Pastor's Weekly Musing
Hey everyone!
There were several times in my baseball career where I played in professional Winter Baseball Leagues, which are played in Latin American countries. It's a way to make extra money, work on your game, and prepare for the following Spring Training. I spent winters in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but the most time I spent in the same location was Margarita Island, Venezuela.
I actually took the whole family with me (Ryan, our youngest, wasn't even a year old). Believe me, flying my young family through Caracas -- which at the time was ranked #1 in "hates the USA the most" list -- was a bit unnerving.
We ended up having a blast. The kids had tons of fun in a foreign place, I pocketed some cash, ate some good arepas, and most of all -- I got really good at speaking Spanish.
I took three years of Spanish in High School, three years in College, I'm half Mexican, and up to that point, I knew almost nothing. Every one of my professors made it clear: if you want to learn a new language -- like really learn it -- you can't just take classes. You have to immerse yourself in it.
Well, in Venezuela, I was immersed. I had to figure out getting food and groceries, going to the Laundromat, taking cab rides, calling hotel maintenance -- not to mention communicating with teammates during games -- all in Spanish. And after a few weeks, all the classes I took, the textbooks I read, all the tests I studied for, all of it began to emerge. I was immersed, surrounded by the culture and context, and I slowly became a Spanish-speaker.
To use Biblical language: I was transformed.
Guys, make no mistake: the closer you get to God, the more you immerse yourself in His presence, the more you surround yourself with God's Word, His people, His Spirit, the more He will transform your life.
In the Bible, we see all sorts of examples of people who were transformed after being in God's presence:
- Isaiah was transformed from lonely and depressed to bold and courageous after getting close to God.
- Paul went from a persecutor of the church to a super-spreader of the Gospel after an encounter with the Resurrected Jesus.
- Moses went from a privileged son of Pharaoh to a humble servant leading God's people out of Egypt, all after getting close to God Himself.
There are countless other examples in Scripture -- Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, Jacob, to name a few -- who saw their lives radically changed after being with God.
The truth derived from this is clear: immersion leads to transformation.
It's true in almost all contexts: if you spend lots of time with a certain group of people, you eventually take on their personality. You're immersed, so you transform. You immerse in Social Media, you transform. You immerse in political ideologue websites and media, you transform. You immerse in a toxic group of friends, you transform.
The good news is the same is true in the opposite direction: when you immerse yourself in the things of God, you transform! And just like my old Spanish classes, when I'm immersed in the presence of God, all those old classes, sermons, verses, songs, truths -- all of it begins to emerge and start to make sense.
Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Immerse yourself today!
There were several times in my baseball career where I played in professional Winter Baseball Leagues, which are played in Latin American countries. It's a way to make extra money, work on your game, and prepare for the following Spring Training. I spent winters in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but the most time I spent in the same location was Margarita Island, Venezuela.
I actually took the whole family with me (Ryan, our youngest, wasn't even a year old). Believe me, flying my young family through Caracas -- which at the time was ranked #1 in "hates the USA the most" list -- was a bit unnerving.
We ended up having a blast. The kids had tons of fun in a foreign place, I pocketed some cash, ate some good arepas, and most of all -- I got really good at speaking Spanish.
I took three years of Spanish in High School, three years in College, I'm half Mexican, and up to that point, I knew almost nothing. Every one of my professors made it clear: if you want to learn a new language -- like really learn it -- you can't just take classes. You have to immerse yourself in it.
Well, in Venezuela, I was immersed. I had to figure out getting food and groceries, going to the Laundromat, taking cab rides, calling hotel maintenance -- not to mention communicating with teammates during games -- all in Spanish. And after a few weeks, all the classes I took, the textbooks I read, all the tests I studied for, all of it began to emerge. I was immersed, surrounded by the culture and context, and I slowly became a Spanish-speaker.
To use Biblical language: I was transformed.
Guys, make no mistake: the closer you get to God, the more you immerse yourself in His presence, the more you surround yourself with God's Word, His people, His Spirit, the more He will transform your life.
In the Bible, we see all sorts of examples of people who were transformed after being in God's presence:
- Isaiah was transformed from lonely and depressed to bold and courageous after getting close to God.
- Paul went from a persecutor of the church to a super-spreader of the Gospel after an encounter with the Resurrected Jesus.
- Moses went from a privileged son of Pharaoh to a humble servant leading God's people out of Egypt, all after getting close to God Himself.
There are countless other examples in Scripture -- Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, Jacob, to name a few -- who saw their lives radically changed after being with God.
