Brutality of Slavery

Read the first few chapters of Exodus and you will recognize the enslavement and oppression that the people of God had to endure in Egypt. You will see the unfolding of God’s providential plan to rescue and redeem His people as He leads them to freedom. And you will read the words of encouragement and promise that God speaks to His chosen people as He reveals His plan.

“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’” (Exodus‬ ‭6:6-8)

These are words of encouragement, words of hope, words of promise, and words of redemption. How will the people of God respond? 

So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭6:9‬)

I sometimes wonder if the people of God - today - often “refuse to listen anymore” and then God reveals His message and sends someone to proclaim it among us. 

I sometimes wonder if the people of God “refuse to listen anymore” because they have “become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery”. 

We must...

...recognize the enslavement and oppression that exists in our world today and acknowledge the areas that we are personally enslaved.

...admit before The Lord the areas of discouragement that we deal with in life and confess to The Lord the brutality of the slavery that we are enduring.

...listen closely to the voice of The Lord and for the message from The Lord, ensuring that it lines up with Scriptural truth and the known character of God.

...walk in obedience with The Lord, faithfulness to The Lord, and confidence of The Lord every day; being encouraged by His Word and His Church around us.

The Wait

People are waiting 8, 9, 10, 11 hours - in the rain - for the newest roller coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando. And most of these people are saying that the ride is  “totally worth the wait”.

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What are you willing to wait for? 

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So often we talk about the things that we want - that we need - that we are desperate for. But are we willing to wait? Are we willing to ask - to seek - to labor - - and to wait? 

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What are you desperate for right now?

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What are you waiting for right now?

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Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

We Wait

Advent is the season of hopeful waiting.

Mary waited in expectation of her son.

Israel waited for their eternal King.

The Jews waited for their Messiah.

The angels waited to declare Jesus’ birth.

The world waited for their redeemer. 

Waiting does not come easy to any of us.

Waiting is something that must be taught.

Waiting is something that must be practiced.

Waiting is something that must be learned.

The promise of a gift gives us hope.

And yet we must still wait. 

We anticipate. 

We hope. 

We wait.

The Psalmist begins; “I waiting patiently for the Lord...”. This is a good reminder for us all - to wait and to wait patiently for the Lord. And yet, he concludes his Psalm; “...God, do not delay” (Psalm 40). 

What are you waiting on right now? 

Are you waiting in hopeful anticipation?

Are you waiting patiently for The Lord?

“Blessed are this who trusts - who hope - who wait - in The Lord” (Psalm 40:4).

For I Know The Plans

2017 started and ended on Sundays. It's amazing to start and the end the year in worship and to have the privilege and honor to preach God's Word as "bookends" to the year.

Both messages will focus on the same theme - "HOPE" - and both messages will bring us back to the truth of Jeremiah 29:11-13; 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

In this early hour of the final day of the year I sit and contemplate this passage and encourage you to do the same.

Various questions come to mind as I contemplate the words of this passage;

Do you trust that the Lord has a plan for you?
Do you trust that the Lord's plan is one that will prosper you?
Do you trust that the Lord's plan will bring you hope and a future?
Are you seeking the Lord?
Are you seeking the Lord with all your heart?
Are you finding the Lord?

I read this passage again this morning; 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And more questions strike me;

Have I trusted in the Lord's plan for my life this last year that I have been able to rest in His hope for me - His future for me?
Have I found that Lord is such a profound way that I know Him better at the close of the year than I did at the start of it?
Have I pointed to Jesus - helping others to find Him and His plan - His hope and future - for their lives?

Again, I read;

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And I ask myself;

In 2018, how will I seek and find the Lord more passionately?

In 2018, how will I trust more in His plan for my life?
In 2018, how will I help others do the same?

We Are Reminded

Psalm 24:1-4 NIV

The earth is the Lordʼs, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

Here we are reminded of the reality that everything belongs to the Lord because God created everything from nothing. We are reminded that the Lord is above everything. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that everyone belongs to the Lord because God spoke life into existence. We are reminded that the Lord is above everyone. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that the Lord is almighty - that He rules over all - and sovereign - that He reigns over all.  

