It's been awhile since I last blogged. I've got a bad habit of getting overcrowded with stuff in life, that keeps me from goals and priorities. I will do better. My goal is to share a new blog each week and tell about what God is taliking to me about! Hope you enjoy and ponder this one and let me know what YOU think about it!
Eph. 5:8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light,
Eph. 5:9 for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Eph. 5:10 Try to learn what pleases the Lord.
Eph. 5:11 Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:10 At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.
I have tried to write this article for a couple of weeks now, but either I have an interruption, sudden hospital visit, approaching holiday, or else there is a late-breaking news flash that necessitates a response to the world around us.
Such is the case this time, as all of the above circumstances have been colliding in my spirit and soul, making it difficult to know where to begin. As I thought and meditated on these things, I decided to start by focusing on Jesus (it always comes back to that truth!).
As we celebrate Jesus, I am reminded that He is the Light of the world. This “Light” was a theme at His conception and birth. It was a key principle of His ministry teaching about Himself. It also was contrasted with the darkness at His crucifixion and burial. But "Light" was evident at His resurrection!
As Peter points out, Jesus’ great work involved bringing us out of the darkness of sin with its penalty of eternal death and into His marvelous light, by the mercy of His death on the cross and glorious resurrection. But Jesus did not merely die to redeem our souls for eternal life, but also our daily living. This is the essence of Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 5. So the Easter story is more than the empty tomb; it really is about the resurrected Jesus living daily through our actions, words, and lifestyles.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about Einstein’s theory of light. Now, I certainly don’t put his ideas on equal par with the Bible, but I thought that his observations shed some “light” on the subject of light. He speculated that at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), “time” would become like a standstill so as to become non-relevant. As I pondered that idea, I applied it to my understanding of eternity, heaven, and hell. It was quite eye-opening!
In Heaven’s Light, we will be like Jesus in a glorified body that can move at the speed of light, visiting with Him and all the saints and loved ones with never a fear of “good-bye”, as time will have neither meaning nor shackles on us. Only joy, laughter, eternal delights, pleasures, adventures, exciting surprises, learning, and the satisfaction of knowing all this wonder and fellowship will go on forever without a single clock in sight!
Conversely, in hell, there will be no light whatsoever. There will be intense flame and endless burning, but no light – only darkness that can be felt forever. Utter isolation without any companions, only your own thoughts and memories of sin to torment you. Without light, time will be crawling like a snail for eternity with clocks ticking around you to remind you of your foolish and stupid choice to reject Jesus and His Word. Your torment and loss will create a thirst that will never be quenched and a madness of soul that will rage in your consciousness without any hope of relief by either annihilation or escape by some drug or medication.
What an awesome contrast that puts into clear perspective why Christ died and rose FOR YOU!! And why He implores us to repent of our sin and come to Him today and STAY with Him every day. It also clarifies why we emphasize personal evangelism and world missions so much. God is not willing that anyone should perish but that everyone should come to repentance and have eternal life. Jesus came that we may have abundant life both on earth and forever in Heaven. Come to His Light today and keep walking in it with Him daily!
Blessings!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Healthy Heart
It's February! Which means it is the middle of winter, and though it is cold and snowy outside, this is the month that tries to capitalize on "Love", as something "warm and glowy" on the inside. Valentine's Day is a popular "holiday" on the annual calendar. Children look forward to having another party in their school rooms, dread having to send cards to members of the opposite gender (though secretly relishing when they receive one from certain ones!), and all love getting more candy. Women may look forward to flowers, chocolate, a date at a nice restaurant where socks are actually required, and so forth. Men may also enjoy this time of year as well, while many of us scramble at the last minute trying to find the right card or gift to express our love to our wife. These all are fine things, but let's remember to do them truly for the benefit of the OTHER, and for any ulterior motive in mind. Above all else, the human heart is made for giving and receiving love with genuine sincerity. That is what nurtures true intimacy, builds security, and mutually meets the needs of others.
