The eNews Week of May 30 2004

If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Output Principle
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES—View Others As More Important Than Yourself
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL

=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center

EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is June 27
Meet in the TFB patio

SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room


BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark

=============================
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6

Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)

Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline

Sign-ups begin June 6

For details click here.

=============================
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Output Principle
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?

In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul tells the believers at Philippi to stand firm (v. 1). He then specifies three ways to stand firm. (1) Live in harmony (v. 2-3)—Pastor Charlie’s sermon series on relationship has been covering this issue. (2) Bring your needs to the near God so you’re free to rejoice, to be gentle with people, and to live without anxiety (v. 4-7). (3) Have an interior life that concentrates on excellent, praiseworthy things and an exterior life that does excellent, praiseworthy things (v. 8-9).

Today we broke through the bounds of the church and walked the neighborhood. As we walked, we read and thought (and talked). Read each of the passages and think about the question.

1 Peter 2:9-17 Who are we, exactly? Why are we here?
Jeremiah 29:4-7 Are WE exiles? If so, how should we act in this foreign country?
James 1:27 How’s our religion?
Isaiah 3:14-15 Where are our poor?
Isaiah 58:6-9 What does righteousness look like when it’s not in church?
John 9:5 Who’s the light now?
Matthew 5:13-16 What do salt and light do, anyway?
Philippians 4:9 So, what do we do now?

This summer, our focus is ministry. Here’s the initial list:

Film Team
LA Food Bank, CARE box packing
TFB Shut-in Ministry
TFB Loaves and Fishes
TFB Vacation Bible School Staff
YAM Summer weekend planners
TFB Awesome Adventure (children’s outings) volunteers
YAM Ministry Hunters (add to this list!)

Think about this: What does holiness look like when it’s not in church?

June 6, there is no gathering because most of us are at Kamper Kamp.

June 13, we’ll continue looking at how we can be influencers rather than just influenced.

You have to make the choice. Will you influence your culture or just be influenced by it. The choice is yours.

For more specifics, there’s a good resource at Ransom Fellowship:


Discernment Training

Christian Discernment 101 will give you a general overview of what we mean by discernment and introduce you to the key questions a discerning Christian asks.

Discernment 102: How to Disagree Agreeably Learning how to think clearly and charitably is key.

Discernment 201: A Guide to Reading Fiction Christianly Bring discernment to the pleasure of reading.

Discernment 202: Pop Culture: Why Bother? Sometimes the problems with culture can be so overwhelming, Christians decide it would be best to withdraw from it. Denis Haack gives four reasons not to.


------------------------------------------
Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine

Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page


Mueller on culture


Faith and Culture links


Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)


questions to ask about film/tv/etc
=============================
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES—View Others As More Important Than Yourself
Relationship Principles of Jesus, Part 6
Philippians 2:3-5; Matthew 5:38-42
Pastor Charlie
May 30, 2004

“Humility is not thinking of yourself as unimportant.
Instead, it is thinking of others as more important.”


HOW TO VIEW OTHERS AS MORE IMPORTANT


GIVE AWAY YOUR DEMAND FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition…” (Philippians 2:3).
Selfish ambition is the pursuit of personal gain.

GIVE AWAY YOUR DESIRE TO BE THE MOST VALUED.
“Do nothing out of…vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3).
Vain conceit is an excessively favorable opinion of self and one’s abilities.

“Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers” (Matthew 23:5-7, CEV).


GIVE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO AN EQUAL GIVE AND TAKE.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you….” (Matthew 5:38-39, NIV).

GIVE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO ALWAYS BE TREATED WITH RESPECT!
“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39, NIV).

GIVE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO KEEP WHAT IS YOURS.
“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Matthew 5:40, NIV).

GIVE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO ONLY DO WHAT IS REQUIRED.
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:41, NIV).

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NAS).


