SHAMELESS APPEAL: CROSSTALK THIS THURSDAY

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Monday, May 30, 2011
  • Labels:
    • HOPE IN GOD; FOR I SHALL AGAIN PRAISE HIM


    For the past two sessions of CrossTalk I have covered the dynamics of emotions as we are made of both body and spirit. One impacts the other so even if the cause of depression is outside of myself, physical or by an event, it impacts my spirit. Medical doctors can help on the physical side but God's Word and Holy Spirit strengthen the spirit. For the next two sessions we will be looking at the character of God and the how and why we can put our hope in Him when our emotions have such a grip on us.

    Martyn Lloyd Jones, who was a medical doctor before he transitioned to preacher wrote regarding depression and Psalm 42:

    “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in this psalm] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.’


    ... This self of ours… has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid him; exhort him; encourage him; remind him of what you know, instead of listening placidly to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you. For that is what he will always do if you allow him to be in control. The devil takes hold of self and uses it in order to depress us. We must stand up as this man did and say, “Why art thou cast down? Why are thou disquieted within me? Stop being so! Hope though in God, for I shall yet praise Him…” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression p. 20, 21

    Come join us Thursday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the church and hear about our great God who gives us plenty to talk to ourselves about and how to quit listening to yourself.

    Alzheimer's and the Gospel

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Friday, May 27, 2011
    • One of my goals in doing the class CrossTalk is to address some of the hard issues of life we face as Christians and explore how God’s Word, particularly through the power of the gospel, address them. Having watched families deal with the issue of Alzheimer’s with loved ones is heart-wrenching. I really appreciate this article by Karyn Heath from Carolyn McCulley's website Radical Womanhood. This counsel and perspective works across the board and is a personal challenge for me not only in the area that someday this may be me with Alzheimer’s but in many other areas I may have to face in life.


    Alzheimer's and Gospel Transformation by Karyn Heath
    Recently, I left two years of teaching in China to return to my home and job in the U.S. For me, introductions have become routine. After a few months in China, I could predict which questions would be asked when I met someone and what responses my answers would provoke. Now, as I transition back into my home church and hometown, I am finding that the questions and answers are equally predictable. While “Where do you work?” may seem to be a standard question, people’s responses to my answer are usually revealing.

    I currently work in the activities department of an Alzheimer’s special care unit. This translates into the fact that I spend eight hours per day in a room with 20-30 people who are experiencing moderate to severe dementia from Alzheimer’s disease or another cause. Revealing this usually opens up interesting avenues of conversation.
    Read more »

    Parents & Kids of Faith

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Labels:





    • QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
    Question: What does God require of us, that we may escape His wrath and curse due to us for sin?
    Answer: To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicate to us the benefits of redemption.
    Scripture: Acts 20:21; 16:30, 31; 17:30


    HOW THE FIGHT STARTED
    (Maybe this happened)

    Deb and I generally get along very well applying the principles of communication and reconciliation from the Scriptures. Recently it has been tough and to help you, we thought we ought to share how a few of our conflicts started:

    Deb walked into our living room and asked me, "What's on the TV tonight?' I replied, "Dust." And then the fight started....

    I was standing in front of the mirror in our bedroom wearing only my skivys and I was not happy with what I saw. So I said to Deb, "I look horrible! I am old, fat and ugly! How about paying me a compliment to make me feel better." Deb replied, "Your eyesight is apparently perfect." That's how that fight got started....

    As the time was approaching for our upcoming anniversary, I hinted to Deb that what I really wanted was something that would go from 0 to 200 in about 3 seconds. Deb bought me a scale. That's how that fight got started....

    I also asked Deb where she wanted to go for our anniversary. Her face melted in sweet appreciation for asking and she replied, "Somewhere I have not been in a long time!" I suggested then "How about the kitchen?' And then another fight started....
    Read more »

    SHAMELESS APPEAL: CrossWALK This Friday

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Tuesday, May 24, 2011
  • Labels:
    • This Friday night, May 27 at the Loft, I will be presenting part 2 of Spiritual Intimacy in Marriage. Last time we had 6 couples and there is plenty of room for more. We will begin at 7:00 P.M. and finish no later than 8:30 so you can stroll through the Haymarket district and enjoy a variety of experiences for a date. Topics that will be covered are:  Marriage as a spiritual discipline, what is the will of God in your marriage, and the role of prayer, the Word, and worship in your marriage.

    FYI:  Session 2 of CrossTALK was recorded and can be accessed here or at the Faith Bible website  The other sessions did not record at the sessions but I will record them later this week for access.
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