New Series: God's Story

This week I will be starting a series of talks on the story of God. In considering this idea of "story," how do you read a story?

Stories can be told different ways. Some start at the beginning and move forward in time. Some start at present time or even future and move backwards in time explaining why things have happened the way that they have. Some start in the present and then flashback to various points in the past to make sense of the present (where the story began). Consider the timelines of some of your favorite movies and stories. How are the stories told?

How does God tell His story through the books of revelation (God revealing Himself to mankind) that we call the Bible?

Sadly, most of the time in our selfish arrogance, we simply read God's story as if it is all about ourselves. I think the world revolves around me and so I must be at the center of the story. So then I read God's story through my perspective. I look backwards through the deep long lens of how people before me have understood the New Testament and Jesus. And then we use this framework to then explain everything that happened in the Old Testament as if it was just setting the stage for the main show: New Testament that then led to the most important scene in all of God's story: ME

How would people living in the day of the Old Testament or in other parts the world years ago feel about this way of seeing the story?

What if the story was meant to be read looking forward? God, a good creation, a created people who lost their innocence. Then a God who loved them and began revealing His love and ways to them in various forms: (poetry, law, prophecy, wisdom, and songs). Then from a particular culture, a chosen people, God came, Jesus emerged as the full revelation of God to all mankind. Many rejected Him and had him condemned to die on a cross (a crude means of capital punishment), but He was raised from the grave demonstrating His power of death. Now all who will follow his ways and teaching will be led to truth, freedom, and life (eternal). It is this story that I have been awakened to find myself in: God's Story. For more, see you Sunday at Pleasant View @ 11 AM.

Missional Church

Thanks Scot McKnight for this post. Michael Frost gets it right: click here

Making the best decisions

This Sunday I will be talking about how you can make the best decisions. 11 am don't miss it.

Myles Brown

Plant now for the future

One of the things I did not get to yesterday in the Bible Talk in the morning service was the principle of planting today what we want to grow in the future. Our faith is not a fatalistic belief. The future is not pre-existing and coming toward us without our control. We can of just say that things are fate or that what happens to us was always going to be that way. The Bible talks about planting and harvesting. We will harvest the kinds of things we plant today if we don't give up. Some never harvest certain things because they never planted. Others never reap a harvest because they give up too soon. Plant today what you want to harvest in the future, live with the measure of faith that God has has given you and don't give up. Endure rightly with hope and expectation with an upbeat attitude. God loves you and He is faithful. You can rely on Him.

Remember there is no fate. We reap what we have sown. Plant and sow to the Spirit of God.

Myles Brown

Morning view at Rockridge

Pray this morning for the deacons as we discuss team ministry. Beautiful views of the lake this morning during the quiet time before breakfast.

Guys working hard

Pray for your deacons as they have been praying and working hard all night. Pray for them all as they seek God's direction for our church.

Message from Jamaica

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGVTXJZup04&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Myles Brown

Preparing to Leave

Closing of Jamaica Conference

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeyQ7_uGqTw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Myles Brown

Great night

Thank u for your prayers last night for the conference. We were late to start last night due to the rain, but we were eating by around 7:30. The number of ladies was up last night while the men were down slightly. There were several more new youth boys present and about the same number of children. The folks are so eager to learn and grow. They are also opening up more to friendship with us. It was difficult to tell the goodbye last night. Today we will be meeting with Pastor Leroy in the morning before leaving for the airport. Pray for safe travel today.

Myles Brown

Conference tonight

Please pray for the conference tonight. Rain has moves into the area that might affect the attendance. Pray for those who desire to here would not be discouraged from coming.

Myles Brown

Last Night' conference

The first night of the conference was great. The participation was as follows: 33 women, 12 men, and around 15 children (felt like 25). We fed the group sandwiches and cookies. The group did a great job leading the various areas. We met until around 9:30 pm. After a small debriefing, some of us cooled off in the pool. The plans today are to prepare for the conference tonight. We will have to make another trip to the Mega Mart (Jamaican type SAMs club) to get additional resources for the children and items for making sandwiches for tonight. We are praying that all who came last will be able to return and bring friends.

Myles Brown

Day in Jamaica

Today Doug, Destin and I went into the areas of Bernard Hall, Spot Valley, and Zion to see all of the church buildings and communities with Pastor Leroy. While we were in Spot Valley, Pastor Leroy's van broke down. We spent about an hour trying to work on it until a member of the church came to work on the van. Common struggles here with reliable transportation. I was able to hear the from Pastor Leroy his understanding of God's plan for the churches as well as his struggles. It was a tremendous day of prayer and fellowship as I try to discern the best paths forward for Pleasant View to be a help to the ministry here in Jamaica.
The ladies worked of preparations for the conferences for the night. Conferences for the men, women, and youth will start at 8 pm Pleasant View time. Pray that this will be an enriching time for the church and the leadership.

Turning in for the night

The team is about to enjoy a wonderful meal back at the Verney House. The guys will be heading out on the morning with Pastor Leroy to go to Spot Valley where the vision is to grow a church of hundreds that will receive God's love. This is a growing community with lots of homes still being built. I look forward to hearing from him about his understanding of how to reach this community.
The ladies will be at the Verney House preparing for the conferences tomorrow evening. Becky and Pam have some great baking plans for cakes and other desserts. Great first full day!

Myles Brown

Worship this AM

Great worship service this morning. We were in service for 2hrs. The time flew by as we sang and listening to great preaching. We are at the mega mart buying supplies for the conference that starts tomorrow.

Rainy Sunday

We awoke this morning to rain. Since many of the people have to walk to church, we are praying that the rain will not discourage their attendance today. We are also praying for Pleasant View this morning. Dr. Jeff Farmer will be preaching this morning.

Myles Brown

Dinner at the Native

We arrived safely

We arrived safely and are headed to the beach for a quick swim before meeting pastor Leroy

Arrive safely!

We r headed the beach for a quick dip and then to meet Pastor Leroy

Myles Brown

Thanks for the care packages

Big thank you to HD and Sarah Nash and David and Peggy Camp for the care packages with lots of goodies and fun travel supplies!

Montego Bay Here We Come

The mission team is safely through the security check points at the Hartsfield. We are now patiently waiting and relaxing before the noon flight. Destin is the only one who had to be full body scanned. No pictures to post:-) We should arrive in Montego Bay around 3pm Georgia time. Today will be filled with some sightseeing and souvernir shopping before getting ready for the first night sleep at the Verney House. We are looking forward to God doing amazing things in the lives of our team and the people of Jamaica. Tomorrow morning I will be preaching at Victory Christian Fellowship. Thank you all for praying.

Ready to Fly