=============================
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Information courtesy of Transparent Productions
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The eNews Week of May 23 2004

If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Input Principle
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES--Do Not Judge Others
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL


=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center

EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is May 30
Meet in the TFB patio

SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room


BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark

=============================
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6

Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)

Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline

Sign-ups begin June 6

For details click here.

=============================
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Input Principle
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?

In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul tells the believers at Philippi to stand firm (v. 1). He then specifies three ways to stand firm. (1) Live in harmony (v. 2-3)—Pastor Charlie’s sermon series on relationship has been covering this issue. (2) Bring your needs to the near God so you’re free to rejoice, to be gentle with people, and to live without anxiety (v. 4-7). (3) Have an interior life that concentrates on excellent, praiseworthy things and an exterior life that does excellent, praiseworthy things (v. 8-9).

Verses 8 and 9 are of particular interest in our study of holy worldliness. Verse 8 is the Input Principle and verse 9 is the Output Principle. May 23, we looked at the Input Principle. How do we go about figuring out whether something is good input or harmful input? In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives the Christians at Philippi a list of valuable things to think about.

The simple rule: be careful what you put in your mind because it tends to stay there.

To be a bit more specific, use the following ratings to practice the skill of discernment as you take in stuff/junk from our culture)

Rate the following 1 to 5 (1 being right next to Satan and 5 being right next to Jesus)
This is true. It conforms to reality and is reliable.
This is honorable. It is worth my respect.
This is right. It shows me what God is really like.
This is pure. It’s not mixes with moral junk.
This is lovely. It promotes peace rather than conflict.
This is of good repute. It is positive and constructive not negative and destructive.
This is excellent. It has authenticity and moral integrity.
This is praiseworthy. I’d recommend it to anyone, even grandma.

On a regular basis, take time to think over your media input. How does it rate? If it falls in the 1 to 2 range on anything, you may want to consider whether you really want that stuff in your brain.


May 30, we’ll start looking at how we can be influencers rather than just influenced. That day we’ll begin putting together some summer ministry plans (if you think of any options, send an email).

You have to make the choice. Will you influence your culture or just be influenced by it. The choice is yours.

For more specifics, there’s a good resource at Ransom Fellowship: http://www.ransomfellowship.org/

http://www.ransomfellowship.org/Discernment.html
Discernment Training

Christian Discernment 101 will give you a general overview of what we mean by discernment and introduce you to the key questions a discerning Christian asks.

Discernment 102: How to Disagree Agreeably Learning how to think clearly and charitably is key.

Discernment 201: A Guide to Reading Fiction Christianly Bring discernment to the pleasure of reading.

Discernment 202: Pop Culture: Why Bother? Sometimes the problems with culture can be so overwhelming, Christians decide it would be best to withdraw from it. Denis Haack gives four reasons not to.


------------------------------------------
Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine

Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page


Mueller on culture


Faith and Culture links


Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)


questions to ask about film/tv/etc
=============================
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES—Do Not Judge Others
Relationship Principles of Jesus, part 4
Matthew 7:1-5
Pastor Charlie
May 23, 2004

“Judge”
Dictionary: To act as a judge and pass judgment, to form an opinion, to make a careful guess.

Bible: To evaluate, decide, assess, distinguish between, pronounce judgment, select, prefer, condemn.

Society: To tell others what is right or wrong, to legislate a moral code of conduct

When Jesus says “DO NOT JUDGE,” He is using the meaning of pronouncing judgment, to condemn. It means to act as the final determiner of right and wrong for others and condemning them when they are wrong.


PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING FROM MATTHEW 7

The Principle of SAMENESS.
The standard you use to judge others will be the standard God uses to judge you. Galatians 6:1

The Principle of HYPOCRISY.
Pointing out the wrong in others without first assessing the wrong in you.

The Principle of INTEGRITY.
Consistently confronting and dealing with your own faults by allowing the faults of others to remind you of yours.

The Principle of MERCY.
Helping others overcome their faults


So what is ‘judging’?

It is thinking and or acting as if you are not accountable to God in the same way others are.

