Comments for TrueLife Church - Brier Creek http://blog.mytruelife.org The blog of TrueLife Church located in Brier Creek Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:12:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Growing in Relationship with the Holy Spirit by Dr Norman King http://blog.mytruelife.org/2012/01/09/growing-in-relationship-with-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-3183 Dr Norman King Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:12:45 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=1182#comment-3183 Thank you for your message on the Holy Spirit. It is often refreshing to hear what others are sharing about the Spirit's work among us today. God bless. Thank you for your message on the Holy Spirit. It is often refreshing to hear what others are sharing about the Spirit’s work among us today. God bless.

]]> Comment on The Competitive Christian by melanie http://blog.mytruelife.org/2008/02/07/the-competitive-christian/comment-page-1/#comment-2243 melanie Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:47:14 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/2008/02/07/the-competitive-christian/#comment-2243 I have a daughter who is very competitive so I was looking for some dialogue on Christians and competition on the web. Unfortunately, there is not much. I'm not drawn toward competitive Christians because I have been mostly turned off by how, as soon as a competition comes into play, otherwise kind people are all of sudden trampling on the relational atmosphere just to win the game and doing things that would not ordinarily be appropriate in regular life. So I guess my questions are: What does it look like to be a competitor with a Christ-like attitude? How was Jesus ever competitive? If you are supposed to compete for Christ and not yourself, why try to win worldly games like Trivial Pursuit or the bridal shower game or whatever? I'm all for being a good steward of your abilities, talents, etc. by doing your best, but winning often involves that extra step of taking advantage of another person's weaknesses. Is that biblical? And why do you want to know who the winners and losers are? Why does that matter spiritually? Isn't the winning and trophies of worldly games equivalent to the "crowns that will not last?" I don't think "running in such a way that you win the prize" has anything to do with trying to be better than other people, but in pursuing the prize of Christ and eternity to the best of our own faith, discipline, trust, etc. When I play a game where we don't keep score it is more about enjoying the challenge of the game without letting the competitiveness of winning and losing get in the way. It also allows people of varying abilities to participate with the same amount of enjoyability. It may not be entertaining to some, but is that the point? All that said, I still think it's important to teach my kids how to compete in a Christlike way, because the world values competition and we need to know how to participate in it as a witness for God's glory. It just think it is as easy to be a Christlike competitor as it is for a rich man to get into heaven... I have a daughter who is very competitive so I was looking for some dialogue on Christians and competition on the web. Unfortunately, there is not much.

I’m not drawn toward competitive Christians because I have been mostly turned off by how, as soon as a competition comes into play, otherwise kind people are all of sudden trampling on the relational atmosphere just to win the game and doing things that would not ordinarily be appropriate in regular life.

So I guess my questions are: What does it look like to be a competitor with a Christ-like attitude? How was Jesus ever competitive? If you are supposed to compete for Christ and not yourself, why try to win worldly games like Trivial Pursuit or the bridal shower game or whatever? I’m all for being a good steward of your abilities, talents, etc. by doing your best, but winning often involves that extra step of taking advantage of another person’s weaknesses. Is that biblical? And why do you want to know who the winners and losers are? Why does that matter spiritually? Isn’t the winning and trophies of worldly games equivalent to the “crowns that will not last?” I don’t think “running in such a way that you win the prize” has anything to do with trying to be better than other people, but in pursuing the prize of Christ and eternity to the best of our own faith, discipline, trust, etc.

When I play a game where we don’t keep score it is more about enjoying the challenge of the game without letting the competitiveness of winning and losing get in the way. It also allows people of varying abilities to participate with the same amount of enjoyability. It may not be entertaining to some, but is that the point?

