2 From 2.22 Go To China

Hi everyone!

Yes, it's true, Laura and I will be leaving for China on July15th. Please keep us in your thoughts.

Because blogs and xangas are public, we must be careful as to what we say. However, don't let that discourage you! If you would like to keep in touch with us (which we would love for you to do), our emails are: laura.neale@gmail.com and anna.neale@gmail.com . Simple yet practical. Also, adventures from our travels will be posted regularly on our xanga sites: www.xanga.com/lauracricket and www.xanga.com/annaphora. Again, please take care as to what you say. We will crave encouragement while we are there and if you just go to our sites to see the adorable Chinese children, please do. We love posting pictures most of the time.

Thank you for your interest in what we are doing. We appreciate it greatly!

The Neale Sisters

The "I Am's" of Christ - 2.22 Summer Preaching Series

On Tuesday, June 13th, 2.22 began a summer series on "The 'I Am's' of Christ" from the gospel of John. The statements, and their respective chapters are as follows:

The Bread of Life - John 6
The Light of the World - John 8
The Sheep Gate - John 10
The Good Shepherd - John 10
The Resurrection and the Life - John 11
The Way, the Truth, and the Life - John 14
The True Vine - John 15
Before Abraham was, I AM - John 8

Throughout the summer, Lord willing, Pastor Jeff and several of our undershepherds will be covering each of these statements. You won't want to miss any of it!

Aaron began the series with an introduction and brief overview of the "I Am" statements. Practical, penetrating questions were asked regarding our love for and knowledge of Christ. It was suggested that the reason we don't love Christ as we ought is because we don't know Him as we ought. Christ's purpose in being known is so that He may display the glories of His Father. To know Christ is to know the Father (John 8:19). And what better place to get to know Christ - to see the glories of the Father - than in the gospels; particularly, John's gospel account.

Aaron read several excerpts from John Owen's classic work, "The Glory of Christ". He was reading the abridged, slightly modernized Puritan Paperback version. You can read the original work, online for free here. Also helpful resource might be R.C. Sproul's cd sermon series on the "I AM's" of Christ.

Other resources mentioned by Aaron were James White's paper on the "ego eimi", as well as the hymn "More Love to Thee" by Elizabeth Prentiss, and this lesser known hymn, "Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?" by Philip Doddridge.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?

Behold my heart and see;
And turn each cursèd idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.

Is not Thy Name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior’s voice to hear?

Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast Thou a foe, before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?

Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute Thy sacred will,
And make Thy glory known?

Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honor of Thy Name?
And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp th’immortal flame?

Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O, I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more!

WWJW: Where Would Jesus Worship?

Audio from the Church Emergentcy Conference should be available soon, I'll post links as it becomes available. Also, check out the Pulpit Live graphic in the sidebar for some current articles on the emergent church.

And finally, did you attend the conference? If so, why don't you leave your remarks in the comments section...what did you learn & what were some of the highlights for you.

As he promised, here is the outline & Scripture references of Pastor Lance's concluding message:

The Church God Attends
Selected Scriptures

Introduction:

Within current church movements like the Emergent Church, the critical question could be asked, “What kind of church would God Himself actually attend today?” What would be the criteria that God would use to determine what local church, or movement of churches, to attend? In other words, how would the Lord Himself evaluate the current maze of ministry approaches within Protestant local churches in order to determine where He would attend and become involved? We are speaking somewhat tongue-in-cheek of course, for the question itself is somewhat humorous and provocative, but it does give us an opportunity to ask a question about current church philosophies of ministry and how Jesus would evaluate them. With so many different approaches on “how to do church,” as people often say, what is the proper criterion for choosing the right church or movement of churches to attend? How do you decide what church in which to become involved? How do you decide where to spend your time, effort, and energy? How do you decide these crucial matters? Well, in an age where many have been asking, “What would Jesus do?” I want to ask, “Where would Jesus attend church?” Here’s my answer:

1. Jesus attends the Churches who worship God in spirit and truth

· John 4:13-26
· Zechariah 7:4-14

2. Jesus attends Churches who Fear God and Esteem His Name

· Malachi 3:6-18

3. Jesus attends the Churches who Worship God by Faith

· Hebrews 11:6

4. Jesus attends the Churches who offer up their Worshipful Praise to His Name

· Hebrews 13:15
· Psalm 22:3, 22-23, 25
· Psalm 33:1

5. Jesus attends the Churches who Serve and Share with One Another

· Hebrews 13:16

6. Jesus attends Churches who Pursue God’s Will

· Hebrews 13:21
· Romans 12:2

7. Jesus attends Churches who lay their Lives down as Living Sacrifices

· Romans 12:1

8. Jesus attends Churches who Humbly and Fearfully revere God’s Word

· Isaiah 66:1-3
· Isaiah 48:17-19
· Jeremiah 6:16-19
· Jeremiah 8:4-9
· Nehemiah 8:1-3

9. Jesus attends Churches who acknowledge His rightful Headship

· Ephesians 5:22-30
· Matthew 18:15-20

10. Jesus attends Churches who make Him Preeminent

· Colossians 1:15-20

11. Jesus attends Churches who maintain Him as their First Love

· Revelation 2:2-5

12. Jesus attends Churches who are Faithful in Persecution

· Revelation 2:9-10

13. Jesus attends Churches who Stand Against False Teaching

· Revelation 2:14-16
· Revelation 2:19-23, 24-29

14. Jesus attends Churches who Continue in Good Works

· Revelation 3:1-3 (negative example)
· Revelation 3:8-12 (positive example)

15. Jesus attends Churches who Express their Utter Dependence upon Him

· Revelation 3:15-19

16. Jesus attends Churches who Cry out to Him for Help and Deliverance

· Psalm 17:1
· Psalm 55:1-2, 16-19, 22
· Psalm 142:5-7
· Psalm 130:1-2

17. Jesus attends Churches whose Pastors Faithfully Tend to the Flock

· Jeremiah 23:1-4
· Acts 28:28-32

18. Jesus attends Churches who offer up Sincere Testimonies and Prayers to God

· Psalm 66:16-20
· Psalm 5:1-3, 7, 12

19. Jesus attends Churches where Everyone’s Physical Needs are Being Met

· Acts 2:44-47
· Acts 4:32-37
· Acts 5:1-11

20. Jesus attends Churches whose Pattern most closely Follows the Early Church

· Acts 2:42-43
· James 1:22

21. Jesus attends Churches who Pursue Righteousness and who Seek the Comfort of the Lord

· Isaiah 51:1-8

22. Jesus attends Churches who flee from Sexuality Immorality

· Jeremiah 29:19-23
· 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

23. Jesus attends Churches who Refuse to Worship False Gods

· Daniel 3:8-30
· Daniel 6:10-28

24. Jesus attends Churches who are Committed to His Wisdom

· Proverbs 2:2
· Proverbs 8
· Colossians

25. Jesus attends Churches who are Faithful to Proclaim Him in their Witnessing/Mission

· Acts 16:11-15

Photos Emerging...

Here are just a few photos from the Church Emergentcy Conference. Click here to see more (additional photos addes 6-8-06!), or double click the slide show below.

As If...

I don't think that anyone from our group was able to make the New Attitude conference. So, here's some links to re-cap the even, as if you were there.

Adrian Warnock collected a few great quotes.

And here's the OFFICIAL Na blog, complete with re-caps, photos, and the Courtesy Ninjas.

Purchase the conference sessions on cd or mp3 here.

Like listening to podcasts? Try Napcast.

Na ninjas