“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

Just imagine: The eleven disciples, who have spent the past three years with Jesus, who loved Him and believed in Him as the Messiah, who have seen Him beaten and crucified, have just heard that He is alive! He is waiting for them at a mountain, so they go. Of course, some doubted, but they had to see for themselves the Messiah they worshiped. They see the Son of God, risen from the dead, and He speaks to them. You better believe they will remember these words for the rest of their lives.
These words that Jesus spoke to the disciples we know as “The Great Commission.”  One of the greatest gifts of love that God gives to us is this commission. Though some might consider it a responsibility or obligation, I see it as such a great gift for many reasons. Here are two of those reasons:

1. Jesus passes His authority to us. Understanding the meaning of “commission” to be “the authority to perform a task or certain duties,” it can be mind-boggling to realize that Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth, and He trusts us with that authority to represent Himself, to have the Spirit dwelling in us, and to teach others everything He commanded.
2. Jesus deepens our unity through this gift. When two or more people come together—not only to enjoy each other, but with a purpose that is focused outward—their unity is deepened. The Church is unified when we live out the same commission. Some of the most joyful times in my life have come from partnering with others to share about Jesus with those who do not know Him. God has gifted us differently, so together we can be even more effective for His Kingdom. Through this, we experience deep unity and love.

Questions to ponder: Have you spent time understanding what Jesus has commanded His followers in order to be able to teach this to others? Who are you teaching this to?  Consider the relationships in your life with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. How are these relationships reflecting the Great Commission from Jesus?

Prayer for today: Lord, help me to accept Your gift of authority to make disciples of You. And show me how I can actively honor those You have placed around me with whom I can live out this Great Commission.

Author: Jenni Ingram. A former PCC High School Intern whose heart now has her involved with some of the best local social justice work in East Palo Alto

“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or
household divided against itself will not stand.’ ”
Matthew 12:25 (NIV)

On June 16, 1858, as Abraham Lincoln stood poised to accept his party’s nomination to the U.S. Senate, he made a daring and potentially devastating decision that could have ended his political career well before he reached for the presidency.  He decided to speak the truth.  Standing before his colleagues in the Illinois statehouse in Springfield at 8:00pm, he gave his acceptance speech.

“We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation.  Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly augmented.  In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.  ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’  I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free…”

In fact, his closest friends were shocked at his candor. Lincoln’s law partner, William H. Herndon, felt his words were moral yet politically incorrect.  Most historians agree that at 5:00pm Lincoln was the strong front runner for the U.S. Senate, and by 8:00pm he had completely shattered his chances of winning.
Abraham Lincoln, quoting Jesus in Matthew 12:25, understood that divisiveness undermined, weakened and would eventually destroy our “united” states.  He unashamedly spoke unity at the cost of political suicide, but truth availed. He eventually won on this principle and so did the United States.
Though I know nothing can destroy Jesus’ Church, I would like to affirm Paul’s appeal that all believers need to be united.  As a Connection pastor I often hear that the “Baptists are this,” or “those Pentecostals are that.” “Did you hear what the Episcopalians are doing?” (or the Methodist or the Lutherans).  Why is it that there is so much tension, anxiety and divisiveness in the Church?  Yes, we are different, yes there is great diversity in our faith, yet if we major on the majors and let the minors go, our collective mission would be so much greater, our corporate effort would reach so much further, and the Kingdom would be so much larger.

Question to ponder: Do I promote unity within the faith, or does my heart and/or actions advance divisiveness?

Prayer for today: Lord, help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ so that I may love those who are yet to know You.

Author: Todd Gumbrecht. Helicopter pilot turned ordained pastor who has a huge heart as our Connection Pastor to make sure everybody finds a place at PCC.

There is no real way to start this love letter off.  iAm just going to shoot from the hip, and hope that you truly understand my feelings…

iLove you.  iLove your curves.  iLove that you let me push your buttons whenever iWant to.  My love for you is never ending.  iDon’t really know how iEver managed life without you.  You keep me organized and calm when iAm typically nervous and frazzled.  Just holding you makes me full to the brim with happiness.

Others have come and gone, but none of them were as loving and efficient as you.  You move fast when iNeed you to, which is always a huge bonus.  You can give me the answer to any question iMay ever have about anything within seconds. 

You’re the smartest one iKnow, which makes me so lucky to have you.  You teach me new things every single day, and for that, iAppreciate you.  Your ability to translate my words into different languages stuns me.  The fact that you have an iside connection with my bank, to be able to tell me just how much cash iHave (or don’t have) at any given time…that’s amazing.

My life hasn’t been the same since we got together.  iNever thought iWould have such strong feelings for someonething like you.  You might say that iHave “been around” with others like you.  iDon’t like to use the term “slut”, but it’s true.  My list is probably in the twenties by now, but iThink iHave found my perfect match.  iCan honestly say that iWill never let you leave me.  iImagine that in the future another one will come around.  One that is more smart, with a better memory, but you’ll always be my favorite.  iWill never forget the connection that we have.

