Paul, Rob & Kara Paul 2 Kings 2:23 This was my favorite verse growing up Next to Song of Solomon The sensitivity to aging seems an age old issue It’s a battle we’re always fighting I used to try my Father’s clothes on Put on his cowboy boots and they were hip waders Put on shaving cream and wipe it off with a washcloth Bad Company’s greatest hits There’s a point where we don’t look forward to the next birthday For me that was 19 In high school I had a gorgeous crop of hair Between 19 & 22 I dealt with a 2nd awkward stage where I tried to hide this problem We have trouble living with right now It’s all we’re ever got Psalm 118:21-24 Why is now so important? It’s all we’ve got We look backwards with rose colored glasses based on our present dissatisfaction God has … Continue reading →

Paul Jon Daytime prayer meeting the following Tuesday Next Sunday we will be at Tree of Life @ 5:30!! (not 5) Something interesting tonight I’ve given it a great deal of thought How God describes us as clay and Himself the potter And Jon is just one lump of clay trying to describe God to other lumps of clay Interesting couple of months in Christianity re: the end of the world Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth I started my first ??? Whisenant – rapture in 1988 Pamphlets in church Families that bought it hook line and sinker September 11-13 1988 My dad (a minister) was begging people to not buy into this 1994 Harold Camping predicted the end and wrote a book Got it wrong Thinking about the Rapture Afraid of the concept Jesus would return like a thief in the night, take all the Christians and … Continue reading →

Paul Stephen After church in K-1 is a meeting for solace for the children (Afghani kids summer program) Jon Matthew 6:9-13 -“Plant your hope with good seeds. Don’t cover yourself with thistle and weeds.” Mumford & Sons Life sentence for drunk driving manslaughter Instead of staying and facing the crime he ran Inspectors found him and convicted him Interview revealed why he ran Father had a watch collection, had a beloved watch Curiosity got the best of him, he broke the watch and he put it back When dad found out he called the kids together and asked them to fess up Nobody did and this middle child learned early on that when the big test comes along, he would leave it in the dark Series of small compromises led to this big failure -Peirasmos? Temptation in the text Tricky word Also translates as test The test can be turned … Continue reading →

Paul Jon Ezekiel 47:1-12 Theme in the whole book Vision given to a people in the desert when the temple has been destroyed Cleanse themselves in Living Water Babylon destroyed the temple and took Israel into captivity Living water poured out over the altar Ezekiel 19:13 Planted in wilderness for disobedience They know where they are…something deeper God’s reminder goes deeper The image is a metaphor for God Revelation 1:15 like the roar of many waters The water brings life and healing Where God flows, there is life and healing Land of Pharoah Land of Canaan Land of the desert – where God lives Bigger than location or idea – metaphor Deeper in the desert, closer to God – Rabbi Akeva 40 years of wandering…for what? Complained about food and water-never the heat or the dangers Wadi – canyon in the desert that can quickly flood and fill it Had … Continue reading →

Paul Hosana = deliver us Jon 10 years ago he and Shannon were youth pastors at Bel Air Church, driving home to Alta Dena Stopped walking casually to his car when he saw a mountain lion in the parking lot 1 Peter 5:8-9 Spiritual warfare It’s not for elites It’s part of daily Christian life Revelation 12 defines the battleground Satan doesn’t cease to exist if you don’t think about John 10:10 Do we want the freedom Jesus is offerring? Genesis 1:26-28 Subdue Earth and have dominion Designed to rule Adam goes passive, wimpy At the end of time, we will reign and rule with Christ Matthew 25:14-23 Talents Put into positions of responsibilities Don’t want to sing in a heavenly choir for all time Enter into the joy of your master Get to work Matthew 25:31-34 Original job description: rule and reign We all have a drive to do … Continue reading →