Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The iLife Journey is worth it!
Share with us your conscious decision on setting your heart to pursuing the iLife! Remember, the iLife is the intentional choice to rearrange and redfine our lives because of the presence of the King. To do it is an intentional choice--and not to do it is an intentional choice as well.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Making a Difference
I was talking with someone this afternoon and they pointed out that some of the links in this week's iLife Journey are no longer correct! I guess that happens in the fast paced digital world.
So, here are some updates and other ideas to make a difference:
Relevant Magazine has changed their website. Now the best place to look for social justice content is at the menu at the top, under the “Life” tab and the “Reject Apathy”. You’ll find some good things, although most of it is in blog format. BUT, once you get into that section, you can look at the top and you will see “magazine”. That is NOT Relevant, but an e-magazine called “Reject Apathy Digital Issue 01”. There is some really good stuff there. There are also web sites about each area.
Also, this is a great site:
http://mashable.com/2009/09/06/socially-responsible-shopping/
It helps you find web sites which target particular areas of socially responsible shopping. Click also on the link they give for what they did back in July. There are some really good links.
Hope this helps and God bless you on the journey!
So, here are some updates and other ideas to make a difference:
Relevant Magazine has changed their website. Now the best place to look for social justice content is at the menu at the top, under the “Life” tab and the “Reject Apathy”. You’ll find some good things, although most of it is in blog format. BUT, once you get into that section, you can look at the top and you will see “magazine”. That is NOT Relevant, but an e-magazine called “Reject Apathy Digital Issue 01”. There is some really good stuff there. There are also web sites about each area.
Also, this is a great site:
http://mashable.com/2009/09/06/socially-responsible-shopping/
It helps you find web sites which target particular areas of socially responsible shopping. Click also on the link they give for what they did back in July. There are some really good links.
Hope this helps and God bless you on the journey!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
How To Maintain Integrity
There is a lot in iWork that is not easy, but I think relationships are the most difficult. What do you do when you have to work with someone that is difficult? Or with someone that requires you to do more of the work? Or with someone that just rubs you the wrong way? How do maintain your integrity? Let us know how God uses you in situations like that. If you feel like you are in that situation right now post a brief note about how you need help.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Victory In Perseverance
As noted in Thursday of iRun, we want to hear from you. Tell us of a time when you persevered and what happened as a result. For me my most difficult season was a battle with anxiety that I dealt with several years ago. Worry had always been a regular part of my life, but then some things happened that catapulted my worries to anxiety. I knew that God addressed worry in the Bible, but I hadn't taken it seriously. Don't we all worry? Isn't it a form of caring? God clearly helped me see that concern and worry are very different and when we indulge in worry we eliminate trust in Him. We exchange one for the other.
My journey lasted a little over a year where I worked daily to live out Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I carried verses with me on note cards everywhere I went and read them any time I felt my anxiety creeping back up. As a result God transformed my mind. Worry is no longer my default when something comes up. It still looms and is tempting to give in to, but I now know that trusting Him is better. It doesn't remove the issue, it just arms me to deal with it. There is victory in perseverance. I am living proof. If this is an area of struggle for you and you want to know more about my story please contact me at info@theilifejourney.com
What is your story? Let's encourage each other by telling of God's strength in our lives to persevere.
My journey lasted a little over a year where I worked daily to live out Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I carried verses with me on note cards everywhere I went and read them any time I felt my anxiety creeping back up. As a result God transformed my mind. Worry is no longer my default when something comes up. It still looms and is tempting to give in to, but I now know that trusting Him is better. It doesn't remove the issue, it just arms me to deal with it. There is victory in perseverance. I am living proof. If this is an area of struggle for you and you want to know more about my story please contact me at info@theilifejourney.com
What is your story? Let's encourage each other by telling of God's strength in our lives to persevere.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Critical Week
This is a critical week in our journey together. The first two weeks you have established where you are on your own journey, as well as some changes that might need to occur in order for you to move forward. But now that you have cleaned house it is time to put things in action. This is the pivotal point where you decide whether or not you are going to take this journey seriously. Are you going to be different when these 40 days are over? Are you going to be able to say that you were intentional and that you gave this your absolute all? Let us all answer with a resounding "Yes!" and start running.
Keep in the mind the enemy is going to do everything in His power to distract you. Don't be surprised by extra work loads or sick family members. He will be vigilant in keeping you right where you are. But don't fall for his tactics. Ask the Lord for the grace to continue and the energy to be intentional.
I think we could all comment on how the enemy is working to keep us from running after God, but instead let's share what God has already done in our lives these past two weeks. God has helped me reconnect with someone in an effort to strengthen that relationship and I am so glad. I have been meaning to do it, but kept putting it on the back burner. I did it last week and it felt so good to finally be obedient! How about you? What steps have you taken so far?
Keep in the mind the enemy is going to do everything in His power to distract you. Don't be surprised by extra work loads or sick family members. He will be vigilant in keeping you right where you are. But don't fall for his tactics. Ask the Lord for the grace to continue and the energy to be intentional.
I think we could all comment on how the enemy is working to keep us from running after God, but instead let's share what God has already done in our lives these past two weeks. God has helped me reconnect with someone in an effort to strengthen that relationship and I am so glad. I have been meaning to do it, but kept putting it on the back burner. I did it last week and it felt so good to finally be obedient! How about you? What steps have you taken so far?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Personal Worship Blues, Part 2
The act of worship is a powerful one. It turns the heart, transforms the mind and changes the path of our lives. I have found the most amazing thing happens when I direct my heart to Him in worship. As I do so, God nudges my life along the path which He would have me go. My decision making is different when my life is centered in the worship of God. My priorities begin to reflect His priorities. And quite honestly, I am a better human being when I worship God (small wonder since He is the creator....). But not only that; because worship is an act which acknowledges the lordship of Christ and His right to rule in my life, those struggles which have their root in my own desire to be "the boss" seem to fade. Where pride lifts its ugly head, worship helps me recognize it for what it is. When I am angry, turning my heart to God releases me from that anger.
