The Gospel in Relationships
A few weeks ago God began to speak into me through circumstances and people about his intimate involvement in our lives. As time has passed I am still thinking on that. Here is the flowing of my thoughts on that.
I am so thankful that God is good and near. Jesus Christ left perfection to come to this earth and live among us to suffer pain, be lonely, be mocked, be beaten and be forsaken by God the Father. He did this bridge the gap of relationship that existed between us and God. He did it to satisfy the judgement of wrath that had to be poured out if God was to be just.
The result is our redemption which brings us relationship. God is a highly relational being. He desires to be intimate with His creatures. That is you and I. How amazing is that?
As I reflected on this I was reminded of the relationship that I have with my bride. It reminds me of God when I sit and hold her hand and smell her distinct smell or look at her in a crowded room and smile. It me reminds me of God to tuck my son into bed and cover him up and leave his room and pray for his future. It reminds me of God to have a deep connection with a friend, to share hurt and triumph with a buddy.
We have the image of God imprinted on our soul and our craving for a few relationships that we can be who we are with no pretense or judgement is a reflection of that image of God. I do not have to be the best baseball player or be the best at teaching my son to ride a bike for him to think of me as his favorite person. My heart in given life when a friend asks to invest in them. As I lie down with my wife after a day of choosing her and choosing me and failing and succeeding at loving her right, she still wants to hold my hand as we fall asleep.
That is the gospel in relationships and it is beautiful. God is showing you the gospel all the time. Stop and look for it from time to time. Then tell me about it.
I am so thankful that God is good and near. Jesus Christ left perfection to come to this earth and live among us to suffer pain, be lonely, be mocked, be beaten and be forsaken by God the Father. He did this bridge the gap of relationship that existed between us and God. He did it to satisfy the judgement of wrath that had to be poured out if God was to be just.
The result is our redemption which brings us relationship. God is a highly relational being. He desires to be intimate with His creatures. That is you and I. How amazing is that?
As I reflected on this I was reminded of the relationship that I have with my bride. It reminds me of God when I sit and hold her hand and smell her distinct smell or look at her in a crowded room and smile. It me reminds me of God to tuck my son into bed and cover him up and leave his room and pray for his future. It reminds me of God to have a deep connection with a friend, to share hurt and triumph with a buddy.
We have the image of God imprinted on our soul and our craving for a few relationships that we can be who we are with no pretense or judgement is a reflection of that image of God. I do not have to be the best baseball player or be the best at teaching my son to ride a bike for him to think of me as his favorite person. My heart in given life when a friend asks to invest in them. As I lie down with my wife after a day of choosing her and choosing me and failing and succeeding at loving her right, she still wants to hold my hand as we fall asleep.
That is the gospel in relationships and it is beautiful. God is showing you the gospel all the time. Stop and look for it from time to time. Then tell me about it.
Relationships pointing to the Gospel
A few weeks ago God began to speak into me through circumstances and people about his intimate involvement in our lives. As time has passed I am still thinking on that. Here is the flowing of my thoughts on that.
I am so thankful that God is good and near. Jesus Christ left perfection to come to this earth and live among us to suffer pain, be lonely, be mocked, be beaten and be forsaken by God the Father. He did this bridge the gap of relationship that existed between us and God. He did it to satisfy the judgement of wrath that had to be poured out if God was to be just.
The result is our redemption which brings us relationship. God is a highly relational being. He desires to be intimate with His creatures. That is you and I. How amazing is that?
As I reflected on this I was reminded of the relationship that I have with my bride. It reminds me of God when I sit and hold her hand and smell her distinct smell or look at her in a crowded room and smile. It me reminds me of God to tuck my son into bed and cover him up and leave his room and pray for his future. It reminds me of God to have a deep connection with a friend, to share hurt and triumph with a buddy.
