Year: 2017

Easter Sunday & Egypt

Coptic Christian churches in Egypt have decided to cancel Easter services after bombing attacks killed 49 people and injured more than 100 others at two churches on Palm Sunday. The more than 100 wounded Christians are still in hospitals suffering pain, devastation and the uncertainty of the coming days. For them, the hope of staying alive for another day is uncertain due to their critical conditions.

Christian Today reports that, although Easter celebrations have been called off, the Coptic churches will still hold prayer services.

An Open Doors partner on the ground in Egypt recently shared:

“We expect more attacks… and intense oppression and hatred to impact the daily life of Christians in Egypt, mainly from the large radicalized segment of the Egyptian society, a segment of people who are misled and brainwashed by radical Muslim leaders who speak out their poisonous language against Christians from within and outside Egypt. As much as the state is showing sympathy and support to the Christian community, the embedded spirit of rejection and disrespect to the Christian faith and to Christians can’t be overlooked.”

“Wiping off our tears we reach out and look to the skies, to talk to our Father and accept willingly all that He permits to come to His church in Egypt, confident that He feels for our pains without us having to talk about them to Him.”

“We understand that the Egyptian church is passing through a season of pain and testing in preparation for a great and mighty work of God in Egypt. Although, persecution is not new to Egypt and is also a part of our Christian heritage and journey, the increasing attacks and constant pressures we are facing are shaking the foundations of many within and outside the Christian community.”

“True Christians are putting their hope in the Lord, learning more profoundly how to live the spirit of love and forgiveness, while people outside the Christian community are confused about how such dreadful attacks could be committed in favor of “Allah,” the god of Islam.”

“The more attacks that fall on the church in Egypt, the more martyrs we wave goodbye to as they enter heaven, and the more eyes are being opened and hearts are seeking the truth and searching for it.”

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Egypt, and in other places around the world where persecution is happening.

Pray for ourselves that we would not waste our freedom, that we would make the most of every opportunity.

 

Easter Week

Thursday | April 13 | 6pm
potluck dinner | communion
maundy thurs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday | April 14 | 10:30am
community wide service at Calvary Pentecostal
good friday 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday | April 16 | 10am
continental breakfast at 9am
easter 2017

Fully Alive

For seven weeks after Easter we want to unpack together fully alive
what it means to be Fully Alive.

  • Choosing to be Fully Alive
  • Becoming Spiritually Alive
  • Becoming Physically Alive
  • Becoming Relationally Alive
  • Becoming Emotionally Alive
  • Becoming Financially Alive
  • A World That is Fully Alive

Following Jesus in this world is being who God wants us to be.
This impacts all of life.
Join us, not only on Sunday’s, but we encourage you to gather with a few friends to think though what this looks like very practically in your life.

  • You can sign up on Sunday at OCC;
  • or send us an email and we’ll try to get you connected;
  • or let us know, that you are gathering some friends together, so we can encourage you and pass on some additional notes/helps as you facilitate discussion.

Habakkuk 2:4
Look at that man, bloated by self-importance-full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.

Irenaeus, the 2nd century French theologian said:
“The glory of God is man fully alive”

What does Fully Alive look like?
We all learn in different ways. So these weeks will help disciple us through:

  • Listening
    Our Sunday sermon series for seven weeks will be centered on God’s desire and plan for us to become Fully Alive.
  • Discussing
    We are producing notes with discussion questions for use in all our small groups. We’re encouraging everyone, to be in a small group or start a small group for these seven weeks. This includes you!
  • Reading and Praying
    We will also have some guided thoughts for personal reflection and prayer during these seven weeks.
  • Writing
    We are encouraging you to journal / write during these weeks.
  • Doing
    We encourage you to set a goal to become more fully alive in various areas of life. We are also committed to making our community more fully alive. We will encourage every small group to look for opportunities to serve.

 

Reading John

We are reading John’s Gospel this lenten season.
We take for granted the availability & assessibility of the written word. For the last several days I have been around peoples (Afar, Esen, Amharic, Oromo) who are largely illiterate. This makes Discipleship a little more difficult, fortunately with the Bible & teachings on a phone sim card, we can give the Afar access to the Bible.

