Life@Eaglebrook ______________________February 16th, 2021
Eaglebrook Church
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Location:
1025 Margaret Street, Woodruff, WI 54568 

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 144 
Woodruff, WI 54568
 
Phone:
715-356-3313
Want to give to Eaglebrook Church?

You can do so online!
Desire.
As Pastor Steve shared with us this past Sunday, James makes it clear that God is never the source of our temptations, but that we are led into sin solely because of our own sinful desires. The Scriptures make it clear that we are sinners. The Prophet Jeremiah makes the observation that our hearts are deceitful above all things (see Jeremiah 17:9). We all know what it is to be lured into self-destructive choices and behaviors because of the sinful desires within us.
 
We are led astray by our own sinful desires.
 
So, what is the remedy for this? Is there any hope? Are we simply doomed to fail? The religious answer would be to tell us to do better and try harder. While religion would certainly point us to a loving and merciful God who is always willing to give yet another chance, it would also insist that it is now up to us to change our ways, to deny our flesh, and to work harder at behaving better. 
 
God is good.
 
It is true that God is loving and merciful. It is true that God longs to give us yet another chance. It is also true that God longs for us to change our ways, and to deny our flesh, and to begin to live a new way of life. But, as wonderful as all of that is… if that’s as far as it goes, we will simply repeat the cycle of sin and failure, time and time again. Because, while God being merciful towards sinners is wonderful news, how will that alone ever change my sinful desires?
 
God is better than you think.
 
Yes, as sinners, our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked. We are full of sinful and self-serving desires, which is why it can be so difficult to ever break free of our sinful habits. But this is where the Good News comes in. Because, through Jesus Christ, God does not simply forgive us and extend us mercy. Through Jesus Christ, it is God’s intent to make us new, by giving us a new heart.
 
A new heart leads to new desires.
 
The Prophet Jeremiah, who first recognized the fatal flaw of the human heart, also points us to the solution: That God would change our hearts (see Jeremiah 31:31-34). The Prophet Ezekiel would echo this same idea by promising us a new heart and new spirit, which would then cause us to follow the ways of God (see Ezekiel 36:26-27).   
 
New desires lead to new behaviors.
 
This is the solution to the sin problem. Not trying harder. Not faking it. Not trying to follow a bunch of rules or devoting yourself to a bunch of religious activities. No… the path out of sin is the promise of a new heart, which gives us new desires, which then results in new behaviors.
 
So, may we see that God is not asking us to be someone we’re not. He is not asking us to fake it or to force ourselves to behave a certain way. God is inviting us to become new. And we become new as we learn from Jesus, as we follow Jesus, and as God’s Spirit reshapes our hearts and our desires to better reflect His likeness.

May we walk in the Image of God this week!
Arnie
Trust God
True Faith... Not Useless Religion
James 1:12-18

Sunday Services - Indoors and Online!

We are continuing to provide our have our Sunday Worship Services both online and inside the building!  

For those who choose to come and worship in-person with us on Sunday Mornings, these indoor services will be very similar to the services we were having outdoors over the summer:  

  •  We will be encouraging safe social-distancing.
  •  We are asking you to bring your own chairs.
  •  We will be requiring the use of face-masks.
  •  We will be encouraging the use of hand-sanitizer.
  •  There will be no Nursery or Children's Ministries.

However, indoor bathrooms will now be available for use. The building will be professionally cleaned each week, giving you the peace of mind that our space is as safe as it can possibly be during this time.
If you are comfortable with gathering at this time, 
please come out and join us!

Otherwise, check us out online!
Our Sunday Option Online -- Facebook Live
If you are not comfortable meeting indoors at this time, then please join us this coming Sunday at 10:00am for our next Facebook Live Event... 

Sunday Worship
Facebook Live at 10:00am

There will also be a pre-recorded teaching video posted on Sunday Morning, which can be viewed using the links below.
New Dawn Baby Bottle Fund-Raiser
Due to Covid-19, the Baby Bottle Fund-Raiser for the New Dawn Pregnancy Resource Center will look a little different this year. Instead of having individual baby bottles that you can bring home with you, we are asking that donations either be brought in-person to our Worship Service on Sunday Morning and be placed in the designated container, or that donations be made online directly to New Dawn, using the link below.
To donate online go to: www.ndprcfriends.com

Thank you for supporting LIFE!!!
Next Elder Board Meeting
The next Elder Meeting is scheduled for:

Monday, March 8th at 6:30pm

If you have any issues or concerns that you would like the Elder Board to discuss at the next meeting, please talk to any of the Elders.
Why So Serious?
If you come across an item that you would like to see featured in
future segments of "Why So Serious?", please email your
submission to arnie@eaglebrookminocqua.org
Scripture of the Week
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV) -- I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.


James does not pull any punches does he? Our look at "temptation" on Sunday really struck a chord that many are feeling.

May God continue the healing, and overcoming work in all of our lives as we continue to pursue and live out the "true faith" James is calling us toward.

This Sunday, James tackles another hot button issue... our inability to listen... combined with a heart of anger that is our usual response. Should be fun!

I look forward to seeing you and connecting with you this Sunday whether you are in-person or online!

I love being your pastor!
Steve
Eaglebrook Church ______ www.eaglebrookminocqua.org _______ 715-356-3313