From the Pen of the Pastor

Getting a Conversation Started in the Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:26:00 +0000

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)

The story of Peter walking on water as recorded Matthew 14:22-33 was the focus of this weekend’s message. As I spent some time reflecting upon this passage, a number of personal storylines popped up for my application.

It’s a story of faith.

In the midst of the storms of life, I can trust Him and take the step of faith.

It’s a story of revelation.

In the mist of the storms of life, I need to look around and anticipate seeing Jesus…seeing Him in a new way.

It’s a story of worship.

In the mist of the storms of life, Jesus provides us the opportunity to engage Him, to worship Him.

I do think for these stories to be written into my personal plots of fear, something must be done before taking the risk and stepping out onto the choppy and stormy water. Before Peter stepped into the water, He and Jesus engaged in a dialogue--a back and forth conversation.

As I am in my boat of fear, surround by the storm of anxiety and uncertainty, I want to engage Jesus in conversation.

Jesus, are You here?

Where are You?

What do I need to declare about You?

What promises do I need to remember?

What do you want me to learn about my world or myself?

How are you going to reveal Yourself in this storm?

How will Your glory be revealed?

What’s the step of faith you are calling me to take?

How can I worship You in this situation?

I believe in His answers I will…

· Discover Him in the midst of the storm

· Come to understand my step of faith

· Experience my moment of fear being transformed into an opportunity for worship

Reading the Word Daily

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 11:55:00 +0000

I’d like to recommend the Bible Gateway Bible reading plan. Here’s what I like about it.

I get to choose from a variety of reading plans.
I can read it from my iPhone or similar device.
Everyone morning at 5 am it emails me my reading for the day.
It keeps track of what I have completed.

The reading plans they offer are…

Old/New Testament

Each day includes a passage from both the Old Testament and New Testament.

Chronological

Read the Bible in the chronological order in which its stories and events occurred.

Beginning

Read the Bible from start to finish, from Genesis to Revelation.

Historical

Read the books of the Bible as they were written historically, according to the estimated date of their writing.

Bible in 90 Days

An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.

Read the Gospels in 40 Days

Read through the four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--in 40 days.

New Testament in a Year

Read the New Testament from start to finish, from Matthew to Revelation.

The Daily Audio Bible

This reading plan is provided by Brian Hardin from Daily Audio Bible.

Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.

Readings for Lent and Easter

Short readings from throughout the Bible that focus on the meaning and events of Easter.

Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

40 daily Scripture readings that illustrate the character of God and the nature of faith.

Readings for Celebrating Advent

Scripture passages that focus on the meaning of Advent and Christmas.

Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

A reading plan that walks through the entire New Testament in 24 weeks of daily readings.

Verse of the Day

A daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse.

Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with sequential stories told across multiple weeks.

M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The classic M'Cheyne plan--read the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms or Gospels every day.

Proverbs Monthly

Read through the book of Proverbs every month of the year.

It’s simple and easy.

Go to http://biblegateway.com
Register for an account
From the menu--select Bible—select reading plans
Make your reading plan selection

Presently I am daily reading the Revised Common Lectionary.

The Deeper Life? What is It?

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:12:00 +0000

So I’m attending a Deeper Life weekend. I’d be curious what you think the Deeper Life is?

When you read the end of Hebrews 5 and the beginning of Hebrews 6, does it impact your answer?

Hebrews 5:11-6:3

¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, ²instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³And God permitting, we will do so.

Do we ever move “beyond the elementary teachings”? Let me know what you think.

Oh No!

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:53:00 +0000

Pain.

Disappointment.

Frustration.

Failure.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

(Psalm 13:1-2)

Help

Deliver

Rescue

Salvation

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

(Psalm 13:3-4)

His love

His salvation

His hope

His goodness

But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,

for he has been good to me.

(Psalm 13:5-6)

It’s so good I can turn to you in midst of those moments of despair.

