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Oct 14, 2004

What is Marriage? / What is Homosexuality? Forum

"A Forum for College and High School Age Students

There is much confusion today among Christian students on how we should regard traditional marriage and if we should allow same sex marriage. We want to be Biblical and we want to be compassionate. We struggle with how to translate our spiritual and ethical convictions into public or political decisions. This forum will help give you the tools you need.

Speakers:
Jason Thompson - Director of the Portland Fellowship, an outreach to the Gay Community, will share his testimony on the power and healing of God in his life. He will discuss the causes fo homosexuality and how the church community can act with Biblical compassion.

Rich Miller - Youth Pastor as City Bible Church in Portland, will discuss the intention and long term effects of Measure 36, the proposal to amend the Oregon constitution to define marriage between one man and one woman.

When: Wednesday, October 20th, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Emerald Bible Fellowship, 1855 Cal Young Rd."

FROM: A FLYER DELEIVERED TO OUR CHURCH OFFICE 10/14/04.

Oct 13, 2004

Make a Comment

I have made it easier to post a comment on the blog. You don't have to set up an account any longer.

I also set it up so when you make a comment I get a notification in my e-mail box, that way I will not miss them. Read and post comments when ever you want.

Oct 1, 2004

Friend in Iraq

A good friend of mine has gone to Iraq this week. He enlisted in the army as a dentist last year. This summer he found out he was being called up and last week he traveled to Iraq with his army unit.

Please pray for him.
Pray for his safety (he has a wife and 3 girls at home - plus a lot of friends)
Pray for God's Spirit to work through him as he serves.

He has a blog at: gildayiraq.blogspot.com

Check it out it is very interesting. He is chronicling his experiences with the army.

Sep 22, 2004

First Day of Autumn

Summer is officially over! Fall is here.

I love the crisp clear autumn mornings we have in September/October.

The leaves will be changing colors soon. It is a beautiful time of year!

As leaves die and fall to the ground they bring new life in several ways.

When we die to the flesh we get new life as well. Romans 6 reminds us that in our baptism we were buried in baptism into death, and that we gain new life through resurrection.

Romans 8.12-13 commands us to not live according to the flesh but by the spirit. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die..." Wow, strong but true words.

Life comes from death. Think about it.

Sep 20, 2004

18 years old? You can register to vote online!

Simply click on the register to vote button at:

www.newvotersproject.org

to fill out a simple online form. You must be registered by October 12.

Why vote - part 2

The 2000 General Election in OREGON...

-Of those who are considered Evangelical Christians 106,000 were not registered to vote.
-Evangelical Christians who were registered but did not vote = 78,000.
-Added together hat is 184,000 believers who did not vote in 2000!

-The presidential race was decided in Oregon by 6,675 votes.

Your vote does count!

Doesn't it seem strange that those who have God's truth, God's wisdom, God's Spirit, and know God's way would not want to help our great country stay true to its foundation of freedom?

October 12 is deadline to register to vote.

"The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter." -Dwight D. Eisenhower

"If the citizens negelect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupt; laws will be made mot for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes." -Daniel Webster

Check out: www.restoreamerica.org

Drew Carey on Salvation

I watched The Drew Carey Show this week. It was an interesting program.

In the program Drew's friend Lewis is discovers he is going to hell because he is a bad guy. This revelation causes him to attempt to change the way he lives. He changes everything, in order to be a good guy [and earn his way to heaven].

In the process he does all kinds of crazy good guy things and strange religious activities (including wearing of robes) and eventually God strikes him with lightening.

Drew Carey imparts his wisdom by telling Lewis that you can't be perfect and earn your way to heaven "...all you gotta do is show up and try."

While the first part is true and the second part sounds good to the average American. It is totally false. You can not simply try to be good, because we all fail. Rom 3.10-18,23 - everyone has sinned. And there are consequenses to our sin. Rom 6.23 - the wages of sin is death. However, the Good News is that Jesus died for our sins (Rom 5.8). When we are in Christ there is no condemnation (Rom 8.1) for us.

Once we are in Christ then we are forgiven and we "show up and try."

Make sure you are IN CHRIST!

If you have questions about this contact me.

Sep 9, 2004

Top Ten Questions For God

These people did a survey of young people asking them what they would like to ask God. These are the top ten questions and good answers. Check it out at:

www.bigquestions.com

Aug 31, 2004

VMA 2004

Check out: Mueller's Musings on the 2004 VMA's

@ www.cpyu.org/pageview.asp?pageid=24376

Aug 30, 2004

Why bother to VOTE?

FROM: www.ivotevalues.org

Why Bother?

That’s a valid question based on some assumptions you may have. However, consider these questions: If Jesus was in America preparing for Election Day 2004, what would he do? Would Jesus register to vote? Would he go to the polls? Or would he stay home? Assuming he did vote, which candidates would he support?