With all theat in mind, how crazy it would be if the only time we could do this were on Sundays at a church building somewhere!
I haven't given up. In fact, I have changed my strategy. I still work hard to carve out a time of personal worship every morning, but I have also learned to worship God as I go. I guess that's what I meant in my last post. I want to be close enough to God and sensitive to His Spirit in such a way that the act of worship is a very natural one which happens throughout the day. I'm not there yet, but I haven't given up. I wonder how my life would be different..... what about you?
With all theat in mind, how crazy it would be if the only time we could do this were on Sundays at a church building somewhere!
I haven't given up. In fact, I have changed my strategy. I still work hard to carve out a time of personal worship every morning, but I have also learned to worship God as I go. I guess that's what I meant in my last post. I want to be close enough to God and sensitive to His Spirit in such a way that the act of worship is a very natural one which happens throughout the day. I'm not there yet, but I haven't given up. I wonder how my life would be different..... what about you?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Personal Worship Blues
I wonder how my life would be different if worship were more central to my daily life? What do I mean by that you might ask? Well, this may not be an issue for you, but I find that the pressures of daily life threaten (daily) to sqeeze personal worship out of my life.
The heart of worship is bowing our hearts before the throne of God and agreeing with God with what He says about who He is and who I am. Or, as Warren Wiersbe states so clearly, "Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are - mind, emotions, will, body - to what God is and says and does." (Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26)
How about you? Is this a struggle you face? What do you think of Wiersbe's definition? I'll post some more thoughts later, but would love to hear yours!
The heart of worship is bowing our hearts before the throne of God and agreeing with God with what He says about who He is and who I am. Or, as Warren Wiersbe states so clearly, "Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are - mind, emotions, will, body - to what God is and says and does." (Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26)
How about you? Is this a struggle you face? What do you think of Wiersbe's definition? I'll post some more thoughts later, but would love to hear yours!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Laying it Down!
I am so glad that when we wrote The iLife Journey that we put a day of reflection in. Nick Howard gets the "atta-boy" for that thought. I am also so glad that we gave ourselves Saturday to get caught up, as I needed it in week one. So, now that I am caught up, let me ask you what was your biggest take away from this week?
Mine was learning to lay it all down. Beyond just my life as His disciple, I re-learned the powerful precept to lay my struggles, burdens, and desires at the feet of Jesus. I learned afresh to wait on Him. I had to lay down a desire for our fellowship, that I also see as a significant need. Yet, I, and the team that is working with me on it, have really struggled to get clarity of God's wisdom. I have been preaching, "To live, you gotta die first." Well, for this very thing, I decided to die to it. Now, I see the Lord moving in really amazing ways. His wisdom is coming into view and what took place this week was beyond coincidental. So, now I wait!
What about you? What is your big take away? By the way, keep it up! Finish, don't just start strong and fade away!
Mine was learning to lay it all down. Beyond just my life as His disciple, I re-learned the powerful precept to lay my struggles, burdens, and desires at the feet of Jesus. I learned afresh to wait on Him. I had to lay down a desire for our fellowship, that I also see as a significant need. Yet, I, and the team that is working with me on it, have really struggled to get clarity of God's wisdom. I have been preaching, "To live, you gotta die first." Well, for this very thing, I decided to die to it. Now, I see the Lord moving in really amazing ways. His wisdom is coming into view and what took place this week was beyond coincidental. So, now I wait!
What about you? What is your big take away? By the way, keep it up! Finish, don't just start strong and fade away!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The iLife Journey Has Launched!
I hope you had a great day at one of our four worship services as we launched The iLife Journey with week 1, iLive/iDie: Reaching for Life. We want to make sure you have the tools for the journey. If you haven't gotten them, come by the church office at 6218 Auden and pick up the resources.
Tomorrow morning, we begin our reading together. I hope you have set some time aside and are anticipating some sweet time with the Lord tomorrow morning. Also, if you haven't already, go ahead and go through the Introduction and set some goals around each area of The iLife Journey.
Now, for the final part of this post. Answer this if you would: What do you want to see God do in you and in our church from The iLife Journey? Reply in the thread below.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
12 Days to the Launch of The iLife Journey
I hope that you are as excited as I am as we get ready for The iLife Journey. If you haven't gotten your tools, they will be available this Sunday and on the launch Sunday, September the 13th. You may also want to take advantage of a small group, whether through our Lifegroup mininstry at Crosspoint, our men's and women's ministries, or creating your own group. I look forward to seeing you on this journey.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Just a Few Short weeks until The iLife Journey
The iLife Journey is right around the corner. As we close out one of the hottest summers of late here in Houston, we look forward to seasons of refreshing that will come with the fall, namely, pee wee, college, and pro football. We look forward to the mercury dropping to a cool 92 degrees as September rolls in, and we anticipate a spectacular fall as we roll out and experience The iLife Journey. We will have the resources for the journey available beginning on Sunday, August 30th. They can be picked up the West U or Crosspoint campuses. Enjoy the music, make use of the outreach piece, and ask someone to take the journey with you as we get ready for a season of refreshing from the Lord through The iLife Journey.
Roger Patterson
Roger Patterson
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