Summary of December 27 Christmas Party

Many thanks to Susan and Cheryl for planning a wonderful evening for everyone! Thanks to everyone for the great food! We came, we celebrated, we ate, we laughed, we exchanged Christmas ornaments, we answered questions about our spouses and...well here is the photo to prove it! You guys are the greatest!!

Summary of December 8 Care Group

Sue and Doug treated us to a Christmas Ice Cream Cake to start the evening off. Tony began by reading Psalm 57:2 "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me" and Psalm 62:8 "Trust in him at all times, o people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." We sang about how we are His Forever and then began our discussion of the 5th CD in the Paul Tripp series. We were slightly surprised that we actually had come to the end of our sweet journey through these messages.

Some themes we discussed about being "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" were:
-We are instruments in His hands in very subtle ways, being directed by God as we go throughout our day as He wills.
-We are connected to His and He would have us be in tune with His voice and His leading in the middle of life's situations, being functional in our workplaces.
-Instead of trying to "find" the areas where God is using us, we could let Him show us how He is using us where He has placed us in life.
-We can use this desire to be instruments in God's hands to stir us to pursue holiness.
-Knowing that God uses us in any of His purposes gives us such a swell of joy - an incredible sense of fulfillment. All else pales in comparison. What else in life could be so thrilling?
-The key is "Christ is in us willing and working according to His good pleasure." We desire to say "I want to do only what I see Him leading me to do."
-We can be quick to give glory to God as He works through us, trusting Him as our Father who is in control.
-We must be aware of the enemy who can whisper lying accusations, and acknowledge God's truth about our lives and those we are trying to help.
-We want to be God's chisels, not crowbars or sledghammers, in the lives of others.
-Galatians 6:1-2 lays out a beautiful process of how to handle those who are caught (entangled) in a sin. We must remember that God is the Master Craftsman using us as He wills as soft brushes, chisels in others' lives. And we have no idea how many other people He is using as His instruments!
-"Wrecking ball responses to people are never restorative." said Paul Tripp. We lament the times in our lives when we've responded inappropriately to our children, spouses, brethren, etc. God wants us to be gentle in our approach. He gives us wisdom for each situation and can do miracles whenever He wants!
-We need to always minister to others with an eye on ourselves because we are people who need help helping people who need help. We must remember the "log in our eye." Romans 2 warns us about passing judgment on another because we are actually condemning ourselves.
-We need all the grace and instruction that we give to others. Gal 6 says "You who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." And James 3:17 says "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Summary of November 17 Care Group

Cheryl's amazing pumpkin roll started the evening off. We then began to discuss how these messages we've been digesting by Paul Tripp are ones that can bring change in our lives as we respond to God in the midst of life's trials. In his loving way, God uncovers our sin, refines us, all the while bringing love and restoration to us with no condemnation. God disciplines and refines us as we go through the trials that life brings our way. It is an act of his grace that he disciplines us in love as our Father, like Hebrews 12 says. "God disciplines those whom he loves." We can never be punished for our sins because all of that was absorbed by our Savior on the cross. God instructs and corrects us to see to it that we bear fruit for God. Overanalyzing events in our lives to try to always find cause or blame is dangerous. Rather, we should simply trust that God is in control.

Opening ourselves to others in a godly community setting means that we will suffer because we become vulnerable, involved, and concerned for the welfare of others. But we must always remember that He leads us by quiet waters and restores our souls like Psalm 23 says.

We must remember that we are pilgrims passing through this life to our REAL home. Thorns and thistles are on the way but we're headed toward the celestial city, like Christian and Hopeful from Pilgrim's Progress. We can walk through this life with our eyes fixed on our final destination!

Summary of November 3 Care Group

We sang about being a "Debtor to Mercy Alone" and began discussing humility immediately as one of the results of knowing how much we owe to God. This song articulates what a humble person, who knows how much he is in debt to God, thinks and says. We agreed that humility is shown by evidence in a believer's life of thankfulness, joy, willingness to submit to God, and seeing through situations to "put on humility" in difficult moments. Dennis encouraged us to imitate Christ's humility, empty ourselves, and think more highly of others than ourselves. Humility can be defined as depending on God and on His ways, not on our intellect and wisdom. We can be distracted away from the decision to put on humility by other feelings that rise and tempt us to not imitate Christ. It is important to watch out for being humble in outward appearance only, but to truly let God have his way inside as He sanctifies us.

