The “Mountain Rock Church of Christ” in Hershey, Pennsylvania (USA)

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (2/19/2012)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Sermon – The Courage To Overcome Fear

Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people.
Aerophobia: fear of drafts.
Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple.
Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.
Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body.
Dextrophobia: fear of objects on R side of body
Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights.
Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings.
Thalassophobia: fear of being seated.
Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking.
Odontophobia: fear of teeth.
Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University- in 50s, the greatest fears of grade school children were: 1) Animals, 2) Being in a dark room, 3) High places, 4) Strangers, 5) Loud noises. 80s, kids are afraid of the following: 1) Divorce, 2) Nuclear war, 3) Cancer, 4) Pollution, 5) Being mugged.

Fear is often used to manipulate us. Political Campaigns, ads (dandruff didn’t exist before Head and Shoulder’s shampoo), Dr Oz- seems like everything is going to kill us

1.Matt 14:22-24 Relationship with God- The source of real, unshakable courage
Faith- facing the worst possible scenario and surrendering it to God. Then empowered to act powerfully.
Through Christ, we have nothing to fear, even death

The wind was contrary or opposed to them- ever feel like that? The thing that was to propel their sailboat’s movement was opposing their progress- one step forward, two steps back.

“I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties.” James Cash Penney

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.

2.v25-27 Dealing with our fear
Picture it- total darkness, wind and waves, enough to scare experienced fishermen.
4th watch of the night- 3-6am
Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night- scary.
Cried out= Gr kradzo- shriek, lost their cool, Game “flinch”

What are the fears that affect us? Fear of failure, fear of poverty, fear of what others will say, fear of declining health- what are yours?

Ex. One of the things I have proven the least faithful in is with my finances, and God hasn’t even tested me much.
Finances have exposed some fear among us, and God has stripped away enough from some that all that is left is faith- and many are actually thanking God for it!

Fear is paralyzing
Janez Rus- hid for 32 years fearing punishment of pro-Nazi wartime activity, used to cry when he heard happy voices outside, but dared not show himself even at his mother’s funeral. young shoemaker when he went into hiding at his sister’s farmhouse in June, 1945. He was found >3 decades later after she bought a large supply of bread in the nearby village of Zalna. “If I had not been discovered, I would have remained in hiding. So I am happy that this happened,” Throughout those years he did nothing. He never left the house, and could only look down at the village in the valley.

Ex- mom of kid with 103 fever- “at what temp should I be afraid”- better- at what temp should I act
Ex- Eddie and I have been learning Expository Preaching, letting the text make the points, not trying to put our points into the text or, worse yet, look for texts to prove our points. It’s brought out some fear in me- what if I’m falling short in the point, what if I’m exposed.
Courage= Gr tharseo- be of good cheer

3.v28-31 Focus- key to God doing miracles in your life
Peter stepped out on the water because he listened to the voice of God. Are you being still enough to listen to God’s voice. He certainly has a lot to say to you. Are you ready for what He has to say? It’s guaranteed to push you out of your comfort zone- good, it’s been kinda boring anyway.

Decision= de caedere= to cut away from, meaning cutting off all other possibilities

Doubt- Gr distazo- waver
What are you focused on? Focused at all? What do you think about most- these are the things that will be manifested in your life. Focused on worries- come true. Faith leads to results.

Ex. Luis- wants to preach. Initiated the conversation. How many teens do you know that would do that?

And Peter’s faith was “little”- wow, grant me faith, Lord.

4.v32-33 Key to faith- Who you believe Jesus to be
Worship- Gr proskuneo- kiss the ground before. Are you ready for that level of submission?
If not motivated to that level of submission, need to get to know Jesus.

What would you willingly trade your life for? Realize that you’re trading your life for something right now- are you choosing that or letting the world choose it for you? The failure to choose is a choice.
Seems awfully shallow to say that I’d trade my life for a car, a TV program, a computer program- yet that’s what so many prioritize.
We often don’t go after anything great, so we put forth minimal effort and get minimal results. Forget new year’s resolutions, neat goals- where is the big, hairy ideal that God is calling you to go after?
“An ideal is an idea that you fall in love with”- more than a simple goal but engages your passion.
The more we step out in faith, the more we’re going to experience the wind, the more our faith will be tested and shown shallow. For some the fear isn’t the wind and waves but the exposure- others will see the ways that we’re not like J.

I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath–these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely–these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.” But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality. Dr. E. Stanley Jones.

