Soul Cafe

No Perfect People Allowed

soulcafe101 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:04:53 +0000

We began our new series today, “No Perfect People Allowed.” We focused on how Jesus loves to save sinners … how Jesus offers forgiveness to all … and, the new life Jesus brings. Which is to say that Las Vegas is a fabulous place to be in ministry. We are world-famous for having imperfect people populating our city and God must love demonstrating His grace here.

Impacting Las Vegas

soulcafe101 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:11:29 +0000

I’m reading a new book, “How to Muliply Your Church.” It raises questions for me as to how our faith community can make a greater impact on Las Vegas for the Kingdom of God. One sentence stands out (pg. 36) — “Activating ordinary people in very simple churches is how the gospel undercut the pagan Roman Empire in just three centuries.”

That seems to be the point for our church here in Las Vegas.

Healing Prayer

soulcafe101 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:24 +0000

I thought worship this past Sunday was very inspirational. We celebrated a thankoffering theme with Pastor Jennifer preaching at 8:00 am (which really was an accomplishment since she was awake all night Friday with the Confirmation kids at the Adventuredome and then in the Social Hall). The music by the choir and praise team was excellent as usual. And, I really enjoyed praying for healing for our members at the altar.

Too often we forget that healing prayer is Biblical and a huge part of the New Testament church. I think we will continue this practice on the last Sunday of each month. You could feel the Spirit of God moving in worship and that is something we would like to experience every time we get together for worship.

Getting Along in the Kitchen

soulcafe101 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:17:51 +0000

We had a great mid-week Bible study yesterday focusing on love. My message on Sunday was on loving people with your words. Tough to communicate with the right words. Yesterday we talked about just getting along in the kitchen … where to put the dishes, the level of neatness family members want, etc., etc. You know how it is in your own home.

After 25 years of marriage, I still don’t seem to know where various things should be put in the kitchen. God bless Chris for putting up with me. Life really is all about relationships and they are tough.

From today’s reading in “The Relationship Principles of Jesus” — One of the most vital aspects of your communication with people is prayer. More important than the way you talk to someone is the way you talk to God about them.

Don’t talk about people this week. Pray to God for them. Watch great things happen.

Communication Isn’t Easy!

soulcafe101 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:35:52 +0000

We continue with our sermon series, “It’s All About Love!” Yesterday I preached on loving with your words. It was the kind of sermon I aimed at myself because it is so difficult to use the right words in the heat of the moment in relationships. Folks who came up to me said the message spoke to them. I assured them it spoke first of all to me.

How tough is it to love with your words? Communication experts say that the words we speak can acutally produce six distinct messages:

1. What you mean to say
2. What you actually say
3. What the other person hears
4. What the other person thinks they hear
5. What the other person says about what you said
6. What you think the other person said about what you said

What’s a person to do? Well, we keep on communicating but we do it carefully … thoughtfully … slowly … prayerfully … lovingly … so that we build up family and friends through using words that give hope and encouragement to those around us.

Leadership and Tim Tebo

soulcafe101 — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:21:54 +0000

I really appreciate Tim Tebow’s leadership. As quarterback for the University of Florida, he recently led his team to the National Championship. Along the way, it’s no secret that Tim Tebow is passionate about expressing his Christian faith. In fact, he’s so passionate that he’s used eye-black markings this season as a way to share the scripture with others. During the BCS championship game, it was time for John 3:16 … “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You may have seen Tebow previously feature a reference to Philippians 4:13 during games, which reads “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

But Tebow’s leadership goes beyond Bible verses painted under his eyes. In the National Championship game, the first half was rather dull. I was waiting to see which player on which team would motivate his team to victory. It was Tim Tebow. It appeared as if he suddenly remembered that he was last year’s Heisman Trophy winner.

In the second half, he turned to the spectators in the stands and motioned for them to get excited. He turned to his teammates and got them going. Then in the space of about five minutes, Tebow did what quarterbacks don’t do — he took the ball and kept running it up the middle of the field crashing into Oklahoma players. About five minutes and 74 yards later, the momentum was on the side of the Gators and would remain there until they won the National Championship.

