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Come join us at The Stream, and make plans to join us on Labor Day weekend in San Clemente next year in 2015!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
San Clemente Beach Bash & Retreat 2014
Come join us at The Stream, and make plans to join us on Labor Day weekend in San Clemente next year in 2015!
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Thursday, May 8, 2014
Running for the Prize
This past Tuesday night at the The Stream's Tuesday Night House Group, we continued our discussion in the excellent book The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. During our discussion we came across this passage:
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)
In applying this passage to personal growth in holiness/godliness, we can see the importance of training and discipline. Consider the extensive discipline and training that an elite champion athlete undergoes on a year-round basis (time commitment, workouts, nutrition, rest, coaching, mental and physical focus). All of these things are to be commended. In a similar way, and even more so, Christians ought to apply the same intentional discipline, training, and zeal towards the pursuit of God and godliness. The champion athlete gets a prize, a reward, a wreath that is perishable, but the Christian receives eternal rewards that are even greater.
Do you apply the same kind of intense level of discipline, self-control, and pursuit of your goals for godliness and holiness as an elite champion athlete pursuing their goals?
In what specific ways is God leading you to step up your efforts, discipline, and goals towards godliness?
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)
In applying this passage to personal growth in holiness/godliness, we can see the importance of training and discipline. Consider the extensive discipline and training that an elite champion athlete undergoes on a year-round basis (time commitment, workouts, nutrition, rest, coaching, mental and physical focus). All of these things are to be commended. In a similar way, and even more so, Christians ought to apply the same intentional discipline, training, and zeal towards the pursuit of God and godliness. The champion athlete gets a prize, a reward, a wreath that is perishable, but the Christian receives eternal rewards that are even greater.
Do you apply the same kind of intense level of discipline, self-control, and pursuit of your goals for godliness and holiness as an elite champion athlete pursuing their goals?
In what specific ways is God leading you to step up your efforts, discipline, and goals towards godliness?
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
The Stream Women's Retreat 2014
Friends,
laughter, learning, worshiping, relaxing, eating, late nights, early mornings,
prayer, communion…. we packed a lot into 40 hours! On the weekend of March 28 –
30, Jesus met us in Mesquite, Nevada at the Casa Blanca Resort where we held
our 2014 S.W.i.M. retreat.
Our
theme this year was God’s Extravagant Grace.
Lauren Scott and Rachelle Windham led us in heavenly worship, and Carol
Stewart, Julie Smith and Linda Salyer spoke on grace between friends,
strangers, enemies and finally the extravagant grace of the cross of Christ.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Loving Relationships
We call it loving relationships, its one of our Streams of Water (Core values of our church). Here's a description of it from our church web page at www.thestream.us/values.php
Loving Relationships (John 13:34-35; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
If you appreciate making good friends and developing solid relationships with other people, then come be a part of The Stream. We believe that the church should be a loving family where people can truly connect with others, and that is what we want to see in this church. The Stream will strive to be a welcoming and loving community of people who help one another follow Jesus, while also having a lot of fun together. We will care for one another, challenge one another, encourage one another, and when necessary, forgive one another. We will seek to discover, exercise in an orderly way, and use whatever gifts God gives us to build up one another and to serve others (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Some of the ways we cultivate this is simply by spending time together. People at The Stream go out to lunch together, they have meals together in homes, they go grab coffee or a workout together, they meet in what we call "House Groups" (our name for small group fellowships/Bible studies/prayer times). We even go on trips together.
In the last week, house groups met, over 30 people made plans for a trip to San Clemente for our Labor Day Beach Bash and Retreat, and we had a super fun "big game" party (even if the game was a blowout).
The Stream is a place where you can make good friends and have a lot of fun in the process! Here are a few photos from our cookout this past fall that illustrate the loving relationships we're talking about!
Looking for loving relationships? Come join us at The Stream! (Sundays at 10am at the Scout Center).
Loving Relationships (John 13:34-35; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
If you appreciate making good friends and developing solid relationships with other people, then come be a part of The Stream. We believe that the church should be a loving family where people can truly connect with others, and that is what we want to see in this church. The Stream will strive to be a welcoming and loving community of people who help one another follow Jesus, while also having a lot of fun together. We will care for one another, challenge one another, encourage one another, and when necessary, forgive one another. We will seek to discover, exercise in an orderly way, and use whatever gifts God gives us to build up one another and to serve others (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Some of the ways we cultivate this is simply by spending time together. People at The Stream go out to lunch together, they have meals together in homes, they go grab coffee or a workout together, they meet in what we call "House Groups" (our name for small group fellowships/Bible studies/prayer times). We even go on trips together.
In the last week, house groups met, over 30 people made plans for a trip to San Clemente for our Labor Day Beach Bash and Retreat, and we had a super fun "big game" party (even if the game was a blowout).
