A Gentleperson's Game (yeah, we're politcally correct)!

This Sunday we had our inaugural Campus Community Ultimate Frisbee game! The day was marked by an overwhelming show of sportsmanship along with a peppering of sarcasm.





The wind was the most ferocious competitor, but we nevertheless had a blast (as Phoebe is showing you here)!







Believe it or not, despite the smiling faces, this picture was taken after four back-to-back games.







We finished the night off with darts and fellowship on God's word.
The group discussed the role of money in our lives and questioned just how Jesus expects us to interact with this world with our money. We concluded from 1st Timothy 6:3-12 that, at the very least, we should be content with God's provision of food and clothing, and that we should flee from the pursuit of riches. As for a bright line test, we left it to the Holy Spirit to draw practical lines in our lives through conviction.

James 4:4

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

There are so many things this world can give us. Money, friends, lifestyle, candy...etc. Sometimes we want so many things that we think will make us happy. However, in turn...some of these things will only make us an enemy of God. I believe that there is a clear boundary between what we want and we really need, and I believe the Lord sets this boundary for each of us.

I have learned throughout my walk with Jesus that I never want to have an attachment to any worldly thing that could tear me apart from my Savior.

Hebrews4.15-16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews4.15-16

This is something that I love about Jesus- that He dealt with the same difficult things that I face in this life- disappointment, pain, loss, temptations to follow after things that aren't from the Father, being mistreated, anything and everything I've ever faced- yet, he was always able to confront each situation in a way that honored His Father and that did not serve Himself. It is because of this that I know that I can come before his throne and ask Him for help. He knows how harsh this life can be and He has compassion on me. He invites me to come with confidence and boldness, telling me not to be ashamed or afraid. It is His desire to extend grace to help me, because, just as when he obeyed, it gives the Father glory. This word gives me hope because in it I find the promise that I can overcome the world, just as Jesus did.

Mark 8:34-38

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
(Mar 8:34-38)

"Follow Me". I can't believe that Jesus said that to me?! This moment with Jesus and the disciples is a constant resounding word shared personally between myself and Jesus. I remember the first time that Jesus said this to me...I had no doubt in my mind, and still to this day do not doubt it, that Jesus is speaking personally and specifically to me as he has commanded the disciples.

I'd like to sound humble and say that the cross did not have an attraction to me...that I struggled to decide to follow Jesus...but the truth is, I was crushed by the beauty of the cross. There was nothing about this invitation into death WITH Jesus that did not excite every sense within me. There was nothing about HIS death that did not bring me at one single moment the greatest amount of pain and joy in the same instance.

I was so tired of my life I was ready for suicide...I welcomed Jesus' invitation to come with Him and die. I hated the world so much...I hated who I was in it...I hated what people did to me...I hated the whole cursed thing...Jesus invited me to take endless pleasure in the one thing that the world never gave me. The world never gave me Jesus and Jesus is inviting me to betray all past loyalties to this world and to live and walk IN HIM, THROUGH HIM, LIKE HIM, and WITH HIM.

So beautiful. When I consider his agony, all that I know is His Love. When I consider his crown, all that I know is the most unforgettable King whose very death and suffering has become his commanding power through love. Jesus, The Cross, and Salvation...So Beautiful. I will follow Him...I just can't believe that he would let me. This truly is, His choosing, not mine. I will come and follow Him.

Matthew 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
(Mat 7:21-23)

The first time I read this verse with understanding, I realized I hadn't made any prophecies, I hadn't cast out demons, and I knew I hadn't done many mighty works. When I read that Jesus was going to tell people who at least thought they had done all these things that they were going to hell because He never new them, I was scared to death. I knew I had to find out what exactly Jesus expected from me before I could be saved.

This verse is Jesus' challenge to us all to measure and make sure we are confident in (and why we have) our salvation through Him!

Ultimate Frisbee

Whether your new to the sport and can't even throw a disc or you can jump like Michael Jordan and catch like Steve Largent Ultimate is a guarantee for fun. We usually play at least once or twice a month. It's a very competitive but accessible afternoon for both novice and pro, boy and girl, winner and loser, rich and poor, short and tall, green and purple, Republican and Democrat, decaf and regular...you get it. When we post the date and place you gotta make it.

OU Heasth Science Center Map go HERE
For more information on Ultimate go HERE

Home Groups

Home Group at the Deason's...

Home Groups are a place to fix our sight on Jesus, connect with friends, and meet needs. The Deason's have been doing Home Groups since 1994 from Norman OK, to Chicago IL, to Ft. Collins CO, and even in national forests surrounded by hippie's and Rasta's (camp fires and homes have their common ground). Home Groups don't replace the wonder of corporate worship in a local church but since the inception of the church they have proved their power in simplicity and purpose.

In a Home Group open discussion about the Bible gives you a place to ask even the zaniest of questions and also a place to share your most meaningful thoughts. A Home Group is one of the few locations in our free country where you can legally loiter without buying anything! Extended worship and prayer provide a place where we can slow down and both be quiet and lift up our voice and shout to the Lord.

In The Begining...

You don't even know what it's like to have to manage hundreds of thousands of comments and emails in like a day! You are probably thinking that this is like the first post on the blog...like I said, You Don't Even Know!

These are some friends of mine that I dance, pray and do beat box with. They're pretty much famous and you pretty much rock.

Feel free to hang and comment. Peace Out