BridgeWay242's Xanga

Waiting for the Lord

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:31:13 GMT

Waiting is a part of life. Waiting for a relationship to be transformed. Waiting for provision that will meet a specific need. Waiting for direction that will lead us to take the next step. Waiting for deliverance from a painful trial. Waiting for a ray of light to break through the clouds of darkness and gloom. Waiting for a promise to be fulfilled. And as we wait, we typically want circumstances to change - the sooner the better! - in a way that makes sense to us.

As Christians, however, our hope is not in a change of circumstances. Our hope, rather, is in the Lord, who is faithful and good. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14). There is hope and strength to be found in the valley of waiting - the hope and strength that come from our Rock and our Redeemer.

This Sunday, July 27, we are taking a break from our study of Colossians. Dan, one of Bridgeway's elders, will be preaching from the Book of Genesis about the journey of Abraham and Sarah - a journey that sheds light on this theme of waiting for the Lord. Come and hear, and be encouraged to put your hope in the promises of God.

Praying for the Mission Trip

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:46:47 GMT

Over the next several days (July 1-6) Mark, Martha and Dave will be participating in a mission trip to Tacate, Mexico. They will be part of a large, loving group of people who will be building two homes for families in need. This mission trip is the work of Club Rust (see www.clubrust.com). Pray for this whole team of Christ-followers and the families whom they will be serving. Pray that the Lord will:

unite the team in a spirit of love and worship;

reveal Christ's love to the families for whom the homes are being built;

make the mission team a blessing to the families;

make the families a blessing to the mission team;

keep the team members strong physically and spiritually;

and give the team safe travels to and from Mexico.

Series: Christianity and the Arts

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:07:49 GMT

Have you ever given thought to the relationship between the Christian faith and artistic or cultural expression? Bill Walsh, Director of International Outreach at a ministry called Desiring God, has put together a series of thoughts entitled, "9 Reasons I'm a Photographer." In the first post each point is briefly summarized; in the nine succeeding posts, each point is elaborated upon with a quote or quotes. With two photographs included in each post, there are twenty photographs in all, and the posts are worth looking at for this reason alone. Here is the link for the first post, from which you can access the other nine:

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1124_9_reasons_im_a_photographer/

REASONS TO GIVE THANKS

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:51:39 GMT

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul indicates that the Christian life should be marked by an abundance of thanksgiving. This abundance should be a continual attitude of heart and mind. Looking through Colossians 1:1-2:7, one finds several reasons to be thankful and give thanks:

The Father has REACHED OUT to us. We did not come to the gospel; the gospel came to us (see Colossians 1:5-6).

The Father has REVEALED himself to us (see Colossians 1:15 and 1:24-27).

The Father has RESCUED us from darkness (see Colossians 1:13).

The Father has REDEEMED us from our bondage to sin (see Colossians 1:14).

The Father has RECONCILED us to himself (see Colossians 1:19-22).

The Father has ROOTED us in his Son (see Colossians 2:7).

The Father has done all of these marvelous things through his Son, the Lord Jesus. So let those who have received the Lord Jesus, rejoice and give thanks to the Father above.

Thank you, Father, for your mercies, and for making us your sons and daughters. May our daily lives reflect the glorious things that have done in us and for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Series: Meditations on Colossians

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:40:54 GMT

Meditation 3: KNOWING, PRAYING, WORKING FOR GOD'S PURPOSE (Colossians)

The apostle Paul knew God's purpose for God's people: "to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" (Colossians 1:22 ESV). Paul prayed for God's people to grow according to God's purpose: "that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him" (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV). And Paul worked hard, in the strength he received from God, to help God's people be conformed to God's purpose: "Him [Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Colossians 1:28-29 ESV).

God's purpose for the people who have been reconciled to him is to be a holy people. Holiness is essentially a pervasive and radical Christ-centeredness: treasuring Christ and his glory and his redeeming work on the cross (as in Colossians 1:13-23, 1:27, 2:1-3), being rooted in Christ (as in Colossians 2:6-15), setting our hearts and minds on Christ (as in Colossians 3:1-4), and gratefully living all of life under his Lordship (as in Colossians 3:5 - 4:6).

So Christian, know God's purpose, pray for it, and work for it, that you and your fellow Christians may grow in holiness. And do so, not in order to earn God's favor (for you know God's favor cannot be earned!), but because the Father has made you his son or daughter, by his grace! And remember: "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4 ESV).

