The Rugged Spud

Welcome to number 11. right off the top the bed music for today’s into of the show is from the late st album from Holding onto Hope. It’s off their self titled release on Come&Live Records. The song is entitled ”Ourselves” and the album is available for free download at www.comeandlive.com and please donate when downloading or pay with a tweet. Now onto today’s episode we’ve got our good friends, THE RUGGED SPUD! we sat down and recorded this right before we a had show stating here at the stronghold. if you’re in the Bakersfield area december 3rd. Dynasty has been confirmed for the show so make it to The Gate for their CD release show. oh and keep listening after the show has ended for a special announcement and plugs please.

you can contact them via: http://www.facebook.com/theruggedspud and twitter: @ruggedspud for booking or just saying hi.

questions or comments please reach us at www.thestronghodvenue.com or www.facebook.com/stronghold.venue or twitter @the_stronghold

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11-20-2011 Sins of the Father

Have you ever blurted out something you wish you never said?  How about on the freeway with kids in the back seat?  As parents, we’re all too familiar with our shortcomings and how they affect our children.  How can we stop being the problem and become the solution?  Join Pastor Mike as we learn lessons from Genesis 34 and 37.

Download the PowerPoint here.

2,011 Thanks

Thanks, guys, for all you do.

With love,

The Youth

Christmas @ Valley

Join us as we step back in time to celebrate our Savior’s birth!  Beginning Sunday, December 4th, we’re taking a journey back to medieval times to discover what the Kingdom of Jesus Christ looks like.

Calendar of Events

Friday, December 2nd (6:30 PM): Girl’s Night Out Christmas Party
(For more information, click here for our Facebook event page)
Sunday, December 4th (9:00 & 10:30 AM): No Confusion- He is a Wonderful Counselor
Sunday, December 11th (9:00 & 10:30 AM): No Chaos – He is a Might God
Saturday, December 17th (8:00 AM): Food For Life Distribution
Saturday, December 17th (6:30 PM): Youth Progressive Dinner and Christmas Party
Sunday, December 18th (9:00 & 10:30 AM): No Complexity – He is the Father of Eternity
Sunday, December 18th (6:30 PM): Madrigal Dinner
Saturday, December 24th (7:00 PM): Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sunday, December 25th (10:00 AM- 1 Service): Christmas Day Celebration Service; No Conflicts – He is the Prince of Peace

The God of All Comfort

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” (2 Cor. 1:3 NAS)

On Thursday nights, I go hang out at my dad’s church.  They have a Thursday night young adult service with worship led by a rotating group of mostly Biola students.  Every once in a while, I’ll lead, but usually I get to be a part of the congregation and worship.  A few weeks ago, I had an awesome experience, not because of the music or the skill of the band, but because the Holy Spirit impressed something on my heart that I thought I’d share with all of you.

I’m a strong person, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Don’t be fooled – I keep my muscles (or as I refer to them “guns”) under a protective layer of flab for your safety and mine.  I’m the Chuck Norris of non-violent, non-athletic, non-aggressive, creative-pastor-types.  I, like a Timex, can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.  That’s a good thing, usually.  I’m not a fragile person.  I don’t  need to be babied or coddled.  I’m okay.

But the last few weeks have been…difficult, and for a myriad of reasons, none of which are really important here.  Anyway, we sang a song I was unfamiliar with.  I don’t even remember the name.  All I remember is that it talked about God’s comfort.  And it occurred to me that His comfort is something I rarely allow myself to experience.  I guess I think I’m too spiritually “grown” to need the comfort of my Daddy.  But He wants to comfort me and reassure me of His love and presence.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…”  That word “comfort” in the Greek is translated as paraklesis.  Some of the translations for paraklesis are “exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace, and that which affords comfort or refreshing.”  It has the same root as the word for the Holy Spirit, known in the Greek as the parakleto (One who comes alongside).

As Christians, we are promised that the Holy Spirit will come alongside us.  He will not only “convict as to sin and righteousness” (John 16:8), but He will also “intercede for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).  He is there to be our Comforter and the Refresher of our souls.  How much blessing have I missed because I’ve been too self-reliant?  I know that I miss out on God’s comfort all the time because I think I shouldn’t need it.   Somewhere I got the idea that I had to be the strong one.  But you know what? “He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Cor. 12:9 NAS)

We sang another song that night called “God is Able”.

God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things

“Far above all we hope.”  One line in a song, and I was done.  God’s comforting presence wrapped around me, and I experienced the reassurance that came from knowing He had seen.  Even though I’ve been a brat this week – cranky and irritable and probably unlovable, He loves me anyway.  He loves me enough to remind me that He is with me, my “ever-present help in time of trouble.” (Ps. 46:1)

Don’t make my mistake.  Don’t mistake strength for maturity.  I think, perhaps, that maturity means acknowledging our weaknesses rather than pretending they don’t exist.  Embrace His comfort as a necessary and wonderful benefit of this relationship we have with Him.

11-13-2011 Settling Down

There is a time when you realize you’re not going to get everything in life you’ve dreamed about.  At that point, you end up settling for the life that you have.  What does it mean for us to live “settled” – in days that are ordinary?  We’ll explore our calling in this life based on the life of Jacob.

Download the PowerPoint here.

11-6-2011 Struggling with God

Jacob wrestled with God and got hurt in the process.  So why does God cripple people who are simply hanging on for a blessing?  We’ll look at several faulty explanations people provide, but we’ll focus on seeing God and His character – in the form of Jesus in the midst of suffering.  Join us as we study the life of Jacob in Genesis 32-33.

Download the PowerPoint here.