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

Join us for 2.22 on Friday Nights!

Don't forget that 2.22 is meeting in the Activity Center on Friday evenings at 6:30pm!

*More pictures coming soon, when Aaron can remember the 2.22 Flickr account password!

down with the dc Talk

One of Jeff Crott's claims to fame is that he attended the same school with homeboys Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max Smith and Michael Tait - better known as dc Talk. I think they were even considering bringing Crotts on as a fourth member of the Talk, but they couldn't sell the concept of "Surfer Rap" to the record labels. That, and the fact that Crotts can't dance.

Just after I became a Christian, their album "Free At Last" came out & it was the first Christian album I ever bought (it was either that or Smitty's 10 year album, I can't remember). So I've been down with the dc Talk for quite some time now.

Well, looks like they have a new album coming out - but hang on, don't get excited and start tearin' down the walls - it's just another one of those 10-year-anniversary-tribute-albums performed by various Gotee Artists. They did something similar before, but it was just a re-release with a few bells & whistles- oh, and a bonus documentary/movie that was supposed to be released in the theatres, but for some reason - perhaps they were busy as a school boy makin' an "A" - it was never finished, so they decided to slap the unedited film on a dvd and sell it for the same price as a fully edited movie (I bought it).

I know it's normal for bands - dc Talk no exception - to do "Greatest Hits" albums. In fact, I snatched theirs up quick, fast in a hurry (their re-mix of "Say The Word" has got to be one of the best re-mixes I've ever heard). But another 10 year anniversary tribute to another old album? You'd almost think two things:

1) It's just a marketing tool to make some more money. But hey, you know that they're down wit the flow in the know on the go like a pro not for show 'cause they ain't in the biz for the dough or the me or the ray, all the dough's gotta stay 'cause they can't, no they can't, take it home anyway.
So it couldn't be that.

2) They don't have anything better for a new album. Even if DJ's don't play it.

I don't know...I really don't suspect either. After all, since their "temporary" breakup, Toby & Tait have had successful solo albums. Oh - and K Mart K Max too (just ask him). And I've never been dissappointed with anything new the group has come out with in the past.

All speculations aside, from what I've heard so far, it sounds pretty good.

Careful Little Links

Be careful little eyes what you see.
In a recent article, Al Mohler remembers the Darwinian display at the London Zoo almost a year ago.

Be careful little ears what you hear.
Justin Taylor introduces us to some new arrangements of some old hymns. Good Stuff.

Be careful little mouth what you say.
Phil Johnson offers his insight on using vulgar and profane language.

More on Modesty

Once again, our very own Todd Murray is gaining popularity with his thoughts about modesty at the wedding ceremony. But what's more important than Todd's "fame & fortune" :o) is that the message of modesty is being further discussed among Christians.

Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, recently did a radio program on this very topic, and referred to Todd's admonition to brides about wedding day attire. You can read his current blog here, where you'll find links to the radio program, which you can download for free.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss has several wonderful resources on modesty for women, that you can find here. I'd encourage all of our ladies to either purchase the cd's or listen online to any of Nancy's series on modesty. She addresses the heart attitude of modesty first, then discusses (without being legalistic) issues of appropriate clothing. Great stuff!

And don't forget the Mahaney girls have been blogging about this already. Read it here.

Now, anytime anyone address the issue of modesty among women, there can be a tendency to think that women are the only problem. Well, without repeating what any of the speakers above have probably already said, let me just make these few points:

• Guys and girls are equally responsible in this area.
• Guys have the responsibility to avert their eyes and control their minds.
• Girls have an equal responsibility to avoid wearing and acting in ways that are tempting to men.
• It's as "simple" as that - no one (male or female) should do anything that would cause a fellow believer (male or femail) to stumble. Cf. Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; 10:23-33; Philippians 2:1-4)

Perhaps this short quote from Richard Baxter (quoted by Nancy Leigh DeMoss in "The Look") says it best:

“And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause [of lust], it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion…You must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust…You must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you did not foresee, when it is too late to quench it.”

*If this still seems like an one-sided attack against women, I'll be fair and post some resources for the guys soon. :o)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

A few photos from Friday night's Travs Game