Focus '16 - Life on Mission - Entry #11

Hi Friends!

As we Celebrate the Birth of Jesus my spirit is into a simple but hopefully profound approach to Christmas - I want to encourage everyone to receive the gift of Jesus, rejoice in the gift of Jesus, and regift Jesus to others - because "the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus" (Romans 6:23 b).

Receive Jesus...

                  Rejoice in Jesus...

                                     Regift Jesus...

                                                 For the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus...

God's Peace and Merry Christmas,

Jeff

Focus '16 Life on Mission - Entry # 10

Hi Friends!

Leading through Thanksgiving and into Christmas can be a very special time - it's a time when the competing worldviews of Christianity and secular humanism can collide in a very positive way - it's a time when most regardless of their worldview can count their blessings and share sacrificially and often generously with others with a spirit of joy.

It's in the spirit of these seasons that I want to encourage people to "Reboot Now for Next Year" - to use these seasons not as a time to stress secondary to seasonal demands but to refresh with readiness for your next steps heading into a new year - I'm not asking you to make resolutions in November or December but to prayerfully plan your participation in your life journey heading into January 2017.

Here's what I have in mind -

Week one - an invitation to explore personal Christianity

Week two - an invitation to engage potential Opportunities

Week three - an invitation to empower past Barriers

Week four - an invitation to expand peripheral Vision

I hope these seasons and this sermon series will serve to bless you as you bless others - I hope this is a time you can Reboot your relationship with Jesus and in doing so share His light and love with those you meet with a different worldview - I hope this is a time that leaves you with a resolute plan to explore, engage, empower, and expand your personal worldview now for next year.

"May God bless you all. Yes, I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give each of you his fullest blessings, and his peace in your hearts and lives" (Philippians 1:2 LB).

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '16 - Life on Mission - Entry # 9

Psalm 33:12  New International Version (NIV)

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...

Hi Friends!

The word blessed literally translated means to be very happy or realistically translated means to be very fortunate - our church is blessed or literally very happy and realistically most fortunate - because our Lord and God is Christ Jesus.

The mission of Christ Jesus - is for our lives, homes, communities, nation and world to literally and to realistically be blessed through His church - this is at the heart of our current lesson series as we look to Christ Jesus to reconcile relationships to God and among all people through His church.

A couple of prayers I am asking you to pray were offered by Daniel (Chapter 9) and David (Psalm 51) - each prayer reminds us to 1) Confirm God's Mercy 2) Confess Our Sins and 3) Compel God's Forgiveness - I also ask you to reflect on the passage below believing the continued blessings of our spiritual heritage require us to continue to put our hope in the unfailing love of our Lord.

Psalm 33:16-22  New International Version (NIV)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;

    no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

    despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death

    and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;

    he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

    for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

    even as we put our hope in you.

Friends, my deep desire is for you to continue to be blessed and to continue to be a blessing by continuing to put your hope in the unfailing love of our Lord - never forget that the mission of the church is reconciling all people to God and each other in Christ Jesus - and because of that we are very happy and most fortunate!

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '16 - Life on Mission - Entry # 8

Hi Friends!

The Bible says "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). So rather than make excuses and reflect upon historical references as to why peace is not always possible, I want to encourage each of you to focus on you.

As much as it depends upon you I want to encourage each of  you to do whatever you possibly can to let all people know that all people matter to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. My conviction is there will never be a better time than now to restore unity in our nation.

Let your light shine -
Let your love flow-
Let your life bless-

Be the church, be the peace of Jesus that passes all human understanding, the peace that can guard all hearts and all minds, the peace that can unite one nation under the one true God into one people that matter not only to God, but that all matter to one another.

Pray for revival -
Pray for revival again -
Pray for revival again and again and again and always -

Spiritual Revival in our nation is the one thing that can displace the division that comes with talk of black and blue with the reality that all people of all colors matter to God - you matter, your neighbors matter, and every neighborhood in every nation matters to God.

As much as it depends upon you - be the peace of Jesus to all people because all people matter to the one true God - may there be Spiritual Revival in our nation that facilitates peace and unity for all people and it may it begin with you, the church of Jesus Christ.

This is my prayer for you, for the church, to be peace in the world in Jesus name. Amen

Jeff

Focus '16 - Life on Mission - Entry # 7

Hi Friends!

Jesus teaches that all human relations can be reconciled by loving God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (said another way: with your entire being) and by loving your neighbor as you love yourself.

Look around and ask yourself if the world could use those expressions of love from all people right now? My answer to that question is yes and my prayer for Connections Christian Church is that we will express that love and show all people that God is love and loves all people.

Our current lesson series is about living in "New Times" by learning and following the "Old Testimonies" of God's Word - we believe people who embrace Biblical truth and values from centuries past - will be blessings to one another and to our communities, nation and world today.

We believe what the world needs now is love for God and all people!

How 'bout you?

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus ' 16 - LIFE ON MISSION - Entry # 5

Hi Friends!

Our Summer Sermon Series is "1 Big Happy Family" - the goal is not to guilt people out for their shortcomings - but to pump people up for possibilities for improving relationships in Christ!

