::truth::

This week I have invited Martin Luther to share his thoughts on spiritual depression. In this letter he counsels Prince Joachim of Anhalt, a mutual friend of Luther and Nicholas Hausmann, on how to deal with apathy, burn-out, and depression. Enjoy!

“Be merry, then, both inwardly in Christ himself and outwardly in his gifts and the good things of life.” Luther

“Your Grace has Master Nicholas Hausmann and many others near at hand. Be merry with them; for gladness and good cheer, when decent and proper, are the best medicine for a young person – indeed, for all people. I myself, who have spent a good part of my life in sorrow and gloom, now seek and find pleasure wherever I can. Praise God, we now have sufficient understanding [of the Word of God] to be able to rejoice with a good conscience and to use God’s gifts with thanksgiving, for he created them for this purpose and is pleased when we use them.

If I am mistaken in my judgment and have done Your Grace an injustice, I hope that Your Grace will be good enough to forgive me. But it is my opinion that Your Grace is reluctant to be merry, as if this were sinful. This has often been my case, and sometimes it still is. To be sure, to have pleasure in sins is of the devil, but participation in proper and honorable pleasures with good and God-fearing people is pleasing to God, even if one may at times carry playfulness too far.

Be merry, then, both inwardly in Christ himself and outwardly in his gifts and the good things of life. He will have it so. It is for this that he is with us. It is for this that he provides his gifts – that we may use them and be glad, and that we may praise, love, and thank him forever and ever.

Old age and other circumstances will in time render present depression and melancholy superfluous. Christ cares for us and will not forsake us. To his keeping I commit Your Grace forever. Amen.

Your Grace’s willing [servant],

Martin Luther, Doctor.

The eve of Pentecost in the year 1543

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,

Pastor Tom

::prayer::

Jean Kelly: Salvation for brother’s children:  Allyson, Rainer, Susan, Joshua, John Jr.

Steve S: continue prayer for a job for Steve

Tricia P.: continue to pray for a job for Lindsey in Columbia.  Continue to prya for my back issues – strength and full function to return to my right leg.

Wendy A: Please pray continued healing for Holly Sobetski – dengue fever, and Wendi Sampson – sinusitis & thyroid issues.  Both continue to serve Him in Cambodia.  Pray for the Lord’s provision and guidance for my brother-in-law who is seeking employment, he was let go in July from his previous job.

Milt M.: reduced blood flow to apex of heart.  For Pastor Chuck (mesotheleoma) & Diane (Calif.) as they start their retirement season – joy together and in Him!  For provision of right person to step in for Milt – upcoming training in NYC.

Eloise B.: Pray that Trent will make some wise decisions and get a job that will enable him to support himself and his kids and that he will give his life to Christ.

Nancy W.: Jobs for Janna & Jonathan.  God’s provision of a person to sublease Jonathan’s apt. at Pegasus Pointe (urgently!).  Praise for a new Bible study, Wednesday’s after “Lucky’s Lake Swim”

Thompsons: Praise for a great trip across country.

::community::

Bug Spray Sunday??? Matthew’s Hope is in desperate need of bug spray – Mosquito Repellant – Pump Spray & Lotion (OFF/Cutter). If we all brought in a can/tube/bottle this Sunday we could really bless some of our “friends in the woods”.

New Message Series: “Askitallogy” (Ask-it-all-ogy!). Pastor Tom will be (attempting) to answer your questions about life, the Bible, practical issues, theological struggles, really – anything!  No question too easy or too hostile.  So “ask it all”!  Email Tom your questions or post them on our Southwest Church Facebook page.

Servant Schedule – Sunday, September 5^th:

• Set–up: Rex S & Tony L
• Nursery: Tricia Phillips
• Prayer: Brian Kelly

::mission::

Jeff & Cindy McKinney (Guinea, West Africa) Pray for the health and safety of the McKinney’s as they continue work on the audit at The Hope Clinic.  There time is almost complete, pray for their safe return.

Mike & Sue Farho (Tunisia) Mike is scheduled to preach at a French Reformed Church in Tunis today, 8/29.  Pray for those in attendance that heard God’s word that they were encouraged and challenged.

::truth::

Breaking Out of Sunday Morning

• What do we think of when we speak of “going to church”? Answer: Sunday morning.
• When does “the church” meet? Answer: Sunday morning.
• What is “the church”? Answer: The place we meet on Sunday morning.
• How do we answer; “So, how was church?” Answer: What happened on Sunday morning.

Have we overemphasized what we do on Sunday mornings? We plan up, gear up, set up, and unleash the production and call it “church”. Then we turn around and do it all again.

We emphasize an “attractional”, “Come and See” model when the gospel demands an “Incarnational”, Go and Tell” model. And Sunday morning is the focal point.

As a pastor I had better not be devaluing Sunday morning! And I’m not.  But what we do as the church throughout the week is the real test.

We must “be the church” in our community if we want to unleash the power of the gospel. And to do so we must be connected and involved.

We must be connected to one another. If the only time you see your church family is on Sunday morning, you need to get connected.  Go get coffee. Do lunch. Phone a friend. Whatever it takes! As we connect with one another, bring those who are un-connected to Christ into that relationship!

We must be involved in our city/community. How are you connected to the issues and needs of your community? Bring Christ with you to homeowners meetings, neighborhood watch, school volunteering, community garage sales, civic events, community causes, whatever it takes!  Show that Christ cares for our community though your involvement.

Then let’s get together on Sunday morning and share our stories! (Check out these stories!)

