Photos from Haiti

Here is the rest of the photos from our most recent Haiti trip (watch it here for the high res)

Images of Haiti

How Great Is Our God Video

We had many people ask about the video from last night's service and where they can get it. The video can be purchased here: http://www.passiontalkseries.com/

It can be purchased as a whole set (4 DVD's in the set) or individually. The DVD we used last night was called How Great Is Our God.

Private Worship Day 7 - Enough

Enough
Author: Chris Tomlin

Scripture References: Psalm 103

Verse Text: Psalm 103:1-5 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

I still remember Louie handing me a torn piece of paper from his journal just before the 2001 Passion tour was to hit the road. On it was written this thought among others; “all of you is more than enough for all of me… for every thirst…for every need.” I thought this was such an important and refreshing truth. A truth not just for an audience, but a truth for me personally. Let’s face it, we live in a broken world and we live broken lives. There is so much advertisement today for the “other side of the fence, greener grass” life. TV, magazines, Internet, everywhere you turn, it’s one big plug for that “something else” to make life just grand. And since man and woman first came on the scene, it’s the same trick, the same lie. And the lie just leaves us empty and more unsatisfied every time.
That’s why I love Psalm 103.

v. 1-5 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

God is enough! Way more than enough! In your loneliest and most broken times, he is the one who satisfies. I am not writing from some place I’ve never been. I know what it is like to feel lonely. I know how it feels to lose someone very close. And I know the game of chasing a temporary fix that just leaves you more desperate.

That piece of torn paper had so much to say. Attributes of God were scribbled randomly all over it. And this statement kept appearing in the midst of them… “And still more awesome than I know.” I would encourage you to do this as well. Write down on a journal page the most amazing and beautiful attributes of God you can conceive. Let it be a worship time to God. And end it with, “and still more awesome than I know.” One day the “coming King” will appear and we will see just how awesome.

HT: www.worshiptogether.com
http://worshiptogether.com/resources/bibleStudy.aspx?iid=215749

Private Worship Day 6 - The Discipline Of Lonely Places

The Discipline Of Lonely Places
Author: JD Walt
Scripture References: Luke 5:16:

'But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

The multiple tasking pace of the Palm Pilot age (or DayTimer for the luddites) poses a perilous threat to the ministry Jesus would do among us. Clearly our lives are over-scheduled and under contemplated. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. 9 simple words, yet they contain a major strand of the DNA code of Jesus Christ. Let’s break the code.
BUT--But is a context word; a word that says look around; a word signifying a contrast. To be like Jesus means we will contrast with the world around us. Note what comes before the but: crowds, demands, stress, responsibility. (see vv.1-15) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places where he prayed. Being like Jesus means we need a strategic but (oops!) in our lives too. He moved in a rhythmic pattern between crowds, small groups and solitude. It is no different for us. (see Mark 6:30-32)

OFTEN--the Greek verb tense here is the imperfect which means “he continually withdrew.” Over and over and over, it was his pattern of life. But how can we find time for this? Do we think we are more in demand than Jesus? He carved out the time because his life and ministry depended on it. Until we cultivate this kind of dependency our ministry will not properly be in his name.

WITHDREW-- the sense of the Greek word here conveys a planned, intentional deliberate course of action done repeatedly.

TO LONELY PLACES—The late Henry Nouwen put it this way: “In solitude, I get rid of my scaffolding.” Take some time and examine the Scriptures. In Luke 4, prior to beginning his public ministry Jesus goes to the desert. Luke 4:42 “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.” Luke 6:12 “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Luke 11:1 “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.” Luke 22:39 “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. . . . He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed...”
AND PRAYED—Thoreau went to the woods to think. We go to pray. Why? Because prayer is God’s most powerful way of engaging the participation of his people in the particularity of his plans and purposes in the world. Until we learn to pray “Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we cannot hope to be a significant player in God’s economy. And until we learn the discipline of lonely places we will never learn to pray.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. It is a practice He longs to weave into our genetic code. And remember, a stone’s throw is enough.

HT: www.worshiptogether.com
http://worshiptogether.com/resources/bibleStudy.aspx?iid=215747