We know that Jesus expects his followers to be salt and light in our culture, and that he expects us to participate in government (see Matthew 5:13-16 & 22:21). Based on his teachings, it would be safe to say that Jesus would register, vote and support the candidates that most closely represent his values. Isn’t that what we should do on Election Day?

For more info Check out: www.ivotevalues.org

Aug 19, 2004

More Relevance

FROM: redeemtheday.org

How Exactly can I be Relevant By Chris Kelley

How exactly can I be relevant?

I suppose “being relevant” is subjective at times and changes from one person to another. So, I would say that you can’t generalize what is relevant and try to label something for an entire generation. It’s like the pop-culture label of “Generation X”… it’s like saying that every single person in this generation is directionless and without clear boundaries. In my opinion such a label is irrelevant because it means almost nothing to the individual. The truth is that God has made each of us to be unique and have a unique perspective on what’s relevant. We may share some common beliefs, opinions and practices but in the end, we still have our own personal twists and quirks on things.

So, if you want to be relevant to someone then you have to find out what matters to them… what is relevant to them. There’s no point in talking about what’s relevant to you if your audience doesn’t see things in a similar light. I think it’s through such an understanding of one another that we can really see into the unique souls that the Lord has created. Or to use a coined phrase, we can see what “makes people tick”.

One avenue in which I’ve found myself to be relevant to others is through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For those of you that are not familiar with this martial art it’s a style of grappling that revolves around choking, joint locking and pain submissions. Sounds fun eh? Well, it is indeed fun and many other people agree (and I’ve run across a few who don’t!). Because of this common ground I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know people that I might otherwise never have met. Because I have shared with others in the enjoyment and competition of this sport I’ve had the opportunity and audience to witness for Christ. Because I was viewed as relevant by the people I’ve trained with I was able to freely discuss my faith because established feelings of respect and brotherhood.

I think that might be a vital component of being relevant to one another… by fostering feelings of respect. In my opinion, when you respect another person you will listen to that person even if you don’t agree with them. In the very least, they will listen because they already know and respect you. Here’s an example to illustrate the point… try to put yourself in the shoes of a non-believer; who would you be more likely to listen to? Would you openly listen to someone you already know and respect or would you be more likely to openly listen to someone you don’t know and approached you right off the street? Some might say that either one is fine (and for some it is) but I would choose a friend over a stranger for such things.

In any case, if you want to be relevant to one another then find out what makes another person tick because that’s what really matters to them! -Peace-

Chris Kelley <><

Age: 29
Hilliard, OH

I’m married to my super-hot wife Lani, have a dog (Helia) and cat (Nocho), love video games (Xbox), collect swords (from Lord of the Rings), like to grapple/wrestle (I particularly like to beat on my friends), read fantasy novels and like shoot bullets at inanimate objects. I’m currently in school at Ohio State University for another degree and pursuing an education in Industrial Design… I hope to work in Transportation Design or Concept Design (and work on movies!).

Relevance

Something I often talk about is the need for the Church to be relavant to the culture it is in. I just ordered a book, The Journey Towards Relevance, which I found on a link from CPYU.org(Center for Youth/Parent Understanding). Below is an short article from the author. Tell me what you think.

FROM: redeemtheday.org

Trappings of a Transformist By Kary Oberbrunner

Remember, as transformists…
We don’t need to have everything figured out, for that would mean we’re separatists. We don’t need to say anything goes, for that would mean we’re conformists.

We’re not perfect, none of us are. However, we’re seekers. We long to have a simple and unadulterated relationship with the Creator of the Universe. We desire to know the “why” behind the “what” and the purpose behind the principle. Of course there will be mistakes along the way, but this is what sets us believers apart. We have a little more grace and patience with each other, because we know what we’ve been saved from.

The movement is beginning. The gathering has united. We come from a variety of backgrounds, but share a common purpose. Above all else, we passionately love God and people in proper balance. We’re not afraid of culture because our mission transcends it. We’re not afraid of religion because our method surpasses it. We are the relevant. We are the transformists.

"And it will come about in all the land," Declares the LORD,
"That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it."
And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say,
'They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

Zechariah 13:8-9

Aug 16, 2004

Walk Like Jesus

5AM 5 of us gathered to continue memorizing 1 John we are in chapter two now.

Know Him, live in Him, obey Him, walk in the light as He is in the light. Many good verses. I don't have it all memorized, however, spending 45 min every morning with a group of guys reading through this book is a great time of meditating on His Word.

1 John 2.6 - Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

Wow, I have a long way to go. That is my goal. To be like Him. I fail at times, thankfully He forgives. Some lessons and Youth Church messages are not prepared for as I should and prayed over as I should. God continues to work. I continue to be humbled and realize that I need to spend more time with Him to know Him and walk like Him.

May 15, 2004

Getting Started

So I set this up to experiement with.

Is it something I should spend time on. My schedule is already busy enough.

Would people read it? Will it benefit anyone?

Maybe. That is what I will be exploring.