As you read the gospel of John over the next few weeks look for two themes that become visible.
one: missional – we are a sent people, sent into the world (locally & globally – we are glocal people) – in the same way the father sent the son, the son & the Spirit sends us.
two: incarnational – the way we are sent is to be rooted in the places we are – the gospel is different than the culture & the gospel speaks to the culture – it speaks to & offers hope to both the individual (without being individualistic) & corporate, the group (without reducing individuals to faceless masses).

I’m praying we will all see Jesus with fresh eyes this letter season

Blessings from Ethiopia

pastor Mike

Reading Lent 2017

Spend 40 days walking alongside Jesus, listening to His life-changing teachings and falling more in love with God. You’re invited to read through the Gospel of John in 40 days—with a Sabbath rest each Sunday.

Whether you read through the Bible or listen to an audio version, you’ll cover around half a chapter each day for six days a week. Reading John in 40 days isn’t easy. It demands intentionality. It requires us to reach for the Bible instead of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or that latest episode of your favorite show.

My prayer is that at the end of 40 days, you’ll feel so spiritually full you’ll never want to live on empty again.

  • Use this Reading Guide as a map for our adventure. Tuck it in your Bible or journal.
  • Commit each day to reading.
  • Ask God to open your eyes, ears, and heart to what He has prepared for you as you read each day.
  • Read for breadth. Remember, this is about seeing the big picture of Scripture.
  • There is space to jot down a phrase that stands out for you.
  • Celebrate the wonder of Sabbath each Sunday. There are no assigned readings on Sundays: —feel free to rest or use it as a catch-up day.
  • Share what God is revealing to you during Lent on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Download a copy of reading lent 2017
or pick up a hard copy at OCC

Reading Proverbs

We have started off 2017 by reading through Proverbs. Because of the way Proverbs is written, why don’t you start this coming week.

download it here: reading-through-proverbs
or from facebook: reading through proverbs

Here are the summary tweets from the first 4 weeks – Proverbs 1-20
Which Proverbs spoke to you?

Proverbs 1 Proverbs are about teaching wisdom, discipline, insight, how to live successful lives that are right, just & fair – learn from them #Prov1

Proverbs 2 Wisdom leads to understanding & insight, will fill you with joy & will save you from evil people & immoral people #Prov2

Proverbs 3 Store wisdom in your heart Live loyal, kind lives Don’t reject discipline Honour God with resources & you will sleep at night #Prov3

Proverbs 4 Hold to a healthy heritage, stay off the wrong way, don’t swerve from the right way, keep walking in the light #Prov4

Proverbs 5 Pay attention 2 wisdom Watch out 4 easy ways UR ways R watched by God Deeds of the wicked trap them-led astray by lack of discipline #Prov5

Proverbs 6 Don’t get trapped by lies Don’t be lazy Don’t devise schemes Don’t lust Walk in & by the light #Prov6

Proverbs 7 Keep my commands & U will live Guard my teaching as the apple of UR eye Bind them on UR fingers; write them on the tablet of UR heart #Prov7

Proverbs 8 Choose my instruction over silver, knowledge over gold Blessed are those who listen 2 me & keep my ways Those who find me find life #Prov8

Proverbs 9 Don’t rebuke mockers-they will hate U The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom Knowledge of God is understanding #Prov9

Proverbs 10 Blessings crown the head of the righteous The wise in heart accept commands Whoever walks in integrity walks securely #Prov10

Proverbs 11 Honesty guides, dishonesty destroys The godless destroy w/ words knowledge rescues W/O wise leadership a nation falls #Prov11

Proverbs 12 Plans of  the godly R just-of the wicked deceitful Wicked R traped by their words Fools think their way is right-wise listen 2 others #Prov12

Proverbs 13 Careful words make 4 a careful life-careless talk can ruin all Wise think beB4 they act-fools dont-they brag about their foolishness #Prov13

Proverbs 14 Honesty doesnt deceive-false witnes lies Mean people paid in meaness Fear-of-God builds up, makes safe place, spring of living H2O #Prov14

