Dearly Loved Children

As I was considering what I would write today I realized that I was going to repeat myself, "We continue to prepare for the coming fall." So instead of repeating myself I thought I would share some of the content I am preparing, with you. I am working on a series of trainings on worship. Here is a sample: 

Ephesians 5:1 & 2 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

I am amazed that God considers Jesus’ death on the cross a fragrant offering. Jesus’ death was horrible and tortuous, and yet God was pleased with it. How can anyone consider worshipping a God who demands the death of another, especially his only son?

My identity as a parent helps me to understand what God did. We were created to be God’s children and we rebelled and decided that we didn’t need God as our Father. Jesus gave his life so that we could be become dearly loved children again to God. Jesus, God’s son, was banished, exiled on the cross for us so that we could become true sons and daughters of God.

If one of my children rejected me, I would do everything in my power to win them back, even give my life. This is what God did. God didn’t just send his son - Jesus was God. Just like I would die for my children to save them, God died for us so that we could be called children of God.

God’s love for me is sacrificial. I want to worship a God who loves me so much he would sacrifice himself for me so that I could be called his child.

Part Two next week.

A Gift

I received a beautiful gift from one of my students who graduated this year. She wanted to say thanks for the way God had used me in her life. I was overwhelmed and thankful. Her gift encouraged me and motivated me to keep giving to students.

And in the last couple of weeks I have been doing that. We have had a continuous flow of visitors in our home these last two weeks, but in between them all I have had time to finish preparing two training documents (Follow-up and Bible Study) and write a sermon I will be presenting at our church (Common Church) on July 31st. I have also had some great time at my computer working on recording some of my music. And we spent a day at the beach as a family, too.

Keep praying for our summer preparation and our finances. The later is always a challenge, but especially in the summer. I spend time praying for all of you, too. Thank you for your partnership in reaching students at BU and through out the world.

And don't forget to thank those in your life who have made a difference for Christ in you. Your thanks will be a tremendous encouragement and blessing.

A Vision Worth Sharing

“For too long we have thought of the Christian life as essentially either involvement in political, economic, social concerns that wears us out and result in depression or activity which keeps the church intact and doctrinally pure. Our primary orientation cannot be an institution or some great cause or even other people, but first and forever to God. Unless our identity is hid in God we will never know who we are or what we are to do. Our first act must be prayer...To be human is to pray, to meditate both day and night on the love and activity of God. We are called to be continuously formed and transformed by the thought of God within us. Prayer is a disciplined dedication to paying attention. Without the singleminded attentiveness of prayer we will rarely hear anything worth repeating or catch a vision worth asking anyone else to gaze upon.” - from The Spiritual Life by John H. Westerhoff III and John D. Eusden  (Bold mine.)

Gene, Thomas and I have been thinking and praying through why we do what we do and who we do it for. A very good thing to do on a regular basis. Incite also spent a lot of time encouraging us, as campus pastors, to examine our purpose and the 'why' of what we do in our ministries. It is good to be reminded that our why is "first and forever to God" and His kingdom. 

What do I have to share that is worth anyone giving their life to? Nothing. I need God's vision, heart, and passion, then I will have something worth gazing at, a vision worth pointing to, something worth dying for.

I discover God's passion in prayer - attentive prayer. I need to practice that kind of prayer. Its not something I do naturally. I do a lot of asking, instead of listening. I am going to start paying attention more. Will join with me in attentive, singleminded prayer? Thanks.