I’ve been blown away by the response to our website in just its first week. In the first two days we’d been visited by people in 6 countries. By the end of the week that grew to 10!
When Matt Leebert and I were first talking about the website, we were thinking of ways we could connect better with our valley. Think about it, when people go looking for a church now, most are going to start with the internet (not the yellow pages or newspaper). The good news is, we are connecting with our valley…the crazy news is we are connecting with the world.
In our first week, here’s some of what I’ve learned from people about all this website stuff:
1. People who missed a weekend service because they were sick or had to work were still able to see the message…and loved it.
2. Those that are deployed around the world in the military can still be connected to what’s happening back here at Community…and they love it.
3. So many were ready and willing to jump into the discussion and comment at the end of my blogs. Thanks for getting in the mix and sharing your thoughts, insights and questions.
So today, I just want to hear from YOU. By the way, please give us your name. Comments without a name will not be posted on the website. We want to develop real connection…and that’s just not done “anonymously”.
Here’s my question for you to comment on: What has God been teaching you lately?
10 comments so far
ALOT!!! i am learning (and re-learning in some cases) so much these days, it seems. The main thing though, is that the JOY of The LORD is my (our) STRENGTH. I had the tv on the 700 Club this morning and i heard a story about a church that had been reduced to a pile of rubble, i think because of a tornado - anyway, on top of what was left of the building was a sign that read "JESUS ROCKS" -- that really drove the point home for me today. No matter what goes on in my life, good or bad, the really big issue has already been solved; salvation has been offered as a free gift to all of us, and for those of us who have chosen that good thing, it does not matter if all hell is breaking loose around us, we can ALWAYS REJOICE in, and be thankful for, our eternity - which, as i think about it, i am already living in. So, on top of ALL my mountains this sign will now be posted: "JESUS ROCKS!!!" Rock on, little campers.
I would have to say, lately very strongly, he's been teaching me that no matter what goes wrong or how much stress I put myself through, it's all unnecessary, if I just turn my matters over to him and pray, things have a way of taking care of themselves. Or should I say He has a way of taking care of them!!!!
AMEN - Justin!!! I pray for our whole church family to get that for ourselves - the faith to believe Him when He tells us to cast ALL of our cares upon Him... be anxious for NOTHING... WOW - that is powerful stuff!! Some of us think that ending our personal encounters with the words, "take care", is equivalent to speaking a blessing over a person, when, in fact, it's the opposite - we are encouraging someone to ignore what Jesus said (what do y'all think...?).
Over the past 7 mos. i've had a lot of opportunity to get closer to the LORD, and i'm learning that i can't go back to living my life not trusting Him completely. It's what He tells us to do, why aren't we doing it more (all the time!)? So i pray for us all everyday to put on our armor and stand in the face of the fear that tries to steal our JOY and our resolve to stand....
i could take up a lot more space here but i'll try to leave some room for somebody else. By the way, where are y'all, church????? Sure hope you're not all so busy that you don't have the time to appreciate the blessing of this wonderful forum. Pastor John asked a good question, and if you come to CCC on a regular basis, you have to be learning SOMETHING from the LORD.
Another thing i've learned - i CAN live without alcohol (7 mos. today) and i learned that if we ask, He steps in and does for us what we cannot do for ourselves (HEAVY PRAISE HERE -HALLELUJAH!!!).
Last but not least (for now) im learning something i heard Beth Moore say (on tv) this morning, "God is more interested in my calling than my comfort" (ooh, ouch...!)
I can see Ellen is getting into this! :)
One thing I'm learning is simple. God is pursuing me on a daily basis. I can meet up with Him and do life WITH Him, or I can drown out His voice with my busyness. The choice is mine...and it's daily. -John
Amen, Pastor John! It's just amazing - He pursues us - and you are so right - it is a daily choice for each of us! i'm thankful that my busyness factor has been "adjusted" so i can't make too many excuses.
Yes, i am getting into this - hope i'm not using it inappropriately.
Hi all,
New to here. But what the heck. God has been teaching me how to be completely honest and open. I have been a Christian for close to twenty years.
