Further Reflections

After the message yesterday in which we focused on the presence of God come in Jesus, I have had two thoughts that have been running through my mind constantly.  So I would like to share them, yes very kind of me, I know!

First, we often think of salvation in terms of there is now a way for man to get to God.  Or that God has opened up this big door for humanity to come through if they would only turn the handle.  However, when we understand God’s desire to dwell with His people, I think we should be thinking that there is now a way for God to get to man. God’s desire to dwell with His creation is the reason for our rescue, yet because of our depravity He needed to send His very own Son to remedy our condition.  Therefore, the only reason there is a way for man to get to God is because God made a way to get to man.  When understood in these terms we can gain a better glimpse of understanding the marvelous, infinite love God has for us.

Second, when the presence of God is experienced amongst His people, supernatural joy is the result.  When David was bringing the ark to Jerusalem there was a grand celebration, one of which David’s wife, Michal, was embarrassed by the way David was behaving Himself.  The Psalms repeatedly are telling us to shout for joy to the God of all the earth (Ps 47.1; 66.1; 71.23; et al).  They tell us we are to dance with joy (30.11; 149.3; 150.4).  There is just this supernatural, overflowing joy that results in experiencing the presence of God.

So the presence of God causes us to understand God’s love for us to a greater degree, namely that He desires to dwell with me so much that He sent His Son to remedy my depravity; and it causes us to experience deep joy within our hearts, which expresses itself in shouting, dancing, singing, and talking.  So this Christmas let us experience the love and the joy that God’s presence among us produces.

Further Update on Matt Chandler

The following has been released by the Village Church in regards to Matt Chandler’s pathology report.

In the first chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes that whatever imprisonments, beatings and trials he may have suffered, they all “serve to advance the gospel” of Jesus Christ. We implore you to keep the gospel of Christ as the main focus as we walk with Matt and Lauren through this trial.

On Tuesday, Dr. Barnett informed Matt and Lauren that the findings of the pathology report revealed a malignant brain tumor that was not encapsulated. The surgery to remove the tumor, the doctor said, was an extremely positive first step; however, because of the nature of the tumor, he was not able to remove all of it.

Matt, who is being released from the hospital today, is meeting with a neuro-oncologist this week to outline the next steps of the recovery process. There is a range of treatment possibilities but the exact course of action has not yet been determined. He will continue outpatient rehab.

The Lord is calling Matt and Lauren and The Village Church body to endure this trial. It will be a challenging road for Matt, his family and our church body. The gospel is our hope and the Lord is our strength. Matt and Lauren continue to find solace and hope in Christ. They weep facing this trial, but not as those without hope and perspective. The gospel clarifies their suffering and promises more of Christ through it all.

You have done a wonderful job respecting the family, and we ask that you continue to do this. They are processing all of this together and need you to give them precious space. Please do not visit them at their house unless personally invited by the Chandlers. The best way to serve the family is to continue to be faithful in prayer. Specifically, pray for the following:

• Wisdom for all the coming decisions

• Strength and peace to endure

• The kids’ (Audrey, Reid and Norah) hearts; pray the Lord is merciful as they process and that their little hearts do not grow embittered

• The Chandlers and The Village would suffer well because of the gospel and for the sake of Christ’s name

As you hurt and weep for the family, do not do it alone. Gather with your home group and with other believers in homes and pray together. This is a time to walk together with others and to endure this trial in community. If you wish, send cards and letters to Matt and Lauren at 2101 Justin Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028.

We will continue to keep you informed as new information is made available. Please be patient with the frequency of the updates. May God strengthen us all and may His glory shine brightly through this.

So please as a church be praying for Matt Chandler and his family.

