StreetChurch

This past Tuesday night we had to say goodbye to our good friend and fellow street leader Robert. He and his family are relocating to Sacramento. We will truly miss him. He has been a great asset, giver, and servant in StreetChurch. He goes with our blessing and prayers that God will lead him to his next mission.

We also talked a lot about the Holy Spirit and being constantly filled with him. I have been incredibly encouraged by reflecting on Jesus’ life. He put aside his abilities as God (Phil 2) so that he could live humanity and identify with us. But in doing this he showed us (therefore saying, “Follow me.”) what it looks like to be in constant relationship with God the Father and filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Remember that even though he did miracles–he didn’t do them about of his ability to be God– but his ability to be filled with God’s spirit. That’s why so many thought he was just like the rest of the prophets who did wonders. That’s why he would often say that healing people didn’t prove his identity as God, but forgiving sins did.

May we be a church who lives in the power of the Holy Spirit as we follow Jesus in relationship with God our Father.

God bless Robert and send him in your power and send others to serve and lead in his stead.

-Tony

Last night was deep. Chris “Shoe” led our time in the Bible with verses from 1 Corinthians and Psalms about calling out to God, being weak and recognizing our need for God’s love and forgiveness. It led to a great discussion where people shared and questioned honestly about how to actually forgive those who have caused pain. We discussed the parable of the unmerciful servant and how if we have truly experienced God’s love and received God’s forgiveness then we will naturally want to love and forgive others. One clue that we haven’t truly come close to God is our tendencies to hold a grudge. We did a lot of praying and I am so grateful for Street Church!

We get ready to say goodbye to Robert who will be moving to the Sacramento area next week to start a new job. Next week will be his last week serving and leading at Street Church.

-Tony

Wanted you to know that Street Church was pretty awesome tonight. We had a smaller crowd, but that was a good thing because we ran out of meat quickly. However, the group we did have was tight tonight. I’ve started a new study in the Book of Genesis with the emphasis on “Why do we need a savior anyway.”  I’m kind of trying to take a theme and work through it with our friends. I went over the 1st chapter and it seemed to me that everyone was really listening. It’s a blessing to know that it really matters to them.  Then we had prayer circle and so many prayed that it took a long time to get done.  We had to fight through 2 commuter trains, one freight train and two busses.  It seemed unusually busy tonight.  PLUS, during prayer time, some one (not our group) started hollering across from where we were standing over to someone standing near the train tracks! AND a group of loud young people were behind the bike rack making noise-just laughing and telling jokes but it was very distracting!  In the end, it was good. I told our group that God heard us even if the trains and busses and people were making so much noise.  That brought a smile to the faces and that was good.

-Stephanie

It was cold tonight. We gathered as usual for dinner and prayer. Thankfully we had a lot of great donations to pass out. Some warm jackets, scarves, and gloves. It was really good to see John B. back.

I have recently finished an amazing book.

It was given to my wife and me by a good friend just a few days ago. The way she detailed parts of the story, I knew I had to read it asap. The main character has a weekend with God. Yes, a full interaction face to face, voice to voice, physical experience with Him…or all three of him, or her…or..Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu. You simply must read it.

Please, I can’t really explain it and I don’t want to give it away. You just have to read the story. The tag line to THE SHACK, is “Where Tragedy Meets Eternity.”

I already want to read it again and have re-read pages over and over. So tonight, I shared what I was learning, reminded of, and confronted with in my reading of this book.

God’s truth never gets old.

We spent time being quiet and reflecting on God as our father and God redeeming our pain.

A great time of starting the year together.

The cold didn’t let us, but that didn’t stop our time–our time as God’s people, a family all focused on him.

It was good to hear Ted’s story. He’s experienced God in some hard, yet significant ways. It was good to meet Jake, too. I pray for God’s peace for all. That we would all be at home in his love and at home with who he made us to be.

At peace in his love,

tony