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (2/12/2012)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Sermon- Nehemiah- Get Real

Intro: Greetings from Frederick, MD

Adrian Rogers tells about the man who bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn’t cut off the lion’s head, the man replied: “Someone had already done that.”
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them. 

1.Neh 1:1-4 Get real
Neh probably born in Persia, possibly seeing Jerusalem for the first time
Get real about who is a Christian. It’s easy to think that we’re a Christian nation, surrounded by other people marching together to heaven.
- Nations with the greatest # not professing Christians: China, India, US
-less than 20% of American’s regularly attend church, declining
-75-98% of college students admit to cheating in HS
-Every year more than 4000 churches close their doors; just over 1000 new church starts
-41% of pregnancies in NYC end in abortion, 60% among black women, since the 1970s, over 50 million children have been aborted in the US
-U.S. infections: common cold, flu, then STDs, 1 in 4 Americans in their lifetime
-95% of Americans have had sex before marriage, 65% live together prior to marriage
-more than half of marriages end in divorce, many of the other marriages are just existing
-for young people ages 15-24, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death
The American Dream- it’s a nightmare- Small lives with small dreams and small impact
When it’s the darkest the light shines the brightest

Get Real as a Church-
Vital signs are vital- MRCC growth has been the same for the last 2.5y, shows that we’re not making and training disciples. Discipling has been weak. Need faith.
70% of our US churches number <100- are we content with this?
Goal to hire our first interns in 2012-put our money where our mouth is
We Americans are selfish- Won’t advance God’s kingdom without individual sacrifice

Get Real Individually- invite over to house, clean up, but not in that closet- Get scary open
Who is our life serving first? Look at calendar and checkbook
We don’t really want to be saved from our sin, want to be saved from the penalty of our sin
Forgotten how good it feels to have a good “confession session”?
Ex-G- studying sin, open, loved for who I really was

2.5-11 Get on our knees
Great prayers- Firing God’s promises back at Him- Promises Bible
-Do we know God’s promises well enough to quote them?
-Are we secure enough in God’s love and benevolence to have that kind of relationship?
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. C.S. Lewis

A little fellow — one who had been sent to his room because he had been bad. A short time later he came out and said to his mother, “I’ve been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer.” “That’s fine,” she said, “if you ask God to make you good, He will help you.” “Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me be good,” replied the boy. “I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

When we pray, remember:
1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it.
I fear John Knox’s prayers more than an army of ten thousand men. Mary, Queen of Scotland
Pray as if everything depends on God, then work as if everything depends on you. Martin Luther

3.2:1-8 Get faithful
Neh was prepared for one of 2 things: punishment/death, or the question what do you want
Faith is facing the worst possible scenario and surrendering it to God- from there the rest is straightforward

4.v9 Get busy
97% of the world has heard of coke-a-cola
72% of the world has seen a can of coke-a-cola
51% of the world has tasted a can of coke-a-cola
Coke has only been around 100 years
If God had given the task of world evangelization to the Coke company it would probably be done by now.
Think the job is too big? Coke has done it.
NBA great Jerry West- LA Lakers- silhouette in the NBA logo. “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”
Even if it fails, doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.

5.v19 Get tough
Expect resistance if you’re following Jesus. No resistance- question who your Lord is
Face it- we have enemies that would like to see us fail. Even the devil flees from us when we, in God’s Spirit, resist him. (James 4:7)
-Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Helen Keller
Superbowl Sunday- Are you a football player or a football watcher?
You’re on the field: If you’re not in the game, you’re part of the passive resistance
Resolve to work until this is finished
- for you individually, until the day you die or Jesus returns
- for you as a church, until this world has been evangelized
Victory is assured! Press on.
Sacrificial- The task of reaching 7 billion people is huge, and won’t get done with us being focused on our comfort.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” T Roosevelt

Concl- Be a Disciple- Get Real, Get On Your Knees, Get Faithful, Get Busy, Get Tough

Sunday sermon presented by: Eddie Mayes (2/5/2012)

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Sunday sermon presented by: Audie Monday (1/29/2012)

CLICK HERE for Personal Bible Studies

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (1/22/2012)

CLICK HERE for Personal Bible Studies

GLENN’S NOTES:

Integrity

Sermon- Judas, Integrity

A store manager hear his clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” 
Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” 
Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never,” he snarled, “Never, never, never say we’re out of anything–say we’ve got it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted?” 
“Rain,” said the clerk. 

