Full Disclosure 180 Sr Oct 15/08

This Week: Contraband: 1 Creation and Brokenness:

We are working through the major themes of the Bible in this Contraband series. 4 sessions, 8 words and a summation of the themes of the Bible. A lofty goal and some serious study notes.

It is easier to break than to create, easier to tangle than to untangle, easier to create tension than to remove it, easier to sever relationships than to repair them. When creation was fresh it was perfect, but it didn't take long (chapter 2) to start messing it up. As soon as that first law was broken, it severed all the perfect relationships that existed. Now we suffer being surrounded by brokenness. That is just what we know and we ache because of it. How will save us from this sharp, jagged, broken world?

Next Week: QU: Apologetics 1: God: Does He exist? Does it matter? How can we know? Does it make sense to believe in God? What can give me confidence, boldness, hope in my faith?
Come and find out.
We will be discussing one of the greatest questions of philosophy.
Advance notice would be awesome so that we may prepare adequate quantities of resources.

g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: Upcoming QU class: APOLOGETICS Part #1 God

October 22nd 7-9 PM in The Board/Room. No cost but advanced registration is requested to ensure enough materials.

1 Peter 3:15-16 (New International Version)

15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

This verse is almost a slogan for Christian apologetics. The text would support both understanding of “a reasoned defence of Christian truth claims” and the telling of a story that explains our hope, our expectation to people who have no hope. The point of Apologetics is not to bash people over the head with facts. You are never to say, “believe in Jesus or you are stupid.” The point of this study is give you confidence in your faith. We are to be kind and respectful and never intellectually arrogant or dismissive. We are not seeking to prove that we are right, but that there is a hope beyond us that may bring peace.

g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: And Now It Shall Be Revealed

I've got rhythm, I've got rhyme, When I dance I fall on my behind.
I need some help and so that is why we are pulling in some special instructors to teach us some moves. It can now be revealed.
The secret is sprung, but you are the first to know. The story broke here first.
The Next 180 Remix will be on Wednesday November 12th and it is going to ROCK! Check it out:

Do you want to see the original?
Do you want to see the scary version?
This one reveals some of my deep needs.
Man, have I got serious moves? Come on out and check out the live action that will be going on. Mark it on your calendar, set the day aside, book work off, tell your friends, cuz they can all come.
More details to come. And they are good details, if you know what I'm saying.

g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: Some of my light has disipated

The day that I have been dreading has come. A little of the joy of livin' has seeped away.
Today, but only in the evening, I had to wear socks and pants. It chills my heart, but I will process and move along.
Hey fall is here! How awesome is that. I love fall. The colours, the leaves, the walks, it's all so great.
It is so great that I almost don't mind wearing pants and shoes.

g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: Sneak Peek

There is something coming that you don't know about yet. Something so secret that it is not even known by those people who know. Like me. I only kind of know. But there is an event coming that is going to be awesome.
I managed to sneak out a photo from the PRIMEtime Production Studio. See if you can figure out what this is all about before it is announced officially. Only those who come for sneak previews will know about this.
Ok.
Check this out, without any further ado or delay, right now:

What is going on here?
Man that guy is smokin' hot! Somebody get him a bucket of water cuz he is on fire!
How does this relate to what is coming?
More details coming?
You bet.
Let me hear your guesses. Shout them out now.

g-ram

THOUGHT: Prayer

We have talked about prayer lots. No one can do it for you, you have to do it yourself.
But what if there was someway to keep God on your mind?
Or what if you could mezuzah something to bring God back into focus for you?
What if, in the middle of your day, you got a little bump that reminded you to pray. Not force you. Not whack you on the head, but just a little message.
Well if you are interested then perhaps you should go and check this bad boy out. It is free and free is a good price these days.
www.echoprayer.com
The problem with traditional prayer journals (you know, paper ones) is that they don't organize your prayers and send you reminders via email and text messages like Echo. Not much to complain about with this web app. It's a simple, intutitve tool that can help you manage your prayer life.
Strap on your gear you tech-savvy prayer warrior. Go out and do some good.
That sounds like it could be LifeSupport. Yeah, I support you living your life with intentional spirituality.

g-ram

THOUGHT: Light and Darkness

Have you thought about light and darkness before? Or maybe, have you ever sat in a dark place for a long time and then looked into the light? What does it feel like? What does it make you think of? I have been pondering light and dark for awhile from two contrasting positions.

1.I have been trying for some time now to get The Board/Room lit up. We have awesome new lighting just waiting to go up. But we lack going up personnel. So I have been watching the shadows and light and wishing that this project would just get completed so we could all just enjoy it. Steps have been taken. We are getting closer but we are not done yet.

2. I have been considering light and dark as they relate to life, as they are symbols that teach us of the way things may be. This coming Sunday @ Soulhouse I will be sharing some of what I have been learning. We are going to couch it in the language of LifeWare Equipping. What does that mean again? Well it means that we are looking for our lives to show the evidence of a designer, we want to find some LifeWare, some secrets, to help us live better. So we are looking to get equipped, rigged out, geared up, pimped out to live better. What can we use to do that better? LifeSupport. Someone or something that will support us as we try to live. Some support as we seek to be light in a dark place.

There are so many pictures that I can think of that are based on light and shadow. What are some of yours? Think about it.

g-ram