09.28.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

This week I wanted to share a devotional thought. This is from Mindi. She read part of it in house church last Tuesday night and it gripped me then. She is passing it on like candy to others...so sweetin' up!



Dynamos of Praise

"Everyone who asks receives,

and he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks it will be opened"

Matthew 7:8


O My child, lean on Me; for I am your helper; I am your shield and your buckler. Yes, I am your strong tower and support. No evil will befall you, for you are surrounded and protected by My presence, and no evil can touch Me. Yes, let your heart rejoice in Me, and occupy your heart with praise. There is no need I will not fulfill as you praise and worship--both your needs and the needs of others.

Man has contemplated the power of faith and of prayer, but only rarely have I revealed to men this far greater power of praise. Doors are opened by prayer and faith, but by praise and worship, great dynamos of power are set in motion, as when a switch is thrown and an electric power plant goes into operation. Praying for specifics is like requesting light for individual houses in vari�ous scattered places, while worshiping and praise flood the whole area with available current.

I do not discount prayer and petitions. I only show you a more marvelous way�a faster means of bringing more help to more people. So many need Me. So little time is available. Turn loose your praises, and in proportion to your liberality, you will see My generosity expressed in infinite magnitude.

Do not try to analyze each need. Leave the diagnosis and the mechanics of it in My hands. Complexities are nothing to Me. They exist only in your mind, sown by the enemy, to dull your faith. Ignore all this. Weigh nothing except the love of My heart. Ask nothing unless you ask your own heart how much love it holds for Me. Hold Me closely; never let Me go. I will bless you, and I will make you a blessing.

I will make you a blessing. Do not think you will take a blessing to someone, or hope that I will send a blessing. I will make you, as My ambassador, a sweet savor of life and grace. Through your saltiness others will become thirsty. Through your joy others will long for reality.

Through your peace and confidence others will seek Me, and they shall find Me even as you found Me. I will reveal Myself to them even as I revealed Myself to you--perhaps in a different way, because each has different needs, but I will open the door to all who knock. I will reward those who seek Me. I will reward. You need only preserve your soul's integrity. This is enough to fully occupy your energies and attention. Leave the miracles to Me. You be and I will do.

Come Away My Beloved. Frances J. Roberts copyright 1970, updated 2002. p. 158-159.


Press On,

Mike


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09.20.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Last week, I hit a verse that just smacked me. In the context, Paul is describing the "mystery" of God's Story. That "secret plan" that was more than the Old Testament sacrifices. It was more than just a Messiah.

It was a secret plan that had been revealed--Jesus--the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus, the way for God's Chosen People--the Jews, and the way for the people on the rest of the globe, to have a right relationship with God.

But the mystery or secret plan went beyond even a right relationship and went to God's very presence with those who follow Jesus. Paul made mention of it as "Christ in You, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27)" Jesus' actual PRESENCE in His people. God was no longer trapped in the Holy of Holies or behind a curtain, He was WITH His people.

Paul shared that this amazing message was revealed to him and he was to pass it on. His concern was for the Colossian followers of Jesus to understand that "mystery." He went on to write this:


I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

(Colossians 2:2-3 NLT)

God's "mysterious plan" was Jesus himself. And Paul wanted to the Colossians (and us) to get that. That is amazing enough.


Then I got smacked by the tag line... In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Jesus...He is a storage place of treasure. A person that is to be explored. He is simple and complex. He has much hidden. In fact, if we want to pursue wisdom and knowledge...it is all found in Jesus! It isn't wrapped up in mid-day TV with a lady whose name starts with "O" or in an Asian philosophy that starts with "Z". All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in "JC"--Jesus Christ.

Another wise word from Proverbs came to me...

"It is God's privilege to conceal things and the king's privilege to discover them." (Prov 25:2 NLT)

It's our privilege to go look for the hidden treasure. Our privilege as His followers is beyond having Jesus in us. It is that we get to know HIM. We get to go searching and discovering Jesus--and the wisdom which is found in Him.

