The Good News

Acts 8:35

Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture

And told him the good news about Jesus.

“The Good News about Jesus”

I wonder what Philip told him?

Maybe about how he could connect to The Father in a personal way.

Maybe about God’s Love displayed in Jesus’ Life.

Maybe about God’s Love displayed in Jesus' death.

Maybe about God’s Power displayed in Jesus' Resurrection.

Maybe about the reality of being given New Life.

Maybe he talked about being united to the very Heart of God.

Maybe Philip told him about the Freedom that is in Christ.

Maybe it was the Hope of Heaven.

Maybe it was just hearing that The Father had an eternal purpose for him.

Maybe…

Guys…

Have you ever stopped to think...

How much good news there is...

In “The Good News”

Father

I pray You give us all a deep sense of

The Fullness of the Gospel...

Of Your Love for us...

Of Your Life in us.

Amen 

Psalm 110 Are you Willing?

Psalm 110:3

Your people will be willing

On Your day of battle.

Could it be?

Could it be that today…….

Today is the Day of Battle?

I promise you all,

Our enemy knows it is.

He lives this brief time

To make war on God’s people;

To wreak havoc on all that is……

Living and Good and True.

Revelation 12:12

…….But woe to the earth and sea,

Because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury,

Because he knows that his time is brief.

I do not write this to scare you-

I do not write this to heighten drama-

I write this…….

I bring this up…….

To call you into the battle.

Are you willing?

This Christian Life is not some game we play,

Manipulating our way with God to get what we please.

Oh no, there is much more at stake…….

There is much more to this great story God has ………

Written us into.

Are you willing on this day of battle?

Will you take up the arms of……..

Love

Kindness

Courage

Mercy

Forgiveness

Prayer

Generosity

Faith……….

Oh Christian,

Let’s go out today,

Today and tomorrow and evermore,

Living from the Power and Truth that……..

Christ is in us,

To Live through us,

To bring………

Life!

Are you willing?

Almighty Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit,

Open Our eyes to the truth.

Move in our hearts to join the battle.

Thank You Almighty God for all that You are doing,

All that you will allow us to be a part of,

Even today.

Amen

Psalm 104 He has sent His Spirit

Psalm 104:30

When You send Your Spirit,

They are created………

He has.

And so,

I have been………

Born Again-

Recreated into………..

Life.

His Life!

Amazing,

Simply Amazing.

                                                                                                                                                                               

John 3:6

 Flesh gives birth to flesh,

But the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Father

Thank You for Your Breath upon me-

Thank You for your Life Giving Spirit.

Praise the LORD O’ my soul,

Praise the Lord.

Amen

Psalm 98 Looking Forward to.......Judgement

Psalm 98 Excerpts

Shout for Joy to LORD all the earth,

Burst into jubilant song with music……

Shout for Joy before the LORD…

For He Comes to judge the earth.

Unbridled, Extravagant, Incredible……….

Celebration.

Maybe not something typically would associated with…..

Judgment.

And yet……….

Father’s Judgment-

Jesus’ Judgment……..

The putting away of pain-

The defeat of death-

The end of evil.

Oh yes-

Unbridled, Extravagant, Incredible……….

Celebration.

Come Lord Jesus……. Come

Let Love Explode!

Come Lord Jesus……..Come

Amen

Check out the music video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OTz-lpDjw&ob=av2e

Psalm 67 It's Coming

Psalm 67:5-6

May the peoples praise You, O’ God;

May all the peoples praise You.

Then the land will yield it’s harvest,

And God, our God, will bless us.

It’s coming guys-

There is a day coming…………

I don’t know when, but surely…………

It’s coming.

Things will be made right-

The people will praise Him-

The land will yield a great harvest-

And………..

God, our God

Will bless us all.

Revelation 22:20-21

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. 

Amen.

Psalm 53 He Has Come A' lookin!

Psalm 53 Excerpts

The fool says in his heart

There is no God………..

God looks down from Heaven

On the sons of men……..

To see if there are any who seek Him-

Everyone has turned away.

Guys-

Ever lose something you valued?

I mean something you really loved.

Maybe you had a pet that ran away-

Maybe one that was even lured away……..

Stolen.

Imagine it………

What would you do?

Hmmmmmmm…….

The Gospel in a nut shell-

There is a God-

We are His most prized creation-

And even though we turned away……..

He has come a’lookin.

Luke 19:10

Father Thank You-

Thank You

For not leaving me lost-

For coming to bring me home-

For not leaving me without hope-

For the real hope of Love, Goodness and well……….

Life!

Thank You Jesus

Amen

Vessels

Have you ever been really thirsty?
I mean tongue hanging out-
Parched to the bone...... Dry.
I try not to let myself get thirsty-
The cardinal rule in endurance exercise is-
Eat before you get hungry and Drink before you get thirsty.

