RESTORE: A World Re-Imagined

If you were to imagine an alternate life than what you are living what would it look like? You'd probably keep your family but possibly choose something that still changes the picture from what it is at the moment. A different house, car, or career may be one of the top choices that you select. Maybe it is something additional to what you have now, be it a vacation home or sports car. Regardless of what it may be, you can imagine it - and may frequently imagine your life differently.

I want us to imagine what a life would look like if more of the people we knew and the place we lived had a life in Christ. Beyond going to church but was able to get excited about the possibilities that came about when we looked at life as being on God's team and joining forces with Him day after day. Being open to the Holy Spirit's working in our lives and taking advantage of the moments which He brings our way to share about Him.

Sunday, we began a series called RESTORE. Taking the concept that we can help take what we "imagine" and turn it into an outcome, trying to restore our world into something better. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week.

• Imagine ~ Think of what you would like different in your school, neighborhood, home, career, church, family, etc. Then, try to think about what you can do to make it become closer to what you imagine? What vision do you have and how can you carry out that vision to accomplish the task?
• In the Beginning ~ When something is new it has a shimmer (literal or figurative) that is very appealing. All things are good and fun and interesting. Over time, things tend to lose that shimmer. Sometimes we polish or repair the item(s) to get it back to the way it was in the beginning because "in the beginning" it was good. Similarly, after man messed things up through sin, God found a way to make things all better, and put that plan into motion through Jesus.
• Reversing Time ~ Time is something you cannot have back. Once it is gone, it cannot come back. Challenges us to take advantage of any time we are given. Though time cannot be taken back and the effects of a mistake cannot always be changed, we can understand that we can be forgiven. Forgiveness is a process of restoration - be it for yourself or toward someone else.
• Look for the New ~ Upon completion of the restoration there will be something new that comes about. As you imagine what the new will be like, look for that to be showing up at the end of the period. The "new" is imaginable and take advantage of what comes along the way.

"Imagine...the world living as one" is possible. It may not be that probable, but our job is not to make sure it comes true, but to make sure that we do what we can to help accomplish the task.

May you carry out the vision you have to make an area of your world better by utilizing the passion and drive you have.

Now it's your turn...what do you imagine, in your world of influence, that needs to be changed?

Graphics and sermon skeleton are graciously shared through Open Resources and can be found here

From Oasis to Garden

Yesterday, my family had the "privilege" of driving in Western Kansas. I jokingly said privilege because we were driving straight south into a wind that was somewhere near 30 miles-per-hour. The entire 100+ miles we encountered this not-s0-desirable force. If you've ever been to this area of the country you know it is flat and basically tree-less. Because of that you couldn't really even tell it was windy, besides the car was being affected.

What made the trip enjoyable wasn't the wind, the tree-less terrain, or the lack of gas mileage, but the fact that we we were traveling from an "oasis" to a "garden". Both have great things about them. We had and are having a good time in both places.

Wind is a powerful force that brings about change. Both wind and change are not always the most pleasant to experience, though it may be needed. But wind is couched in between encounters of calm.

A section of text in Matthew 8 reveals a time when the disciples were on a boat and encountered winds when they were on the sea. They woke Jesus, in desperation. Jesus calmed the storm. The disciples had gone from calm to calm, but with wind and storm in between.

As you travel through life, from calm to calm, keep in mind that the winds that come your way are taking you from "oasis" to "garden". Between these two destinations are filled with change. Just know that the calm will return and once it does, you can look back and rest again.

Enjoying the time in "garden"...