill the earth and not all this greed, violence, covetousness, murder, drunkenness and idolatry.
• The Lord is alive, on His throne and has an actual dwelling place.
• God has placed prophecies in the Bible.

(more…)

9 am -11 am in Rudat Hall, Childcare provided 

“[Remember] When you applied for the job or the club, tried to make up or get help . . . [and] the call never came. You know the pain of a no call. We all do. . .  Oh, the Goliath of exclusion” (Facing Your Giants, p 12, Max Lucado). 

Does God exclude us too? When He looks at us are we “being graded according to the inches of our waist, the square footage of our house, the color of our skin, the make of our car, the label of our clothes, the size of our office, the presence of our diplomas, the absence of pimples?” (p 17). 

Attend this week’s group to learn God’s perspective and know the comfort of women who are on your side.  

It isn’t too late to join this study. Call Lorna or Sarah TODAY.

P.S. Small groups is the answer

• Available for fun?

• Have some extra time?

• Want to meet with others to learn and apply some Biblical truths?

• Is there room in your life for a new friend or two?

• In need of some support or encouragement?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, then CNC has the answer for you! Join a Small Group today.

There are groups for men, women and children. Some are Bible studies and some are interest groups. Take a look at the brochure and give the leader a call today. Some groups have already started, but go ahead and call anyway. They might be holding a spot just for YOU!

You can find a brochure in the literature rack in the foyer next to the women’s bathroom.

If you have any questions or are interested in starting another small group, give Susan at the church (635-5992).