I'm not always real good with rules.

Not too long ago I went on a bike ride but forgot to bring my water bottle-
After a ways into the ride I realized my plight-
I reached down to take hold of my water bottle and..............
Oops Nothing there.
No problem I thought-
This will be short ride-
I'll be fine.
Fast forward 30 minutes-
Arriving back at the house-
I was dying..............
Spent-
Dead on my feet.
Straight to the refrigerator I stumbled-
There..........
there it was as I opened the door-
 A tall cool bottle of Propel.
That bottle..............at that moment-
Lable glistening and cool to the touch-
Represented for me then and there-
Satisfaction............
and relief...............
and .......................... Life!

It was sooooooo good!

It's funny though-

As happy as I was to see the bottle-

It's what was in the bottle that really mattered.

I can't help but wonder now-
Wonder what I must look like-
To the tired and thirsty people God brings my way-
Every single day.
People who are hurting and isolated-
People who are in need of a drink-
People who are weary and heavy laden.

Does my life offer even the prospect of relief?

More importantly-
What am I filled with?
What am I carrying around in this vessel-
This vessel of my body and soul-
Is there anything in me that might bring Satisfaction...............
and relief..................
and ................Life.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you,

and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions,

for the sake of His body, which is the church.

Truth-

Because Christ is in us-

Because we can live filled with His Spirit-

Not only can our packaging offer the prospect of Life-

But He can be poured out through us to bring Life-

As we share in His suffering-

For the people He brings our way. 

Father, move in me today to be a vessel

for Your Life to be poured out for the sake

of all the people You bring my way.
I pray that my life

become an expression of Your Love and Suffering.
Forgive me in every place I choose my own comfort
 over Your Love and suffering for

Your people.

Amen

Living from Faith

Christmas morning 1994- Or maybe 1995- Anyway- As she came down the stairs my daughter Rebecca was trembling with excitement-

I have never-

Before or since-

Seen such pure anticipation-

It was a beautiful thing...........

Overwhelming me even now as I draw it up from my recollections.

She rounded the corner that opened into our Great Room- The room where Santa had left her Christmas Gifts- Funny thing is, I don't even remember what the gifts were- Maybe some Barbie stuff- But it doesn't really matter- What matters- What I remember- Is Rebecca's wide eyed expression of Joy- Her unabashed proclamation-

"Santa must have thought I was a very good little girl"

A child's belief in Santa is an incredible thing to behold-

Matthew 11:25-26 At that time Jesus said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,

and revealed them to little children.

Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

It amazes me sometimes how much time I spend trying to figure God out-

Trying to make Him fit into this system or that system of theology.

I have wasted so much time in Academic Pursuit of God-

And the worst of it is-

I have missed it-

I have been jaded-

I have missed what my Daughter at 4 or 5 years old had such grip on.

When will I come 'round that corner again-

All cynicism gone-

All skepticism gone-

When will I ever see the wonders of God again-

Forget about trying to explain it all-

And simply say-

Wow!

Maybe today

Hopefully in even the next moments.

Father in Heaven-

Open the eyes of my heart -

Move in me to live by Faith-

To stand in awe at the wonder of who You are-

The One and Only True God-

Beyond....... Totally beyond........

my capacity.

All Praise, Honor and Glory be to You.

Amen

A Poem

I have only ever written a couple of poems in my life- This is one of them- A Fearful Calling Oh this thing in me- Bandying about my heart- Longing for Eternity- Reaching for Light in the dark. What is it? This desperate desire- What is it? Some fearsome fire. Light calls out to me- Consuming, pure light- Just now- I am but the moth Fluttering to it’s height. What is it? This call to the Light- What is it? This beckoning to what’s bright. Look! It is my Father, The one whose image I bear- Look! It is Abba Father Waiting…………. Calling ……... Just there. He beckons quietly- Come home my son- Come now- Die into Me- And we will be one. What is it? This desperate desire- What is it? This Great Consuming Fire. Come Home my son.............. Come Home.

Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock-

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door-

I will come into him

and sup with him

and he with Me.

Thank You Great Father for Your calling to our hearts and you promise of Life.

Amen

Life is Opposed

Why is it hard to get out of bed in the mornings? Why is it hard to stay in shape? Why do we have to toil in our jobs- Even many times in good jobs? Why do we struggle in relationships?

Why can't Life just be................ Easy?

I think for me one of the great traps of the enemy I have fallen into is the notion that as a Christian my life should be easy. Even as I write that last line the Holy Spirit brings into my mind the absurdity of the thought. How did I ever get the idea that if I just did the right things- You know- Daily Devotionals, Church, Tithe, Treat others well...........and on and on........ I would somehow be guaranteed this easy, happy, care free life? I think of Jesus warning- "In this world you will have trouble" I think of the Call to Be Strong in the Lord- To Put on the Full Armor of God- To Stand Firm- To be Strong and Courageous.

