Christ's Church of Oronogo - Pathways: Recent Episodes
Christ's Church of Oronogo
Ignatian Awareness Examen Prayer
Thanksgiving
Petition for Guidance
Reflection of the Day
Contrition
Looking for the Future
When the Prodigal Returns Home - A Relational Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son
What do we learn about God - the Father? [Be like Him]
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We cannot behave so badly that He will reject us when we return
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He is looking for us to return even when He lets us go do what we insist on doing
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God is patient, waiting for us to come to our senses
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His priority is to restore a relationship with Him first before everything else
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He defends His actions to His critics and protects the prodigal who returns
What do we learn about sin, its effects, and restoration ? [Be wise in our choices]
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Sin changes our perspective to focus on ourselves and our desires
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Sin objectifies people and causes us to use people for our own selfish purposes
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Sin blinds us to the ultimate consequences of our actions
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Ultimately, sin can be a motivator to influence us to return to God
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Sin does not overpower the love of God
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It's never too late to return to God no matter how much we have sinned
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God is eager to restore us
What do we learn about the prodigal? [come home]
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When we put our mind to do something God doesn't want us to do, He will let us
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When we disregard who we know we should be as Christians, God never discards us but waits for us to return to him
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We return to God presenting our terms to him (be a hired servant) but God restores us to our rightful place as his child
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We, like the prodigal, can be shocked at the compassion, mercy, grace,forgiveness,and restoration of God
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Not everyone will be happy that we returned and that God is rejoicing. Some think we should be punished
What do we learn about being judgmental on those who return to God? [Rejoice when sinners return]
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We can have a heart that does not reflect the love of the Father
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We can have a transactional relationship with God - we do something for Him and He is obligated , in our mind, to do something for us
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We can refuse to join God in His celebration of restoration
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We can hold grudges against people who have sinned and shamed themselves and the Christian community
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We can expect that God should have honored us at an earlier time or instead of someone else
Plan how to be less stressed this holiday season:
- Take 15-20 minutes and sit down with a pen and paper and
list out all the ways you tend to get stressed during the
holidays. Ask for God’s wisdom before you start to be
honest and not get stressed out by writing out all the ways
you get stressed out.
- Next, identify where the major stressors are that are leading
to all that stress. Invite God into this part of the process and
ask how important the stressor is. Write a 1 by the most
stressful experiences, a 2 by moderate stressful
experiences, and a 3 by the least stressful experiences. If
they are all a 1, that’s okay.
- Last, for each stressor, pray for wisdom and then ask
yourself this question: “How could I creatively and
assertively manage this stressor in such a way that it
doesn’t turn into stress in the first place?”
1. Stay focused on where God is leading you.
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1 Corinthians 4:20
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Luke 9:23
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Galatians 2:20
2. Thoughts (Recognize how your thought life affects your progress toward Christ likeness)
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Romans 12:2
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Romans 8:12-13
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Colossians 3:1-4
3. Actions (Bible, Prayer and Community)
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Lectio Divina (click here)
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Morning Affirmations by Kenneth (click here)
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Psalm 23
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Hosea 14
Pray without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Invite God into the interaction
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Ask God for His wisdom
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Ask Him to direct you in your heart language
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Ask Him to walk with you through any valley you are in that makes continuing to get healthy difficult for you
Church
- Meet regularly with other Christians
Where do people stall?
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The chose their addiction over becoming like Jesus
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They tell God how He should change them and if He doesn't meet their expectations, they become discouraged and can turn away from Him.
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They isolate themselves due to fear of exposure or shame after failure.
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They set unrealistic goals for change.
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People are hurt by others and walk away from God.
By the love and power of God in your life, you can make it through your addiction to a life like Jesus on the other side.
