Loving God to Love Others

I am constantly drawn back to the truths of God's word. Especially when it comes to my relationship with the Father. I turn to His word for direction, now more than ever.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (HCSB)
4"Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Leviticus 19:18 (HCSB)
Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Mark 12:28-31 (HCSB)
28One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"29"This is the most important," Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, The Lord is One. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.31"The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

As a child my third grade Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Merry shared the Love of Jesus through practical care and grace. To a rowdy class of boys and girls she blessed us with an unfailing love that engaged us, challenging us to awaken spiritually making the Bible, for the first time, God's love letter to us. Rev. Brewer taught us the life of Joseph emphasizing God's omniscience and omnipresence while revealing God's foreknowledge for all of life. This established a firm foundational relationship with Jesus that could not be shaken.

But is could be swayed. Jesus remained the same, but the need to Jesus transformed.... To knowledge, life skills, thought processes and tasks. Even more so in college, then again in the first years of ministry my relationship with Jesus was based on performance rather than Love.

In establishing relationality with the Father I found myself once again drawn back to the foundational truths taught by Mrs. Merry, Rev. Brewer and my Grandfather. Love God, Love Others, and whether you are Brilliant or Dumb it is God that Leads, it is all about God.

Here I am Lord use my Love for You to reveal Your Love for others, for that is what my Love for You leads me to.

Love the Lord, Love others, Led by the Lord.

Preaching and Pain

I have spent a long week working on my Preaching and Dealing with pain. I was not surprised by how intricately they were linked, rather how they were connected this week. On Monday and Tuesday I was in Madison working on my preaching skills, being sharpened by the Simeon Trust, sitting under David Helm, Paul Winters and Jeff Nettles. This was a great time of sharpening and applying the hermineutical process to the art of preaching. I truly enjoyed this time.

Returning home I prepared a sermon to share the Love of Jesus at a funeral. The pain the family was feeling and then what I was feeling was near unbearable. Sharing the love of Jesus at a funeral is hard to communicate when they are so focused on their pain.

In the next few days I look to apply what I have learned to the preaching process, all the while individuals are returning to Jesus. Discipleship groups are starting and more are looking to know Jesus. Pray for us as we continue to share the Love of Jesus with Superior.

Outreach vs. Relationship

I am an extremely relational person. I like people and want to be around them, then just like a switch I want to escape.

God is a relational God, Father to Son, Son to Spirit, Spirit to Father. All in relationship to each other. Yet in this most perfect of relationships there is room for more. God has given us the opportunity to be in relationship with Him through the Son. If I know the Son, I know the Father.

My greatest desire is to know God perfectly, to continue the relationship that He has built with me through knowing Him in Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength perfectly.

In my struggle to know Jesus I am continually confronted with my own sin. I desire to live in repentance accepting the forgiveness and receiving the spiritual healing I so longingly seek.

When my heart is right with the Lord, I am able to serve out of God's power ministering in a relational way to those He has given me to serve. Yet today, as I interact with friends I ask myself how can I serve those God has given me in a relational way as we continue to grow? How can I be connected with those I serve when my time is at a minimum?

Welcome

Good Morning Lake Point Church, Friends and Family,

As Lake Point grows and serves in the community it is our desire to remain connected to those that matter to us. This blog is one of those avenues to connect with those around us.

In the next few weeks look for our web page to be updated, a calendar added, sermon notes blogged and noted, not to mention the potential of having our sermons on MP3.

Technologically, a lot is happening, but even more is happening in the lives of God's people right here at Lake Point.

Thanks for your time, and look for updates.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken