BIRTHRIGHT OF GREATER MERIDIN, INC.

February 18, 2010

Birthright of Greater Meridin, Inc. needs gently worn maternity and baby clothing and books on pregnancy and baby and child care.

BIRTHRIGHT is an emergency pregnancy service staffed by volunteers dedicated to offering the alternative to abortion. Birthright offers free pregnancy tests, friendship counseling, and caring and practical support. Bring items to the Gathering Place and Zion will bring the donations to Birthright.

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Live Passionately: Risking Life

February 18, 2010

One Month to Live-30 days to a no-regrets Life

by Kerry and Chris Shook.

Principle 1: Live Passionately

Day 2, Feb. 18, 2010

Roller Coaster; Risking Life

Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.—Anonymous

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it, I say! Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. –Pope Paul VI

Do you see life more as a safe ride or a trip on the biggest scariest Roller Coaster you can imagine? What areas of your life are safer than others? For example, maybe you take huge risks to advance in your career, but you overly protect your heart and risk little in relationships.

The world says, “Don’t be ridiculous; be reasonable. Don’t stand out. Don’t take risks; play it safe and make security and comfort your primary goals in life.” God is calling us to a life of faith, living every moment all out for him.

The disciples quickly discovered the disorientation, exhaustion, terror and exhilaration of the life – or –death risks involved in riding the roller coaster of life with Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we should come to expect risk and regard the pain and losses of life as normal, even valuable to the Christian journey. But so often we think that when the struggles come, it can’t be right. Following Jesus isn’t suppose to hurt.

Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, “Listen carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. Everything written in the Prophets about the Son of Man will take place. [32] He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, made sport of, and spit on. Then, after giving him the third degree, they will kill him. [33] In three days he will rise, alive.” [34] But they didn’t get it, could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about. Luke 18:31-34

Life brings pain and following Jesus may bring suffering. You may feel like you’ve already jumped off the roller coaster tracks and crashed. As difficult and frightening as your life may be right now, God is still there. God cares about you beyond what you can understand or even imagine. If you knew you had a month to live, wouldn’t you want to leave the safe ride and get on the one that makes your heart come alive? Wouldn’t you want to be on the ride that fulfills you—with joy, with fear, with a level of engagement that allows you to savor each moment? If you knew you had only a few weeks before this life ended, I don’t think you’d be stuck in the Someday Syndrome.

Today, I challenge you to face your fears with ridiculous faith and experience the ride of your life! Are you doing anything in your life right now that requires faith? If not why not? Are you looking at life from God’s perspective or from a ground –level perspective?

Prayer: Father, help me find my security in you. Not in my abilities. Not in my resources. Not in my job. Not in my relationships. Not in anything I have or do….noting except you. And in the security of you, teach me each day how to take one more step of faithful risk. I trust you to heal my hurts, past, present and future. Help me life each day without regrets.

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Living in the Dash-Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

February 17, 2010

Today, February 17, 2010 is Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent. During this Lenten season I will be writing a daily email using the book: One Month To Live by Kerry and Chris Shook. We begin the journey of Lent with a smudge of ash and the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” We need to hear theses words, because they remind us that we are not going to live forever on this earth.
If a doctor told you today that you only had one month to live, would you live differently? How would you make each day really matter? What would you start or stop doing? How would you make sure that you lived without regrets?

Together we are going on a 40 day adventure called Lent. This journey will provide us with the tools we need to find life and to live abundantly. Join me as we reflect together on One Month to Live. [Read more]

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Disciplines to help your Lenten Discipleship

February 9, 2010

To assist in your Lenten discipline at 7:45 and 10:00 a.m. each Sunday, there will be a time for corporate confession and individual absolution at the altar. This early beginning will give more time for prayer and preparation for worship. Start your Lenten journey a little early at Zion on Sunday, February 21 until March 21 at 7:45 and 10:00 a.m.

Lenten emails will used this year in place of midweek worship. I will be reflecting daily on the book: One Month To Live. Thirty Days to A No-Regrets Life by Kerry and Chris Shook. If you are on the email list and receive emails from Zion using Constant Contact you are all set. If you do not, call the church office and share your email.

It’s time for us to stop living like it doesn’t matter.

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