For preparations for this Sunday's lesson, be sure to read Luke 1 at some point. We are going to have some fun with common Christmas "stuff" to see if you can tell the difference between what is of Christmas or X-Mass origin. Hope to see you all there!
Trent Cotton
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Class Update
Dear Class,
How is the Body of Christ doing? I know that is a loaded question because there is so much going on in the lives of those around us. Just take a breath and evaluate your life? It scares me to death to make that evaluation and realize that Life is meant to be lived over a life time and not crammed into a few years. It feels like we are cramming it, doesn’t it?
I have been gone the last few Sundays, but they could not be avoided. I am back for the duration of our class and looking forward to the Sundays ahead. We will begin a Bible Study series into the life of Moses, one of the great leaders of all the Bible and one that has much to teach us as he lived out his life in obedience and sacrifice. Let me challenge you to read up on Moses. You can find him in the book of Exodus chapter 2.
We are going to look at a “Simple Man with a Huge Calling” and challenge ourselves to ask a hard question; What has God called me to do? We will find some hidden treasures as to how we can follow God’s challenge and direction for our lives.
A couple of Calendar Items:
• There will be NO Class on Sunday, November 30th (with the holidays surrounding this and many of us gone we are going to let you beat the Methodist to Moe’s)
• Bowling Night at Oak Mountain Lanes on Sunday, December 7 (there will be a sign up sheet passed around over the next couple of weeks that will have a place for Childcare needs) Cost will be about $9 per person (for one game... $5.50 per game and $3.50 for shoes...unless you have your own and then I worry about you). Time will be in the 4 to 7 pm range.
Lets have a BIG class this coming Sunday. I am going to preach (teach) the legs off the podium and have some fun in the process! Lets see everyone there!!!
Rick
How is the Body of Christ doing? I know that is a loaded question because there is so much going on in the lives of those around us. Just take a breath and evaluate your life? It scares me to death to make that evaluation and realize that Life is meant to be lived over a life time and not crammed into a few years. It feels like we are cramming it, doesn’t it?
I have been gone the last few Sundays, but they could not be avoided. I am back for the duration of our class and looking forward to the Sundays ahead. We will begin a Bible Study series into the life of Moses, one of the great leaders of all the Bible and one that has much to teach us as he lived out his life in obedience and sacrifice. Let me challenge you to read up on Moses. You can find him in the book of Exodus chapter 2.
We are going to look at a “Simple Man with a Huge Calling” and challenge ourselves to ask a hard question; What has God called me to do? We will find some hidden treasures as to how we can follow God’s challenge and direction for our lives.
A couple of Calendar Items:
• There will be NO Class on Sunday, November 30th (with the holidays surrounding this and many of us gone we are going to let you beat the Methodist to Moe’s)
• Bowling Night at Oak Mountain Lanes on Sunday, December 7 (there will be a sign up sheet passed around over the next couple of weeks that will have a place for Childcare needs) Cost will be about $9 per person (for one game... $5.50 per game and $3.50 for shoes...unless you have your own and then I worry about you). Time will be in the 4 to 7 pm range.
Lets have a BIG class this coming Sunday. I am going to preach (teach) the legs off the podium and have some fun in the process! Lets see everyone there!!!
Rick
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prayer Requests for first week of November
Hey gang, I thought I'd open up the blog for prayer request. Please remember Kerry Richardson's dad who is having major heart surgery today. I know there were more, just the Red in me forgot the specifics of them all, but please comment and add them on so we can all pray for each other.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Donation from Heather
ent to you by Heather via Google Reader:
Together...
via This Is REVERB by DetzelPretzel@gmail.com (Reverb) on 10/28/08
DSC_0018
I lead a life group.
If you were to ask me to define what a life group is, I would have to say it's a group of people coming together to experience life together. It's a group of people who have said YES to community and NO to isolation.
DSC_0012
There are 14 of us men on a spiritual journey together. Sometimes we study the bible. Usually we act like idiots. Always we challenge one another to bigger and greater things.
DSC_0015
There is something about the regularity of a weekly meeting together. Every Monday evening around 5:30pm people start trickling in, and they typically trickle out around 11pm. I've been leading a group at my house for around 4 years now. It's been a huge mix of people. Men and women of all ages and backgrounds. Over time, we grew to such a large co-ed group that we decided to split off into a men's group and a women's group.
DSC_0004
My wife has been leading that women's group ever since. We've both had other groups birthed off of our original groups too. And there's a reason for that...because we don't want to keep such an amazing thing to ourselves. This is something that needs to be shared.
DSC_0024
You have to ask yourself some questions:
* Who is speaking into my life?
* Do I have people I can trust with my stuff?
* Who can I call at 3am when everything is crashing down?
* Do you fully know anyone?
* Are you fully known by anyone?