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 01:13:00 +0000

Dealing with the Wailing Sirens

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 20:53:00 +0000

We had one of those unusual weather moments in Iowa last Wednesday. I wasn’t home. I had to be in Kansas for some meetings. About mid-afternoon my phone rang and on the line was my youngest son. In the midst of his sobs, I deciphered one of his worst fears was being realized. The tornado sirens were blowing.

Ever since coming through St Louis 5 years ago when a tornado hit their airport, he has been an avid weather watcher and worrier. We talk about his fear. He continues to work through it. But-none-the-less, when the sirens sound and even though he has retreated to the safety of the basement; and even though his mom is present to walk through the experience, he just wants to talk to his dad.

We’re not sure what David was facing in Psalm 16. But some sort of threat caused him to open his Psalm with, “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge” (vs. 1). He too reaches out to his Father!

In the midst of his “wailing sirens”, David reminds himself of these truths to combat his fears.

Verses 2-4

He knows God isn’t distant. He is his Lord. His people are his people. David exclusively worships Him and no others. There certainly is something about knowing your Father is watching, connected, and "there” when you are afraid.

When I was a little kid, I always relaxed and slept better when mom and dad were home. No matter the noise in the house, fear dissipated when I heard that garage door go up indicating their returning presence and my beginning rest.

When I am afraid, I am going to remind myself…

I belong to Him. I’m His kid. I’m His concern.
He misses nothing happening in my life.
I will give more weight to Him than that which I fear. I call that worship.

Verses 5-8

He knows God alone is his source of blessing, peace, and confidence. David keeps his eyes on the Lord.

On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr. died when the airplane he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The two passengers on board, Kennedy's wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren, were also killed. The Piper Saratoga light aircraft had departed from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey, and its intended route was along the coastline of Connecticut and across Rhode Island Sound to Martha's Vineyard Airport.

The official investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that Kennedy fell victim to spatial disorientation while descending at night over water, consequently losing control of the aircraft. Kennedy did not hold an instrument rating and was certified to fly only under visual flight rules. However, at the time of the accident the weather and light conditions were such that all basic landmarks were obscured, making visual flight challenging, although legally still permissible. (Wikipedia)

Bottom line, he focused upon the wrong thing and ended up flying his plane into the ocean.

How do I lock eyes with the Lord when I am afraid?

Daily practice and grow in my life of thankfulness. The more I acknowledge everything I have is a gift from God, the less I hold with a clenched fist. It’s the way I learn to value Him above everything else.
I recall His promises, His attributes, and His past actions. I contextualize my fear. As He grows bigger in my mind, my fears grow smaller. I choose to place my fears (and their causes) in the context of who God is.

Verses 9-11

He knows God is faithful. He is faithful today. He is faithful when it feels like the world is falling apart. He is faithful even in death. His faithfulness spans from today into eternity.

Christie and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary this past August. In our first anniversaries (and in even some of the later ones), Christie would give me a play-by-play of what we were doing on August 4^th, 1990. It served as a great reminder of a great day.

Beyond the ring I wear on my finger to remind me of my commitment, Christie also gave me something on our wedding day to remind me of her vows. She wrote them out, had them framed, and they have sat on my bedside table for the last 25 years. I get a reminder of Christie’s vow of faithfulness every night when I go to bed and every morning when I awake.

How do I make sure I remember God’s faithfulness when I am afraid?

Again, practice. Trust is grown through experience. The every day steps of faith prepare me for those moments in life that require a big step of faith.
Learn, grow, and experience Him. The better I know Him, the better I know His ways.

I anticipate hearing my own “wailing sirens” in the upcoming months. I’m not sure what will trigger them. What I do know, like David and my son, I plan on getting ahold of my Father.

Patience Please...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 13:05:00 +0000

We speak of God’s progressive revelation. This does not mean God began to reveal Himself crudely and learned to do a better job as He went along. Genesis is as much His revelation as is John. Progressive revelation means God revealed Himself progressively to people as they were able to grasp and understand Him. Thus we have a clearer revelation of God in John than in Genesis, but the same God is revealed in both books.

