Sunday I mentioned a great teaching series on what the bible says about finances/money. If you have itunes you can get it there under podcasts.
For the rest of us, it is not yet posted on the northpointe website so I guess you will have to wait a few weeks. Keep checking though... http://www.northpoint.org/messages
If you have questions about giving/tithing, pick up a copy of our brochure on GIVING in the new MAP ROOM (Information Center).
Thanks for to all of you who stepped up to partnership. About 25 family units made a new commitment to this body.
Thanks to all who remembered to bring their offering from last week. This week was an outstanding response to the church's financial needs.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The New Journey Fellowship Website
Hey Fellow Journeyers,
As you can see, we are working on a new version of journeyfellowship.info. Look around, and then leave a comment here. Tell us what you like, what you dislike, any bugs you find, etc. We'll incorporate your feedback into the final version of the site.
Hope you like it!
As you can see, we are working on a new version of journeyfellowship.info. Look around, and then leave a comment here. Tell us what you like, what you dislike, any bugs you find, etc. We'll incorporate your feedback into the final version of the site.
Hope you like it!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
further comments AT THE CROSSROADS
DIRECTIONS #9: CROSSROADS
Before discussing Matthew 6:21 & 22, the verses we skipped over in the CROSSROADS message, I want to point you to a CNN story regarding wealth and need as we discussed this past sunday.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/02/hunger.house/index.html
Now on with the message of Matthew 6. The word translated good (NIV)/healthy (NRSV) and the word tranlated evil(NIV)/unhealthy(NRSV) can be translated GENEROUS and GREEDY respectively. These seem to make more sense in the context.
THE EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY
As for the whole thing about the eyes being the lamp of the body, it was believed by some in ancient times that light actually shone out of the body through the eyes. Others suggest that the eyes were like a window and good or evil came inside through them. (A good commentary will chase down all the arguements.) Regardless of which explanation of the "eye/body" statemetns (and there are more than 2) the overall metaphor remains. When it comes to STUFF (Mammon in greek, Money in NIV) we often follow our eyes OR our eyes see some thing and it triggers something inside us to "go and get it." Jesus is calling a spade a spade and saying that the way we see stuff is a function of what goes on inside with regard to the stuff. FURTHERMORE, if we add back in the translation of GENEROSITY/GREEDY for GOOD/EVIL. Then we realize that GENEROSITY is a sign of true followers of Christ who have surrendered to his kingdom.
GENEROSITY AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
It seems to me, if you put last weeks texts and this weeks texts together (which Matthew did) then we can say GENEROSITY is a spiritual discipline. I believe it to be a discipline that is helpful to rich and poor alike to "fill us with light."
Before discussing Matthew 6:21 & 22, the verses we skipped over in the CROSSROADS message, I want to point you to a CNN story regarding wealth and need as we discussed this past sunday.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/02/hunger.house/index.html
Now on with the message of Matthew 6. The word translated good (NIV)/healthy (NRSV) and the word tranlated evil(NIV)/unhealthy(NRSV) can be translated GENEROUS and GREEDY respectively. These seem to make more sense in the context.
THE EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY
As for the whole thing about the eyes being the lamp of the body, it was believed by some in ancient times that light actually shone out of the body through the eyes. Others suggest that the eyes were like a window and good or evil came inside through them. (A good commentary will chase down all the arguements.) Regardless of which explanation of the "eye/body" statemetns (and there are more than 2) the overall metaphor remains. When it comes to STUFF (Mammon in greek, Money in NIV) we often follow our eyes OR our eyes see some thing and it triggers something inside us to "go and get it." Jesus is calling a spade a spade and saying that the way we see stuff is a function of what goes on inside with regard to the stuff. FURTHERMORE, if we add back in the translation of GENEROSITY/GREEDY for GOOD/EVIL. Then we realize that GENEROSITY is a sign of true followers of Christ who have surrendered to his kingdom.
GENEROSITY AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
It seems to me, if you put last weeks texts and this weeks texts together (which Matthew did) then we can say GENEROSITY is a spiritual discipline. I believe it to be a discipline that is helpful to rich and poor alike to "fill us with light."
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