I’m happy to tell you that the five15 blog is moving…

…without going anywhere.

This will be my last post for about a week while the guts of the blog are moved onto a new host or server or something.  The address for the blog will stay the same, but I think we’ll be getting a new look.  Check back around December 1 for all the fun.

Categories: Announcements
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Thanks to all of you who pitched in on Fall Clean yesterday!  Hope you stayed warm.  I’ll give you an accounting of the money we raised once all the checks are in.  In the mean time, I learned some valuable lessons yesterday:

• Backpack-mounted leaf blowers are way more fun than hand-held leaf blowers.
• What appears to be a layer of leaves thinly-spread over a medium-sized lawn actually amounts to a small mountain when raked into one spot.
• A pile of leaves, no matter how deep, does not have the same shock-absorbing effect for a 170-pound man as for a 40-pound boy.  (Ouch.)

Send me any good pics you got! Click on these to see them bigger:

Categories: Events, Mx09
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For everyone who is signed up to serve at Fall Clean on Saturday: THANKS!  Here are the details you need to keep in mind:

• Dress appropriately!  Looks like the weather is going to be (freezing cold, but) great!  Dress in layers, don’t forget a hat and gloves, and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Show up on time!  That would be 8:30am in the church lobby.  We’re planning to be on the road by 9.  Eat a hearty breakfast before you come!
• Brown-bag a lunch!  Don’t forget a drink.  Or bring a few bucks to swing through McDonald’s at some point.
• We’ll be done at some point in the mid-afternoon.  If your folks aren’t driving, tell them you’ll give them a call when you are on your way back to the building and they can meet you to pick you up.
• Your team leader should be in touch with you in the next day or two to tell you what tools (if any) you should bring.

See you on Saturday!

Categories: Mx09
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For those of you who know are hiring us for Fall Clean or know someone who is:

“Your five15 Fall Clean Donation supporting the 2009 Mexico Mission Trip may be partially tax deductible. To compute the deductible amount, subtract the fair market value of the services received from your donation and the remainder is your tax deductible donation amount. Your canceled check will be your receipt. Please be advised that your donation will not be included in your annual giving statement, so please document your gift appropriately. If the IRS requires further documentation, please contact the church office.”

Categories: Mx09
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Here is tonight’s playlist:

Categories: five15 blog
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In case you missed it, here is Matt’s baptism testimony from Sunday:

Philippians 4:12-13  says “ I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”This scripture has become a blessing and daily reminder for me to be humble and to look to Christ and not myself for getting through my everyday life. Unfortunately this scripture meant nothing to me 2 or 3 years ago.

When I was younger all I thought about was me. Even though I was always trying to be a good person and care for people, I never thought or cared about how God viewed my life. Eventually I became friends with people that were obviously living in sin and were proud of it. I began to disobey all authorities in my life and I distanced myself farther and farther away from God.

I also became obsessed with the music culture, and filled my emotions with violent and depressing lyrics and themes. For about a year or more I became extremely depressed and unhappy. I was looking for happiness, but I never looked to the true source of joy, Jesus Christ.

My life dramatically changed in April of 2007 after I was picked up by the Highway Patrol outside St., Louis, Missouri, after running away from home. I didn’t know it at the time, but that moment was God reaching out and bringing me back to him, when I was literally running away from him. It was around this time that I repented of my sins and put my trust in Jesus Christ. And after a difficult year of trying to understand God and his plan for me, I came to understand that it was only by His grace, and Christ’s death in my place that he could ever accept me.  My desire now is to glorify my Savior Jesus Christ, who died for my sinful soul and my anti-god state of mind and heart.

I want to get baptized today because I want to obey God in all things, and I want people see the miracle that Jesus Christ saved me from my sinful self and everything I was sinfully indulging in. All glory to Him, and thank You.

Categories: Testimonies
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Hopefully you heard me announce at the last five15 BIG MEETING that we are embarking on a Clothes Drive to serve the kids at Rancho 3M.  This started as a simple Angel Tree Christmas project for the Ranch, but when we learned that what the kids really need are winter clothes, we made the switch.

So, if you have winter clothes that don’t fit or you’re not using (or find some on the cheap and want to purchase and donate them), it would be a huge service to the orphans at the Ranch!

It sounds like many of you are wondering what to do with the clothes.  Simple!  Bring them tomorrow night to five15 on Saturday night (or December 6) and drop them off at the table.  Or you can bring them in to the church office during the week.

So, just to recap:

• BRING: Any clothes, but particularly winter  clothes like coats, jackets, gloves, hats, scarves, etc.
• WHERE: to five15 this Saturday OR on 12/6 OR the church office during the week.
• ALSO NEEDED: If you’re able to contribute a few bucks to help cover the cost of shipping, that would be great too.  If you write a check, make it out to Sovereign Grace Church and write Rancho 3M Clothes Drive in the memo line.

Thanks in advance for showing the love of Christ to these kids by donating clothes for them to make it through the winter!

Categories: Mx09
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Parents,

Over the next few weeks, I want to review the new book Worldliness, edited by CJ with contributions by Craig Cabannis, Dave Harvey, Bob Kauflin, and Jeff Purswell.

CHAPTER 1: Is This Verse in Your Bible?

