ANNOUNCEMENT: Soulhouse AM Launch

Soulhouse AM Launch is Sunday September 13th 10-11:15 AM!

Book it into your rapidly filling calendars. Set the time aside and get ready for a brand new season and a brand new experience!

So, yeah, it's going to be awesome. Be there.

Come on and Join The Liberation at Soulhouse AM. When Jesus came to this earth He came to set us free. He came to bring us freedom and walk us into the Kingdom of God. This movement into freedom; this walk into liberation is to be for all to join.

But how do you do that?

How do you get in on this liberation?

What are we being liberated from?

What are we being liberated to?

Is there something I can do? or does it just somehow, mystically, happen in the spirit world?

Well, first we are going to get to know Jesus and watch Him for clues as we study the Gospel of Mark. As we go, we will learn vital skills that will teach us how to battle the empire and instead raise the Kingdom. Jesus told us again and again that the Kingdom of God is near, are you ready?

Counting down to it.

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VERSE: Read & Reflect

How do you feel about the grace of God going to someone other than you?

When grace is coming my way I am all over that; but when I think of SOME people getting some of God's grace I am not always happy about it. Jonah went even beyond that...it sounds like he had a tantrum.

"I didn't come to Ninevah, cuz I didn't want them to repent! I wanted fire and brimstone coming down all over the place! If I don't go they can't repent, then they get burned. Yeah!
If I do go,God will probably be kind and compassionate and forgive them and we can't have any of that.
Then God does go and help them to repent by sending me, they repent, he forgives and withholds judgment. Arghh now God kill me cuz I am suffering too much knowing that I helped bring your grace to them. I really don't want to do what you ask of me at all!"

Go ahead check the story. Read beyond the part that I have left for you.

Jonah 4:1-2 (New International Version)

¹ But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. ² He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Jonah 4:1-2 (The Message)

"I Knew This Was Going to Happen!"

^1-2 Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, "God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

Jonah 4:1-2 (New Living Translation)

¹ This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. ² So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.


Amazing. I always want grace for myself but I think others deserve judgment and punishment for being and I want them to at least suffer before he saves them.

But God's grace is for all. Who is worthy of it?

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VERSE: Read & Reflect

Continue to reflect on another similar passage. This theme is repeated throughout scripture. We must really need to get it.

Exodus 34:6-7 (New International Version)

⁶ And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Exodus 34:4-7 (The Message)

^4-7 So Moses cut two tablets of stone just like the originals. He got up early in the morning and climbed Mount Sinai as God had commanded him, carrying the two tablets of stone. God descended in the cloud and took up his position there beside him and called out the name, God. God passed in front of him and called out, "God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Still, he doesn't ignore sin. He holds sons and grandsons responsible for a father's sins to the third and even fourth generation."

Exodus 34:6-7 (New Living Translation)

⁶ The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh The Lord!
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
⁷ I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
even children in the third and fourth generations.”

This was an absolutely central way of viewing God in the Old Testament. Does it resonate with you? Forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin.

Thank You Yahweh.

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VERSE: Read & Reflect

Psalm 86:15 (New International Version)

¹⁵ But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:11-17 (The Message)

^11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight;
then I'll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
I've never kept secret what you're up to.
You've always been great toward me—what love!
You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
God, these bullies have reared their heads!
A gang of thugs is after me—
and they don't care a thing about you.
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
give your servant the strength to go on,
save your dear, dear child!
Make a show of how much you love me
so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully
put me back on my feet.

Psalm 86:15 (New Living Translation)

¹⁵ But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Compassion, mercy, unfailing love, tender, kind, immense in love, you never, never quit, gracious, abounding in love and faithfulness.

These are words describing God. Your God.

Go and live in His image. Reflect Him well.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: A Calendar Peek

Summer continues to be delicious, keep eating it up. Here are some opportunities for you:

Final Summer Soulhouse

Wednesday August 19^th 7-9 in The Board/Room

Come out for our final summer gathering. If you have not come out so far … well then don’t miss this one.

Bible Quizzing Launch

Tuesday September 08 7PM Room #1

Want to get in on the grand quizzing masters that travel all over Ontario competing? Let me know and I can hook you up with additional information.

180 Launch

Wednesday September 09 7-8:30 PM The Board/Room

Full PRIMEtime Leadership Orientation Day

Saturday September 12^th 9:30-1

Who is this for? Good question. Anyone who is planning on being a part of the Holy Smoke Worship team whether you have been on before or would just like to look into it this year. LifeSupport Group leaders, advisers, consultants, directors, producers, planners, influencers. If you have the smallest amount of doubt ask, or just say you are coming. There are things that we need to walk you through and there is official paperwork that MUST be signed before you will be able to participate in the area of ministry that you are looking at. This is for adults all the way down to grade 7s. If you will be or would like to be leading in ANY way this is for you. Please respond to say that you are coming. Thanks.

ONE Fall RE:treat 09

September 25-27 now $150. SIGN UP NOW!

Soulhouse AM Launch

Sunday September 13^th 10-11:15 The Board/Room: Join The Liberation

Soulhouse PM Season Premiere

Sunday September 13^th 6-8:30 Sanctuary: FANATIC: 01 What God Wants Most

WOOHOO! Counting down and looking forward.

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VERSE: Refelct on this today

So I have been reading, studying, reflecting, meditating, preparing and considering some qualities or characteristics of God lately. Some good things to remember about God. It is great news to be reminded of some of these things.

Sometimes it is challenging.

Why?

Because I am made in the image of God. I have been called to reflect God in my life. And I have to ask myself far too regularly...how am I doing with that? How am I living that out? It is not enough to believe. It must be lived, applied, incarnated, made real. Am I doing that? and am I helping others to do that as well?

Consider this promise; then reflect on the grace of God to you; then consider how to put the grace of you on someone else today.

Numbers 14:18 (New International Version)

¹⁸ 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'

Numbers 14:18 (The Message)

¹⁸ God, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love,
forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin;
Still, never just whitewashing sin.
But extending the fallout of parents' sins
to children into the third,
even the fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’

Let's keep walking this road together. Don't give up.

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VERSE: Here is a verse to consider for today

2 Peter 3:9 (New International Version)

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 (The Message)

God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

2 Peter 3:9 (New Living Translation)

⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Where are you today?

Do you want God to speed up and fulfill His promises all right now or, are you glad that He is showing you grace and giving you time to change? Do you feel the same everyday? Who do you know that needs to know that God cares enough enough to wait for them?

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