audio by artist brent diggs

Today's "substitute preacher" Brent Diggs, carries us into Paul and Barnabas' peaching in Antioch of Pisidia. It was  a long an uphill climb to a city of Jews and God fearing Gentiles. Here they preach Jesus and are initially well received until jealousy divides the city into angry mobs and joy-filled believers. Bents encourages us to guard ourselves from that same jealousy in our own lives and to look to Jesus as the "star" of the Church. 

Today Brent Diggs uses the division of Paul and Barnabas at the begining of their second missionary journey to preach on conflict management. Different personalities have different approaches towards conflict. Brent talked about the "bowling ball" and the "ledge walker", those who run to or run from conflict. This was in fact a "big deal" conflict between Paul and Barnabas and Brent teaches on what we can learn from this incident in the Church. 

Brent Diggs relays another tough but well known story from the book of Acts, the imprisonment of Paul and Silas. They were imprisoned by a corrupt system but were themselves always free. Paul and Silas' response to their circumstance was evidence of their freedom as was the jailers response evidence of his enslavement to the system. God's heart is liberation for both the oppressed and the oppressor. 

Brent Diggs brings a new insight into the familiar (or not so familiar) story of the valiant (yet once not so valiant) Gideon. While Gideon may have been freaking out about his abundance of enemies (called "strife" for translation purposes), God was more concerned with Gideon's lack of God. The first place God sent Gideon was not to the battle field to train for war, but to his house to tear down his idols. It was from that place that God started his miraculous deliverance with the 300.....This .....is......Gideon. : ) 

Brent Diggs shares a "moving" story to illustrate the dynamics of community. It requires effort and will be messy. Sweat and blood will probably be involved. It can be confusing and create inconvenience but in the end it brings us home and takes us to a place that we would never otherwise get to. Brent then demonstrates the wise words of Solomon and gives instruction on how to "guard" your heart. With the help of Doctor Harold Toboggans he reveals the "Cardio Gardio 6000". Sadly this contraption does a better job at hurting others than protecting one emotions...

Brent Diggs paints the picture of Jesus' Triumphant Entry. The passover celebration was the Jewish equivalent of the 4th of July. To see Jesus entering Jerusalem as the promised Messiah was the most exciting moment that any Jew could ever imagine. They threw down their robes before and cheered for Coming Kingdom. But what did Jesus lay down...... His Life. That was the work of Messiah, not governmental overthrow, but a defeat of sin. Jesus calls us to follow Him. 

Brent Diggs shares a great word from his prayer journal. What would you do will 4 million dollars? Hmmmm..... well that is essentially the kind of wealth the guys from the Talents Parables got. Money matters....time matters....how we share and grow the stuff that isn't ours anyways is a big deal in the Kingdom of God. 

09-18-2011

Brent moves from gaurding the heart to renewing the mind....next time....its bleaching your whites!!!