With you, there is never a dull moment.  You are always willing to do exactly what iWant to do.  You don’t argue.  If I want to play games, you play with me, if I want to watch the news, you watch with me.  You’re absolutely the best iHave ever had and iCan’t imagine my life without you.

iTruly appreciate you and all of your beautiful, awesome features.

iLove you.  More than you’ll ever know.

Please stay sweet and don’t ever change.  iWill be here, with you, forever.

iLove You Madly,
Jenn

This was part of Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop (a love letter to the object of my affection).  If you’ve never done it, pop on over to her place and see what it’s all about!

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing,
but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter,  “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you,
you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied,   “not just my
feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was
why he said not every one was clean.”
John 13:6-11 (NIV)

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things
under his power, and that he had come from
God and was returning to God.”
John 13:3 (NIV)

“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now
showed them the full extent of his love.”
John 13:1 (NIV)

Armed with sanitizer bottles, I went to Africa to help orphans and share God’s love. Briefed on cultural expectations and safety issues, we were warned to never drink the water or eat village food. We were supplied with “safe food” that we would eat out of the children’s sight. I was happy to oblige if it meant keeping my stomach free from “issues.”

Matapila, a Malawian village with a feeding center, hosted kids who walked miles for their only meal of the day. One little boy attached himself to me, with no shared language (other than laughter). Ernest held my hand in line, swung my wallet chain around, and played tic-tac-toe in the dirt with me as he ate. Many times he offered to share his food with me.  I always politely shrugged it off because I wasn’t about to steal food from an orphan, nor did I want a slow, agonizing death by food poisoning.

One day, after I turned down his offer of a little potato, he got up to speak to a translator. She translated for me: “Ernest is concerned about you. He says you must be hungry because he hasn’t seen you eat all week. He wants to share his potatoes.”

What? He’s concerned for me? Crazy thoughts raced through my head. When was the last time Ernest washed his hands? Would this be my last meal? Could I somehow fake chew but not swallow? Lord help me!

Ernest waited, looking at me with compassion in his eyes, holding out his dirty little hand with one small potato. Time stood still. Then it hit me. This little orphan was showing me the full extent of his love. He sacrificed his only meal of the day. I held back tears. I took that no-frills potato and ate it. He was beaming. We sat there silent, both chewing (and swallowing). It was an amazing moment. Sitting right next to Ernest felt like I was sitting right next to Jesus.

Questions to ponder: What fears hold me back from loving others? Who is God calling me to love?

Prayer for today: Abba Father, thank You for showing me love through Jesus and His sacrifice. Help me love others. Help me to see loving others as a way for me to love You and help me to be loved by You through others, even ones that would surprise me or that I might normally avoid.

Author: Tony Gapastione. As our postmodern pastor God has used his perspective and heart for specific things to shape much of our current focus, verbiage and ministry approach. Tony blogs at http://tonys2cents.blogspot.com/

“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that
the time had come for him to leave this world and go
to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the
world, he now showed them the full extent of
his love [by washing the disciples’ feet].”
John 13:1 (NIV)

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through
anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
Philippians 4:13 (The Message)

Are we human o are we dancer?

Sette.
Sette sono le note.
Tutta la musica del mondo si potrebbe racchiudere in sette note.
E quello che ci sta in mezzo. Toni e semitoni. Ok.
Ma qualsiasi canzone o qualsiasi sinfonia terminano e iniziano sempre con una nota.
Pensate. Dunque.
Con sette notte a quante cose sono state composte. Opere e concerti. Dischi interi di rock, jazz, blues.
Con sette, dannate e splendidi note.
La musa della musica si è data da fare per far venire nelle menti geniali di gente come Bach, Lennon o Battisti e agli altri loro colleghi tutto quello che cantiamo, ascoltiamo, adoriamo.

Il problema però. Che certe melodie alla fine si somigliano. O certi generi hanno fatto una storia musicale con un giro di chitarra di tre accordi. Un genere splendido per carità. Lode al blues.
E non mi riferivo a questo quando dicevo del problema. Semmai che certa gente piuttosto che inventarsi qualcosa di nuovo con queste sette note, copia o si ispira.
Prende quanto già fatto e lo rifà a-nuovo. Per pigrizia. O perchè alla frutta. Senza idea e senza troppa voglia di sbattersi per farsele venire in mente. Quelle idee. Vedi alla voce Vasco.
Che mica le belle canzoni devono uscire ad ogni costo. no.

E. Dunque.
Sono pochi, quelli che si sbattono per far venire fuori da quelle sette note qualcosa di “nuovo”. Di mai sentito.
Che incanti, che sorprenda.
Tra quelli che più ci sono riusciti in questi ultimi tempi, metto i the Killers.
Usa. Las Vegas è la terra d’origine.
Una musica carica, piena di energia. Esplosiva. Anche quando si fa’ più ballata. Più cantautore.
Nati e cantati da Brandon Flowers, più di frontman. Potrebbe essere una sorta di nuovo re lucertola e invece è padre, sposato e praticante mormone. Che sembra quasi che ti regalassero un biglietto vincente alla lotteria e tu lo butti nel cestino, ma insomma. Nessuno è perfetto.

