Discovering Character

Nehemiah taught us some great principles about rebuilding our walls.   I hope you will continue to work toward the rebuilding of your broken down walls.  I also hope that you will join me as we fast and pray for a youth pastor.  I have chosen Thursday lunchtime to fast and pray.  Feel free to choose what time works well for you.  

The question I have about Nehemiah is what helped him become the kind of leader he was?  Was his leadership just a part his DNA or was it learned?  Did God give him the wisdom and strength overnight or was it something developed over time?  We do not learn much about how Nehemiah developed his character, but we do see how other biblical characters develop their character or ignore their character.  

We are starting a new seven-week series called “Discovering Character”.  I am guessing that each one of you wants to be known as a man or woman of godly character, but godly character does not just happen when you become a Christian.  In fact you and I know lots of Christians that on the outside look all put together but on the inside they are emotionally immature and have little to no character.

One cannot grow spiritually without addressing under the surface issues of character and emotional maturity.  During this series we will explore God’s Word, Peter Scazzero’s book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, and other works by Cloud and Townsend that will dig deep under the surface of who we are becoming as God’s people.  I am looking forward to the journey.

Don’t miss it!

-       Come see our tent at the Chili Cook-off tomorrow.  If you want to help, meet us down at Paradise Springs at 7:00am!

See you Sunday,

Alex

Five building blocks to rebuilding your life.

When we survey our life, it does not take long to see broken down walls.  Broken walls represent anything that is not the way it is supposed to be…..broken marriages, estranged family members, harbored unforgiveness, hopelessness, drug addictions, bitterness, violence and abuse.  The reality of our world is that we live among the rubble just like the people of Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s life. “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.”  Nehemiah 1:3b

What would it take for you to start rebuilding the broken walls in your life? Do you sense a discontentment with the rubble around you?  If you want to be known as a “Rebuilder of Broken Walls” then Nehemiah is a great man to model.  Nehemiah shows us 5 building block principles he used in rebuilding the walls:

Block #1 -Get real –  In order to rebuild what is broken you must face the reality of the situation head on.  This is often a very hard thing to do.  When Nehemiah learned that the city where his ancestors were buried had broken walls and burned gates he wept.  You may need to face some painful circumstances in your life and that may stir up emotions like anger or sadness.  Part of rebuilding is grieving what isn’t right.

Block #2 - Go to the source – Nehemiah spent four months in prayer and fasting regarding the broken down walls.  God is the source of all life.   He created you and me.  He knows our situation and our pain.  When we go to the source we are given the cornerstone, Jesus Christ.  When we put our trust in Christ and his body, the Church, we have a solid foundation to build upon.

Block #3 - Create a blueprint – While Nehemiah was in his time of prayer and fasting, he developed a blueprint or vision.  He knew exactly what and how he was going to present to the king.  Nehemiah had a blueprint that he and God created.   You need a blueprint or a vision for rebuilding your wall.

Block #4 - Use your resources – Nehemiah used every possible resource he could find to get the job done.  Letters of permission, lumber, armies for safe travel and people who were ready to work.  You have to take inventory of your resources and you need the guts to ask to use them to fuel your vision.

Block #5 – Be as diligent as an Ant – Nehemiah had many negative obstacles to overcome in rebuilding the wall.  He experienced ridicule, assault, poverty, and low moral.  Nehemiah did not loose hope nor did he become defeated as the obstacles arose.  He adjusted his plan to overcome the obstacle and pressed on by encouraging people and addressing the people head on until the finish.

The outcome of Nehemiah’s story was an impossible task completed by a bunch of struggling people.  They rebuilt the wall in 52 days and celebrated what the Lord had done through them.  God is a good God, but he is not just going to rebuild our broken down walls.  We are co-laborers with Him.  Let’s strive to described as the people talked about in Isaiah 58:12 “Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.” NLT






FYI - some resources for your walls.

• All men are invited to attend a special 4-week study, Courageous Living: Honor Begins at Home, led by Phil Boone and Eric Dale. Men do not need to have seen the movie to take part in this series.  Starts October 30th.
• Get registered for Day of Healing. 

Use your resources

The more I study Nehemiah, the more I love the story.  The story is dripping with God honoring principles that can be used in any life circumstance.  Nehemiah got real, he engaged the grief process, he went to the source to develop a blueprint and used his resources to get the job done. 

What resources do you need to help you rebuild your walls?  People are our most valuable resource but we often act like we don't need them.  This week we will explore how Nehemiah used the resources he had available to rebuild the walls.  

Read Nehemiah  2:5 and 2:17-20 in preparation for Sunday.

We have about 10 extra tickets to see the movie Courageous tonight at 7:00pm.  I would love for you to join us.  Email me and let me know.