For more info on Repentance: Episode 16 - Confessing and Repentance (12/03/2020)
cco.church/aplaceforyou
Forums to learn about A Place for You
Sunday, September 7 at 5 pm - Student Ministry Center North
Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 pm - Student Ministry Center North
Sunday, September 14 at 5 pm - Student Ministry Center North
Tuesday, September 16 at 6:30 pm - Student Ministry Center North
Key Steps in the Recovery Process
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Admit the problems
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Seek support
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Detoxification
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Develop new ways to face the challenges of life
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Address underlying issues - explore the roots of addiction through therapy
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Build a relapse prevention plan
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Engage in aftercare - Aftercare is a way to practice the changes you have experienced .
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Maintain a sober lifestyle - Establish new routines that maintain our life without the addiction.
Christ's Church Counselling Center - (417) 673-0090
Developing a Soft Heart with God
Surrender and Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit (Gal 5)
Confess and Repent of Sin (Hosea 14)
Forgive and Bless Others (Eph 4:32)
Resolve Conflict and Avoid Pride/Judgement (James 1:19-21)
Immerse Yourself in God's Word and Worship (Ps 1)
Practice Humility and Service (Mt 20:28, Phil 2:1-11)
Pray for a Soft Heart ( Ps 51:10)
- Prayer and Trinity
- Prayer is communication between God and you
- Use of the word in prayer – Lectio Divina (show notes) – Praying through a passage and asking God for direction
- Lord’s Prayer as a template for prayer (show notes)
- Silence and solitude
- Silence - ceasing inner thoughts and emotional responses to be still before God (Ps 46:10; 62:5; Habakuk 2:20). We quiet ourselves to be able to hear the Lord speak even if he chooses his “still, small voice” - 1 Kings 19:12 (Hebrew - a sound silent, soft, light, gentle). Silencing the inner voice and emotion that we feel prepares us to be fully concentrated on God.
- Solitude - to be fully present to God and not paying attention to anyone or anything else. We might be alone or in a group. Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place (Foster, Celebration of Discipline).
- Trinity – a Three-In-One God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
- Scripture affirms that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God
- They mystery of Who God is can be seen in
- Jesus as separate from the Father
- Earthly ministry
- His sacrifice for our sins Ps 22 and in the passage on the Man of Sorrows of Is 53.
- Resurrection
- 2nd Coming
- The Holy Spirit as separate from the Father and the Son
- Acts 2:38 – because our sins are forgiven, the Holy Spirit lives in us
- Transformation passages are all Holy Spirit related
- Our fellowship with God is because the Holy Spirit lives in us
- Jesus as separate from the Father
- Prayer is communication between God and you
Click here for more information on Prayer
Catalysts and Bible
- Catalysts
- Meditation on Scripture
- Journaling
- Solitude
- Fasting
- Sharing your story
- Be accountable
- Bible
- Inspiration – God is a relational God who wants to be known
- Psalm 1 – meditation and the transformation process
- Journaling – characteristics you’d like to see grow in yourself, prayers, questions that arise from reading, thoughts you have, commitments you want to make.
Click here for more info about Bible
Because God lives in us, here are seven individual ways we can face today and tomorrow with God include:
- Focus on Who God is and what He means to you
- Prayer that acknowledges who He is as well as casting your cares on Him
- Meditate on verses that comfort you
- Trust God,
- Seek peace through reliance on His presence.
- Set realistic goals to keep our lives focused on living as God would want us to live, and
- Using practical strategies to manage the stresses that we feel.
Walter Harrington penned this prayerBlessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings everything into being. Who gives the sun and the rain, the continuing cycles that bring forth life.
Who appoints the days and the seasons to bless the sons of men.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose breath goes forth and sustains all.
Who is in all and through all, a God near and not far.
In whom we live and move and have our being.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Who gives fertility to our lands, and blesses our tables with food.
Who is the true bread of Life.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose mighty hand is seen in creation. Who is more vast than the ocean, mightier than the storm, and more gentle than the still small voice.
At whose voice the waters are stilled, and the winds obey.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who loves beyond measure.
Who stepped down into the creation, to become one of us.
