COUNTDOWNS

Some of the most exciting countdowns I remember in my childhood were the final 10 ten seconds of a space launch, the 24 days till Christmas, the last five days of school.  But I have been in an exciting countdown over this past year.  It is a countdown to a wedding day that absolutely thrills my heart.  Over this past year that Melinda and I have gotten to know each other, the geographical distance necessitated countdowns.  She lives in Florida, I live in Ohio.  So it was “42 days till we get to be together again, 33 days till we’ll see each other again”, and on it went, month by month by month.   Well the countdown in its final stage.  As of today, Friday, September 13, 2013, the numbers are 13 and 15.  Thirteen days till Melinda picks me up at the airport in Wilmington, and 15 days till the “I Do’s”.

The anticipation consumes me because Melinda is such an amazing lady, and an incredible gift of God to me and my family.  I am blessed way beyond my worthiness.  So each day as the wedding gets closer I get more and more excited.

Maybe that’s why God uses the wedding metaphor in talking about the day when we the church, His bride, will be united with Jesus, our bridegroom, forever and ever.  The thought of that should elicit the same excitement in us.  It will be the biggest event in our lives.  God will pull out all the stops.  The wedding feast will be amazing.  Can I encourage you to be like me?  Get excited!!

I DO

Three weeks from today I am taking a life changing trip, and all for the better.  A little over three years ago my wife, Mary Ann, died.  And now in the providential working of God I am taking that life changing trip to the altar of matrimony once again.  The excitement increases with each day.  I love the opportunity to love a wife again, to dream of the future joys that living life with the one you love brings.  To have a soulmate that loves God and family with incredible passion and conviction, and who is open to pursue all God has for us.  It’s all so good!!

When we stand at the altar and say “I Do”, it isn’t just a sign and consent kind of deal.  It is the beginning of a journey together that becomes a relationship of deepest intimacy.  There is no other relationship like it on earth.  And it mirrors the relational heart of God.  So it shouldn’t come as any surprise to us that God wants that kind of relationship with us when we stand before him and say “I Do” to his offer of salvation.  It isn’t just a decision of believe and receive, it is a relationship that begins a journey together and moves forward to greater intimacy and fulfillment.  It never ends, it never stops.  It is meant to continue all the days of our lives on earth as well as in heaven.  It is a relationship of inexhaustible sweetness and joy.

As CCC begins a new ministry year, I trust you will keep going deeper in a growing, intimate relationship with the Lord.  It’s precious and we want to do all we can to help.

A GOOD WALK SPOILED

It was Mark Twain who called the game of golf a good walk spoiled.  If you’ve ever attempted to play the game you might agree.  I enjoy playing but find many ways to spoil a good round.  Monday night I played with some men from church.  On one hole I hit a ball out of bounds.  That was tough enough on the score for that hole, but then I compounded the problem by trying to make up for it with a “miracle” shot, basically a shot that had no chance to succeed except in my dreams.  I put that shot in the creek.  Add another penalty stroke.  Now I’m really desperate.  I need another “miracle” shot.  None was forthcoming which contributed to more shots on that hole than I want to confess.  Sometimes we just don’t know when to get smart.

But the nice thing about golf is that each hole is a fresh start.  You get to tee it up again and a new chance for that par.  You get to screw your head back on straight and learn from your recent mistakes.

As we live life we do find ourselves in the “rough” or “out of bounds” at times.   We’ve made some mistakes that cost us.  But what a joy to know that God’s forgiveness gives us fresh starts and a chance to improve our game.   Don’t let your Christian life be a good walk spoiled.  Keep playing smart.

ROBB'S GUEST BLOG - A FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH GRACE

As many of you know I have recently begun working through a Master of Divinity degree online through Wesley Seminary. A few weeks ago I spent a few days on campus at Wesley Seminary and while I was there I had one of the most emotional worship experiences that I've ever had. The interesting part of my experience is that this particular worship experience had nothing to do with music, other people, or a congregational meeting. For a young Pastor with hair as crazy as mine this might seem odd to you. It did to me too, and honestly I wasn't ready for this experience, I wasn't looking for it, but God had something to show me. and he knew I needed it. I needed growth; God wanted to stretch me and challenge me. And when God wants to get our attention, he will! I needed a bigger view of God---I got it. I need a fresh encounter with grace---I got that too! 

Situated in the middle of the Seminary campus sits an 18th century gothic chapel perfectly replicated to an original design.  Inside sit wooden pews complete with kneeling cushions, Wesleyan hymnbooks, and liturgical catechisms. The chapel is lined with stained glass windows and has a slanted cathedral ceiling which is outlined with wooden beams. The entire chapel directs your visual focus to the front of the sanctuary where a bronze statue of Jesus is situated. And there is Jesus laying on his side in the garden before he is arrested and crucified. His body is draped over a rock, his face is squinting in passionate agony, his hands tightly clasped to a cup raised above his head, his eyes are fixed to the heavens. The inscription reads "Father if you are willing, take this cup from me". As I walked in and sat down my eyes were immediately drawn to this life-like replica of Jesus. 