It is pointing out someone else’s faults without first dealing with your own.

It is considering other people’s faults as bigger than your own.

It is condemning others for their faults instead of helping them overcome their faults.


INSIGHTS ABOUT GOD AND JUDGING

God alone is competent to judge people, so we are not! James 4:12; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5

“When you see a brother or sister in sin, you have to realize there are three things you don’t know. First, you don’t know how hard he or she tried not to sin, so don’t judge them. Second, you don’t know the power of the forces that assailed him or her, so don’t judge them. And third, you don’t know what you would have done in the same circumstances, so don’t judge them.” F.B. Myers

God is reluctant to judge, so we should be too. John 3:16-17

God will justly judge everyone, so we don’t need to. Psalm 96:10,12; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:16; Matthew 13:24-30, wheat and tares


Some areas of life clearly indicated in scripture in which we are not to judge:

We are not to judge people’s faithfulness and motives in serving their Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)

We are not to judge people’s appearances. (James 2:1-4)

We are not to judge people’s personal convictions in matters that are biblically neither right nor wrong. (Romans 14:1-5)


=============================
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Information courtesy of Transparent Productions
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The eNews Week of May 16 2004

If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
HOLY WORLDLINESS—Are you an influencer, or are you just influenced?
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES--WHAT YOU SAY MAKES A BIG IMPACT
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL


=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center

EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is May 30
Meet in the TFB patio

SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room


BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark

=============================
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6

Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)

Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline

Sign-ups begin June 6

For details click here.

=============================
HOLY WORLDLINESS—Are you an influencer, or are you just influenced?
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?

Do you love your stuff?
Do you love television or movies or music?
Do you love Jesus more than you love these?
Do you act like it?
What gets in the way?
What will you do starting now?

Loving stuff, thinking stuff will make life better, is stupid. It always has been
Around 520 BC, give or take, Jeremiah (a prophet of God) wrote a great satire about people who love objects (by the by, these people are called idolaters—ouch). You can find his satire in Jeremiah 10:1-16

In the next two weeks we’ll be looking at our relationship with culture.
May 23, we’ll look at the Input Principle. How do we go about figuring out whether something is good input or harmful input? In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives the Christians at Philippi a list of valuable things to think about.
May 30, we’ll start looking at how we can be influencers rather than just influenced. That day we’ll begin putting together some summer ministry plans (if you think of any options, send an email).

You have to make the choice. Will you influence your culture or just be influenced by it. The choice is yours.

For more specifics, there’s a good resource at Ransom Fellowship: http://www.ransomfellowship.org/

Discernment Training
http://www.ransomfellowship.org/Discernment.html

Christian Discernment 101 will give you a general overview of what we mean by discernment and introduce you to the key questions a discerning Christian asks.

Discernment 102: How to Disagree Agreeably Learning how to think clearly and charitably is key.

Discernment 201: A Guide to Reading Fiction Christianly Bring discernment to the pleasure of reading.

Discernment 202: Pop Culture: Why Bother? Sometimes the problems with culture can be so overwhelming, Christians decide it would be best to withdraw from it. Denis Haack gives four reasons not to.


------------------------------------------
Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine

Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page


Mueller on culture


Faith and Culture links


Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)


questions to ask about film/tv/etc
=============================
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES--WHAT YOU SAY MAKES A BIG IMPACT
Relationship Principles of Jesus, part 4
James 3:2-12
Pastor Charlie
May 16, 2004

WHAT YOU SAY SHOULD BE TRUSTWORTHY Matthew 5:33-37

Erode trust by lying
Erode trust by flattery Psalm 12:3
Erode trust by breaking promises.

WHAT YOU SAY SHOULD SHOW GOD IN YOU Matthew 12:34-36; Mark 7:15; Matthew 6:21

WHAT YOU SAY SHOULD BE TRUTHFUL AND THOUGHTFUL Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 4:29; James 3:9,10

=============================
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
PAX217, May 21 at The Glasshouse
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Information courtesy of Transparent Productions
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= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The eNews Week of May 9 2004

If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL


=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center

EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is May 30
Meet in the TFB patio

SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room


BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark

=============================
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6

Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)

Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline

Sign-ups begin June 6

For details click here.

