Family Fall Fest

Saturday, Oct. 28, 5:00-7:00 pm
At Jeff & Sherry Reeder’s house, 157 W 150 S (Google Maps / Mapquest)

All ages & families encouraged to come!

• Campfire
• S’mores
• Hot dogs
• Pumpkin painting
• Cookie decorating
• Bobbing for apples
• Football
• Lots of laughs!

Bring a friend and (if you can) a dish or dessert to share.

Living Hope 101

Sunday, January 21, noon-1:30 pm
At the Aberdeen Manor (where we meet for worship)

This is a quick intro to Living Hope and how you can get connected here. If you’ve been to a Sunday morning service, then this is your next step! It’s free, and it’s open to everyone. To RSVP, please contact Pastor Rich (email / staff page).

While we offer Living Hope 101 at various times throughout the year, this one is unique! We have the opportunity to hold the class right there at the Aberdeen Manor after our second service, so we’re including a light lunch and limited childcare. It’s going to be a great chance to meet some other folks who are thinking of calling Living Hope their church home.

All Staff Meeting

Monday, February 12, 6:30-7:30 pm
At the District Office, 970 Mill Pond Rd. (Google Maps / Mapquest)

This is for all of you who are contributing to the mission of Living Hope by your prayers, service, and resources. It’s an hour packed with encouraging stories and practical ideas to help you stay motivated and equipped for service.

At Living Hope, we recognize that you’re stepping up to a new level of ownership & responsibility for the mission of the church. You’re not just “members.” You’re “volunteer staff!”

If you’d like to know more about what it means to join the volunteer staff, please contact Pastor Rich (email / staff page).

No childcare will be provided for this event.

Question 1: Why believe?

OK, here are the notes from the message I’m giving today. I’ll be leaving time for discussion during the services, but if you didn’t get a chance to ask your question, or you just thought of a new one, or maybe you just want to add your two cents — go right ahead! Like I said in the comments on the Intro week, just keep it clean. And polite. And honest. 🙂

WHY BELIEVE?
September 24, 2006

Review: Questions are good!
“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. – Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Two traps to avoid:
1. Thinking you have all the answers.
2. Thinking there aren’t any answers.

Today’s question: Why believe?

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Faith has two parts:

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must [1] believe that he exists and [2] that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

1. Believing that something is true (certainty, conviction)
“I believe that God exists. I’m convinced that Jesus rose from the dead.”

2. Believing in a person (confidence, trust)
“I’m confident that God loves me. I’m trusting Jesus to lead my life.”

So why do people believe in God? People have different reasons…
(from Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Faith, chapter 2)

1. God makes sense of the universe’s origin.
2. God makes sense of the universe’s complexity.
3. God makes sense of objective moral values.
4. God makes sense of the resurrection.
5. God can immediately be experienced.
6.
7.

For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. – Romans 8:16 (NLT)

But doesn’t science contradict the Bible? How can both be true?
“Two books” idea: nature & the Bible

• Nature is God’s revelation of himself in the world.
• Science is our interpretation of nature.
• The Bible is God’s revelation of himself in his Word.
• Theology is our interpretation of the Bible.

Whenever there is a conflict between science and theology, the problem is with our interpretation, not God’s revelation.

So why believe in Jesus and the Christian version of God?
1. Personal experience (the Holy Spirit)
2. The New Testament witness

• Contain eyewitness testimony
• Written very early, no time for legends to develop
• Vast number of copies show no major changes over the years
• Fit with known history and archeology

3. His resurrection

• Empty tomb
• Post-resurrection appearances
• Changed lives of his followers

One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. – John 20:24-31 (NLT)

Intro – Questions are good… right?

Hey, this is Rich (the pastor). I’m trying something new here, so tell me if you like it. The idea is that I’ll post the notes/outline/whatever from the talk I give at the Sunday morning services, and we can talk about it here. In this series, we’re trying to be a bit more interactive & discussion-oriented, so I thought — why not give it a whirl?

So here are the notes. The main idea of this message was that questions are a good thing that can lead us toward God instead of keeping us away from him. If you want to leave a comment, go ahead. Your first comment will have to be approved by me, just to make sure you’re not a spambot or something. Oh, and try to keep it clean. There are kids around. 🙂

Possible discussion topics:

• When has someone discouraged you from asking questions?
• What do you think it means to “love God… with all your mind”?
• Have you ever really wrestled with a question or dilemma? What was the result?

QUESTIONS ARE GOOD… RIGHT?
September 17, 2006

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8 (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.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Some of the questions we’ve explored in the past 6 years…
(These are titles from past messages.)

