Transform Grace - Latest Comments

Re: Worship CD Release: Love Has Spoken – Jon Jenz

Fred Massanet — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:46:10 -0000

I don't understand why the Ozzy devil horn is on the cover?

Re: Take The 1 Year Bible Challenge

Micki Green — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:15:24 -0000

I have been a little pre-occupied the past few months so I didn't start the 1 year Bible reading plan in January. After attending my Community Group tonight, I have a renewed desire to do this. I may not read the Bible in a year, because I don't want to race through it like I've done before. I want to savor each chapter. I was very happy to find the reading plan on the website.

Re: Worship CD Release: Love Has Spoken – Jon Jenz

Becky Clayton — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:40:16 -0000

Our family LOVES the "Love has Spoken" CD! For a long time we have often said we like the way our fellowship sings many of the songs better than how they were recorded....true...all true. Thanks for doing this big project - it is a blessing. And you know, I really like the recordings where people are truly worshiping - irregularities and all - fervor over perfection anytime! The Claytons

Re: Take The 1 Year Bible Challenge

Grace Community Church — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:50:09 -0000

Hope you're doing well Chris. Don't worry about failure as much as you worry about being committed to the process of seeking to understand and develop habits of Bible study.

Re: Take The 1 Year Bible Challenge

Chris — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:35:07 -0000

I was hesitant to do this at first, because I have tried in the past and failed. But this time I am going at it as a conversation with God, the Author,
like He is telling me the story, and I am listening, and asking questions! Thanks for the encouragement!!

Re: The WORD That Transforms: Video Sermon – Doug Clark

Maureenk — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:10:30 -0000

Thanks, Doug, for a great overview and the encouragement to read through the Bible this year.

How did you all chose this particular reading plan? Love that it has us in multiple places each day.

Re: Take The 1 Year Bible Challenge

Stacy — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 18:31:43 -0000

Thank your for this oppotunity. I am really looking forward to how God will use this "challenge" in the upcoming year. God Bless!

Re: Not Content With The Status Quo – Doug Clark

Shari — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:47:26 -0000

Hello, my name is Shari and I came to your website actually researching a preschool position you had advertised. I began exploring your website more and I came across the title "Not content with the status quo"..and that one line opened up a lot of thoughts and questions I have been having about the modern church. I am old enough to have held just about every position in church, from bus driver to Sunday School Director.. and I have seen churches flourish and fall apart, and like many I have become disillusioned with the modern church. I have seen more bickering, power struggles, indebtedness, and actual hatred inside church walls than I have in a lot of non-Christian environments, and being a history buff of sorts, I set out on my own quest.. reading such books as "Mere Christianity", by CS Lewis, "The Case for Faith" and the "Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel, and "The Church that Never Sleeps" by Matthew Barnett as well as dozens of others.. plus I began a study of the history of Christianity and the "Church".. What I have discovered is that there are many others out there with the same observations and questions I am pondering. I see massive cathedrals going up in the name of the "God", billions being spent on comfort, while the lost and hungry huddle in the streets blocks away, wondering who this "God" is. I see "Christians" going in and out of these buildings on Sundays and for other various "church" functions walking past the lost, homeless, and needy sitting in their comfortable pews singing praises to the Lord of all Mankind, and then walking again right past the lost we are supposed to be light of hope for on their way home. God never intended for the church to be this beautiful, comfortable, social club.. The true "Church" is a body of mere people who have acknowledged their own imperfections and unworthiness and accepted the gift of life through Jesus Christ - that true transformation goes beyond church walls, comfort zones, and the 'status quo'.. the one place the lost should not feel uncomfortable or judged is in the presence of a true "church" member.. I know churches are made up of human beings who are not perfect, but a lot of times 'church members' spend more time judging and keeping up appearances than they do ministering, and I'm afraid Satan, the ultimate deceiver, has used the modern church to do more harm than good.. why do we spend so much time and money on comfort, and things to dazzle young people into coming to church? They get all that in the world, and the world is what has let them down..The Bible says "I change not", so why do we keep redefining what church is? The lost need to see genuine sincerity and the love of Christ in us more than they need to hear the new sound system and see some of the stage productions churches are putting on now.. What makes us different from the world? We think we have to compete with worldly ways to get the attention of the lost? I don't think so.. We have failed in our mission to love and serve unconditionally, we have brought debt, politics, and all sorts of other worldly practices into what we call the house of God.. I can honestly say I have visted several churches in Tyler and felt like an outsider at everyone of them.. something is wrong and I am looking for thoughts and ideas on what various people and groups view 'church' and our mission here on this earth as. I am not content with the status quo, and the witness modern churches give to the lost. I am looking for the true church..like minded, unworthy individuals who seek to follow the example of Christ in his ministry as the humble servant to the lost, not as ringmaster to some circus production..there are hurting people everywhere, most have never even been approached by a Christian except to be condemned for who they are.. so how do we change it? I heard a radio broadcast the other day and a minister was saying how hard it was to sit in the pews because he was called to preach, but that he couldn't get employment because of the economy and the hit churches had taken financially.. since when did preaching revolve around getting a paycheck? If you are called to preach it seems to me you'd be in the streets where the lost were, trusting God to lead you instead of sitting in a pew somewhere "unemployed".. we have made churches into businesses.. didn't Jesus condemn that when he threw the vendors out of the temple? Lots of questions.. open for comments.. I liked a lot of what I saw on your site, and some of the statements I read.. I took a Bible study several years ago called "Experiencing God", and basically you don't bring God to you to suit your lifestyle, you find out where God is at work and attach yourself there..So.. let's find the true church and purpose and attach ourselves there :)

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Our Teacher

Colleen Ward — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:49:25 -0000

I appreciate Vicki reminding me that I need to always have a teachable heart. While God is very interested in meeting my needs, I must be very interested in obeying him and allowing him to change me. Maturity in Christ is ongoing. Loving the truth as God shows it to me in the Bible is not just beautiful words, but meant to penetrate my heart.

