Here's our opening video from St Pete Vineyard this week. ENJOY!!!
11.09.2009
A Thought on Spiritual Formation
I was walking at the beach this morning while listening to some music. The song 'How He Loves' (Kim Walker version) started playing, and as I watched the tide coming in and out; I began to think about God and spiritual formation. Our relationships with God are so much like the relationship the ocean has with the sand.
Here we are- the sand. We don't move on our own or have the ability to shape ourselves. We are filled with natural treasures, and we also contain a lot of crap that various people have dropped on us.
Then there's God- the ocean. It's powerful. It can be peaceful and calm or it can be violent and wipe out entire cities. It's both beautiful and dangerous.
The ocean hits the sand and it changes. The shore is shaped by the tide every second of the day. Some days the waves are huge and the shoreline changes quickly, and other days, the waves are more like ripples making subtle changes. One thing to notice, is that everyday it is moving. Everyday it is changing and the most amazing transformation happens just below the surface. If you ever stick your feet in the sand where the water is several inches deep, you know what I mean.
Our lives with God should reflect this constant ebb and flow. We are built to be like that sand; ever-changing, ever evolving as we are moved by God. Everyday God's Grace should sweep over us and shape us. Everyday we need to seek Him in His Word and in Prayer, so our hearts can be shaped by His love and our minds can be fed by His wisdom.
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1 & 2 (MSG)
"And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." 2 Corinthians 3:17 & 18 (MSG)
Here we are- the sand. We don't move on our own or have the ability to shape ourselves. We are filled with natural treasures, and we also contain a lot of crap that various people have dropped on us.
Then there's God- the ocean. It's powerful. It can be peaceful and calm or it can be violent and wipe out entire cities. It's both beautiful and dangerous.
The ocean hits the sand and it changes. The shore is shaped by the tide every second of the day. Some days the waves are huge and the shoreline changes quickly, and other days, the waves are more like ripples making subtle changes. One thing to notice, is that everyday it is moving. Everyday it is changing and the most amazing transformation happens just below the surface. If you ever stick your feet in the sand where the water is several inches deep, you know what I mean.
Our lives with God should reflect this constant ebb and flow. We are built to be like that sand; ever-changing, ever evolving as we are moved by God. Everyday God's Grace should sweep over us and shape us. Everyday we need to seek Him in His Word and in Prayer, so our hearts can be shaped by His love and our minds can be fed by His wisdom.
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1 & 2 (MSG)
"And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." 2 Corinthians 3:17 & 18 (MSG)
11.01.2009
Epic Fail Week 3 Video- CHURCH FAIL
This week was 'Church Fail'. Great message! You can find the message on our website www.stpetevineyard.org
Epic Fail Week 3 from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
Epic Fail Week 3 from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
10.31.2009
10.30.2009
Epic Fail Weeks 1 & 2
Here's the opening videos from the first two weeks of our series called Epic Fail. The messages this week were called 'Our Fail' Part 1 & Part 2.
Epic Fail Title Opener from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
Epic Fail Week Two from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
Epic Fail Title Opener from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
Epic Fail Week Two from Emily Gilly on Vimeo.
10.29.2009
Change.... Friend or Foe?
Throughout the story of humanity, we have had a love/hate relationship with change. Sometimes we love change, and then sometimes we avoid it like the black plague. I was having a conversation with a pastor this morning who is one the cusp of some big and wonderful changes in his ministry, but with these changes there always comes issues. It seems this way every time I see a church in transition. This conversation made me wonder, why? What is it about change that sends some of us over the edge? Look at what happens when Jesus is talking to a young, rich ruler:
18One day one of the local officials asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?" 19-20Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother." 21He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember." 22When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.
Luke 18:18-23 (The Message)
I know that when we hear this story, we often think about materialism. While that lesson is evident here, I think there's more. Jesus was asking the young man to change. He wanted to bring him to the next level, and the guy declines. Why? I mean you have God saying come with me and you'll live forever, and he says "thanks but no thanks." I think that more than materialism this guy was afraid of change. I don't think he didn't want to let his things go. Instead I think he feared the changes that would come if he did. I don't think any of us are really that different. I think that if we think about why the young ruler resisted change so much, we can really find some lessons that would ring true for us.
Well, I don't consider myself to be particularly wise or anything, but here's what I perceive as the main reasons this young man and most people avoid change:
1. FEAR
We fear change. I'm sure most people would say that's the primary reason we resist change. What is that we're afraid of? Personally I don't think we fear the changes themselves, but we fear what we will have to change. This is especially true in churches. We get comfortable. When churches evolve, it's not really for a bigger building or more programs. I believe God brings change not only to help us be more effective in our communities, but to challenge believers. God doesn't want us comfortable, he wants us to be constantly growing into the best followers that we can be. The young ruler was probably afraid to leave all of his things behind. Like many of us he wanted to follow God. He wanted to go deeper, but Jesus challenged him on a deep level to trust God with everything. This call to change likely caused a great deal of anxiety. He probably thought "Well, I want to take it to the next level, but it looks very risky. What if this Jesus thing doesn't work out and I'm left broke?" How often do those same fears sweep through our minds when God is urging us to take things up a notch?
2. PRIDE
Pride is such a difficult thing to struggle with. So often when God brings changes to us, he has to put our pride in check. When we become too comfortable in our positions in the church, it brings a level of pride. "This is my job". We like what we are doing and that's all there is to it. Then when a church grows and changes, so do our roles. There's a sacrifice that has to take place. We are giving up a title or a responsibility or maybe even some income. To get in line with what God is doing requires us to lay down our pride, so we can let God call the shots. The most dramatic changes usually include a full dependency on God for survival. This is the position our young ruler was put in. Imagine how this guy was perceived in the community. He was young, successful, rich, and probably well respected. I'm sure he took a lot of pride in his accomplishments. Then Jesus wants him to give it all up, his title, his wealth, and his status. It would have taken a huge measure of humility to intentionally go from a rich, successful, leader to a penniless, homeless, follower of Jesus (who to many was just a crazy guy). I've heard people talk about this parable as if they are looking down on the young man, but I wonder how many of us would be able to make that choice?