Da quando si è sparsa la voce hanno conquistato sempre più consensi. E vendite.
Per quella musica ben voluta da tutti, nota al pubblico pop, ma allo stesso tempo un po’ snob.
Non svenduta a logiche strettamente discografiche e commerciali. Alla ricerca di un estetica.
Con testi non sprovveduti e adolescenziali. Con una certa solidità.
Qui presentati negli unplugged registrati negli studi londinesi di Abbey Road.
Cioè. Amen.
Il tempio. il centro di gravità permanente.
Una serie di live di alto livello registrati e trasmessi in Italia su Cult e non so su altro. Questi fanno parte di una seconda stagione che spero passi presto sugli schermi italiani.
Ma detto questo, danno nuova linfa alle loro canzoni.
Violini e arpe.
Ragazzi questa è musica.

…Vedo la luce del sole che si può mangiare, le posate che si sposano
e i dischi che si rifiutano di farsi ascoltare dalle orecchie sbagliate…

The Baby – Marcomorgancastoldi

Para quem gosta de boa música tenho uma ótima noticia.

A banda nova iorquina Vampire Weekend divulgou o primeiro single do novo disco que só sai no dia 11 de Janeiro 2010.  Horchata é o nome desse primeiro single do segundo cd da banda, Contra, e  já pode ser escutado no site oficial da banda.

Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

A-Punk é  do primeiro álbum,  o Vampire Weekend.

Eu e a Lari aqui do PEIXE amamos a banda, então fica nossa dica para quem não conhece.

Beijo do peixe

Laura

Have you ever asked yourself why God didn’t just take you to heaven immediately after creating you?  Why did He leave you on Earth?  You’re only here for sixty, eighty, maybe at the most a hundred years, then you die and enter eternity with or separated from God.  Why didn’t God just create you and take you straight to heaven?

The Bible is very clear about why.  When Jesus was asked what is the most important command, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second most important is similar: Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).

God put you here on earth to do two things: to learn to love God and to learn to love other people.  Life is one giant lesson in love.  Life is not about acquisition—how much I get.  It’s not about accomplishment—how much I do.  It’s not about achievement—how much I learn.  Because you’re going to leave all of that behind.  But you are taking your character.  You’re taking you to heaven.

Want to know the secret to life? Life is all about learning how to love, about morphing from being self-centered to being God- and others-focused. You get that, you’ve got life.  If you don’t get that, you will just waste your life.

This is our attempt to share our study of God’s Love with those inside and outside our community who don’t have the printed version of this same material to hand, who are traveling, or who aren’t connected to a group that is going through this devotion. The first study, by our Pastor of People Development Brian Rhen, follows. The rest will be published on the same day for which they are listed in the book.

Please join us in making God’s top priority of love our top priority.

I Love Being Your Pastor!

Gary L. Gaddini

Lead Pastor

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not
boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does
not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
1 Corinthians 13: 4-6 (NIV)

How many times have you heard these verses at a wedding, read it in a sappy card or viewed it in a cheesy-looking wooden frame? Familiarity breeds contempt, doesn’t it?  After a while of overexposure, we get numb to this command of love, though it sits there so rich in detail and clarity of purpose.  A few years back, we claimed this as our family verse. With a new audience of four growing kids, it became fresh again and gave focus to our attempts as primary pastors of our home to bring greater intentionality and meaning to this word “love.” Once hung in our stairwell, on three large painted canvases combined with a family purpose statement, this passage has served as a great reminder, a teaching visual, a standard of discipline, and yet often, just another target for things as they are propelled down the steps.

However, at dinner one night, we discovered our fingers were useful for remembering what the wall hanging conveyed about love.  The challenge of learning it was fun and made love a little more portable in our lives. During this iLove season, may the illustration below help you to remember the rich detail of love and your purpose of reflecting it.

Remembering God's Love

Questions to ponder: How could memorizing the characteristics of love on your fingers be useful to you?  What might hold you back from doing it?  Who will you share this simple tool about love with (e.g., friend, child, etc.)?

Prayer for today: Lord, during this iLove season, use my fingers as a reminder to me about how You want me to love like You.

Author: Brian Rhen. Brian is the Pastor of People Development at Peninsula Covenant Church, providing coaching and growth experiences. He found Christ through faithful people at Peninsula Covenant’s Community Center.

Resources:

Brennan Manning on love (clip from Sunday’s sermon): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQi_IDV2bgM

Great online bible: YouVersion

This illustration by Hanna Müller!

 iloveillustration.

ilovebike.

iloveanimals.

ilovesunshine.

http://www.sharesomecandy.com/