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

The Beauty of Heaven

Three Funerals in 7 days A middle ageish white lady who loved life, Jesus and people- mature and strong in her faith. An African- American older lady who was no nonsense in dealing with people and fought powerfully as a church mother to hold an enemy at bay who wanted to steal the life of her church. A crusty old sailor who served his country, loved his family and came to Jesus late in his life.

Three people who may have never crossed paths and certainly did not run in the same circles- yet are all enjoying the presence of God this very moment- TOGETHER!

It is an amazing and beautiful thing to me that this can be so. Oh, I knew it to be so in an abstract sort of way before.........but this week- the great blessing for me of this week is to see it in such a real and personal way. Galatians 3:26-28 "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were Baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, Male nor Female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". We spend so much time in this world running around trying to find people like us- people we can be comfortable with- I put up so many walls that keep others out of my life.............

And yet in Heaven- this place I so look forward to- I will know and be known intimately by those I now call strangers.

It will be such beautiful thing to get to that place where truly only one thing matters- our Love for Christ that makes all the walls fall and the lesser things fade into nothingness. So Lynn, Faye and Bill enjoy each other now- say hello to my Daddy- to my Mamma- give them a hug for me- tell them I Love 'em- I have not forgotten them and I will see you all "in a little while". Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Welcome these who have come on to be with You. Hold them, heal them, wipe away their tears and bring them into Yourself and one another in such a way that Your Glory is put forth for all Creation to see. Amen