Radical Experiment - 2nd Mile Adventures

Hey guys!

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.  I saw lots of people out enjoying this unseasonably warm weather this weekend!  Spring is a great time of year.  It's a time to start something new.  This week we're starting a new series called: There Will Be A Day.  This will be a 10 week study based off of song from song writer Jeremy Camp.



This week we're going to talk about: The Weight of The World. 

Do you ever get the feeling that everyone needs something from you and at the same time?  You know that feeling you get before a race, speaking, performing, entering into the unknown, etc.? 

God wants to remind us when we think no one cares or you just need someone to listen to you that he's here for us!  When we allow God into our lives he has a plan for our life.  We don't have to worry about the cares of the world because he's going to take care of it for us.  So the next time we feel anxious or that no one cares we need to turn to Him and he'll take the Weight of The World off of us!  Remember this verse: Proverbs 12:25  Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.

Instruction:

Jeremiah 33:3  "This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you.  I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

Prayer:

1 Kings 3:9  "Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil.  For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"

Example:

When an enemy army came against Jehoshaphat, he sought the Lord for wisdom and guidance:

"We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."... Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel... He said... "This is what the Lord says to your: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's... Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"
2 Chronicles 20:12, 14-15, 17

Let us shed the weight of this world and Live Radically for Him!

Reading:

Day 1: Job 25-28
Day 2: Job 29 -32
Day 3: Job 33-36
Day 4: Job 37-40:5
Day 5: Job 40:5-42:17
Day 6: Exodus 1-4

Small Group Discussion:

http://www.radicalexperiment.org/pdf/small_group_guides/Small%20Group%20Guide%20100201.pdf

Prayer:

This week we're praying for: Taiwan.  Lets lift up His people of Taiwan in prayer for guidance and strength.

http://prayercast.com/taiwan

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Hey guys!

This is my home owners insurance policy!

This week we're talking about topic 12: I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus' name.  So why do we worry about what people might think, say, do, or tell about us when we walk in the name of the Lord.  He's here to protect us!  It's His plan and He knows what's going to happen.  We must have faith in Him... like an insurance policy!  It's like those State Farm commercials: Like a good neighbor State Farm is there... and a State Farm rep show up.  Our State Farm line would be: Like a good neighbor State Farm is there... and God would show up!  FYI... I love the one where she gets a karaoke machine because she saved so much on renters insurance.

Genesis 50:20  I love how Joseph says it in this verse: Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now - life for many people.  God will use everything to His good.  Everything is His plan and we are His tools.  Let God take control and protect you!

Psalm 3:1-3  Here's a great verse for those times when you feel like everyone and everything is attacking you: God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.  Let God take control and protect you!

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3  What a great verse to conclude this series: But the Master never lets us down.  He'll stick by you and protect you from evil.  Let God take control and protect you!

We now have the 12 Audacious Faith Confessions and the scripture to back it up.  Lets see what this world has to offer us and stir up trouble in His name!

Live Protected and Radically for Him!

Reading:

Day 1: Job 1-5
Day 2: Job 6-9
Day 3: Job 10-13
Day 4: Job 14-17
Day 5: Job 18-21
Day 6: Job 22-24

Small Group Discussion:

http://www.radicalexperiment.org/pdf/small_group_guides/Small%20Group%20Guide%20100125.pdf

Prayer:

This week we're praying for: Syria.  Let us lift up this country in prayer!

http://prayercast.com/syria

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Hey Guys,

Congrats to Matt and Anne Goebel on having twins this weekend!  Also a congrats to all you New York Giants fans!  Man was this weekend full.  I'm not sure if I even remember it.  I remember Friday and Saturday morning but once you travel back across different time zones all the sudden you lose a whole day and then the next thing you know its Monday morning!  I love the excitement of traveling to places but dread the time spent in airports getting there!  I wish we could come up with the teleporter from Star Trek or get planes that can travel warp speed like in Star Wars.  That would be great!



This week we're talking about Topic 11: I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make.  The great search for wisdom is always a great topic.  What is true wisdom... Where do you find it... Who has it... etc.  God is our Wisdom.  He has a plan for all our lives and gave us the good book of wisdom and truth to guide us through the plans He has for our lives!

2 Chronicles 1:7-12  "What do you want from me?  Ask."  What would you ask of God when if he asked you this...  Solomon asked for Wisdom and Knowledge to rule over a mob of people.  Not wealth, fame, or money.  Just Wisdom to lead God's people.  Because Solomon sought out God and asked for His help for His plan for Solomon's life, God gave Solomon wealth, money, and fame.  Seek Him (Wisdom) in all things that you do and he'll bless you according to His plan!

Proverbs 2:6  We all like FREE stuff!  Who wouldn't turn down a free item.  God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.  Not stipulations or restrictions.  Totally free for the those who live honestly.  Who wouldn't want this?  Wisdom and learning the meaning of life for free!  Sign me up!

Ecclesiastes 2:26  This verse is great.  Sinners are assigned a life of hard labor and end up turning their wages over to God's favorite.  Nothing but smoke-and spitting into the wind.  Why would we want to go about our lives without a little help?  Why would we want to have to turn over all our possessions and wages over to someone else?  We don't have to.  Seek Him (His Wisdom) and reap a life of treasures beyond your wildest imagination!  Stop working so hard.  Start seeking him!

James 1:5  Another great verse for Wisdom.  If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  Seek Him (Wisdom) and he'll help you.  He has a plan all mapped out for your life.  If you get stuck just stop and ask.  He knows how to get you unstuck!  People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.  Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.  Seek Him in All things you do. 

