Blog 5: Social Event

Our life group attended Art After 5... and had a BLAST!

Enjoy!

Kind Regards ~
Cleao | Niko

Blog 4: Recap of Lessons 4 & 5 | A Life Grounded in Love Through...

Double Recap

In this session the group covered two lessons regarding A Life Grounded in Love. Through a Space to Love, we addressed intentional versus unintentional singleness. The Apostle Paul illustrates his struggles and gifts he experienced as a lifelong single. Through Jesus and His Friends, we looked at Jesus as a human and His need for human friends. Reflecting on both of these scriptures and embodying their meanings, personally, created awesome discussion!

Lesson 4 Space to Love | 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 (NIV)

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgement as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife-- 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Background & Breakdown to Discussion of the Scripture

As an unmarried (single) mane, Paul gives us his opinion or recommendation in which the Lord inspired.

The crisis Paul is possibly referring to "the distresses to which believers were then beginning to be subjected, making the married state less desirable than the single; and which would prevail throughout the world before the destruction of Jerusalem, according to Christ's prophecy (Matthew 24:8-21; compare Acts 11:28)."

Verses 29-31 are interesting because it can appear as if Paul is encouraging everyone to go by the saying that today's rappers, i.e. Drake and Kendrick Lamar, made popular -- YOLO, which is an acronym for You Only Live Once. However, in discussion, it was expressed by many that Paul wanted to encourage the people to NOT be of this world, but to only be in it (Romans 12:2); he wasn't encouraging reckless behavior, but rather a more spiritually-driven behavior (Verses 32-35).  

It's extremely interesting when you really think about it... but you have to wonder when, where, how and why is the concept of "wanting what you don't have and having what you don't want" applying to you personally. Singleness has both its good and bad.. For some, mostly good... and for others, mostly bad. Nonetheless, it all appears to be a matter of whether you allow yourself to see the glass half empty versus the glass half full.

This conversation began with everyone considering both the trivial and substantial perks of the single lifestyle. You can imagine the variety of answers received but many consisted of one particular theme -- freedom -- freedom from considering others, freedom to dress up/down as one pleases, etc. After thinking about personal perks, regarding singleness, the following task was assigned:

Think of a single mentor, teacher, spiritual director or friend who has been especially important in your life. Were some of the gifts this person gave connected to his or her singleness?

One would think this question is simple and straightforward enough to result in multiple answers... Au contraire! Could it be due to not always maintaining the most positive perspective of singleness that when considering the specific question, as stated above, it's difficult to quickly acknowledge those references???

Eventually, some people were able to refer to their moms, aunts, etc.

To some, it's true that media prefers to paint a happy ending as one consisting of a love-relationship between two people, but is it impossible to have a happy ending in a state of singleness? Apostle Paul from the Bible experienced singleness for his entire life.

These are all great questions for you to think about and write your thoughts on.

Lesson 5 Jesus & His Friends | Matthew 26:36-46

Gethsemane

26:36-46pp -- Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:40-46
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Background & Breakdown to Discussion of the Scripture

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica:

Gethsemane,  garden across the Kidron Valley on the Mount of Olives (Hebrew Har ha-Zetim), a mile-long ridge paralleling the eastern part of Jerusalem, where Jesus is said to have prayed on the night of his arrest before his Crucifixion. The name Gethsemane (Hebrew gat shemanim, “oil press”) suggests that the garden was a grove of olive trees in which was located an oil press.

Though the exact location of Gethsemane cannot be determined with certainty, Armenian, Greek, Latin, and Russian churches have accepted an olive grove on the western slope of the Mount of Olives as the authentic site, which was so regarded by the empress Helena, mother of Constantine (the first Christian emperor, early 4th century ad). An ancient tradition also locates the scene of the Gethsemane prayer and betrayal of Jesus at a place now called the Grotto of the Agony, near a bridge that crosses the Kidron Valley. At another possible location, south of this site in a garden containing old olive trees, is a Latin church erected by Franciscan monks on the ruins of a 4th-century church.

