The Art of One-Anothering

We recently came across this brief article from Lifeway and though it was worth sharing!

The first thing you are probably asking right now is, “what does it mean to ‘one-another’ and how does one make an ‘art’ of it?” To that I would say, “Great question!”

The art of one-anothering is looking into Scripture and recognizing the importance that God places on our relationships. In this month’s HomeLife Magazine, Marie Aremenia shares a list of “One-Anothering” verses for you to go over with your family.

• Love one another—John 13:34-35; 15:12; Romans 13:8 
• Accept one another—Romans 15:7; Colossians 3:13 
• Love one another earnestly—1 Peter 1:22 
• Serve one another in love—Galatians 5:13 
• Honor one another above yourselves—Romans 12:10 
• Be completely humble, gentle, patient, and accepting of one another—Ephesians 4:2 
• Stop passing judgment on one another—Romans 14:13 
• Be kind and compassionate to one another—Ephesians 4:32 
• Forgive one another—Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13 
• Pray for one another—James 5:16 
• Encourage one another daily—Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another—1 Peter 5:5 
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds—Hebrews 10:24 
• Build one another up—1 Thessalonians 5:11 
• Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ—Galatians 6:2 
• Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom—Colossians 3:16 
• Offer hospitality to one another without complaining—1 Peter 4:9 
• Do not provoke or envy one another—Galatians 5:26

2011 Festival of Marriage

Festivals of Marriage 2011 Promo from Apex Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Fall Festival of Marriage 2011: “COURAGEOUS: Building Biblical Marriages”

October 21-23 at Ridgecrest Conference Center

This three-day weekend event for couples will encourage, challenge, and build healthy marriages. Includes bold fatherhood and family principles based on the highly anticipated movie, COURAGEOUS; dynamic worship; and breakout sessions that promote courageous living. If you want your marriage to leave a lifelong impact, Festivals of Marriage's Courageous: Building Biblical Marriages is your 2011 must-attend event.

Festivals of Marriage will guide you to:

· Connect, assuming Courageous responsibilities
· Grow, setting Courageous priorities
· Serve, leaving a Courageous legacy
· Go, with a Courageous faith

For more information or to register, please contact Holly Ladner or call 567-2699.

What's My Reflection?

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

As the water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.
(Proverbs 27:19)

One of the best books I've read on marriage is Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas (it's actually one of the classes being offered through Life Institute this fall).  A major theme of the book is that marriage is a lot like a sin-mirror. It enables us to see our sinful behavior for what it really is so that we can change and become more like Christ.

Have you ever said something or done something, and then as you're replaying the situation over again in your mind you realize what a fool you've been when at first you might have felt justified in your behavior? And you realized that your attitude was less than Christ-like? That the way you handled yourself was an embarrassment? I sure have. More times than I'd care to recount.

The writer of Proverbs 27 (ultimately the Holy Spirit!) says that my behavior is a reflection of what's in my heart. That's a sobering thought for me. Jesus chastised the Pharisees in Matthew 12: "For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."

What is in my heart? Is it filled with pride, envy, materialism, lust and selfish ambition? Or is it filled with peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control?

And what is my reflection? Do people see selfless love or vain conceit in my life? Do folks I work with see a life of integrity or someone that they could never trust? Do my friends see mercy or a haughty spirit of judgment? Does my family see a man of faithfulness or someone who breaks his promises?

God, we pray that our hearts would be so flooded by Your Goodness and Mercy that Your Grace and Love would overflow out of our lives to bless others and to point them to Jesus Christ! May we reflect Christ in everything that we do!

Come What May

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

Recently, in Going Deeper, we read in Mark 10 where the Pharisees questioned Jesus about divorce and Jesus replied, "So they [husband and wife] are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."

Our marriages are so important (and yet so hard!) to talk about and examine and they can be a weighty subject, especially in a public setting. I remember when Kristi and I first got married we agreed that no matter what happened divorce was never going to be an option or an answer for us.

I recently have come to like the band, Thrice. Granted, they may not be your cup o' tea, and honestly, sometimes they can be a little intense for me, but I love their thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics.

On their most recent record, Beggars, they have a song about marriage called "The Weight." Check out a few of the lyrics:

"And come what may, I won't abandon or leave you behind.
Because love is a loyalty sworn, not a burning for a moment
And come what may, I will be standing right here by your side;
I won't run away, though the storm's getting worse
And there's no end in sight."

And:

"Some talk of destiny, others of fate,
But soon they'll be saying goodbye.
But I won't leave you high and dry.
Because a ring don't mean nothing
If you can't haul the weight
And some of them won't even try.
But I won't leave you high and dry.
I won't leave you wondering, 'Why?'"

This is the kind of husband I want to be: A man who isn't swayed by temptations or enticements, but who loves my wife like Christ loves the Church and won't ever leave her side. My love for my wife is a "loyalty sworn", a choice, and not governed by emotions. And I'll never run away, no matter how hard the storm thrashes and flails against us. Our love is not just a "burning for a moment."

I've posted a clip of the song below for you to listen to (if you're feeling brave!). I especially love the emotion in the chorus. It's a promise. It's raw, passionate, and real. Come what may...this is my prayer as a husband.

The Weight - Thrice

Or, you can watch it in its entirety by clicking here.