Flying Solo
November 18 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Pictures of Community
Yesterday, I read Acts 2:42-47 as part of the Life Journal Reading Plan. As one who believes in the value of biblical community, it’s one of my favorite passages in all the Bible. It gives us a picture of how a group of people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and who genuinely love their neighbors as themselves truly live.
In light of recent economic challenges, I was also reminded of another picture of the value of community that is described in a book I read several years ago called, “We Had Everything But Money…Priceless Moments of the Great Depression“. Let this story stimulate you to think about how your small group can walk through difficult seasons together as well as celebrate the joyful moments of life.
The 1930s were tough times. There’s no way I’d want to live through them again, but I still have some warm memories.
I lost my job in 1932, just a few weeks before our eldest daughter was born. For the next 6 years, I shoveled snow in winter, mowed grass in summer, and loaded coal for 35 cents to 50 cents a ton. My wife did piecework sewing at home and baked homemade bread, which I sold to about 30 customers.
Our income was supplemented by a state work program, through which I made $1.50 a day for 10 days each month. The pay came in vouchers that could be used for food, rent and other necessities. Then came the WPA, where I eventually was assigned to a writers’ project at 75 cents an hour.
During planting season, I worked a large garden plot in river-bottom land mornings and evenings. By planting early, I managed to get a jump on the market, and traded beans and other vegetables to a store for bread and meat. The garden also provided food for our own table, and for us to share with others.
Our recreation was listening to the radio and attending “Depression parties” with our great friends and neighbors. Each person furnished snacks, Kool-Aid or whatever else they could bring. We had big poker games (using kitchen matches for money), danced to music from the radio, and talked about our job prospects. Whenever one of the group found employment, we weren’t jealous; rather, we helped them celebrate their good fortune.
And those who had work helped those who didn’t. In 1937, I had a part-time job and was laid off just before Thanksgiving. One of my friends was working at the same place, but he had more seniority and kept his job.
At Christmas, my friend took 2 weeks off without pay, with the provision that I replace him for that period. I am eternally grateful to him for enabling me to provide my children a bit of Christmas cheer.
I wonder if there are still such men, or women, who would do the same for a friend. — George Liedel
October 14 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
10,000 Steps
The other day, I noticed that the prize in one of my kid’s favorite cereal was a step counter. Whether out of curiousity or for exercise purposes, it’s become popular to count our steps. Recently, I read that on average we walk around 10,000 steps from sunrise to sunset on a typical day. Over a lifetime, our steps add up to something like 115,000 miles. That’s 4 times around the globe. Have you given much thought to your steps? Has your small group? I think we should. Our steps always take us somewhere.
In reading Luke 19:1-10 this week, I followed Jesus’ steps. As He entered Jericho, His steps took Him to a tree where He encountered a man named Zacchaeus. His steps took him to the sinner’s home, even though it caused quite a stir in the religious community. He later gave us insight about the intentionality of His steps when He stated, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus in essence was saying I have 10,000 steps today. I’m going to use them to “intentionally” seek out those who are disconnected from me and to “intentionally” invite them on the journey of a lifetime.
How will you use your steps today? Will you intentionally use them for the greater purpose? Collectively, will your group use your steps to intentionally seek out people who are disconnected from a small group community at Pinelake and invite them to join your group? Will you intentionally use your steps to walk downtown to seek and serve those who are poor, hungry, and uneducated?
Our 10,000 steps today matter. May we individually, and collectively as a small group, use them to intentionally seek and engage those who are disconnected and lost.
Other Tidbits
- Please update your small group roster using the ‘Roster Update’ tab on the Blog.
- We have created a Men’s Ministry Blog to keep the men in your small group informed of the latest happenings and resources. Check out and subscribe at http://pinelake.org/blogs/men/.
- Our last Men’s Luncheon is this Monday, October 13, at 11:30 a.m. at the Mississippi Ag Museum. We will have several guys share insights on how they respond when faith and life collide. Cost is $5. RSVP to men@pinelake.org.
– Steve Campbell, Small Groups & Equipping Pastor
October 09 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Meet Mike Watson
Week 4 Sermon Discussion Questions
1. We live in a world full of pessimism. Right now, our national leaders are stressing and grappling with grim economic realities. President Bush, Senators McCain and Obama, and congressional leaders are mulling over a “bail-out.” They assert this affects us all.
- Do you think we live in pessimistic times? Why or why not?
- How is your life being affected by pessimism? What factors pull you down?
2. In Haggai, we have been introduced to people who have known real discouragement. For 70 years they had been slaves to the rule of the Babylonians. The Medo-Persian Empire allowed them re-entry to their country which lay in ruins. Their task: rebuild their country, the temple, and their lives. In their attempt at rebuilding, they got sidetracked and dsicouraged and thus, they quit. Their lack of balance and their mis-placed priorities, led them to forsake God’s work altogether. God kept His blessings from them and sought their attention. They were busy building, but let their lives get dirty with sin. They wanted to give up. They wanted to give up and run away.