Proverbs 15 Gentle answers deflect anger-harsh words make tempers flare Wisdom flows like spring water-fools are leaky faucets dripping nonsense #Prov15

Proverbs 16 We make plans but God has the last word God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense We plan the way 2 live only God enables us 2 live it #Prov16

Proverbs 17 Fire tests the purity of silver & gold, the Lord tests the heart. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. #Prov17

Proverbs 18 Loners who only care 4 self spit on comon sense Fools dont care 4 dialogue-they run off at the mouth Contempt 4 life is contemptible #Prov18

Proverbs 19 Best 2 B poor & honest vs rich & untrustable Let the angry face backlash of their anger-if U try 2 make it better U’ll make it worse #Prov19

Proverbs 20 Don’t say “I will get U for this” Let God handle the matter. Avoiding quarrels is a mark of honor, only fools insist on fighting #Prov20

Reading the Bible when you feel nothing

Someone asked me recently about reading the Bible when you feel nothing.

You sit down early in the morning, Bible in hand, coffee at your side. The world is asleep. Maybe, you’re still asleep. You wish you could get another ½ hour. Your eyes… they feel so heavy… You stumble your way through your daily reading. You try to jot down a note or two… pray… get your heart oriented for the day. You finish, and you feel… nothing.

You are still tired. No amazing revelations of glory. No deep sense of God’s abiding presence. No spiritual flashbangs or burning bushes.

Did anything really “happen” during your reading? Did the Bible make any difference? Why should you even continue when it just feels like you’re going through the motions?

Anyone ever feel like that?

Let me suggest a few reasons why we keep reading

IT’S A WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD

Regardless of what happens, reading God’s word is a statement that I need God; that I cannot survive on bread alone; that I’m not smart enough, strong enough, or clever enough to navigate this world apart from God. In God’s economy, only the weak survive. Listening to God through the Bible and his Spirit are clear ways of saying “I am weak. I need you God.”

GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK THEM

Hebrews 11:6 says, “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” MSG

God responds those who seek him. Not those who feel him, or get warm fuzzies or feel spiritual electricity coursing through their being. When we read the Bible, we am expressing faith that God will meet us as we seek him.

READING SCRIPTURE IS PRIMARILY A PLANTING ACTIVITY

Psalm 1:3 describes the people who read and meditate on God’s word this way: “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Trees grow slowly. If you look at a tree, it doesn’t look like it’s growing. Fruit only appears in a specific season and often not until the tree has reached a certain age. When you plant a seed, you have faith that you will eventually see the results.

Reading God’s word is often like planting seeds. We don’t see the fruit of it immediately, but eventually, we see it. If you ever wonder why some Christians seem so mature, it’s usually because they’ve spent many hours planting the seed of God’s Word in the soil of their heart.

Growth is slow. Fruit is slow developing. But it will happen.

GOD’S WORD PROTECTS ME

Going into the world without the protection of God’s word is like going into battle without any armour. It’s suicidal. The world, the flesh, and the devil are eagerly looking for opportunities to rip us to shreds: to deceive us; destroy us, lure us into traps; to absolutely ruin our life. The Bible says that the devil prowls about like a lion, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, even like an angel at times.

The word of God protects us against the siren calls that beckons us. It shines light into the dark corners so we can see that the stuff which looks so attractive is actually destruction. The Bible is a lamp to our feet, a beacon in dark places, a shield, and a sword.

TAKE UP AND READ

There will be many times when I don’t read the Bible. When sleep or sickness or general laziness prevents me. But I know I can’t allow that to continue for long. My growth depends on it. My safety depends on it. My very life depends on it.

mended

On Sunday, 8 January we are starting a 4 part series
we are calling mended.mended-title

We’ve all been wounded.
We carry wounds from broken relationships, church hurts,
shattered dreams and our own foolish choices.

Sometimes the pain dulls over time, but often it never fully goes away.
In this 4 week series, we’ll explore an incredible and liberating truth:
Jesus can heal us because
he was wounded for us,
is with us
and has power to mend the wounded.