We have the image of God imprinted on our soul and our craving for a few relationships that we can be who we are with no pretense or judgement is a reflection of that image of God. I do not have to be the best baseball player or be the best at teaching my son to ride a bike for him to think of me as his favorite person. My heart in given life when a friend asks to invest in them. As I lie down with my wife after a day of choosing her and choosing me and failing and succeeding at loving her right, she still wants to hold my hand as we fall asleep.
That is the gospel in relationships and it is beautiful. God is showing you the gospel all the time. Stop and look for it from time to time. Then tell me about it.
I am so thankful that God is good and near. Jesus Christ left perfection to come to this earth and live among us to suffer pain, be lonely, be mocked, be beaten and be forsaken by God the Father. He did this bridge the gap of relationship that existed between us and God. He did it to satisfy the judgement of wrath that had to be poured out if God was to be just.
The result is our redemption which brings us relationship. God is a highly relational being. He desires to be intimate with His creatures. That is you and I. How amazing is that?
As I reflected on this I was reminded of the relationship that I have with my bride. It reminds me of God when I sit and hold her hand and smell her distinct smell or look at her in a crowded room and smile. It me reminds me of God to tuck my son into bed and cover him up and leave his room and pray for his future. It reminds me of God to have a deep connection with a friend, to share hurt and triumph with a buddy.
We have the image of God imprinted on our soul and our craving for a few relationships that we can be who we are with no pretense or judgement is a reflection of that image of God. I do not have to be the best baseball player or be the best at teaching my son to ride a bike for him to think of me as his favorite person. My heart in given life when a friend asks to invest in them. As I lie down with my wife after a day of choosing her and choosing me and failing and succeeding at loving her right, she still wants to hold my hand as we fall asleep.
That is the gospel in relationships and it is beautiful. God is showing you the gospel all the time. Stop and look for it from time to time. Then tell me about it.
Memorial Day Sunday Night at North Church
The Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend is a Bar B Q night for a lot of folks. This week at North Church it will be the same thing, we will start at 6 pm. Tell your friends and neighbors.
There will be a short time of worship outside and a short teaching time outside. We will also serve food and drink. There will be a washers tournament with a gift card collage as a prize. You will be given the chance to beat the Pastors (Rik and Jeff will be a team). It is probability of anyone actually beating them is extremely remote, but you can try.
All are welcome, come and have fun and celebrate that summer is here.
There will be a short time of worship outside and a short teaching time outside. We will also serve food and drink. There will be a washers tournament with a gift card collage as a prize. You will be given the chance to beat the Pastors (Rik and Jeff will be a team). It is probability of anyone actually beating them is extremely remote, but you can try.
All are welcome, come and have fun and celebrate that summer is here.
First one since march 24
First of all let me say sorry to month of April for not posting to this blog the entire month. But let me back away from complete contrition and say it is partly the fault of April since it only has 30 days in it.
Typically I will write deep theological stuff on this blog, but today I want to throw some stream of conscienceless stuff out there.
Lost thoughts::
-Please do not be a science fiction story, you are much better than that!
-All the dead people talking make me think this might be the case.
-In what way is Ben playing Locke now, you know he is not giving up that simply by just giving to the role of leader to him. By the way, Ben will wind up being someone we root for.
-Episodes seem to be lacking when we don't see much Jack or Sawyer.
-There will be some hard finger banging when the bad guy from the boat gets his, and I would love for it to be Sawyer that finally takes him out in a Sawyer sort of way.
You really ought to listen this guy thoughts::
-Matt Chandler
-Village Church Dallas (you can find him on iTunes)
-You can click on the title of this entry and go to the resurgence.com text and context site for some good stuff, try his Vision of a church planter message.
Other random thoughts::
-I failed to yield yesterday and then got hit because of it and now my neck hurts and my daughters car is jacked up...interesting considering my note from last night that appears on facebook and my comment on 31 Days of Prayer::Day 8. Go check them out.
-Coop and I will be watching Speed Racer today!
-I miss golf.
-Mars Hill Music iTunes Podcast is recommended for free cutting edge worship stuff.