Isaiah was mentioned as one who saw the Lord and responded in contrition and repentance. We want to let God show us his vision in situations, like putting on a pair of glasses, so that we can be useful for His purpose anywhere we are. When we get personally offended, especially by those closest to us, we can hinder God's agenda for those people. He can use us to help others in our "community" deal with their situations in a godly way only when we are "out of His way" and intent on furthering His sanctification, not taking our own revenge.

Tony asked us "How do you respond to constructive correction from our spouses and children?" It made us all think about how we react to having light shone on us potentially exposing our sin and weaknesses.

We read the following scriptures:
Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-9, 12 "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose."

Psalm 27: 13-14 "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

Summary of October 20 Care Group

We had several people not able to attend because of busy schedules. We started out with a nice pumpkin cake baked by Sue Brown! Then we sang "Jesus, Thank you" to begin our night of expressing thanks to God. Tony began by saying that he has been experiencing a burgeoning sense of thanksgiving to God for all that He has done for us. We read the series of scriptures that follows:
I Chron 16:8 - Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples:
Ps 30: 4-5 - Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
Ps 54:6 - With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
Ps 69:30 - I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Ps 79:13 - But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Ps 118:1 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Ps 145:10 - All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!
Col 3:15-16 - And let the peace of Christ rule in hour heats, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 2:6-7 - Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
I Thess 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We then took turns speaking about the themes of thankfulness in our lives. We discussed:
* This worldly generation is marked by a sense of entitlement and a lack of gratitude. So we, as God's children, should be marked by an unmistakable attitude of thanks to God no matter our circumstances. Then we can say like Habakkuk "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
* Ps 19 "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." We are so thankful for God's word and its effect on our lives. It is true food! We are thankful for God's faithfulness to preserve it for us through centuries and despite all the attempts to destroy it. His word is like a two-edged sword that lays us bare, convicts us when necessary, and helps us to keep our way pure.
* We are thankful for nature and the obvious Creator that is behind all of the beauty that we are surrounded by. Ps 23 is a visual gift to describe God's leading, comfort and working in our lives. He leads us on his path which is onto something better than where we might find ourselves.
* Eph 1:7 - "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." Even when we turn, struggle, have trouble, he's committed to our well-being and cleansing!
* God is not impressed with the length of our prayers or bible-reading. We can rest on the fact that we have been freed from sin by the perfect sacrifice of Christ. And we have a never-ending salvation that is far-reaching and all-encompassing. This amazing salvation is not based on anything we can do to impress God!
*Is 49:8 - In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people...they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.
*We have been adopted as sons. Rom 8:15 says we have received the spirit of adoption where we cry "Abba, Father." It's amazing that he's chosen us and enabled us to cry to him as an heir. We must be mindful that some of this inheritance comes with suffering.
*We are thankful for our children and the work that God is doing in them all by his grace. We prayed for God to make their paths straight.

Summary of October 6 Care Group

We began our evening with a delicious apple crisp, brownies and ice cream that Mary brought. Everyone was present. After singing about the Lord our Shepherd and how glorious he is, Tony asked each of us to share about what God is doing in our lives. Maria talked about how certain images help to see God's work in our lives, like the underside of a tapestry, sheep with a shepherd, and the potter and the clay. We discussed many themes including: looking at the "big picture" in this life as we look toward heaven, being available and obedient for his service, being thankful for godly friendships, counting it all joy as we encounter various trials, and keeping our eyes focused on Jesus.

Doug shared from Phil 1:12 "I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." When Tony asked us to consider if our difficulties are a sign of God's inattention, we all gave a profound NO. We talked about how nothing we do can deter God's purpose of sanctification in our lives. Mary shared that God is firmly committed to our growth in holiness regardless of our distractions, reactions, sins, etc. Nothing can stop Him from working in our lives for His glory. Phil 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Wade said that our faith is at stake as we navigate through life's trials. Abraham believed God and yet he was tested. Peter was sifted so that the excellency of the gift should be seen for what it is. We ended by contemplating longing and groaning to be with Him, getting a whiff of eternity and living for his glory.