How would Einstein teach arithmetic to a small child? He would not start out with the equation for the theory of relativity or for splitting the atom. He would begin with two plus two equals four. That is not all the arithmetic he knows; but that is as much as the child can grasp. Years later he would teach the child, now an adult, about complex theories. This is also how God revealed Himself to humanity. He did not reveal everything about Himself at one time. He did it gradually.

(Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations(p. 23). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

Lord, I know not only was Your revelation progressive, but I know my understanding (illumination) is as well. Therefore, I pray you would keep my heart open to learning and challenge me in my assumptions. I give you the freedom to speak, reveal and illuminate. I have much more to learn. Thank you for Your incredible patience.

Going on a "walk about"

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 21:33:00 +0000

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him.
(Colossians 2:6)

Among aboriginal people in Australia, males go on a “walk-about” as part of their rite of passage into manhood: they travel alone across their land to become familiar with it and thus a part of it. The Greek word for live (peripateō) literally means to “walk about.” According to Paul, our trust in the received gospel of God’s grace through Christ results in a “walk about” in him; we become familiar with him and a part of him.

Wall, R. W. (1993). Colossians & Philemon (Col 2:6). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Not Another Interruption!

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:16:00 +0000

Every day, God punctuates my life with stories. Some of the stories I enjoy. Others I would rather edit out. But as I reflect upon many of them, I do discover these stories to be revealing. I guess I’ve learned that God uses these stories, these experiences, for my maturation.

I think as I have been reading the Biblical story of Ruth this week, I find it to be such a story in the life of Israel. There certainly exist a number of themes one can learn from.

You could build messages on themes of faithfulness. Others love the theme of the Kinsman Redeemer.

I choose to gravitate toward the theme of inclusion. It appears the Israelites weren’t much different than us. As they continued to grow, study the Word of God, and reflect upon God’s promises and blessings for them, they became rather exclusive. They forgot they were chosen and blessed for a reason. They were to be a blessing to all the nations. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Yet in the midst of all the stories of God building their nation; in the midst of God demonstrating His faithfulness to them; in the midst of God preparing them for the special role of bringing forth the Messiah; in the midst of instructing them on not intermingling with the pagan nations; God inserts the story of Ruth, a gentile who becomes part of the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah.

And much like the story of Jonah, it’s a story to remind me this “Gospel” is for all people. Ruth challenges me to be inclusive. I want to let that message, that interruption, to disrupt…

My personal story of holiness…

My parenting story of protection…

My friendship story of positive influence…

My church story of community and belonging…

And much like the story of Ruth, I am going to attempt to walk through the day looking for other meaningful interruptions to change the course of my storyline.

Lord, you are the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). I look forward to experiencing Your writing today.

Whew! That Certainly is a Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 16:56:00 +0000

Whew! It’s kind of a relief to know I don’t have to settle everything. I can trust God to put things right. If you are wondering what I’m talking about, check out Psalm 94.

To get the gist, consider these few verses.

The wicked band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

But the Lord has become my fortress,

and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

He will repay them for their sins

and destroy them for their wickedness;

the Lord our God will destroy them. (Psalm 94:21-23)

It’s a relief to know…

God knows about the injustice of our world and has no plan of turning a blind eye toward it.
I don’t have to make “everything” right this very moment because ultimately He will!
Rather than investing energy into my anger and bitterness about “who gets away with it, I can focus my energy on doing right and being just.
I can find “rest” in the midst of an “unjust-unfair-unequal-world” because He has another eternal reality where everything is set right.
I don’t always have to win every inning of life because I know how the game ends.
I can afford to "risk" for His Kingdom because He ultimately is the "clean-up" hitter.

Who Will be my Quartet?

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 13:16:00 +0000

The term for “mercy” is the Hebrew word chesedh, God’s unconditional grace and compassion. The word for “justice” is the Hebrew term mishpat. In Micah 6:8, “mishpat puts the emphasis on the action, chesedh puts it on the attitude [or motive] behind the action.” To walk with God, then, we must do justice, out of merciful love. (p. 3).