The Stream is a place where you can make good friends and have a lot of fun in the process! Here are a few photos from our cookout this past fall that illustrate the loving relationships we're talking about!
Looking for loving relationships? Come join us at The Stream! (Sundays at 10am at the Scout Center).
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
What we find in this book is a search for life's meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction apart from God. The writer tries this, than this, than this, than that, all from a secular perspective without God in the picture or in the equation. Each endeavor the writer searches, each road he goes down, leads time and time again to a conclusion that meaning and purpose and satisfaction is elusive apart from God - calling it all vanity, or meaningless, and a striving/chasing after the wind. So he keeps trying and considering and searching.
So far at The Stream we've followed the writer on his search, considering where our satisfaction might be found:
1. Work and weariness (Is it our work that satisfies?)
2. Is it wisdom?
3. Is it pleasure?
4. Is it morality?
5. Is it our possessions?
You can join by listening in or watching any or all of these messages here as we join the writer of Ecclesiastes and consider these things ourselves. What gives us ultimate lasting satisfaction?
Listen in and let's see what we discover!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Men's Ministry
The Stream's men's ministry has our second men's breakfast of the summer a week from today. We met last month and had a great time as we always do. We enjoyed some great food and had fun catching up about things going on in our lives. After this Alan Wigdahl led us in discussing the topic of prayer and we spent some time meeting with God in prayer and praying for one another.
Related to men's ministry, I recently started reading an excellent book, not about men's ministry, but more about being a man titled Manhood Restored (click the link if your interested in purchasing it). It's an excellent book that I highly recommend men in our church read. Apparently, others think so too, as this book was just promoted yesterday by our friends at The Gospel Coalition who posted this review of the book.
Hope to see you in church soon, and to see all the men at next weekend's men's breakfast at Alan's place!
Related to men's ministry, I recently started reading an excellent book, not about men's ministry, but more about being a man titled Manhood Restored (click the link if your interested in purchasing it). It's an excellent book that I highly recommend men in our church read. Apparently, others think so too, as this book was just promoted yesterday by our friends at The Gospel Coalition who posted this review of the book.
Hope to see you in church soon, and to see all the men at next weekend's men's breakfast at Alan's place!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
True Greatness
Matthew 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (ESV)
In Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus announces his coming crucifixion and death to his disciples (for the third time!). What follows immediately after this in Matthew 20:20-21 is a seemingly selfish and insensitive request from the mother of James and John, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." We could say that what mom wanted was greatness for her two sons - and greatness as she perceived it seemed to be based upon status, recognition, position, and power.
What follows next is Jesus defining for us what true greatness truly is all about - serving!!! It is serving and being a servant. Greatness isn't your accomplishments, your position, your title, your recognition, it is serving!
What I'm often impressed with as I look around our church at The Stream, especially on Sunday morning's before, during, and after our worship service, is the quality of the people in our congregation who take this truth seriously. I can say so, because they show it, by sincerely serving.
People are taking initiative, without even being asked, to help setup, breakdown, and cleanup. Others on our ministry teams such as Kids' Creek (children's ministry at The Stream) continually serve families in our church by helping transform the lives of the next generation. Others are serving behind the scenes praying for people and for our services. Countless others are greeting guests, encouraging others, and building loving relationships.
Their service is invaluable, and their service is not going unrecognized, especially by God! Jesus makes it clear that serving is true greatness, because Jesus himself didn't come to be served, but to serve, ultimately serving by giving his life at the cross for our salvation!
In Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus announces his coming crucifixion and death to his disciples (for the third time!). What follows immediately after this in Matthew 20:20-21 is a seemingly selfish and insensitive request from the mother of James and John, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." We could say that what mom wanted was greatness for her two sons - and greatness as she perceived it seemed to be based upon status, recognition, position, and power.
What follows next is Jesus defining for us what true greatness truly is all about - serving!!! It is serving and being a servant. Greatness isn't your accomplishments, your position, your title, your recognition, it is serving!
What I'm often impressed with as I look around our church at The Stream, especially on Sunday morning's before, during, and after our worship service, is the quality of the people in our congregation who take this truth seriously. I can say so, because they show it, by sincerely serving.
People are taking initiative, without even being asked, to help setup, breakdown, and cleanup. Others on our ministry teams such as Kids' Creek (children's ministry at The Stream) continually serve families in our church by helping transform the lives of the next generation. Others are serving behind the scenes praying for people and for our services. Countless others are greeting guests, encouraging others, and building loving relationships.
Their service is invaluable, and their service is not going unrecognized, especially by God! Jesus makes it clear that serving is true greatness, because Jesus himself didn't come to be served, but to serve, ultimately serving by giving his life at the cross for our salvation!
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