=============================
HOLY WORLDLINESS—Cultural Input
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?

How do you decide if you should watch or listen or read? The general rule is if the crud-ratio is too high—TURN IT OFF!!! Soul pollution has a very high price.


For more specifics, there’s a good resource at Ransom Fellowship:


Discernment Training

Christian Discernment 101 will give you a general overview of what we mean by discernment and introduce you to the key questions a discerning Christian asks.

Discernment 102: How to Disagree Agreeably Learning how to think clearly and charitably is key.

Discernment 201: A Guide to Reading Fiction Christianly Bring discernment to the pleasure of reading.

Discernment 202: Pop Culture: Why Bother? Sometimes the problems with culture can be so overwhelming, Christians decide it would be best to withdraw from it. Denis Haack gives four reasons not to.


------------------------------------------
Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine

Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page


Mueller on culture


Faith and Culture links


Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)


questions to ask about film/tv/etc

=============================
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
PAX217, May 21 at The Glasshouse
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Information courtesy of Transparent Productions
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The eNews Week of May 2, 2004

If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Love Paradox
SUNDAY SERMON—Loving Your Fellow Believers Like Christ Loves You

=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center

EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is May 30
Meet in the TFB patio

SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room


BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark

=============================
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
PAX217, May 21 at The Glasshouse
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Information courtesy of Transparent Productions

=============================
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6

Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)

Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline

Sign-ups begin June 6

For details click here.

=============================
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Love Paradox
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?

Today we looked at the Friends episode “The one with the red sweater,” and asked the question: “What do they value?”


Here’s a partial list:
Pleasure
Stuff
Relationship
Peace—as in absence of confrontation

What do you value?
Not what do you plan to value. Look at your life and ask yourself what you really value?
What does God value?
How do your values compare?

This is tough stuff. It’s not all that clear. In fact, at the very heart of the issue is a paradox.
1. God loves the world. John 3:16-18
2. God commands us not to love the world. 1 John 2:15-16

Now, if we’re supposed to be like God, and if God loves the world, how can we both love the world and not love the world?

That is the question, and sometimes—lots of times—it hard to answer.

As we saw in Genesis 1, God judged creation to be very good. Humanity’s choice to sin against God polluted creation, but did not destroy its message (Romans 1:20). Rather, it gave us a mixed message, and plowing through the crud to the non-crud is quite a job. So here’s the deal. While you’re enjoying the media, use your brain. Check out the list in Philippians 4:8. In that verse, Paul gives some criteria for figuring out what we should think about: true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence and worthy. Look for that stuff in what you read and watch.

And, frankly, if the crud-ratio is too high—TURN IT OFF!!! Soul pollution has a very high price.

------------------------------------------
Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine

Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page


Mueller on culture


Faith and Culture links


Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)


questions to ask about film/tv/etc

=============================
SUNDAY SERMON—Loving Your Fellow Believers Like Christ Loves You
Relationship Principles of Jesus, Part 3
John 13:34, 35

4 THINGS WE NEED
We need to look to a better example. “…as I have loved you.”
We need a strong foundation of Christ’s love for us. 1 John 4:19
We need a higher purpose than love itself. (v. .35)
We need God’s presence and power in our daily lives. 1 John 1:7


4 INDICATORS THAT WE ARE
We fellowship with each other as Jesus fellowshipped with God. 1 John 1:7; Acts 2:44-47
We forgive each other as Christ forgives us. Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:21-35
We accept one another as Christ accepts us.
We sacrifice for one another as Christ sacrificed for us. John 15:13; 1 John 3:16

“…as we obey this commandment to love one another, the darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in.”
(1 John 2:8, Living Paraphrase).

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