The next question we need to consider is, “Does it matter?”  I believe this questions matters, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, because on some level all of humanity has already committed themselves to some type of god. Even if we say, “I don’t care about all that religious stuff.”  It isn’t true.

If you read all your psychology and sociology books they will all tell you that people have needs, and underneath all those needs is a deep, deep need to fix our hearts and minds on something, and give complete allegiance.  It is to put all your weight, trust, belief, and security in something, and at the end of the day it is our own personal type of god.

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In Romans 1 it makes the claim that we can look at creation and see evidence for God!  Can you believe that?

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

When you see the phrase, “Eternal Power”  in the original language it is the word “Dunamis” it is where we get the word “Dynamite.”  It means when we look at creation we can see powerful, explosive, miraculous characteristics that point god-like creator.

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Although negotiations went late into the night we were able to secure Norris Conference Center as our Sunday location between now and December 22, 2013.  Here are some details:

• $700 a week (We started at $1,200 a week)
• Price includes 5 rooms, coffee, water, projector, screen, chairs, and needed tables.

This new location has a few drawbacks, but overall we believe it will provide the following benefits:

• Less items to set up and break down
• More efficient drop-off and pick-up for our children
• More consistent and reliable
• One primary entrance and exit for new people
• More exposure to people in the community

While we will miss the “community and personal” feel that is provided by Lucy Read, we are hopeful that we will be able to capture a few of those components through our personal relationships and interactions with one another on Sunday.

Thank you for being so flexible over the summer.  We are thankful for God’s grace to spend so many years in Lucy Read, but we are excited about this next step for our church family.  Lets all take this as an opportunity for Jesus to give us a fresh perspective on Sunday morning, our lives and our community.

With you and for you!

Norris Conference Center
2525 W. Anderson Lane – Suite 365
Austin, Texas 78757 

We can go to a football game and get dressed up in our favorite jersey, stand on our feet for 3 hours, paint our face, chant songs, and have a shared experience with 1000’s of people because we see the value.  We will go to concerts to stand, sing along, and hold up our lighters because we see the value.

Therefore, we need to ask ourselves, “If I am having trouble worshipping God then maybe it is because I don’t see the value of God.”

Think of it this way.  If your grandmother dies and leaves you her jewelry box you might get excited at first, but then you would remember, “Granny doesn’t have any jewelry that is valuable.”  It is all costume jewelry.  But, then one day a friend says, “What are you wearing.  It is awfully unusual.  You should get it appraised.”

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Six churches in north central Austin are gathering tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9am to pray! It is really awesome. Come join us at Northwest Park: http://bit.ly/13FZvvk

Father’s Day Picnic!

Sign up to bring something: http://bit.ly/1bx6A3X

In 2010 I was asked to pray for our city council.  You can look at a video of the prayer here:  http://austintx.swagit.com/play/10052011-686/#2

On April 11th, I will have another opportunity to pray for the city council and I see it as a great opportunity to come along side our city council members for spiritual encouragement.  I am sure they have personal agendas.  I am sure this is something they are doing to advance their career in some capacity.  But, I am also sure they are under immense pressure.  Please take a moment to pray for the leaders of our city today!

North Village Church has recently created a tool to help us stay connected with people and living on mission with Jesus.  It is a simple tool to help us:

– 3 people to pray for

– 2 people to serve

– 1 person to have spiritual conversations

Click on the link or search “Living On Mission”

As we move throughout our series of Art of Neighboring we have found how easy it is to get overwhelmed by all the people we come in contact in a day.  Recently we found a helpful resource that helps us break down our relationships to the immediate 8 people we come in contact with throughout a week.  It is really helpful.

Click on the link below and you can use this helpful tool as well.

1.  Identify a relational context (Home, work, or hobby)

2.  Identify the names of those 8 people.  If you don’t know their names then this is a great place to start!

3.  Identify something relevant in their life.  It could be where they work, went to college, grew up, etc.

4.  Identify something in their inner life.  Where are their passions, fears, dreams, etc?

It is something simple that helps us take tangible steps of getting involved in the lives of other people!

Neighbor Chart

At North Village Church we are going through a series called Art of Neighboring.  It is really the foundation of why we started the church because when we look at Scripture we see Jesus said the greatest commandment was to, “Love the Lord your God wth all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind.”