Almost Heaven

In the absence of JD this week, Pastor Raudel from our Spanish-speaking church brought forth an inspiring message from 2 Peter 3:1-15 connecting our present day with our eternity.  While collecting my thoughts about the sermon I was struck by a few things that he said.  Almost is never good enough.  You never say I'm almost pregnant or we almost won the game (well, maybe you do on the last one but it just isn't the same).  Likewise almost heaven is not good enough.  Heaven will be a glorious place and almost just won't do. 

Peter talks of how there will be scoffers who doubt Jesus is returning and taking us to heaven but Raudel defined scoffers as anyone who doesn't take something seriously or in this case, those who live without an eternal perspective.  We should never forget that "God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." (1 Thes 5:9-10).  Likewise, since He did not appoint US to suffer we should not be satisfied until everyone has heard the gospel.  We should be like Him and as it says in 2 Pet 3:9, be patient, not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to repentance.  We should align our daily activities with heavenly intentions.

Raudel defined mercy as not getting what we deserve and grace as getting what we don't deserve.  God bathes us in His mercy and grace.  We should share this with others that they may be saved, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17).

Hooping and Hollerin'

I watched today in awe as Louisville made an awesome comeback in the Marquette game.  My awe was not at the display of talent but at the display of support from the fans.  They were dancing and singing and hooping and hollerin'.  And then came the words that set me off, "Louisville reached the promised land."  The promised land?!  The promised land?!  Did the freakin' announcer even know what he was talking about? 

I wondered wouldn't we all be hooping and hollerin' if we had reached the promised land (heaven).  I am looking forward to that day but in the meantime, my praise will show forth the joy that I am going to reach the promised land!!  I will pass through this trials and tribulations and go on to meet my Jesus face to face and at that time there will be a mighty rejoicing or in the words of the song I Can Only Imagine  maybe I will fall to my knees but it will be far better than any ballgame or concert I've been to that's for sure.

Bapti-costal

I've long thought of myself as a Bapti-costal -- a Baptist person with Pentecostal tendencies lol.  It's been my desire to find a church where I could remove that thinking and regain the independent thinking of just Christian.  I don't know if I've found it but I think I'm pretty close in The Summit, where we regularly attend now but I think the difference is me, not the church itself.  My dad puts it this way, "I bring my worship with me."  I guess that sums it up.  I don't know how others are feeling about the worship at The Summit but when I'm there, I am meeting with my Lord, conversing with my Saviour, worshipping my God.  If you are searching for this too, Bapti-costal or not, come join me.  You won't leave empty.  I assure you that if you come planning on meeting God there, He shows up!!!

Let's Be Real...

I find it humorous when people are judgmental or critical of others who are struggling with sin in their lives because the fact is that we ALL have sin in our lives, no matter how hard we try to be righteous.  The only righteousness we have is given to us by Jesus.  Romans 3 declares that "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  People use sin as excuses to criticize other people and especially other church goers.  The Word is clear however in 1 John 3 that we should love each other by laying down our lives for each other, not criticizing each other to pieces.  The church is filled with sinners including ourselves.  We should love each other and pray for each other to help each other through our difficulties, not bash each other for our failures. 

The Grace of God

I was touched today by Pastor Danny's word on the Grace of God.  I think we as a people do not truly understand God's grace.  Wouldn't we live differently if we did?  Afterall, as Danny said, all of our stories are authored by the grace of God.  Webster defines grace as the unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.  I think the keyword here is unmerited.  Remember, life isn't fair!!!  We don't deserve grace or mercy for that matter but because of Jesus' sacrifice that is exactly what we can get. 

Danny continued the sermon to describe what the Grace of God would look like in our lives.
   1.  We would be doing the uncomfortable.  Reaching out to the unlovable is often uncomfortable but aren't we really unlovable too?  Remember, God doesn't rank sin.  Sin stains are all ugly to Him.
   2.  We would be knowing and following God's Word.  James 1:22-25 says it like this, " Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."
   3.  We would be identifying with Christ.  The term Christian in itself means little Christ or Christ-like.  It was used to identify the early church because they looked like Jesus.  So should we.
   4.  Selfless giving of our resources and ourselves.  2 Cor 9:7 says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The early church was characterized like we should be -- they asked for grace, they acted in grace but they never assumed the grace of God was theirs.  Thank you, Danny, for a good word from the Lord!!

My Vision

Psalm 91 is one of my favorite psalms.  "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust."  A delightful beginning, I must say, encouraging one to live close to God, close enough that His shadow will fall on us.  It goes on to say in verse 4 that "He will cover you with His feathers," something that has always intrigued me especially in the light of a vision I feel the Lord gave me long ago. 

    I was praying and was transformed into a spirit-being soaring with wings as a eagle,
    rising above all my earthly problems and then I see His open arms.  I fly towards
    Him with growing peace and yet excitement.  As I approach Him, His arms raise
    to engulf me and I see the glory of heaven around about Him but my focus is clear. 
    As I land at His feet His arms become wings of feathers, just as a mother hen would
    engulf her young.  Such safety, such love, such comfort. 

I've rarely shared this with anyone but maybe if you can see the Lord as I do, you too can feel His feathers comfort you.

I'm Just...Radically Saved...

The singer Carman has a song that fits today's sermon.  It's called Radically Saved.  Pastor JD was on a leave today so Bryan Barley of the newly planted Soma Church in Denver, CO preached today and to sum it up, we should be just Radically Saved.  Our lives should be structured radically around the gospel -- reading, teaching, preaching, living the gospel, all aspects of it.  Our lives should be structured radically around the community with devotion, unity and generosity.  Most of our schedules don't allow such devotion or we WON'T allow it to.  Our lives should be structured radically around the mission -- make disciples who make disciples.  WOW!!!  All this from Acts 2: 42-47 is what life with Jesus looks like.