It's likely that you're reading this for one of three reasons:
1. You are bored out of your mind and have nothing better to do than read digital church literature :)
2. You are a spiritual seeker or skeptic.
3. You have chosen to follow Jesus.
Either way, you'll probably have a better day after having interacted with some of the information you'll find on this page. It's here for a couple of reasons. We want you to find resources to inspire and train you to be "fully you." That's the goal- not to produce walking robots who chant religious jargon at church services, or to tell you how to think. The goal is to help you live up to your full potential, your God-created reason for being.
Many people who make a decision to follow Jesus never really make it. In fact, Jesus taught that most of the people who make such a decision will never go through with it. Why? It's counter to the culture we live in, and to be certain, there are forces (both natural and supernatural) which would seek to deter you from living out your full potential. You may be wondering, "I thought this was supposed to make my day better?" Well, it's better to be honest up front than to lie to you and tell you this will be easy. The truth is, following Jesus is not always easy, but it is definitely fulfilling.
That's the real reason for this little page. We want to help you change direction. To be a follower of Jesus is about action, not a one-time decision. It is about learning to think and live differently, and all of this over a period of time and with the help of God and friends. To reach your full potential, you will want to stay close to Jesus. Since you can't see Him, that may be difficult to do at first. That's why we're here, and that's also why the Holy Spirit is now at work within you.
So, here's what you'll find below:
Coach's Corner- These are brief God-thoughts from people who have been following Jesus for a while now (raw, inspiring and challenging).
Changing Direction booklet- It's a field guide to following Jesus, written Pastor Mike and Darla Rakes.
Water Baptism booklet- You may have heard of or seen people get baptized. Here's a brief look at what it's all about.
Groups- Changing Direction happens best with others. Make a few friends along the way with one of our groups.
Go Points- A Brand New way to get involved and be at the fore-front of what is going on in the Church. We would love to see you there.
Let's be friends.
Come, follow me.
Coach's Corner
8.8.09 Good Routine
I'd always resisted routine, until I found something I actually liked doing. For me, it was one sport in particular. When I actually started to enjoy it, I didn't mind the routine of practice, because when it came time to compete, I could just let loose and get "in the flow" or "in the zone" or whatever you call those rare moments when you set the fundamentals and mechanics aside and just enjoy the feeling of doing something well. But routine created the muscle memory that I needed, so that when it was game time, I wasn't thinking about my muscle memory. It is much the same in my walk with Jesus.
I never much enjoyed what church people called "quiet times." It even sounds boring. Then, they mixed it up a bit and called it "devotions" which sounded not much better. The whole point was to spend time doing God stuff, with God alone. The only problem I had with all of this was something I like to call A.D.D. My mind would wander while praying, while reading, while wandering...
Then, someone told me it was alright to experiment during those times alone with Jesus. I could follow my inner leadings a bit. Some mornings, I would grab my guitar and just sing to the Lord and pray while singing and playing. Other moments, I would read the Scriptures- not much of them, but just enough to focus my mind. Other times, I would just read until my heart was content.
The point of it all was for me, I was allowed to be with a firend during these times, and he didn't require me to keep a systematized routine. I could mix it up a bit, and get a little spicy with it all. I know, it's just pure craziness to pray and read and play a guitar before the Lord. Actually, it is quite fun.
But here's what did help me. If left to myself, I would spend time in focusing on the Lord one day, and go a few days without it. It's not to increase the frequecy for the sake of keeping score, but for the sake of tending the soul. So, for me, it is helpful to have a routine, but to mix up the workouts within that routing, when it comes to focused times with the Lord.
So here's the tip. Try it out...
Set aside a:
Specific time- a daily time just for you and God, but be careful not to relegate him to only those moments.
Single focus- It's helpful to have some idea about what you want to read ot pray about before you arrive. Perhaps get a "devotional book."
Sacred space- A favorite chair, a cozy corner, or a good coffee shop. Find a place you njoy being with God.
What I have found is that If I keep the specific time in a place I enjoy, and allow myself the freedom to read and pray and cry and laugh and study and... in any order I want, then it feels more like time with a good friend that anything else. The routine strengthens the God-muscles inside me, and when I'm out on the playing field, I'm ready to go. Experiment with it all, and have some fun.
Currently Reading:
One Psalm a day from the Bible
Unleash prayer guide by Pastor Mike Rakes
The book Ezra- also in the Bible
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris
I enjoy writing thoughts in a Moleskine journal. Get a Border's reward card and they'll e-mail you 20%-40% off coupons periodically. Use it on a journal.
Currently praying about how to unplug more and keep a sabbath- a day just for fun and to remember all God has done.
8.9.09 Unleash
These thoughts came from our Pastor during the unleash prayer emphasis.
THEME: Day by day, day by day, O dear Lord, these things I pray: To see thee more clearly; Love thee more dearly; Follow thee more nearly, day by day. (Richard of Chichester)
Prayer Time: Pray all week to see the activity of God all around you. Pray during your 15 minutes about God bringing a greater spiritual awakening to your own heart. This week we will pray persistently for purity of motives. To be wholly focused on Him and not being double-minded. Greatness in any field or discipline is about focusing only on one thing at a time. Pray that you might understand how to be more fully devoted to Him. Talk with Him every day about that.
Tip: Prayer is not about advancing anywhere. It is simply going deeper into your inner life where God lives and speaking with Him there. Many misguided people miss countless opportunities to experience God in prayer because they do not expect Him to be present. He is already there. The bible tells us that His presence is inside you. He is more than a listener to our lists and the things that scare us. He really does want to be our friend and for us to know Him in the deepest parts of our lives.