- Read Galatians 6:9,10. How can this verse be good for you?
- Someone has claimed that God equips us with the ability to deal with discouragement. How would you think this is true? Have you seen it on a personal level?
3. Read Haggai 2: 20-23. God gives Zerubbabel hope in three ways:
- He shows him that HE is in control
- He reminds him that HE keeps His promises
- He teaches him that HE is for him.
- How much of an issue is control for you? (Do you tend to be a control person….. or do you roll with the flow and take it easy?)
- Itemize what we can control and what we can not control. Then share your answers as a group.
- God gives Zerubbabel 6 “I WILL” statements in this passage. What are they and what do they signify?
- These are not foolish statements given by a braggert, but promises made by the Sovereign God. What’s the difference?
- The people in Haggai could not control the weather…. and wheather it rained or how much their crops, vineyards and orchards produced, but they could control the most important thing: their response! Discuss the value of this? In their lives and yours!
- Do you ever have real difficulty believing that God is for you?
- God doesn’t have to give us good circcucmstances and lots of stuff and an easy, trouble-free life to prove His love for us. Do you agree with this? How so?
Next Week: New Sermon Series with a study guide - Me and My Big Mouth (Study of Book of James)
Meet Mike Watson, Small Groups Pastor
Mike Watson is the newest member of our small groups team. He will focus on new group formation and creating opportunties for people to connect in community. We are thrilled to have Mike on board and thought we’d give you a snapshot of who he is below:
Q1. Tell us about your family?
My wife, Stephanie, and I have been married for 8 years. Steph is a marriage and family counselor, so I get analyzed a lot and am rarely right. We have an 18-month-old son named Ethan who is awesome and constantly changing every part of our lives – particularly sleep habits.
Q2. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy during your free time?
Pre-Ethan, Stephanie and I were huge moviegoers. Dinner and movie was our weekly date. I’m passionate about drums and percussion, love to play racquetball and softball, and really stink at golf. Given our choice, though, Stephanie and I would spend our free time just going to dinner with other couples.
Q3. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the last 12 months?
Since I saw A Beautiful Mind, I’ve refused to see movies that affect me. Thus, I’m in it for the sheer entertainment. I’m going with The Dark Knight.
Q4. What are your favorite restaurants or food choices?
Outback and P.F. Chang’s are favorites. But, any place that I can get either a really good steak or some good, Southern barbeque I’ll fall in love with instantly.
Q5. What is one thing on your “bucket list”?
I’d like to see a game in every Major League Baseball park, except for Cellular Field because the White Sox play there. I missed Yankee Stadium and am still mad it is being closed. I’m off to a slow start at 4.
Q6. What else should we know about you? Are you a germ-a-phob?
I don’t have a problem with germs, as evidenced by the fact that I took a sip out of Robert Green’s glass at breakfast this morning when he wasn’t looking. (If he’s reading this blog, he just found that out for the first time.) However, I do have an ongoing hatred for humidity. I’m a bit of a human barometer and once it gets over about 75% humidity, I’m miserable. Living my whole life in the Deep South, I’ve just learned to deal with it. I’m a rabid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Dallas Cowboys, and Auburn Tigers. Since the Cubs are in the playoffs, the Cowboys are favored to go to the Super Bowl, and Auburn would have defeated LSU if they would have run the ball on their last drive instead of passing on 1st and 2nd downs, life is good.
September 27 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Finding Balance
Someone recently asked me if I liked working in the small group ministry. I responded by quoting the lyrics to a country music song (that’s my preferred genre of music) - “I Like It, I Love It, I Want Some More Of It”. Seriously, our team is having a blast! Existing small groups are meeting again, new groups are forming, new leaders are being trained, new people are being connected! In case you didn’t hear, approximately 200 people attended one of our Small Group CONNECT events in August. We’ve now got our first small group meeting in the Florence/Richland area with another new group on the horizon. It really is a fun season of ministry. I hope you are enjoying it as well.
Whether your group has come back together after a summer break or if it is a brand-new group, I want to encourage you to get out and do something together…SOON! Nothing bonds relationshps like having some extended time together and sharing an experience. If you can pull it off on short notice, I want to mention a few opportunities for you to consider even if it is just with a few of the folks from your group.
- Pinelake Men’s Golf Outing This Friday - 8:00 a.m. (Register on the Pinelake website)
- Movie Date Night, 7:00 p.m. Friday - “Fireproof” (from the creators of Facing the Giants) - Purchase tickets at The Source (limited availability) or at the Parkway Place Theater.
- First-Timers Day of Service | Mission First - Saturday, October 4th from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. (More Info)
If none of these opportunities are viable options, find something else, but plan to do something together here at the beginning of a new season. You won’t regret it.
SmallTalk Coaching Video - BALANCE
You’ve heard us say often that small groups are a place where people belong, grow, and serve at Pinelake. But how do you keep balance in your group so you don’t become one dimensional? Our small group team talked about this recently, view the clip below. However, before you do, please take a moment to update your group roster.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Steve Campbell, Small Groups Team Leader
September 25 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