Over and over again, mishpat describes taking up the care and cause of widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor—those who have been called “the quartet of the vulnerable.” (p. 4).

The mishpat, or justness, of a society, according to the Bible, is evaluated by how it treats these groups. Any neglect shown to the needs of the members of this quartet is not called merely a lack of mercy or charity, but a violation of justice, of mishpat. God loves and defends those with the least economic and social power, and so should we. That is what it means to “do justice.” (pp 4-5)

Keller, Timothy (2010-11-02). Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just. Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.

As I read Keller’s book I find myself challenged and marinating over a few thoughts.

1. God needs to work on my attitude and actions for the “quartet of the vulnerable”? My prayer: Lord I’m open. Your Spirit has enlivened my heart. Work into my heart Your heart. I am going to be looking for those opportunities you afford me to become engaged in Your workings!

2. I need to explore who the “vulnerable” are. I know the segments highlighted in the Scriptures. But what is it they share in common? Obviously they are vulnerable. One of the common denominators I want to explore are the groups’ inability to provide for themselves because of society our circumstances. This is important to me because I can see throughout the Scriptures a clear mandate for us to be involved and engaged as a regular part of my life.

3. I need to explore what this will look like in my personal life, my family life, my church life, and my political life? What are the actions for me, my family, my church, my country should be taking? What are the attitudes I want to see fostered in my life, my family, my church, and my politics (voting, etc.)?

It’s important to God. It needs to become more important to me.

Creativity Only Goes So Far...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:47:00 +0000

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

(Exodus 20:4-6)

Some thoughts from J.I. Packer…

This forbids, not worshiping many gods (the first commandment covered that), but imagining the true God as like yourself or something lower. God’s real attack is on mental images, of which metal images are more truly the consequence than the cause.

And…

No statement starting, “This is how I like to think of God” should ever be trusted. An imagined God will always be quite imaginary and unreal.

And…

Jesus Christ, who is in every sense his image (Colossians 1:15; cf. Hebrews 1:3; John 14:7–10). God the Father is altogether Jesus-like—that is the most breathtaking news that anyone can ever hear.

Packer, J. I. (2008-01-07). Keeping the Ten Commandments (Kindle Locations 464-473). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

My Admissions:

I have a habit of fashioning God into an image that is comfortable and matches my expectations.

I like a completely defined God. I work at removing mystery and explaining away difficult actions or attributes.

I separate the character of God of the Old Testament from the character of God in Jesus.

I’m certainly guilty of violating this commandment.

The Reality of My Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:32:00 +0000

Romans 5:6-11

My old reality

- powerless
- ungodly
- sinner
- enemy

Christ’s actions

- at just the right time
- bloody
- demonstrable love
- died for us
- life-giving
- giving

My new reality

- justified
- saved from God’s wrath
- reconciled
- saved

In which reality do I walk?

Which reality sets the tenor for my day?

The difference isn’t found in whether I got the deal or not; whether I was treated with respect or not; whether the day was free from mishaps. The reality of my day rests in Him and His actions.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 146:5)

Engaging Worship?

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 12:13:00 +0000

With what shall I come before the Lord

and bow down before the exalted God?

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.

It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don’t take yourself too seriously—

take God seriously.(Micah 6:6,8, MSG)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.(Micah 6:8, NIV)

“That was a great worship service!” I’m sure you’ve heard such exclamations as you leave the sanctuary when the service has been particularly engaging.

Hands lifted…

Voices raised…

Tears and emotion expressed…

God must be pleased. That must be real worship.

Outside the sanctuary, in the course of the week…

You help a neighbor in need…

You loved on someone who you often consider unlovely…

You forgave someone who hurt you…

You lived as if everything in your life was a gift from God, a life of thankfulness…

God is pleased. That was real worship.

My Sin is Always Before Me....

