Bill's Blog Blog

Silence and Solitude

Pastor Bill Towne — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:24:18 GMT

Silence and Solitude 
Tools to help you focus  
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Daily Time Alone with God
This time of outward silence and solitude is a regular time of daily Bible reading and prayer. I also encourage you to find ways to turn the routine into the holy, and to find those minute retreats that can punctuate and empower even the busiest of days. A plan helps me use my time for the intended purposes rather than inadvertently misspending it. But don’t be slavish to a schedule. Focus on listening to God and let Him guide you.  

The Right Place
Locate special places that can be used for silence and solitude. Find them within the home, within walking distance, or within a few minutes drive. Also, find places where you can get away for a few extended times (half-day to overnight or longer) each year.
 
Journal
Pastor Dave talked about this idea last week. This is simply a way to record your spiritual journey. It’s not about writing down your calendar, organizer, or a diary. And it’s not an essay contest or something you write for someone else to read.

Just sit down and write what God has been teaching you and revealing to you about yourself; what you see Him doing in you; what you’re confused about or where you’re getting clarity.  

Practice Lectio Divina 
Lectio Divina is Latin for "holy reading." It is a method for listening to God that has been practiced over the centuries by followers of Jesus, including the Benedictine monks, Martin Luther, and John Wesley.  It's particularly valuable because it utilizes Scripture as the conduit for hearing God speak.  

Use the following Four Steps of Lectio Divina to read Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV):
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  

1. Reading
Before you read, acknowledge the Lord's presence and ask Him to illuminate your understanding. You are reading for content at this point, not studying for a test. You want to discover what the text says.  
Purpose: hearing a word or phrase that touches your heart.
Land on a word or phrase that you feel God is connecting you to.  

2. Meditation (second reading)
This is the step that takes you deeper in your communication with the Lord. You ask, "How does this Scripture touch my life?" and await an answer from the Lord. You will receive an impression about this as you are silent before the Lord. Certain situations and incidents will come to mind. You will see, hear, or sense how the Scripture passage touches you.  
Purpose: how God is speaking into your life and experience through the text.  

3. Reflection (third reading)
During this time, you contemplate the question, "Lord, what would You have me do in response to this Bible passage and to my meditation?"
No encounter with Jesus is complete unless you know what action he wants you to take in your life - forgive someone, confess, take initiative with someone, go deeper by asking focused questions with a new friend…  
Purpose: what God is calling you to do or become today or this week.  

4. Prayer
Thank God for speaking to you today. Respond to what you heard through confession, by taking a specific opportunity He presented, or in joy and thanksgiving.  

Other suggested passages to read using the Lectio Divina method:
Matthew 4:1-4           Luke 9:1-6 
Matthew 5:13-16       Luke 21:33 
Mark 12:28-34          John 3:16-21 
Luke 3:10-15            John 15:15-16  

Pray God's Word
Hebrews 4:12 says that God's Word is alive and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. When we speak and pray the Scriptures, we come into agreement with God and His power is released to answer our prayers.  

Scripture praying is the practice of using God’s Word as the foundation for shaping our prayers for communion with Him and for intercession for others. It is communicating with Him in His own words. Scripture praying puts equal emphasis on both the Word and prayer. It is realizing that prayer is a dialogue between our Lord and us.

In addition, by praying Scripture, you strengthen your own life by overwriting negative scripts that have driven your life for years. What a simple antidote to destructive negativity!  

Personalize the Word as you read it; make it between you and God.  
Ponder the Word, taking time to internalize it and mediate on its personal meaning. As we pray through Scripture, we must observe the context of the passage, interpret it as to what the writer was talking about and not from our viewpoint, and then apply it personally.  
Pray Psalm 139

Add the following to your
Extended Time of Silence and Solitude
 Wait on the Lord  
• To realize His presence - Psalm 139; 62:5; 27:14  
• To be cleansed – Psalm 51, 32; 1 John 1:9  
• To worship Him – Psalm 103, 111, 145; Revelation 4 & 5

Pray for family, friends, church, and community
• Ask specific things for family and seek direction – Philippians 1; Colossians 1; Ephesians 1 & 3
• What picture is God giving you for His work in and through the family of RHCC? How do you fit into it?

  Pray for yourself and your life as a follower of Christ – 1 Chronicles 4:10; Psalm 119:18; John 4:34 
• “Lord, what do you think of my life?” Listen, think, consider.
• Consider what you do, in the context of your life mission statement as you understand it. 
• Seek the mind of God regarding what He would have you be or do to increase His impact through you.  
• Write down any conclusions, firm convictions, or promises you are claiming.

Season of Listening

Pastor Bill Towne — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:39:36 GMT

I was working through Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby this morning and God used Blackaby to encourage me as we go through this “season of listening.” So many of our church family have engaged in this process; it’s really a testimony to the desire of each of you, and our church family collectively, to hear the voice of God and follow His lead. That’s my prayer and desire as well. In this season, it doesn’t mean that we do nothing, for He has already clearly communicated much of what He has been doing and what He wants us to join Him in. So, I’m far from being bored, without anything to do! Yet, we also sense that God is beginning to do something fresh, and we want to follow Him carefully.

