Summer in Sync: Spending the Summer in Scripture Together

In the middle of the “lazy days of summer”, our schedules are often cast aside. What a great time to try something new! Summer in Sync. is 85 days of Scripture-reading within community.

We invite you to read the New Testament Epistles and Acts Reading Plan by YouVersion with us from June 7th thru August 30^th.

Sync with God, as you spend daily time in His Word.

Sync with others, as we all focus on the same passages and reflect on them in our relationships, Facebook page, youversion.com and worship gatherings.

Sync with Scripture, as you forge a daily rhythm of Bible reading. You are also encouraged to reflect on the Scripture with journaling.

Summer in Sync starts on Monday, June 7^th with the first chapter of both Romans and Acts. How are you going to make this summer last?

Dashboard Confessions

Like burning embers, the letters shone from my dashboard. MAINT REQ’D. It was at the end of a week during which I drove my 9-year-old car 1,200 miles. I have always had my Honda serviced by the dealer and the little car has been faithful to me. So immediately, I picked up my cell and scheduled an appointment for the following day. But the next day, I cancelled my appointment because something came up. Well, it is almost a month later, and the car has not had a wash much less the oil change and maintenance. The indicator still shines, but somehow, after seeing it day after day, it doesn’t seem as bright anymore. I will address those maintenance needs… someday… when I find time.

On our Christ following journey, there are parts of our lives that need attention. Sin that needs to be addressed, spiritual disciplines that need to be exercised, heart changes that need to be made. But the more we ignore the Spirit’s urging the more distant God appears to be. We realize that these small yet bright indicators need to be prayerfully and quickly addressed. Sometimes we want God to speak new things to us even though we haven’t yet responded to the last things He has shown us.

What spiritual indicator light is emblazoned on your dash? And how are you going to seek the Lord today to address it?

What is your next step on the journey?

"...I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…"

- 2 Timothy 1:6

At times we can be overwhelmed by the life change implications of the call of Jesus…. There is no way around it; the impact of the Gospel is huge. But we are called to faithfully take the next steps.

Whether we are investigating who Jesus is, or have been a Christian for a long time, we are called to ask ourselves (and be asked by others on the journey): "What is your next step?" As we faithfully live out our answer, we ask each other and ourselves again how we can fan the flame anew.

Living Out Love

On February 7^th, during the monthly gathering of both our home churches, we studied how Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 illustrated the care as and compassion of the Good Shepherd.

We discussed ways to show one another God’s love. In this short month we have witnessed Living Stones not only be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word. The month is half over and already great acts of love and compassion have taken place within the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel Home Churches. People have driven 45 minutes to drive a friend’s wife to the ER, a sick USF student was brought food by two different individuals, meals are being given to a family with a new born, foster children are being cared for. People of all ages and demographics are participating in loving one another with Godly actions.

What other acts of God’s love can you show in this month?

Cornbread Casserole: a recipe for teen involvement

We strive to include everyone in the life of Living Stones Church regardless of age, social status, and spiritual maturity. One of the ways we have been getting teens and tweens  (as well as adults) involved is in the meal times.  Since most of our events include a potluck, teens have a weekly opportunity to cook and bake for the rest of the Living Stones family.

Here is one of our favorite meals made by one of our teens. She originally found the recipe here. 

CORNBREAD CASSEROLE

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup sour cream

1 (17 oz) can of cream style corn

1 (17 oz) can of whole kernel corn, drained

4 oz (½ cup) melted butter (Plus a little for the casserole dish)

½ cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1 to 2 Tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce

1 (8.5 oz) package Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

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1. Butter a 2 qt casserole dish and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients.

3. Sprinkle the Jiffy mix over the combined ingredients and fold in with a spatula. Do not beat the mixture.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

5. Allow casserole to rest 10 minutes before serving.

The Fringe Benefits of Discipleship

This summer we were all challenged to get into a discipleship relationship with someone else from our home church network.  The goal was to find someone of the same gender and meet weekly to grow in character, knowledge and faith.  Someone people learned more than they bargained for. Here is Living Stones story in her own words.

When I began my discipleship experience this past summer, I had no idea what to expect, but I made myself one promise, I would be open, honest and transparent with my partner.  I prayed and asked God who I should approach, the person He choose surprised many, even me.  However as we met, I began to see what an amazing symbiotic relationship He was building.  We both brought things to the table that the other needed.  We found strength in knowing that there is someone there that truly has our back.  We have found many commonalities, however opposite our current life situations are.  I am single living with my brother; she is married with a child.  Not only have I experience a new friendship grow, but she keeps me challenged, asks the hard questions and ‘reads me my mail’ when needed, and I know I can do the same in return.  Not only have a gained a great friend, but our families have embraces one another.    I have no doubt when I show up at her house, I will be welcomed in.  Our relationship has grown a great deal, I now volunteer at her work and her daughter spends one afternoon a week with me. 