Open Mic at Concert in the Courtyard

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:31:47 GMT

Bridgeway meets each Sunday evening in the fellowship hall of the Central United Methodist Church (CUMC). CUMC is located at 4201 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203. This Friday evening, CUMC is hosting a "Concert in the Courtyard" in, of course, its courtyard. A clarinet quartet called "Clarinetti' will be the main feature of the evening. There will also be an open mic session after the main performance. Joe, our worship leader, plans to be there and play two or three songs. Come and hear!

Guest Speaker

Sat, 31 May 2008 13:36:03 GMT

This Sunday, June 1, we are blessed to have with us a guest speaker, Carlos Dimas. Carlos and his family recently moved to Arlington as Carlos became the Urban & Latino Area Director for Young Life South Arlington. Carlos previously served as the Young Life Urban Director in Syracuse, NY for 7 years. Carlos and his wife, Cory, have a lively faith in the Lord Jesus, and a genuine love in their hearts for other people. Come and be encouraged by the Lord's ministry to us through Carlos.

Looking Outward and Loving Other People

Wed, 28 May 2008 15:28:43 GMT

How easy it is to be self-absorbed! How easy it is to limit our social interactions to our own sub-culture! But the Lord calls us to look outside of ourselves, to look outside of our own sub-culture, and to love other people in practical ways. When Jesus announced the second commandment (see Mark 12:28-34) he quoted Leviticus 19:18, which says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (ESV). The whole of Leviticus 19 is a beautiful chapter about loving other people. We are told to have regard for our fathers and mothers (verse 3), the poor and the sojourner (verse 10), neighbors and hired servants (verse 13), the deaf and the blind (verse 14), and strangers (verses 33-34). And in verse 32 we are told to have regard for the elderly: "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD" (ESV).

We are called to make this looking outward and loving other people a way of life. Even so, it is good to have specific opportunities to give concrete expression to the way of love. This coming Saturday, May 31, we have a specific opportunity to love the elderly at Brighton Gardens, a senior living facility located near Bridgeway's meeting place. During the afternoon social hour Matt, a member of our worship team, will be playing music (he played Scott Joplin music at the March 22 social; this Saturday he plans to play hymns). While Matt is playing music, the rest of us will be able to interact with the residents. As we do so, may their hearts and ours be warmed, and may smiles be brought to the faces of all.

Together in the Gospel

Tue, 20 May 2008 22:11:05 GMT

Several pastors and ministry leaders, representing several denominations and all serving the greater Arlington area, gather weekly for prayer. Brian, Bridgeway's pastor, has the privilege of participating in this group. This week ten of them, including Brian, went on a retreat together in order to share portions of their life stories and pray for one another. Some who attended the retreat are known in the Bridgeway community: Rick Hudock, pastor of Calvary Gospel Church, who has preached several times at Bridgeway; Matt Merrill, pastor of Little Falls Presbyterian Church, who has preached once at Bridgeway; Steve King, pastor of Cherrydale Baptist Church - the church that planted Bridgeway several years ago; and Carlos Dimas, Area Director for Young Life South Arlington, who will be preaching at Bridgeway on June 1. Praise God for bringing these brothers together in the gospel, in the love of Christ, and in prayer.

PRAYER WALKING

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:30:30 GMT

This Saturday we will be prayer walking in the greater Ballston area of Arlington. Here are a few simple thoughts related to prayer, in light of Colossians 1:1-23, which has been the basis for the last four sermons.

1. There are two spiritual kingdoms in Arlington: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of Jesus. God, working through the gospel of His Son's sacrificial death, is rescuing people from the kingdom of darkness and bringing them into the kingdom of Jesus. PRAY that many people may embrace the gospel and be reconciled to God. PRAY ALSO that we may be faithful to proclaim the good news to non-Christians.

2. Jesus is the King of creation and everything was created for Him. Therefore, every person and every thing and every place in Arlington should honor King Jesus. PRAY that Christians may grasp the implications of this truth and live all of life in response to the Lordship of Christ.

3. God wants His people to be holy, to bear fruit, "to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:10 ESV). PRAY for other Christians and other churches in Arlington, that they may be faithful to the gospel, fruitful in good works, and honoring to the Lord.

4. The truth that Jesus is the King of creation has hundreds of implications. Here is one: people matter to Jesus. Orphans and widows, children and the elderly, the poor and the oppressed, the diseased and the distressed, foreigners and strangers - all of these people matter to Jesus. PRAY that Christians may be sensitive to the Lord's call to love people in practical ways and with sincere hearts.

Finally, take to heart Colossians 4:2, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (ESV).