Here we are reminded of the reality that we are not worthy to stand in God's presence. We are reminded that our hands are unclean - that we have committed wrong acts with our hands. We are reminded that our hearts are impure - that we have harbored wrong motives in our hearts. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that - on our own - we are unworthy, unclean, impure, broken, lost, and hopeless. 

But then we are invited - by God - to remember His almighty power to purify, to renew, and to restore. 

Psalm 51:10-12, NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

When we are reminded of the reality of our impurity and our brokenness, let us remember God's invitation. When we are reminded of the reality of our impurity and our brokenness, let us remember God's sovereignty. 

Let us be purified.

Let us be renewed.

Let us be restored. 

In the Lord. 

To Be

 

Sunday night our church family observed John Wesley's Covenant Renewal Service. Toward the end of the service I asked; "How do you want God to bless you, spiritually, in 2017?". This question led to great introspection.

Today, I considered - and prayed over - this question deeper and I was led to one word, "be"

My hope, spiritually, is that I learn to "be" in 2017. 

I want to learn to "be" in the presence of God, to enjoy the quiet - and sometimes unproductive - moments with Him. I want The Lord to show me how to "be" with Him without the desire to "do" for Him. 

However, to "be" is not only my hope spiritually. There is more. 

My hope, relationally, is that I learn to "be" in 2017. 

I was recently reminded of the "StrengthsFinder" personality assessment that I took four years ago. I was asked to take the assessment again and it revealed - just as it did four years ago - that my greatest "strength" is "Acheiver". 

According to StrengthsFinder creator, Don Clifton, Achievers "have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive." 

It is this very "strength" that drives me to "do" rather than to "be". This is why my wife tells - and often has to force - me to sit down so often. I miss out on quite a bit, relationally, because of this drive to "do" rather than "be". 

Author M. Robert Mulholland Jr., in his book, "Invitation to a Journey", writes; "We live in a culture that has reversed the biblical order of being in doing. Being and doing our integrally related, to be sure, but we have to have the order straight. Our doing flows out of our being."

My prayer in 2017; God, teach me to "be".

As We Prepare To Start 2017

 

As we prepare to start 2017, let me offer Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-31‬;

Do you not know? 

Have you not heard? 

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

If we go forth in our own strength, we will fail, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hope is in heaven, we will be carried above all difficulties, and able to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.

As we prepare to start 2017, let us commit to placing our hope in God and being strengthened in Him and by Him. 

Apply God's Commands

Deuteronomy 6, as the Israelites are preparing to enter the Promised Land, a bountiful land that God was giving them to process, the people are told to obey God's commands. 

The Israelites are told to obey God's commands so that they may enjoy long life and so that all may go well as they increase greatly in the land. 

The foundation for God's commands to the Israelites - and the foundation for all God's commands to us today - to know that God is the Lord of all and to love Him with all heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

And in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 God gives instruction for applying His commands to our children - and the generations to follow.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Applying God's commands to the next generation is a multi-step process. 

First, we as adults, are called to apply God's commands to our own hearts. We must know God's commands for us, know why they are important for our lives, and live as they are important for our lives - with faith and obedience. Only after we have applied God's commands on our hearts can we seek to lead the next generation. 

Next, we are to impress God's commands on our children - and to the next generation. We are encouraged to impress God's commands on the next generation by talking about them, writing them out, and using symbols to commit them to memory. We are called to impress God's commands on the hearts of our children in all ways at all times, because it is vitally important. 

So, let me encourage you today to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let me encourage you to write God's commands on your heart - faithfully submitting to Him. Let me encourage you to teach them to the next generation - applying them in all ways at all times. 

That you may enjoy a long life and all may go well. 

Nearing Home

Finished a book tonight, "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham. The subtitle of this book states, "Life, Faith, and Finishing Well". 

My wife has been asking why I decided to read this book right now, given my age and stage of life it seemed odd. However,  I would summarize my reasoning for reading this book with a line from the first chapter. On page 4 Billy Graham writes "I wonder. What home are you preparing for?"

As a follower of Christ, I am called to prepare for my heavenly home with The Lord. As a husband and a father, I am called to prepare my family for their heavenly home with The Lord.  As a pastor, I am called to prepare the people in my church for their heavenly home with The Lord. In every area, my call is to prepare. 

So, ask yourself, what home are you preparing for?

