Gifts, the Body, Love and a few pictures from London....

First off here is a link to Court's first few pictures from London...Big Ben is GREAT!

Court's first round of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

And here is the text from this week fo the discussion!



1 Corinthians 12:1 - 13:13 NLT 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don't want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. NLT 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever-- faith, hope, and love-- and the greatest of these is love.

yeah I know it is very smal but I just could not justify putting two chapters up there and having the longest post in the world up there, heh....

OK, so has anyone thought about how the Body filled with the Spirit of God doing everything in love would look like? What about in Th3 Waters? How can we be better about living out this text in our OG? Any other thoughts or points of discussion about this text now that you have read it again? John (Latin John) tell everyone about how when you read the text you see common Greek Philosophy in Paul's writting...that should spark up some talk, heh. Thanks again eveyone for your thoughts and prayers!

And remember to be looking in your email this week for directions and info. on where we will meet and when for this coming Friday OG when we do a little more living out loud in the world.

KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell Court where to go...heh

Hey Court is traveling to London England and he was desiring for us to give him assignments to go visit while he is there so he can show us where Th3 Waters has traveled. So..... post here your comments of where you thin he should go in London....do some google research and give him a few ideas on where to go....he would love it...and we will get lots of pictures when he comes back...oh and please be in prayer for him too!

Here is a few starters:

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Abbey Road Studios

Location: Hampstead
Address: 3 Abbey Rd., London NW8, England

The most famous Beatles site in London, this is the fabled studio where the Fab Four recorded their entire output. The studios themselves are closed to the public, but many travelers journey here to see the famous traffic crossing used by the group on the cover of their Abbey Road album. www.abbeyroad.co.uk. Tube: St. John's Wood.

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Tower Bridge

Location:The City
Address:
Phone: 020/7403-3761

Despite its venerable, nay, medieval, appearance, this is a Victorian youngster. Constructed of steel, then clothed in Portland stone, it was deliberately styled in the Gothic persuasion to complement the Tower next door, and it's famous for its enormous bascules -- the "arms," which open to allow large ships through. Nowadays this rarely happens, but when river traffic was dense, the bascules were raised about five times a day. The exhibition, Tower Bridge Experience, is a fun tour inside the building to discover how one of the world's most famous bridges actually works, and to see the fantastic views on the outside. First, take in the romance of the panoramas from the east and west walkways between those grand turrets. On the east, the modern super structures and ships of Docklands, and west, the best look at the steel and glass "futuristic mushroom" that is Greater London Assembly's City Hall, the Tower of London, St. Paul's, and the Monument. Then back down to the nitty gritty of the inner workings, which you learn about through hands-on displays and films. www.towerbridge.org.uk. COST: £4:50; joint ticket available for the Monument. OPEN: Daily 9:30-5:30; last entry at 5. Tube: Tower Hill.

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Buckingham Palace

Location: St. James's
Address: Buckingham Palace Rd., London SW1, England
Phone: 020/7839-1377; 020/7799-2331 24-hr information; 020/7321-2233 credit-card reservations subject to 50p booking charge

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Westminster Abbey

Address: Broad Sanctuary, London SW1, England
Phone: 020/7222-5152

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British Airways London Eye

Address: Jubilee Gardens, London SE1, England
Phone: 0870/500-0600

If you long to see London from a different perspective, look no further. To mark the start of the new millennium, architects David Marks and Julia Barfield conceived an entirely new vision: a beautiful and celebratory structure, which would allow people to see this great city from a completely new perspective -- on a giant wheel. As well as representing the turning of the century, a wheel was seen as a symbol of regeneration and the passing of time. The London Eye is the largest observation wheel ever built, and in the top 10 tallest structures in London. From design to construction it took seven years to complete. The 25-minute slow-motion ride is so smooth, you'd hardly know you were suspended over the Thames, moving slowly round. On a clear day you can take in a range of up to 25 mi, viewing London's most famous landmarks from a fascinating angle. If you're looking for a special place to celebrate, champagne and canapés can be arranged ahead; check the Web site for details. www.ba-londoneye.com. COST: £11.50. OPEN: Mon.-Thurs. 9:30-8; Fri.-Sun. 9:30-9; hrs subject to change, so call ahead. Tube: Waterloo.

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Wesley's Chapel

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I wonder how far This is away from London...man I would love to have a pint here!

Why? some of you may ask....well because this is the pub the inklings met to have their discussions...The Loin The witch and The Wardrobe and The Lord of The Rings were discussed and talked about...before and after they were put on paper! VERY cool...especially if I could sit at the same table as them! heh... it does not look too far away from London...but it would take up a lot of precious time that you might like seeing something else...but I just think this is a cool site!

Weekly discussion and Th3 Waters logo...

1 Cor 10: 1-6

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. 6Now these things occurred as examples[a] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.


So any more discussion Qs? Oh and one other thing...here is our new logo...let me know what you think:

Here is the final logo for Th3 Waters! The first one is the main logo...and the second one will be used if there is a need for the logo to be increased in it's length instead of it's height. Here you go 4 months in the making:



and the second one:



And all of this means that yes....the website is coming next! KUTPs!!!

Discussion for this week.... Lev. 11:1-8, 44-45

Leviticus 11: 1-8, 44-45

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Say to the Israelites: 'Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

" 'There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. The coney, ^[a] though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

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Thanks for everyone coming and God bless you this week! Keep the discussion going here!

What is the purpose of the law? What do we not follow the diet part of the law today? Does this mean the law is meaningless today for us (Christians)? What was it exactly that was said in scripture in the New Testament that most of us use to explain why we can eat the foods that were told to be unclean in the OT? Thanks and see yall next Friday @ 7:00 @ Starbucks...Until then God bless ya!

Kosher Foods & Kashrut

Discussion for Living Out Loud....

Talking to strangers can be very hard for anyone...but sometimes it can be the most precious gift we can give others and God.

Hey everyone! I hope that you all enjoyed LOL (Living Out Loud).

(We missed yall Court, Kelly, and John)

Now that most of us have experienced LOL what did you think? Was it anything like you expected it to be?

Do you think that this is a "doable" form of "evangelism"?

What would you change about it?

Did you find that it was easy, hard, or just too different to really be able to explain what you were thinking about when you were doing it?

What do you think would be the possibilities of this way of living out lives?

Thank yall for coming out ad experiencing LOL and please continue to attempt to practice LOLing through out this week and let talk about it here as well as next Friday.

Remember next Friday will be back @ Starbucks, 7:00 pm...Hope to see yall there! Take care and God bless yall!

Sorry for the late post...here is last weeks discussion text and the crazy car guys...

Good works and faith...from James

James 1:17-2:26 (I went ahead and put the entire text on here for the discussion)

17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. 19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 2:1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"-- well, 4 doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. 11 For the same God who said, "You must not commit adultery," also said, "You must not murder." So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"-- but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.


So any more thoughts on Good works and faith? Do you think that works are necessary for true faith? If someone claims to have Faith in God and they do not "do" any good works...are they really faithful? Have you seen examples of this in your own life? How about in churches? What does this say to communities that claim to be Christian? What does this say about us in our community?

Ok yall have fun with those questions and I can't wait to see everyone this Friday @ 7:00 pm (6:00 pm if you want to eat together) @ the Kenwood Mall food court...come to shop, sit, or talk!!!! And I promise it is not scary....just a simple way to put our faith into practiced "good works"! heh.... yall have a great week! Let the discussion begin! KUTPs!!! oh and here is a Pic of John and Scott's new (actually they are just standing next to it) car!




Oh and if any of you are interested I would love to do something like these people do around here in Cinci! Check out their website!!!