Th3 Waters continued weekly discussion blog....

Th3 waters website is live!!!

2007-03-03T01:06:00.000-05:00

What are you waiting for go check it out!!!! ---->

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us Everyone...

2006-12-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

Inspirational words from Tiny Tim...

Anywho, just wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And...wanted to share some pics from this past weekend. Sorry, I don't have any pictures of us at the Hollums house since I was too busy stuffing my face and playing WIIIIIIIIIII....

happy thanksgiving

2006-11-23T01:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God bless yall!

Silence...

2006-10-29T12:47:00.000-05:00

Hello all!
I hope everyone's weekend went well. We had a quite thought provoking conversation on Friday; we missed everyone who couldn't join us, and hope to see you next week. Speaking of next week, we will NOT be meeting on Friday night. Instead, we will meet at Asbury UMC (in Cold Spring, KY), where we will prepare and serve a meal for local homeless families. More details to come!

So, what do y'all think about silence? One of the things that I would love to hear about is different ways that help people tune out all of the noise in the world and tune in on the voice of God. Happy discussing!

Prayer...

2006-10-21T18:10:00.000-05:00

I've overcome the temptation to post the MC Hammer classic "You've got to pray..."
Anyways, I hope the weekend is going swimmingly for all. So, any further thoughts on the topic of prayer? What is it? What is it for?
But whatever it might mean, consider this quotation from the colonial American theologian Jonathan Edwards: "Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is to life."

And as promised last night, a prayer by Jesus for y'all to chew on (from John 17):
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Hospitality

2006-10-14T09:08:00.000-05:00

Hey folks!
What a great disussion last night! Please feel free to share any other thoughts about the theme of hospitality throughout the week. And, just an encouragement for all of us to be quite intentional in being hospitable in the situations in which we find ourselves.

The passages that we read last night:
Gen 18:1-8
And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth, 3 and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. 4 Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.' 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.' 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it. 8 And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Lev 19:34
"You shall regard the foreigner living amongst you just like a native born citizen. Love him as yourself because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt."

And for the more visual among us...a fresco by Giovan Batista Tiepolo:

Worship...

2006-10-08T20:32:00.000-05:00

Well, too many scripture passages from last time to post up here...
But, that do y'all think?

Just a reminder for this coming week - we are meeting on Friday, regular time, regular place.
On Saturday, John and Michelle have graciously opened their home for a little par-tay for Sylvia' birthday. 5:30 pm. It's potluck - so please bring a dish to share.

Have a great week!

The Welcome house volunteer possibilities...

2006-10-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

Here is the letter that was sent to me to give us a couple of ideas on things we could go for our next mission project...let me know what yall think:

Volunteer Ideas

Childcare volunteers- Volunteer are needed for childcare on October 4th, 18th, November 1st and 15th. Parents will be attending a training class and free childcare will be provided. Volunteers can bring activities or play games with the children. Times are from 5:45-8:15.

Collect food and stock pantry- This time of the year our shelves become bare and we could use volunteers to collect food for our Emergency Assistance Program and then stock the shelves in our pantry.

Cook a Meal for Shelter- Volunteers are always welcome to pre-cook a meal and deliver it to the shelter. There are typically 30-35 women and children staying in the shelter. Meal would need to be able to be reheated.

Halloween Party- Staying at the shelter can be difficult for the women and children. With this in mind, we try to have fun activities on different occasions. The party could be geared specifically for children.

ÂAdopt a FamilyÂ for Christmas- Welcome House receives most of its support for the entire year during the Christmas Season. Groups are encouraged to adopt a family to help support Welcome House clients throughout the year. The family you adopt may or may not be a current client, but the gifts will be used throughout the year as we see new clients. Typically gifts include alarm clocks, dishes, sheets, pillows, etc.

Wrap presents- Prior to Christmas we look for a group to come and wrap gifts for the women and children who are staying at our shelter.

Sort Basement- When Christmas gifts arrive we are looking for volunteers to help sort and organize the basement.
=======================

Any of that sound good? Lets talk about it on Friday! Cyall!

Secrecy

2006-09-30T06:24:00.000-05:00

Hey folks...
I hope everyone had a great time last night.
Any more thoughts on this passage as your week goes by?

