SCC Pastors' Blog

Ok I have to admit it I forgot I preached last Sunday.  I have been down in L.A., Lakewood to be exact, helping my Mom transition into her Alzheimer’s Care Facility.  It’s a nice place as these places go, but in the end my Mom is having a hard adjustment, therefore it’s been hard on me and the rest of my family as well.  I tell you this simply because I think it’s the reason for my forgetfulness. 

Then I think of our friend Bob Andrew, and of course the tragic events in Haiti and, well, you get the picture.  Life can come at us in waves, and truthfully, I have experienced the most depth of trust in God and the worst examples of faith in this past week.  I feel manic spiritually, one moment in sync, the next disobedient.

One thing I’ve learned is that God isn’t leaving me, it’s always me leaving Him.  So it makes this passage from last Sunday all the more poignant in my journey to stay close to Him.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—… Acts 17:27

God’s purpose … I love that thought — but when you realize the desired outcome from our Creator’s purpose is that we find Him, well, I am left speechless at such a concept. I’d love for us to meditate a few moments of our busy lives this week and consider a God who loves you enough to orchestrate history so that we might “feel our way toward Him” and actually, “find Him”.  Then perhaps when we find Him we might work vigorously to keep that line of communication open and ongoing. 

I hope the depth of God’s love on such a grand scale as history will warm your gizzards as the storms line up this weekend.

Love being your pastor and sharing my life with you,

dan

The Book of Acts is full of “historic moments.” These were events in which the decisions and actions of people like the Apostle Paul literally changed the course of history. The results of those decisions are still rippling through our lives to this day.

Consider this: Paul had been determined to carry the news about Jesus to the people of present-day Eastern Turkey, Georgia, and possibly Azerbaijan. But in obedience to a vision he sees while in the town of Troas (Acts 16), he changed direction and went west to northern Greece instead . . . and the rest, as they say, is history.

But here’s the question: Do you think Paul and his companions knew they were doing something historic or do you think it all seemed like another “normal” day in the life of a missionary? Do you think Lois & Eunice ever dreamed that Timothy would play such a significant role in the spread of Christianity while they were raising him? (2 Timothy 1:5)

My point is that our actions and decisions matter because they start chain reactions that ripple through time. So make each day, each decision count . . . some of them may turn out to be historic!

Blessings, Pastor John

My message this week was focused on creating an atmosphere that is conducive to growing your relationship with God.  My third ingredient in creating growing atmosphere was:  Authentic Relationship. 

Although I only knew Bob Andrew for a short time we spent lot of time together.  We shared a passion for spiritual disciples and teamed up to teach our 201 course “Disciples for Life”.  Bob was Jewish and had rich appreciation of his heritage that gave me beautiful insights about  faith in Jesus.  Bob wanted the best for me and wanted to see me grow in my ability to teach and lead and shared some great advice with me.  I have one additional thought for you as you think about being committed to maturing in your faith, it comes not from me but from Bob.  It is the from his outline “Keys to a Quality Quiet Time” -

4.  Willingness To Obey
This attitude is crucial.  You don’t come (to the Bible) to chose what you will or won’t do, but with the purpose of doing everything God wants you to.  Come to meet the Lord having already chosen to do His will, no matter what.

What gift Bob is for those who traveled with him!  Bob went to be with Jesus this last Sunday night.  Dan is sending an email regarding his memorial service.
 
 
Noah Largent

Wow!  Thanks for all the feedback from the questions on Sunday!   I was reading back over Acts 13 and 14 – amazing how much good stuff is in there…
I finished reading “Sea of Glory” on Monday Night.  I had been reading for a few weeks, and from the first chapter on I had a nagging question about the main character in the book.  Finally, the second to the last page, the author deals with the question I had been pondering all along.  I wasn’t sure I was satisfied with his answer… Heather was on the couch next to me so I told her some of the background and asked her what she thought.  The topic really came alive to me as we talked… I was left with some good answers but it also grew my curiosity about the subject.
 
Thanks for making the journey with us this year as we explore God’s story.  I’ll bet that as you spend a little time each week discussing with others some of what you are learning on Sunday, the topics will really come alive to you as you talk, and inspire you on your journey to follow Jesus!
 
Have a great week – Here are few of the questions I put on the back of Sundays fill-in the blanks.
 
1. If corporate prayer was such a dominant part of the gatherings of the earliest church, why isn’t it today?
 
2.  Fasting seems to be a central part of these two chapters.  Why?  Does fasting play a role in your life?
 
3.  There were some family and ministry connections already established that made the island of Cyprus a natural destination to go first.  Where do you have connections and established relationships that you could take advantage of in sharing with others?
 
Noah Largent

Hi Folks!

I had some great inspired thoughts to leave you with this week and here it is Wednesday afternoon and I am trying to remember if I spoke last Sunday or not. I have to admit as the days pass after each Sunday the message begins to fade quickly, I can’t begin to imagine how tough it is for you to hang onto any nuggets if it’s so hard for the guy who wrote the message.

Anyway just a quick provoker of thoughts from Sunday two things that stood out for me in the message.

1. Paul is a lot like you and I.  He loved Jesus and he took his natural penchant towards zealousness and made a problem for the early church.  Man I can relate to that one.

I think this principal that I didn’t share Sunday but should have, is right on the mark. I learned it from past teaching pastor Paul Null.  He saw my zealousness for the things of God but he also saw how my attitude hurt the message.  He told me something that was very important then and now.  It goes like this.

“An unguarded strength becomes a double-weakness.”

My strength was to care enough to confront but far too often I left it unchecked, and as a result made more problems then good.  I think Paul’s early years showed us a similar pattern.
What has been the key for me to guard that strength?  Simply practicing humility.  I say practicing because it doesn’t come natural, at least not for me.  I am learning how to live under the authority of Jesus in and through my life.  To do that I simply remind myself as often as necessary just how messed up I am, and how great my need is for God’s forgiveness.  When I stay in this place I am a much better communicator of Jesus’ love.

2. God never gives up on his kids, ever.  You come to Him broken, He won’t let you go.  In Paul’s case he had him set aside for a season, to allow Paul the opportunity to practice his own form of humility.  Of course the outcome in Paul’s life was nothing less then stunning.  The Jew of Jews, became the Apostle to the entire gentile world, which includes me and most of you as well.
I like the fact that God our Father’s love doesn’t waver like human love can.  He simply sets us straight, and winks and smiles back at us to do it right from now on.  It certainly appears that Paul did, I think I’ll keep trying too, and you?

Love being your pastor,

dan