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,

Pastor Tom

::prayer::

Annie M.: Pray for safe travels for Jeff Chamberlain as he leaves to college in California on Sept. 4^th;  Mom & Dad- frozen shoulder and torn tendon in arm;  the start to a good school year.

Milt & Carolyn:  Milt was taken to Florida Hosp. Sunday evening with chest pain.  He is at home now, recovering well, Pray for complete healing, wisdom & strength.  Campus Crusade for Christ – the Executive Team is meeting currently – pray for unity, wisdom from above, spiritual refreshment.  Pray for healing & hope for families affected by the disaster in Pakistan.

Tricia P.: Pray for a job in Columbia, SC for Lindsey.  Pray for healing and relief from pain for my sciatica.

Michelle S.:  Praise that Steve is working with a friend for 2-3 weeks!  Please continue to pray for ministry work for him.

Denise D.: Please continue praying for Dave M. (Lou Gerhig’s Disease) and for my mother – she’s doing much better!  Pray for our troops and those who have fallen on hard times.

Andria M.:  Pray for adjustment for me and my family as I get ready to move out next month.  Keep praying for my bother, also, that God would draw him near to Himself.  Thanks!

Barbara B.: Praise!  Parent’s house is sold!  The money for the sale is in their bank account.  God is good!!

Eloise B.:  Please pray for our 3 great-grandchildren who have a very disrupted family situation and for those of us who are “picking up the pieces” and trying to meet their needs.  Pray that Trent will make some much needed wise decisions.

Please pray for Brittany – a 17 yr. old who collapsed at work at Publix due to stress.  She is trying to go to school and work.  As the oldest in her family, she is responsible for taking care of her siblings and is under a lot of stress.  An ambulance came to Publix and took her to the hospital.

Nancy W.:  Pray for an honest, responsible young man to sublease Jonathan’s apartment.  Pray for jobs for Janna & Jonathan and for James to focus on completing his High School education.  Please pray for Tom & me as we parent and guide our family.  Praise for a great week of homeschooling for Stephen!

Thompson Family:  Safe & refreshing travels out West.

Praise- Three of Tom’s “Lucky’s Lake Swim” friends asked him to start a Bible Study for them!  Pray that the seed of the Gospel will fall on “good soil” and bear much fruit.

::community::

Governing Board Meeting: This Wednesday, 7pm at Jim Phillip’s home.

New Message Series: “Askitallogy” (Ask-it-all-ogy!). Pastor Tom will be (attempting) to answer your questions about life, the Bible, practical issues, theological struggles, really – anything!  No question too easy or too hostile.  So “ask it all”!  Email Tom your questions or post them on our Southwest Church Facebook page.

Sunday, August 29^th:

• Set–up: Joe Relich & Brian Kelly
• Nursery: Tricia Phillips
• Prayer: Brian Kelly

::mission::

Volunteer to help the homeless at Matthew’s Hope. Serve meals, distribute clothes, help with jobs and identification cards, really – just be a friend! Call Karen Gowing for how you can help! cell:  407.340.6529,

email: matthewshopevolunteers@yahoo.com. Check out the new website at www.matthewshope25ministries.org

CD “Love Rains Down.” The album features local homeless musicians working together with an amazing cast of musicians and producers, including one sound engineer who just won an Emmy (all time and production donated). They all pooled their talents to create an amazing CD full of original songs. All the proceeds will go toward supporting work with the homeless in Orange County, with the first priority being to provide a shower trailer for the homeless of West Orange County. $10 Donation.

Share the Good News of Christmas.

I’d love your thoughts on this outreach opportunity…

Share the Good News of Christmas from Crossway on Vimeo.

Each month christianaudio gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, we give away one audiobook download that we have published or that a partner has allowed us to give away absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.

christianaudio and P&R Publishing have partnered together for the month of August 2010 to bring you the audiobook download of Ministries of Mercy for FREE!

via christianaudio.com – christianaudio.com.

Cultivating a Gospel-Centered Marriage

Dave Bruskas
Pastor at Mars Hill Albuquerque

Most marriages today have a tendency to accept sin in either spouse. One spouse becomes dominant and the other passive. The couple goes through life trying to manage sin rather than allowing God to change them from the inside out.

Sin-managing marriages are not healthy. A healthy marriage is Christ-centered, which means:

* Gospel-centered

* Transparent

* Growing (not perfect!)

A Christian marriage is committed to see sin put to death through the finished work of Christ and through the abiding Holy Spirit, who radically transforms us on a day-in and day-out basis. For the couple, this means:

* Constant repentance

* Constantly seeking forgiveness

* Constant openness to change

My wife helps me confront sin in my life by being very direct and very loving simultaneously. She’s learned to speak to me in a way that’s helpful and kind, but also straightforward. She’s a constant source of help for me, praying for me, encouraging me, and staying faithful to me. She has tremendous credibility when she says things like, “I think you blew that one,” or “You’re being harsh.”

Additionally, in a healthy marriage, spouses serve one another sacrificially. When we have time off, we should first be devoted to helping one another in very practical ways. When we come home from work, we should make it a priority to look for how our spouse needs help. Where we’ve found a lot of love together is simply in loving and serving our children.

It’s a great joy for us to do it all together, and it keeps us growing.

David Bruskas is a pastor at Mars Hill Albuquerque. This was posted on the Mars Hill blog and excerpted from a video interview Pastor Dave gave to Acts 29’s Pastor Scott Thomas.

via Cultivating a Gospel-Centered Marriage | TheResurgence.