ANNOUNCEMENT: Soulhouse Videos

There are more Soulhouse videos available for you to enjoy @ both my Facebook page and our new youtube page. The link is available in the sidebar.
I think maybe we should do some more video in the future. There are a number of you out there who said you would be down with touching the video market. If we can get a crew together then we can upgrade our fledgling podcasts into video podcasts. But I need some feedback and some volunteers. Who wants to help?

g-ram

EVENT: Full Disclosure Soulhouse April 27

Last Week: Celebration. What kind of summary can you make for this night? If you weren't there, uhmmm well you missed out...big time. The Cafe was awesome and a welcome recharge after an enthusiastic, passionate evening of worship with some amazing musical creativity. The spirit of the place was great, the community of the place was desirable, the music was fantastic. Perhaps the part that I am most proud of is this: I had nothing to do with what happened. I just enjoyed, worshiped my God and thanked Him for the church He has placed me in to pastor. It was a key night to the entire year.
Check out the video on my Facebook page or @ check here on youtube. Let God Arise
This Week: "Return To Me" Prayer (Graham Clinton)
Next Week: No Soulhouse. Mother's Day.

EVENT: Full Disclosure QU 104 Identity in Christ

Fear is a result of the fall. If fear is controlling your life, then faith is not. Everyday we need to ask ourselves the question: "what will govern my day...fear or faith?"

You don’t feel your way into good behaviour, you behave your way into good feelings. Good feelings allow right behaviour.

Self-worth is not an issue of giftedness, talent, intelligence or beauty. Self-worth is an identity issue. Your sense of personal worth comes from knowing who you are: a child of God.

We don’t serve God to gain His acceptance; we are accepted, so we serve God. We don’t follow Him in order to be loved; we are loved, so we follow Him.

Paul asks in

Romans 8:35 (ESV)

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

He then answers:

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you are a believer in Jesus you are dead to sin so make sure that you:

Romans 6:12 (ESV)

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

But instead:

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sin still strongly appeals to your flesh to continue to act independent of God. It is up to me to not let sin reign even if it wants to.

The battle is in the mind, fight for your mind, for your own clear thoughts.

James 4:1 (ESV)

1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Galatians 5:17 (ESV)

17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

So we need to renew our minds, to recharge them, to reload them, to refresh them, to re-energize them, to refocus them.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Walking in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit means obedience. We pray for strength and not for lack of suffering. We have been directed to worry for nothing, but instead to turn to prayer.

Matthew 6:31-33 (English Standard Version)

31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For^(A) the Gentiles seek after all these things, and^(B) your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But^(C) seek first^(D) the kingdom of God and his righteousness,^(E) and all these things will be added to you.

Mark 10:27 (English Standard Version)

27Jesus^(A) looked at them and said, ^(B) "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

Ephesians 5:18-21 (English Standard Version)

18And^(A) do not get drunk with wine, for that is^(B) debauchery, but^(C) be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in^(D) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20^(E) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father^(F) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21^(G) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Galatians 5:16-6:10 (English Standard Version)

Walk by the Spirit

16But I say,^(A) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify^(B) the desires of the flesh. 17For^(C) the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,^(D) to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are^(E) led by the Spirit,^(F) you are not under the law. 19Now^(G) the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,^(H) divisions, 21envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that^(I) those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But^(J) the fruit of the Spirit is^(K) love, joy, peace, patience,^(L) kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23^(M) gentleness,^(N) self-control;^(O) against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus^(P) have crucified the flesh with its^(Q) passions and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit,^(R) let us also walk by the Spirit. 26^(S) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

1Brothers,^[b](T) if anyone is caught in any transgression,^(U) you who are spiritual should restore him in^(V) a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2^(W) Bear one another’s burdens, and^(X) so fulfill^(Y) the law of Christ. 3For^(Z) if anyone thinks he is something,^(AA) when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one^(AB) test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5For^(AC) each will have to bear his own load.

6^(AD) One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7^(AE) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for^(AF) whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For^(AG) the one who sows to his own flesh^(AH) will from the flesh reap corruption, but^(AI) the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And^(AJ) let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,^(AK) if we do not give up. 10So then,^(AL) as we have opportunity, let us^(AM) do good to everyone, and especially to those who are^(AN) of the household of faith.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (English Standard Version)

2 Timothy 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

1But understand this, that^(A) in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be^(B) lovers of self,^(C) lovers of money,^(D) proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3^(E) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,^(F) not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless,^(G) swollen with conceit,^(H) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but^(I) denying its power.^(J) Avoid such people. 6For among them are^(K) those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to^(L) arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as^(M) Jannes and Jambres^(N) opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth,^(O) men corrupted in mind and^(P) disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all,^(Q) as was that of those two men.

Walk in the Spirit. Live in the Spirit. Keep re-setting your eyes on God and your will find increasing peace.

g-ram

EVENT: Full Disclosure Common Ground April 23

Last Week: Seven: Lust (Graham Clinton):

Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. "excessive love of others," which therefore renders love and devotion to God as secondary.

Lust (or lechery) is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts sometimes lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions including (but obviously not limited to) sexual addiction, adultery, bestiality, rape, and incest. A common image or thought for punishment in hell for someone indulging in lust has been walking within flames to purge himself of lustful/sexual thoughts and feelings.

Lust is any intense desire or craving for self gratification and excitement. Lust can mean strictly sexual lust, although it is also common to speak of a "lust for men", "lust for blood (bloodlust for short)" or a "lust for power", or other goals and to "lust for love". The Greek word which translates as lust is epithymia (επιθυμια), which also is translated into English as "to covet".

Same deal as before though. It creeps is quietly and wants to grow. It wants to destroy community and bring isolation. It wants to ruin your relationships to God, to your friends and to yourself. It destroys hungrily while lying to you about getting what you want.

Danger: please avoid.

Next Week: Seven: Gluttony (Graham Clinton)

g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: Merlin Rides 2 Wheeler

Landmark.
Official Boy Status achievement marker established.
Thursday April 24th Merlin rode a 2 wheeler (no training wheels) for the first time all around the UAC parking lot.
His new found skills will no doubt lead to an increased sense of freedom. This is sure to lead to rebellion, lawlessness, run-ins with the law and joining a biker gang.
He already has a flair for dressing up and he loves tattoos, we should have seen the warning signs...I just hope he won't shake us down for root beer money.

G-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: Soulhouse Podcasts Now Available on iTunes

With iTunes, you can either subscribe to your podcast (to listen) or submit it to their store so others can find your podcast without knowing your podcast link.

To subscribe, in iTunes click "advanced" at the top, then "Subscribe to Podcast." Then paste in your link and you will automatically receive the most recent sermon added, as well as have access to all previous sermons.

Alternatively your audience can click the \'click to subscribe\' link within your player.

g-ram

EVENT: People Web April 22

Laura, Danielle and Paige...of course it was a great time. Merlin fell asleep on the couch and then woke up when the company deserted us and said "Gee, they sure left early. I wanted them to stay longer."
So I guess you will have to come back and not break his little heart.
It is just great getting to know so many folks whom I only see from a distance for too much of the time. Some fine ladies here gentlemen.
We got the "lowdown" and the "skinny" about what is really going on. So thanks for your openness and your insight. I deeply appreciate both.
Plans for the future still continue.
Thanks for hanging with us.

g-ram