So as I challenged our Assembly, Won't you dive in and EXPLORE JESUS?!?!?! He has hidden treasure that is waiting for you. Go get it!

Press On,

Mike

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Reading the Sunday paper and....BAM there's someone from thequest!

Yep...I was strolling through the sports section reading up on the #1 OSU Buckeyes and their handling of in-state Cincy the day before. All of a sudden...BAM there's someone from thequest staring at me from the page.

It's our good friend Zach and his "I"-dotting fame...now used by a regional bank. It was so cool to see him, so I thought I'd show you the picture too! (Click on the picture to see it enlarged)

09.13.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Hmmm...when you have a theme that is All About Jesus and you have one of the best passages in the New Testament on it...how do you top that?

I don't know that I'll try in this week's email. My words are pretty much like chaff. So let's meditate on something this week that is All About Jesus and some words that will last forever:

Though he [Jesus] was God,
he did not demand and cling to his rights as God.

He made himself nothing;
he took the humble position of a slave
and appeared in human form.

And in human form
he obediently humbled himself even further
by dying a criminal's death on a cross.

Because of this,
God raised him up to the heights of heaven
and gave him a name that is above every other name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11 NLT2004


As we think about how things are going in the world and are reminded about 9/11, this is a helpful place to draw our thoughts. Everyone will bow to our King Jesus. What a privilege we have to love him and be in relationship with him now.

It's a joy to follow Him with you!

Press On,

Mike


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thequest Fall Retreat

Here's the link for more details on the Retreat >> Click HERE

For More Details email mindi@thequestcolumbus.com

09.06.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Christ is the visible image
of the invisible God.
He existed before
anything was created and
is supreme over all creation,
for through Him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.


He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see �
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and
authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created
through Him and for Him.


He existed before anything else,
and He holds all creation together.
Christ is also the head of the church,
which is His body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So He is first in everything.



For God in all His fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
and through Him God reconciled
everything to Himself.
He made peace with everything
in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood
on the cross.

Colossians 1:15-20 NLT2004

I hope you can come interact more with this passage this Sunday in our Assembly (details below). We are seeking to memorize it together. I broke it down in to 4 pieces for us above. This is the text which Larry Totzke will be speaking from and we'll be hiding in our heart together.

Press On,

Mike



the rest of thequest weekly email update here

3rd Ave. House Church at Buca having fun!

  

New Series for Assemblies

For the next six weeks we are doing a special study on Colossians in our Assemblies on Sunday mornings at Second Avenue Elementary School. Come and Join us

08.30.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

While I was in California a few weeks ago, I actually saw some mountains. I have been in the midwest so long that mountains just amaze me.

In fact as I drove out into the desert, I got to drive down the 10 and the mountains stacked high on either side of me. Eventually I drove through a natural pass between the two mountain ranges. (If you want to peek at a satellite pic of the highway, mountains and more click here )


This place is a virtual wind tunnel. In addition to the mountains, it is just scattered with windmills--not the old dutch kind, but a smooth modern version (see the link below-thanks to www.cgstock.com).


windmills on the 10

The mountains towering up all around you and the wind ripping around your car sure make you feel very insignificant. As I looked around and drank in the experience, it was obvious that someone was in charge. It was someone bigger than me. Someone bigger than "Mother Nature." Someone who could direct the wind, help plants to grow in a desert, and make the mountains pop out of the earth below.



In my morning readings in the Psalms last week, I came across this one that I wanted to pass on to you as it had rich meaning after that "mountain" experience....



A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.



I look up to the mountains-- does my help come from there?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The LORD himself watches over you!

The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalm 121 NLT



Thanks be to the Lord-the Creator of all things. He takes interest in His people. Intimate interest. He cares about whether you are in the shade. Drink in the Truth and praise Him.

I hope this encourages you to press on,

Mike


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