Saw this on CNN today

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/30/brazil.tribes/index.html

This is wild to me, I can't even imagine what this group was thinking with a freakin plane flying over their heads.

It makes me think about the gospel and can God transcend a person not verbally hearing the gospel? I tend to think he can, but it's an interesting thought and conversation.

Thoughts?!?

TV Last night

Did anyone else see Amy Hathaway on TV last night?

Amy, you did a great job talking about the project at Fletcher park. It was pretty complex and you were very eloquent and easy to listen to. I have to admit that I don't remember all of what you said, but I am looking forward to the new pedestrian entrance off of Boylan.

Can you clarify the difference between a rain garden and a water garden?

Where do we go from here?

Our group has had some great discussions over the past two weeks and my desire is to see some of the ideas that we talked about become a reality. 

I want every one to know that you don't need to wait to act. Please continue to talk with others, read, and try out things that will help you figure out your gifting and then seek opportunities to use them. 

If you are an encourager, leader, organizer, have discernment please help call out the gifts of others and/or come up with ways for us to incorporate them in the life of the group. This is a dynamic process that we are going to need to work together on. 

I am reminded by Jason's comment last night, "greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for a friend." One of my prayers is that we come to understand more of what it means to love one another. 

In Romans 12, just before one of the spiritual gift lists Paul writes, 

"Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer your body's as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing, and perfect will." 

If you would like to search the scriptures on your own to find out more about Spiritual Gifts, here are some places to start: 

Romans 12: 1- 21

1 Corinthains 12:1- 14:40 (This includes several chapters)

Ephesians 4: 1-19 

Please post questions and comments here

watering in raleigh

You've probably noticed all the rain we've been getting this spring. Well, we're almost officially out of the drought. The NC Drought Monitor says that the Raleigh area is still abnormally dry, but that's way better than the exceptional drought we were in earlier.

Raleigh still has water restrictions going on, but they've lightenend up a bit. Here's a press release describing the latest info for watering in Raleigh.

Spiritual Gifts

As a group we are moving forward in the directions that God is calling us and I am super pumped about it. I believe that the Lord is moving in the life of Visio Dei and in each of our unique journey's of faith. 

On Thursday we talked about the three main purposes of our home group:

1) We desire to collectively grow as Learners, Lovers, and Givers.

2) We desire to be a community that is discovering and living out our gifting.

3) We desire to be a community in movement. 

As we are growing collectively and striving to live out our unique calling we will be like the mustard seed (the smallest of all garden plants) that became the largest tree and offered shade to every area of the garden. 

In order to help us discover our gifts I have a few websites and materials to check out. 

United Methodist Church-- Gift Website: 

This website has a short video that describes spiritual gifts, an in depth description of 20 spiritual gifts with questions to help you reflect on them and stories of how people are using them. It also has a short (21 question) gift test. This was one of the best (holistic) online resources that I found.

Team-builder Spiritual Gift Test: 

This is the original test that we asked people to consider taking and reflecting on. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to answer. There are 108 questions on this test.

Dove Spiritual Gift Test:

I have not taken this test, but it has 140 questions and considers 28 different gifts in the analysis. This site recommends saving an hour of time to take the test. 

***Please remember that tests are simply a starting point for you!! Finding our spiritual gifts is a process.*** 

Now, Discover your strengths: 

This book covers practical strengths that we have and how they play out practically. There is an assessment that goes along with it but there is a fee attached to it. I have one copy of this book if anyone would like to borrow it.

The Enneagram: 

A book that offers insight into how our core needs and strengths can be used for greatness and also are attached to our inherent sinfulness. It is very interesting and insightful. You will be challenged to understand yourself and core needs in new ways. I also have one copy of this book if anyone would like to borrow it.

**In the next post I will copy and paste my notes from Tim Keller's talk. I will also attach it to an email to our entire home group. If you have not heard this talk yet and would like to please contact Jason, Jeff, or Traci and we will work to get it to you.**

My hope with all of this is that we are starting a process of discovery that is freeing and meaningful for our group. 

We love because God first loved us! What a privilege it is to be uniquely created for the work that God has for us.