Session Notes

TrueU.org | Men’s Hall: Sacred Pathways: Loving God According to the Way He Made You:

“Are you increasingly frustrated by a ‘one size fits all spirituality’ that most definitely does not fit you? Don’t despair! Scripture and the history of Christian tradition reveal a remarkable diversity of personal devotion. Here are nine spiritual pathways for you to consider as you seek to love God according to the way He’s designed you.1 The Naturalist In Psalm 19:1, David extols nature’s ability to awaken our cold hearts to God’s warm presence: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork’ (NKJV). The apostle Paul spoke of a similar reality in Romans 1:20a when he wrote, ‘For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.’ “

This is an incredible article to help one who feels abandoned by God as well as to encourage peacemaking amongst Christians. It discusses 10 ways to experience God and adore Him as a result. Most of us are blends and change our patterns as we age. However the call is to worship, read the Word, and pray regardless of when or how it is done.

But the Lord Establishes His Steps :

“what was this my heart was doing? It was starting to imagine what it might be like to be part of such an adventure. No! Bad heart! Do not think about that. My head leapt into action, explaining to my heart that it must not do this. It must be practical! There was money and fame, and, oh, tithing! Yes, you would tithe more with a good job. And you would use your fame and influence for Christ! What a platform you’d have for evangelism as a handsome news person! Head was doing good. That tithing thing was brilliant. Heart had quieted down a bit, especially when head played the ‘platform’ card. Good move, head. Wait. Heart is saying something about adventure again %u2014 about when else am I going to have a chance to be a part of something like this? You’ve got no spousal prospects, no family to provide for in the immediate future, no big financial obligations. Head said what about our Jeep? Heart said what Jeep? Head said that Jeep we were going to buy as soon as we got out of college and got a decent job? Heart said that could wait. Head said but a camper trailer? Heart said you love camping. Head said $250 a week? Heart said it’s more than you make now. Head said you are trying to ruin me. Heart said I’m giving you life, and life abundant.”

This is a good illustration of the discernment of courage/faith over practicality.

Sex Talk Starters:

“Curiosity about sex will not go away if it is never discussed. In fact, avoiding the subject can make sex seem even more mysterious and exciting. Be sure to balance discussions by talking about the positive aspects of sex within marriage as well as the responsibilities that come with it. Point out the positive. There is a direct link between low self-esteem and high-risk behaviors such as drug use, early sexual involvement, and other self-destructive behaviors. Compliment your children when they are doing what is right and help them set positive goals for the future. Help your children build self-esteem based on character, unique talents and positive accomplishments. Make sure to show your appreciation and pride for all they do right before offering constructive criticism about what to avoid. When they make mistakes, talk about how to earn back your trust. Never leave them feeling hopeless. Give your child good reasons for making positive, healthy choices. Adolescents tend to make decisions based on feelings instead of logic and experience. Often, they believe they know everything and can be hurt by nothing. Their attitude is, %u201CI need it now!%u201D”

Finding Easter in Bunnies and Baskets: What Is a Real Easter Bunny?:

“Use a rabbit picture, a stuffed bunny or even a real one (if you are adventurous) to teach some of the characteristics of Jesus that we should all try have. By adding a Bible verse to each quality, you will create a true Easter Bunny. Real Easter bunnies: are white as snow because Jesus takes all sin away (Isaiah 1:18b). are gentle, kind-hearted and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32). have big ears that are quick to listen (James 1:19). have big eyes to look carefully and choose what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). have no voice for complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:13).”

TrueU.org | Focus Institute: The Journey of 18 Inches:

“These expectations were not only met, but surpassed beyond my imagination. What I didn’t anticipate was passion behind the intellect %u2014 a heart to accompany a probing mind. You see, within our first week at the Institute, my classmates and I were given a challenge to make a journey during our time at Focus on the Family: a journey of 18 inches, the distance between one’s head, and one’s heart. I began to realize that instead of avoiding that which makes me uncomfortable %u2014 which makes me feel deeply %u2014 I should embrace it, even if it causes me to hurt. Because that is Jesus’ heart. You see, we encountered so many deep issues hard issues: Yet for once in my academic career, I wasn’t taught to suppress and ignore my emotions regarding such issues, but to allow my heart to break in the midst of them.”

This is a good article showing the root of the intellectual/emotional split. However I do not completely agree we are supposed to enter into everything painful. Sometimes that is God’s protective heart warning us to avoid something which is not His will.