It was a beautiful time of sharing and encouragement! What a wonderful group of friends!!

Corrie Ten Boom's Hiding Place

Since you asked to see these photos, I'm putting them on the blog. In July 2003 I had the opportunity to travel to Haarlem, Holland, where Corrie Ten Boom lived with her father, Casper and her sister, Betsie. The house (left) is now a museum and the watch shop is still in operation today. The Ten Boom family, under the leadership of Casper, risked their own safety to harbor Jewish refugees during World War II. Their living room sits atop the watch shop with the dining room and kitchen behind. The rest of the house winds around and up behind those rooms. No architectural changes have been made since they lived there.

Here is their dining room window. If you remember the story, they would put the small, red, triangular Alpina Watch sign up as a signal that it was safe for Jews to enter the house. You can see it perched on the middle of the sill.

The Hiding Place was created behind a fake brick wall in Corrie's bedroom. It is approximately 6-feet wide and not even 2-feet deep. 6 people could fit uncomfortably inside this compartment. In order to enter the Hiding Place we were instructed to lie face-down on the floor with our feet toward the closet to the left. Then we had to back into the space and stand up as quickly and quietly as possible. It was a challenge! You can see that some bricks have been taken out of the space and plaques in different languages are hung with prayers for God's people written on them.

Summary of September 22 Care Group

We met at the DeVivo's home and started the evening with a warm cherry crisp and banana bread brought all the way from Butler by Debbie and Eric. We sang about "How Deep" the love, mercy and grace of Christ are in our lives. From our discussion questions on the Paul Tripp CDs we talked about how none of our lives has gone according to our own plan. God leads us to places and circumstances where we don't want to go in order to accomplish in us what could not be done any other way. His loving purpose in our lives is our sanctification and He accomplishes just that as he "turns up the heat" in our lives and purifies us from our 'ore'-ific state into the likeness of His Son. We discussed how we must trust God's timing with our lives and not question His infinite wisdom.

Maria shared the analogy of the tapestry from Corrie Ten Boom. She said that our lives are a beautifully woven tapestry that, if only viewed from earth, resembles the underside of any embroidered piece with knots, frays, and loose strings. The design is usually unrecognizable from the underside. But when the piece is turned right-side-up we can see the beautiful design from the correct point of view, as we will see our lives from heaven. Only then will we understand all of our "knots, frays, and loose strings" that can baffle us in this earth-life.

Can you relate to some of those knots and loose strings?

And one day we will see...

Summary of September 8 Care Group

We met at the DeVivo's home and began the evening with warm apple crisp lovingly prepared by Cheryl. After a short time of fellowship and singing "I Will Glory in My Redeemer," we discussed how we can be used more effectively in our daily lives for God's glory to share the Gospel and serve the brethren in our church. Tony reminded us of the scripture verse that Cheryl shared with us last month from Psalm 9:10 "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." We agreed that it is imperative to put our trust in our God for every situation in life, both those that we face and those that we see our dear friends facing. We also talked about living with a view toward heaven. Wade shared that there aren't many things on this earth that have much allure for him these days. We talked about how to practically live here on earth while preparing to be with our Lord in heaven someday.
Then we took some time to share individual concerns and struggles. We are growing as a caring, redemptive community of believers who want to hold each other accountable, help each other to grow in holiness, and encourage each other to love Him more and more. Thanks everyone for a beautiful time of true fellowship!

Summary of August 4 Care Group

We met at the DeVivo's home. We had a very informal and honest discussion based on the experience of our group members. We talked about our mortality and the effect of contemplating our eventual, and perhaps untimely, deaths. We discussed the ways that we can be more sober in our everyday lives to consider serving the Lord more conscientiously knowing that we are not promised tomorrow. The discussion was grace-driven, faith-filled and Christ-centered.

The Lord encouraged us all to make the most of our time by employing self-discipline as we read the word regularly. Someone shared a quote by J.I. Packer that explained that it would only take 78 hours to read the Bible from cover to cover. This quote inspired us to consider how we spend our time, and in a non-legalistic way we discussed the implications of how we can pray for each other and hold each other accountable in our regular reading of God's word.