CJ opens this book by identifying the danger of isolating and removing 1 John 2:15 from our Bibles: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The danger in ignoring this verse is that we might end up like Demas: drifting from God and ultimately deserting the faith altogether.  CJ explains the danger:

“A love for the world begins in the soul.  It’s subtle, not always immediately obvious to others, and often undetected by the people who are slowly succumbing to its lies.” (p. 20)

Here’s a helpful diagnostic tool to expose the subtle drift toward worldliness:

“Imagine that I take a blind test in which my task is to identify the genuine follower of Jesus Christ. My choices are an unregenerate individual and you.

I’m given two reports detailing conversations, Internet activity, manner of dress, iPod playlists, television habits, hobbies, leisure time, financial transactions, thoughts, passions, dreams…

The question is: Would I be able to tell you apart?  Would I discern a difference between you and your unconverted neighbor, coworker, classmate, or friend?

Have the lines between Christian and worldly conduct in your life become so indistinguishable that there really is no difference at all?

If the difference is hard to detect, you may be in danger of drifting…”  (p. 24)

CJ explains that worldliness is…

“…a love for this fallen world.  It’s loving the values and pursuits of the world that stand opposed to God.” (p. 27ff)

But the antidote for worldliness is…

“…the cross of Jesus Christ.  Only through the power of the cross of Christ can we successfully resist the seduction of the fallen world.  The Savior’s death on the cross is what makes possible forgiveness of sin and provides power to overcome sin.” (p. 34)

This is a brief introduction to the content of this chapter - read it all!  And once you have read it together, here are some discussion questions for parents and teens to translate the truths in this chapter into real life (I’m adapting the discussion questions from the back of the book):

• Read 1 John 2:15 together.  What does John mean by “the world”?
• Can you relate to any of these reasons for neglecting Scripture’s command not to love the world?
  -”Resisting worldliness” is just another way to say “out of touch.”
  -I can’t evangelize the world if I don’t relate to the world.
  -No one has the right to tell me how much of the world I can take.
  -My friends need this book more than I do.
  -I’m not tempted to worldliness because I go to church—in fact, I attend Sunday meetings and five15 meetings.
  -If I think too seriously about it, I might have to let go of some things that I enjoy.
• What are you most passionate about?  What do you think or daydream about when you have a free moment?
• Read through the scenario on page 24 together.  What evidence is there in your life that would prove you love Jesus Christ more than the world?  How could someone tell a difference between you and an non-Christian?
• How is the cross of Christ the antidote to worldliness?  What can you do this week to draw near to Christ through the Cross and resist worldliness?

Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents, Worldliness
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In case you missed it, here is Josh’s baptism testimony from Sunday:

I grew up going to church like most kids, knowing what the gospel was and what Jesus had done for me, but I never had a true understanding. My life was all about myself – in other words I wanted to please myself. I was a very angry person who was seeking the pleasures of the world and deceiving myself. I had no love for scripture and usually read it because my parents told me to.

As I got older and into my teen years I remember how faithful my dad was to preach the gospel to me and how much he cared for my soul. As a result, God really started to change my life. I remember nights that I would have thoughts like, “If I die tonight will I go to heaven or hell”? These thoughts really plagued me and caused me to fear.

Then about two years ago at a youth meeting I remember how God used a prophesy by Steve Whitacre to better understand God’s plan of salvation and experience His saving grace. Steve said that he believed that there were some non-Christians in the room and that God was calling them to repent. As he said this I believe that my eyes were opened, and I broke down into tears, confessing to my dad that I was not a Christian. I believe then or soon after this I repented of my sin and put my faith in Christ. However, for some time I really struggled with confidence and wondered if I really was a Christian. Then at the youth retreat this past summer God used a message by Mark Mullery on prayer in a way to refresh me and give me full assurance of my faith. This was truly amazing that Jesus would want to save a sinner like me.

Ever since that day God has been at work in my life changing me to be more like him. He has given me a great desire to read his word and have a relationship with him. Today I want to be baptized in obedience to scripture which says in Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Thank you.

Categories: Testimonies
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In case you missed it, here is Debbie’s baptism testimony from Sunday:

For as long as I can remember, my parents have faithfully taught me the Gospel and eagerly instructed me in the ways of the Lord. Having grown up attending this church my whole life, not a week passed in which I was not reminded by a Children’s Ministry teacher or pastor that I had a Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for me. However, these truths and instructions I received never really caught my attention, and I was in no way interested in pursuing a relationship with this great God.

Throughout middle school and early high school, I was involved in a very committed and affectionate relationship with my sin. One of the chief idols in my life during these years was having people perceive me as “cool,” and a lifestyle of gossiping, lying, and deceiving my parents came hand-in-hand with this goal. I hated to talk about God with any friends or family out of fear they would figure out I was not truly a Christian. I loved the things of this world, and simply wanted to live for myself.

During these years, I began to doubt my standing with God, and repeatedly tried to convince my worried soul that God loved me enough to let me wait until after my “fun years” to let me get serious about a relationship with Him. As Romans 2:4 says, I was “presuming on the riches of his kindness and forbearance, and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness [was] meant to lead me to repentance.”

However, at the Youth Retreat in 2007, God in His great mercy opened my eyes to behold His holiness, and love for me in sending His Son to die for sinners. I finally felt a godly sorrow for my sins, and desired to change and pursue an intimate relationship with my Savior. Colossians 1:13 tells us, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Ever since that Retreat, God has given me a desire to please Him and seek after His plan for my life. He gives me grace to daily confess and turn from sin, as well as remember that I am nothing apart from Him and His saving work on the Cross.

I want to be baptized today in obedience to God’s command for believers, and to publicly show the picture of a sinner dying to world and arising, cleansed, with Christ.  To God alone be the glory!

Categories: Testimonies
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