• If I believe, why do I doubt?
• Is the Bible reliable? Is it true?
• Why does God allow suffering?
• Is there a Christian view of war?
• Does prayer really work?
• Is Jesus the only way to God?
• Does God have a plan for me?
• Can God be trusted?
• Is God unfair?
• Does God ask too much of us?
• Why on Earth am I here?
• Why should I trust the Bible?
• Why does God seem so evil in the Old Testament?
• Why do Christians say Jesus is the only way?
• What does God think about homosexuality?
• What does God think about divorce?
• Who would Jesus vote for?
• Is there hope for world peace?
• Halloween: good, bad, or what?
• Can “gay” and “marriage” go together?
• How do I know when it’s God talking?
• Why do bad things happen?
• History & fiction: which is which?
• Lost (and found) gospels: can we trust them?
• Jesus: human, divine, or both?
• Women & Christianity: the sacred feminine?

Two ways to miss the growth that comes through questions:

1. Thinking you have all the answers.
Could keep you from connecting with people.

2. Thinking there aren’t any answers.
Could keep you from connecting with God.

Third option: Wrestle with the questions!
(Great examples in David’s Psalms or the book of Job)

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.”
But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
“What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.”
“What is your name?” Jacob asked him.
“Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel—“face of God”—for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. – Genesis 32:24-31 (NLT)

Some suggestions:
1. Ask honestly. Do you really want an answer?
2. Ask persistently. Don’t give up!
3. Ask humbly. Get the help you need.

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. – James 1:5 (CEV)

[God said,] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

HeartSpa for Women

Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

At South Lake Church of the Nazarene
7355 E. 81st Ave. (US 30), Crown Point, IN

All ladies, age 18-118, are invited to this relaxing getaway. Women are coming to this experience from all over Northwest Indiana. Lunch is included.

$15 per person if registered by Sept. 30
$18 per person at the door

Registration forms with more information are available on Sunday mornings. Just look for the gift basket… which your registration form enters you to win!

ShareFest ’06

Saturday, October 21

It’s back! For the third year, we’re joining with churches from all over Valparaiso for a day of sharing God’s love with our community. Our church is overseeing two different work projects this year (one for skilled labor, one for unskilled labor), but you’re free to volunteer for any of the projects listed over on the ShareFest website. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Blood Drive!

To learn more, visit the ShareFest website or pick up a brochure on Sunday morning.

Parents’ Workshop

Sunday, Sept. 24, 12:30-2:30 pm

At the District Office, 970 Mill Pond Rd., Valparaiso (Google Maps / Mapquest)

We were setting up some training for our kids workers on how to properly handle a misbehaving child, when we thought, “You know, maybe these kids’ parents would like some help, too!” That’s why God’s All Stars is sponsoring this free interactive workshop led by a local behavioral specialist, Jeanette Dalton. Jeanette has years of experience working with students with behavioral problems in Valparaiso’s public schools, and she’s happy to share what she’s learned with you.

Sub sandwiches will be served, so you need to RSVP to our Kids & Youth Pastor, Danae Hezlep, by Sept. 22 (email / staff page). There will be a supervised room for children during the workshop, so please let us know who you’re bringing with you.

Questions are GOOD

So… what’s your big question? What is it that you’ve always wanted to ask about God, faith, or life in general?

At Living Hope, we’re not afraid of the big questions. In fact, we believe that you can’t find “the answer” without asking good, hard questions. And we know that you’ve got ’em! So we’re inviting you to ask your big questions, and we’re going to devote several weeks to looking for good answers together. The series starts September 17, as Living Hope celebrates its 6th birthday.

UPDATE:

Now you can use the menu on the right to jump to the different weeks in the series. Read the notes & join the discussion!

UPDATE 2:

We’re over halfway through the series now, so we’ve run out of room for new questions. However, if your question didn’t get asked, or you have a new question, and you’d like to discuss it, feel free to share it here. Or you could email or call Pastor Rich directly. He’d love to hear from you.

Popcorn Festival

It’s here! This Saturday, Sept. 9, we’ll be at the Popcorn Festival in downtown Valparaiso sharing God’s love with kids and adults.

Before the parade, we’ll be handing out almost 3,000 bottles of bubble soap to kids along the parade route. It’s fun, and it gives them something to do while they wait. 😀

All day, we’ll be offering free gifts & games for kids at our kids tent. (It’s in the section with all the other kid-oriented booths at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette St. You can’t miss it.) While other people sell things to kids as a fundraiser for their group or organization, we want to show them that God’s love is free. Plus it’s just more fun that way, you don’t have to mess with making change, etc., etc….

You can help support these free offerings by stopping by our food booth on Michigan Ave., just north of Indiana Ave. We’ll be selling popcorn balls, hot dogs, and cold water, all for $1. And I think we’re selling polish sausages for $2. You’ll have to stop by to find out for sure.

All in all, it’s a fun day! If you’re out there, stop by and say hello!

(And if you’d like to help staff one of these activities, just let us know.)