Faith Verse for Dec 16-31

I know it is a day early, but we wanted to put up our next faith verse.  I hope that God is using these verses in your lives to remind and refresh yourself in the Gospel.  I know in my life and in my family’s life it has been great.  We are working on ways to get some type of card to you with the verse on it as well for you to carry around with you. This Christmas season we wanted to direct our attention to a reason Paul gives to the coming of Jesus–to redeem us so that we might be adopted as His children. So may God cause our hearts to rejoice this Christmas season in this wonderful truth.

Galatians 4.4-5

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Augustine On Pre-Creation

Many of us at times, if not all of us, have pondered, ‘What did God do before creation?’  My particular vantage point on the question is that the Bible is silent on the issue, so where the Bible is silent I shut up.  However, as I was reading for my thesis today I came across a more sarcastic, if I can call it that, maybe less polite answer by Augustine.  When he was asked the question, “What was God doing before creating the world?’, Augustine responded, “Devising Hell for people who ask impertinent questions like that.” Just a thought to cheer you up on this cold day!

Theology Night…

Hey for everyone who missed ‘Theology Night’…you missed it!  We had a wonderful time together studying and examining what is happening in contemporary Christianity.  We specifically looked at the ‘Revisionist’ stream of the emerging church and how they are desirous to not only change how we do church but also what we are to believe.  If you are interested in the notes click here EmergingChurch.

He didn’t spear back

In 1956, a group of five American missionaries and their families led by Jim Elliot and Nate Saint made contact with an Ecuadorian tribe called the Huaorani (or Waodoni) with the intent of sharing the love of Jesus. All five missionary men were killed in a spearing attack by the warriors of this tribe upon first contact. Through a series of divine circumstances God brought the wives of these slain men into the village of the Huaorani to begin ministering to them. In the movie account (End of the Spear ‘2005′) of this “tragic” event, the missionary women explain the Gospel in this simple way.

“Tho his enemies speared him (Jesus), He didn’t spear back so that they could live well.”

Through the death of their husbands, this tribe was brought to Jesus. These missionary men found Jesus to be a better treasure than all the treasure in the world including their wives and children. They gave their lives that day as a representation of the greatest sacrifice of all – Jesus. I have continuously been asking myself these questions:  “Is Jesus worth more than my life? Is Jesus worth more than my wife and child? Is Jesus the treasure of my life?”

One way of knowing the answer to these questions is to see what you wouldn’t be willing to give up for Jesus. Whatever you find that to be is an idol and you cherish it more than your Savior. Join with me in asking God to expose these idols and seeing Jesus for who he truly is! He is the one who “Tho his enemies speared him (Jesus), He didn’t spear back so that they could live well.”

Pastor Josh

Steve Saint (son of Nate Saint) with four Waodani tribesman, three of whom were involved in the spearing of his father.

John Owen

Here is an old quote from John Owen to meditate upon…

“To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect.” (III: 433)

Prayer for Matt Chandler Update

Here is the latest update on Matt Chandler…Here

Praise the Lord for His Grace!

Family Advent Devotional

Let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus together as a community! Attached below is pdf file with a 3 week advent devotional that focuses on Christ Event of Christmas.  Singles, you can group together and read and pray through this devotional.  Hey Dads, here is a chance to lead your family in the Gospel.   You can adapt it anyway you want, but it is an awesome avenue to direct our thoughts this Christmas season on the wonder and glory of the King we serve who came to this earth to save His people from their sins.

Advent Devotional

Faith Verses

We would like to incorporate a memory verse that we as a church are working on together.  We are calling these memory verses Faith Verses. The purpose of these verses is to increase our faith; and since it is only through the Word of God that faith grows, we desire that we implant the Word into our hearts.  The root cause of all of our idolatries is the sin of unbelief.  If we really and completely believed that Jesus is superior to any and everything, then we wouldn’t sin.  So we want to encourage you to meditate and memorize these Scriptures with us so that our faith might grow for the praise of Him who gives it to us.

This week’s Faith Verse is 1 John 4.10-11.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (ESV)

Here is a faith verse that causes us to reflect on how wonderful God’s love for us really is!