That’s leadership. Taking responsibility for witnessing to his faith in Christ and carrying a Division 1 football team on his shoulders to win a National Championship.

Listen

soulcafe101 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:55:16 +0000

The voice of God is speaking to us in our life. How are we listening? Certainly very few of us hear the audible voice of God waking us from our dreams, but God does speak. How are we listening?

We have two dogs. One is a large Chesapeake Bay/Golden Retriever mix. Mollie listens well when we call. The other is a Mini-Dachshund named Rosie. She has selective hearing. I’ve seen it at work and last weekend demonstrated it to Chris. She couldn’t believe it.

Rosie loves to get out the front door. She doesn’t go far but likes to visit our next-to-door neighbor. She loves exploring the strange world outside our front door and when she gets out she will not respond to her name being called. She will not respond even with a bit of sternness added, “Rosie! Come here right now!” However, I have discovered if I speak in a gentle voice, “Rosie, would you like a cookie?” she will come running as fast as she can.

Absolutely amazing. A little dog making a choice on whether or not she will be attentive to my voice. If Rosie can do it, then certainly we can make the choice to be attentive to the voice of God speaking in our life. How are we listening? Do we only hear God when a blessing or reward is spoken into our life? Or, can we be attentive to God so that we hear God speak at times and places when no one else would be able to hear? Can we listen so well that we hear God’s voice calling us to servanthood and discipleship even though it will mean sacrifice on our part?

Preparation

soulcafe101 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:53:43 +0000

Who prepared the way for the Lord in your life? For me, it has been different people in different seasons of my life. When I was young, it was Mom. She got us to Sunday School each week (the four Phillips’ kids were not usually very willing). She was the leader for evening devotions every day. Remember the book Little Visits with God? I grew up visiting with God with that book. And, it was Mom who got me to read my Bible. We argued one day when I was in elementary school. Mom: “Read your Bible!” Me: “Why?” Mom: “Because it’s good for you!” Mom won the argument.

To be truthful mothers tell us that both lima beans and Bibles are good for us. We should listen. Mothers usually know more than we think.

Wake-Up

soulcafe101 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:52:12 +0000

Imagine you are sound asleep and dreaming, when suddenly the door to your bedroom bursts open and a bright light shines full in your face. A voice shouts, “Wake up! Get up! You’ll be late!” And then you get hit in the face with cold water to further make the point.

Actually, this has been the scenario in the Phillips’ household trying to get the oldest child off to school through the years. Trevor worked hard, played hard and then could sleep through absolutely anything. He now has a double alarm system in the morning – a radio alarm clock and a cell phone alarm. There is yet another fail-safe built into his system when the morning holds important things for him to do – “Dad, would you call me at 6:30 am to make sure I’m up?”

The opening of Mark’s gospel is trying to wake us up. Anyone who is sound asleep in the Kingdom of God is given a rousing wake-up call as this gospel picks up momentum from the very beginning. John is a voice shouting in the wilderness, “Wake up! The Messiah is coming! Wake up! Jesus is here!”

Servanthood

soulcafe101 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:50:18 +0000

I love my children too much. Do any of you have that problem? Do any of you love your children too much? You love your children unconditionally? You love your children graciously? But I still have asked my children the question: “Have you done your work today? Have you taken out the garbage? Did you do the dishes? Did you make your bed? Did you clean your room? Did you do your homework? Did you do the work that I gave you to do?”

Poor Michael is the last one in the house. He’s got a few more years before college. Every day he hears the question, “Have you done your work today?”

This is also true of God. God’s love for us is so great, but God still asks us the question: “Did you do your chores today? Did you take care of the sick, the poor, the orphans, the starving, the thirsty, the refugees, the homeless, the hungry, the lonely in the nursing homes? Have you done your chores today?” That God asks you that question does not mean that God does not love you. It’s just the opposite. Because God does love you unconditionally, God asks you: “Have you done your chores? Do you know what the Father wants to have done around the house today and do you do it?”