I sat there for a few moments and then BOOM,  it hit me. All at once, like a ton of bricks had been dropped from the stone steeple 50 feet above. I lost it, I broke, I began weeping and crying in the intense intimacy of the moment. It was worship, and it was as if God was saying to me, look at my son Jesus, look at what he did for you, look at what it cost him, I didn't take that cup from him so that you could rest in the grace he provided for you.. The spirit of the living God was in that chapel that day saying to me: I love you, I love you, I love you---and the grace that I experienced that day will stay with me for a lifetime. I walked out of that chapel changed, refreshed, renewed, washed clean yet again in the glorious grace that only Jesus provides. Sometimes we just need a fresh encounter with God's grace. I pray that you will find your"stone chapel" where your eyes will be drawn to Jesus so that you may have your own fresh encounter with the amazing grace only found in Jesus. 

His Grace Abounds. 

GROWING UP TOO FAST? - REPOST

“They’re growing up too fast!”  Every parent or grandparent has expressed those words.  I got off the phone the other day after talking with my daughter.  Since I’ve last seen my grandboys, Luke and Sam, they are starting to walk and to climb on everything they can get a good grip and foothold on.  They are moving into full fledged boyhood.   I remember when our children were small, Mary would often say, “I wish I could keep them this age forever.”    But if you could do that, you realize you would be keeping them from the fullest life for which they were created.   As we live we want to develop to the next steps.  We want to learn to drive a car, pursue a career, marry, see the world, take big risks, experience adventure, and keep pushing further into the opportunities of life.

It is obvious from the Word that our heavenly Father never says of us who are Christians, “I wish I could keep them small forever.”  He wants us to reach our full maturity and pursue life in His kingdom with the same “want to” that we do in our physical world.  Unfortunately there are many Christians who cease developing, almost as if they are saying, “I want to remain at this age forever,” and rather than continue the hard work of developing to maturity, seem content to remain dependent tykes or adolescents.

None of us want to thwart our full potential.  If we are not there yet spiritually, lets kick into gear again. 

MACHO MAN

I must admit I would rather be strong than weak.  When it comes right down to it we all want to be healthy as an ox, strong as a bull, tougher than nails, have the stamina of a marathoner, and basically be able to do whatever it takes.  We would rather help than be helped because strength speaks of independence, capacity, the ability to accomplish great things.  We want to be strong, for ourselves, for others, for God. 

Sure sounds like a good attitude and pursuit to me, yet I find some intriguing words in Scripture about this.  The apostle Paul made the striking discovery that God likes us weak, dependent on Him.  He says that when we are in that posture or condition, then we are strong.  It seems incongruent to the thinking mind.

I remember as a young man taking the Red Cross Water Safety Instruction course so I could work as a life guard at summer camps.  One of the principles to life saving was that the rescuer would be the strong one and the rescuee would submit to the strength of the rescuer.  How to accomplish that was included in the course. (By the way, swimming rescues were to be the very last resort).  What one discovered was if the drowning person let himself be totally submitted to the instruction and efforts of the rescuer he would find himself back on solid ground none the worse for wear.  It the drowning person fought with his own strength, it endangered both of them.  God is our rescuer.  He is our provider.  His strength is what we need.  He says, “My power is perfected in your weakness”.  

Want to be strong?  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.   He is so much stronger than us anyway.  It just makes sense.

A FRESH LOOK AT YOUR BIBLE

Jesus was a captivating teacher.  He spoke with authority.  And He said things that people needed to hear.  He knew what He was talking about, because as God, He knew what mattered and how a life pleasing to God should be lived.  In His teaching He turned religion into relationship.  He turned “truth” on its head.  The distorted and corrupted preaching of the times was replaced with God’s kingdom truth.  He came to set truth free from the strangle hold His times had placed on it.  We need that authoritative voice again.

The Sermon on the Mount is life shaping to all who will embrace its truth and live it.  Jesus’ teaching led to life change that left people of His generation in awe.  Love your enemies?  Do good to those who hate you?  Embrace meekness, a humble spirit?  Pursue God’s kingdom above all else?  Don’t worry about the things you need, God will take care of you?

As I read God’s Word, a couple things hit me.  The Bible remains the best selling book in the world.  Over 100,000,000 Bibles are sold in the world each year.  Yet I have to wonder if it has become more a symbol of Christian faith, than the book of Life.  There is a growing disparity between its truth and our practice.  God’s Word is truth and there is NO other book in the world that even comes close to its value.  It is history, theology, prophecy.  It is a lamp to our feet, a light to our path.  It gives wisdom, understanding, strength, hope and peace.  It shows us God, His holiness, His heart, and love for us.  It points us to salvation, and helps us understand eternity.  It is truth and life.  Nothing is left out that we need to know and He has given us His Spirit for power to live it.

Yet I fear that many who call themselves Christian spend little time reading it and even less time letting the Spirit of God change their lives through it.  Yet it is in this Book of Truth, that our best Life exists.  

Our culture is going to continue to drift from God’s truth because that truth is seen as exclusive or discriminatory.  Fairness, acceptance, tolerance will be higher values than timeless truth.  As our culture’s voice gets louder and louder, those not grounded in God’s truth will be susceptible to the various winds that blow.

It’s time to do a little assessment.  If we say we are Christian and believe the Bible to be God’s invaluable Word, what are we doing with it?