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important words, notes and teachings
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Notes from Dean's talk on God concepts given November 19, 2006.
INADEQUATE GOD CONCEPTS:
Bully View of GOD: Assume that God wants to force HIS way on mankind; this view often comes from the way Christianity is presented; Intolerant; More concerned with getting HIS own way; Church can be like this in its approach – but it is inaccurate.
Cosmic Policeman (Grumpy Judge): God is waiting for us to make a mistake; God is perfect and expects us to be perfect; View comes from perfectionist attitudes in our world; Does not leave room for mercy.
Santa Claus God: God’s plan is to give us all the stuff we want; He is at our bidding to make our lives easier; Comfort and ease are “GOD” in this view; God’s plan is not actually God’s plan but ours; God is seen as a convenience.
Old Man God: God set up the universe and wound it like a clock; It is now unwinding and God does not participate. This attitude states that God is irrelevant and comes through writings like: "The Beatles are bigger than God" and "God is dead."
TRUE ASPECTS OF GOD:
*God is One (Deu 6:4)
*God is Lord (Job 40:1)
*God is Holy (1 John 3:5)
*God is Just (Deut 32:3)
*God is Powerful - With a word HE created all things except man (Genesis 1 - 3)
*God is Merciful (Psalm 145:9)
*God is Kind (Romans 11:22)
*God is LOVE (I John 4:16)
We must get adequate God concepts from Bible. Jesus is our best “photo” of God: Healing, kindness, acceptance, patience, friend of sinners, non-religious, gentle, challenging, forceful etc…. Galatians Shows us the fruit of the Spirit: Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
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Notes from Dean's talk on Vision for 2007 given November 5, 2006.
1) Continue to be a resource but become more effective at equipping our people.
2) Develop a city-wide vision (although it is still a little early for strategic planning).
3) Be a centre for blessing, be a place where people can come and participate and be encouraged in their gifts.
4) Allow and encourage people to lead where God has given them power.
How Do We Accomplish These Things?
*Understanding God’s grace *Understanding Devotion and Commitment *Developing our focus and putting it on Jesus *Spread out with other small groups *Community Involvement *Provide opportunities for leadership *Open as many doors as we can – make teams that can encourage others *Leadership team will meet individually with everyone in the congregation during the next year-----------------------------------------------------
Words given to our group by Sue Brodhagen on February 26, 2006.
I am blowing a Fresh Wind across Quebec. A new strategy is being birthed by me, in you, to take back the land that has been lying dormant and dry. I am watering this land with my fresh water and with fresh oil. New life has begun to spring forth.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not ( earnestly) remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Amplified) (The Lord had recently given me Isaiah 43 as a passage of scripture to pray for the harvest to come in. ( vs.4-12) especially. check it out.) The Lord desires you to grow and blossom, to go out into the world whole and be fixed on him. To push back the barriers that have been in place, to go to new heights and new depths in him. The Lord says that his church here is becoming a people who will seek harder, fight harder, and not give up when the going gets tough. I have equipped you with endurance, strength, hope, and faith. You need only to look to me and follow. I will call and you need only to follow my leading. This is not a time of waiting, but rather a time to rise up in my power and strength .I have called you to be a people who are passionate, bold, outspoken, and fearless in my Name and Strength. The Lord has been preparing each one of you for this time, this moment in history. He has planned it from the beginning of time. This is a new season for you. A new time has begun in your lives in which it is simply a choice to move forward, a choice to move past the past and Just DO IT!! You are equipped with Grace and Favor to move out in power and authority as I lead. I am giving you Faith to believe, Hope to carry on, and Love to Follow. Don’t be afraid of the move into the new land. The land has been softened and prepared for you to walk on.
I prayed : Father I ask that your Fresh Wind would blow .That you breathe new life, new hope, new love, into each one. Lord take us into new depths and new heights. Lead us and help us to follow.