It’s been a while since we have posted anything but we recently have been talking about what it looks like to live the way Jesus calls us to live. We have been breaking down and unpacking the great commission Jesus gives to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20. (stop here and go read it, even if youre familiar with it) Part of the great commission is obeying the things Jesus taught. One of the greatest is loving our neighbor. So we decided instead of talking about what that looks like we decided to go and live love and then share what happened when we gather. One of the random acts of love was to sponsor an orphan boy named Shek through NCM.org from Bangladesh. Click here if you are involved with us to learn more about him. After talking a bit and reading a few verses in the Bible we all agreed we need to take action in any way we see fit.

Let God guide you and be aware of situations where the gospel might be at work and join in what is happening.

Share your stories of times you’ve lived love or seen a friend live love. We love to be inspired and hear how God is moving.

As I read this I cant help but have this sense that Gary puts an emphasis on caring for others and the surroundings. He says “I don’t beleive in reaching the top at any cost-in climbing or in business.” This speaks powerfully to the life Christ has called us to and I would add that we as Christians should lead the way in not reaching the top no matter what the cost. Jesus spent His life exemplifying what it meant to be humble and serve others.

In John 13:5 Jesus washes His disciples feet and says “I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you.” There are many other examples where Jesus stood up for those who mistreated and overlooked in society and lastly He himself demonstrated a true love by dying the death of a criminal which is the greatest example of humility.

I see a trend in our culture of selflessness and consciously living in a way that treats others fairly. Not taking more than we need and especially not at the cost of others whether it be in business or in the food we eat. This small and subtle trend is rooted in the fact that when God told us to treat others as you want to be treated, something resonates within our soul and says this is truth and it is good to live in such a way.

I and others embrace this trend and hope it continues to grow. My prayer is that people would begin to see that Christ’s love for us is great and that faithful, selfless living would come from a deep relationship with the source of our living and being.

Lets talk more on this. If you have something to add feel free to dialogue about anything.

grace&peace

An amazing organization that is making a difference all around the world and especially right now in Haiti is the Nazarene church. Click here to see first hand what it looks like. I want to encourage us all to contemplate how good we have it, and not for the sake of pride, but rather to make a difference. The money we have can make a huge difference in the lives of those who are desperate for the things we take for granted like FOOD, WATER AND SHELTER.

Lets make a difference.

CHANGE LIVES.

LIVE LOVE.

NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES

VIDEO

With the entry of 2010 our church decided to start the year off a little different than usual. Instead of creating the usual new years resolutions we opted to FAST for 21 days. We are all challenged to fast for something you long to see Gods hand move in. Some might do it simply to draw closer to God by getting rid of distractions like our love for juicy steaks and burgers in order to pray and turn our focus to Christ, our sustainer. Some fast to draw close and to cry out to God on behalf of those who are lost, hurting, hopeless, homeless, damaged, suffering. Some fast on behalf of the injustice. We each have something that rocks our world and that is what we FAST for.

If this resonates with you, I welcome you to join us.

You can fast in a few different ways:

1. Absolute Fast: no food for short periods of time. (get medical/parental permission)

2. Normal Fast; Going without food for a period of days, usually drinking lots of water—sometimes juices and broth.

3. Partial Fast (also called the “Daniel fast”): eliminating meat, bread and sweets for a period of time.

Instead of eating spend that time in prayer, meditation, listening, and reading God’s word.

How you implement your fast is up to you and God. You can fast one meal a day or 3 meals a day—one meal a week—do the partial fast for the entire time—really is up to you. Knowing “why” you are fasting is what is important.

Examples to study in the Bible: Daniel 1&10, Matthew 4, and Matthew 6:16

Discussion Questions after reading through these scriptures:  Why Fast? According to Matthew 6:16 what does Jesus say about how we should fast? What stands out about Daniel chapter 1:11-21? What result did their fast have?

POST YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS HERE SO WE CAN “CHEW ON ‘EM” (Punny, I know)

grace&peace

Since some of you expressed a desire to “live simply, so others can simply live,” I figured I would post some of my findings and resources I gave out in a teaching I did a while ago.