Not having a relationship with you, this may sound condemning, but truly it is not. Just where I am in my walk. We are all completely different individuals, but I think we want others to be the same as we are (I am so guilty of this), but I feel we rob each other freedom to be who we really are...including the faults and imperfections that we all have. Below I illustrate that. It may be petty, but it was a much bigger issue for me. To be who the church expected and wanted me to be rather than being able to be who I really am.
When you say this Ellen...."Some of us think that ending our personal encounters with the words, "take care", is equivalent to speaking a blessing over a person, when, in fact, it's the opposite - we are encouraging someone to ignore what Jesus said (what do y'all think...?"....
I think that is bogus to be honest with you. "Have a great day" "Take care" "See you later" .... they are just words that for me convey caring to me. To insinuate that I would be incouraging someone to ignore Jesus by using words comfortable to me to convey caring is "legalistic" to me.
Yikes, I so dont want to come off as judgemental. If I am forgive me.
it's OK, Phil, thanks for your comment - no need to ask forgiveness. i don't think you are being judgmental at all! i sure don't want to be a legalist - i've just got a thing for "words"... and i take them literally (for the most part). Whenever i hear "take care...", i also hear "cast all your cares upon me..."
I think I am sensitive to that because I was so like that too. Like I said .. now just where i am in my walk.
Take care (lol) and God bless you too.
Hey John,
Funny thing you should ask about what God has been teaching us lately, because just two Saturdays ago he gave me quite a lesson.
I fell asleep at the wheel of my car and rear-ended a BIG F-250 truck( I am not cussing, that is the name of the truck). Luckily, I was only going about 2 miles an hour( I was at a stop light), and I was going a route that normally I do not take and there was less traffic on that road.
I need to back up to about a week prior to the accident-
Chris Jennings and I are reading a book called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." We are trying to meet once a week and discuss the questions given at the end of each chapter. Well that week was our first week and I had not finished my reading. I had been working A LOT of hours that week and by the time I got home just did not feel like "doing my homework". We met anyways and had a good time for a few hours discussing the questions at the end of Chapter 1. Our schedules did not mesh well for the next week, Chris had her work and once again I was expecting to put in a lot of hours at my work (Macy's was getting ready to open the "new" Home store). So, we decided to meet again in a couple of weeks. I promised that I would make the effort to read and answer the questions. Once again I let work consume my days and could not find the energy to do anything but lay on the sofa when I finally arrived home at night.
In the back of my mind I was thinking that I REALLY need to be reading my book because obviously I am not a "Mary".
Well, that fateful Saturday, I went in to work (on my day off) just to work for a couple of hours. I left work and went to check out another store before heading home. I did not feel tired.
I remember looking at the truck in front of me and trying to figure out the personalized license plate, I remember following the truck when it turned down Overland Dr. I figured that it might be faster to get to Winchester Rd. from Overland because there was quite a few cars on Inez that day. I remember turning onto Margarita Rd. I remember stopping behind the truck I was following The next thing I remember is bumping into the back end of the truck.
Luckily no one was injured.
Now obviously God did not cause this accident, I did, but it could have been a lot worse.
The lesson I have taken away from this is- I am not keeping God's greatest commandment-"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"-Matthew 22:37
I know that I love God with all my heart and with all my soul but if I am not giving him my mind, by spending time in his word, than I am not following his commandment and to spend time in his word I have to make him-GOD-the priority, not work. I also know that I need to get plenty of rest, not just so that I won't be kissing anyone else's bumper but because if my mind is not alert how can I soak in his words?
I've been a bit better this week, but still struggling with the priority factor- I know I'll get there because I do love God with all my heart and soul.
I usually try to be a "net, net" kind of person, so I am sorry that this ended up being so long.
See you Sunday,
Robbin Record
First of all, glad to see Ellen and Phil are getting along:) Thanks to both of you for being respectful in your disagreement. Way to go!
But also, Robbin. So glad you weren't hurt. We all get "wake up calls" from time to time...thanks for WAKING UP!
By the way, everyone...the CUBE window decals are in! You can get yours this weekend and then SLAP ONE ON YOUR RIDE!!! -John
PS-I feel like I'm on an episode of Seinfeld with all these exclamation marks!!!!!