Guess what Charles- Courage and Strength are not needed for a life of ease!

Oh now don't get me wrong-

I have not resigned myself to a life of misery-

I have not given up on the Abundant Life Jesus has won for me-

But.................

I think I finally may be realizing

I am going to have to fight for the Life I long for.

Maybe the fight itself is a part of the Abundant Life.

It is a Worthy Battle-

A Transcendent Cause He has brought us into.

God has not saved us so that we may retire to a life of ease-

God has saved us so that we can join the Battle.

Love is opposed-

Life is opposed-

The Kingdom of God in this World is opposed-

Ah, but the Gospel-

Christ has Overcome-

Take Heart- Christ has Overcome

Romans 8:11 And as the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us-

That same God who raised Christ from the dead will also give Life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit Who Lives in us.

In the words of Eldredge-

There is an Adventure to live guys-

There is a Battle to fight-

There is a Beauty to rescue-

A Kingdom to be Restored-

Let's stay in the fight!

Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Spirit of the Living God-

Come to life in us today to be Strong and Courageous-

To Stand Firm-

To Love Well-

To Rise Up in the place you have put us-

To take ground for Your Kingdom.

All Praise be to You our Captain and our King.

Amen

A Song

The first song I can ever remember learning went like this-

Jesus Loves me this I know-

For the Bible tells me so-

Little ones to Him belong-

They are weak-

But He is Strong-

Yes Jesus Loves me-

Yes Jesus Loves me-

Yes Jesus Loves meeeee-

For the Bible tells me so.

I sang it, having no real grasp of what it meant-

Yet..........somehow.......... it felt Good-

Jesus Loves me

It made me feel Safe-

It made me feel Valued-

It made me feel Wanted

Deep in my heart-

I believed it.

Now- years later- I still don't really grasp it-

This Love of Jesus-

Oh, my theolgy is more sophisticated-

I have some apologetics down-

I can share the 4 Spiritual Laws-

I even teach Sunday School from time to time-

But in many ways I am not sure I feel it like I did back then.........

As a Child.

Now......... as I get a bit older-

As I deal with a bit more of my own cynicism-

As I endure a little more of the pain of this world-

There is even the temptation -

From time to time-

To question His Love.

You know what I mean, don't you?

Things run through my mind like-

"If God really Loves me then why............... "

You fill in the blank.

In many ways it was easier as a child.

Jesus Loves me this I know-

For the Bible tells me so.

Mark 10:14- 16 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me....for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And He took the children in His arms, touched them and blessed them.

Lord Jesus, I pray that You might grant me the blessing of feeling Your arms around me today. Father take me back to those times when the reality of Your Love saturated me. Help me to live in it- to find my Life and Hope and Identity in Your deep deep Love.

Amen

Strangers in a Strange Land

"Go Bullit Go!"

Rebecca squealed as she wildly flung her little 5 year old body back and forth on the newest member of our family. It was early Christmas morning in 1995- Bullit was a plastic Rocker Horse set up on powerful springs that when rocked hard back and forth the way my daughter was that morning- The rider could actually go airborn. It was Pure Joy- She was in heaven!

Fast forward June 2010-Julie and I were in the car- her driving- me riding and running off at the mouth. There was tension- I don't know where it came from- or at least right now I can not tell you it's source- but it was there-probably something silly- at least in my mind- but tension none the less- it was there- it was real. A far cry from pure Joy. On the radio was the Steven Curtis Chapman Song- "Heaven is the Face". What a great song- a song where he describes Heaven as he reflects on his fairly recent loss of his adopted daughter through a tragic accident. As I listen to the song- a little nonchalantly- there comes a lyric that reaches out and grabs me by the throat, reaches down deep into me and seizes my heart-

Heaven is a place with "No More Enemy"

I do not think we begin to understand or take seriously the devastation our Enemy brings to bear on us every moment of every day.

Right there- in that moment of Tension and Truth- it was like a revelation- an opening of my eyes to the reality of my own sinful nature and my wife's own sinful nature with an enemy standing there pouring gasoline on our smoldering embers.

An effort the divide our hearts-

To steal our peace with one another-

To destroy any joy we might find in one another-

And get this- he never rests.

Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." .............Jesus replied,"on this Rock, I will build My Church and the Gates of Hell will not stand against it."

I so look forward to the day when the last enemy of the Life I long for has fallen- Sin- Death- The Devil himself- all gone- all put away- the onslaught over- finally able to live with Love and Joy and Peace unopposed. In the mean time, I pray-

Lord God Almighty, rise up in me for power to stand against my Enemy, my own sin nature and the corruption of this world's kingdom so that I might be a part of advancing Your Great Kingdom. Thank You for even small glimpses of the Love and Joy You bring into our lives. Amen

God is Beyond Me

If God had wanted me to have a Systematic Theology why would He have not given me one? Instead I have His Word- filled with Stories and Poetry and History and Ideas that are in constant tension with one another.