Cheryl shared a scripture for us to meditate on this week from Psalm 9:10 "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." It's so wonderful to know that we serve a God who never forsakes us no matter what situation we find ourselves in the middle of.

Dennis encouraged us from Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted: but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Wade has witnessed eagles taking flight and described it as effortless, magnificent, and powerful. Our God is able to give us the strength to face any kind of situation with his amazing strength!

Summary of July 21 Care Group

We welcomed Eric and Debbie Grubbs while enjoying a lovely picnic dinner provided by everyone. A little lightning and some rain chased us inside the Brown's home for a time, but after dessert we sat on their beautiful deck for the rest of the evening. We filled the Grubbs in on what we have been gleaning from the CDs that we've been listening to by Paul Tripp. We've been applying his messages as we grow as a transparent community of believers.

Summary of July 7 Care Group

The DeVivos, Angels, Bennetts and Versaces attended. To begin, Wade encouraged us all with Ephesians 2:13 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Thanks Wade!

Tony directed us to Hebrews 10:19-27 and Hebrews 3:12-13 from the Paul Tripp messages that speak about our identities in Christ and the call to godly community embedded in the middle of those verses. Our first identity is as sinners who must grasp the gravity, seriousness, depravity and the destructiveness of sin so that we can appreciate the wonder and magnitude of Christ's gift to us. Transparency is necessary between close brethren where we let our guard down and let others see who we really are and where we struggle. Then we can be helped by their insight and care! We don't want to be people who have one persona in private, and another very different persona in public. Tripp says that "Personal spiritual insight frequently comes in the context of community."

Our second identity in Christ is to be those who have received the glorious grace of God. Tripp says that we Christians should be the saddest and the most celebrant people on earth simultaneously. If we embrace one aspect of our identity without the other, there will be problems. Dennis cautioned us not to let the awareness of sin overwhelm us without letting God reveal His help and His way of escape. He reminded us of the faithfulness of God to never let us be tempted beyond what we are able to handle, but always provides the way of escape (from I Corinthians 10:13). We should always be looking at the cross 10 times, for every 1 look at our sin!

We also discussed that discipline is unpleasant but that we must trust the loving hand of our heavenly father in leading us for His glory. It's healthy to admit when sin has reared its head in us, and that even our clear conscience doesn't acquit us from guilt. We need the constant cleansing of His presence and forgiveness. We can glory in our weaknesses so that His grace can be made strong in us. Gary encouraged us to "Count it all joy" because we can trust God and His sovereignty in all trials. We ended with Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Summary of June 23 Care Group

We were greeted by a delicious pie and some sweet tea that Susan prepared for us when we arrived at the DeVivo's home. We lingered a while on their beautiful deck, chatting and enjoying the lovely weather and the gorgeous plants.
After singing about surrendering our all to the Lord, serving Him with all of our lives and giving Him glory, we discussed the coming care group locations and details. Then we read from I Corinthians 12:4-11 and Romans 12: 3-13 about how God distributes gifts as He desires to each member of the body for serving one another and for His glory. We discussed how God gifts us and how it is important to know how God uses us to benefit the body. Other themes we talked about were:
-being aware of where God has gifted you
-how God has the right to use us however he wants, whenever He wants, even in the mundane moments of our lives
-how sometimes we don't even know He is using us for His glory
-how we need to be available and faithful to serve Him
-how we need to let God show us opportunities that He provides for service
-how important it is to sense His pleasure as we serve Him
-not to compare ourselves with other people and consequently feel like a substandard servant

Topics for next Care Group on July 7: Discuss our identities in Christ as described by Paul Tripp on the first 2 CDs. Refer to questions 12-15 on the list. Also, we will begin to discuss areas of need.

Summary of May 19 Care Group

After enjoying some refreshments lovingly provided by Sue and Doug, we discussed the ESGC meal for May 31st. Here are the details: Meatball Subs - Versaces, Macaroni Salad - Bennetts and Browns, Angels - Veggie Tray, DeVivos - Dessert.

Then we continued to discuss evidences of God's grace in some of our care group members. It was very encouraging to identify the gifts God has placed in each other. It motivated us all to be more like Jesus, and to be quick to recognize His work in others. In doing this we put into practice the community aspect of our walk with God the way that Paul Tripp prescribes.