Fear and pride come from Satan, it's just that simple. When we feel ourselves resisting change, we need to stop and ask, why? What is the problem here? Am I really opposed to the ideas being put forth or is there something else going on?
And for those of you who are like me, and embrace change more easily; ask yourself, "How can I bear the burdens of those struggling with change around me?". Those of us who gravitate toward change, often don't pay attention to the thoughts and feeling of other around us who are having a harder time. Look around you and find those people and try to understand their point of view. Talk with them, pray with them, let God bring everyone into one accord. If you take the time to let God bring everyone together, things will flow much more smoothly.
What do you think? How do you handle change?
18One day one of the local officials asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?" 19-20Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother." 21He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember." 22When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.
Luke 18:18-23 (The Message)
I know that when we hear this story, we often think about materialism. While that lesson is evident here, I think there's more. Jesus was asking the young man to change. He wanted to bring him to the next level, and the guy declines. Why? I mean you have God saying come with me and you'll live forever, and he says "thanks but no thanks." I think that more than materialism this guy was afraid of change. I don't think he didn't want to let his things go. Instead I think he feared the changes that would come if he did. I don't think any of us are really that different. I think that if we think about why the young ruler resisted change so much, we can really find some lessons that would ring true for us.
Well, I don't consider myself to be particularly wise or anything, but here's what I perceive as the main reasons this young man and most people avoid change:
1. FEAR
We fear change. I'm sure most people would say that's the primary reason we resist change. What is that we're afraid of? Personally I don't think we fear the changes themselves, but we fear what we will have to change. This is especially true in churches. We get comfortable. When churches evolve, it's not really for a bigger building or more programs. I believe God brings change not only to help us be more effective in our communities, but to challenge believers. God doesn't want us comfortable, he wants us to be constantly growing into the best followers that we can be. The young ruler was probably afraid to leave all of his things behind. Like many of us he wanted to follow God. He wanted to go deeper, but Jesus challenged him on a deep level to trust God with everything. This call to change likely caused a great deal of anxiety. He probably thought "Well, I want to take it to the next level, but it looks very risky. What if this Jesus thing doesn't work out and I'm left broke?" How often do those same fears sweep through our minds when God is urging us to take things up a notch?
2. PRIDE
Pride is such a difficult thing to struggle with. So often when God brings changes to us, he has to put our pride in check. When we become too comfortable in our positions in the church, it brings a level of pride. "This is my job". We like what we are doing and that's all there is to it. Then when a church grows and changes, so do our roles. There's a sacrifice that has to take place. We are giving up a title or a responsibility or maybe even some income. To get in line with what God is doing requires us to lay down our pride, so we can let God call the shots. The most dramatic changes usually include a full dependency on God for survival. This is the position our young ruler was put in. Imagine how this guy was perceived in the community. He was young, successful, rich, and probably well respected. I'm sure he took a lot of pride in his accomplishments. Then Jesus wants him to give it all up, his title, his wealth, and his status. It would have taken a huge measure of humility to intentionally go from a rich, successful, leader to a penniless, homeless, follower of Jesus (who to many was just a crazy guy). I've heard people talk about this parable as if they are looking down on the young man, but I wonder how many of us would be able to make that choice?
Fear and pride come from Satan, it's just that simple. When we feel ourselves resisting change, we need to stop and ask, why? What is the problem here? Am I really opposed to the ideas being put forth or is there something else going on?
And for those of you who are like me, and embrace change more easily; ask yourself, "How can I bear the burdens of those struggling with change around me?". Those of us who gravitate toward change, often don't pay attention to the thoughts and feeling of other around us who are having a harder time. Look around you and find those people and try to understand their point of view. Talk with them, pray with them, let God bring everyone into one accord. If you take the time to let God bring everyone together, things will flow much more smoothly.
What do you think? How do you handle change?
Beach Shoot
This is a shoot I did with my girls (aka the most beautiful little girls ever) at the beach last week. They make taking good pictures look easy :)
10.27.2009
Tidal Wave
Verse:
Your love is bigger than the ocean
Your grace is deeper than the sea
In all the beauty that surrounds me
Your hope is calling me
And I’m swept away
Chorus:
Like a Tidal Wave drown me in Your presence
make my heart sing out.
Like a Tidal wave sweep me away, my God
in your Holy Spirit.
Flood my soul, Jesus
Oh flood my soul with more of you (Jesus)
Bridge:
Take this heart and make it new
I give my life, a song for you
Transform my life and make it yours
Overtake me....
Your love is bigger than the ocean
Your grace is deeper than the sea
In all the beauty that surrounds me
Your hope is calling me
And I’m swept away
Chorus:
Like a Tidal Wave drown me in Your presence
make my heart sing out.
Like a Tidal wave sweep me away, my God
in your Holy Spirit.
Flood my soul, Jesus
Oh flood my soul with more of you (Jesus)
Bridge:
Take this heart and make it new
I give my life, a song for you
Transform my life and make it yours
Overtake me....
9.24.2009
An Unfinished Chorus
Nothing Compares to your, to your love for me
Have Your way in me
Sing Your song to me
(repeat)
As my heart opens before you
As my soul moves to your melody
Have your way in me
Have Your way in me
Sing Your song to me
(repeat)
As my heart opens before you
As my soul moves to your melody
Have your way in me
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