Pastor's Open Letter to the RFMC

Two weeks ago, Kim and I announced that we were seeking a new appointment in the coming conference year and that we would be leaving Robinson near the end of June. 

 

Since this announcement, I have received one question countless times; “Why?”

 

I had a conversation with one member and explained that we were not leaving because of disappointment or conflict. I told this person that this has been a decision weighing on our hearts for a year – one we have been praying for months. They asked me, “Does the church want you to leave?” I responded, “No, I don’t think so.” Then they asked, “So, the conference is wanting you to leave?” And I told them, “No, in fact it would be less work for the conference if we were to remain in Robinson.”

 

“So”, they asked, “why are we leaving?” My response was simple, “Faith!”

 

James 2:14, 17; What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. We do not know where He is calling us to go to, but we believe that He is calling us to go in obedience to Him.

 

Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. And so we go, faithful that God is leading us.

 

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 8; Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

 

Kim and I believe that our going is an act of faith. And there are costs involved in ever act of faith. Our going means that we are leaving Robinson – and our friends and church family hear in Robinson.

 

James 2:23-24; And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

 

We are not leaving because we don’t love you. We are leaving – oddly enough – because we love you! We are leaving because we want you to know that this is what faith accompanied by action looks like – that this is what faith – lived out – looks like. 

 

So, let me leave you with a question for you to consider; “Are you living your faith out? When it’s difficult? When it’s painful?

 

Show Me Your Glory

I continue to come back to one question; Do you want to see the glory of The Lord? If we could see - even a glimpse of - the glory of God, it would transform us. And the things that seems to matter so much now would fade into the background.  






I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same
Show me Your glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again
Show me Your glory
Show me Your glory 
I can't live without You

Boldly Seeking The Glory of The Lord

What does the glory of The Lord look like?

We find that Moses could fully handle seeing the glory of The Lord.

Exodus 33:12-23; Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”  The Lord 

replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

How badly do you want to see the glory of The Lord?

We find that Moses was bold; “Now show me your glory.”

How bold will you be in seeking the glory of The Lord?

Waiting for the Snow...or Something

Here I sit, at 5:30 on a Sunday morning, waiting - hoping - praying for the snow to start falling. Not only for the snow to start falling but for it to start falling quickly.

I am waiting for the snow to fall at the rate that the meteorologists forecasted these past few days.
I am waiting for the minimum of 8 inches of snow to begin at any moment
I am waiting for the maximum of 14 inches of snow to show up any time.

This "snow storm" was predicted to begin at 12:00 this morning and dump a significant amount of snow on our area through noon today. Yet, as I sit looking out the front window of my home, no snow! A bit of rain, but no snow. This "winter blast" was predicted to bring temperatures into the lower 20s and to continue to fall from there. Yet, as I look at the thermometer on our back patio, we are hanging in around 34 degrees.

It's not often that I pray for snow. No, the reason I and begging for snow this morning is because last night around 8:30 I decided that cancelling our Sunday morning and evening ministries was the most responsible thing to do. The reason that I continue to look out the window, waiting for the first sign of a winter blast is because I hate - let me write that again, I HATE - to cancel a worship service.  

I sat talking with my wife yesterday afternoon - considering and debating whether our services should be canceled today - and I told her how much I hated to cancel a service. Then I told her how difficult it was for me to express, and to explain, why.

Perhaps it is the thought that God's Name will not be praised and glorified in our church this Sunday morning.
Perhaps it is the thought that the Gospel will not be preached in our church this Sunday morning.
Perhaps it is the thought that those within our church family may decide that it is easier to sleep in then to open their Bibles, go to the Lord in prayer, or worship Him on this day that He has made.
Perhaps it is the thought that this may have been the day someone heard the encouragement that they needed or felt the love that they needed to carry help them manage the burdens of life.
Perhaps it is that thought that thousands within our community have never accepted the truth of Jesus Christ in their lives and that they will not have the opportunity to enter a church to do so this Sunday.
Or perhaps it is all of the above and so much more!

So, this morning, as I wait for the snow to begin - I will go and read my Bible, I will pray with my family, I will worship the Lord through song and through the life that He has given me on this day that He has created. And, I will leave everything in God's hands. This is not my problem to worry over and it is not mine to solve.

