Matthew 25:31 (ESV): “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Read More
Midweek Meditation on Matthew 25:31-39
Internet Evangelism Day 2008
Are you an Internet evangelist? Do you live with an Internet evangelist? If either is the case, then by all means do check out or pass the word about Internet Evangelism Day (IED). You can access a bunch of online resources at the official IED web site that will aid you in your digital outreach and evangelism. Incidentally, Internet Evangelism Day is being celebrated on the 27th of April. Personally, I’m not sold on the idea. I think relationships in real-time are pretty important in meaningful evangelism, but with God, I know, anything is possible!
UPDATE: I received a note from Internet Evangelism Day Coordinator, Tony Whittaker. I think Tony makes some really awesome points. Check Tony’s note after the jump (reprinted with permission). Read More
Easter 2007 Lancaster City
An Authority Recreated in Gentleness is Peace
Matthew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Read More
A Revelation for the Little Children
Matthew 11: 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will …”
The point of the above scripture is not an indictment of education or knowledge, any more than it is an indictment of age. Jesus does say that God revealed the revelation of Jesus Christ to “little children,” but the disciples were not little children, in the literal sense of the word. They were, however, “like little children” in that they were more than willing and ready to admit their total dependency upon God. They were willing and ready to follow Jesus’ teaching. The wise and understanding from whom God hides the revelation of Jesus Christ are those who deem themselves self-sufficient, super wise, and above any need for God. These are the ones who do not see Christ’s revelation; these are the ones from whom God withholds it. The little children who do see it are those who depend upon God and are willing to be taught. To them, God freely reveals all. Read More
The Stubbornness and The Journey
We are a stubborn lot. Let’s not fool ourselves with grandiose visions of our spiritual selves. We are a notoriously stubborn bunch of people, especially as it concerns matters of faith. Very, very few of us will break from the early patterns we set - or that were set for us - in our spiritual journey. Why do you suppose that is? Why do you suppose we think we have arrived, when in actuality God only extended to us an invitation to begin a life-long journey? We are invited, by God, to join him in a journey that only begins when we humble ourselves and say, “Yes!” The journey begins when we say yes to God! We are all invited to this “Yes!” I wonder, however, why and how so many of us confuse or mistake the invitation for the party? Read More
A Herd of Ragamuffins: The Body of Christ
The Body of Christ is a beautiful assembly of recreated ragamuffins. We are people who realized that we could not do this thing called life all on our own. We need one another; we need God. We are people who have made good on Christ’s grace-laden invitation. We are people who live and work in God’s Kingdom, in spite of ourselves. Only a ridiculously loving God would have – or could have – imagined and made real a body of people like this. We don’t deserve the Church, but we have it. Not only do we have it, but we also are it! We are the Church; we are the Body of Christ! Blemished as the Church is as a result of its composition (us), it shines beautiful because Christ made it so through his perfect life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The Church is, therefore, beautifully pure, in spite of the blemish we bring to it with our presence. It’s quite a picture. It’s remarkably beautiful, thanks to Christ Jesus. Jesus is the beautiful shepherd who gently herds us. We are his Church.
The Season’s First Snow
The two large, glass windows mathematically parting the otherwise solid interior of my study have blessed me with an amazing view of nature’s artistry and God’s imagination. An irenic and cascading white has been steadily transforming the motionless into motion. Everything is moving outside, at least from the vantage point of my manufactured desk chair. Life extends well beyond the thin glass border through which I curiously peer. It’s humbling. It’s beautiful. I can’t help but to sit still and quietly re-visit the familiar but often neglected awe inspired by the luminous. God is indescribably creative. God is good. Read More
Giving Thanks in Times of Deep Contentment
Contentment is not a relinquishing of the natural drive we all have to succeed in life and/or career. In other words, contentment is not about becoming lazy, slothful, or dormant; it is not about being underachieving slackers who fool themselves into believing that being so is actually righteous and peaceful. No! Contentment is not about killing future hopes and dreams; it’s not about being complacent about the important things in life either. Contentment is about embracing the present moment we all actually live in. It’s about embracing the people, places, and good things we have been given right now. In fact, we cannot move into our future’s creativity and dreams until we authentically embrace our present.
We all have much in life that we still want to experience and accomplish. That is a good thing! We all have dreams and desires that span everything from school, marriage, and vocation. Those are good things too. Read More
The Divine Liberation of the Utterly Helpless
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” - Romans 5:6
Have you ever been in a situation wherein you were totally and utterly helpless? Have you ever experienced a moment in your life when you knew that you could do nothing to change the outcome? Have you? Have you ever been trapped in a moment when nothing you could do, say, or think would affect, effect, or even influence the conclusion? I think we have all been there at some point in our lives. If you have not already been in such a predicament, you will be someday. I promise. Why would I heap such a rotten sounding promise upon you, my friends? Well, because it is true. Read More