I was reminded this morning that the Bible is full of instances where God was about to work and accomplish His plans (i.e. rescue His faithful followers, punish a sinful people, extend the impact of the gospel, provide guidance or protection), but first He spoke to His follower(s). He did this with Abraham, Gideon, Moses, Noah, Saul/Paul, and many others. The key wasn’t His followers dreaming up great plans and visions to accomplish for God, but rather God communicating what He was about to do.

I see God at work and may of you have expressed that you do as well. So, in this season of listening and discerning together, we need to submit ourselves to God’s plans, to wait until He shows us what He’s about to do by seeing Him at work around us and then join Him in this work.

Obeying now and anticipating the future,
Bill

Parenting Is A Way of Life

Pastor Bill Towne — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:33:00 GMT

By the time you read this, Lord willing, my eldest daughter will be married. July 25 is the date I walk down the aisle to give my little girl away. I’ve never been the father of the bride before, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a mess.

Though my parenting is not done, it will change. I am releasing her into a new commitment that trumps all other human relationships…that of husband and wife.
I’ve no doubt made a ton of mistakes as a parent, but I thought I’d share with you a belief on parenting that I’ve tried to honor as a follower of Jesus.

Being a Godly parent starts with who you are and who you are becoming.

This statement outweighs any and all parenting philosophies, books, or guidelines. Be focused on this first and your children will reap the benefits.

I believe up to ninety-nine percent of the actions you perform that influence your children are unpremeditated actions. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of them every day. Your facial expressions, your posture, your tone of voice, your gestures, and your reactions to the dog, the weather, the slipping clutch, the dripping faucet, the late spouse, and the TV news, are among a hundred other spontaneous expressions of who you really are each day.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV) says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Parenting is a WAY OF LIFE! It’s who you are.

The only parenting they catch is your response to real life situations. Real begets real, not infallibility. Even the best of parents can lose a child to a life of bad decisions, but authentic joy in God is the most likely to win them. The startling truth is if you want your children to find deep fellowship with God, you should make it your life’s passion to enjoy deep communion with Him. If God is not seen to be your true satisfaction, it is unlikely that 18 years of church-going will make your kids think God is worth much.

Ever notice how easy it is to praise things that you enjoy? Whether it’s a good meal, a nice outfit, a touchdown by your favorite team, or when your child has success in an activity, praise comes naturally.

That’s why Scripture so often talks about enjoying the Lord (Philippians 4:6;
Psalm 37:4, 100:2, 32:11, 16:11).

In other words, genuine heartfelt praise is not artificially tacked on to joy. And without the heartfelt satisfaction of knowing God, our attempts at praising Him fall flat. And our kids see the inconsistencies.

Your most positive impact on your children is your growing (not perfect) satisfaction and dependence on God. Guaranteed.

Do You Have Time For A New Approach To A New Season?

Pastor Bill Towne — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:07:06 GMT

”Avail yourself of the greatest privilege this side of heaven. Jesus Christ died to make this communion and communication with the Father possible.” – Billy Graham

Disneyland recently re-imagined and reopened a ride I remember going on as a child–“The Carousel of Progress.” It was no “Matterhorn” but it was interesting. I remember the promise of technological advancements lightening the workload on Americans to the point that future generations would struggle with what to do with the abundance of spare time.

How’s that worked out for you? Surveys report that leisure time enjoyed by Americans has decreased by close to 40% over the last 30 years. We’re working more and sleeping less. Progress is billed as time gifting, but the opposite has been true.
You may feel like Job did in Job 3:26, “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Can you relate?

One of the biggest downsides in our busy schedules is that we skip over the important, like enjoying the presence of the God who loves us. When’s the last time you spent an extended time alone with your Heavenly Father? As this new season of summer is upon us, why not take advantage of the opportunity to make it a season of enjoying solitude with God.

This week I blocked out a chunk of time to disconnect from all the noise so I could intentionally focus on God’s presence, His goodness, and simply talk with Him. This was more than a “quiet time,” but several hours dedicated to “be still” before God. I’ve got to tell you…I struggled. I’m not as good a listener to God as I would like. I struggled staying focused over extended periods of time. My mind kept drifting to all the “issues” I thought needed my attention. But slowly, my growing awareness of God’s presence began to dwarf the importance of all the clutter. As I read from Psalms, journaled, and prayed, God started softening my heart, sharpening my mind, and refocusing my view of Him. Thank you, Father; I need to do this more.
I find there is never a convenient time to rearrange my schedule for an extended time alone with God. My encouragement, as you look at the summer, is to schedule appointments with God into your calendar. Take the initiative.

