Pastor John began a new sermon series on the Book of John yesterday, and we've created an online resource on the church website (click the "Resources" tab, then click the "Audio Bible" tab, then click "Launch Sermon Player") to assist in meditating on John's Gospel.

We're posting these mp3's one chapter at a time in hopes that you will take 5 minutes each day to listen to the most recent chapter posted on the website. The "Audio Bible" chapters posted will correspond with where Pastor John is currently preaching in the Book of John. For instance, "Chapter 1" will be the only mp3 available until Pastor John begins preaching through chapter 2, etc.

Please make use of this resource! What better way to let the truths of the Gospel of John sink into your heart and mind than to read/listen/meditate daily on them?!?!

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.

--Psalm 143:5

Love God/Hate Sin,

Jeremy

"Back to School"

So, it's that time of year again: "Back to School". Regardless of your views on education--whether public or private or Christian or homeschooling--I think it is important for Americans (and especially American Christians) to pay attention to what our God-ordained leaders are saying and proposing.

Read President Obama's "Back to School" speech HERE, and then read some balanced insight from 2 Christian pastors/theologians whom I respect and admire:

1. John Piper's blog: "I've Read the President's Speech: Amazing"

2. Al Mohler's blog: "The Obama School Speech Controversy--What to Think?"

May we prayerfully engage the children of our nation and challenge them to make the most of the life God's granted them.

Speaking of education...here are some thoughts from Rick Ritchie on reading:

"Reading more broadly keeps us from getting into ruts. Narrow reading makes the world itself seem narrow. Broad reading reminds us that the world is enormous. It also allows us to see the same thing from different points of view.…"

Members of Sun Valley Church: read, think, pray, teach, engage--and do all of these as acts of worship to Christ, so that you might be transformed into His image "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor 3:18) and so that the world "may see your good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven" (Matt 5:16).

Make War!!!

This song/video hammers home one of the themes from Pastor John's message, "Confessions of a Mid-life Crisis: Part 7," from this past Sunday--although, in a little bit different way...maybe Pastor John should move into the hip-hop realm?...he could go by "P.J. Schub" and just rap his sermons...I'm just saying...;-)

Make War!

Love God/Hate Sin,

Jeremy

"Choosing Thomas"

Take a few minutes to watch a true--and truly inspiring--story of the gift of life.

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photography/2009/thomas/

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Psalm 139:13-16

Grace/Peace,

Jeremy

NEW Blog

Well, it's my first day here at Sun Valley Church, and it feels great to finally be here after all the months of planning/praying/waiting/etc...I'm looking forward to worshipping with everyone at SVC this Sunday!

My hope is that this "Boomerang" blog will be a place for discussion for anyone and everyone who is seeking to live their life by what I call "The Boomerang Principle". If you're saying to yourself, "Umm...I barely passed Physics in school, so I must've forgotten all about that...," don't sweat it. "The Boomerang Principle" wasn't formulated by Einstein (a really smart dude) or Ben Stein (you know...the insanely brilliant guy from the "Clear Eyes" commercials and the movie "Expelled") or any other ridiculously intelligent "Stein"--it's just a simple concept created by yours truly.

*Although, I just found out there is, in fact, a certain "Stein" who published a book entitled "The Boomerang Principle"--his name is Dr. Donald Epstein, and here's a taste of his "Boomerang Principle":

"Your Boomerang came into this world with you...It is your umbilical cord to the world of unlimited possibilities."

Rest assured, my "Boomerang Principle" has nothing to do with "umbilical cords", but does have something to do with the "unlimited possibilities" of becoming more and more like Christ. ;-)

So, instead of watching a half-hour sitcom on TV, check out my sermon called...you guessed it: "The Boomerang Principle" by going HERE. Click on the "Resources" tab, then click "Launch Sermon Player" to find out what it's all about, and then come back here to join the conversation on what it means to live life by "The Boomerang Principle".

Remember: You become what you behold.

Grace/Peace,

Jeremy