Week 4

Our discussion focused on 1 Timothy 4:6-16. Lo and behold, yet another speaker on Discipleship Library covered the same content. http://turret2.discipleshiplibrary.com/A296.mp3

Paul' s letter to young Timothy was a bar raiser, for sure. In ten verses he pre-empted whatever excuses were pre-loaded, "too young, they won't listen to me..." boo hoo. Listen, little brother, this is about words of faith, sound doctrine, but more than understanding the facts of obedience, it's about building our relationships through obedience. Treating obedience as a verb, not a noun. Of course, I'm speaking of obedience to God first.

However, we seem to resist obedience in every facet of our lives. Bill Cosby does a bit on the wedding vow to love, honor and the oft-forgotten, obey. Alas, Mr. Shakespeare, we can't even to our own selves be true. Missed appointments, tardiness, failed workout programs, diets, quiet times, scripture memory, the list goes on.

We keep laying rail for our life to run on, create a dozen or so switches, computerize our switching mechanism, plan our schedule to match Dutch efficiency, then immediately head, ATV-style, off the very tracks we just laid. What's up with that? Cue Dana Carvey's church lady. Could it be? Satan?

Well, consider that for a moment. What was the fall all about? Was it based upon the false syllogism that God's plan is restrictive, and restriction's bad and therefore God's plan's bad? Surely if you eat that fruit you won't die.

Is it as simple as that? Should we try doing one thing with flawless obedience before we try to master 2 with varied obedience. Maybe. I'd love to hear your thoughts, men.

Week 3

Once we waded our way through Cindi's new menu, only to discover all we needed to know was in our heads or on the "Egg Special" table card, we were off and running toward another great meeting.

We all inspired each other to be steadfast in what we're doing well and even to re-commit to known practices that lead to spiritual growth. Focusing quiet times and verse memory around the Journey seems like a great decision.

Click the attached graph to see how the Navigator's "old school" 2:7 illustrated the 4 stages to application.

Pray for discipline in this area. We seem to have at least 1 - 2 licked. Three? Four? How ya doin'?

See you Thursday.

Week 2

After finishing our discussion on the hypothetical impact of living in a Tim Simms-centered world, we got down to business with 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Ray Stedman has a study on those very same verses @ http://turret2.discipleshiplibrary.com/NET01591.mp3.

Mr. Stedman noted Courage (v. 1-5), Gentleness (v. 8) and Faithfulness (v. 9-12) as the key attributes Paul evokes. Each of us seemed to respond well to the balance Paul provides in this letter.

The element of courage was the theme from a "Fact of the Matter" e-mail I recently received from Jim Kennedy. I've attached it as a comment. Let me know if you'd be interested in getting on Mr. Kennedy's e-mail list. His notes are always thought-provoking (understatement).

The bottom line; if we're authentic in our faith and if/since we believe in the Jesus Paul describes in Colossians 1;

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

. . . how else can we respond other than with courage grounded in this omnipotence, gentleness from our association with this omniscience and a faithfulness that parallels the omnipresence of the holy spirit?

Week 1

Hey guys, Tim and I had a great conversation this morning on Colossians 1.

Just like last time, if you keep up with the Journey, you'll keep pace with Summit. We'll focus on Wednesdays' Journey chapter each Thursday morning.

When we read Col. 9 - 14 this a.m., verse 11 jumped out as a point of focus for growing strong as Christian men.

11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance . . .

Leroy Eims brought this out in one of his 4-minute, daily walk through the bible presentations. http://turret2.discipleshiplibrary.com/DD0297.mp3

If you're interested in seeing all Mr. Eim's daily walks, visit, http://www.discipleshiplibrary.com/daily_discipleship.php?m=100&n=200&s=code%2Cseries_order

This encouragement, and reminder of our strength and power as followers of Christ served to lift the Colossians then and us now. That idea should also serve as a launching pad to get with it and stay with it. Paul would say something like steadfast.

How would you say it? One of the questions today was for a mission statement. Paul's may be Col. 1:28. What would yours look like?

Introduction

Hey guys. Here's something fresh and new to support you during our fall session of Summit. It's likely I'll still send an e-mail or two. For the most part, however, I'll provide links to this blog. That way, I can satisfy the joy providing content brings me while respecting your desire to "drive your experience."

The LINKS in the side navigation will take to more global resources. I'll provide specific links, photos, graphics, etc. within each specific blog entry.

However, to a much greater extent, your content provision, in the form of comments and posts will be what makes this thing pass or fail.

Let me know if you have any questions.