South Spur Ice Cream Social Group Finale

Here we are men, the end of Spurs for this semester; and to congratulate all of you we will be celebrating at the Welch's house with an ice cream social!

This is the address:

13009 Bent Oak Drive, Waco TX

We will be meeting at the normal time so remember be at the Welch home at 7 p.m. for ice cream and society.

And if you need anything just give me a call at (210) 861-6478

-aaron

No Spurs next week. Do something nice for your mother.

Alright men, if you didn't read the title for this blog, then you know that we won't be having Spurs next week May 10, 2009 because of Mother's Day.

But if you didn't read the title, then you will be suprised to know that we won't be having Spurs next week May 10, 2009 because of Mother's Day.

So go buy a card or better yet make one, your mom will like that more.

-aaron  

Sorry, but we can't

Bad news South Spur Men, we won't be playing PAINtball this weekend due to lack of intrest. 

 

I'm sorry to those of you who wanted to go and play (Nason, Pete, Ben) but the plans fell through and after a meeting with the other Spur leaders, we decided to try something different at a later date.

AGAIN. NO PAINTBALL THIS WEEKEND THE 25TH OF APRIL.

Sorry men.  If you have any questions or comments please call me anytime at (210) 861-6478

-aaron

FUMC SOUTH SPUR NEEDS A FEW GOOD MEN!

Alright guys, here's the deal.

Saturday, April 25th that's this weekend. We are going to have a day devoted to fun!

So here's what might happen. If we get at least 8 guys, to sign up by either contacting me via email (skydut@gmail.com), cell phone (210-861-6478) by Wednesday (the 22nd) then we will be heading to PowerPlay Paintball Park for a PAINtball tournament.

BUT...

This will only happen if AT LEAST 8 of you contact me by Wednesday the 22nd so that I can set up our reservations.

Alright now it's all up to you.

Check back often for more information or give me a call to find out more.

-aaron

Where did all the time go?

This weekend I've been struggling with a problem of time. Specifically time to read the Bible. I love to read, and the Bible is fascinating (though many times extremely confusing), however over the past few months my readings have gotten fewer and fewer. I still get to hear the word at Bridge, and I usually skim it's pages before Spurs, but I've found that the Bible doesn't move me like it has in the past.

This weekend I've also found that I have fallen back into an old habit I've had since my mom bought me my first Nintendo Entertainment System, or the NES for those who know. Being an only child I latched onto video games way back, and as the years progressed so did my playing them. More recently I have become a Halo junkie. As a freshman in college, the year before I found Christ, I had a xbox controller in my hand every night. My friends an I could have powered a small city block with all of the juice we used during our 16 player CTF (capture the flag) matches. And that was just for the first Halo. Since then Halo 2 and 3 have risen and the future Halo Wars and ODST are on the horizon. Did I mention I have a Halo poster in my house?

Between racking up kills in online deathmatches, finding the perfect sniper spots, getting the triple kills with a rocket launcher, sticking my opponents head with a blue grenade, and going online to read up on strategies, days of my life have been devoted to Halo. But what do I have to show for it?

Today I read something from the Bible that pricked my skin... ALOT. No, I didn't read the Bible, but I did read a book that referenced it. That's close enough right?

In it I was reminded of the greatest commandment. If you're a little rusty like me I'll type it out. It may also help me remember it.

It comes from Matthew;

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the LORD your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.'" (Matthew 22:36-37)

24 hours in a day

730 hours in a month

8,765 hours in a year

I know that I will spend some of my time playing Halo again. Halo is fun, and I enjoy playing it with friends, but it cannot take the importance of getting closer to God through reading His word. And I can never find out more about Jesus, or work to influence the world like Him unless I read diligently. Because in the end after the day is done and we put down the controllers, God is still standing silently waiting for us to serve and work to get closer to Him. Halo is a game. God is life.

I'm supposed to do WHAT?!

Again, another late post, but I think the content and lesson we covered last week is something that begs to be covered again.

If you remember we covered the principle of God's Ultimate Authority. To recap here's a line from our study book; "There is a direct relationship between what God ultimately wants to do through you and the authorities He places over you." We discussed that those who are placed over you in ruling positions are there because of God and through them God is directing and preparing your life in the future.

Here's what the apostle Paul has to say about it from a letter he wrote to the Romans about ultimate authority and what it meant to those people living under the total rule of the largest military super power of their day.

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Romans 13:1)

Clearly Paul was directing his comments towards the early church and a people who lived almost two thousand years ago, however through the amazing perfection of God's plan, the Bible is as real to us now as to them back then.

So what do we do now?

"Jesus once said that the truth sets us free. God is truth, and it is under His authority that we gain true freedom."

It is a universal fact that you are always going to be under someone else, even if you are the top enchilada God claims supreme rule over your life.

How does that make you feel?

Well to be sure it can come as a suprise to most people and some may even begin to think that they are oppressed "under God's thumb" or they may feel unjustly forced to live a life under God's rule.