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Oh, and as a reminder, our "challenge" for the week is to serve someone around us, but in secret...so no telling friends/neighbors/spouses/fiancees/parents/whoever about it...just do it.

Have a fantastic week, and I'm really looking forward to NOT hearing about how we're touching other people's lives.

So....

2006-09-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!
I hope y'all are having a wonderful week....
No specific topic for on-line conversation this week. Instead, please feel free to share some ideas about what you would like to study during the next series.

Have a blessed week - see y'all on Friday.

Death

2006-09-09T07:37:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all for a great discussion last night.
Here's a link to the podcast of Stanley Hauerwas that DG mentioned last night:

Stanley Hauerwas on Theology and Death.

(For those with iTunes, click on the "Add to iTunes" link. Then open iTunes, and clink on "Podcasts" on the right toolbar, and you'll see the file. For those without iTunes, just click on "Here's the mp3 for download" - you can select the location to save the file on your computer, and then you can listen to it in whatever media player you normally use (windows media, real player, winamp, etc).)

It seemed like there was so much more to talk about, so I'd encourage all of you to continue this though provoking conversation through the blog.

And, to stimulate the conversation a little bit more, here is a classic "what-if" exercise that is used to in both medical ethics and legal theory. There are 30 people trapped in a cave that is rapidly filling with water. One of the members of the group - who is quite fat - has become stuck in the opening of the cave - which is quite narrow (and yes, I know it doesn't make sense that he could get in but not get out...so, let's thrown in a mini-rock slide that significantly narrowed the entrance). The fat man, because he is stuck at the opening of the cave, can continue to breathe freely, even if he can't move. The 29 others will drown before any rescue can arrive. One of the 29, however, has a stick of dynamite, which he could use to blast open the cave opening, allowing all to escape, except of course, the fat man, who will be killed in the explosion.
So, the question is, simply, what to do?
Alternatively, from a legal perspective, if the 29 others proceed to save their own lives by using the dynamite, are they guilty of murdering the fat man?

Here are the two passages we read last night:
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

NRS 1 Corinthians 15:50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great week everyone!

The Presence of God...

2006-09-04T08:10:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!
I hope y'all are having an awesome Labor Day. It was great seeing all those who could make it out to the Dorns' yesterday.

Here's the passage that we talked about last Friday. And if I recall, the big question of the day was "So What?" How does this passage make a practical impact on the way in which we go about our daily business?

NRS Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. 17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 I try to count them-- they are more than the sand; I come to the end-- I am still with you. 19 O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me-- 20 those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Look forward to hearing your awesome thoughts!

Riddle Me This...

2006-08-27T22:14:00.000-05:00

Some inspiration as we ponder life's mysteries....
So...what are some of the mysteries that keep you up at night? Any suggestions on how to deal with not knowing it all? Any other reflections on the text from last Friday? These are, of course, just leading questions...please share your thoughts/questions on the mysteries of God!

Psalm 104
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, 2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, 4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. 5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. 6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. 8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. 10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, 11 giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, 15 and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. 19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. 23 People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. 27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-- 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

Happy Birthday Kim!

2006-08-17T20:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Kim!

High salt intake while wearing your deer pants....What is your 42?

2006-08-12T10:18:00.000-05:00

+

Hey everyone! Thanks for the great discussion @ Th3 Waters OG last night! Here is the scripture for continued discussion:

Psalm 42:1-11 NIV Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-- from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

==================

Oh and don't forget to attempt to write your own Paslm 42. We have all had...and probably most of us are all going through a time in which we are or would like to cry out to God with the pain, hurt, confusion, etc... and this can be a time that we can write our own soul cries to God and see if anyone else could be helped by it just like the Psalms help us today from some one else's cry all those many years ago.

REMEMBER to make sure that you sign in anonymously so you can feel free to really express your time with God...And remember that you are appreciated and love in this community! Ok here goes this experiment! God bless yall!

(yes I know the pictures were stupid...but oh well!)

Rich, blessing, money...Poverty!

2006-07-23T07:04:00.000-05:00

1 Timothy 3:3-21

3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own timeÂGod, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you.

