Gratitude

Many days I feel like a citizen of the nation of Israel. I lived my life for 20+ years in service to myself and my sinful desires - I was in bondage to myself and to the ways of the world (my Egypt). God sent people into myself to teach me about who God was and who could deliver me from my Egypt (my Exodus). For a while I enjoyed my freedom, but pretty soon I found myself complaining about areas of my life; I found myself longing for my previous life of selfishness - I was no different than the Israelites grumbling to Moses about the lack of water, or food, or being sick of bread, or being sick of qual, or whatever. As God works to transform my life I still find myself at times grumbling to God rather than clinging to his faithfulness of the past and promises of the future. It's easy to rip on the Israelites, but I wonder how different I would have been. It's easy to rip on Adam and Eve, but I wonder if I would have been covered with fruit. It's easy to think about how good things were back in Egypt, forgetting about the slavery and bondage - but the truth is, we (I) were slaves and have no found freedom in our (my) deliverance. As we paint pictures of Egypt (copyright Sara Groves), let's make sure we remember the full picture.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful to be serving God at "such a time as this" in His kingdom history as He is on the move calling people to himself in Isanti County and beyond. I am so thankful for a church that is like family to me - for people that love unconditionally and serve intentionally. I am so thankful to be surrounded by people that continually make me want to be a better man; to be more Christ-like. I am so thankful that God's mercies are new every morning. I am so thankful that the God who made the universe and who is perfectly Holy would allow me into His presence.

I am very thankful this Thanksgiving.

Holy of Holies

God instructed the nation of Israel to build a tabernacle which was split into two pieces... the "Holy Place" and the "Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies)." These two parts were separated by a thick veil. God's presence resided between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant which was located in the Holy of Holies and only the High Priest was allowed to enter that area and only once per year.

What Jesus did through his coming and subsequent death was to open the door to the Holy of Holies to each of us... in fact, when He died, the veil was torn in two (from top to bottom). We have access to God and through the work of the Holy Spirit in each of us, God lives inside of us. I think we often take this for granted as a "nice" thing. The Bible says that God doesn't change - he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What significance does that have? God was so Holy that no one could be in His presence without His permission or they would die. God sent plagues on Egypt to let the Israelites go. God parted the red sea. God came in fire, smoke, and earthquake on Mount Sinai. God flooded the earth, but saved humankind through Noah. God is a God of wonders, power, and awe! This is the God we serve and worship; this is the God that is still alive and working; this is the God that lives in each of us through the Holy Spirit. God deserves to be honored, worshipped, and yes, even feared.

"Take me in to the Holy of Holies; take me in by the blood of the Lamb. Take me in to the Holy of Holies; take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am!"

What-if-a-cation?

We had a great class yesterday at church where we discussed the 10 commandments that God gave to the nation of Israel through Moses. We didn't even talk about the 10 specifically as we focused on the need for the law... why did/does God give us "laws"? Why do we have laws in our culture? Is God punishing us or protecting us? Does this create captivity or freedom? If the law defines our sin, then what is the importance of recognizing that we are sinners? How does recognizing our sin help us understand the nature of God?... or what Jesus did for us?

Obviously, there was some riveting conversation. Through it all, we talked about how God "consecrated" Moses, and then Aaron, setting them apart for meeting with God on Mt. Sinai. We talked about what consecration means which led to wondering what the difference was between consecration and sanctification. Is consecration a state of being set apart whereas sanctification is the process of being consecrated? Are they tied that tightly together? Are they much different?

I took it upon myself to "ask the experts" and committed to bringing some insight back to the class next Sunday. I will also ask the experts to post their comments on this blog as well. If you have thoughts on this, please share with the rest of us.

Heart & Soul

As Pastor Bill taught on Sunday, Jonathan's armor bearer was with him "heart and soul" no matter what the situation; no matter what the odds. He was passionately sold out to Jonathan and his mission. What are we sold out to? God calls us to live lives that are passionately sold out to Him... to understand that the purposes God created us for included being "crucified with Christ" so that it is no longer us living, but Christ living through us. What then, does it mean, to have Christ living through us? Well, how did Christ teach us to live? It is better to love than hate; to forgive than hold bitterness; to help than to walk away --- I believe Christ calls us to a radically inclusive kind of love. When we live our lives walking in love (not mushy gooshy words over action, but the kind of love that transforms lives) then we are showing that we are with God "heart and soul."

"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." - 1 Samuel 14:7