-I want some BJ's pizza and or some Chicken Parm and Potatoes from Maggiano's.
Typically I will write deep theological stuff on this blog, but today I want to throw some stream of conscienceless stuff out there.
Lost thoughts::
-Please do not be a science fiction story, you are much better than that!
-All the dead people talking make me think this might be the case.
-In what way is Ben playing Locke now, you know he is not giving up that simply by just giving to the role of leader to him. By the way, Ben will wind up being someone we root for.
-Episodes seem to be lacking when we don't see much Jack or Sawyer.
-There will be some hard finger banging when the bad guy from the boat gets his, and I would love for it to be Sawyer that finally takes him out in a Sawyer sort of way.
You really ought to listen this guy thoughts::
-Matt Chandler
-Village Church Dallas (you can find him on iTunes)
-You can click on the title of this entry and go to the resurgence.com text and context site for some good stuff, try his Vision of a church planter message.
Other random thoughts::
-I failed to yield yesterday and then got hit because of it and now my neck hurts and my daughters car is jacked up...interesting considering my note from last night that appears on facebook and my comment on 31 Days of Prayer::Day 8. Go check them out.
-Coop and I will be watching Speed Racer today!
-I miss golf.
-Mars Hill Music iTunes Podcast is recommended for free cutting edge worship stuff.
-I want some BJ's pizza and or some Chicken Parm and Potatoes from Maggiano's.
The Gospel
We all have sin in common, but the death and ressurection of Jesus has redeemed us.
That sin that we all have in common makes us enemies of God. It makes us the object of God's vicious wrath. But the great mercy of God has washed us. Ephesians 2 says that God is rich in mercy. I picture the Niagara Falls, and the 6 million cubic feet of water that fall there every minute. That is rich. It is a picutre of God and Him being rich in mercy.
I have met many people who live in the understand that they have screwed up, but it seems as though there is a large leap to fully embracing the second half of the gospel. We are so completely loved and accepted by this God who we have wronged. We are no longer objects of wrath but objects of love. The God who is rich in mercy and grace and kindness is expressing them all to you.
Look around you today for expressions of mercy and grace and kindness. When you see them breath and take refuge in your Father.
That sin that we all have in common makes us enemies of God. It makes us the object of God's vicious wrath. But the great mercy of God has washed us. Ephesians 2 says that God is rich in mercy. I picture the Niagara Falls, and the 6 million cubic feet of water that fall there every minute. That is rich. It is a picutre of God and Him being rich in mercy.
I have met many people who live in the understand that they have screwed up, but it seems as though there is a large leap to fully embracing the second half of the gospel. We are so completely loved and accepted by this God who we have wronged. We are no longer objects of wrath but objects of love. The God who is rich in mercy and grace and kindness is expressing them all to you.
Look around you today for expressions of mercy and grace and kindness. When you see them breath and take refuge in your Father.
Redemption::The Gospel
This Sunday is Easter. Many of us will be reflecting on the death and ressurection that this holiday marks. At North Church this week we will be relecting on the results of that death and resurrection, that is, we will be lookly at the gospel.
The gospel is many things, but simply put it is understanding that we are more messed up than we ever knew and we are more accepted and loved that we ever dared believe.
We will look at a few places in scripture, but we will land on Ephesians 2:1-10. This is the gospel in 10 verses. Take a chance to take a look at it.
The last few days, I have come to grips with my own sin and my own failures. In midst of that I have felt the provision for my sin and fallen deeper in love with our Savior that we celebrate.
The gospel is many things, but simply put it is understanding that we are more messed up than we ever knew and we are more accepted and loved that we ever dared believe.
We will look at a few places in scripture, but we will land on Ephesians 2:1-10. This is the gospel in 10 verses. Take a chance to take a look at it.
The last few days, I have come to grips with my own sin and my own failures. In midst of that I have felt the provision for my sin and fallen deeper in love with our Savior that we celebrate.