SIngle Female Seeking Home Ownership :

“When you don’t have parents or parental figures limiting the time you spend with your sweetheart (as well as supervising how you spend that time), you’re likely to spend too much time with too little (commitment) in return. As Maken writes, ‘just as familiarity breeds contempt, access breeds complacency. Our solo living arrangements send a signal to men that they can have access into our lives and apartments at any time.’ In the past, ‘men married because they realized that their access to women was going to be constantly monitored by their parents.’”

Although I do not agree with the some of the article it does make a good case to guard your heart against unmotivated men towards commitment.

Clubhouse Magazine:

“Jesus may not walk up to you on the playground tomorrow. But once you pray and ask Him into your heart, He%u2019s with you every day in the truth of His Word and in the presence of His Holy Spirit. And He still wants you to tell the people around you about Him. One of the last things Jesus told His disciples was to %u201Cgo and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20). Telling others about Jesus Christ doesn’t have to take an in-your-face approach. Jesus demonstrates with Andrew and John that it can be a simple invitation: %u201CCome and see for yourself. Then when Andrew wants his friend to understand Jesus power, he simply says, Come and see. You don’t have to preach, be a Bible scholar, hand out tracts or participate in public demonstrations to tell others about Jesus. It doesn’t take arguing, arm-twisting or demanding just a simple invitation of Come and see. Can you think of someone to invite to Sunday school, a youth meeting or church service? If you do your part by inviting others, the Holy Spirit is guaranteed to work in their lives . . . just wait and see!”

TrueU.org | Women’s Hall: XX, XY:

” I said something I thought would win my male passengers over, something mean: ‘I think a girl wrote these directions.’ I sold out my fellow women in an effort to get in good with these guys %u2014 ‘Aren’t girls stupid?’ For some reason, I thought that would make them like me. I know I’m not the first woman in history to think she can compete for acceptability against other women by mocking all things traditionally feminine, and I won’t be the last. Last year, I caught the end of an episode of MTV’s Made in which a girly girl had been ‘made’ into a varsity football player, exulting, ‘The guys on the team don’t see me as a girl anymore. They see me as a football player, an equal.’ She didn’t want a jersey. She wanted to be as good as the guys at something, to compete on a guy’s playing field %u2014 literally. Fighting the Power I think what the MTV girl and I experience is more than just feeling like we need to prove ourselves. Somewhere, there’s also a belief %u2014 even if only half held %u2014 that being different equals being inferior or less important. It’s an idea that’s been around for years, causing some people to reject gender difference altogether.”

This is an excellent article on our teen girls, in particular try to develop friendships with guys. I do not agree that sex is a sole cause of the denigration of women. It depends on the heart motivation behind it.

Office Hours: The Lord Told Me (Part 2 of 2) :

“‘I said pray John 18 and 19. Pray the words themselves. The first day you might pray the first few verses of chapter 18, and so on. Take your time. Linger over the verses. Let them dwell in your mind. Rest in them. Rest in God. Offer the verses to Him. Pray them. Let Him pray them in you.’ ‘That’s a kind of prayer?’ ‘A very ancient one, used by both Catholics and Protestants. It’s called lectio divina, ‘divine reading.””

This is an inspired article! It discuses our heart motivations/vows in the blocks we have receiving from God. It has steps to practice the presence to strengthen christian our spiritual selves. this could be helpful in the controversy or walking in the spirit vs legalism. as well it could help spouses to love one another increasingly from the depths of their souls.

Ten Percent Tithe, 100 Percent Generosity:

“The poor widow came along, quietly giving only a minuscule fraction of what everyone else had given. Her offering hardly made a dent in the treasury plate, yet Jesus commended her above everyone else. Why? Because she gave out of her need. She gave all that she had %u2014 her entire income %u2014 and she gave it away gladly, trusting in her heavenly Father to provide. This story shows that God is not concerned with the exact amount of money you give but the attitude with which you%u2019re giving it. God wants us to give, like this widow, even in times of need, because it causes us to depend on Him to provide. This enables us to see Him work in unimaginable ways! Giving Out of Love Have you experienced the feeling of caring about someone so much that you wanted to do anything you could to please that person? In your desire for her happiness, did you forget completely about yourself? This is a tiny picture of how God feels about us. If we are capable of even a hint of selfless love, in all of our imperfections, how much more does the Creator of the universe, the essence of perfection know how to shower us with good things? (See 1 Timothy 6:17-19.) Where would we be if God%u2019s generosity to us depended on our deserving it? What a fix we would be in! %u201CIt does not, therefore, depend on man%u2019s desire or effort, but on God%u2019s mercy%u201D (Romans 9:16). Knowing the extent to which we are loved should compel us to love others in the same way.”

This article stresses the heart posture in giving.