In discussion, the group explored the various individuals who we each considered to have been a good friend over a period of time. We looked at how Jesus divided his followers into 2 groups -- Peter and the two sons of Zebedee were a bit of Jesus' inner circle and "had been witnesses of his transfiguration, and of one of his greatest miracles (Mark 5:37)."

We also reflected on Jesus' prayer he repeated in praying three times. The People's New Testament breaks Verse 39 down as follows:

If it be possible. If it were possible to save men, and carry out the divine work of redeeming them.

Let this cup pass from me. This cup is the betrayal, the trial, the mocking, the scourging, the cross, and all besides which our thoughts cannot reach. 

But as thou wilt. This is an example of perfect faith--the faith by which alone answers to prayer can be obtained. He that insists on his will, when it is contrary to the will of God, fails in faith.

It was apparent that Jesus, the Son of God, required human friends to be present in his time of need. This scripture helped everyone to explore our various views of God's perception of friendship and personally evaluate the significance of our friendships. 

Feel free to continue the party here on the blog! Comment, blog, question... Express yourself!!

~ Kind Regards ~

Cleao | Toniko

Blog 3: Recap of Lesson 2, God's Presence in Broken Relationships

Sing along everyone!!!

1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -- he remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, 8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 146 (New International Version)

                   
How could we resist the dancing baby??? I mean, watch him go... doing his praise dance to such an awesome Psalm :)

Haha! Not to deviate too far off track, this is simply a recap of Lesson 2's discussion. As you read, depending on if you're using your cell phone or laptop, the baby will be there grooving as you're attempting to focus and read... so... Sorry.. for the joy he brings you every time you end up glancing at him doing his thing! :)

Anyhow..

Just taking up space for you to be able to focus on the content more...

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This should be a good place to begin reading...

The Voice of the Single Christian

When you think of popular culture, it's easy to misconstrue what's common to hear with what's common to see. In this case, popular culture is associated with what's common to see -- life in families. There is the glorified idea of "family values" that lead to the development of programs attracting and serving married couples with children. So, where does that leave the single folks???

In some cases, singleness is shameful... promiscuity is associated with it... there's a lot of loneliness greeting you at home at the end of every day... the infamous biological clock begins to tick louder... and really, the list can go on and on... but in then words of the famous basketball player,  Dikembe Mutombo, who now gets paid to slap stuff out of people's hands and wag his finger at them,
"No No No... Not today!"

In short, the thought of our culture's perspective regarding singleness is skewed. As a result, despite how we may personally feel about our singleness, we still have the perspective of our loved ones to take into account.

The External Response to Our Singleness

While it may be easy for some to ignore, for others, friends and family can become a source of stress or support. Our group went around the room addressing how family & friends respond to our singleness. We reflected on the places we all felt least and most comfortable in our singleness and why it was so.

Upon discussion of the various societal associations made to singleness, it was then observed how we felt God perceived those who have either lost or have never found the primary bond of marriage. In the Psalm, we observed whether God's heart is for those that are single.

Be In the World, Not of the World

Circumstantially, it is always tempting to lean heavily on human beings who cannot save us for so many reasons. It can be seen as an easy option because you can see another human being and you're capable of seeing what all they are capable of doing for you to help you. God, on the other hand, is a being we are unable to see... so, the discussion ended up flowing back into our previous lesson in which we discussed whether establishing our identity in God's love is a real relationship we experience or an abstract concept that sounds nice to think about. Yet, the psalmist makes a contrast between God and humans (v. 3-6). Man, who is unable to save, returns to the earth at some point as dust and their plans established in life are no longer their plans because that individual no longer exists -- in fact, those plans become nothing. On the other hand, God -- the creator of heaven, earth, the sea, and all that exists within them -- is forever faithful.

In receiving the psalmist's description of God, we recognize our prayers and study of Scripture has to change in order to embody this psalm, embracing the meaning. It would be awesome if we could truly walk the steps and talk the language of the psalmist. He or she is so faith-filled, confident, and joyous in what addressed in the psalm. In everything, good and bad, God has a presence... for he is omnipotent and omniscient... but that raised a very good question creating some more good conversation [actually, correlating to the topic of the lesson]. How is that God is in the bad of anything?