Though it is true that we are forced to always be under God, that doesn't mean that people always choose to allow Him to rule their lives. Notice in your own life those around you who choose to live their own way, or people who don't submit to authority. Do you think that their lives are pleasing to God?

Remember that "You cannot pursue intimacy with God and ignore your conflicts with authority." You can't be truly close to Jesus and try and push away from from those people who have authority over you.

In our lives we choose to follow the rules we like to hear. We stray from the boundaries in our lives thinking that we are blazing new trails into uncharted territories or making waves against those trying to hold us down. But the truth is that Jesus broke the chains of this world's authority long before us and blazed a trail through the bonds of the stuffy rules and regulations and established a better way, THE WAY to live our lives.

Here's what Jesus said in what we as Christians know as the Great Commision, or the most important directive given to us by our LORD.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

So then here is the question, is God going to be in control of your life or are you?

Plans of our enemy

I know that I am a little behind with this post, however I believe that the truths we spoke of last weak describing our encounters with Satan and his plans are a monumental help to our lives. So here's a recap. Be sure to leave your opinions and comments below too.

Satan's Plans:

Satan, Beelzebub, Baal, Father of Lies, the Devil, these are all the titles that have been handed down to the worlds ultimate adversary and yours and my biggest opponent in our life.

Not to get into the nitty-gritty, but Satan is the enemy of God, we are God's children, which then makes us the prime target for evil.

The 5 D's:

Doubt - Makes you question God's word and Goodness
Discouragement - Makes you look at your problems rather than at God's truth
Diversion - Makes the wrong things seem more attractive so that you want them more that the right things
Defeat - Makes you feel like a failure so that you don't even try
Delay - Makes you put off something so that it never gets done

Basically here's the enemies plans in a nutshell, and to read them firsthand check out Genesis Chapter 3 for yourself. Adam and Eve were presented with the doubt of God's ultimate goodness and love (Genesis 3:4). Adam and and Eve then were discouraged (Genesis 3:5) and diverted their gaze to what was wrong (Genesis 3:6). After their defeat (Genesis 3:7) they then delayed by hiding from God's love (Genesis 3:8).

The fall was the first sin and hence we now inhabit a world where sin is present. But there is good news!

The Good News:

God then came and tried to find Adam and Eve! He called to them (Genesis 3:9). He used his word to convey that even though He knew what had happened, God still wanted to bring humanity to His great love and peace. We see the word personified thousands of years later in a man named Jesus of Nazareth. John said it this way; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." God used the "Word" in the garden to call to his sons and daughters and get them back after their sin, He is still doing this today and now we know that He will stop at nothing even defeating death and wrestling the keys of death from Satan's hands to save us all.

Questions? Comments? Either leave them below, or better yet join us this Sunday March 22nd at 7 to 8:15 p.m. Call me @ (210) 861-6478 or email me @ skydut@gmail.com for directions.

IM with God

God has an instant messaging center!

"Yes, you've read that correctly we all know that
speaking with God can be difficult, well now it's made easy because God talks back! Just click here and start asking questions. That's it! It's so simple!"

Wouldn't that be something? I can't imagine how many times the interenet would crash from the millions of hits from the curious to the faithful each trying to ask God their own unique questions hoping to find some truth in their lives.

But the truth is... YOU CAN PRAY TO GOD ANYTIME AND HE WILL MEET YOU IN PRAYER! The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. (Psalm 6:9)

If you really want to hear from God try doing what Matthew did and shut yourself in your closet and sincerely pray to God (Matthew 6:6). I know that it sounds a little weird, but think about how quiet it can be when your sitting there in the dark. Just make sure your dirty clothes aren't in there with you.

By the way, this website doesn't really let you speak with Our Father in Heaven. To find Him, you still need to pray the old fashion way. The website is still pretty fun though.

I Need Your Numbers!

My phone was run over by a car.

Send me your phone numbers to skydut@gmail.com so that I can get in touch with you.

Thanks.

By the way, my phone number is still (210) 861-6478.

Questions and Answers

What's eating on your mind?

During Spurs we only have so much time to address the numerous questions that arise from our current study of the Bible and what it means to our lives now. This post is where you can voice your opinion and share what questions you have for a timely answer.

Just click here and leave your questions on the comments page and a leader will reply ASAP. We will strive to use Biblical reference but I encourage you to do the same. Do something about your curiosity and use your courage to search it out in the Bible, you'll be amazed at what is hiding just between the pages.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose and holy curiosity.

-Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

FUMC South Spur Hits the world wide web!

Welcome one and all to FUMC South Spur first ever post on it's brand spankin new website!

Yes, truthfully this is in fact a run-of-the-mill blog, but for our purposes this webpage will launch our Spur group light years into the future and allow us all to effectively become a better group Bible study.

So sit back and check often for posts, fun events, crazy videos, lesson helps, pictures, and anything else I can think of.

Oh and if you have any questions or comments never hesistate to call me (210) 861-6478 or email me skydut@gmail.com at any time.

Hope to hear from you all soon!

-aaron