For our next care group Wade will bring a scripture that all of us can use to pray about, meditate on and hopefully memorize. Also, we will begin to discuss areas of difficulty in our walks with God in an effort to build transparency and provide encouragement and help for our small group.

Summary of May 5 Care Group

After a short time of conversation and apple crisp, we again had an opportunity to point out areas of God's grace in action in some of our members. We realized that our self-perception is usually not the same as what those around us see. We need each other to identify where God is at work in our lives, as well as to see areas where we need to pursue His loving discipline. Everyone was encouraged to see the hand of God moving to encourage each of us.

Scriptures read: Hebrews 3:12-13 "Take, care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Summary of April 21 Care Group

We met at the DeVivo's home. The Angels, DeVivos and Versaces attended. We briefly discussed the first message in the Paul Tripp series about how God wants us to demonstrate his fruit in our lives as we grow in effectiveness and productivity. We also talked about how walking together as a community of believers is a multi-faceted process including encouragement, long-suffering, and helping one another in trials, as well as pointing out areas of weakness or sin. The bulk of our time was spent encouraging one another in the God-given gifts and talents that are evident in each other's lives. We all were thankful for the opportunity to point out evidence of God's grace in each other.

Summary of April 7 Care Group

All attended. The meeting occurred at Tony and Maria's house. Tony had previously assigned listening to the first CD of "your walk with God is a [community] project". See the side bar for more information about this CD. Tony lead us through the first 9 questions of the 17 he compiled (see below). We will pick up the remainder of questions for discussion at the April 21 meeting.

The group discussed God ruling in the mundane moments of our lives, God sending his grace to us through the thoughtful and sometimes challenging words of friends, and our desperate need for each other as we navigate through this Christian life.

Care Group Questions - Paul Tripp- CD #1

1. At the beginning of the CD, Tripp gives an illustration of a man waiting for a dentist. What was his point in giving this illustration?

2. Tripp described his former self as being very angry, despite Luella’s gracious attempts to get him to confess this sin. Have you been deflecting or have you ever deflected your spouse’s gracious attempts to deal with an area of sin in your life?

3. Questions from Ted, Paul’s brother, changed the direction of Paul’s life. By these seemingly innocuous questions, Paul was deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit. Have you ever had any “Paul Tripp” moments like this in your life when someone, led by God, asked you a question or series of questions that revealed a sinful pattern in your life? Explain.

4. Paul said that his freedom from anger was a process. What pattern of sin has God, by His grace, freed you from or is in the process of freeing you from?

5. What does Paul mean when he says, “western culture Christianity has been damaged by western culture individualism?” Do you see any examples of this in either your life of the church?

6. Is there a difference between your private life and your public persona? If yes, explain.

7. Our walks with God are intended to be community projects. Explain this statement. Do you resist this in any way? How?

8. Paul said that we live in the utterly mundane, and if God doesn’t live in the utterly mundane, then He doesn’t rule us. Explain what he meant by this.

9. Read 2 Peter 1:3-9. Paul said that, according to this passage, areas of a believer’s life could be ineffective and unproductive, not reflecting the full harvest of the fruit of faith. Examples of ineffectiveness can be seen in unruly debt, anger, envy, problems in one’s thought life, etc. In what areas have you been ineffective/unproductive? Where have you been effective?

10. How can you guard against being ineffective and unproductive?

11. Where do you easily let go of some aspect of faith, love, brotherly kindness, and perseverance?

12. What does Paul mean when he says that identity in Christ is paramount?

13. What does Paul mean when he states that “identity amnesia leads to identity replacement?” What are the results of identity replacement?

14. How is your identity in Christ two-sided?

15. One problem with our identity is that we are very skilled at minimizing our sin. Have you ever minimized your sin? How?

16. Paul indicated that the knowledge of sin doesn’t necessarily separate us from God? What does? Give an example of this.

17. Paul maintains that it is God’s desire for us to have a God-honoring life until we are called home, but this will not happen unless we live in an “intentionally intrusive, Christ-centered, grace-driven, redemptive community with others.” So what is the problem? What is the solution?