Sermon Series: God Is...

Anonymous asked: God is awesomely powerful and love incarnate. He is the ultimate example of 'agape' love because he chose to put himself through a degrading, incredibly painful experience where those He was trying to help betrayed and abandoned Him. He cared for us so much that he was willing to make himself completely vulnerable and defenseless. And the best part of it all is that He proved that LOVE, true love (agape love), conquers all so that we can sincerely and passionately say LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Anonymous asked: God is flowing all around us, constantly generating a supply of what we need. I believe that God wants to flow through us, but waits for us to envite Him to do that. I'm convinced that He wants us to be channels for his love and that He wants us, and those around us, to benefit by that love flowing through us - not just from it flowing around us. I think that His love is what generates the supply of all we need!

Rev. Dave Carpenter: God is… More than “God Is”!

Perhaps the simplest definition of the theological term “incarnation” is that we don’t just celebrate a God who “is”……(as we have been asking you to consider these 7 weeks) but a God who “comes”; who comes, takes on flesh, meets us exactly where we are, whatever we are going through, and resides, remains, tabernacles (tents) with us.  

God is a god who not only comes to us but whose holiness is then recreated inside of us. There was THE incarnation (when God’s holiness was made flesh in Jesus Christ) and then there is the ongoing incarnation (the ways God continues to come and turn ordinary things sacred… whether it is our church, our homes or our lives).  Which means God is even more than “God Is….” (doesn’t it figure?) and the incarnation didn’t just happen - it happens… if we allow it to.

We encourage you to share your thoughts with us.

Click This Link to Share Your Thoughts with Us on “God is More” Or hit the ‘ask’ button at the top of the page.

Anonymous asked: I was 8 or 9 years old the first time I distinctly felt the presence of god. My mom and dad had brought me and my brothers to a church social and I remember I was helping clear away some dishes or bringing food in from the kitchen... I found myself standing near my mom and dad. They were talking with the pastor and his wife.... I had this incredibly strong feeling--I can still recall it--as I stood there that god was present right there in the laughter and joy around that table...

Anonymous asked: Letting go is so hard... Letting God be in control, letting go of what I know, where I'm confortable and what is familiar. Jesus told his disciples to walk away from everything they knew and to walk with him. It seems so impossible... but they did it and it made all the difference.

Anonymous asked: Today I find myself rediscovering the music of my memories on my ipod... just listening closely to the lyrics of songs I've heard for years--and yet have discovered afresh today the beauty and strength and message of their lyrics... I found myself lost in the miracle of new depths in what always seemed so familiar. I feel joyous and refreshed and ready for new discoveries!

Anonymous asked: God is more. More than everything we know or will know. It is humbling and beautiful to behold this thought and recognize that God is always more... Always more. Thank you Dave!

Anonymous asked: I really enjoy this poem. It reminds me of Finding Nemo :). Several times during the film, when it seems like their journey would be endless and felt hopeless and they were distraught about what to do, Dory would say, "Keep on swimming. Keep on swimming." It wasn't until the 5th time, probably, that I caught that metaphor. It's hard to trust. It's easy to despair. To just keep holding on, keep pedaling, keep on swimming takes a lot of trust in something we can never see or be absolutely sure of.

Rev. Dave Carpenter: God is… Trustworthy.

A poem: “The Road of Life,” - author unknown

At first, I saw God as my observer,

my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven

or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture when I saw it,

but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on

when I met Christ,

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I had control,

I knew the way.

It was rather boring,

but predictable…

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts,

up mountains,

and through rocky places

at breakneck speeds,

it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness,

He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious

and asked,

“Where are you taking me?”

He laughed and didn’t answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I’d say, “I’m scared,”

He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,

gifts of healing,

acceptance

and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey,

my Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again.

He said, “Give the gifts away;

they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”

So I did,

to the people we met,

and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him,

at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He’d wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up

and pedal

in the strangest places,

and I’m beginning to enjoy the view

and the cool breeze on my face

with my delightful constant compaion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore,

He just smiles and says… “Pedal.”

We encourage you to share your thoughts with us.

Click This Link to Share Your Thoughts with Us on “God is More” Or hit the ‘ask’ button at the top of the page.