Weekly Once-Over (6.20.2013)

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.20.13)

 A Prayer for the Mom Who's Worn- Christina Fox writes a great blog post about motherhood. She writes, "Motherhood is both the best job and the also hardest job I've ever had. It has brought me great joy and revealed to me a level of love I hadn't known before. It has also stretched me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've lived on less sleep than should be humanly possible. I've even learned more than I care to about bugs, science, and how machines work (two boys will that do that to you). While the physical stretch marks may fade, the ones on my heart are there to stay..."

Perspectives on Our Children's Education: Going Public - The Gospel Coalition asked three moms of school-age children to share their families' perspectives on education. Jen Wilkin, Jenni Hamm, and Amanda Allen are three friends who attend the same church and raise families in the same geographic area. All three share mutual respect for each other as parents trying to raise children with intentionality, in the fear and admonition of the Lord. In this series, you will see their perspectives on how and why they chose to educate their children through public school, private school, or homeschooling. The series begins today with Jen Wilkin on  why she sends her children to public school.

How to Read a Book - Reading a book seems like a pretty straightforward task, doesn’t it? And in some cases, it is. If you’re reading purely for entertainment or leisure, it certainly can be that easy. There’s another kind of reading, though, in which we at least attempt to glean something of value from the book in our hands (whether in paper or tablet form). In that instance, you might be surprised to learn that it’s not as simple as opening the book and reading the words.

How to Ask for Forgiveness - Making this a habitual practice would make our marriages, families, and churches the most beautiful places on earth. I would probably say that nothing has changed the tone of my marriage in the last 5 to 7 years as much as having the phrase, "I'm sorry.  Will you forgive me?" come out of our mouths.

Praying With Children - Tim Challies has a great post on his blog called Praying with Children. He says, "One of the great privileges of being a pastor is always having a good reason to speak to the children of the church. I love getting down to their level (i.e. sitting on the floor), talking to them, and hearing about their lives. A question I love to ask them is this: How can I pray for you? We ask this same question on Wednesday evenings when our church gathers for our mid-week service. The children go off to classes to learn about Jesus while adults go and spend an hour in prayer. But before we dismiss the kids we ask them the question: How can we pray for you tonight"

Funny: If I saw this sort of drummer at our church play drums like this, I would probably laugh...A lot!

Going into your community with your Gospel Community

The following Blog post is by Kati Berreth The call for your GC to be missional:

A few weeks ago I laid out a call for us to make this a summer of missional intentionality. And as summer is quickly approaching with Western finishing in a week, many of the public schools only a few days after, and the sun making an appearance daily it is time to think and pray about how you will use your summer to make disciples of all nations.

A great way to do this is by inviting your GC to be on mission this summer. Although during the summer many people travel and attendance can be a struggle for having a critical mass in your living room, this is a great opportunity to join a tradition/celebration that is already established in your community and get to know you neighbors and the people that live in your city.

Think about when you go to a coffee shop or a restaurant regularly. If you are intentional with these visits and friendly, then I am sure that you at least know your servers names and have maybe even chitchatted. Well, this is the same for attending an event in Bellingham, Lynden, or Ferndale regularly. You will get to know people, and even better, you will be doing it with other people in your GC that can make this type of relationship forming even easier.

Along with getting to meet new people who need to hear the Good News of the Gospel, this would also be a great time to invite those in your sphere of influence into community. Why not invite your co-worker to join your GC in playing ultimate Frisbee once a week since you know he loves to play but hasn’t found a team to play on. And while you invite him, pray that his eyes and heart would be open to hearing the Gospel and that you would be prepared to share it.  I promise that God will use your faithful attempts, whether well articulated or not, for your good and His Glory through the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Places for your GC to be missional:

So now all you need to do is find a place to regularly attend this summer. Although you might be tempted to stay in your backyard with the safety of a fence and a gas grill, I challenge you to find an event that is being put on in your city. There are lots of different events throughout Whatcom County and many are even free! Below is a partial list just to get you started.

Monday nights 6.3-7.15 first race starts at 6 pm  - All Comers track meets - $

Tuesday nights 6 pm – All Paces Run/Walk with Fairhaven Runners – free (other runs throughout the week as well) http://fairhavenrunners.com/weekly-drop-in-runs-and-walks/

Wednesday afternoons 12-5 pm – Fairhaven Farmers Market – free unless you buy stuff http://bellinghamfarmers.org/Wednesday-Market/215.aspx

Thursday nights starting 6.27 from 6-8 pm – Elizabeth Park Concert Series – free http://www.cob.org/services/recreation/activities/concerts-in-the-park.aspx

Saturday nights starting 6.22 when it gets dark – Fairhaven Outdoor Movies - $

Hope this gives you some ideas to help your GC engage your community and have some fun this summer as you seek to be missionally intentional with your time!

photo credit: ecstaticist via photopin cc

Weekly Once-Over (6.13.13)

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.13.13)

The Puritans on Putting Sin to Death - Mortification of sin was what Paul was talking about when he said to the Colossians, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you" (Col.3:5). Here are six practical ways the puritans suggest how to put sin to death.

4 Questions to Check Your Church Culture - There's only so much you can learn about a church from their website...Culture is the heart of your church, the atmosphere your church creates...Unfortunately, the culture of a church doesn't always match the confession. Here is a few questions you can ask to know what your church culture is like.

Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole - With his new book that just came out, Eric Mason does an interview with Desiring God and talks through his book and the purpose, vision and desire for the book. Every guy needs to read this book.

I Am Not In Any Respect My Own - Sam Storms brings to light what Jonathan Edwards recorded for us in his personal Diary, when he talks about renewal of his baptismal covenant. Would that we all might recommit ourselves to the Lord in this way.

photo credit: [ changó ] via photopin cc

Weekly Once-Over (6.6.13)

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.6.13)

Why Church Membership is so Important - David Platt and Mark Dever discuss the importance of church membership and why it is so important in the Christian life.

When Sports Fail Us - Parents: When your children face adversity in sports - and they will! - Here are four lessons from a Christian athlete and trainer to guide you.

Basic Training for Missional Communities (Gospel Communities) - Todd Engstrom of Austin Stone Church in Texas has a great post on basic training for MC (Gospel Communities).

Real Purity - From the Gospel Coalition Blog Hafeez Baoku writes about the joy of seeking purity. He says, "Only by God's grace can imperfect people, who fall short on a daily basis, stand forever pure before a holy and perfect God. And only through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can we proactively fight sin and overcome struggles."

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

Recommended Books from the Staff (Summer Reading)

Summer is a great time to get reading in. There seems to be many more opportunities to read when summer is here. We all seem to have time off during this time, and as a staff we wanted to benefit your time off by recommending books to read over the summer. These books are just some of the staff favorites that have greatly benefitted them over the years and they hope they will benefit you as well.

Rob's recommended books to read this summer:

Dane's recommended books to read this summer:

Kati's recommended books to read this summer:

Claude's recommended books to read this summer:

If you end up reading any of these books or any other books this coming summer, let us know what you thought of the books by either emailing us (info@redeemernw.org) or tweet at us (@redeemernw) by using the hashtag #RedeemerSummerReading .

Weekly Once-Over (5.30.13)

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we have seen this past week that have been helpful and our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. So every Thursday of each week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (5.30.13)

How Dark Days Taught a Daddy to Pray - This post is worth the time to read.

Doubt Your Doubts - "My generation talks a lot about doubt. It seems hip and cool to be indifferent to everything and everyone. We shrug off people and plans as quickly as we shove off old technology or dated politics. We're a generation of Thomases, doubting at every turn..."

4 Ways the Gospel Heals the Sting of Rejection - This blog posts title is self explanatory.

 Two Ways to Identify Leaders - "In this series of posts, I am going to unpack the strategy and structure of leadership development we have implemented at The Austin Stone for missional communities..." (Gospel Community Leader Helps)

photo credit: Denis Collette...!!! via photopin cc