Since our meetings were never structured, we allowed the Holy Spirit to be our mentor and to guide our conversations.  We would meet at my place, at a restaurant or walk.  Usually we would spend time sharing our week, our pitfalls, successes and areas we need prayer.  If needed encouragement in the Word, in remembering who God is in our life or just some compassion was shared.  When you purpose to be transparent, it is awesome to watch the bonds grow and the trust grow and the judgment disappear.  I learned that I am not alone, that many people face the same things and that people have great capacity for forgiveness love and compassion, when you allow God to do His work through you.

 I have always seen discipleship as a one way street, like a mentorship.  I have found that it is much better as a two way street.  We all have something we can learn from someone if we will just open ourselves up to that.  That lesson has been very present in my life lately.  I have learned that unless you are teaching and being taught, you are not growing to your full potential.  Sometimes it can be with the same person, sometimes it is with many people.  I have been learning so much from 2^nd graders as well as some friends in their 70’s.  Discipleship has taught me that lessons are all around us.  We just have to be open to listening to God, dropping our preconceived ideas and letting Him run the show.  When I do that, He is always on time with the right answer or encouragement or challenge.  He always leads me to the right resources, be it the Bible or a friend.  I never have to face things alone.  This is what discipleship has taught me.    

Quest for Community: Looking for "My People" in Tampa

At times Florida can seem like a collection of people whom have come to the Sunshine State for a job change, a change of climate, or just to start over. There is a need for connection. Here is one person’s story of searching for community in our fragmented society.

From May of 2007 to the present I have lived in DC, Atlanta, and now Tampa: 3 cities in 3 states, 3 jobs, 3 apartments, and a partridge in a palm tree. Or something like that. It’s been an interesting journey these past couple of years.

When I left DC, I left behind the familiarity and rootedness that comes from being in a place for almost 6 years… a wonderful church family, an absolutely amazing group of friends, and storehouses of memories contained in the streets and sights and sounds and smells of a neighborhood and city I love. DC had become home to me, but I ventured on to Atlanta when a job came open with an organization I had dreamed of someday working for.

I was in Atlanta for only 10 months. Due to some unforeseen circumstances within the organization, said dream job turned into something of a nightmare. But even in those short months, Atlanta too had become a home of sorts; I deepened friendships with friends I already knew there and met some incredible folks who I now count as some of my dearest friends. And if I had not been there during that time, I would never have ended up where I am now…

Tampa, the land of perpetual sunshine. When I arrived here, all that was waiting for me was a job I hoped I would love (I do) and an apartment to call home. Starting out fresh in a new place where you do not know a living soul is not cool. Or brave. Or any of those other encouraging things people try to tell you. It’s just plain HARD.

The first few weeks were really fun with setting up house, learning my way around, and getting used to a new job. The next few months were not so bad either. I was getting to know my co-workers and all the kids I work with and was enjoying a “normal” work environment. Summer came and went in a blur of church hunting, work trips, my old roommate visiting, etc. Then fall hit….very hard. I still hadn’t found a church, I hated the weather (no crispy nights, changing colors, or crunching leaves underfoot), and my nearest friends lived 8 hours away in Atlanta or 14 hours away in DC. That pretty much felt like the other side of the world. While those faraway friends were/are some of the best friends in the entire world, the one thing I wanted and felt like I needed, was something they were unable to provide. They could not be physically present and a part of my day to day life. And that was what I desperately longed for in Tampa: community.

Community is hard for me to explain, especially now that I’m finding it again through Living Stones. While it was absent, I couldn’t fully describe it either, but I knew it was missing and I ached for it in the depths of my being. I wanted community here in Tampa. I wanted to feel like I fit and belonged and could feel at home. Community is being with “my people”. And being with my people is being home, no matter where I am geographically. My people are those whom I am totally comfortable with who I know and love and who know me and love me in return. There is laughter, there is ease, there is comfort, but there are also tough questions and challenges. There is growth in a place of safety as life is done together….not just someone to celebrate your birthday with, but someone who is there when you’ve had a rough day/week/month at work, who will bring you OJ and tissues when you’re sick, who calls when they haven’t seen you recently, who remembers what you tell them and follows up on things that are important to you. The Living Stones community members are becoming my people. I am blessed to now have a home here in Tampa with “my people” and am looking forward to journeying with them as we learn to better love and serve God and the people He brings across our paths.