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	<title>Mark's Musings</title>
	<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog</link>
	<description>Thoughts and Commentary from Pastor Mark Jarvinen</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:51:38 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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	<language>en</language>
	
	<item>
		<title>John the Baptist Prepares the Way</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen delivers a message about how John the Baptist Prepares the way for Christ. Scripture from Matthew 3.
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/08/17/john-the-baptist-prepares-the-way/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Marks of Great Faith</title>
		<description><![CDATA[What was it that prompted Jesus to commend a Gentile woman, from an ancient enemy of Israel, for her faith?  Jesus didn&#8217;t play favorites.  It was all in the manner in which she approached Him - in desperation, adoration, and humiliation - the marks of great faith. Scripture from Matthew 15:21-28.
The Marks of Great Faith
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/08/10/the-marks-of-great-faith/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Discover the Prize</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you had just one wish, what would it be?  Winning a sweepstakes or lottery? In Matthew 13:44-46 capitalizes on this same everyday human desire by comparing His rule and reign in peoples&#8217; lives with the joy of discovering a buried treasure or a pearl of great value.  The kingdom of heaven isn&#8217;t something you [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/08/03/discover-the-prize/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Needed: People on a Mission</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Jesus came to this world on a mission - to usher in the Kingdom of God.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are comparatively few.  He&#8217;s looking for people to join Him in fulfilling His mission - ordinary, but dedicated people, who share His heart of compassion for the world.  This includes us. Scripture [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/06/08/needed-people-on-a-mission/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>CoJ: A Church with a Heart</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This topical sermon elaborates on the purpose statement of Community of Joy Church, which exists as a church with a heart for God’s Glory (Reaching Up), a heart of God’s family (Reaching In), and a heart for God’s World (Reaching Out).
Sermon from 6-1-2008. 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/06/01/coj-a-church-with-a-heart/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Faith To Walk On Water</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When life gets stormy, Jesus comes to us, just as He came to His disciples, walking on the water saying, &#8220;Take courage, it is I. Don&#8217;t be afraid!&#8221;  He bids us to leave behind the relative comfort and security of the boat, take His hand, and walk with Him on the water.  As would be [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/05/18/faith-to-walk-on-water/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>A Church On Fire</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The church that was born on Pentecost Sunday was on fire, ablaze with the coming of the Holy Spirit and marked by intense fellowship, earnest prayer, and fervent outreach.  The first Pentecost was unique and historically momentous, but let&#8217;s be open to the dynamic of the Holy Spirit in our day as well. Scripture [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/05/11/a-church-on-fire/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Crunch-time Counsel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In the world of sports, crunch-time is that critical moment when the outcome of a game hangs in the balance.  Spiritually speaking, crunch-time has to do with critical decisions and actions made in critical moments of suffering and testing.  Peter offers sound advice for times like these as he encourages us to humbly give God [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/05/04/crunch-time-counsel/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Facing Down Your Fears</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Fear is a powerful emotion, capable of distracting and immobilizing us.  In I Peter 3:13-17, writing to Christians beset by unjust suffering, Peter offers helpful instruction in facing down their fears: &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid and don&#8217;t worry&#8221; (v.14); view suffering as a &#8220;faith refiner&#8221; and then &#8220;in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord&#8221; [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/27/facing-down-your-fears/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>We Are God&#8217;s People</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Christ is the cornerstone of a spiritual building and we are its &#8220;living stones.&#8221;  As these living stones we are a people alive in Christ who have been chosen, changed, connected, and charged to make a difference in this world for God&#8217;s glory and the extension of His kingdom. Scripture passage from I Peter 2:4-10.
Sermon [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/20/we-are-gods-people/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Heart of the Issue</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Jesus cares about your heart.  It is easy to see this as Jesus is quizzed by a man knowledgeable in the law.  Jesus&#8217; response leaves no questions about his authority while at the same time bringing up some important questions for our everyday life.  Listen to this sermon by Greg Anderson of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/13/the-heart-of-the-issue/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Mission Update from Chad</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Perhaps many of you have wondered how things are going on our mission field in Chad since the crisis that became the focus of our prayers in February. Following is an update from Matthew Rogness, Executive Director of World Missions that he asked me to pass on to you. - MAJ
Dear friends,
Over the past several [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/10/mission-update-from-chad/</link>
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		<title>Outreach Through Building Relationships</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today I read an interesting article by Doug Murren and Mike Meeks entitled &#8220;Preparing Your Church for Evangelism&#8221; taken from Leadership Magazine. The following statement jumped right off the page at me.
&#8220;A church will fail if it tries to assimilate today&#8217;s un-churched person only through events and programs. The effective glue is relationships—friends bringing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/09/outreach-through-building-relationships/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Emmaus Experience</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Two men, in despair over Jesus&#8217; recent death, while journeying from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, were suddenly joined by an anonymous traveler. Their mood changed from despondency to hope when they realized that this stranger was none other than the risen Christ Himself. Jesus was alive!  Lives are transformed whenever the resurrected Christ [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/06/the-emmaus-experience/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Easter Implications</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The resurrection of Jesus was the lynch pin of the Gospel, giving the early church something to talk about.  But it didn&#8217;t stop there.  We too are commissioned to take the truth of Jesus&#8217; resurrection and the liberating message of forgiveness to a world that so desperately needs it.  We go not in our own [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.cojlbc.org/blog/2008/04/01/easter-implications/</link>
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