Message Summary

Yesterday morning in Sunday school we talked about perspective. We discussed how you would want people to see and remember you, both now and when you have gone to be with Christ.  This is an important perspective because often we think that we will have time to do the things for God later in life; we will be the person God wants us to be later on. We live how we want for the time being thinking we will change in the future. The problem with this perspective is we rarely actually end up changing.  We live our life with a, "I will get to it later" mentality.  

So we took a walk through the hall of faith. We saw men in the Bible that lived the way God desired. In Hebrews 11, the writer paints a picture of men who lived to glorify God, not themselves. These men didn't want publicity. They lived their lives to please God and not men.  

So how do we gain perspective like this?  Hebrews 12:1-3 says: 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

First, if we are to have godly perspective, we need to be aware of the things distracting us from doing the things God has for us. We drop ourselves from being first and put God first. As John the Baptist said to his disciples, "He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)." This is a hard thing to do. Our sin nature and pride want us to be the center of attention, not God. Here's the deal though, if we want to live for God's glory and have godly perspective, we have to die to self and pursue Christ. Paul puts it this way in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives through me. The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

Secondly, to have godly perspective, we as Christians need to focus our eyes on Jesus.  We need to make Him the goal of our lives; not popularity, stuff, being right, or winning.  Jesus needs to be our finish line and nothing else.  

We have a short time on this earth. How are we going to live that life?  There is a song by GS Megaphone and the lyrics said, 

"Gonna live my life like I was 70 yesterday 

and God let me go back  to relive all my younger days. 

One thing, for sure, this time I'm gonna do, 

man I'm not gonna wait 'til my life's half-spent before I give my life to you." 

My hope and prayer for you is that you don't waste your life on meaningless and worthless things that come from the world in which we live. I hope that you start, continue and finish  your life with a strong and concentrated focus on Christ, who is the Author and Perfecter of your faith.  

Personal

Hey everyone if you could pray for me and Kristin that would be outstanding.  We are in a very interesting housing situation.  We need to find a new place to live as soon as possible.  We are trying to buy a house because we feel that it make more sense to put money towards something.  We rent right now but we see it as just putting money into nothing.  So we are looking and it is wearing me out.  Pray for us for patience, rest and to follow God.  

Message Summary

Last night at youth group we talked about perspective.  We talked how we as christians need to have this perspective: "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."  Psalm 84:10-12 

As Christian we need to have this perspective.  We often think, oh no, I have to go to church again tonight.  I think the Psalmist perspective was right on.  Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.  Better serving God and doing what He wants than being anywhere else. 

So we can serve and be in God's courts by:  Nehemiah 10:39 "“We will not neglect the house of our God.”  The house of God in the old testament is an actual building but after Jesus came we have a new idea of the church.

What is this new church I am talking about?  Eph.  2:19 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household."  This is saying that we, the Christian are the church.  So we are not to neglect the house of God means that we need to not neglect the church, the people God brings to our buildings.  

What we learned about perspective is that we are not to neglect God's people by ourself getting in the way.  We are to want to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives.  Psalms 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."  

It is so hard to have a perspective like this but God calls us to have His perspective.  I say it to the youth so many time but I will say it again, God doesn't just want the piece of you that you want to give; He wants all of you.  Having the perspective that being in God's courts one day is better that thousands else where is giving all of you to God. 

General

Hey, i think that i can blog by text. i just text on my phone and it goes strait to my blog.

Youth Schedule

Hey there youth we have lots of good stuff planned out for this summer.  We will probably add to the list but I will give you updates on the additions.  So here it is:

June 22--Frisbee 1-3 @Baywood

June 26--Sandboarding 3:30--Call Jeremy if you want to go 805-748-9505

June 28--Foot Auction--Fundraiser for Camp--Directly after church

June 30--Pitch Brown Hide and Seek--9pm--@church

July 24--Beach Day--12pm--Call Jeremy if you want to go 805748-9505

July 29-30--FEAR FACTOR--@Game night and youth group

August 3--Ultimate Frisbee--7-10:30pm--@Middle School

August 7--Bondfire--6-10pm--Call Jeremy if you would like to Go

August 11--Bowling--7pm--Call Jeremy if you would like to go

August 22--Red Carpet Night--6pm--@ the Church--Give Jeremy a call if you will be coming so we can know how many youth will be attending.  

Youth

Hey youth, tonight we will be having hamburgers and home made mac and cheese.   It will be good.  

Youth

This is now on the web for all to view.  So funny!

Youth

Hey youth, we will be having the notary lady coming to notarize your permission slip for camp.  So if you are going to camp you need to bring your parent with there ID on Thursday at 7pm.  

-Things you need to bring for Thursday-

--Parent

--Parent's ID

Youth

Hey youth, we are playing ultimate frisbee at Baywood at 9pm tonight.  So be there at 9 or call me for a ride.  My phone number is 748-9505.  

General

So this whole blog thing is much harder than I first thought it would be.  I started to set it up and it took way more brain power than I first anticipated.  There are a lot more things that I didn't know would be involved.   

General

Jeremy's Blog is up and running.  This is the first entry of many to come.