Monday Recap, 06.28
Thanks to those of you who've taken us up on our online giving challenge! You can still sign up thru our website http://oakbrookchurch.com/give
If you have trouble navigating the web, or if signing up for this intimidates you - please contact Karl Stoneking and he'll be glad to walk you through it here at the church or over the phone. 765.455.1100 ext 206. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In case you missed it yesterday, Lakeside Books is now downstairs next to the Café! Linda McFatridge and Barb Brown (its volunteer leaders) really enjoyed seeing all the people who wandered in to see it. Make sure you check it out - it's an amazing offering in a great new location.
Did you like the "old school" prelude yesterday? That was "Chicago Song" by David Sanborn. You probably don't know that in the 1980s Monty Sanders regularly played that song at his Wed. night light jazz gigs at Shenanigans Pub (currently El Arriero). A lot of us older musicians played lots of places before we played at Oakbrook 
Mark did a great job concluding our "Practical Atheist" series with, "We believe in God...but are still ashamed of our past."
Here are some highlights:
"Shame usually follows a pattern-a cycle of self-recrimination and lies that claim life after life. First, we experience an intensely painful event. Second, we believe the lie that our pain and failure is who we are-not just something we've done, or had done to us-and we experience shame. And finally, our feelings of shame trap us into thinking that we can never recover-that, in fact, we don't even deserve to."
-Craig Groeschel "Christian Atheist"
"Don't let your past pain define your present reality."
Steps to freedom from our past mistakes:
1. Accept that which cannot be changed.
Accept it. If you've made a mistake, let the reality sink enough to break you-get to an honest place of repentance (feel regret).
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin...Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12
2. Believe that God can change your future.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I John 1:9
God can wash away our past mistakes as simply as we could shake the Etch-a-Sketch we played with as children.
If we will give our sin to God, as Vance Havner said, "God buries our sin in the depths of the sea and then puts up a ‘No Fishing' sign."
Don't miss the next series "Five Lies of the Devil"- it kicks off next Sun. Check out the hilarious promo video on our website www.oakbrookchurch.com
Couple questions you could reply to on our blog:
Why do you think it's so hard to let go of your past mistakes?
Do you have an encouraging story of how you got free from a past mistake?
Comments
Morgan,
What about that closing worship?! How cool to see so many with arms raised and hearts abandoned. You could just feel the Holy Spirit in that place. What an awsome message from Mark. It reminds me of my own recovery. The first three steps: I can’t, God can, and I’ll let Him. I think we’ll learn in this next series why it’s so hard to let go of our past mistakes. It’s a lie of the devil. I used to pray those verses (Psalm 51:10-12) for years. As I let go and let God, as they say in recovery, I discovered freedom and my joy WAS restored. Last year, in a daily devotion over those verses, I received a revelation. In the very next verse(13), I learned what I must do once I was restored. Ps51:13 “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” We must share what God has done for us with others. That is the basic fundamental of Christian discipleship. I try not to ask God “What can you do for me?”, but rather “What can you do through me?”
I am looking forward to the next series about Lies of the Devil. I don’t think alot of people even believe in him. He is real and the father of lies. I will be praying that this series touches our church and our community.
In Christ’s love,
Andy
By Andy Jansen on June 29, 2010
Great testimony & sharing Andy. There are few things that encourage me more than stories of recovery & healing. God’s using you bro!
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