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 12:39:00 +0000

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(Palms 51:3-4)

What have I allowed myself to know today?

I know my schedule today.
I know my worries for the day.
I know the challenges for the day.
I know my dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

I’m not sure I always want to know my sin. I want to push it to the back.

Why would I want or seek to have my sin “always before me”? Why would I want my sin to be defined as a personal hurt to God? What’s the value?

Daily Confession of Sin…

God has chosen to live relationally with me. He has chosen to use the terminology of “covenant”—marriage language. I want to keep things relational with Him. I don’t want to denigrate it into something lower—law keeping. It’s always personal between Him and I. My God, I was wrong. I am sorry. Please forgive me.

I need daily humility. Regular confession breaks up the hard soil of pride in my heart. It keeps me soft to Him and those around me.

I never want to forget the devastation of my sin. It’s devastating to me, those I love, and most importantly to Him. I walk into my day with the knowledge that sin is nothing to fool around with.

I want the fragrance of His grace to be the aroma of my life. Having bathed in it at the start of my day, I pray it becomes a noticeable scent in my day, relationships, and encounters.

I need it. I need refreshing. I need the heavy baggage to be lifted off my shoulders. I need His grace and forgiveness.

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:55:00 +0000

Walter Brueggemann is making me think! I love to change-up my reading patterns. The tension of reading something from a different persuasion brings tension to my mind and refreshment to my soul.

He has challenged me.

The riddle and insight of biblical faith is the awareness that only anguish leads to life, only grieving leads to joy, and only embraced endings permit new beginnings.

Jesus sees that only those who mourn will be comforted (Matt 5:4). Only those who embrace the reality of death will receive the new life. Implicit in his statement is that those who do not mourn will not be comforted and those who do not face the endings will not receive the beginnings. The alternative community knows it need not engage in deception. It can stand in solidarity with the dying, for those are the ones who hope.

Brueggemann, Walter (2001-06-26). Prophetic Imagination: Revised Edition (p. 58). Fortress Press. Kindle Edition.

God calls me to something different, something alternative. It stands in contrast to the world in which I live. My calling is not to “fit” my Christianity into the existing culture; figure out how it can be lived in the prevailing mindset. He calls me out from something that has failed; is dead; is to be grieved. He calls me into something that is different; is new; is an alternative consciousness.

Regrettably, my immersion into the existing consciousness is so complete that my heart has become numb to its devastating impact. I don’t grieve as I should for the injustice that surrounds me. I’m comfortable, accommodating, and justifying. I “fit”.

My immersion extends even to God. He who is free, self-existent, the Great I Am, has been defined, bound, and made to “fit”. I take His words and soften their impact. I make them “fit”. He is a suburban, politically conservative, a capitalist loving God. Rather than me resembling Him, He resembles me. He walks, talks, and acts like me. He is comfortable. He fits my world.

Jesus speaks a prophetic voice. He calls me out to something alternative, a new kingdom; His Kingdom. It doesn’t fit well with the prevailing kingdom, consciousness. It’s new. He stretches my mind beyond the practical. He opens my imagination to dream of what God intends to be. He stretches me beyond the limitations of “what will work”. It’s His imagination. It’s His Kingdom. It’s alternative. He is once again a Free God.

I feel the call. It’s what I’m called to share. It’s where I’m challenged. Still mulling.

2014 Pepperdine Bible Lectures | John Ortberg

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 01:03:00 +0000

I've begun to teach a new Sunday School class at church. My class will be reading and discussing John Ortberg's book, The Life You've Always". I had read it a number of years ago and have enjoyed reading it again. I am looking forward to what God has in store for me and the class.

If you happen to be a member of the class or would like to follow along, we will be looking at Chapter 3 next week. This past week we discussed chapters 1 and 2. To help you get in sync with what is going on, I thought you might enjoy a recent lecture John gave. I think it's a great introduction to the journey he is going to be taking us on in his book. If the imbedded video is not showing up on your computer or through email, please clink on this link - video .

