119 - pt. 4

For the past three weeks we have been reading a portion of Psalm 119 together as a church.  This evening we will be reading verses 25-32 together.  I've encouraged our people to be reading and meditating on the section of the Psalm for the week during the week.  Care to join us prize the Word of God together?

Psalm 119:25-32

DALETH

My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me;

teach me your statutes!

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

Put false ways far from me

and graciously teach me your law!

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

let me not be put to shame!

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart!

119 - pt. 2

This evening we will be discussing honesty (or truth-telling) from Matthew 5:33-37.  If you are a follower and learner of Christ then you must be marked by honesty.  You must be one who resists lying to others.  Your desire must be to tell the truth in all things.  We could all work on this area, eh?  

God's Word, on the other hand is always true.  Unlike His followers, every time He says "yes," He means yes.  Every time He says "no," He means no.  This evening we will continue our reading of the sections of Psalm 119.  Read this section and you will see that God's Word is trustworthy - even when we are not.

Psalm 119:9-16

BETH

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart, 

that I might not sin against you.  

Blessed are you, O LORD; 

teach me your statutes!

With my lips I declare 

all the rules of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.  

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes; 

I will not forget your word.

119

Last night at our weekly gathering we discussed Matthew 5:27-32.  It's a passage that deals with adultery, lust and divorce.  I know what you are thinking - "that's a great way to grow a new church!"  I understand that discussing sticky issues is not the most appealing thing for visitors to a church - especially a new, small church.  As much as I understand that, my conscience and my calling will not allow me to skip difficult passages.

Over the last five weeks we have been looking at Matthew 5-7 - commonly called "The Sermon on the Mount."  The more we look at Jesus' words to his disciples on this mountain, the more I realize that Scripture is quite counter-cultural.  If you are a follower of Jesus, though, you are called to be a student of this counter-cultural book.

Last evening I encouraged people of The Town to begin reading Psalm 119.  We read the first section (ALEPH) of Psalm 119 as we began our service last night.  We plan to read one section every week so that we can join the psalmist in a deep love of the Word - God's Word to us.  Wanna join us?

PSALM 119:1-8

ALEPH

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, 

who walk in the law of the LORD!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, 

who seek him with their whole heart, 

 who also do no wrong, 

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts 

to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame, 

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart, 

when I learn your righteous rules.

I will keep your statutes; 

do not utterly forsake me!

I heart Kirsten

Long time no post...

I know I haven't been posting anything here but I have at the blog for The Town Church.  Come on over and join the conversation!

All I want for Christmas

Our second son Asher has always been able to stop his falls with his front teeth. He's chipped them, loosened them and knocked them up into his gums. The dentist finally said it was time for them to go. A little goofy gas and some good dentistry...and they are gone. He's only 3 so it may be 3-4 years before he gets more teeth. We still love him.

Bookshelves

I finished constructing the bookshelves for my office this morning. They are floor to ceiling shelves. I loaded them this evening.
Now...if I only knew how to read.

I'm in love...

...with this woman. We celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss in January. I can honestly say that I love her so much more now than I did 10 years ago. She's a fabulous woman, wife, friend and mother. God has been good to me.

Tribute on 11.22.09

I'm 22 days into a 120 day beard event called Whiskerino. The participants are not to shave for 120 days and post a picture every day. Today I posted a tribute picture of two very important men who died on this day in 1963.

Garden "Harvest"

Ezra's 1st Soccer Game

Solomon Hosea Black

Solomon Hosea Black was born at 4:39 AM on Saturday morning. Mom and baby are doing well and the big brothers are excited for the boy to come home...unless he cries a lot.

Lesson Learned

Name recommendations?

Greetings Kids! Many of you know that we have a baby coming any time in the next month. We know that the baby will be a boy. We are looking to you all for name recommendations. We don't know what to name this child...so please help us!

Submit your name recommendation to us in the comments section.

*We have a name picked out. Your recommendation is for your own satisfaction. Thanks for playing.

Young@Heart

Last night we watched the documentary Young @ Heart. I'd recommend it. Coldplay, the Clash and Jimi Hendrix will never sound the same once you've heard the Young@Heart chorus, a group of Massachusetts senior citizens who thrill audiences worldwide with their unusual -- and unusually poignant -- covers of rock songs. Stephen Walker's humane and heartwarming documentary follows the elderly ensemble as they prepare their new show.

Check out THIS VIDEO from one of the performances. Fred Knittle, the man who sings the song in this video, died in January of this year.