Practical Tips to Get Started

1 Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving.
2 Turn thermostat up three degrees (in summer) and down three degrees (in winter). In the spring and fall, open the windows as often as possible.
3 Wash dishes by hand in a dishpan and only run the dishwasher with a full load. Do not use heat for the drying cycle.
4 Wash clothes in the coolest water possible.
5 Turn off lights, TV, radio and stereo when leaving the room for any length of time.
6 Take a day of rest—no shopping, no work, no driving once a week.
7 Recycle everything possible; don’t buy over-packaged items.
8 Donate a box of books to the library twice a year.
9 Hand wash clothes instead of dry cleaning whenever possible.
10 Clean out closets and donate clothes not worn in the past year.
11 Memorize one Bible verse about God’s love for his creation, such as Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
12 Install low-flow showerheads. Take showers instead of baths (they use less water).
13 Replace lights with compact fluorescent bulbs.
14 Clean or replace air filters throughout the house.
15 Disconnect ice machine in freezer, especially if you have two or more.
16 Unplug TV and stereo when not in use or put them on a switched power strip.
17 Donate old cell phones, computers, printers to a good cause, or take them to Staples for recycling.
18 Plant deciduous trees along south side of house to save on cooling costs.
19 When replacing appliances, purchase the most efficient (Energy Star), with the lowest yearly energy costs.
20 Ask your local utility to conduct an energy audit on your home and/or business and then heed their advice.
21 Visit the grocery only once each week. Combine trips. Carpool.
22 Air-dry laundry whenever possible.
23 Avoid fast food restaurants; pack a picnic lunch when traveling.
24 Replace church light bulbs with compact fluorescents. Recycle church bulletins.
25 Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors to plug air leaks.
26 Stock up on handkerchiefs, cloth shopping bags, and cloth napkins and kick the paper habit.
27 Wait a month before buying something you “need”; when you do make purchases, buy quality items that will last for many years.
28 Save unwanted catalogs and ask to be taken off their mailing list.
29 Set up a “share board” at church or organize a clothing exchange.
30 Give away or sell anything and everything that is cluttering your life. Donate the proceeds to charity.
31 Instead of a birthday gift or funeral flowers, send a donation to charity or plant a tree or shrub in their honor.
32 When replacing a car, consider one that gets great mileage and has low emissions. Suggest the same for your church, school, business, and city.
33 Organize a paint swap at church or the recycling center; combine unused portions of paint and use as a primer.
34 Organize a church-based public prayer event with emphasis on creation care and stewardship.
35 Start a study group on what the Bible says about caring for creation.
36 Hang thick or insulated curtains. Close them during the day in summer; close at night in winter.
37 Ask your children to “pare down” their toys periodically; give those gently used items to local charities or non-profit groups.
38 Stay closer to home on your next family trip; stay home on one holiday when you usually travel.
39 Avoid use of pesticides and chemicals on your lawn and garden.
40 Pray for people whose forests and habitats have been destroyed by our material desires; ask God to help you become a better steward of His resources.
41 Spend at least ten minutes in nature “being still and knowing that I am God.”
42 Cut back on soft drinks by substituting tap water at least once per day.
43 Avoid covering radiators and vents with furniture or curtains; program thermostats to come on 30 minutes before waking up and coming home.
44 Plant a vegetable or herb garden.
45 Insulate your attic with a minimum of 10 inches of insulation; insulate your hot water heater if its an older model.
46 Write or call your city/county representative and state reps and ask them to consider conducting an energy audit in their offices; do the same at school and work.
47 Insulate your hot water pipes; its easy—just clip on the foam insulation.
48 Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater to the lowest setting.
49 Cut food before cooking; put the lid on pans; cook outside in summer.
50 Follow our grandmothers’ advice: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
Excerpted from Serve God, Save the Planet, by J. Matthew Sleeth, MD 

Check out some of these sites::   …check back soon, just got interupted, but will add more asap.

grace&peace to you today

Get creative.

Invite others.

Make a change.

T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST

1. Create an art piece, flat and no larger than a sheet of paper 8.5″x11” inspired by the words :: ‘rooted’ & ‘love’

2. Submit your work by dropping it off at Las Flores Church or scanning and emailing to nate@rootedyouth.com by Sunday the 20th and we’ll post it on the rooted blog.

3. Have your friends go to the blog and vote by putting their name, email and a comment. Three finalists with the most votes by October 6th enter and the winner will be chosen by our panel of judges.

4. WINNER will have their art printed on t-shirts and sold. Profits will go to “Stand Up For Kids” (a non-profit in Oceanside that helps homeless teens)

For more info go to ROOTED YOUTH

live love.

Pete Briscoe – I Am Second from Risen Magazine on Vimeo.

grace & peace to you today.
nate

I say all this because I know we all can make a difference in the world we live in and most of the time its in the little things.

Kate and i made an awesome meal completely from the garden, tasty and free, does life get much better, i submit that it can not.

Not sure if VIMEO videos work here but if not click on the testimonies Burl Factor
Testimonies Burl Factor from BWALL on Vimeo

grace&peace to you as you hopefully go and share the stoke you have for Jesus.

Transworld covered the event and some of our teens happened to make their write up on their site, i posted the screen shot below (elise & kari i am sure you’re stoked i did that, but hey i just had to brag).

here is the link if you want to read more about the BBQ/ 21-13 Launch 

http://surf.transworld.net/2008/11/15/uncle-mike-getting-back-to-the-basics/

So I figured I would share with you my final response to this whole thing. Everyone has debated and thrown out thier ideas what is right and wrong, basically we live in a Democracy which means we have the freedom to vote and the majority wins. Even if I do or do not agree with what the outcome is, majority wins. There are plenty of laws or politicians out there that I don’t agree with but some things I have to roll with. Ultimately what I am trying to say is no matter what is going on, the kingdom I follow is Jesus’. Regardless of what president or prop goes through the bible says the ultimate goal is to follow Jesus and love your neighbor. Politics are ok but living Jesus’ teaching daily is what ultimately matters. 

Charge life.

live love.

Look for the puppy. Pretty funny/sad. OK just funny.

“As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.

‘The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.

It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President.

In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?”

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.
4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know.

What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ‘other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way……Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

‘ ‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ‘Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’
Jay Leno

There are so many people who need to read this and grasp reality.

My point is two fold, ice cream makes people happy, adults and children alike, and secondly lets have the same joy the little kids have when they see ice cream at cold stone, when we think of Jesus. He has so much in store for our lives and He loves us more than anything we could ever imagine.

grace&peace

nate