8.10.09 Missed it...
Just thinking how the devil,
that fallen angel, must live forever with the realization that he
missed it- that everything was his to enjoy in God, yet he pursued his
own career as God... and how we are prone to do the same, to be our own
lords. There is great beauty in submission. Think on the different areas of your life. Are they submitted to God's ways, or your ways? We usually find a bit of both. Be patient with yourself, but get relentless about giving every area over to God.
8.23.09 Settle Down Now
Is there anything worse than busyness to get us off our spiritual rocker? It just seems that in addition to the enemy of your soul, and your own tendency (and mine) to do things to set you back, just plain ole busyness is enemy enough to really mess things up. In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle in the coming days, steal a quick moment to thank the Lord for what He's doing in your life, to read a quick portion of Scripture, or to just think about a teaching or something you read recently. Sometimes we skip the small moments because we think we owe God really long times alone. Forget that and start where you are.
I'd always resisted routine, until I found something I actually liked doing. For me, it was one sport in particular. When I actually started to enjoy it, I didn't mind the routine of practice, because when it came time to compete, I could just let loose and get "in the flow" or "in the zone" or whatever you call those rare moments when you set the fundamentals and mechanics aside and just enjoy the feeling of doing something well. But routine created the muscle memory that I needed, so that when it was game time, I wasn't thinking about my muscle memory. It is much the same in my walk with Jesus.
I never much enjoyed what church people called "quiet times." It even sounds boring. Then, they mixed it up a bit and called it "devotions" which sounded not much better. The whole point was to spend time doing God stuff, with God alone. The only problem I had with all of this was something I like to call A.D.D. My mind would wander while praying, while reading, while wandering...
Then, someone told me it was alright to experiment during those times alone with Jesus. I could follow my inner leadings a bit. Some mornings, I would grab my guitar and just sing to the Lord and pray while singing and playing. Other moments, I would read the Scriptures- not much of them, but just enough to focus my mind. Other times, I would just read until my heart was content.
The point of it all was for me, I was allowed to be with a firend during these times, and he didn't require me to keep a systematized routine. I could mix it up a bit, and get a little spicy with it all. I know, it's just pure craziness to pray and read and play a guitar before the Lord. Actually, it is quite fun.
But here's what did help me. If left to myself, I would spend time in focusing on the Lord one day, and go a few days without it. It's not to increase the frequecy for the sake of keeping score, but for the sake of tending the soul. So, for me, it is helpful to have a routine, but to mix up the workouts within that routing, when it comes to focused times with the Lord.
So here's the tip. Try it out...
Set aside a:
Specific time- a daily time just for you and God, but be careful not to relegate him to only those moments.
Single focus- It's helpful to have some idea about what you want to read ot pray about before you arrive. Perhaps get a "devotional book."
Sacred space- A favorite chair, a cozy corner, or a good coffee shop. Find a place you njoy being with God.
What I have found is that If I keep the specific time in a place I enjoy, and allow myself the freedom to read and pray and cry and laugh and study and... in any order I want, then it feels more like time with a good friend that anything else. The routine strengthens the God-muscles inside me, and when I'm out on the playing field, I'm ready to go. Experiment with it all, and have some fun.
Currently Reading:
One Psalm a day from the Bible
Unleash prayer guide by Pastor Mike Rakes
The book Ezra- also in the Bible
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris
I enjoy writing thoughts in a Moleskine journal. Get a Border's reward card and they'll e-mail you 20%-40% off coupons periodically. Use it on a journal.
Currently praying about how to unplug more and keep a sabbath- a day just for fun and to remember all God has done.
8.9.09 Unleash
These thoughts came from our Pastor during the unleash prayer emphasis.
THEME: Day by day, day by day, O dear Lord, these things I pray: To see thee more clearly; Love thee more dearly; Follow thee more nearly, day by day. (Richard of Chichester)
Prayer Time: Pray all week to see the activity of God all around you. Pray during your 15 minutes about God bringing a greater spiritual awakening to your own heart. This week we will pray persistently for purity of motives. To be wholly focused on Him and not being double-minded. Greatness in any field or discipline is about focusing only on one thing at a time. Pray that you might understand how to be more fully devoted to Him. Talk with Him every day about that.
Tip: Prayer is not about advancing anywhere. It is simply going deeper into your inner life where God lives and speaking with Him there. Many misguided people miss countless opportunities to experience God in prayer because they do not expect Him to be present. He is already there. The bible tells us that His presence is inside you. He is more than a listener to our lists and the things that scare us. He really does want to be our friend and for us to know Him in the deepest parts of our lives.
8.10.09 Missed it...
Just thinking how the devil,
that fallen angel, must live forever with the realization that he
missed it- that everything was his to enjoy in God, yet he pursued his
own career as God... and how we are prone to do the same, to be our own
lords. There is great beauty in submission. Think on the different areas of your life. Are they submitted to God's ways, or your ways? We usually find a bit of both. Be patient with yourself, but get relentless about giving every area over to God.
8.23.09 Settle Down Now
Is there anything worse than busyness to get us off our spiritual rocker? It just seems that in addition to the enemy of your soul, and your own tendency (and mine) to do things to set you back, just plain ole busyness is enemy enough to really mess things up. In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle in the coming days, steal a quick moment to thank the Lord for what He's doing in your life, to read a quick portion of Scripture, or to just think about a teaching or something you read recently. Sometimes we skip the small moments because we think we owe God really long times alone. Forget that and start where you are.