We don't always think about it, but it's something else that is interesting to consider:
How might your church or fellowship look different if it took on God's heart for single parents and their children, widows and widowers, and lifelong singles -- as well as immigrants, prisoners, the disabled and other groups listed here?

Well, folks...
That's the recap for Lesson 2. Hope there aren't typos, but most of all we hope you enjoyed.
Until next time...

- Kind Regards -

Cleao | Toniko

Blog 2: Recap of Lesson 1, Grounded in Love

Our first discussion was based on the Apostle Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians:

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hears through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14 - 21 (New International Version)

Who We Are & Whose We Are -- It's a Given... or is it???

If you were to use relational descriptions only, how would you identify yourself?

Example: I am the daughter of Anthea & Joey Henderson, older sister of Hakim Henderson, member of Epic Church, dance instructor for Living Arts Dance & Fitness Studios, engineer for NAVSEA's Power Transmission branch, mentor to many, friend to few, and resident of PA.

In identifying or defining ourselves, in terms of relationships, our group explored personal perspectives of self-identities, with respect to God. The Bible tells us, through Paul's prayer, that God is our deepest source of identity. 

It seems like such a nice concept for Paul to enforce in reassuring those that are lost they are able to find themselves in God -- however, how real is this concept for you? Is it an abstraction for you  -- a nice idea, even a truth, that is hard to lay hold of? Many of us have moments where we are unable to relate to stories of the Bible simply because it's 2014, so as a result, not every aspect of the Word feels applicable all of the time. Establishing an identity in God's love, for some, is one of those intangible aspects.

Sidebar: 

Strobel's book, "The Case for Christ," was referenced in discussion. As stated, it's "a journalist's personal investigation of the evidence for Jesus."

Perhaps with a more solidified awareness and understanding of Jesus's existence will help some to fathom establishing an identity in His love. Check it out and leave a review in the comments!

Single & Christian

Being single Christians can also impact the perception we have of our own identities. Granted, it's a given -- I'm single and I am a Christian. Those are facts that are not hard for me to acknowledge, but there are times my faith has impacted my singleness in some shape or form. We discussed how being "grounded in Christ's love" has helped/hindered our singleness.

Going back to the scripture referenced, in praying for some kind of "inner process" to occur (v. 16-19), Paul chooses to use specific verbs to illustrate how this occurrence is to happen: "...strengthen you... through his Spirit... Christ may dwell... through faith... you, rooted and established in love... have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ... this love surpasses knowledge..." Just imagine if this "inner process" occurred in completion within each of us, how different the world would be. How different do you think you would be? How do you imagine it would impact your singleness?

Discussion & attendance was great! It was definitely a successful get together :)

Until next time...

Kind Regards,

Cleao | Toniko

Blog 1: The Introduction

Ladies & Gentlemen... Allow us to re-introduce ourselves!!

We are Epic Church's Life Group #457!

-- The ONLY Singles' Life Group for the Spring Semester of 2014 --

Greetings!!

Welcome to our blog of highlights -- the virtual location for our group discussion.

This blog was specifically created for correspondence between members on topics correlating to the life groups' purpose and intent to serve as "a key to sustained spiritual growth."

For more information about Epic Church's life groups, contact Epic Church at lifegroups@epicwired.net and visit the website at epicwired.net.

Week 1 -- Wednesday, 19 Feb 2014

This week Life Group #457 had the first meeting and there were 13 members in attendance.

The following topics were reviewed and discussed:

- Life Group Agreement

- Everyone's Personal Expectation in Joining the Group

- The Semester's Outline & Booklet ("Singleness: A Life Grounded in Love," by Ruth Goring)

- Food & Drink List

- Service & Social Activity for the Semester

- Everyone's Preferred Contact Information

- Prayer Requests

What a success!! This first meeting was awesome! I look forward to this semester even more than before because everyone seems to be extremely laid back, well-spoken and eager to explore!

Feel free to post your thoughts, questions, comments, concerns, and/or announcements. This is our world!

Be sure to apply the S.O.A.P. method to Week 1's Scripture (Ephesians 3:14-21) and VOTE for our social activity at the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DRCZKH7.

We can't wait to see everyone again on Wednesday!

Yours truly,

Cleao | Toniko