From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

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Community …

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It seems we are growing increasingly shallow in our relationships with others. Thinking about this last night in my orientation for small groups, I was thinking how easy it is to get together and discuss weather, sports, politics or whatever, but when someone brings up a sin with which they’re struggling, we suddenly don’t have much to talk about. May God help us walk in obedience to Him and embrace His design for the church.

The Shady Shepherd…

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Ezekiel 34:1-6 gives a pretty stiff indictment to those of us involved in the lives of others. Specifically, we have looked selfish instead of feeding the sheep and…

The weak you have not strengthened,
the sick you have not healed,
the injured you have not bound up,
the strayed you have not brought back,
the lost you have not sought,
and with force and harshness you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4)

Do any of these things characterize you? I mean what do you do with those who are weak sheep? What’s your tendency? Are you shepherding them? Ezekiel (and as a result, God) wants us to be faithful shepherds. Let’s ask for grace to pursue this.

Sanctification in Community…

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Matt Chandler, in a sermon on 1/4/09 (2009, Part 2) at the 44:00 mark:

Your relationship with Christ, your spirituality, although immensely personal, was not designed to be private. The more you make your struggles and your victories privatized, you turn sanctification into a crawl. It was not designed to be that way.

Chandler admits he’s banging the drum of Biblical community.

So, how are you in opening up your life to others? Or are you actively pursuing pride?

Update

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Part of my desire in 09 is to be more efficient with my time and energy. Therefore, I am going to post on marriage and free audio more sporadically, so that I am not pressured to write every Monday and Wednesday. If you like these regular posts, you will find that there will be plenty to keep you thinking in both of these regards (marriage and free audio). Just thought I’d let you know what’s happening.

The 2009 Project

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Each year, as the new year is quickly approaching, I take time to review the previous year as well as think through my roles and consider what goals God might be pleased to allow me to accomplish in the coming year. Here’s the 2009 list of what I plan to pursue, if the Lord wills(not particularly in order of importance):

One calling God has placed upon my life is to shepherd the flock of God among which I have been made an overseer (1 Peter 5:1-2). I don’t consider a calling to pastor the people of Crestview to be a chore, but it is a calling—a stewardship—to which God has called me to be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Therefore, I want to resolve to be faithful in the coming year of ministry. This will mean continuing to faithfully administer God’s Word to people and, jettisoning the fear of man, faithfully equipping the people God has entrusted me to works of ministry (Ephesians 4:12).

God has also called me to specific roles in my home. As a husband, God has called me to lovingly lead my wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). As a father, I have been entrusted with the task of supporting my family (1 Timothy 5:8) and fathering my children in a way that brings glory to God (Ephesians 6:4). In the coming year, I want to be a better father and strive to love Meg more by loving me less.

In terms of my personal spiritual life, I’ve benefited so much in the past year through reading. I hope to continue to grow in grace. In late 2008, I refined my personal vision to be such that since I am changed from the inside out by Christ’s atoning sacrifice for me on the cross, I want to grow downward in humility and upward to glorify and enjoy God, forever. I hope to continue daily Bible reading using my ESV Study Bible and For the Love of God (Vol. 2). Also, I hope that after 2009, I will have made progress in weakening pride and fear of man issues in my life.

In my personal life, I continue to want to honor God in my body (1 Corinthians 6:20). Recent success from the Lord (in losing up to 53 lbs. in the fall of 2008) give me encouragement that I can say “no” to ungodly passions and desires by God’s grace. Therefore, I hope in the coming year to lose more weight, continue exercise and discipline in a way that points to God’s grace (Titus 2:11-14).

So, these are my aims for the coming year. They are ever before me. By God’s grace, I hope to fine favor from Him in accomplishing these.

Hope you all have an awesome New Year and 2009 is a year you are blessed with God’s favor in remarkable ways.

2008 Review – December

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The year ended in an incredible way. Preached on the characters of Christmas on Sunday mornings: Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Got to do lots of reading and had a meeting with the Elders, men, and other people. Fought video problems in auditorium a lot, but got those solved by the end of the month. Did many festive things: parties, fellowships and enjoying friends and family. Ended the year traveling to my Mom’s which meant we celebrated Christmas with Meg’s family before the 22nd. Was able to get some thinking done about long-term personal planning for 2009. All in all, while the beginning of the year began with me praying about where God would have me, God seemed to confirm His calling in my life toward the end. I praise Him for a great 2008. More on where I’m headed in 09 later.