We spend our time worrying and adrift wanting to know the ins and outs of our lives, but Why?  Why not seek His Wisdom and sit back and enjoy the ride.  God has it all mapped out for you so you won't have to worry about the next turn.  Let him into your day to day routine and watch Him work in your life!

Live Wisdom Filled and Radically for Him!

Reading:

Day 1: Genesis 30-33
Day 2: Genesis 34-37
Day 3: Genesis 38-40
Day 4: Genesis 41-43
Day 5: Genesis 44-46
Day 6: Genesis 47-50

Small Group Discussion:

http://www.radicalexperiment.org/pdf/small_group_guides/Small%20Group%20Guide%20100118.pdf

Prayer:

This week we're praying for: Switzerland.  Let us lift up the people of Switzerland in His name!

http://prayercast.com/switzerland

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Hey Guys,

I’m currently writing to you from way up in the sky.  I have the week off and spending some time with family.  Flying got me to think about this Audacious Faith Confessions we’re talking about.  Think of the audacity of those who said, “lets build a contraption and see if we can fly.”  I’m sure lots of people laughed and tons doubted these people, but something inside them told them to keep trying.  This is the kind of audacity we need for God.  The audacity to believe in His plan for our lives.  The audacity to keep on going when everyone doubts us.  The audacity to accept His sacrificial love that he extends to us everyday.  Lets be audacious like the Wright brothers and take flight in His name!


Wright Brothers 1903 Kitty Hawk

This week we’re talking about Topic 10: I am enabled to walk in the Sacrificial love of Christ.  When we accept God in our lives we accept God’s Sacrificial Love.  He sacrificed his only son so we could all have a relationship with Him.  That’s some serious Sacrificial Love!  Remember when we talked about Luke Warm or Red Hot and how Abraham was Red Hot for God.  He was willing to sacrifice his only son too for God’s Sacrificial Love.  What Sacrifices is God asking of you for his love so you can walk closer to Him?  When we accept Him (or His Love) he is enabling us (our audacious faith confessions) to walk closer to Him.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  I love this: So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high.  Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter.  Keep a TIGHT grip on what you were taught.  When we accept His Sacrificial Love we need to keep a tight grip on it.  Don't let anyone, anything, or any situation persuade you of anything else.

1 John 3:16  This verse is so simple and sums it up best: If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love?  It disappears.  And you made it disappear.  God's plan for our lives is not for us to be selfish.  God does everything for His good.  We're not to keep this to ourselves.  What God shares with us, Sacrificial Love, we need to share with others.  

1 John 4:9-12  Yet another simple verse that sums up His Sacrificial Love: My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other.  No one has seen God, ever.  But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us - perfect love!  When we live in His love then we'll want to love others in His name.

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Hey guys!

What a great weekend!  Finally we get a little taste of winter.  It was so cool this past Saturday morning.  I was outside shoveling our driveway, with my awesome wife Sarah, and I stopped to realize how peaceful and beautiful it was.  The sun was coming up, birds were chirping and everyone was out!  God can really make something so simple as snow truly amazing!


I love this picture! 

This week we're talking about Topic 9: I am increasing in influence and favor for the kingdom of God.  I was thinking about this topic and realized that the topics leading up to this one help reinforce this one.  With all we've talked about: Fully Forgiven and Free, Audacious Faith, No Fear, Fulfilling God's Calling, Fully Resourced, No Insecurity, Faithful Spouse, and Completely Whole makes me realize that after all this we should start to feel an increase in influence and favor for the kingdom.  Keep all the Audacious Faith Confessions close to you.  They'll help you remember / reinforce why you do what you do for God.

Genesis 45:4-8  WHAT!?!?!  Can see a person, in today's time, telling his brother(s) not to worry about selling them into slavery?  Joseph had such Audacious Faith in the Lord that he realized he was being sold into slavery for God.  God has directed my brothers to sell me into slavery for His plan.  So I'll be able to save my people from a drought.  Joseph saw this unfortunate circumstance as a way to now have influence for the kingdom.  Where, in what you do day-to-day, can you be of influence?  Is there something you don't agree with but can see a reason God is putting you there?  How can you Influence for the kingdom?

1 Samuel 2:26  God wants all of us to have a deep and meaningful relationship with him.  He's a jealous God.  He doesn't want us to worship or idle anything else.  He wants us to realize that through him he'll provide all things.  He wants to position us for a life of influence.  Without him he has no plan for you, but with him he has great things.  But the boy Samuel was very much alive, growing up, blessed by God and popular with the people.  We all have some bit of influence in our lives.  Ask God to show you how you can influence right where you are today.  Influence for the kingdom.

Acts 2:37-47  Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!  And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.  They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.  How awesome would this be if we could pool all our resource together at our workplace for God.  Imagine the influence you and your co-workers would have for His plan.  Seek him for his plan for your influence into peoples lives - His kingdom.

God has amazing plans for you and me.  We just have to rely on him to direct our lives.  He'll show us and guide us to the areas of influence for His kingdom.  Pray, read the Bible, worship with others and you'll start to see what God wants you to do right where your at today. 

Live Influenced and Radically for Him!

Reading:

Day 1: Genesis 1-2
Day 2: John 1:1-3; Psalm 8; 104
Day 3: Genesis 3-5; Proverbs 8
Day 4: Genesis 6-7
Day 5: Genesis 8-9; Psalm 12
Day 6: Genesis 10-11

Small Group Discussion:

http://www.radicalexperiment.org/pdf/small_group_guides/Small%20Group%20Guide%20100104.pdf

Prayer:

This week we are praying for: South Korea.  Let us lift up the people of South Korea in pray for strength in His name.

http://prayercast.com/south-korea

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