=======================

Any other thoughts about the video we watched after the move? What about this scripture now that you can read it in it's whole instead of just hearing on on the video?

What would it take for you to truly, "take hold of the life that is truly lived"?

Have a wonderful week everyone! God bless ya!

War, Violence, Christ, and the church.....

2006-07-08T07:52:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 19:18b-21

and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Matthew 5:38-48

38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'^[a] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor^[b] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies^[c] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

===================

• How does God treat his enemies? (Jesus)
• Is taking matters in our own hands a basic distrust of the care of God?
• How did Jesus view violence? (his disciples kept calling for it…what was his response?)
• What would Jesus do (I know it sounds trite and cliché, but honesty, what would he do? >)?
• What does Jesus’ life say about war?
• How are we as Christians to live in a world that is full of ‘enemies’? Full of war?
• Can war ever be consistent with the character of Christ? (we are to reflect his character)
• Can you be a Christian and be a person who wields a gun? What about law and order?

let the discussion continue! Thank yall!

A thank you from Kelly and her family!

2006-07-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

Kelly and family's thank you card for the flowers we sent to her mother's homegoing!!!

Click here for the online card from them!

We love you Kelly.

If you would like to say your own, "love" please just leave Kelly and her family a comment below!!

Homosexuality.....

2006-06-30T18:26:00.000-05:00

Lev. 18:22, 20:13

22 " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

13 " 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Romans 1:18-32

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

==============

Ok yall keep the discussion up and going...have fun! here are a few more questions if you want to fire some discussion questions out.

Here is a few to start the discussion again:

• Should the church support civil rights for homosexuals?
• Can homosexual persons be members of the Church?
(can envious or jealous persons be members of the church…..are we sinless?)
• Is Christianity appropriate for persons with a homosexual orientation who are actively involved in homosexual activity?
• Should the church bless homosexual unions?
• Does this mean that homosexual Christians should be celibate and how is this different from heterosexual celibacy? (Basically, what does God think about sex outside of marriage?)
• Can homosexual Christians be changed of their orientation?
• Should homosexuals be ordained?

See y'all real soon...

2006-06-17T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,
It was great seeing y'all last night at Kim and Steve's. Big props to them for good food and a great time.

Sylvia and I wanted to say a big "thank you" to everyone for all the thoughts, prayer and support as we get ready to head off to Guatemala. We'll be heading up to Chicago early Thursday, where we are having a weekend retreat with the rest of the team. Our flight to Guatemala takes off very late Sunday; we'll be back on July12th/13th.

We are heading to two places:
Chinebal, where we'll be working with rural villagers and pastors (http://www.multimap.com/wi/47152.htm).
The other location is El Estor (http://www.inforpressca.com/elestor/, which is the biggest city in the region (The website I liked to is in Spanish).

We would really appreciate your prayers for safe travel, for the 42 high school and college students to have an intimate experience with God, and most of all, that God would shine his light upon people who need him so badly.

We'll miss you so much! See you in one month.

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

2006-05-26T23:36:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-24T07:38:00.000-05:00

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: Â£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 canapÃ©s can be arranged ahead; check the Web site for details. www.ba-londoneye.com. COST: Â£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...

2006-05-23T18:23:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

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....

2006-05-05T23:55:00.000-05:00

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...

2006-05-01T23:55:00.000-05:00

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!!!

He is Risen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-04-16T05:04:00.000-05:00

It is finished!

2006-04-15T08:51:00.000-05:00

Resurrection and The Word

2006-04-14T20:29:00.000-05:00

John 20:1-23 Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 3 Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. 4 The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. 8 Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed-- 9 for until then they hadn't realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home. 11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 "Why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. 15 "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him." 16 "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward him and exclaimed, "Teacher!" 17 "Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God." 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them his message. 19 That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said. 20 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! 21 He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 Then he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven."

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood^[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.^[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,^[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,^[e]^[f]who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

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Ok keep the discussion going if you would like and please remember (if you would like to do this) to be fast two consecutive meals for Kelly N., her mother, and everyone else that had a need or desire, and of course for Jesus Christ and for his klingdom to be unleashed into this world through Th3 Waters!

