Tea Or Coffee?
When I look at this pic a question comes to mind, "Tea or Coffee?"
When I think of Tea, I think of fine dining, English, old school. When I think of Coffee, I think of trendy, busy, energetic.
Yet when you go into a Starbucks, or any other coffee shop, you can find tea there too.
It's a simple reminder to me that it's kinda like church. we have different types of people there, just like a coffee shop has different types of drinks.
You know, coffee shops have lots of options.
Along those same lines, here at Community Church, we also have lots of options.
Options to connect, options to grow, options to build relationships, options to change.
For intensive depth we have things like Awana programs and small groups.
For people visiting, those who want to get a broad picture or those still checking things out, our services and Wed Program will do a good job.
For those who are willing to sacrifice and push forward instead of lagging behind, our leadership teams will stretch you in growth, service and sacrifice.
Mark 10:17-21 tells the story of Jesus talking to a rich man.* He asks what he needs to do to go to heaven, Jesus responds reminding him to follow God's commandments. He answers in a way that reminds me of a kids saying "I did that" in regard to homework or chores as he plays his video game not really listening, but just wanting to focus on the game. Jesus then looks at him and says "Go and sell all your posessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The man is dumbstruck and sadly leaves because he chooses his stuff over Jesus.
This month we have a number of choices.
Actually, we are constantly faced with choices.
Choose God or stuff?
Choose God over people?
Choose good over bad?
Choose the Best over 'Good'?
Choose Godly over Popular?
Choose Christlike over Comfortable?
Choose Love over Lust?
How will you choose?
I'm praying that you would choose wisely, from your relationship with God to your relationships with others to your relationship with or for that 'special person'.
Praying for you to experience God's Love and that you would choose to pass it on as well,
Jackson
Jackson Fong
Student Ministries Pastor
Community Church of Susanville
Feb 2011 Things to Note
Feb 4 - JH Bowling
Feb 6 - Girl's Group
Feb 9 - SH Agape Feast
Feb 11 - College Fellowship
Feb 13 - Girl's Tea
Feb 18-20 SH Winter Retreat
Feb 24th College Fellowship
Feb 27 - Girl's Group
Dates to Save!
March
5 SH Scavenger Hunt
11-13 JH Winter Retreat
26 Staying True Girl’s Conference
April
(1-2) JH All Nighter
(8-10) Planet Wisdom (Leadership)
15-23 Mexico
SH Clue Night
*The Rich Man (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’e]'>[e]” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hardf]'>[f] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.g]'>[g]”
When I think of Tea, I think of fine dining, English, old school. When I think of Coffee, I think of trendy, busy, energetic.
Yet when you go into a Starbucks, or any other coffee shop, you can find tea there too.
It's a simple reminder to me that it's kinda like church. we have different types of people there, just like a coffee shop has different types of drinks.
You know, coffee shops have lots of options.
Along those same lines, here at Community Church, we also have lots of options.
Options to connect, options to grow, options to build relationships, options to change.
For intensive depth we have things like Awana programs and small groups.
For people visiting, those who want to get a broad picture or those still checking things out, our services and Wed Program will do a good job.
For those who are willing to sacrifice and push forward instead of lagging behind, our leadership teams will stretch you in growth, service and sacrifice.
Mark 10:17-21 tells the story of Jesus talking to a rich man.* He asks what he needs to do to go to heaven, Jesus responds reminding him to follow God's commandments. He answers in a way that reminds me of a kids saying "I did that" in regard to homework or chores as he plays his video game not really listening, but just wanting to focus on the game. Jesus then looks at him and says "Go and sell all your posessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The man is dumbstruck and sadly leaves because he chooses his stuff over Jesus.
This month we have a number of choices.
Actually, we are constantly faced with choices.
Choose God or stuff?
Choose God over people?
Choose good over bad?
Choose the Best over 'Good'?
Choose Godly over Popular?
Choose Christlike over Comfortable?
Choose Love over Lust?
How will you choose?
I'm praying that you would choose wisely, from your relationship with God to your relationships with others to your relationship with or for that 'special person'.
Praying for you to experience God's Love and that you would choose to pass it on as well,
Jackson
Jackson Fong
Student Ministries Pastor
Community Church of Susanville
Feb 2011 Things to Note
Feb 4 - JH Bowling
Feb 6 - Girl's Group
Feb 9 - SH Agape Feast
Feb 11 - College Fellowship
Feb 13 - Girl's Tea
Feb 18-20 SH Winter Retreat
Feb 24th College Fellowship
Feb 27 - Girl's Group
Dates to Save!
March
5 SH Scavenger Hunt
11-13 JH Winter Retreat
26 Staying True Girl’s Conference
April
(1-2) JH All Nighter
(8-10) Planet Wisdom (Leadership)
15-23 Mexico
SH Clue Night
*The Rich Man (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’e]'>[e]” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hardf]'>[f] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.g]'>[g]”