Sunday Recap

June 22, 2014 — Leave a comment

Today was a great day of celebration and excitement at SLW. Here’s the rundown:

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Pastor Jesse launched our Summer message series, Summer Road Trip. Here are some of the message highlights (the message will be on the SLW Podcast soon):

 

A life of faith is a journey of adventure. Too many of us are living out our faith in safe, unadventurous ways…

Spiritual “Road Tripping…”

… Is less about the destination and more about the journey.

…Is less about enduring and more about developing.

…is less about going alone and more about going together.

 

To get the most out of this road trip, we’ll need:

  • A full tank (How are we being filled with the things of God?)
  • Good tunes (Where do we hear God; how are we staying tuned into his heart?)
  • An adventurous spirit (Is there room in our routine for adventure?)
  • A willingness to do crazy things (Will we Live S.E.N.T. — Seek God; Eat Together; Needs–Meed Them; Tell the story?)

Join us throughout the summer as we enjoy “Unbelievable Sights, Unexpected Detours, and Unscripted Connections” together.

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whatever

June 20, 2014 — Leave a comment
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr

There are many times when I wonder just what to do. There are options, opportunities, moments to be capitalized upon…and not an obvious right way to go. Is there a way to know what to do? Every time we say ‘yes’ to one thing, we’re saying ‘no’ to something else, just by way of limiting our availability… and trying to determine what is the most prudent or urgent/important or furthest-reaching investment can be so overwhelming it’s almost paralyzing.

There’s a story in Scripture that speaks into a moment of ‘where do I go from here?’ and I have found it incredibly helpful: God has identified and called out a man named Saul to be the first king of the people of Israel. Saul had no idea what it means to be king; the best he has is what can be observed of the other kings in the Ancient Near East…and I think it’s safe to say that in many ways these weren’t the best role models.

God has been using a man named Samuel to communicate this kingly call to Saul. This involves certain signs that God is, in fact, positioning Saul as king. In the midst of this communication, a particular verse stands out to me:

Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. ~ 1 Samuel 10:7

What a relief it must have been to hear this for Saul. And I think the same relief is available to us–once we have been commissioned and enabled by God, there is a real sense that —presuming continued connection with Him—we are free to tackle what’s in front of us. This is a great reminder to stay connected…and to stay active in doing what’s placed before us.

Are you following Jesus and living in obedience to Him? If that’s the case and you’re struggling with knowing what to do ‘next,’ my suggestion is to heed the word above and “do whatever your hand finds to do.” After all, God is with you.

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mercy v. sacrifice

June 17, 2014 — 2 Comments

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image: Mark Brannan @ Flickr

But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mt. 9:13, NIV)

These words of Jesus to the religious elite who were called to bring the people of Israel nearer to God and his ways (and tried to do so in a clumsy way that focused on legalistic observance more than righteous freedom) can almost seem like a well-deserved slam against these same religious leaders. But the context indicates something more like a loving directive rather than cold correction from Jesus.

He gives this religious group time to learn the meaning of what he has said. And later—the very next time we see interaction with this same group, there’s disappointment that they have not taken to heart his loving directive: If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Mt. 12:7, NIV)

What I love about these interactions is that Jesus himself doesn’t immediately move toward condemnation or open rebuke, but mercifully gives time to those who should know better to have a paradigm shift. They don’t, and it results in them beginning to to pursue the destruction of the one come to rescue them.

This interaction has me thinking:

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sunday recap

June 16, 2014 — Leave a comment

Yesterday was a fantastic day at SLW!

Here’s a quick recap:

:: Dads – We took a few moments to celebrate dads. In honor of our dads, we’re sponsoring a backpack as part of the Lakeview District Backpack Program which facilitates nutritious meals for underserved children right in our own community. SLW has the opportunity to help provide backpacks for over 30 children in the new school year.

OASIS_RECT:: Oasis – Nate shared about last week’s first gathering in Meadville as Oasis which included two baptisms! Go God! If you haven’t already signed up to be a prayer partner and to learn more about what God is up to in Meadville through Oasis, connect with him here.

If you’re a part of SLW, you can support both Oasis and the Backpack Program by giving through our Glocal Outreach missions focus–both are missional partnerships we’re excited to be part of.

 

279901_160_e30132SUMMER SPORTS XTREME begins tonight. It’s not too late to register the kiddos (potty trained 3yo – 6th grade) for this free sports camp facilitated by qualified coaches and includes some interaction with professional athletes. Check out slwchurch.org for more info!

 

 

original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

We stepped into chapters 3-5 of Joshua before pausing in The Book of Joshua for our summer series, here are some highlights from that message:

:: What does it look like to live–in the midst of our impossible, impassible, unnavigable situations–as those ready for God to do the miraculous? (Joshua 3:5)

:: God is the God who goes 3,000 feet ahead of His people, showing the way, overcoming the most powerful obstacles, and subjugating things to Himself. (cf. Joshua 5:1)

:: Following Jesus means we can stop thinking like slaves and rebellious wanderers…and start living as people of the promise. (cf. Joshua 5:9-12)

What would you do in the overwhelming situations you face if you were certain God is going before you, that He is more powerful than the most significant obstacles you face, and that He is FOR you?

The podcast will be available soon, you can check it out by heading to SLW’s podcast site at slwchurch.podomatic.com.

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inheritance

June 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed in the end.
~ Proverbs 20:21

This truth is played out so often in us when we expect a journey’s worth of respect, experience, and influence at the beginning of that journey. When we expect to be given what ought to be earned in any respect, we claim an inheritance before it’s ours and seldom does that have the flavor of blessing we had anticipated.

The inherent challenge in something like this is that it demands a long view perspective–what do we want at the end of our inheritance? Of our life? Our vocation? Blessing comes not in claiming or demanding now what is ours anyway; inheritance is something given, in trust, by another. Blessing comes in the faithfulness and trusting necessary for life in the in-between.

In the waiting is a place of blessing.

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