Oh and just in case yall did not know this....there is another Th3 Waters blog!!! this blog is the blog that I update for those "above me" to give updates and prayer request (not yalls) for the ministry of Th3 Waters. This blog is http://th3waters.com

This is not necessarilly a place to send normal people, but I did want to make sur eyou knew about it now that we have finished the 8 weeks and all of us want to keep up our Organic Gathering each week!

I love you all more than you know...and I promise the best is yet to come...we are planning lots of very cool discussions and things to be/do for Th3 Waters!

Oh and we are probably about 2 weeks away from having a final logo for Th3 Waters....so be looking for it soon! I will plaster it al ovet the place!

KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!

In Trinity,
D.G.

2006-04-10T07:35:00.000-05:00

Click the picture for info and directions!!!

I can not express to yall enough how cool I think this is. Via Crucis is a really cool project that the Vineyard Central (network of house churches in Cinci) put together each year. All the money received from this event goes towards Restore International for the set-up of a rehabilitation home. Restore International is an organization committed to rescuing and rehabilitating minor girls forced into prostitution in India.

I have never been to it before, but I will be going this week sometime and hope that a few of yall can make it as well! Very cool!

Have a great day!

Seder meal dinner pic and thanks!

2006-04-09T23:05:00.000-05:00

Here is everyone enjoying our Seder meal...Sorry yall could not make it Kelly and Dungan Family...we missed yall greatly...but it was great getting to be with all of you...and not only was the food REALLY good, but I actually learned some very important things to remember about the Exodus story and our roots as Christians! I hope you al have fun...and here is the scripture of the Last supper if yall would like to read it and comment on it that would be great! Take care and hope to see as many of you as possible next Friday to talk about the resurrection of Christ @ Starbucks. (I realize some of you will have Good Friday services to go to...but we will still be meeting at the usual time and place! Hope to see yall there!

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Luke 22:1-38 NIV Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." 9 "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. 10 He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. 24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." 35 Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. 36 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." 38 The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.

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Remember this is Luke not John like we have been taking from in the past..but it is not amazing what the Disciples are talking about right after Jesus takes and does giving them new meaning of the Passover meal? just amazes me!

I wonder if we take for granted communion and forget to remember the meaning behind it and just follow though the motions?

Take care and God bless yall! Have a wonderful week and feel free to discuss the meal of the scripture about through out this week! KUTPs!!!!

Raising of Lazarus....John 11:1-44

2006-04-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Rembrandt's mind's eye of the moment. (I am still looking for where the stone could be rolled aside heh heh)...but man old Laz looks like he has a crick in his neck, ha ha ha. (and I might add does look pissed off from having to come back to this world, ha ha)

(you can click on the picture to see a larger pic of the painting)

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NLT John 11:1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord's feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend is very sick." 4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this." 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." 8 But his disciples objected. "Rabbi," they said, "only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?" 9 Jesus replied, "There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light." 11 Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up." 12 The disciples said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!" 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see him." 16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go, too-- and die with Jesus." 17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." 25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you." 29 So Mary immediately went to him. 30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 "Where have you put him?" he asked them.They told him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!" 37 But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?" 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them.But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible." 40 Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." 43 Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

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Hey everyone, here is the scripture from last week have fun with the discussion...oh and here are the links to the funny Sarcastic videos of Jesus (how most normal people probably think of Jesus)

www.vintage21.com

Directions to get to the Jesus videos:
1. Click the link above (you have to have flash to view the site!)
2. Click the projector at the top left of the page (media)
3. Click the "Videos" button
4. In the new window click the number 2 to go to the second page to find the Jesus videos.
5. Watch them as you please...they really are funny, and might be a great way to discuss Jess with any of your normal friends.

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Ok happy discussion...oh and don't forget the sample Seder Meal @ my house this Thursday night @ 6:00 pm! There will be Lamb, potatoes, flat bread, and veggies to go around for everyone! Also, feel free to bring any side dishes, deserts, or drinks! Can't wait to have yall over...and we might even clean the house! woo hoo! And adjust your calendars to reflect that there will be no gathering this Friday because the meal is filling in for it.