Said another way - the idea is to identify practical Biblical ways to celebrate family life that will weather whatever challenges come - we won't turn a blind-eye but will look to focus on family fun!

Jesus prayed the above prayer for you - this is what Jesus desires for your family - He desires for all people to enjoy unity in faith, hope, and love!

That's the fun that's before us - I pray you will enjoy the journey this Summer as we celebrate family unity in Christ - and the greatest of these is love!

God's Peace,
Jeff

Memorial Day 2016

Hi Friends!

Each Lord's Day we gather to commune and remember the sacrifice of our Savior and Lord Jesus - Memorial Day is a National Holiday to remember the sacrifice of those who have protected that freedom - and many other freedoms that we continue to enjoy.

Memorial Day is also called Decoration Day - which reminds us to decorate the graves and remember the lives of those who have gone before us - these virtues are also honorable and pure and find their origin in Scripture where we are encouraged to remember not only Jesus but the faithful lives of His followers.

Sunday's 10:30 AM Worship Service at Connections Christian Church will center around these themes - remembering Jesus and honoring the lives of His faithful followers - we will honor many who have gone before us and several living among us and all who protect the freedom we enjoy to worship in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

I also encourage you to participate in the Memorial Walk in Madeira on Monday - may all be especially blessed and be a special blessing this Memorial Day Weekend - with our deepest gratitude for all those past, present, and future who protect the freedoms we enjoy in America!

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '16 - LIFE ON MISSION - Entry # 4

Hi Friends,

When I update this blog I am reminded that it is written with bias - I write from a Christian worldview - I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can have a right relationship with His Father apart from Him - I believe this because Jesus said so in John 14:6.

If I know the only way for a child to cross the street safely - is for the child to walk in the crosswalk when the traffic light  for oncoming traffic is red and the hand on the walk light is white - I'm not intolerant but loving for teaching a child to walk this way.

We make decisions daily that one way is the right way to live safely - I love people enough to tell them that Jesus is the right way to live safely with God - I believe Jesus when He said no one leaves earth to go to heaven and be with God apart from Him.

Look around and we see multiple flashing signs promising peace - truth is Jesus is like no other because He alone provides peace with God that guards our hearts and minds for eternity - to that end I post a prayer for people I minister with and to in my daily path.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Focus '16 - LIFE ON MISSION - Entry # 3

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, 

so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

Hi Friends!

With Spring on the horizon and Easter Celebrations fast approaching - our focus at Connections Christian Church is on Jesus who as deity became human like us - with the mission of bringing us back into a right relationship with God.

We will be discussing how Jesus came into our world of sin and death in order to give us a way out of it with a life of peace for eternity - our discussion will be theology to be lived not shelved - with the next chapters being the ones Jesus writes through those who choose to follow Him.

Don't be fooled by competing worldviews - Jesus is like no other - historically there are many great people, prophets, teachers, and leaders but none who transformed a crucifix from an instrument of horrific death to holistic life...save Jesus.

Jesus lives to be your friend like no other - He is always faithful and His love never ever fails  - be careful to connect with Him this Spring and Easter Season by reading His gospels and discussing Him with others.

I am excited to witness the next chapters Jesus writes through your lives - continue to be blessed in Him and be a blessing to those you know, meet, and serve in His name and remember HE LIVES for all people to have a right relationship with God - don't be fooled...Jesus is a friend like no other!

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus ' 16 - LIFE ON MISSION - Entry # 2

Hi Friends!

So we are about a month into LIFE ON MISSION at Connections Christian Church and the question basically boils down to this - does the old, old story of God's love for humanity inspire us to love others as He does? Whether you read it in the original Greek or the latest translation - the story of Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for the fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God" (Jesus as recorded in John 3: 16-21).

LIFE ON MISSION is inspired by the truth - by the old, old story of Jesus who did not come to condemn but to save people from darkness and hatred with His light and love. When anyone puts their faith in Jesus - it will be plainly seen by all that what is being done is being done by God.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Jesus as recorded in Matthew 5:14-16).

The link below reminds me of many people I know - people who are walking in the truth and touching others with the light and love of life. The greater our faith in Jesus - the brighter our light and stronger our love for others. To that end I ask you to join me in offering this continual prayer to God our Heavenly Father - "Increase our faith in your one and only Son Jesus."

https://vimeo.com/16301164

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus '16 - LIFE ON MISSION - Entry #1

Hi Friends!

The 2016 focus of Connections Christian Church is to live the best life possible - and to help others to live the best life possible - we believe that the best life possible is lived in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You might be homeless or You might be the most successful business person in your city?

You might be single or You might be married or You might be divorced?

You might be a teen or You might be a senior?

You might be this race or that race or You might be a kaleidoscope of races?

Whatever your nationality and whatever your circumstances - however good or however challenging your life has been or is in the moment - our conviction is that the best available life today and in the future is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for light and life to trump darkness and death - I encourage you to connect with others and check-out LIFE ON MISSION - the life God has for you in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is better than you can even imagine!!

May God's Peace be Yours in 2016 and Always,

Jeff