This post is going to be quick, I promise. I've been reflecting on the Spiritual Habit of tithing. Tithing is an important habit that we can build. Jesus states "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21 NIV) When we commit to tithing we are committing our hearts to that which Jesus cares about, his church. If you consider this place your spiritual home or you attend regularly I would encourage you to consider tithing. There is a lot we can say on this topic but we don't need to do discuss it all. Just consider Jesus' words and also Paul's words "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV) If after consideration you feel like this is your spiritual home or you attend regularly and you can give cheerfully then I would encourage you to give. If you want to give there is a button at the bottom of the live service page that says "Giving At Saddleback". It will walk you through all the steps.
If you would like more information on growing spiritually check out the Spiritual Growth Center.
Friday
March
05
2010
12:44 PM
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That was a great sermon on Jesus, how he cared for his mother and for his best friend. And if, at
times, it seems easy to care for just the physical need, for food, for a bed, for some clothes, there is
the hunger of heart and soul that needs to be satisfied.
Jesus gave Mary more than just food and shelter. Surely he gave her somebody who would care for
her, but more important, he gave her somebody to care for. The great thing, as Jesus so clearly
lived, is not to be loved. That is awesome and in society the big thing, but in the kingdom of God
not the loved one is great. The one who loves most is greatest.
When you feel completely unloved and unwanted, go and love somebody. Give kindness and
friendship to somebody who may need it more desperately than you do. If you have several kids
and feel like you have given your share, when you feel empty and scorched, give more. It will
satisfy your heart more to love than to be loved.
And if truly somebody wrongs you to whom you have been kind? Forgive. Try to overcome evil by
being kind. That is what God is doing to you and me. Overcoming our natural tendency to evil by
His grace and goodness. For he loves us, Jesus died out of love for us even when nobody cared.
Take up the example. Die a little to yourself. And get closer to God.
Audy
Community Member
Thursday
March
04
2010
9:34 AM
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Do you attend Saturday Night services? If yes,start serving during the service. If your interested email Jay Kranda at Jayk@saddleback.com.
Live Chat Leader
- Own a service
- Setup/closeout chat room
- Oversee and support Live Chat Partners
- Lay minister for service
Live Chat Attendant
- Welcome and interact with participants enteringLive Chat
- Be encouraging and loving to chat participants
- Answer Saddleback related questions ofparticipants
- Assist Live Chat Leader
Monday
March
01
2010
12:00 AM
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Occasionally I like listen to sermons by pastors at other churches and recently I heard asermon based on 2 Peter 1:5-8. After hearing the sermon I decided to go readthe whole passage for myself. After reading it I felt that I should share itwith you.
2Peter 1:3-11 states: "3 His divine power has granted to usall things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him whocalled us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us hisprecious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakersof the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the worldbecause of sinful desire. 5 Forthis very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue withknowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control,and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherlyaffection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our LordJesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualitiesis so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed fromhis former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and electionsure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will berichly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord andSavior Jesus Christ." (ESV)
As Iread this I noticed the progression starting in vs. 5 where Peter states"Make every effort to" and then goes on to list out things that weshould be striving for. If you will notice he starts with faith, which is wherewe all begin. Then he ends in vs. 8 stating that we will grow and be effectivein our faith if we continue to do these things. So what are they?
1.Faith 2.Virtue 3.Knowledge 4.Self-control 5.Steadfastness 6.Godliness 7.Brotherly affection 8.Love
Ifyou are anything like me you like to have specific things you can strive for.In this passage (and list) we are given specifics to strive after. So next timeyou are looking for something to work on try applying yourself to thesestandards and see which area you need to work on. However please know thatthese are not things you attain once and then forgotten about. You need toconstantly be striving for them.
If you would likemore information on growing spiritually check out the Spiritual Growth Center.
Friday
February
26
2010
4:33 PM
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The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
Truer words were never spoken(or sung for those who know this hymn). The question is how well do you know these things to be true? Do you know the Lord to be the light in your life? Do you know his salvation is available to you, right now this very instant? This past weeks service spoke to the assurance of salvation for all of us through God's word.
"Assuredly, I say to you today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43
This statement made by Jesus himself, was not made to the leader of a nation, to a person who was the head of a major business, who owned much land, or had oodles of friends and family. No actually this statement was made to a criminal who had been justly convicted for crimes he had committed and who had been condemned to death on the cross.
The promise of salvation was given to him as it is and has been given to each and every one of us. Regardless of mistakes we may have made, in spite of what we own, or titles, material possessions or connections to family and or friends. God's salvation is open to all
"In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians 6:2
Apparently, when it comes to salvation and knowing when the time is right, there is as they say, "No better time than the PRESENT."
To find out more about who God is check out our Fresh Start with God site (click)
Alinda
Community Member
Thursday
February
25
2010
7:25 PM
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As Jesus promised the man on
the cross to be with him, so he has promised different people different
things. A young ruler, who wanted to accompany Jesus, was asked to
leave everything behind. Jesus promised heaven and paradise. He
promised peace and joy. He promised to take care of our needs. However,
he promised persecution and even death because of his name. He is
promising the same things today. Although as believers we will be with
him in paradise, there are times when we, as a body, suffer
persecution, torture and even death for the name of Christ. For we are
one body in Christ, if a part of the body is aching, the whole body
feels it. Jesus always wanted his children to go into the world and be
witnesses for him. The one who believes in his heart that Jesus is
risen and who confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord is the one
who will be saved, he said. So tell somebody. Make sure people around
you know you believe in Christ. Tell your neighbor or your co-worker,
make sure your family or friends know. I know it is not always easy and
you may be mistreated, but know that you're following Jesus' teachings
if you do. As the pastor says, don`t keep it a secret, share it- today,
and tomorrow as well.
