Philippians 1

Tonight we started a new study, a walk through the book of Philippians. Here's the podcast and here's the questions that discussed.

Paul exemplifies two great character traits: 1) a life of joy; and 2) big picture view. How can you implement these into your life? How would your life look different?

How you react to situations is a testimony either to what God is doing in your life, or what you are trying to do on your own. What statement are you making with your life?

Whether free or in jail, Paul never falters in his mission of sharing the gospel of Jesus with others. Where is “sharing the gospel” in your list of priorities?

Please continue the discussion with us here online.

Celebration and Vision

Tonight at Journey we took a break in our teaching schedule to do some celebrating and dreaming. We spent some time sharing in our community about what God has been doing in our lives over the past year. Then we spent some time looking forward to what God might do in the midst of our community and through us in the greater Findlay community. Here's the podcast for it.

Next week we'll start in on a study of the book of Philippians.

Ephesians 6

I'm kind of sad. I thoroughly enjoyed our study of Ephesians and wish it were a longer book. Since it's not, tonight we ended with chapter 6. Here's the link to the podcast. We tried to take a different look at the second portion of chapter 6 on the armor of God. Give it a listen. And here are the questions that we discussed:

In what ways are the “codes” in chapter 6 applicable in your life today? How should you be living them out more fully?

The armor of God consists of Truth, Righteousness, Readiness in the Gospel, Faith, Salvation, the Word of God, and Prayer. How differently would we live our lives if we daily “dressed” in these? What difference would it make to the people around us?

What have you taken away from our study of Ephesians 6 that will enable you to live more like Jesus in this world?

Other thoughts on this chapter or on the overall book of Ephesians.

bathroom, part 2

The bathroom appeared to be good to go for the weekend. There are touch-ups that need to happen by the crew on Monday, but the rest seemed good. Then last night I found water under the sink. Then I found water next to the sink. Not good. Wiped it up and it didn't come back. Good.

This morning we tried to get everyone bathed in our newly functioning tub and shower. The kids took a bath together but we could hear the drain slowly letting water out. Not good. Apparently easily fixed, though. We'll see.

With the kids clean and dressed, Lori hopped into the shower to enjoy our newly installed shower head. The kids went downstairs and I was upstairs collecting laundry. Suddenly Emma yells upstairs, "Daddy, come quick it's important!" Not good! That can't be good when a five year old tells you to come quick. I hear her say something else about the kitchen as I round the corner. I'm not sure if she said there's a leak in the kitchen...or there's a lake in the kitchen. Either way she was right. Not good! I grabbed a bucket and towels. Emma ran up to tell mommy to turn off the shower. Apparently there was a leak in the shower mechanism and it leaked behind the tub into the cavity under the plumbing which happens to be right over the ceiling fan in the kitchen. Thus, when Lori showered it turned our kitchen fan into a secondary shower head. Not good. Fortunately there's a ceiling fan there. If the ceiling had simply been drywall, we wouldn't have known for a while, eventually would rot or cave in, and then we'd have to have the kitchen ceiling done.

Thankfully the guys were able to come over and fix it this morning. Andy, one of the guys on the crew actually lives next to us...great guy! They fixed it. I finally got to shower in our new tub with a new shower head and it seemed to not leak. Good!

Bathroom, part 1

So it's been quite a week. I was sick for most of it. Shall I say deathly sick? I think I can probably say that b/c Lori doesn't really read this blog and then can't argue the point. So I was deathly sick this week. In the midst of being sick we haven't really had a bathroom. Yes, we're having work done on our bathroom mostly b/c of the flooding in August. Ironic! The rains from the first flood caved in the ceiling of our bathroom over the tub. Good place for a roof leak. So we got the roof fixed this summer, but have had to wait until now to get the ceiling and tub/shower fixed. While they were at it we decided to get the toilet replaced. While they were at it Lori never really liked the vanity which also means a new sink. Since they're pulling up the toilet and vanity we might as well get the flooring replaced. Argh! It's a freakin' money pit. Where does it stop? Thankfully that's about the extent of it since our bathroom is only the size of a closet.

So now I sit here, trying to catch up on teaching prep since I was sick all week. I'm being serenaded by a combination of sawing and pounding from upstairs and Emma sitting next to me singing while playing on the computer. Yeah...I'll get a lot of prep done this way!!

Ephesians 5

Wow. Tough chapter to teach on with the whole section section. We gave it a shot, though. Here's the podcast link. And here are the questions we dealt with during our discussion:

The first section of this chapter deals with instruction for daily living as a follower of Jesus. What would the church look like if we truly followed this instruction? What insights do you gain from those instructions?

What would the church look like if it truly submitted to the leadership of Jesus?

What would marriage look like if husbands and wives submitted to one another and loved each other as Christ loves His church?

What sort of witness to the world would the church offer if we as members of Christ’s church lived this chapter?

What do you think?