If you need another set of directions that I sent via email just let me know and Iwill send more.

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Oh and don't forget to leave any comments if you would like to keep discussing resurrection, sleep, and even predeterminism (sp?), heh heh! Take care and God bless yall! KUTPs!!!!

In Trinity,

D.G.

Sorry about being late... this weeks discussion Healing of the Blind man John 9:1-12 and 35-41

2006-03-28T09:22:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone I am so sorry about being so late in posting this discussion this week... I got distracted and lost my awareness of time... anyway here is the scripture again if yall would like to discuss it:

John 9:1-12 NLT John 9:1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 "Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?" 3 "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes. 7 He told him, "Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! 8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!" But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!" 10 They asked, "Who healed you? What happened?" 11 He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see!" 12 "Where is he now?" they asked."I don't know," he replied.

John 9:35-41 35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man? " 36 The man answered, "Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him." 37 "You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!" 38 "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 39 Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment-- to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, "Are you saying we're blind?" 41 "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

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Oh and I forgot to mention that yall were talked about in a huge article in the Cicni Enquirer last Saturday... here is the link....

The Waters and Florence UMC in the paper

You can view some more pictures as well, but I sure wish they would have come to our Organic Gathering, but oh well.

Yall take care and God bless ya!

Feeding of the 5,000 (i.e. catfish and hushpuppies!): John 4.1-15

2006-03-17T23:19:00.000-05:00

(just ignore the tomatoes in this picture...and the corn veg mix on the side, heh)

John 6:1-15

1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, "Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted." 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. 14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!" 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

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Ok there is the scripture for this week.

And here are a few more questions that you might like to discuss if you can not remember what we talked about.

We kept on saying that a lot of the time that the people got caught up with the miraculous sign instead of realizing who did it, but at the end of this text it looks like they might have "got it" because they were wanting to make him "King"...but why did Jesus leave and not let them?

How can we use the example of the way Christ communicates (obvious, but with multiple levels of meaning) with us, in the way that we communicate with other normal people?

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that should get us started. Thank you all for coming tonight, it was lots of fun and I can not express my thanks and love for you all! Never forget to keep tring to invite and develop relationships with the chosen normal! KUTPs!

In Trinity,
D.G.

Invalid @ the Pool John 5.1-18

2006-03-10T23:58:00.000-05:00

^NLTJohn 5:1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. ² Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. ³ Crowds of sick people-- blind, lame, or paralyzed-- lay on the porches. ⁴ ⁵ One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?" ⁷ "I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me." ⁸ Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" ⁹ Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, ¹⁰ so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't work on the Sabbath! The law doesn't allow you to carry that sleeping mat!" ¹¹ But he replied, "The man who healed me told me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'" ¹² "Who said such a thing as that?" they demanded. ¹³ The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. ¹⁴ But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you." ¹⁵ Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. ¹⁶ So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. ¹⁷ But Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I." ¹⁸ So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

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Well, any more discussion? I know that John and I still were talking about how much of a shock that would have been to the Jewish ears with Jesus saying that God was working on the Sabbath. Why do you think it was such a shock, and what does that say about God? Can God do anything God wants....Including changing the way God has told his creation to live? And if you want to go a little deeper,...(heh heh.....yeah here it comes)..... does God change his mind?

OK that should last us through the week, heh....

Oh and if anyone wants to read and see other posters like the picture I showed tonight then you can go to:
despair.com
It really does have some VERY funny things!

Thanks again for coming and Can't wait for next week! KUTPs!

Healing of the official's Son John 4:43-54

2006-03-08T07:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the continued Treasure Hunt!

The Scripture Discussion passage this week was:

John 4:46-54 46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?" 49 The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies." 50 Then Jesus told him, "Go back home. Your son will live!" And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. 51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!" 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
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OK Any further discussion on this passage?

How would you have responded to Jesus if you were the man in the story and he told you to "Go back home"?

Is there a difference between faith and belief? Or just different levels of faith?

Maybe the real sing is the faith of the father rather than the healing of the son?

What kind of sings can people see in you?
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(thanks for putting up with the late posting of the online discussion, I have had a very busy week, Take care and God bless yall! KUTPs!)

In Trinity,
D.G. (another crash)