See you Sunday,

Alex

Building Block #3

Between Sundays

In the past two weeks we have looked at Nehemiah’s story of rebuilding the walls.  Each week we are giving you a building block principle that you can use as you rebuild the broken-down walls around you.

Building block #1 – What is reality? Nehemiah faced the reality of the walls in Jerusalem and wept.  When we grieve what is real and broken, space is created for the new.

Building Block #2 – Go to the source.  Nehemiah prayed and fasted for almost four months.   God used Nehemiah to help be an answer to his own prayers.

This week we are looking at Nehemiah’s vision in Chapter 2:1-8.  Come prepared to wrestle with the vision God is giving you to be a rebuilder of walls.

Building Block #3 – Create a blueprint.  Paint a picture of the new walls to be rebuilt.

See you Sunday,

Alex

What is Reality?

Survey the scene in your life.  What are the broken walls around you?  Last week we explored how Nehemiah responded to the reality of the broken walls of Jerusalem.  He heard the news and wept.  Nehemiah shows us Building Block #1 to rebuilding the walls: Come to grips with reality and grieve what is not right.  The process of grief allows us to face our situation (broken families, friendships, relationships, marriages, community problems, addictions, etc) head on.  When we grieve an issue, we are able to let go of what should be and address what is.  The reality of our broken down walls is sad because it is not what we ever wanted.  I didn’t want my marriage to fail.  I didn’t want to be alone.  I didn’t want my sister to hate me.  I didn’t want to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. I didn’t want my spouse or child to die.  We use massive amounts of energy holding on to the ideal or what should have been.  We use massive amounts of energy on stuffing our sadness, ignoring the problem or denying what is real.  Yes, we are living in the wake of Genesis 3 but the radical good news is Jesus Christ offers us redemption and renewal of our broken down realities.

Weeping for something broken often leads us to our knees in prayer.  Come explore with us Nehemiah’s bold prayer and Building Block #2.  Read Nehemiah 1:4-11 for Sunday. 

Don’t forget……….

·      Good News! We still have a few openings for church directory photos! Sign up on Sunday!

·      Men sign up for the men’s retreat and purchase your ticket for the Courageous Movie!

·      New Sunday School Grow Group Electives begin in 2 weeks!

See you Sunday!

Alex

Rebuilding the Walls

Let's get RADICAL!  The Radical auction is this Saturday at Wabash Friends Church at 10:00am.  All proceeds from the auction go to missions.   There is still time to get your auction items to the gym.  In my mind, God has orchestrated this auction in line with our last series; listen with wide-open ears, give with wide-open hands and serve with wide-open hearts.  Have you asked God to whisper to you about this auction?

This week we are starting a five-week series entitled Rebuilding the Walls.  Nehemiah shows us a God honoring way of restoring what is broken.  As Christians, we should reclaim and restore what belongs to God.   Everyday we see walls broken down around us.  There are walls in our life and family that are broken.  There are walls in our relationships that are broken.  There are walls that need to be rebuilt in our schools and community.  We will start this series by addressing the reality of brokenness.  In the weeks following, we will work towards a God honoring game plan for restoration.  You can start this journey by reading chapter one in the book of Nehemiah. 

Don’t forget!!!
Sign up for your church directory photo! Photo sessions begin this Wed. Sept 14. Go online to: www.ucdir.com Click on Schedule my photo; Enter Church Code: IN735; Password: friends and schedule.
OR Sign up on Sunday!

See you Sunday,

Alex

Deeper whispers

Oh! give me Samuel’s ear,

   An open ear, O Lord,

Alive and quick to hear

   Each whisper of Thy word;

     Like him to answer to Thy call

     And to obey Thee first of all.

God does speak to his people today.  Do we practice putting ourselves in a position to hear God’s voice?  Last week we talked about what is at stake.  Our freedom, blessing and children are at stake.  Most importantly, the Gospel of Christ getting to those who need it is at stake.  The stakes are high!  We must practice God’s presence by lighting up our soul with the light Christ, renewing our minds and storing the Word in our hearts. 

This Sunday we are going to talk about the deeper whispers that might come as you journey with Christ.  These are whispers where God shows us what is on his heart.  These whispers cause us to look outside of ourselves and into the lives and situations of people in the greatest need.   These whispers are the things that break God’s heart and will most certainly break ours.  When we choose to respond to this type of whisper we are never sorry.  The blessing, compassion, purposeful interaction, transformational growth and good that God allows us to be a part of are worth the cost.  Read Isaiah 58:6-12 in preparation for Sunday. 

Don’t forget….

Send me your whispers

 Bring your auction items starting Sept. 6th

 Sign up to get your directory picture http://www.ucdir.com Enter IN735 for the church code and friends (lowercase) as the church password.

See you Sunday,

Alex