Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A week at Cherokee Cove
The First Advent
As I shared on Sunday, the first Advent (coming) of our Lord was at Sinai/Horeb as recorded in Exodus 19. It was here that the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became God's people, His special treasure. This coming was the birth of God's people who were to be a blessing to all the world.
It is from this family (God's family) that God would become incarnate, Immanuel.
God came down to establish His first covenant with His chosen people. God came in person to establish the second/new covenant. The second has not replaced the first. It is a fuller/complete revelation delivered in person to establish a relationship with mankind.
Advent. What a great season! This week at PVBC we will begin a series on God's Gifts to Us. Come experience the exciting anticipation of Christmas.
Myles Brown
Friday, November 4, 2011
Ft Worth Bull Ride
Check out this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LFexiEmRcg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Myles Brown
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
God Makes Promises
A key to relationship success is being able to count on someone who made a promise to you. Declaring a promise or taking an oath is serious business whether we formalize the oath in some ceremony or not. Real, meaningful relationships are based on such promises.
God has made such promises to his people overtime. Making promises are not so much about formalizing a relationship into some cold contract, but rather a solid, reliable way of saying, "Trust me. I come through with I that I have said I will do."
Sadly, people may waver at times in fulfilling these promises. When they do, we count on them less or not at all. But those who are faithfull are worth more than gold.
When God made promises to our world, to people, and to me, He was saying, "I want you to trust me." This reveals a great deal about what God expects of man: religion or relationship. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is not about impressing God or impressing people. It is saying, "God I trust you."
This is the beginning and foundation for all relationships, especially with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God has made such promises to his people overtime. Making promises are not so much about formalizing a relationship into some cold contract, but rather a solid, reliable way of saying, "Trust me. I come through with I that I have said I will do."
Sadly, people may waver at times in fulfilling these promises. When they do, we count on them less or not at all. But those who are faithfull are worth more than gold.
When God made promises to our world, to people, and to me, He was saying, "I want you to trust me." This reveals a great deal about what God expects of man: religion or relationship. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is not about impressing God or impressing people. It is saying, "God I trust you."
This is the beginning and foundation for all relationships, especially with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
See Genesis with Fresh Eyes
As I shared on Sunday at Pleasant View, the way you read a story makes all the difference. I challenged our church to look at Genesis with fresh eyes this week. Without importing other stories and viewpoints into this book, try a full reading of this book about our beginnings. What does it tell us about God? What does it tell us about humanity? What surprises do you find? What did you expect to find in the story that is not there?
This story of our beginnings sets the stage for the whole biblical narrative. It is actually the biblical narrative in miniature form.
If you discover new things and would like to discuss, please comment below. What insights and questions do you come across as you read Genesis?
This story of our beginnings sets the stage for the whole biblical narrative. It is actually the biblical narrative in miniature form.
If you discover new things and would like to discuss, please comment below. What insights and questions do you come across as you read Genesis?
Monday, October 24, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)