VIEWS AND REVIEWS

“SPEAKING OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH” When I hear people use the phrase

“spiritual growth” I’m not always sure what they mean. What does spiritual growth look like?

How do you measure spiritual growth? What do you do to grow spiritually? What do you think?

Sometimes I’ve heard people say things that lead me to conclude that they believe

spirituality is something they feel. Spiritual growth, then, is to feel “spiritual” more often or more strongly. But there doesn’t seem to be a

great deal of concern about “feeling spiritual” in the Bible.

Above all, in scripture spirituality has to do with being like Jesus. When Jesus called his

disciples, saying, “Follow me,” he didn’t just mean, “Tag along behind me.” Instead he meant, “Learn from me and do what I do.” Jesus

said, “It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher” (Matthew 10:25) and “A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher” (Luke 6:40).

Spiritual growth is the process of being “fully qualified” and therefore like Jesus.

Jan Linn, a friend of mine, wrote in his book The Jesus Connection: A Christian

Spirituality, “Christians with a measure of mature spirituality consciously choose to make belonging to Jesus the determining factor regarding their

values and relationships.” Jesus came into the world to leave us an example of life as it ought to be and we are to “follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Or as it says elsewhere in scripture, we

are to be “conformed to the image of God’s Son” (Romans 8:29).

The gauge of spirituality is not how you

feel but neither is the measure of spirituality found in the “religious” things you do. In the Old Testament few things were more clearly religious than offering sacrifices. Yet through the prophet

Hosea, God declared, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). Jesus quoted these words to those who were strict in their religion but not loving and compassionate (Matthew 9:13; 12:7;

Mark 12:33). Doing “religious” things or talking

“religious” talk must not be mistaken for Christian spirituality.

If you want to grow spiritually, look to Jesus. That requires us to read and meditate on

the Gospels. What sorts of things did Jesus do? What did he teach? How did he treat people? What sorts of priorities and values do we discern

in the life of Jesus? How does Jesus challenge us when we hear his call, “Follow me”? Unless we are truly acquainted with Jesus as he is presented in the Gospels, we will not really know

what spiritual growth looks like. Obviously there are things that Jesus did

that we can’t do. Have you healed the blind lately? But there is much he did that we can and

should do. We cannot grow spiritually if we are not prayerful like he was. We open our hearts and lives to God as we commune in prayer. We

make ourselves available to the work of the Holy Spirit, through which spiritual growth takes place.

Like Jesus we need to serve those who are in need. Jesus told his disciples that he came to

serve and that true greatness is to be found in serving others (Luke 22:26-27). Jesus identified himself with the hungry, sick and oppressed

(Matthew 25:31-45). He said that as we serve them, we serve him. We grow spiritually as we give of ourselves in service and as we learn to see Jesus in those most deeply in need.

Finally, to grow spiritually we need a supportive community of faith. Jesus spent time alone in prayer (Matthew 14:23) but he also spent time with the disciples who supported him

and served with him. We need other people of faith around us so we might get and give encouragement, weep and rejoice together,

upbuild each other, teach each other, confront each other and generally “provoke one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Christian spirituality doesn’t just happen in a

relationship between you – or me – and Jesus. It happens in a worshipping community with us and Jesus all together so we “grow up in every way

into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

Grace and Peace, Craig

Church Chatter September 2011

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope in is you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

PRESCHOOL NEWS FROM MS. SUZANNE

We are all so excited to begin another school year with 135 little children. Each day there are fewer and fewer tears and bigger and

bigger smiles. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to Fernando,

Claudio and Chris for all of their dedication and hard work to make Royal Palm Christian look

cleaned up, cared for, weed free, and inviting to all who enter and share the joy.

Our teachers and staff spent endless hours sharing their creativity and making the

classrooms so welcoming to our children and their families. God surely blessed Royal Palm when he sent you to share your gifts with us all.

“Childhood is the most beautiful

of all life’s seasons.” ~ Author unknown

SEPTEMBER PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS

9/5 Labor Day Holiday – All Closed 9/6 Children’s Sharing with Pastor Craig

9/7 Children’s Sharing with Pastor Craig 9/29 Preschool Closed – Full Time Care Open MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

10/22 Fall Fiesta (4:00 - 8:00 pm) (more info to follow)

WEDNESDAY EVENING ADULT GROUP:

BEING A FAMILY WITH FAITH Being a family can be wonderful, but family isn’t easy. There is no shortage of challenges. Each family is different but many of the struggles are shared by virtually all of them.

