Chris Brown was a guest pastor at Bayside church in Roseville, CA.  He currently serves as a Senior Pastor at North Coast church.  He is an incredible speaker and one worth hearing. (I am using 'The Message' Bible translation...)

This service we heard revolved around the Power Myth. 

A commom myth that Christians follow is this:

1. We admit that we finally need God's help. After we exhausted all the options on our own, we finally turn to Him.
(1 Samuel 4:1-3)  Israel went to war against the Philistines. Israel set up camp at Ebenezer, the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines marched out to meet Israel, the fighting spread, and Israel was badly beaten—about four thousand soldiers left dead on the field. When the troops returned to camp, Israel's elders said, "Why has God given us such a beating today by the Philistines? Let's go to Shiloh and get the Chest of God's Covenant. It will accompany us and save us from the grip of our enemies.

2. We turn to spiritual methods that are proven to work.
(1 Samuel 4:4) So the army sent orders to Shiloh. They brought the Chest of the Covenant of God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the Cherubim-Enthroned-God. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the Chest of the Covenant of God.

3.  We have faith that our God will come through for us.
(1 Samuel 4:5-6) When the Chest of the Covenant of God was brought into camp, everyone gave a huge cheer. The shouts were like thunderclaps shaking the very ground. The Philistines heard the shouting and wondered what on earth was going on: "What's all this shouting among the Hebrews?

4. We will be beat up, tired, depressed and once again frustrated that God did not come through for us.
(1 Samuel 4:7-11)  Then they learned that the Chest of God had entered the Hebrew camp. The Philistines panicked: "Their gods have come to their camp! Nothing like this has ever happened before. We're done for! Who can save us from the clutches of these supergods? These are the same gods who hit the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues out in the wilderness. On your feet, Philistines! Courage! We're about to become slaves to the Hebrews, just as they have been slaves to us. Show what you're made of! Fight for your lives!" 10-11 And did they ever fight! It turned into a rout. They thrashed Israel so mercilessly that the Israelite soldiers ran for their lives, leaving behind an incredible thirty thousand dead. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Chest of God was taken and the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas—were killed.

"Rabbit Foot Theology": where we pull out the good old rabbits foot when we need it and hope it provides us luck.

We keep God in a box, and only pull him out when we need him and expect him to take care of us.

What The Bible Actually Says About Using God:

God would rather be with those who fear (profound reverence and awe toward God) him that those who just use him.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you.

1 Peter 2: 16-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

Instead of getting religious, get right with God.

James 4:7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. 

Psalms 34:17-18 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.  If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.

Mark 12:28-31 One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?" Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

It is the act of humbly repenting and seeking God, not using Him, that puts you on HIS side.

John Jenks, Pastor at Cascade Covenant Church in North Bend, WA. did a three part series raddressing the negative issues surrounding the Christian church.  This is an excellent series that I recommend listening to and passing on to those you love.  You can hear these Podcasts at:

http://cascadecov.com/podcasts/PodCaster.aspx

The titles are:

We Apologize for Our Violence and Discrimination (4/19/09)

We Apologize for Our Hypocrisy and Arrogance (4/26/09)

We Apologize for Our Superficiality and Stupidity (5/3/09)

Sunday Service
July 27, 2008
Pastor John Jenks

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "

If we are going to make changes, it takes courage and being specific.

Remember that our vision is vital.

Key Truth: The right focus leads to real strength.

Our mental and spiritual vision is vital.  We need the right focus and attention in the right place.  Fix our eyes upon Jesus.  Trust, seek, learn from, obey.  Not from a detached point of view, but from a posture of humility, availability, allegiance and faith.

When life is hard and you are worried and scared, we are encouraged to trust in Christ even when we don't understand.

1.  What do I see when I focus on Jesus?
-the pioneer and perfecter of faith
-the joy of vision Christ had on the cross.
Ephesians 3:14-21 "For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family ^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. "

2.  What can happen when I focus on Christ?
-remember that I am not alone in my sufferinf.  Jesus suffered.  he is a suffering Lord.
-I am understood in my suffering.
-I can be redeemed.

Book recommendation: Philip Yancey "Prayer"

(I have begun a new category called Sunday Service.  It is the notes I took from that week's Sunday Service.  I learn so much attending a service, but I often lose the lesson "from the altar to the door".  This will help me apply what I have learned and may you be encouraged and blessed by it as well.  Our pastor often uses the NIV version during the service.  I have also added The Message for additional understanding and application.)

July 20, 2008 Pastor John

Questions to ask yourself: "What has been the hardest trial I have ever had?"
"What is the storm I am going through right now?"

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


Hebrews 12:1-3 (THE MESSAGE VERSION)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Last week's message: "There's no community like the faith community."  It's imperfect.  It's historical.  It's cosmic.  It's global.  It's hopeful.  It's diverse.  It's honest.

The Value of Hard Honesty

KEY TRUTH:  Hindrances and sin: When I move towards more honest, I live with more hope.

1.  A hindrance is anything in the way; anything that slows us down.  Distractions.  Good things can be hindrances if we place a high priority on them. (One hindrance is an overscheduled life.)

2.  A sin is something we do that is outside God's will.  This includes attitudes and actions.  It means "missing the mark", "falling short", "crossing the line".

1 John 1:8 (NIV VERSION)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 (THE MESSAGE VERSION)
If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

What happens if I ignore my hindrances and sins?

• My faith will drift;  I will lose the vitality in my faith.
• My stamina will suffer.
  

Throw off the RAGS of your hindrances and sins!

R = Rage and Resentment........Replace with LOVE
A= Anxiety...Who is your God?  Who do you trust?
G= Greed...Coveting that grips you and sucks the life out of you......replace with Generosity
S= Superiority...Pride.  "I don't need God"....Replace with Humility

Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV VERSION)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15 (The MESSAGE VERSION)
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.  Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.


How can I throw these RAGS off?

• We have to do it courageously
• We have to be specific
• We have to be militant
• We have to be dramatic

Question to ask yourself:
"What is the one thing more than anything else that God wants you to throw off today?"

Our church leaders pray for honesty and hope that can bring preseverence, joy, and hope.  It's always better to go through storms together.