November

FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Fear is a crippling spiritual disorder that prevents us from experiencing life as God intended.  Furthermore, fear is fundamentally rooted in our inability to control people, situations, and the future.

In my own case, freedom from fear is a daily journey guided by faith: a faith that, despite all worldly appearances to the contrary, causes me to believe that I live in a world that makes sense.  To me, this means belief in a cretor and Redeemer who is all powerful, who seeks justice, and who is at the core a loving God; a God who intends for me a purpose, a meaning, and a destiny.

Before faith in Jesus Christ as my personal Redeemer I lived in a world of fear because everywhere I looked there was abuse, hatred and self.  But when I was driven to my knees by powerlessness, I was made ready to submit my faith to Jesus Christ.  And all was changed.  Never again would I experience my former isolation.  I saw the world to be lighted by God's love; I was alone no more.

Our faith in Christ ushers us into a world where hostility and fear no longer rule our minds.  We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless.  As the Apostle Paul writes, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'."  (Romans 8:15)  Faith is living in the tension of fear while trusting God to carry us into eternity...an eternity made possible by our faith in Jesus Christ.

One of the interesting truths about faith is that the more we share it with others, the greater our protection from crippling fears.  Sharing our faith in Jesus Christ is not only our greatest responsibility; it is our greatest solution against fear.  This is why our mission to "seek God, grow together, and impact others" is foundationally rooted in our desire to share Christ with those around us; especially those who have been made ready by life's uncertainty to receive God's greatest gift to mankind, Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith...and share it!

Your fellow servant,

Joe Heins

December

What Is Your Name?

Did you ever see a person in a restaurant but could not remember their name no matter how hard you tried?  Even worse, have you ever participated in a conversation with someone even though you could not remember their first name?

Of course, I have had many humbling (humiliating) experiences like this since arriving in Auburn.  I quickly learned during the past 6 months that associating names with faces is one of the many challenges new people face in a community

Whether at work or in the church, getting to know everyone’s name is not easy.  Sometimes the colors of their eyes help, while other times the tone of their voice provides the necessary clues.  But in all cases, it is a lot easier to remember names of people after spending time with them.  And this I believe is the key to fellowship.

Developing true fellowship with God and each other is the primary motivator for launching our new discipleship process devoted to making disciples who SEEK GOD with their entire being, GROW TOGETHER in community according to God’s Word and IMPACT OTHERS in thought, word and deed.

While launching this mission statement last month we said our goal is not only spiritual maturity but also fellowship in the Spirit, where fellowship is based on our common faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior.

Therefore, we will learn each other’s names as we seek God together.  We will get to know each other’s families, hobbies, life goals and deepest concerns as we grow together through Bible-based fellowship groups.  And we will discover why God brought our many talents together within Auburn Church of Christ as we impact others through church-based ministry teams.

Getting to know your name is high on my priority list, but getting to know the person behind the eyes is of utmost importance because God brought us together for a reason…  To “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  (Matthew 28:19-20)

In the end, the only way to get to know each other is to spend time seeking, growing and impacting others together.  This is the best way I know to learn your name!

Your fellow servant, Joe Heins