July 2017

 
An Eye for the Creator Mike Woolley

Last Saturday we had a memorial service for David Liston. Over 500 people came to pay their respects and I know some of you were there too. What a testimony it was to Dave’s life and the impact he had on so many others.

One thing I shared that day at the memorial was remembering the times Dave and I ran together. At some point in each run we would come across an incredible view of the ocean, a canyon, a mountain range, or some city and Dave would always say, “How can anyone say that this all happened by accident?” He had an eye for creation and knew that there was a Creator behind it all. He never took it for granted. I have to admit that I would often be more focused on the pain going on in my body than on the beauty around me.

I have since found a scientific excuse for not being so in tune to my surroundings like Dave was. It’s called “Visual Lethargy” and it turns out we all get it. That’s why when on your first drive to work you notice all kinds of things, but after 10 years of driving to work you don’t even remember driving to work at all. Your mind quits noticing things you see over and over again.

I think for most of us that’s a shame because we live here in beautiful Ventura County. There’s got to be some advantage to living in a place where the temperature averages in the 70’s all year long. A place where you can see mountains and hills and lakes and the ocean any day you want. God is trying to help us with our visual lethargy… or perhaps our lethargy in general.

I’m not sure the last time I noticed how green the hills look after a rain or how beautiful the grass looks right after it’s mowed. Every single day there are dozens and dozens of gifts I miss because I’ve seen them a thousand times. And that’s a shame. Dave made sure we appreciated God’s gifts along our runs.

Someday, God may sit with me with a huge scrap book of photos and He will ask, “Do you remember when I gave you this to see?” I want to look at Him and say, “Oh yeah. I love that. I remember the first time I saw that and I remember the last time. And I’m thankful for every time in between.”

Today let’s keep our eyes wide open. I’m going to look around me and try to see things again for the first time because every single day is full of gifts that have been wrapped just for me. Keep your eyes open today too. Look at the people God has put in your life. Look at the tree in your yard. See the gifts. They are all right in front of your eyes.

Upcoming Events
 
  • July 2nd – Prayer Warrior Meeting (After service)
  • July 4th – Independence Day
  • July 5th – Family Beach Day (info on website)
  • July 9th – VBS Day 1
  • July 19th – Family Beach Day (info on website)
  • July 26th – Family Beach Day (info on website)
  • July 29th – Men’s Breakfast (info on website)
  • July 30th – VBS Day 2

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it…So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

1 Cor. 9:24 & 26-27

 

Living with all Your Might Taylor Roche

One of my first real work outs ever came in my high school football coach’s garage. He would have a few of us football players over to his house early in the morning for a little extra lifting with him. I’ll never forget it was leg day, and he loaded up the bar and turned to me and told me to squat until I couldn’t do anymore. I mentally prepared myself for what I knew was going to be painful and began to squat. Rep after rep my legs began to hurt worse and worse and my breathing became more and more labored. Finally when I felt I could do no more I racked the weight and stopped. I turned around to find him staring at me incredulous. “Didn’t I say go until you couldn’t do anymore?” He asked. “Yeah, that’s it.” I replied. He proceeded to explain to me that as long as I was still standing, I could do more. As far as he was concerned, I couldn’t do anymore when I literally collapsed mid rep. Shocked I turned back around and started again, sure that I could only do a few more before actually collapsing like he apparently wanted. I was wrong. I did nearly three times as many reps as the first set before eventually collapsing. And to this day, my coach’s lesson was well learned. My physical limit was very different from my mental limit. I was in fact wrong about how long my legs would keep going. I was nowhere near failing when I first had racked the weight. It’s just that I had never really tried with all my might before. 

I recently was reading through The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. They are a collections of personal “resolutions” that the eighteenth century theologian penned for himself. They are incredible and well worth reading, but one in particular stood out to me. Number six, which reads like this, “Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.” As I read that I immediately felt convicted, because I’m not sure that I’ve ever lived with all my might. I feel that even on my best days, I’m the version of myself at the beginning in my coach’s garage. Racking the weight because I’m sure I can’t do more. Not realizing that in reality I am not even close spending all my strength. 

What would our lives look like, if we made this same resolution for our own lives that Jonathan Edwards made for his? How differently would we live if we lived with all our might? I hope that you are challenged by this simple resolution. And I hope that you will join me in striving to serve our Lord with all our might, for as long as we live. 

Star of the Month! Brenda Woolley

Recently, a friend suggested that I interview kids in our children’s ministry to get to know them better…I LOVED that idea!! So here goes…

 
 
Ava is 9 ½ years old and attends

Walnut Canyon Arts and Technology Elementary School

.  Her parents are Bridget and Jon, and she has one brother, Owen.

What is your favorite thing to do?

  I love to read or to sew.

What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?

  Going to Disneyland!!!

What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

Getting to know my two new baby cousins who will be born this year, even though they are both boys!  Also, I can’t wait to go to college.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I would like to be an author, a doctor, a lawyer or a singer…I really love to write and I like to take care of people.

What do you hope never changes?

  I hope that my relationship between me and my mom and dad never changes.

What do you want to be most remember for?

 I want to be remembered for writing great songs.

What is something you thank Jesus for?

I thank Jesus for my family and all the people in it and how they care for me.

What was the best day of your life?

 When my mom told me I would not be alone and that I would have a sibling, although now he annoys me!

 

Thank you Ava for your sweet and sometimes funny and insightful answers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I laughed and was inspired by my very first interviewee.  Please enjoy the answers from Miss Ava Fredricksen.
 

Leave a Reply