Looking at what I treasure descriptively and prescriptively...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 18:34:00 +0000

A few years back, a man I respect shared with me one of his epiphanies. Being a man of considerable personal and professional success, I was all ears.

Let me set the stage. For years as an avid fan for his alma mater’s football team, He had attended every game, home and away. Vacations and plans revolved around the football schedule. He loved it. He invested in it with his time, passion, and resources. Everyone knew of his love for his team.

After years of following the wins and losses of the team, living the ups and downs of a season, he came to this realization. He was allowing the performance of 18-19 year-olds to dictate his week’s contentment. If his team was winning, he had a great week. If his team was losing, joy was hard to find.

It brings me back to the phrase I shared yesterday. We invest in what we treasure and we treasure what we invest in. If we are not careful we can get stuck in this circle. The more we invest in something, the more we treasure it. And, the more we treasure it, the more we invest in it.

Definition of terms:

Descriptive – Who we really are…what our actions describe us to be.

Prescriptive – Who we say we would like or aspire to be

I am hoping to take some time this week and get off the merry-go-round. Here’s my action plan.

Step 1: Look at my life descriptively. Based upon my investment of time, energy, passion, and resources, what do I treasure?

Step 2: Look at my life descriptively. Am I investing in as a treasure anything that is perishable, things that lead to serious disappointment (Saturday’s blog)

Step 3: Look at my life prescriptively. What do I want to treasure? Does it look like my relationship with Christ is something I treasure?

Step 4: Look at my life prescriptively. What investments do I want to start making in what I really want to treasure.

My heart has a tendency to follow my investment of time, passion, and resources.

Treasures

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:00:00 +0000

I value what I invest in. I invest in what I value.

Final Session Prep

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 12:59:00 +0000

Session #7 POINT OF APPLICATION

As you walk through your week and you find yourself critiquing another, pause and take the following steps.

1) Check your own heart and answer these questions. (Look in the Mirror)

a. Where and how do I struggle with the same issue?

b. What has God been speaking to me about?

c. Do I understand that I am too am a sinner in need of God’s grace?

2) Check your own heart and answer these question, “What is my motive for critiquing?” “Do I have their best interest in mind?”

3) Before you speak, ponder these questions.

a. Am I able to approach them in humility?

b. Are they receptive to critique, the Word of God, and me?

c. What’s the best way for me to let them know I love them and reach their heart?

Session #8 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. Read Matthew 7:7-29

2. If you had to sum down each section to a single sentence, what would it be?

a. Matthew 7:7-12

b. Matthew 7:13-14

c. Matthew 7:15-23

d. Matthew 7:24-27

Avoiding Disappointment...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 20:36:00 +0000

Video also available on YouTube - Click Here

Session 7

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:08:00 +0000

Session #6 POINT OF APPLICATION

Find some quiet time this week. What are the treasurers in your life? What do you investments of time, money, and energy reveal about your treasures? What are some reallocations you might need to make?

Session #7 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. Read Matthew 7:1-6

2. What do you learn about judging?

3. What does Jesus mean by, “Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!”

This Week's Point of Application and Homework

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 21:36:00 +0000

Session #6 POINT OF APPLICATION

Takes some time this week. Get by yourself. Spend some time in prayer using the Lord’s Prayer as a model.

Session #6 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. Read Matthew 6:19-34

2. What do you learn about treasures, money and worry?

Levels of Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 02:02:00 +0000

Ancient Hebrew wisdom describes four levels of charity. The highest level is to provide a job for one in need without his knowledge that you provided it. The next, lower level is to provide work that the needy one knows you provided. The third level is to give an anonymous gift to meet an immediate need. The lowest level of charity, to be avoided if at all possible, is to give a poor person a gift with his full knowledge that you are the donor.

Robert D. Lupton, Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life (Regal, 2007), p. 26; submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Dunwell) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 11:06:00 +0000

Whether [the poor people you help] are worthy or unworthy, the reward for you will be the same.

John Chrysostom, Christian History, no. 44.