One More Thing

Hi Five Oakers, It's the weekend and there are a few things I want to share with you:

The Weekend

How many 2am friends do you have? If you had a need, aside from family, what friends could you call for help at 2am? Will Mancini says that's a good gauge of closeness and community. But here's a higher standard. How many of your friends could you call for help if you knew they were on there way to go and see a Vikings game? Okay, I'm only partially kidding.

In this weekend's passage, Jesus has just returned to his adopted home town of Capernaum. Word has spread about his teaching and miracles and everybody is rushing to see him. One man is home, unable to go because he's unable to walk. But he has four friends. Four friends with tickets to the game who are moving in the opposite direction from the crowd. They are coming to get the man who can't walk because maybe, just maybe, Jesus will heal their friend.

FYI

Tom Wilson on "Europe's Euthanasia Craze"

Europeans' disinterest in perpetuating new life is fundamentally linked to their permissive attitude on euthanasia. For in most European countries abortion has long been available on demand and it is hardly surprising that societies that negate the absolute value of life at its outset, then negate it toward its end, and finally come to negate it in its entirety.

Jeni Carlson on "Family Worship Weekends 2015"

At the Tree House @fiveoakschurch, we see parents as the primary spiritual leaders of their children's faith journey. In partnership with parents, we want to provide opportunities for kids to join with their parents in the worship service.

One More Thing

"It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely." (Albert Einstein)

10 Tweets

Here's last weekend's sermon in 10 Tweets, Marvels & Wonders: A Study in the Miracles of Jesus, "A Tale of Two Terrors (Calming the Storm)"

1/ After experiencing the terror of almost drowning, the disciples experience a terror worse than death.

2/ How tired do you have to be to sleep through that storm? Witness the Incarnation.

3/ Jared Wilson: "The disciples sleeping sovereign is sleeping because he's sovereign."

4/ What would God have to do to convince he cares for you if he doesn't calm the storm?

5/ Faced with God's unbounded power you ask, "What if he's not good?"

6/ Or more terrifying, "What if he's absolute goodness and justice with no mercy and grace? If so, I'm doomed."

7/ Jesus demonstrates he cares, even when he doesn't calm the storm.

8/ Jesus promises a day day is coming when all will be made right. No more storms. Do you trust his word?

9/ Jesus got in the boat. Exhausted. What was he doing here on earth if not showing how much he cared.

10/ Jesus went to the cross. Jared Wilson: "He has skin you can pierce, but only if he lets you." Jesus let you.