Advent 2009 Week 2

Advent 2009 Week 2
“Faith and Deliverance”

Luke 1:67 (NIV) “His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied…”

And so John the Baptist’s father begins the canticle known as Zechariah’s Song, which prophecies rescue, salvation, and deliverance for the people of God. Traditionally the second week of Advent encounters the virtue of Faith. We will be looking at faith as both a product and source of deliverance.

In the 4th chapter of Luke’s Gospel we find Jesus, out in the desert, being tempted by the devil for 40 days. The devil finally leaves Jesus alone, and after being ministered to by angels, He sets out for his hometown. Jesus’ first public act in response to having His own faith challenged, is to proclaim a message of deliverance from the book of Isaiah,


"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

From that moment on, Jesus began delivering people from demons, disease, and disorder (sin).

The Gospels record how people flocked to Jesus, in order to be delivered. They had faith that God had given Jesus the power to heal. And when Jesus healed them, he did so stating, “… your faith has healed you." Jesus demonstrates that faith in Him is a source of deliverance.

We also see, how faith is a product of deliverance, in the disciples’ response to Jesus when he asks them if they to will leave him in John 6. They state simply, “We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

The author of Hebrews, in chapter 11 verse 1 tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Practically, what does this mean for us? The surest way to grow faith is to spend time getting to know the One in whom we believe. Making time to read the Scriptures, to pray, to worship, and to spend time with His other disciples is a proven path to nurturing faith. As our faith is strengthened, and informed by the Holy Spirit, we will see deliverance in our own lives and in the lives of others in the community of the People of Hope.

Take time during this season of Advent to grow faith so that deliverance will come and the community can sing as Zechariah in his canticle, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.”

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Mark

Advent 2009 Week 1

Advent 2009 Week 1
“Living as People of Hope”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.”

Living as people of hope is not easy. It requires that we live consciously, purposefully, and intentionally. We do not have the luxury of cruise control, autopilot, or habit. As we enter the Season of Advent, let’s take a moment to wake ourselves from slumber, break from routine, and embrace the hope of Jesus’ coming as it is revealed to us in and through the Holy Spirit.

Living consciously means seeing the world as it truly is. The, “… others, who are asleep…” see the world in their own way: Either in dreaming or in some other state of altered consciousness, the harsh realities of poverty, disease, and injustice are rationalized, marginalized, or outright dismissed. People of Hope see the world in all its brokenness and embrace it. The darkness of the human condition does not overwhelm the hopeful. As we live consciously, each person, situation, and circumstance is unique. People of hope do not profile, discriminate, or trivialize. Living consciously means embracing, “…what God arranges for… (Gal 3:11 MSG)” us.

Living purposefully means responding not reacting. Joshua 24:15 says, “…choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” People of Hope start with a decision of the will to submit to Jesus’ direction from Mark 8:34 (NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I cannot deny myself unintentionally. My natural tendency is to consider myself before all others. But the Spirit of God infuses me with the ability to choose. Teaches me to anticipate needs. And, informs me how He will use me. All of this precludes autopilot. Living purposefully means deciding: first thing, and moment by moment, to serve Jesus in whatever capacity we find Him. Remember the parable of the “Sheep and the Goats” from Matthew 25.

Living intentionally means nothing happens by accident or habit. Prayer is a spiritual rhythm fixed by the resolve to be in relationship with God. From this arises the determination to know and be known, and to love and be loved within the community; be it family, church, neighborhood, etc… A place where, “Fine” is not an acceptable response to “How are you?” But silence is understood. Where we see lived out Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Living intentionally means practically living out, 1 Corinthians 10:24 “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Living as People of Hope, with Jesus Christ as the source and aim of our lives- empowered by the Holy Spirit- we will see deliverance, recovery, and freedom in the lives of all of those around us. Peace and Blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark

Happy Thanksgiving

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (NIV) Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

I am thankful for you! Every time I pray, I thank God for merging our lives together on this journey.

