Change o' venues

This week The Town Church will be meeting at the Black Home.  Starting on January 9th we will be back at Peak Community Church at 500 Mathews Street in Fort Collins.  Join us, eh?  

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MISSION

Last week we finished a series on Jesus words to his followers in the mountains.  This Sunday (September 5th) we will begin a series on the mission of The Town Church.  As a church our mission is to worship God in community - loving others, engaging the culture and seeking to transform lives with the gospel of Jesus.  Each Sunday we will discuss a different aspect of the mission. 

September 5 - We Worship God in Community

September 12 - We Love Others

September 19 - We Engage Culture

September 26 - We Seek to Transform Lives with the Gospel of Jesus

If you are interested in hearing more about and being a part of our mission in Old Town, Fort Collins and beyond - join us at 4 PM each Sunday in September.  Looking forward to being with you!

We meet at Peak Community Church (500 Mathews Street) in Old Town, Fort Collins.  

www.thetownftc.org

970.237.2427  

Psalm 119 - pt. 9

Are you looking to connect to a community?  Join us this evening at 4 PM.  We meet at Peak Community Church (500 Matthews Street / Fort Collins) - just two blocks from the CSU campus.

As a church we've been reading through Psalm 119 together.  We read a section every Sunday evening and I've been encouraging everyone to be reading and meditating on the next section of the Psalm throughout the following week.  Today we are reading Psalm 119:65-72.

If you are unable to gather with us this evening, join us in reading this passage where ever you may be.

Psalm 119:65-72

TETH

You have dealt well with your servant,

O LORD, according to your word.

  Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

  Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

  You are good and do good;

teach me your statutes.

  The insolent smear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

  their heart is unfeeling like fat,

but I delight in your law.

  It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

  The law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

119 - pt. 8

Over the last several weeks we've been reading portions of Psalm 119 together as a church.  Here is the passage for Sunday, July 11th.  

Psalm 119:57-64
HETH
The LORD is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

  I entreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

  When I think on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

  I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

  Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not forget your law.

  At midnight I rise to praise you,

because of your righteous rules.

  I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

  The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes!

Family Worship

The Resurgence posted an article by Tim Smith (Worship Pastor at Mars Hill) about family worship.  In this article he suggests 7 practical tips on how to lead your family in worship.

I would fully recommend everything he says in this article - whether you have children or not.  Set aside time every day to worship with your spouse and anyone else who may be in your house.

In this article he mentions The Jesus Story Book Bible.  I would also highly recommend owning this book.  If you don't have it and you want it for FREE - join us on a Sunday and I will give it to you.  

Below is the article in full.  Be sure to check theresurgence.com often for articles like these.

1. Keep it short

I would recommend 15-30 minutes, as a general rule. If things are going well, you can always keep the conversation going, but the goal should be brevity. If you make a discussion too long, it will become tedious and can actually turn your kids away from God. This time should be an overflow of all the Scripture, prayer, and discussion going on in the rest of your lives—not the only place where it happens.

2. Read

Most importantly, family worship is a time for Scripture. Make sure to read small chunks, maybe only a verse or two, at a time and then unpack it together. You can go through a book of the Bible, pick a verse that applies to the day’s events, or choose something topical. The important thing here is connecting Scripture to life in a way that your kids can understand. For younger kids, the The Jesus Storybook Bible is pretty hard to beat.

3. Pray

Everyone should pray together. Thank God for what he has done and how he has provided. Take requests. Pray for each other. Pray for your city and specific lost people in your lives. Remember that you are building a rhythm, which is just as important as any specific prayer.

4. Sing

It doesn’t matter if you can play an instrument or your voice curdles milk—we should all sing songs to God. Scripture is full of song, and our families should be as well. Truth be told, you are probably more of the problem with this than your kids. Young kids naturally sing all the time without any self-consciousness. Get over your hang-ups and desire for perfection and just sing together. My girls and I are making family songbooks as a creative project, and they’re stoked.

5. Keep it regular

The sum is greater than the parts. You will have off days. You will miss days. You may even question your call to ministry. Whatever happens, just keep at it and God will make you equal to the task.

6. Older kids set the example

If your oldest kid is not engaged, your younger ones will follow. Challenge your oldest children to set the example for their siblings. Give them a bit of ownership and a role in how you structure these times, and it will be a huge help.

7. Limit TV

I’m not saying kill your television completely, but there is no doubt in my mind that excessive TV rots the attention span. If your kids, or you for that matter, can’t pay attention to anything for more than two minutes, then think about what other entertainment might be captivating your senses.

119 - pt. 6

Today is part 6 of our reading through Psalm 119.  Read this portion of text and join us in praising our God for His Word!

Psalm 119:41-48

WAW

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my hope is in your rules.

I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, 

which I love,

and I will meditate on your statutes.

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.