Intro: Judas- popular name, from Judah, one of the 12 sons of Israel and one of the notable tribes. Other disciple Judas son of Simon, Jesus ½ brother. Judas Maccabeus (like Geo Washington). Iscariot- from Kerioth, the only non-Galilean
Not noted for his huge early sins, unlike Matthew the tax collector, Simon the Zealot, James and John the sons of thunder, or Peter with his impulsiveness. Never shown being corrected.
Jesus chose him as one of the 12- must have shown great promise. Preached and did miracles in Jesus’ name
Seemed trustworthy- entrusted with the money for the group.

Jn 12:1-8
1. God has entrusted us, and we’ve all fallen short

Famous American Fibs
- The check is in the mail.
- I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
- Give me your number and the doctor will call you right back.
- One size fits all.
- This offer limited to the first 100 people who call in.
- Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
- This hurts me more than it hurts you.
- I just need five minutes of your time.
- Open wide, it won’t hurt a bit.
- Let’s have lunch sometime.
- It’s not the money, it’s the principle.

Moral relativism

Late 1980′s, Columbus, Ohio- armored car spilled $2,000,000 on the freeway. Only $400,000 recovered, the rest disappeared. Some folks were honest enough to return what wasn’t theirs: Melvin Kaiser gave back $57,000. studied human personality- if we know the people who lost the money, we’ll generally give it back. if don’t know them, 75% of the time we’ll keep the cash.

-USA Today poll- only 56% of Americans teach honesty to their children.
-Noted physician, talk show -”Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems.” 
-Book The Day American Told the Truth- 91% lie routinely about trivial matters, 36% lie about important matters; 86% lie regularly to parents, 75% to friends, 73% to siblings, and 69% to spouses.
-Survey 1991- “There is no such thing as absolute truth; different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct.” Only 28% expressed strong belief in “absolute truth,” only 23 percent of born-again or evangelical Christians- more than 75 percent of the followers of Christ say nothing can  be known for certain: not convinced that Jesus existed, that He is who He claimed to be, that His Word in authentic, that God created the heavens and earth, or that eternal life awaits the believer
-If there is no absolute truth, then by definition nothing can be said to be absolutely true. To the majority, apparently, it’s all relative. Nothing is certain. Might be. Might not be. Who knows for sure? Take your guess and hope for the best!

“White lies”- efficient, protect feelings, avoid conflict
Matt 5:33-37

Ex. G- easier to print stuff from work, finishing basement- contractors say not to pull a permit.

Many opportunities for us to show what we’re made of:
-taxes, cheating on tests/papers, lying about age, weight

Has God put increased responsibility in your life to test you?

Judas’ statement was probably more of a reaction against Mary’s act of inappropriate devotion, clothed in pious words

2.Sin is progressive and has devastating consequences

Thief= Gr kleptes (cleptomaniac)- one who steals, not by violence, but my stealth

When regard for truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened, all things will remain doubtful. Augustine.

Sin deceives
Addicts are by their nature liars- the first person they lie to is themselves.
This is the nature of how addictions form- hidden, laying down patterns
First solution- lots of light- exposure, a searching inventory

What if Judas confessed and repented?
Couldn’t stop the train, break the pattern of hidden sin.

Moral relativism v integrity

4 HS boys skipped morning classes- “spring fever”, reported to teacher FLAT TIRE. “Missed quiz, so get out a paper to make it up.” “First question–which tire was flat?”

3.Turn yourself in, get real

Jn 13:1-30 Footwashing- imagine it- Jesus coming down the line washing feet. Last chance to repent. Hardened heart

Why continue to torture yourself. Get open, stop pretending.
Soft place to fall.

Boston, mid-1960s- Bill Russell, star basketball center for the world-champion Celtics. Radio interview- “ever get nervous,” “Before every game, I vomit.” 
what he did if they played two games the same day. “I vomit twice.” 

1.We’ve all fallen short in integrity
2.Sin is progressive and has devastating consequences
3.Turn yourself in, get real

Sunday sermon presented by: Eddie Mayes (1/15/2012)

CLICK HERE for Personal Bible Studies

The Nittany Valley Church of Christ hosts The Mountain Rock Church of Christ in State College, PA

Nittany Valley Church of Christ – http://www.NittanyValleyCOC.org

Mountain Rock Church of Christ – http://MountainRock.org

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (1/8/2012)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Parable of the Sower

Intro: Little boy. big and old family Bible. something fell out of the Bible, old leaf
        ”Mom, look what I found,” “What have you got there, dear?” “I think it’s Adam’s suit!”

