From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Master Your Smartphone

by

I love technology stuffs.  Life is a lot simpler because smartphones exist.  It’s part of the world we live in.  However, many are ruled by their devices and not ruling their devices.  Recently, Tony Reinke (who has a forthcoming book on 12 Ways Your Smartphone Is Changing You) gave these 5 tweets on smartphone tips he finds helpful (and they helped me, so I’m trying to help you).

  1. Remember smartphones boost productivity, and too much smartphone time kills it. Find your sweet spot on the bell curve (and stay there).
  2. Disable all non-essential push notifications. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email. You can check in when it’s convenient.
  3. Delete apps for everything you can do faster and easier from your computer. For fun, disable email on your phone for one week.
  4. At your computer, batch-check social media (like with email). Try not to swan dive into a stream-based social media site alone.
  5. Master of your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” features. Set quiet hours from between 1hr before bed and through the end of your morning devos.

Hope these prove helpful as you navigate your mastering of your devices.

Weekend Recap – Meditate

by

My 1/8/17AM sermon from Crestview Bible Church entitled Meditate is now online.  The sermon wrapped up our church’s Week of Prayer by encouraging people to be those who take in God’s Word.  Specifically, I reminded my listeners that reading God’s Word doesn’t make you a believer in Jesus, you should probably slow down and meditate more, as well as showing how the Bible’s end game is equipping us for good works.

We had Small Group last night and used Paul Tripp’s article 5 Reasons to Read the Bible in 2017 in our discussion.  I hope your Sunday was profitable.

Gospel Friday – Snow

by

I love winter.  It’s easily my favorite season because it has Christmas and snow.  Therefore, I thought I’d use the January momentum to remind you of how pure white Jesus has made you.  He offers free and full forgiveness.  Praise Him today for forgiving sin and though your sins were as scarlet, He’s made them white as snow.

Weekend Preview – Into Word 2017

by

At Crestview, our rhythm is to follow up our Week of Prayer with a sermon related to the importance of the intake of God’s Word.  So, this coming Sunday, my sermon will encourage us to meditate on God’s Word.  Somewhat related to this rhythm is new Sunday School classes kicking off.  Tom Dixon will be leading the adult class on Theology Proper.  We have new curriculum rolling out for students, as well.

Some other tools our body finds helpful are:

The Bible Eater Plan

The Discipleship Journal Reading Plan

Don Whitney’s Bible Reading Record

Tabletalk Magazine

New Song for January 2017 – All Glory Be To Christ

by

Our new song at Crestview for January 2017 is All Glory Be To Christ.  Here’s a video…

Here’s the awesome lyrics to this song:

Verse 1
Should nothing of our efforts stand, no legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house in vain, its builders strive
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain, tell me what is your life
Amist that vanishes at dawn, all glory be to Christ
Chorus 1
All glory be to Christ our King, all glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing, all glory be to Christ
Verse 2
His will be done, His kingdom come, on earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread, praise Him the Lord of love
Let living water satisfy the thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, all glory be to Christ
Chorus 2
All glory be to Christ our King, all glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing, all glory be to Christ
Verse 3
When on that day the Great I am, the faithful and the true
The Lamb who was for sinners slain, is making all things new
Behold our God shall live with us, and be our steadfast light
And we shall e’re His people be, all glory be to Christ
Chorus 3
All glory be to Christ our King, all glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing, all glory be to Christ
CCLI Song # 7008232
Dustin Kensrue
2012 We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc)

Weekend Recap – Week of Prayer Kickoff

by

My 1/1/17 sermon at Crestview entitled Constant in Prayer is now online.  Prayer, even your devotion to prayer, isn’t enough to make you a Christian, after all, we’re not saved by works, otherwise we’d boast (Ephesians 2:9).  But, those who are new creations in Jesus are characterized by a devotion to prayer.  In this sermon, I sought to showcase this idea and remind my hearers that it is a commitment to which we must give ourselves.  I hope it proves helpful.

Gospel Friday – New Creations in Christ

by

New Year.  Newness.  Freshness.

Hear the amazing news of what is yours in Jesus:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

So, if you are a believer, all of this newness, freshness, life, and vitality is yours because of Jesus.  You are in Him and with Him the old has passed away; the New defines you.

 

Weekend Preview – Week of Prayer

by

This coming Lord’s Day, 1/1/17, we’ll gather at 10:15AM for worship (no Sunday School or Children’s Church) at Crestview.  This will kick off the Week of Prayer for us.  My sermon will hopefully propel this week.  Most of my work is around the idea of being “devoted to prayer”.  Nearly 10 times in Scripture, the people of God are characterized or called to be constant or devoted to prayer.  So, I’m going to tease out this idea in Scripture and hopefully encourage more practice of prayer in the coming year.  Pray for fruit from this.  And, join us Sunday at 10:15 if you’re able.

Prayer for Beginners

by

Our church’s Week of Prayer is going to start this coming Sunday, January 1.  In doing some research for it, I came across this helpful post entitled Prayer for Beginners.  I hope it encourages you and reminds you of where we can start this coming new year…

  1. Pick a time and place.
  2. Listen before you speak.
  3. Prioritize the spiritual over the circumstantial.
  4. Don’t be afraid to stop and pray now.
  5. Identify your prayer circles.
  6. Ask whatever you wish — literally anything.
  7. Be willing to ask one more time.

Grab the entire post for elaboration on these things.