* Do you have others to lean on when you're too weak?
* Are you trying to rely on yourself for everything?
DSC_0044
Now I fully realize that the idea of a group like this is a foreign thing. It shouldn't be. We are east of Eden in so many areas of our lives. The intention of this world has been off kilter for so long that we've come to a place in our lives where we never want to have true and intimate contact with other humans...and we're lonelier than ever.
DSC_0048
Did you know that a Belgian work horse, when properly trained, can pull upwards of 8,000 lbs?
More interestingly than that however is the fact that two Belgian work horses, who have never worked together, can immediately pull upwards of 24,000 lbs. This is without training together. Have them work with one another for a little while and they'll be dragging over 32,000 lbs behind them in no time.
Simply by working together.
DSC_0034
Are you a lone ranger? Do you try to do everything on your own? How is that working for you?
The end.
DSC_0033
Things you can do from here:
* Subscribe to This Is REVERB using Google Reader
* Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Together...
via This Is REVERB by DetzelPretzel@gmail.com (Reverb) on 10/28/08
DSC_0018
I lead a life group.
If you were to ask me to define what a life group is, I would have to say it's a group of people coming together to experience life together. It's a group of people who have said YES to community and NO to isolation.
DSC_0012
There are 14 of us men on a spiritual journey together. Sometimes we study the bible. Usually we act like idiots. Always we challenge one another to bigger and greater things.
DSC_0015
There is something about the regularity of a weekly meeting together. Every Monday evening around 5:30pm people start trickling in, and they typically trickle out around 11pm. I've been leading a group at my house for around 4 years now. It's been a huge mix of people. Men and women of all ages and backgrounds. Over time, we grew to such a large co-ed group that we decided to split off into a men's group and a women's group.
DSC_0004
My wife has been leading that women's group ever since. We've both had other groups birthed off of our original groups too. And there's a reason for that...because we don't want to keep such an amazing thing to ourselves. This is something that needs to be shared.
DSC_0024
You have to ask yourself some questions:
* Who is speaking into my life?
* Do I have people I can trust with my stuff?
* Who can I call at 3am when everything is crashing down?
* Do you fully know anyone?
* Are you fully known by anyone?
* Do you have others to lean on when you're too weak?
* Are you trying to rely on yourself for everything?
DSC_0044
Now I fully realize that the idea of a group like this is a foreign thing. It shouldn't be. We are east of Eden in so many areas of our lives. The intention of this world has been off kilter for so long that we've come to a place in our lives where we never want to have true and intimate contact with other humans...and we're lonelier than ever.
DSC_0048
Did you know that a Belgian work horse, when properly trained, can pull upwards of 8,000 lbs?
More interestingly than that however is the fact that two Belgian work horses, who have never worked together, can immediately pull upwards of 24,000 lbs. This is without training together. Have them work with one another for a little while and they'll be dragging over 32,000 lbs behind them in no time.
Simply by working together.
DSC_0034
Are you a lone ranger? Do you try to do everything on your own? How is that working for you?
The end.
DSC_0033
Things you can do from here:
* Subscribe to This Is REVERB using Google Reader
* Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Weekly Update-Last week of October
This Week's Updates and Reminders!
Fall
Festival Volunteers Needed
- For those of you who signed up to volunteer for the Fall Festival, please meet at the Dairy Queen parking lot to catch the shuttle beginning at 5:30pm. Christina will be emailing everyone this week to remind them of their scheduled times, but please remember, she's closing on the house this week so life is a bit hectic. We are in booths 24 and 25! If you have any questions, please call me at 789-2508 or Christina at 205-907-6109 or email her at cdw104@yahoo.com
Small Group Assimilation
- Remember, this Sunday is Free Food Frenzy! Since we have had such a change in the participation of the class, everyone is asked to simply bring a food item to share. Our theme this Sunday will be… variety!!
Small Group Assimilation
- As we mentioned last class, we will be purposefully setting up groups in class to test out different scenarios for our eventual small group launch at the end of the class. As we do this, please be sure to email with any feedback. All email will be kept to only the leadership team so be as candid as possible. It is critical that this venture succeed and it will only happen with candid feedback from those in the class.
Social Events are coming…
- Currently, we are working on a bowling night along with some other fun things. Right now, we are tentatively looking at the December 7th weekend for our bowling venture. Once we have the plans in place, we will make an announcement in class and then post it on our group calendar. Be sure to keep up with our events by clicking on the calendar link on our website. Please remember, these social events are a great way to get to know others in the class.
Subscribe to the Class Blog!
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2452435&loc=en_US
Class Website
http://sites.google.com/site/westwoodxconnection/
Class Calendar
http://sites.google.com/site/westwoodxconnection/important-items
Class Schedule
http://sites.google.com/site/westwoodxconnection/important-items
Friday, October 24, 2008
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