Luke 8:1-10
v1 Good news about the Kingdom of God.
v4 lots of people- Why would Jesus speak in parables? Be intentionally obtuse?
v8- He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Implies that many are not really hearing.
NET- “had better listen” Warning!

v9-10 People had to dig deep, to look hard, to examine the parable and themselves.
This is a parable about the kingdom. Is Jesus Lord of your life? Who is really in charge?

Challenge- We don’t really listen, we hear this with preconceptions. We automatically assume we’re the good soil, so we fail to take home the lessons. Really look at this Scripture, really examine yourself.

v11-15
1. Path- Let God’s Word penetrate
Palestinian countryside- well-worn path through a field, sow late fall or early winter (Oct-Dec) in rainy season, looking for sprouting in April or May and a June harvest
Are you really reading God’s word? Is it falling to the ground? Study the Bible.

Don’t think that evil isn’t in this world and doesn’t want to devour you.

Ex. Butch- actively pursuing God like never before, seeing incredible changes. Satan has been attacking him from all sides- temptations, past relationships. Trying to snatch God’s word. He continues to choose wisely and put God first!

So many in our society act like it doesn’t matter how we live our lives. We can do anything we want and God will just keep on forgiving. Heaven is for everyone.

Think it’s impossible to fall away from God and lose your salvation? Study the Bible! Ask the person next to you to study (Heb 10:26-31) with you. Then the question will be whether you will choose to base your faith on the Bible or opinion.

Point: What are we going to do with God’s word? Few people are the good soil, and all of us are in danger- dig deep, weed, and mature so that you can bear fruit.

2.Rocky- go deep
Palestine- limestone base lying just beneath the soil.
Appearance of depth and growth- until tested
The storms will come, testing will come. (2 Tim 3:12)
Haven’t been persecuted lately? perhaps not following Jesus. He guaranteed it.

“Faith like Job’s cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.”  Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Shallow or temporary faith.
Tests- not IF but WHEN. Will these tests cause us to grow closer to God or will they expose the shallowness of our faith? Depends on the depth of our roots.

Satisfied being “godly enough” to get to heaven or to do better than the other guys.
Care more about what people think than about what God thinks.
Content to give a section of life to Jesus rather than letting Jesus take control.
Doing the bare minimum, in order to keep from feeling guilty.

3.Weeds- pull out the stuff that’s choking your faith
We want God… and a bunch of other stuff
The soil is great, notice how well the weeds grow!
Palestinian weeds- 6ft, thorny, major root system- imagine trying to pull up one of those puppies!
Weeding: When is the best time to pick a weed? Small.
Same with life’s weeds- addictions/habits/doubts- nip it in the bud

Give as long as it doesn’t impinge on our lifestyle, as long as not uncomfortable.
Don’t want to be saved from our sin, but from the penalty of our sin- don’t really believe that the life Jesus offers is better than the life they have.

If thou art rich, thou art poor, for like a donkey whose back with ingots bows, thou bearest thy heavy riches but a journey, and death unloads thee.  Shakespeare

Ex. Tracy’s odyssey to studying the Bible. Trauma surgeon, plenty of $, heartbreak. Did her will & was shocked to see she had no one she wanted to leave her possessions to. Spending spree.

Doesn’t mature. Some have been around church for decades, yet look like seed that hasn’t sprouted, no fruit. Not imitated.

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money. 

So how do you identify the good soil?

Ex. “Merv Griffin Show,” guest body builder.
“Why do you develop those particular muscles?” flex, applause
“What do you use all those muscles for?” flex
“But what do you USE those muscles for?” bewildered.
Some of us look righteous, beautiful tree, but not bearing fruit.

4.Bears fruit- Be a Disciple- mature, bear fruit
Good heart- integrity, diligence
Retain it- NET “cling to it”- tenacity.

Are you having life-changing times with the people around you?
Deep relationships that make a difference in you and others
“I’m growing” yes, but is God producing fruit through you

Marathon: My prayer- the day you die, you lay your head back spent serving God with unshakable faith, mature, surrounded by people that you have impacted, looking forward to more and greater worship and service for eternity.