As we move in to the "Holy"day season, may this time be a source of love, peace, healing and renewal for your family in and through Christ Jesus our Lord, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit.

+ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.+

Mark

Anticipating Advent

Over the last few years I have written and taught about the season of Advent. I have discussed the meaning, looked into its history, and tried to pass on the significance. We looked into the scriptures and contemplated hope, peace, joy, and love as they applied to the incarnation and the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This year, I would like to look at Advent in a different way. Not as some academic pursuit, or a liturgical exercise but as a practical focus for our hearts as we enter the “Holy days.”

The first week of Advent we will still focus on hope. We will look at what it means to be a “people of hope” and how that applies, practically, to our daily lives. The last 3 weeks of advent we’ll put a spin on the traditional virtues of faith, joy and love. Within the context of these virtues, we will consider deliverance, recovery, and freedom. Through out all of this we’ll try and discover how the “first things” need the last to justify and validate. Why the “Alpha” must also be the “Omega.”

If you would like to follow the scriptures for the season of Advent, I will post a link or a document with the daily readings.

Peace and blessings to all, in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Mark

Link to Advent Readings:Advent Readings

Remembering Matt

Matthew Thomas Barrentine was born to Tom & Cindy George on September 27th, 1968 in Pasadena, Texas. He never fully recovered from being born in Texas, and spent 41 years as a Cowboys fan. He grew up in Houston, Seymour, and Wichita Falls. He loved playing Football, Soccer, and Baseball.

When Matt was 10 he went to stay with his Mom in California. When he was 13, Cindy’s husband Kevin Barrentine adopted him. On Mare Island, Matt joined Boy Scout Troop 30. Throughout his scouting career Matt served as a Patrol Leader, was selected to become a member of the Order of the Arrow, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout – the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor.

At age 14, Matt hit a bit of a rough patch. He was diagnosed with “Hydrocephalus” and required surgery. After various complications, Matt slipped into an 8-week coma and eventually pronounced “brain dead.” On the day the family gathered together to say “good-bye” he began to trigger the respirator that had been keeping him alive, taking a breath on his own every so often. The Doctors said, “It’s not enough to keep him alive” and “If he lives he’ll be a vegetable.” But they were all wrong! Matt made almost a complete recovery from that near fatal episode. The brain damage caused by a loss of blood and lack of oxygen left him with a present memory impairment and epilepsy. But that did not hold him back.

Matt continued his career in scouting: scaling a portion of the Grand Tetons and snow cave camping. Matthew completed the necessary requirements for his High School Diploma, and graduated from Vallejo Senior High School in 1988.

Matthew loved model building, drawing, and painting. He loved to sing, and was a member of his High School Chorus and Church Choir. Matt loved horses, particularly Mustangs. What most fascinated Matt, though, were airplanes. He was obsessed with them. His greatest dream and most frequent product of his imagination was being a pilot.

My brother’s greatest strength was his faith. He truly believed. And if you were fortunate enough to spend any length of time with him you know that to be true. Matt loved Jesus! And he would take every opportunity to tell people about Him. This love made him a man of prayer. And Matt’s prayers were effective.

Matthew is survived by his Mother Cindy Barrentine, his adoptive Father Kevin Barrentine, his birth Father Tom George, his sister Sarah Barrentine, his Brother Mark Barrentine, his Nieces Jessika & Hannah, his Nephew Tommy, and many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends.

New Compasio Video

Our friends at Compasio have a beautiful new video about their work with street kids on the Thai/Burmese border. I couldn't get it to look right embedding it on the blog so please CLICK HERE to watch. So worth a 5 minute investment!

All we need.

This is the Brunswick Hall. Our little church has moved and this is the way we gathered at our last service in the old property. We had already moved the sound board, instruments, screen, mics, CD player..you get the idea. We left only the essentials, some chairs around the communion table. We sang, prayed, shared and ate the Lord's Supper together. We had all we needed. Now, in a new location, we still do: God and others.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3