The truth derived from this is clear: immersion leads to transformation.
It's true in almost all contexts: if you spend lots of time with a certain group of people, you eventually take on their personality. You're immersed, so you transform. You immerse in Social Media, you transform. You immerse in political ideologue websites and media, you transform. You immerse in a toxic group of friends, you transform.
The good news is the same is true in the opposite direction: when you immerse yourself in the things of God, you transform! And just like my old Spanish classes, when I'm immersed in the presence of God, all those old classes, sermons, verses, songs, truths -- all of it begins to emerge and start to make sense.
Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Immerse yourself today!
_________________________________________________
Some reeeeeeally good things happening at Meadows recently/currently:
- The Ladies Connect had their launch party on Tuesday, and over 100 ladies showed up! Wow!
- Our Theology 1 class had close to 30 students at their first session last week!
- Wasn't Mike Rojo's message on Sunday awesome? "You are what you love." I've been thinking about that all week. Missed it? Go to meadowslv.com.
- The Ladies Connect had their launch party on Tuesday, and over 100 ladies showed up! Wow!
- Our Theology 1 class had close to 30 students at their first session last week!
- Wasn't Mike Rojo's message on Sunday awesome? "You are what you love." I've been thinking about that all week. Missed it? Go to meadowslv.com.
_________________________________________________
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES:
This Sunday, March 6: Family Sunday!
This Sunday, we'll have a family-style service, with the kids joining us in the sanctuary! It's Portia's and my belief that allowing the kids to see us worship, see us study God's Word together, and see us love each other -- AND be invited into the entire process -- can be hugely formative to our kids and families.
It'll be a normal service, with worship, greeting, and a message. But all kids will be with us. We'll have nursery still offered at both services (ages 0-3), and the sound-proof family room will be available. I encourage you to let your kids experience the congregation worshipping together with them involved. It'll be a slightly shorter service, and we'll even take Communion together. It'll be a great Sunday.
Saturday, March 12: Men's Breakfast
Join Pastor Ron and the Men's Ministry for a time of food, fellowship, and the Word, brought this month again by our very own Alan Ray. Alan brings a wealth of wisdom and insight, and is a joy to listen to. Also, Chick-fil-a breakfast sandwiches will be served again! Men of all ages are invited. Next Saturday at 9 AM.
This Sunday, March 6: Family Sunday!
This Sunday, we'll have a family-style service, with the kids joining us in the sanctuary! It's Portia's and my belief that allowing the kids to see us worship, see us study God's Word together, and see us love each other -- AND be invited into the entire process -- can be hugely formative to our kids and families.
It'll be a normal service, with worship, greeting, and a message. But all kids will be with us. We'll have nursery still offered at both services (ages 0-3), and the sound-proof family room will be available. I encourage you to let your kids experience the congregation worshipping together with them involved. It'll be a slightly shorter service, and we'll even take Communion together. It'll be a great Sunday.
Saturday, March 12: Men's Breakfast
Join Pastor Ron and the Men's Ministry for a time of food, fellowship, and the Word, brought this month again by our very own Alan Ray. Alan brings a wealth of wisdom and insight, and is a joy to listen to. Also, Chick-fil-a breakfast sandwiches will be served again! Men of all ages are invited. Next Saturday at 9 AM.
_________________________________________________
This Sunday, we'll pick back up on our series, The Heart of Christ.
We've seen Jesus as gentle and lowly, as a compassionate Savior, and as our advocate and intercessor. Jesus is awesome, right?
But what about God the Father? Is He any different? Is the God of the Old Testament different in the New Testament? For this Family Sunday, we'll look closely at how God the Father descries Himself in the Old Testament. He describes His heart multiple times, and uses the same Hebrew word, a word that encapsulates His heart, in such a way that even our English language cannot. Sound interesting? Bring the whole fam and we'll talk about it.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 - Hesed.
Looking forward to seeing you all on the walkway!
Pastor Ronnie
We've seen Jesus as gentle and lowly, as a compassionate Savior, and as our advocate and intercessor. Jesus is awesome, right?
But what about God the Father? Is He any different? Is the God of the Old Testament different in the New Testament? For this Family Sunday, we'll look closely at how God the Father descries Himself in the Old Testament. He describes His heart multiple times, and uses the same Hebrew word, a word that encapsulates His heart, in such a way that even our English language cannot. Sound interesting? Bring the whole fam and we'll talk about it.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 - Hesed.
Looking forward to seeing you all on the walkway!
Pastor Ronnie
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