How does faith make a difference in how we deal with both the blessings and the burdens of being family? You are invited to come to this discussion and support group. It will be a time of

sharing and learning. It will begin on Wednesday, September 14th, at 7:00 pm. This is a perfect time for those who have a child or

youth involved in our mid-week activities. The group is open to all.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH Come worship with friends and neighbors

in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. All denominations are welcome, an open mind is encouraged and our family is waiting to welcome

you with arms wide open. We also invite you to join us for an “Open House Luncheon” at noon.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 4th Trysch Koester 5th Diana Farrar

Betsy Medina Karyn O’Shea

7th Rachel Ramirez Cindi Watts 10th Chelsea Ehlebracht

Jacqueline Simon 11th Michele Campbell Maryann Cannon 13th Belle Caruso

Karen LeFever Teri Pinto

14th Susan Bushnell Georgie Lagogiannis Jr.

Taryn St. Germain 15th Lionel Lynch 20th David Bramley

21st Stan Anderson Juan Chung 25th Melodie Muriello 26th Sharon Williams

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 26th Ken & Tara Herman

[We apologize if your name is not on the list. Please call the office to update your information!]

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

On Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 pm a new group will begin meeting at the Medina’s home to discuss how we are “Blessed to be a

Blessing.” Consider your participation, watch for more information and save the date!

BLESSINGS God is always at work! Do you have a

blessing to share with your RPCC family? Please

email your blessing to the church office at royalpalmchristianchurch@gmail.com.

FFaallll FFiieessttaa October 22nd

4:00 – 8:00 pm

VBS HAND PRINT T-SHIRTS

I want to give you an update about the shirts that the kids made during this past VBS (the one’s with the hand prints and messages of

love). Miss Reggie had them make 50 t-shirts and after receiving them, I gave them to a Compassion advocate who was visiting a child project in Guatemala this August. I just received

the following short note and pictures from her: “Hi Josh, We're back from Guatemala. It was an incredible trip! The shirts your VBS kids

sent were greatly appreciated!!!” They gave out all 50 shirts to both sponsored kids and other local kids who were helping to build a school.

This is an amazing example of how our

congregation and kids are making a difference and spreading the love of Christ to some of poorest kids in the world and that we refuse to put geographic limitations on defining who our

neighbors are. Thanks and God bless!

Josh Loomis

WORK DAY The next work day is scheduled for 8-11

am on Saturday, September 17th. Everyone is welcome to participate. We will do what we can, depending on the turnout. Here is the current

wish list: 1. Weed and trim as needed. 2. Distribute ant poison as needed.

3. Pick up litter from the entire grounds (all the way to the street).

4. Check all sprinkler heads. 5. Clean refrigerators.

6. Sort screws, nuts, bolts, etc. in storage room.

7. Paint doors white in Fellowship Hall. 8. Replace drywall and baseboard in

Fellowship Hall. 9. Fix window sills in Fellowship Hall.

HELPFUL TIP An easy way to help with finances…if you are

shopping at Office Depot and you don’t have a rewards card, when you check out, give the church’s phone number (954-753-2383) and we’ll get rewards points for your purchase. That will

help with some of the expense of office supplies!

FOREST HILLS ADULT CO-ED SOFTBALL A CHRISTIAN SOFTBALL LEAGUE

Fridays at Forest Hills Park Game times are 6:45pm and 8:00 pm.

All levels are welcome.

Fun, Fellowship, Fitness on Friday nights - under the lights.

Come and check it out, if you are interested. $35 for a 10 game season; $12 for a team shirt

The new season begins September 23rd. Contact Diane 954 647-0546 for more info.

TRY A SMALL GROUP! Want to grow spiritually? Want to find

loving and supportive friendships? Want to find encouragement? Want a no-pressure place to

learn more about the ways of faith, to voice questions, discuss and pray?

You will enrich your experience and deepen your faith if you are involved with others

in a small group. Let us know what times would work best for you. Perhaps you are willing to open your home to a small group? Or perhaps

you are willing to facilitate (not teach!) a small group. Let us know and we’ll help make it work!

[MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP]

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT 7:00

COMMUNITY YARD SALE On Saturday, September 24th, the Christian Women’s Fellowship will be hosting their annual Fall Community Yard Sale. Spaces are available at a discounted price of $15 for

church / preschool families or $25 for non-church / preschool friends. This discount is good through September 16th, and then the fees go up to $25 and $35 respectively. Set up time is from

6:00 – 8:00 am, and sale time is 8:00 am – noon. Call Karyn (954-303-6320) to reserve your space.