I love theology- this idea that I can learn more about God- that He has revealed Himself- in His Creation- In His Word- In making us in His Image and all the nuances of human relationships- In the Sacraments and most of all in Jesus. I love that God wants a relationship with me and has made Himself knowable and available.

I have come to abhor the idea of Systematic Theology. There was a point in my life where I thought it would be great to have God all figured out- to have Him become a predictable entity in my life that followed a certain set of rules all the time. I think in my own efforts to understand God- to get a handle on Him- What I was really trying to do was contain and control Him. If I could understand His rules- I could play the game in such a way that I could win- I could get what I want. I asked a good friend recently how many different systematic theologies he thought there might be- His answer- Not sure, but many upon many. So then, which one is right? Which one of these systems has been able to correctly corral God and predict His Ways? In the realm of Christianity how many versions of the rules do you think there might be? Please don't get me wrong- I am not talking here about ultra liberal ideas that deny the diety of Christ, but instead I am talking about people and groups who hold to the core beliefs- God is Sovereign- God created all that is- Men are in need of a Saviour- Jesus, the God/Man came and died for the sins of men- Jesus literally overcame death and resurrected - Upon our calling out to Jesus in Faith He can give us the abundant/eternal life that was lost in our rebellion. Even among those who hold to these core teachings there are so many disagreements in their systematic theologies that it is truly mind boggling how the Faith has survived these 2000 plus years- Yet at the same time- God will not be thwarted- His purposes will not be lost in my own attempts to cage Him- to make Him fit my agenda- to win the game- to satisfy my need to control things.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways declares the Lord. As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts."

Father in Heaven- I pray You give me insight into Your Ways and Thoughts- I pray You lead me in the Way of Wisdom. Father I give You thanks that You are beyond me and my limited understanding in so many ways. I give You thanks that ultimately You are Sovereign and Good and Loving. I give You thanks for Jesus- Your express image for me to see- I give You thanks for Your Holy Spirit and Your Word to Lead me in all Your Ways. Move in my heart Lord God Almighty for one agenda only- to grow in my Love for You and the ability to live that out in this foreign land.

God's Great Purpose

Hey- Let's brainstorm a minute (some say for me that might look like one of those 30 second summer showers- one quick little burst then what?). Let's brainstorm about what God's Purpose for us might be-Why we are here. Some possibilities: God just wants us to be happy. We make Him happy. It all went wrong so He just wants to save us and get us to heaven. He's just playing with us- for His amusement. He wants to express His glory through us. He is using us as pawns in His great contest with the Evil one- Satan. No purpose- He just created us and set it all in motion to see what happens. Maybe we are just comic releif for His boredom. Maybe He's an ego-maniac and needs us to make Himself feel important. Maybe we are simply an outlet for His Love. Maybe it's because He is Creative at Heart and just had to express Himself. Maybe He is building something bigger and we get to be a part. In terms of how I live my life- I know what I say I believe- but which one of those ideas above would be the natural conclusion of an objective outside observor? Which one reveals the true state of my heart?

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's Purpose that prevails.

What about you- do you have children? If not, have you ever "created" or built anything? What were your motivations? Did it have anything to do with expressing who you are? Maybe that is a little of what it means to be made in His Image- That we have this inherent desire to express ourselves- To propogate our glory. There is a problem with that. It is not what we were made for. Our personal glory falls short. It can not bring us into the life we long for.

John 15: 5 Jesus said,"I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

I firmly believe we are made to be living, breathing expressions of God's Glory- that is- His Character- His Love - His Justice- His Goodness- All of who He is.

To the extent we live in that Great Purpose and advance His Great Purpose-His Kingdom- where ever He has placed us- we will live the Abundant Life Jesus Promised. I make it sound so complicated- I'm sorry Let me just put it this way- the Great Commandment

Luke 10:27 Love God- Be about Him in every possible way-This will bring us into His Great Purpose and the Life we long for.

And along with that-Do what He does. Love People- Live in Community-Knowing and Caring for those around us- much like His relationship in Father, Son and Spirit- Three in One

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we Love one another God lives in us and His Love is made complete in us.

Father God, never let me forget who I am in You- that in You I have my being. Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Be in me today- fill me to overflowing so that Your Life is expressed through even this jar of clay. Pour Ypurself through me so That I experience Your Life and it flows out to all I come in contact with. Use me to advance Your Character- Your Glory in my world. Pour Your Gospel through me- Your Love and Goodness and Grace. Help me to find my Life in all these things. Amen