This Sunday at MCC…

Join us this Sunday [February 01] at MCC as we continue the “Life Revolution” series by asking the question, “Where does God fit in my life?”

The answer WILL surprise you!

See you at 9 or 10:30am!

The Ice Storm of 2009

Schools are canceled, cell phones are down, and town is quiet. That must mean that the predicted ice storm has hit Motown.

So, how are you spending this icy day?

Be careful out there!

…which is not a threat [even if the American Idol judges seem to think so ]

Can God Change Me???

Well, the short answer is YES! God can change anyone, regardless of where they’ve been or what they’ve done…but it won’t happen by accident!

Yesterday at MCC we continued the series, “Life Revolution”, by talking about the need to “work out” our spiritual muscles.

Here’s how Paul said it in Philippians 2v12-13 [TNIV]:

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Getting in shape physically requires discipline, exercise, and a healthy diet. The same is true for us spiritually. We can’t sit around and hope to become who God wants us to be and live the best life possible…we’ve got to hit the weights!

And the good news is that we don’t do this to earn our salvation or to prove that we are worthy of God’s love. We already have those. We do this, not by our own strength or energy, but by the energy of Christ working in us, to continue to grow and become all God created us to be.

In Colossians 1v28-29 [NIV], Paul puts it this way:

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. [emphasis added]

Can God change us? The real question may be…am I willing to surrender to Christ and allow him to change me…to make me everything he wants me to be?

To listen to or download this teaching…click here.

And the Oscar goes to…

Well, it’s official. The 2009 Oscar nominations have been released, with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button garnering the most with 13 nominations.

I really never get into all the “Oscar hype”, but it never ceases to amaze me, every time these awards shows come around, how many good movies [at least in my opinion] get left out…and how many movies that received less hype steal the show.

Since Oscar season is upon us, I was wondering…

If you could nominate a film for an Oscar…which would it be and why?

For more on the Oscar Nominations click here.

What are you reading?

I never liked to read until I graduated college. Since then, I seem to always be working through two or three books at a time. I only wish I would have been so inspired to read in school…my GPA would have undoubtedly been higher!

So, I thought today I would share some of the books that I have been reading and found helpful…and maybe you could take a couple minutes in the “Comments” section and do the same!

Here are a few of my recent favorites:

Jesus Wants to Save Christians, by Rob Bell and Don Golden

Finding Our Way Again, by Brian McLaren

The Emotionally Healthy Church, by Peter Scazzero

The Blue Parakeet, by Scot McKnight

Stumbling Toward Faith, Renee Altson

and…I usually don’t read a lot of fiction, but

The Shack, by William Paul Young…is a MUST read! It is a beautifully written story and it is full of hope!

So, what are you reading?

What did you think?

Barack Obama is officially the 44th President of these United States of America. I found his Inaugural speech to be stirring, hopeful, and challenging for our nation as we begin to look toward the future.

Here’s an excerpt of the speech President Obama gave that really stood out to me:

“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Well said. If you missed the speech, CNN has a transcript here.

So, what did you think of Barack Obama’s first speech as President?

The kind of day I will tell my grandchildren about…

In a couple hours, Barak Obama will make history by becoming the first African-American to assume the Presidency of the United States. Regardless of your political affiliation, this is a proud day for our country!

So, in honor of this historic day, here is an “all-skate” question:

Are you planning on watching Barak Obama being sworn in to the office of President?

What does God want from me?

Yesterday at MCC we kicked off our brand new teaching series, “Life Revolution,” by talking about what God wants from us. We all want to change something about our lives for the better…but how does that kind of revolutionary change happen?

We read the parting words of the book of Ecclesiastes for insight:

13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the [duty] of every human being. [12v13 TNIV]

God wants us to keep his commands because they lead us to the best possible life. But, there is a HUGE problem. We can’t obey God’s commands.

There is something inside of us that pulls us away from God’s best for us.

No one has to teach us to lie, lust, steal, disobey…all this comes natural to us.

So, if we can’t do what God says, how can we ever experience the life God created us for???

Enter Jesus. Christ comes into the world and lives the life God calls us to live. Now by trusting his life, death, and resurrection, we can experience the Life Revolution that we’ve always needed!

If you want to hear the teaching from yesterday, click here.

If you want to read the passage from Romans 7 and 8 that we read from “the Message” translation, click here.

This coming Sunday, we will contine the “Life Revolution” series with question, “Can God actually change me?”

This Revolution begins this morning @ MCC!

If you are in the Morgantown area, join us this morning as we kick off a brand new series of teachings called “Life Revolution”.

Today, we are exploring the question, “What does God want from me?”

Hope to see you at 9 or 10:30 am!

Living with the Limits

Do you know your limits? In his book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, Peter Scazzero says, “Maturity in life is when someone is living joyfully within their God-given limits.”

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the pressure of trying to be someone you aren’t? Have you ever allowed guilt to be the biggest decision maker in your life?

I know I have, and every time I refuse the limits of time and talent God has given me, it always results in being less effective, and I find my self living with less joy. When I don’t embrace my limits my family, my ministry, and ultimately, my relationship with God all bear the brunt of my choices.

What does it mean for you to embrace your limits?