Janell’s Baptism (1/1/2012)

The Mountain Rock Church of Christ

CLICK HERE for Personal Bible Studies

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (12/18/2011)

CLICK HERE for Personal Bible Studies

GLENN’S NOTES:

Sermon- Joseph- Change of Plans

Intro- The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) is four feet, eight-and-one-half inches. Why such an odd number? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and American railroads were built by British expatriates. Why did the English adopt that particular gauge? Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways used that gauge. They in turn were locked into that gauge because the people who built tramways used the same standards and tools they had used for building wagons, which were set on a gauge of four feet, eight-and-one-half inches. “Why were wagons built to that scale? Because with any other size, the wheels did not match the old wheel ruts on the roads. “So who built these old rutted roads? “The first long-distance highways in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been in use ever since. The ruts were first made by Roman war chariots. Four feet, eight-and-one-half inches was the width a chariot needed to be to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses.” The width of our railroad tracks is based on the size of a horse’s backside. Maybe “that’s the way it’s always been” isn’t the great excuse some people believe it to be. 

Joseph- Heb “Jehovah increases”, “son of David”, both of Jesus’ parents- called back to his heritage as the greatest leader of Israel. Israel, and Joseph, looking for a Messiah, a savior that would kick the Romans out.
We get our plans. Joseph- Nobody from Nazareth- get married, have 2.6 kids, a goat, and a house in the suburbs, work as a contractor. Not a bad dream.

God throws curve-balls. Life is not predictable. Show’s who is really in control here. Our FAITH determines how we deal with these changes of plan.

Ex. G- getting ready to graduate from med school at USC. Applying to ENT. Match day- opened envelope, no position. God had other plans.
Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. Issac Newton, First Law of Motion.
Mt 1:18-25

1. Being prepared for change takes real faith

Righteous- not going to get embroiled in mess- pregnant before marriage.
The Bible describes him as a righteous man. Would a biographer describe you so?

Marriage process 2000y ago in Judea:
-engagement- in childhood, arranged. Marriage was thought to be too serious to be left up to two hormone-laden foolish adolescents
-betrothal- one year, binding, like marriage without living together and without sex. To get out required divorce, and if death occurred, she was a widow.
-marriage- just because arranged, didn’t mean there wasn’t love. The Bible commands it.

Joseph respected the institution of marriage- America has issues. Marriage at an all-time low, 51% of people married, later in life. Divorce rate exceedingly high, most kids conceived out of wedlock. Only 5% of brides and grooms are virgins at the time they get married.

Patient- married, but waited to “come together” with his wife until after Jesus was born
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.

2.Changes to avoid
A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, attractive woman marched smartly off. The father hollered to his youngest son, “Billy, go get mother.”

Some change is to be resisted- how can we identify it? God’s word, great advice.

Notice Joseph embraced godly principles even in the midst of change- righteous, compassion toward Mary, taking responsibility rather than avoiding it, saw God’s hand and obeyed.

3.Embracing change

Give name Jesus (yeshua)= God rescues, God delivers.
If there was nothing to deliver people from, the point would have been lost. That’s the problem some of us face, we think we’re just great. Stay the same. Contentment- enemy of God’s impact

Think of some of the most significant life changes, and let’s see how God acted through these in the Bible:
-prison- Joseph (the dreamer- wouldn’t get to the palace without prison first), Paul and Silas
-persecution- David, the early church
-death- Lazarus, Jesus, Ruth
-job loss- Joseph (dreamer), calling if the first disciples, Matthew tax collector, Zacchaeus
-slavery- Joseph again, many early Christians
-adultery- David, Judah (with daughter-in-law)

God’s dream for Joseph- witness miracles, overcome hardship and uncertainty, raise the Son of God with godly values to have an eternal, worldwide impact.

Chinese symbol for “crisis”= danger + opportunity

If Christianity isn’t invasive, then you don’t get it. Mary- uterus

Change-makers: Behavioral studies show that if 2% of a homogeneous group are strongly dedicated to a given cause, and that small minority can eventually move the whole.

On June 4, 1783 at the market square of a French village of Annonay, not far from Paris, a smoky bonfire on a raised platform was fed by wet straw and old wool rages. Tethered above, straining its lines, was a huge taffeta bag 33 feet in diameter. In the presence of “a respectable assembly and a great many other people,” and accompanied by great cheering, the balloon was cut from its moorings and set free to rise majestically into the noon sky. Six thousand feet into the air it went — the first public ascent of a balloon, the first step in the history of human flight. It came to earth several miles away in a field, where it was promptly attacked by pitchfork-waving peasants and torn to pieces as an instrument of evil!  

Change is coming- are we prepared to face it with faith and see God’s hand!