SERMON NOTES:

Y Donna Mc Cullen, Ken Mc Cullen's

PRAYER REQUESTS
JULY 24, 2011
Y Pray for Dwight Zvorak who was admitted to Unity Hospital last week and is now being transferred to a nursing home for rehabilitation. Pray for Tiffany and Paulette to find strength. Y Pray for Amys brother-in-law, Scott Henning, whose father Jerry Henning died this week. Y Pray for Paul and Amys friends Katie & Greg Hansen. Y For John & Juanitas daughter, Jody Weismann, who delivered a baby boy!

wife as she goes through more intense chemotherapy treatment.

DEVOTION
For the month of July were reading through the book of Acts. July is one of the hardest months to have a group of people at worship because many people are traveling and many people are at cabins. Its easy to get disconnected from each other. One way we can connect is by reading through the book of Acts in July. Many new churches start out their ministry by studying Acts. We can connect through using this devotion. As youre reading this, know that many others at Chain of Lakes are doing the same thing. Comments about the devotion can be emailed to pastor@colpres.org. Monday, August 1 Read Acts 19 Paul encountered resistance, lack of belief, and a riot. Its important to see that when the gospel takes hold it doesnt take place without a great struggle. We dont see these struggles take place in the United States. Its rare when there is such a violent resistance to the sharing of the gospel. In our context the greatest threat to the gospel is the belief that people dont need it. Many people try to find their salvation in other places besides Jesus Christ.

Y For John & Glorias grandchildren.

Nick will be entering basic training for the Navy, and Elle for her summer work assignment in a Japanese language immersion camp as a nurse. Y Pray for persons and process involved in property purchase for COL. Y Pray for Dean Morins Grandpa, Roger Page, who has entered hospice care. Y Pray for Tiffany Chopra to have the strength and faith to know that God knows what He is doing with her life. Y Pray for Ben Simmer, a young man just graduated from college and has MS with worsening side effects. Pray for new treatments to become available and a cure. Y Pray for all whom at Chain of Lakes who look for jobs, in particular, Gary Wassam & Lee Bliss. Y Pray for Angelica Van Iperens friends, Paula and Ruben, and they struggle with infertility and limited resources to treat it.

2
Imagine what Paul would do if he came to the north Metro today. Would he preach for three months (19:8) and then leave because people wouldnt believe? Would he perform miracles like in 11-20? Would he induce a riot like in the last twenty verses of this chapter? As you pray today, reflect with God on what Pauls impact in the north Metro today would be. Tuesday, August 2 Read Acts 20 The story of Eutyches (verses 7-12) is a wonderful story of the damage that can happen to youth if they are bored by the gospel. Even though Paul was a gifted speaker, even he could not keep the attention of Eutyches. Eutyches was overcome by sleep, fell out a window and plummeted three stories, and then died. When this happened Paul went to heal him. Youth dont necessarily physically die if they are bored by the gospel, but they certainly experience a spiritual death. They might not see the need for a community and/or they might choose to find their salvation in other destructive behaviors. Our task as a congregation is to do everything we can to keep our youth engaged in the congregation. Today as you pray, pray for the youth in our congregation who are 7th grade and older. Pray for Emily, Holly, Kacie, Billy, Reggi, Courtney, and Ally. The next time you see them, let them know about your prayers.

3
Wednesday, August 3 Read Acts 21 As we read yesterday in 20:16 Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. Notice in verses 7-9 that Paul stayed with Philip and his four daughters. This is the same Philip that was mentioned in the sermon this past Sunday. Paul had to prove in these verses that he wasnt abandoning the historic faith with something new. Paul wasnt interested in abandoning his heritage. The tradition was still important to him. Paul was willing to stand with the four men and be purified. We in the church have a wonderful tradition in which were called to carry forward. The challenge is not to be captive to tradition as if its cement. Instead our tradition is a living and breathing tradition that can be adapted to our 21st century culture. The current debate about the book Love Wins is one example of this. People have debated for centuries whether Hell is a place of spiritual torment, physical torment, or even if it exists. When Rob Bell wrote the book Love Wins he entered into this controversy. The controversy is not a new oneit just appears to be new because a new book was written. Most of the fights that take place in the church have been fought many times in the past. Today as you pray, pray that our tradition can be living and breathing! Thursday, August 4 Read Acts 22

4
When Paul was challenged he shared his faith story. In the first half of this chapter he shared how he had previously persecuted Christians and then of his conversion. Each of us has a faith story. Each of our stories are important because they are our stories. Its important for each of us to know our faith stories. Our story doesnt have to be a collection of our personal beliefs. It could be a narrative story where we share some meaningful times in our life when God was present to us. Take some time to reflect on your own faith story. Think through your past and remember some times when God was especially present to you. What was that like? Was it expected or unexpected? How did the event(s) make an impact on your life? Share your thoughts with God.

Friday, August 5 Read Acts 23 This chapter reads like an adventure story. Paul spoke in front of the council, when a plot was discovered against Paul, Paul was brought during the night to Felix. Faith can be an adventure at times. Hopefully we dont find ourselves in a situation like Pauls! Do you think of your faith life as an adventure? How has your own faith life been an adventure? Again were getting to the issue of a faith story. Talk to God about faith being an adventure as you pray today.

2
Saturday, August 6 Read Acts 24 Paul had to defend himself before Felix, the Roman governor. Look at what Paul said about his beliefs: But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in Goda hope that they themselves also acceptthat there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. (Acts 24:14-16) Would you describe your beliefs like Paul did in these verses? In what do you hope? Do you have a hope that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous? As you pray today, reflect with God on your beliefs about hope and about the resurrection.