Posted on August 13, 2008 at 8:49am.
Maybe it is because of our study in Revelation, maybe it is because of recent events around the world or maybe it is a combination of both - but a lot of folks have been asking me about when I think Christ will return. In fact it seems like Christians have always had a fascination with the subject. I guess it is only natural since one of our great hopes is Jesus’ return, in all of his glory. The interesting thing is we tend to obsess over the wrong thing. We worry about timing and Jesus told us to worry about how we live. Speaking about end time events and his own return Jesus said: “No one knows about the day or hour not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” I wonder which part of “no one” all those folks who speculate and predict don’t understand? He went on to say: “Be on guard! Be alert!” We need to demonstrate that we believe he is returning by paying close attention to how we live our day by day lives. (Scripture passages Mark 13:32,33)
Posted on August 12, 2008 at 8:41am.
As we are winding down the summer and our look at the Book of Revelation I was reminded again of the story of the janitor and the seminary students. He let them play basketball in the gym in exchange for being able to read their Bible while they played. When they found out he was reading Revelation and then added that he understood it, they were shocked. His simple answer is really right on target and profound. He said, “It means that Jesus is gonna win” - I couldn’t say it any better.
Posted on August 4, 2008 at 5:53am.
I don’t know when the last time was you read Psalm 136 but it is a really interesting Psalm. It begins with the great declaration - “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” The psalmist then says for the first of 26 times - “His love endures forever.” I think he was trying to make a point. As the Psalm speaks verse after verse of all the wonderful things God does it always comes back to the same declaration of God’s never failing love. I don’t know about you but I need that reminder often of the unending, inexhaustible, forever love of God. May today find you enjoying the Father’s love for you.
Posted on August 3, 2008 at 5:41am.
Two dear saints who were part of Church at Charlotte left us this week and went home to be with Jesus. A week ago today H Dehoff was welcomed into the arms of the Lord she loved and yesterday Anne Belk joined her in going home. Young moms with teenage kids and loving husbands, by our thinking, have left too soon. I hope you will join me in praying for and seeking to comfort both of these families.
I choose the word home very purposefully. This world isn’t home no matter how comfortable we seek to make it. We were built for heaven. We were built to be with Jesus and if we know him the way both Anne and H do we will join them one day - home in the arms of Jesus. It is that sure hope that brings comfort in the midst of deep sorrow.
Posted on August 2, 2008 at 8:04am.
It has been hard this week to write on my blog. That is obvious to those of you who read it on a regular basis. In fact this is the first entry since last week. I am not sure I could tell you why only that it has just felt hard. Life has those ebbs and flows and not just in writing a blog. We would all agree that is part of being human. It also makes it more amazing to me when I think about Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - talk about consistent. There is great comfort for me in knowing that his love, his grace, his mercy and his justice never wavers.
