Conflict....ah....ah!

Well, last week was something off the charts. Yes preaching about husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church and wives submitting to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22-33), was quite a doozy.

But, last Tuesday, I was able to go to a church planters network meeting and hear a talk about managing conflict. As the speaker, Ron Toews, (a friend, mentor, teacher, fellow follower of Jesus) unpacked this idea and the implications of managing conflict in a healthy way, God started to speak in a mighty way!
Here's some points that stood out:

• "The mission of God should create conflict" Basically, if we are following the Bible and what the church is called to be and we are called to be, it will create some conflict....good conflict
• "Helping people work through the small conflict in life, will pave the way for working on the bigger conflict."

So, some big questions came to mind...for you (not really sure who reads this, one person or 100), but to ponder for yourselves:

• How do you manage conflict at your workplace?
• If there was a continuum of conflict, where would you be....hating conflict - not minding it once in awhile - or embracing it no matter what.
• How do you manage conflict in your marriage or close friendships? Who takes the lead in resolving conflict, you or the other person?
• What about in church...have you run away from conflict, not willing to work through it - I know often I have, and already at Gateway, I have shyed away from certain people and conflict with them....unhealthy - for sure!

This idea about conflict led me to this sight, which I found yesterday. Check it out...even watch the video - what secrets do we hide or live in fear to?

http://mysecret.tv/
May God give you hope and joy as you receive his love today,
Blessings,
Paul

the second week of the apocalypse...teaching on marriage

Well, after this past week of preaching a real passionate piece of work about husbands loving their wives -well I have heard a number of comments from guys who listened to the sermon. Here's a sampling:
- Wow, you sure nailed us!
- Now that no guys will ever show up to a Sunday service who are you going to preach to?
- I have all of those areas figured out.

I have to admit, this was a convicting sermon to preach. There are so many areas I need to elevate and be thankful for my wife. I sure have a great calling to be a leader in our home, who loves God and lives out his love that Jesus showed to the church.

This week, I follow up with addressing the wives (and the husbands, but they don't know that), about submission, headship, respect...which are all lived out, only through a relationship with God.

If you are married, discuss with your spouse, what an ideal marriage would look like...then start working towards that goal of oneness and love.

Desperate Households...& lives

This week, I am studying one of the toughest passages I have had to preach on in awhile. At Gateway Community Church we have looked at many interesting issues in the past month related to anger, lying, stealing, how we talk - all related to these things should change as we encounter a relationship with Jesus.

What could that passage be that is so difficult? It's a passage that says, "Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church."

What's the big deal, you may be wondering? Just a reminder that Jesus gave up his life for the church (ie. people who want to have a relationship with God). My question is, men, when is the last time you really sacrificed for your wife?...Now I'm not talking about changing the channel during the playoffs, or washing the dishes, but I mean consistently thought of your wife's needs and wanted to do whatever it took to please her?

I find it's quite easy in a marriage relationship to point out and get frustrated with all the things my wife doesn't do (don't get me wrong, she is pretty amazing), but it's much more difficult to love her unconditionally, to be focus on her and treating her like I am dating her.

If you want to find out more what my thoughts will sound like...come out Sunday, I dare you:)

The rest of the month, in our series on Desperate Households, we will be flipping the tables and looking at how our wives can be a good lover, how kids and parents can get along, and how to raise up children....

Come out on a Sunday, this series, based in Ephesians 5:21-33 - will give you some real life application that I guarantee will improve your home life.

Share some stories/ comments on who has taught you how to have a good family life, marriage?

Blessings,
Paul

Will you come with me?

This past week I have started reading a book called, "The Presence Based Church," and what struck me was the idea that God's presence needs to go with us.

What am I talking about? When Moses was leading the Israelites, Moses begged God and virtually demanded that God would accompany him wherever he would go. If you have kids, or have spent any time with younger children, you realize how children most often want your presence. Sam, our son who's almost 3, loves to grab my hand and beg me to come "play trucks." He doesn't just want me to sit in the same room, or even to watch on the floor, but he wants my attention, my interaction and friendship.

How often do we desire the same from God? We don't want to head into the unknown alone, but hope that God will come alongside us. Thankfully God promises his Holy Spirit to be with us, so we don't have to wonder if God will come along, like a dog. But God is always there (He says, "He will never leave us nor forsake us").

Back to the story of Moses in Exodus 33:17 - God promises to be with Moses because he is pleased with him and knows him by name. I'm certainly thankful, that through Jesus, God is pleased with me and I can be called a child of God.

How have you seen God's presence in you life...leave a comment.
Paul
(Pastor of Gateway Community Church)

Cylcone in Myanmar

After watching the devastation of the limited images on TV, it is hard to imagine what's really going on in Myanmar. The cyclone has ravaged through villages. Many villages were completely wiped out and now, the government has the audacity to not let foreign aid workers enter in.

Do I believe in evil? Do you believe in the power of Satan? For sure, their is an evil presence working through this government. Unfortunately, this government is not helping their own citizens so they can get the required aid to prevent major outbreaks of cholera & diarrhea. It's unbelievable that the government would have a major vote, just after a huge portion of their country has been wiped out!

We must pray that God would soften the hearts of those leaders to allow the foreign aid and workers into the country. What we are seeing in Myanmar is similar to the story of Pharoah, who had such a hard heart and wasn't able to see his own ignorance.

Written from a land of abundance, a person who is humbled and in awe of how much we have and yet how little we care for those in need.

Big world...big God

After enjoying a beautiful sunny weekend on this magnificent place we live, it is incredible how much order there actually is. When I look back to the beginning of the Bible, God had a plan in each day that he created. His creation, the sun, moon, stars, water, animals, humans -were not by chance or even by surprise.

God had a plan when he created. His best plan was for his creation to worship him and point people to his nature. One of my favourite verses is Psalm 19:1,2 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they put forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."

As our family went for a walk yesterday in the forest and along a sparkling clean stream, it is so evident that nature didn't happen by chance. God is the creator and allows us to enjoy his creation. ...thanks God!

The mystery of prayer

The past couple days, I've really been struck by the mystery of prayer. Let me explain...for most people they will admit to praying at some time and to some one.

As I was reading a passage in Matthew 4:23, it says Jesus, "climbed up the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night." Isn't this amazing? That Jesus, who was fully God, even found an importance to retreat and be alone with God. You'd think Jesus would have been in-tune enough with the Father to hear his voice and respond appropriately. But was Jesus, distracted by the crowds, the culture just as much as we are today?

I like the words of David in the Psalms, "Be still and know that I am God." There is something freeing in being still and quiet before God. To know that God can hear us and that he's waiting to converse with us. I think of my children, who desire my attention. They will put up with me, not giving them my full attention, but love to sit and tell me about their day and talk with me.

Am I willing to retreat, to be with God? Are you willing to hear the voice of your creator? Carving some time in your day, just like Jesus? Is it worth it? Let's find out.