Rhythms and Melodies

Just a reminder to everyone that this week we will be meeting at the Vineyard church office. The address is:
4523 Springfield Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143.

I’m sad to say also that this week we will not be able to share our joys after we finish eating, because there will be no dinner at the Vineyard church office. Sorry guys.

It is about 3 blocks north of where we usually meet. It should be a really good time of worship and creativity with some more people joining us.

I will recap last week for those who were unable to make it. Last week we continued with the story of Joseph. We talked about how Joseph continued to serve God even though all the crap kept happening to him. We also talked about how this story displays a bit of God’s character. We can see God as a father and as a provider through this story. God told Abraham that we was going to make his people as numerous as the stars in the sky, so that they could be a blessing to all nations. In the story of Joseph God begins to fulfill His end of the deal. He puts Joseph in a place of authority as to bless the Hebrews as well as the Egyptians. If not for Joseph, all of Egypt and the land could have staved to death due to the famine that happened. But God showed His love by providing for the Hebrews as well as the Egyptians. Out of Gods love He wanted to provide for His children.

One of the most amazing parts of the story is how in-tune Joseph was with God through everything that happened to him. We talked a little about the idea of God and Joseph being in communication through this whole thing, maybe, maybe not... This week even though we will be at the church office, the creative exploration ties in a way to the idea of Joseph. The idea that Joseph released all his bitterness, anger, hate, and ultimately control over situations for the glory of his God. Because Joseph didn’t hold onto these things he was fully in-tune with God, I would say. Because of this harmony with God, Joseph, was able to do great things for all the families of the earth, not just himself or his family, but everyone.

The question for us then is how can we become more in-tune with God, and what does that mean? How do we give up things in our life which make it hard to hear the rhythm and melody of God? Because when we can’t feel His rhythm or hear His melody we aren’t being a blessing to all families, and aren’t able to walk out in the fullness of life given to us. Like when musicians aren’t playing in the same time signature and in different keys it sounds down right awful, even painful. When this happens those who are listen and don’t even “know” the song still think it sounds terrible. Lets be in-tune with one another and God, and join in the most beautiful song ever heard.

Grace and peace, see you Thursday.
Chris

If anyone has any thoughts feel free to comment...

Self love

This past Thursday was a fun night, but we missed those who were unable to make it. We started off the evening with a dose of breakfast, french toast, eggs and bacon to be exact.

After a good time around the table we dove into our creative exploration of the story of Joseph. After the first week of discussion on the story of Joseph I really got to thinking. I started asking myself the question, how was it that Joseph was able to handle all the situations he went through with such righteousness. Even though crappy things kept happening, he was still more than a conqueror. I started thinking about Love and fear. I realized that Joseph had no doubt in his mind that he was loved, at least by his father. And I'm sure that his dad, Jacob, told him stories of El Shadai (God Almighty), and the promises He had made to Abraham, Issac. I then asked myself why is it so hard for us to receive love so often. Or why don't we believe that God's love for us is perfect and not earn able, but a free and amazing gift. There is nothing we can do to earn God's love, but also nothing we could do that would make Him love us any less. I talked this over with a few different people. One of these people said " I think a big reason why we don't believed that we are loved is because we don't really love ourselves." I thought that to be quite profound.

How can you respect an artist if you think his art work is Junk? How can we respect, trust, and beleive God if we think His artwork is crap. The artwork I speak of is Us.

I think we need to love ourselves to believe that God loves us.

Psalm 139 talks about how God knit us in our mothers womb, and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Romans 5:8 talks about how God proved his perfect love for us when HE died when we were still in rebellion against Him (or sinners). And Mat 16:26 talks about how are souls are worth more then the whole world. To gain everything in the world is still comparable to our souls, our essence, ourselves.

So for our time of exploration we busted out the crayons, markers, and other instruments of beauty making and depicted 10 things we like about ourselves, or in other words 10 things we think God likes about us. We then each went around and shared 2 of those things.

This night was a beautiful night of openness, and sharing of the goodness of God and us with one another.

I am really excited about the direction God is leading this Group! Thanks everyone who is apart of it, I've really enjoyed our time together!

Grace and Peace,
Chris

Happy Monday

Hey guys. Happy Monday. Although it is still kind of cold, Spring is upon us. And I don't know about you guys but that has me excited. If you missed out on our last gathering, we cooked up some of our favorite eats and got together around the table as always. We looked at the life of Joseph and some of the themes that run through it. And the discussion went awesome. This next week we plan to pick up where we left off in creative fashion, trying to process what we have been talking about. Read the story this week if you have the time, cause that would be tight. It can be found in Genesis Chapter 37. Grace, Peace, and God Bless.

Josh