Activist

We're getting ready to start a new series this Sunday called Activist.

Before we do that, I want to know what you think about that word. Does it have positive or negative connotations for you? Do you think Christians should be activists for anything? Why or why not?

Come check it out on Sunday, it's going to be good!

Art and Faith

So here's an open ended one that I think about a lot...

What is the role of art in our faith? Whether it be music, film, painting, photography, graphic design, or whatever else you consider art.

Do these benefit our faith? Do they ever hurt our faith?

The Formula

Normally I hate applying formulas to a relationship because relationships are just way too liquid to make a formula work. However, I came across one that I really like, and that makes a lot of sense.
We've been talking about the Fruit of the Spirit in youth group, and talking about love, I came across this thought:

The amount of love in our life is directly related to the amount of God in our life.

Now it's hard to quantify that, but in generalities I really think it holds true. The amount of love we have for people is so closely tied to how our relationship with God is doing. If we're close to God, we'll have a more loving attitude, but as we get farther away from God, that love significantly decreases and lasts for shorter amounts of time.

Do you agree with this? I think it it makes sense, but what do you think?

Blowin' in the Wind- Bob Dylan

I like this song. I've been listening to it a lot lately. What do you think about the lyrics? Think they have any meaning for us as followers of Christ? Check it out:

Blowin' In The Wind

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

----------------
Now playing: Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind
via FoxyTunes

Food for thought... Or maybe water for thought

I recently watched a video about water. You know, the stuff we use to take showers, cook food, drink, fill up pools, wash our cars, and so on. Well clean water is something we often take for granted here. I know I certainly do. I've already had 3 or 4 cups of water today, and it's not even noon yet.

So what's the big deal about clean water? Well a significant portion of the world doesn't have access to it. It's something we so quickly take for granted yet is so essential to survival. Here's where we come in. There's an organization called blood water mission that works to provide clean water to people in Africa. You can check them out at www.bloodwatermission.com. We're going to be talking about it later in the youth group, but check out their website and find out how you can get involved.

Do you think this is something we should be getting involved in? What can we do to make a difference?

A perfect 10.0

With plenty of 10.0 scores given at this year's summer Olympics, we're getting ready to take a look at a different set of 10's. We're getting ready to kick off a series about the 10 Commandments from the Old Testament. I hope you join us on Sunday morning to here about it!

But before that series gets started, I want to know what you think: Are the 10 Commandments still relevant for us today as post-New Testament Christians? Are all of them, or just some? Why? and why do these 10 make the list? (If you need a refresher, they're found in Exodus chapter 20) Let me know!

Hope to see you here,

Pastor Matt

The Kingdom of Heaven

I've been thinking a lot lately about this thing Jesus liked to talk about called the Kingdom of Heaven. What is this thing? Is it the place where followers of Christ go after they die? Or is it much, much more than that?

Well, I personally think that it is much more than that (and I think Scripture backs that up). I think it is something that we are part of every day, in the here and now. I think we experience it when we live like Christ, when our actions reflect his, and when we are serving and loving other people. That's the conclusion I've come to so far on this somewhat confusing, intriguing topic.

What are your thoughts? What do you think the "kingdom of heaven" really is? If it is present, how do we experience it? How do we take part in it? Let me know!

Your servant in Christ,

Matt