DPCHURCH
Celebrate. Connect. Contribute.Archive for January, 2011
Reflecting On The Tragedy In Arizona
First, my heart goes out to all of the families who have had their lives forcibly changed by the horror of one man’s action. I pray that Christians throughout Tuscon will rise up and become instruments of peace and that their churches will be houses of healing. Further, my heart goes out to the gunman, Jared Loughner. He obviously had no accountability, which means he had no true friends. I can think of nothing more sad than to walk through life without a friend.
Yesterday at Dardenne Prairie Church we talked about our responsibility to the people God has supernaturally and strategically placed in our lives. We have been “commissioned” (Colossians 1:25) to be good stewards of those relationships. I would suggest that this kid had no one close enough to challenge his beliefs, attitudes, and actions.
One of the reasons DPChurch lives out her mission through Connect Groups is to provide us with the opportunity have others speak directly into our life about our attitudes and actions. It requires permission which is granted through relationship. Make your Connect Group a priority this year. Our group members need us as much as we need them. We need accountability and the discipline that comes from being real with one another.
I am not suggesting that a DPChurch Connect Group would have disarmed Loughner in his current state. I am suggesting that a CG may have kept him from getting that disconnected from right and wrong. The schemes of Satan are powerful, which is why we need to be constantly surrounded by other Christ Followers. Loughner’s eyes were blinded and his heart hardened by Satan (Ephesians 4). His only hope was (and still is) Jesus Christ. The same is true for you and me.
Hope For 2011
It’s been a while since I’ve had time to share. One of my resolutions this year is to be consistent with this blog, so here goes.
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We are in a new series at Dardenne Prairie Church called Finding Hope in the Middle of Winter. As I reflected on 2010, it was obvious that many of us found ourselves living out Plan B. Rather than the path and plan we thought we should be on, we are on a different course. It’s a lot like the winter storm that hit the east coast last week. It left the roads covered with 20 inches of snow and people struggling to find their way.
Psalm 29:11 says “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” This year, my prayer for you is that you receive his strength and peace. When you feel abandoned or lost, keep looking for him. We’re called to be faithful even when it seems he hasn’t been faithful to us. Of course, we find out that he has been there all along.
In the midst of the winter you may be facing, keep worshipping. As I shared in my message a couple of weeks ago, any relationship minus time, eventually will result in the death of that relationship. If you are searching, feeling abandoned, or lost, you need to spend even more time with God. It’s the only way you’ll be able to hear his voice and know what he wants for your life. Spend time with him. Then you can know his peace in your life. May God pour his grace and peace upon you and your family in 2011.