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Mercy

Christa Hagler — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:19:59 -0000

Beautiful Testimony of the Lord's mercy! I have loved watching you grow from a distance, Melissa. You are a beautiful child of God.

Re: The Names Of God – God Is A Shepherd

Shane Walden — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:00:33 -0000

Isn't it great to know that God is not that guy looking over your shoulder at every move you make waiting to pounce on you like a lion and tell you how terrible you have been! Instead God has rules in place for our benefit and when we fall He comes along side us like a gentle father picks us up, shows us where we screwed up, and pushes us to keep going. He has rules in place for our benefit, He wants us to learn from what has gone on and continue on the journey He has called us to.

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Beautiful

David_George — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:19:59 -0000

Jesus' willing submission to death is exemplary for our lives... Sacrificial service is heroic; one to another, one to many, one for all. HE is prototypical male, the ultimate man, the true super hero.

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Beautiful

David_George — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:19:36 -0000

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Beautiful

dgm@davidgeorge.tv — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:06:57 -0000

It's easier for guys to see Jesus' willing submission to death as exemplary for our lives... Sacrificial service is heroic. One to another, one to many, one for all. HE is prototypical male, the ultimate man, the true super hero.

Re: The Names Of God – God Is Friend & Fear

Mick — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:08:52 -0000

Thanks Chris for tackling a tough combination of ways we are connected to God, the characteristics of friendship and fear. I like your idea of being re-sized when it comes to our fear of God. Oh that we could each see this happen in our lives without circumstances or a time of crisis reducing us against our will. Instead of approaching God like the next door neighbor to whom we are somewhat obligated to wave, what if our fear and reverence for Him caused us to remember that unlike us, the world really does revolve around Him. And even with that, He still longs for relationship and friendship with us. Oh, how marvelous indeed...

Re: Protected: The Name Of God – God Is All Knowing

Brenda — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:40:10 -0000

Excellent devotion Bryan!

Re: Protected: The Name Of God – God Is All Knowing

Steve Rumpf — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:32:03 -0000

Some of us were talking today about the timing of our elderly parents' deaths. I made the comment that I've always said - and not flippantly - that "I'm not dying one second before or after when God says so." Quite frankly, that attitude (belief) helps me go around the world without fears... Today's devotion confirms to me once again, "God Knows Everything - including the day I leave this body."

Re: The Names of God – God Is Creative

David_George — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:12:55 -0000

I am comforted that The Creator made us in his image; we are enabled to fashion new works, by his power, just as He creates. Exodus 31:3-11 gives us an example of the Spirit of God empowering us to do God’s handiwork…

“and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs… to work in every craft. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded… According to all that I have commanded, they shall do.”

This scripture should reassure all who shape words, form images, and wrestle to capture men’s hearts for the glory of God, that theirs is a ministry of the kingdom. A ministry that helps to reconcile men to God and to one another.

Re: The Names of God – God Is Comforter

Jon Jenz — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 08:06:56 -0000

AT...what an excellent blog! All the way up to that final question. Thanks for spurring me closer to God today!

Re: The Names of God – God Is Everlasting

Dale — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:25:29 -0000

Amen!, May God help me and guide me to love like that.

Re: The Names of God – God Is Jealous

Melissah — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:50:49 -0000

He is jealous for me! And it makes me feel so loved. Thank you Scott for clarifying the true meaning of jealousy as God intended it. We distort a term until it takes on a totally different universal meaning. God's purpose for jealousy is pure and intended to keep us close to Him with nothing false in between. His love is jealous and it's a beautiful truth!

Re: The Names of God – God Is Jealous

Alissakirkley — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:25:54 -0000

What a great perspective on this attribute of God! This really helps me to understand God's jealousy for us in a new way. Thank you, Scott!

Re: The Names of God – God Is Counselor

Todd — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:27:01 -0000

Jon, I knew this was a hard decision for you to make, but didn't realize HOW hard. The fruit you have borne here in Tyler seems proportional to the struggle and difficulty it took to follow the Lord's lead and leave all that you knew in Michigan. I was telling someone just yesterday about the confirmation via those things written in a little notebook at Willow Creek that God gave you a few weeks after you arrived at Grace. Love it when He does that, confirming a decision after the face, leaving room for faith BEFORE. :)

Re: The Names of God – God Is Counselor

Dale — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:51:02 -0000

We may not see it and it might not always be clear to us, but from my personal experience God is always in looking out for us and always putting us in the right situation. It might never appear that way and we might not understand, but God is in control. Even when we struggle, even we fight and go stray, he always have a plan in place to lead to him and for us to be fruitful. It might require pruning that we might bear MORE fruit or "taken away" that we might become fruitful, God is always there in the "vineyard" taking care of the vine and the branches and the fruit and everything else involved.
One of the scripture that I keep close to my heart and just reminds me of this is in Proverbs,
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21).

Re: The Names of God – God Is Counselor

dougc — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:19:20 -0000

God is teaching me to trust his counsel. Jon does a great job of showing us what it looks like to remain (abide) in God's counsel through a storm or trial.
Doug