Audy
Online Community Member
Monday
February
22
2010
2:01 PM
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Sometime during the past few weeks I came across the image below and I wanted to share the concept it relates. It is the focus of a webpage ( http://analogsunday.com/). There actually isn't much to the webpage. Just the title and a short description about the goal of Analog Sunday. In our modern world we do not unplug very often, we are constantly connected to the entire world. Constantly being connected has an impact on our souls. It does not allow time for reflection or for God to speak. We are always on the go because we constantly need to respond to what is happening. We are not allowed the freedom to get lost on a Saturday or just spend time with our closest friends without the possibility of being interrupted. Because of our constant connection people assume they should be able to get a hold of us at any moment. In our overly connected society we do not experience the freedom to breathe. We are not allowed the opportunity to drink deeply from the fountain of life, Jesus Christ. If you have read some of my other posts you will know I am in favor of you getting away or slowing down. I want you to hear something and hear me loud and clear. You are free to get space and unplug. You can remove yourself from the technological society occasionally. Now this doesn't give you the freedom to ditch your commitments but you can start to build this into your life. Build in a time of intentional disconnection.
Now may you experience the freedom of disconnection. May it be a time where Christ encounters you in a new way. May it be a place where you experience refreshment.
Friday
February
19
2010
12:00 AM
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Below are the serving opportunities online. If your interested in one the roles email Jay at Jayk@saddleback.com and join our Internet Leadership Group on Facebook for further training.
Live Chat Leader
-Own a service
-Setup/closeout chat room
-Oversee and support Live Chat Partners
-Lay minister for service
Live Chat Attendant
-Welcome and interact with participants entering Live Chat
-Be encouraging and loving to chat participants
-Answer Saddleback related questions of participants
-Assist Live Chat Leader
Creative Editor
-Modify service notes for social media posts
-Design social media posts to be conversational
-Include links in posts that allow further exploration on posted content
Facebook or Twitter Moderator
-Read and respond, in a loving way to Facebook/Twitter posts
-Ensure all comments are responded to quickly
Facebook or Twitter Prayer Partner
-Pray for services while they're happening live
-Send daily prayer messages to Facebook Fans/Twitter Followers
Teach Admin
-Upload posts in HootSuite
-Assist Creative Editor
Facebook Coder
-Help Customize our Facebook Layout
Tuesday
February
16
2010
12:00 AM
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This week I spent time learning from Peter Scazzero in a large class setting at Radicalis (the Latin term for Roots), a conference we had at Saddleback. Peter is known for writing Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. On the first day he shared with us about setting up Daily Offices. A Daily Office is something monks do throughout the day to call them to prayer. For several years Peter has practiced these in his life and they have had a tremendous impact on his relationship with Christ. Peter encouraged us to add these to our lives as well so that our relationship with Christ might flourish. He suggested we practice three Daily Offices. To do that we would stop, pray and reflect on God three times a day. If you are like me your first thought probably was "How on earth am I supposed to remember to do that three times a day?" As I thought about it I realized something, I needed something to help me succeed at this. I needed something to remind me to practice the Daily Office at the right time. So I decided I would set three alarms on my phone to remind me each day to stop, pray and reflect on God. Each day at 8AM, 12PM and 7PM my phone reminds me to practice my Daily Office.
If there is one thing I have noticed in life it is you can help yourself succeed or fail (Why do you think musicians and athletes practice so much? They want to succeed). In life we need to prepare ourselves for success not failure. And that is what I want to encourage you to do. If you want to pray more find ways to remind yourself, whether it be your phone, Outlook on your computer, or note cards. If you want to know more Scripture then write it everywhere or read your bible more, maybe both. If you want to overcome an addiction get help, don't try to do it on your own. If you want to spend more time playing with your kids get rid of Cable or Satellite Television. I don't know what you want to accomplish in your life but I know with God and wisdom you can succeed. When we combine God's help and wisdom we can succeed at a lot. Setting ourselves up for success is a way of exercising wisdom.
Now may you find power in God and wisdom to overcome or succeed at the task before you. If you want additional tips or help for succeeding at your relationship with Christ check out the Spiritual Growth page.
Friday
February
12
2010
1:12 PM
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Have you ever tried to figure out what Jesus looked like? Have you ever tried to think of what he liked to eat and to drink, whether he was usually merry or melancholic, always kind or inclined to outbursts of temper? Has he been an obedient child or did he do what he pleased to do? Was he quarrelsome or peaceful? Talkative or quiet? Talking loud or talking with a soft voice? Jesus has done all of the above at some point or another. What would he look like today? Would he be with the hippies and sing songs of flower power? Would he be a social worker in some slum of this world? Or would he be born into such a slum? Cast out and roaming the streets? Dancing in some hot spot? Surfing a Hawaiian wave? Would he own a gun or smoke a cigarette? Would he ride a sports car or a SUV? Where would he be born? In Haiti? In Iraq? In China? In Palestine as he did so many years ago? Jesus said, if you want to know what I look like, look at your neighbor, at your wife, your friend, your child.
We are, what Jesus looks like. You and me. If you look at me, try to see that I am what Jesus might look like. He took a child and gave it as a standard. Who cares for one of these, cares for me. Who gives anybody in my name food, drink, visits, flowers, gives
to me and I will reward it. Next time you get angry at somebody, in the car, at home, at work, stop, breath deep, and than think: This is just what Jesus might look like today. And then do as you would do if it were Jesus.
Find out more about what Jesus looks like by listening to Drivetime Devotions by Pastor Tom
Audy
Online Community Member
Wednesday
February
10
2010
12:41 PM
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