Debbie's life - ♪ "take me away"

this is a tribute to Debbie's life compiled and designed by John Holbrook and Michelle Layana

Judy Vento

Judy Vento is tearing it up on behalf of young people ...

Creating Space for God

(from Henri Nouwen)
Creating Space for God

Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God's guidance.

Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.

--
JH

AWESOME PARTY DUDE ....

Thanks to everyone who helped make my 60th birthday party such a wonderful success. Special thanks to Debbie for put so much of it together, Brian, Micah and Mike for sound, drinks and food, and Ruth for filming this.

Book Review: PURE SCUM

Mike’s new book, Pure Scum, is the story of Scum of the Earth Church, which he started with a small gathering of young adults (including the late ska band Five Iron Frenzy) in downtown Denver. On the back cover of the book, the bio says that Mike “was hoodwinked by the Holy Spirit into pastoring the folks who became Scum of the Earth Church in Denver”. Hoodwinked by the Holy Spirit. That sounds about right.

They call it “church for the left-out and the right brained”. They reach out to Goths, punks, skaters and the homeless in the heart of Denver. They share a meal in the middle of their church service every Sunday night. They sent out my friend Joshua and his new bride Liann in a converted veggie-oil bus/mobile home to share the love of Jesus all over the country. This is how they do church; and it’s beautiful, authentic, and life-changing.

In many places in American Evangelicalism, we see the Gospel of Power, Glory, and Magnificence. At Scum of the Earth Church, we see the magnificence, glory, and power of the gospel. Mike’s not trying to chart a new course for Evangelicalism. He’s not trying to change the world. He doesn’t consider himself a prophet, crying out from the desert, “Do it this way! This is the future of the kingdom!” He’s just pastoring those who can’t find a pastor anywhere else; he’s fathering those who desperately need a good dad.

This book is a story, a true story of a small group of people who gave their church a crazy name and dared to believe that all of their outsider friends could become insiders in the kingdom of God. It’s the story of 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 coming true at the edge of the Rockies

JOHN 8

Read 8:1-11

1. Why do you think the Pharisees took this woman to Jesus?

2. What do you observe about Jesus' attitude toward the woman caught in adultery? (Did He approve of what she had done? Then why didn't He condemn her?)
Note: Was it that He closed His eyes to her sin? (See John 3:16-18, 1 Peter 3:18.) Jesus paid dearly to be able to offer her the pardon she needed. He took the woman's place. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21.)

3. What stands out to you about Jesus' attitude toward the Pharisees? Note: He tried to help them see that they were no different than the woman. But their case was more difficult. She knew she had a problem; they didn't. (See Matthew 9:10-13, 21:28-32.)

Read John 8:12-20.
4. In 8:12, Jesus made another of His "I am" assertions. How do you understand His claim to being the "light of the world"?

5. If Jesus is the light of the world, what could this imply for you? (See Ephesians 5:8-15.)

Read John 8:21-38.
6. In John 8:24,28,58 we see more "I am" statements. To what was Jesus referring? I am what? He said that after His crucifixion people would know the answer to the question of His identity (8:28). What is the answer? (See Romans 5:8.)

7. a. What was the main reason for the conflict between Jesus and His
enemies (8:23)? b. Why do you think this is so hard to accept? Note: To admit that Jesus is God is to admit one's error and need for change. (See Luke 7:29-30.)

8. Jesus talks about truth and freedom (John 8:31-36).
a. What do you think He means by "truth"? What is a truth?
Note: Atruth is something tested and proven. Jesus said injohn 14:6, "I am the truth." Either this was the ultimate expression of egotism—or He was right!b. How can we determine whether He was right or wrong when He made this claim (8:31-32)?
Note: We must put Him to the test—on His terms.

c.Jesus offered a spiritual maxim on freedom: Committing sin results in slavery (8:34). What do you think this means?
Note: The person who says, "I am free to do whatever my inner voice suggests," soon finds himself enslaved to what he sought to be free to do. (See Mark 7:14-23.) It is impossible to do or be what we really desire to do or be.

d. Why do you suppose the Jews couldn't perceive their spiritual slavery (John 8:33)?
Note: People in spiritual slavery can't see it because the bondage itself blinds them. (See 9:39-41.)

e. What must happen before a person can be really free?
Note.- Submitting to Christ requires an unconditional surrender (Luke 14:25-33). We must fully submit before He can do anything for us. Example: The sick must submit to the surgeon so that he can do whatever is necessary to produce the cure.

Read John 8:39-59.
9. Why did Jesus say that the Jews who rejected Him weren't sons of God (8:42)? How did He support that assertion (8:37-47)?

10. Do you think it is possible to believe in God and not believe in Christ? Why? What are the characteristics of one who knows God and of one who doesn't?

11. What were the Pharisees thinking at this point about Jesus' identity (8:48)?

12. What was the basis of this judgment?


13. How did Jesus answer them (8:49-59)?

14. In summarizing this chapter, list the main reasons why it is of primary importance to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ.

JOHN 7

The theme of this chapter is the controversy that continually went on over the question "Who is He?"

Read 7:1-52.

1. List the factors that contributed to the people's bafflement on this question, as indicated in the following verses: •John 7:14-15
• John 7:19-20
• John 7:25-27
• John 7:31
• John 7:40-44
• John 7:46-49
• John 7:52

2. To what extent did their confusion result from their preconceived notions about the Messiah? Where do you suppose these preconceptions originated?
Note: Ignorance of the Scriptures and/or failure to understand them (Luke 24:25-27); religious traditions (Mark 7:6-9).

3. Do you think people have similar misconceptions to deal with today before they can come to understand Jesus Christ? What are some of those misconceptions?

4. What clues do you find in this chapter that suggest Jesus was divine?


Note:
• John 7:15-16,46—His wisdom
• John 7:28-29—What He Himself claimed to be
• John 7:31—His signs
• John 7:33-34—His prediction of His resurrection
• John 7:37-39—His claims to give life to others
• John 7:41-42—The prophets

5. What impresses you about the offer Jesus makes in 7:37-39?
a. To whom did He make it?
b. What kind of thirst was He talking about? (See 4:13-14,6:35; Isaiah 55:1-3.)
c. Exactly what was He offering? (See John 14:25-26, Romans 8:9.)
d. How does one respond to this offer? (See Revelation 3:20.)

6. The guards were impressed with Christ's words. How did the authorities try to diminish this impression (John 7:48-49)?

7. What point was raised by Nicodemus, and how did the authorities react to it (7:50-52)?

8. What attitude would you say characterized the authorities? How does this attitude affect objective thinking? (See Psalm 10:4.)

9. What do you think about Nicodemus?