Who lived among us, and identified with us.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose loving kindness endures forever.
Who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself.
Who took the form of man, of a servant, and humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who raised the Savior from the grave. Who buried sin and defeated death.
Who brought victory to the world, and offered salvation to we who have been ensnared by that final enemy.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose love has redeemed us and given us true life, life everlasting. Through whom we have the sure hope of salvation, the renewal of all things.
May the earth be filled with your knowledge and glory, as waters that cover the sea. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Book Peter mentioned on the podcast is The Anxiety Reset - A Life-Changing Approach to Overcoming Fear, Stress, Worry, Panic Attacks and More by Gregory L. Jantz Ph.D.
The Voice of the Heart by Chris Dodd
Page 171 - Willingness + Patience + Work + Time = Gift of Change
Having daily Spiritual Rhythms is important in our walk with Jesus. This episode discusses how to Thrive during the busyness and challenges of the holiday season.
Scott and Peter talk about Sabbath, what it is and isn't, and some recommendations to get started integrating it into your rhythms.
A re-release episode of a conversation on healthy coping with Peter Buckland, Scott Ensminger, and Dennis Hounshell. The original release this episode was September 2020, the information is good reminder for us to hear today.
On this episode of the Pathways podcast, we are re-releasing one of our first stories from Sam Martin.
Scott talks with CCO's Production Director Taylor MIller
Christ's Church Counseling Center - https://cco.church/counseling/
Please reach out if you need to talk to one of our counselors. (417-673-0090)
Overcoming your past
Phil 3:13-14
‘. . . But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 8:1-2
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Who you are in Christ - https://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/who-you-are-in-Christ.html
Because you are in Christ, EVERY ONE of these statements is true of you:
-I am loved. 1 John 3:3
-I am accepted. Ephesians 1:6
-I am a child of God. John 1:12
-I am Jesus' friend. John 15:14 - 15
-I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him. Romans 8:17
-I am united with God and one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
-I am a temple of God. His Spirit and his life lives in me. 1 Corinthians 6:19
-I am a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12:27
-I am a Saint. Ephesians 1:1
-I am redeemed and forgiven. Colossians 1:14-I am complete in Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:10
-I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:1
-I am a new creation because I am in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17
-I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Colossians 3:12
-I am established, anointed, and sealed by God. 2 Corinthians 1:21
-I do not have a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
-I am God's co-worker. 2 Corinthians 6:1
-I am seated in heavenly places with Christ. Eph 2:6
-I have direct access to God Ephesians. 2:18
-I am chosen to bear fruit John. 15:16
-I am one of God's living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house. 1 Peter 2:5
-I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I share His nature. 2 Peter 1:4
-I can always know the presence of God because He never leaves me Hebrews 13:5
-God works in me to help me do the things He wants me to do Philippians 2:13
-I can ask God for wisdom and He will give me what I need. James 1:5
A conversation on being intentional about spiritual growth in 2021 with Scott Ensminger and Peter Buckland.
A conversations on rebuilding trust and what they means for our walk with Christ with Scott Ensminger and Peter Buckland
A conversations on healthy friendships and what they means for our walk with Christ with Scott Ensminger and Peter Buckland
Discussion between Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger on those we influence and are influenced by.
A conversation on healthy coping with Peter Buckland, Scott Ensminger, and Dennis Hounshell
Where are you on the pathway towards God? Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Understanding how Tests, Trials, and Temptations can be used as a Pathway. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Prayer as a Pathway: Praying to recognize God is real and praying to seek guidance. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Bible as a Pathway - Daily Bible Reading, Memorizing Scripture and Reflection (Meditation) on Scripture. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Prayer as a Pathway: Solitude and Fasting. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Bible as a Pathway: Regular Devotional Times and Journaling. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality as a Pathway. Discussion with Peter Buckland, Scott Ensminger, and Robert Stevens.
An introduction to the pathways of discovering God. Discussion with Peter Buckland and Scott Ensminger.