All that said, I still think it’s important to teach my kids how to compete in a Christlike way, because the world values competition and we need to know how to participate in it as a witness for God’s glory. It just think it is as easy to be a Christlike competitor as it is for a rich man to get into heaven…

]]> Comment on 30 Days of Prayer – Week 1 by Michael Weddle http://blog.mytruelife.org/2011/01/26/30-days-of-prayer-week-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1710 Michael Weddle Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:49:23 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=981#comment-1710 I love how we are instructed to start off by praising God and we end in the same manner. I have learned that if I praise His Name in ALL things, the bad with the good, His Peace and His Grace abounds, trumping the negativity of the day. 2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat, King of Isreal, faced not one but THREE armies! He sought the face of God for victory. God's instructed him to do two things: 1. Do NOT worry, for the battle was HIS! (That's too awesome!) and two: well.. here: "21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. Praise in all things is a mighty weapon in facing the impossible.. With God ALL things are possible! I love how we are instructed to start off by praising God and we end in the same manner. I have learned that if I praise His Name in ALL things, the bad with the good, His Peace and His Grace abounds, trumping the negativity of the day. 2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat, King of Isreal, faced not one but THREE armies! He sought the face of God for victory. God’s instructed him to do two things: 1. Do NOT worry, for the battle was HIS! (That’s too awesome!) and two: well.. here:

“21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

Praise in all things is a mighty weapon in facing the impossible.. With God ALL things are possible!

]]> Comment on Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-12-05 by Cat Amendola http://blog.mytruelife.org/2010/12/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-12-05/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Cat Amendola Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:49:38 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/2010/12/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-12-05/#comment-1649 TL Christmas pictures posted! http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/96SlrBCx/1/4931813 TL Christmas pictures posted!

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/96SlrBCx/1/4931813

]]> Comment on 28 Days with Paul: Days 1-3 by markcarr http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/11/12/28-days-with-paul-days-1-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1338 markcarr Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:27:58 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=705#comment-1338 Technical note - Sunday's Sermon had a recording error that caused a major problem with sound. We will try to resolve it, and repost the sermon. I am sorry for the delay. Technical note – Sunday’s Sermon had a recording error that caused a major problem with sound. We will try to resolve it, and repost the sermon. I am sorry for the delay.

]]> Comment on Would Jesus Zap a Polar Bear by melinda http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/06/09/would-jesus-zap-a-polar-bear/comment-page-1/#comment-1282 melinda Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:01:15 +0000 http://80734643#comment-1282 This was cute, I and my family have been enjoying your sermons, thanks, and God bless you mark, This was cute, I and my family have been enjoying your sermons, thanks, and God bless you mark,

]]> Comment on 28 Days in Colossians: Day 9 (Read 3:1-17) by Aron http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/04/20/28-days-in-colossians-day-9-read-31-17/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Aron Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:47:29 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=547#comment-1242 Going on not much sleep, this morning's reading was so densely packed that it was hard to take it all in. This was a perfect breakdown! Thanks! Going on not much sleep, this morning’s reading was so densely packed that it was hard to take it all in. This was a perfect breakdown! Thanks!

]]> Comment on 28 Days in Colossians: Day 7 (Share from Memory 1:15-17) by melinda http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/04/18/28-days-in-colossians-day-7-share-from-memory-115-17/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 melinda Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:33:19 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=540#comment-1241 I have enjoyed this. I have enjoyed this.

]]> Comment on 28 Days in Colossians: Day 4 – Memorize Colossians 1:15-17 by markcarr http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/04/15/28-days-in-colossians-day-4-memorize-colossians-115-17/comment-page-1/#comment-1240 markcarr Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:25:46 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=532#comment-1240 Great Question for a BQT. Thanks. Great Question for a BQT. Thanks.

]]> Comment on 28 Days in Colossians: Day 4 – Memorize Colossians 1:15-17 by anonymous http://blog.mytruelife.org/2009/04/15/28-days-in-colossians-day-4-memorize-colossians-115-17/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 anonymous Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:42:39 +0000 http://blog.mytruelife.org/?p=532#comment-1239 For the next big question Tuesday... What's your take on divorce? Separation? What if one spouse has flat out fallen out of love and is miserable living with the other spouse? What if one spouse has had an affair, and is non repentant? What if one spouse has told the other that "it's just not working", and they want out? For the next big question Tuesday…
What’s your take on divorce? Separation? What if one spouse has flat out fallen out of love and is miserable living with the other spouse? What if one spouse has had an affair, and is non repentant? What if one spouse has told the other that “it’s just not working”, and they want out?

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