What an experience on Palm Sunday!! AWESOME!! God opened up the heavens and poured out His Glory for all to see. 12 Baptisms, a moving final message in our series WHY AM I HERE? on "GO"ing, followed by an evening of fun, fellowship, food and fund raising that blew the top off of the Launching Pad. Over $7000 was raised to fund the Mexico mission trip and providing seed money for future ones. The monies collected surpassed the God-sized goal that was set. Once again He showed up and "SUPER-SIZED" our offerings...to Him be all GLORY!!
As you know, we are in the middle of Holy Week. I encourage you to read or re-read the passion event in one of the gospels and meditate on the events leading up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This morning, my reading time was in Matthew 26 where Jesus was in Gethsemane "overwhelmed with sorrow" and praying. It becomes all too easy to imagine Jesus as a demigod, striding heroically through the world without a care, when in fact, He felt emotions, toils and burdens just like we do. Please take some time this week to ponder the suffering He did for you. It will make Resurrection morning all the sweeter!
Finally, I want to encourage you to "GO" this week by inviting someone to one of the Easter services we will be hosting. Plant a seed in the life of a person you know needs a fresh touch from God. Easter is a GREAT time to plant that seed. All the metaphors of spring apply...new life, a change in season, fresh growth, etc. It's not a coincidence!!!!....it is God's Plan. So be bold this week....stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing your story and an invitation to join you in celebrating the Resurrection.
We will be hosting two locations this week. 10 AM at the Main campus of the Potter's House and 10:30 AM at Captain Ron's in Sunrise Beach. We'll see you there!! Don't miss this week, Guy. As good as last week was, this one is looking like it is going to be the BEST ONE YET!! Let's Grow....
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sheep or Goats??
Two weeks ago, I shared in my message the Greek word " mathetes " which translates into follower, learner, disciple and the fact that God calls us to be followers of Jesus and His Way...to live like He lived, loved like He loved, do what He did.
This lifestyle shift demands effort, particularly getting started. Though people of many traditions and beliefs are kind to outcasts, visit prisoners, feed the hungry, and many other kind acts, it is noticeable, especially in our increasingly "what about me" society, that those who sign up for these activities on a regular basis, and who do these and similar things automatically even when 'off duty', are people who day by day read their bibles, say their prayers and week by week serve and worship the God we know in Jesus.
That was how the Good News spread so fast in Biblical times. The called out "sheep" were people the community saw behaving differently. The world back then was full of people who didn't help, didn't feed the hungry, and didn't care for the weak and vulnerable. The "little Christs", as they were called, were modelling a new and loving way. It was, and remains, a compelling way....it's Jesus Way! Sheep or goats? Choose and start today....let's grow!!
Read Matthew 25:31-46
We entirely miss the point if we read this story as a list of 'rules to be obeyed'. To be sure, these are conditions that demand attention. But Jesus isn't telling us to keep this list and carefully mark them off as we do them. He instead desires "His" disciples to do these things 'naturally' — as though it were a kind of 'second nature' — without stopping to think about them or consider the cost. (Kind of sounds like an Acts 2 community, doesn't it?)
This lifestyle shift demands effort, particularly getting started. Though people of many traditions and beliefs are kind to outcasts, visit prisoners, feed the hungry, and many other kind acts, it is noticeable, especially in our increasingly "what about me" society, that those who sign up for these activities on a regular basis, and who do these and similar things automatically even when 'off duty', are people who day by day read their bibles, say their prayers and week by week serve and worship the God we know in Jesus.
That was how the Good News spread so fast in Biblical times. The called out "sheep" were people the community saw behaving differently. The world back then was full of people who didn't help, didn't feed the hungry, and didn't care for the weak and vulnerable. The "little Christs", as they were called, were modelling a new and loving way. It was, and remains, a compelling way....it's Jesus Way! Sheep or goats? Choose and start today....let's grow!!
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