So in order to have a truly "Healthy Heart", let's remember what God has prescribed for us as the true character and nature of that oft used, but rarely thought out word, LOVE! Examine closely what the Apostle Paul is saying from I Corinthians 13: 1-13,
I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.
I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains---but if I have no love, I am nothing.
I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned ---but if I have no love, this does me no good.
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;
love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs;
love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.
Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.
Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.
For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial;
but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.
When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways.
What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete---as complete as God's knowledge of me.
Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.
I pray you all take time to dig deep into this passage and ask God to "flesh" love's true meaning out in our lives and relationships. True Love really is a "many splendored thing" when, with God's help, we understand His love for us in Christ, and we can confidently give our love to others. So have fun and enjoy the love of God, spouse, children, and friends!
Love and Blessings!
Shawn
So in order to have a truly "Healthy Heart", let's remember what God has prescribed for us as the true character and nature of that oft used, but rarely thought out word, LOVE! Examine closely what the Apostle Paul is saying from I Corinthians 13: 1-13,
I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.
I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains---but if I have no love, I am nothing.
I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned ---but if I have no love, this does me no good.
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;
love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs;
love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.
Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.
Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.
For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial;
but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.
When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways.
What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete---as complete as God's knowledge of me.
Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.
I pray you all take time to dig deep into this passage and ask God to "flesh" love's true meaning out in our lives and relationships. True Love really is a "many splendored thing" when, with God's help, we understand His love for us in Christ, and we can confidently give our love to others. So have fun and enjoy the love of God, spouse, children, and friends!
Love and Blessings!
Shawn
Sunday, January 18, 2009
God Make You Mighty
Now that Christmas is past and Epiphany is over, as far as the calendar is concerned, people begin to settle in for the long winter and normal routines of life. However, I wish to remind us all that the message of Immanuel becoming like us and continually being with us should never lose its sentimental glow, spiritual vitality, or evangelistic fervor.
Epiphany celebrates the wise men finding "Jesus' star" and following its Light till they found the Object of worship that satifies all our cravings. We should daily follow the Light of His revelation and find time to worship the King with the daily giving of our treasures of gold (finances), incense (prayer and praise), and myrrh (sacrifices and sorrows).
Recently, I was blessed by some thoughts from Jill Carratini, who writes a daily email devotion for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (www.rzim.org), called "Slice of Infinity". In this article she expressed the difference of the original meaning of the old Christmas hymn, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman", with its modern understanding. Firstly, note that the title has a comma, or stopping point, giving pause for our reflection. Second, the idea behind the writers' understanding of the English language 150 years ago meant something entirely different from our "modern" understanding.
When we sing the song nowdays, we think of God helping dignified men to be happy in light of Jesus' coming to earth. But the original meaning conveyed the idea of God coming to make us "rest", completely trusting His strength to win and to secure our salvation, thus also making us strong in His might! Thus, we can sing, praise, pray, work, serve, and live with Immanuel, confident that " The Joy of the Lord is our strength"!
Blessings,
Pastor Ogre
Epiphany celebrates the wise men finding "Jesus' star" and following its Light till they found the Object of worship that satifies all our cravings. We should daily follow the Light of His revelation and find time to worship the King with the daily giving of our treasures of gold (finances), incense (prayer and praise), and myrrh (sacrifices and sorrows).
Recently, I was blessed by some thoughts from Jill Carratini, who writes a daily email devotion for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (www.rzim.org), called "Slice of Infinity". In this article she expressed the difference of the original meaning of the old Christmas hymn, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman", with its modern understanding. Firstly, note that the title has a comma, or stopping point, giving pause for our reflection. Second, the idea behind the writers' understanding of the English language 150 years ago meant something entirely different from our "modern" understanding.
When we sing the song nowdays, we think of God helping dignified men to be happy in light of Jesus' coming to earth. But the original meaning conveyed the idea of God coming to make us "rest", completely trusting His strength to win and to secure our salvation, thus also making us strong in His might! Thus, we can sing, praise, pray, work, serve, and live with Immanuel, confident that " The Joy of the Lord is our strength"!
Blessings,
Pastor Ogre
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