Here’s an idea on how to get started. Don’t be worried about the clock; there is no need to hurry. This is a time to be quiet and seek the Lord, to wait on Him. Wait on Him …

To realize His presence
Psalm 139; 62:5; 27:14
Grasp the truth of His presence.

To be cleansed
Psalm 51; 32; 1 John 1:9
Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Confess and then stand firmly on 1 John 1:9.

To worship Him
Psalm 103; 111; 145; Revelation 4 & 5
Praise the Lord for His greatness and express thanks for His goodness to you.

Stretch · Shaped by the Parables of Jesus

Pastor Bill Towne — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:45:17 GMT

Summer Series Begins Sunday, July 5 - August 30, 2009

Parables are stories or cameo-like pictures given by Jesus so that the listener might better understand a great truth of God. These stories would take what was common to reveal what was uncommon; they would disarm and then surprise. Often, they were about truths that had been previously ignored by Jesus‘ listeners through deliberate blindness or dullness of spirit. Jesus used the stories, knowing that His teachable followers would learn, but the hard-hearted would hear and not understand. Parables cause us to think, to ponder, to question – “where do I fit into the story?”

A preparatory thought as we approach these truths is to be ready to STRETCH. We need to allow God to stretch both our minds and our hearts, which may mean we need to let go of the security of an unexamined faith. We will be stretched in our human ideas of love, justice, mercy, devotion, and fair play. We need to stretch in advance by loosening the grip on our preferences and prejudices so we are open to a deeper understanding of God and ourselves uncovered in the Parables of Jesus, which break right through pretense to reality. Get ready to STRETCH.

SERIES DATES:
Sunday, July 5 · Does God Have An Attitude? Do Our Prayers Bug God? Luke 11:5-13 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, July 12 · Unforgiving Debtor Matthew 18:21-35 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, July 19 · Prodigal Son/Lost Sons or Loving Father Luke 15:11-32 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, July 26 The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 · Dr. Val Shean of Christian Veterinary Mission

Sunday, August 2 · Watching Servants Luke 12:35-40 · Pastor Gregg Ramona

Sunday, August 9 · Loaned $/Talents Matthew 25:14-30 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, August 16 · Rich Man & Lazarus – Who Needs Who Luke 16:19-31 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, August 23 · Soils – Listen Up Luke 8:4-18 · Pastor Bill Towne

Sunday, August 30 · Title coming soon! · Pastor Aaron Doerr

Enthusiastically Anticipating the Next Chapter…Trusting God Each Step of The Way (Joshua 3:1-4:24)

Pastor Bill Towne — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:40:55 GMT

I ran into some friends at Costco yesterday whom I haven’t seen for some time. They asked me, “What’s new?” I quickly responded, “Not much; I’m pretty bored without much going on.” Obviously we shared a good laugh together.

Dale’s announcement is now over a month old. It’s been a month of processing the unexpected announcement and rightfully praising God for His faithful work through Rolling Hills under Dale’s leadership over the last three decades. I’m excited to see how God continues to work in Dale & Linda as they begin this new adventure.
As each day passes, I find a sense of anticipation building within me for what God will do in this next chapter of Rolling Hills to impact the lives of people in our community and all over the world.

It’s hard for me to imagine the excitement the Children of Israel must have had as they stood on the banks of the Jordan, knowing they were about to step into the Promised Land. Most had anticipated this day for well over 40 years. In fact, it had been over 500 years since this land was promised to their father, Abraham. In Joshua 3 and 4, God reminds them of a truth that was so easy for them, and us of a powerful truth. Here’s my paraphrase of God’s reminder, “It’s My work, it has been My work, and I will be the one who works tomorrow. Trust and follow Me.”
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (3:5 NASB).
There was excitement, but there must also have been some anxiety as they saw the swollen Jordan River and thought about the fortified cities that lay on the other side; there were still giants in the land. Isn’t this typical of life? Often, when we have high hopes, there are accompanying challenges that we face at the same time.
Their time of consecration was followed by instructions to let the Ark of the Covenant lead them. This drove home the point that as the people of Israel set out to cross the Jordan, and invade and possess the land, they must do so not in their own strength, but in God’s, for it was God Himself who would perform miracles beyond what they could imagine.

God will continue to lead us as well. He’ll lead us into real, accountable relationships that the Spirit will use to transform us into thinking and living more like Jesus. As our heart for God grows, people in the midst of unexpected crises will find our hand reaching out to help them. Believing friends will lift up marriages on the brink of collapse and in God’s power, offer hope for healing and health. Many of the 200,000+ people within seven miles of RHCC who have not experienced the hope found only in Jesus…will. This multigenerational body of believers will have the more experienced and mature sages pour their wisdom of following Jesus into the younger generations who will serve with vision and energy.

Joshua 3:5b, “for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” The people of Israel were to expect God to work a miracle. They were to be eager, gripped by a sense of wonder. Israel was not to lose sight of their God who can do the incredible and the humanly impossible. Neither will we.