Our Father's Name

This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:9-13)

As we work our way through The Lord's Prayer the first petition is that God's Name would be hallowed - that it be made holy and made much of. God as three primary Names in the Old Testament.

God's first name is Elohim - God, the Mighty Creator. By using this name of God we say; "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

God's second name is Yeweh, which means, "The Lord who is the covenant-keeping One".

God's third name is Adonai, which means "Master" or "Lord". As our Master, God is the one who rules our lives.

Clear the Stage

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6, TNIV)

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but You

The following is from A Cry for Mercy by Henri J.M. Nouwen. 

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but you? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through you everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of you? Why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make you the only one? Why do I keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to you?

Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let die the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thought can become a hymn of praise to you.

I need your loving grace to travel on the hard road that leads to the death of my old self and to a new life in and for you. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom.

Lord, dispel my mistrust and help be become a trusting friend.

Praise God

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. This morning I have much to praise God for.

I praise God for the conception of a new life to a young couple at our church. I praise God for a healthy life being born to close friends of ours. I praise God for the hope of new life for my cousin who is receiving a double-lung transplant. I praise God for a new life found in Him in a gentleman in our community this morning.

We are to praise God at all times, in all circumstances - in good times and bad - in plenty and in want - in happiness and sorrow.

I will praise The God that gives and takes away. I will praise The God that holds all knowledge and wisdom. I will praise The God and holds all life and future. I will praise The God from whom all blessings flow - when I understand His ways and when I do not.

May the name of The Lord be praised - now and forever.

Encouraged To Do Ministry

This morning our men's ministry director shared with us on the topic of encouragement from Acts 9:26-30;

"When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus."

Many things come to mind as I read through this passage, but I'll only share a couple.

Paul had been called and equipped to do the work of The Lord, yet without the support of the disciples, he was unable to do this work. Barbaras did two things; he took Saul to the disciples, and he spoke encouraging words about him.

Because of Barnabas' words and deeds the other disciples welcomed him, listened to him, protected him, and enabled him to continue in The Lord's work.

We can learn from this. Following Barnabas' example we must bring those that have been called and equipped by The Lord and we must speak encouraging words about them to others. Following the disciples' actions we must welcome, listen, and protect those that have been called and equipped. And, in doing this we will enable others to further The Lord's ministry.

Perfection on your Knees

I enjoy cleaning! I am not entirely sure why this is. Perhaps it has to do with the fulfillment of knowing that the job is complete, once a room has been cleaned you can move on and know that it has been done! Perhaps it has to do with the gratification of looking at a clean room and knowing that it is, in fact clean. But, for whatever reason, I like to clean!

The other day my my wife, Kim, asked me if I would sweep the kitchen floor. So I swept the kitchen floor. I picked up the rugs, I pulled the trash can out, I pulled the refrigerator out, I pulled the kitchen table and chairs out, and I swept the kitchen floor. Then I grabbed a mop and I mopped the kitchen floor. It looked perfect! It was done! So, I moved on to the bathroom...

The next afternoon, however, I walked into the kitchen and noticed some crumbs under my feet. How could this have happened? This floor was perfectly clean yesterday! Soon I found myself on my knees picking up the most minuscule crumbs off the floor. I know this sound ridiculous, and believe me it is, but I wanted this floor to stay perfectly clean for at least twenty-four hours. So, I stayed on my knees until the crumbs were picked up and the floor was perfectly clean once again.

That is when the thought occurred to me. If we want to keep certain things perfect, we must get on our knees and take the time to labor, making things right until everything is perfect once again. This applies to a clean kitchen floor and to our life as believers in Jesus Christ.

At church these last few weeks we have been focusing on holiness and Christian perfection. And, in order for Christian perfection to be a reality for us we must get down on our knees, lifting our praise, our needs, our concerns, our trials, and our burdens to Jesus. And, this must happen daily.

If we want to keep our Christian lives perfect we must get on our knees and take the time to labor, communicate, and fellowship with our Lord, and we must make things right with Him until everything is perfect once again. Only Christ can bring a person to perfection. It is vitally important that we get on our knees with Him regularly.

"It is hard to stumble when you're on your knees."

Free Car Wash

As a local church family, we have the constant call and desire to serve the community and share the love of Christ in a practical way. Today we accomplished this through an "Absolutely FREE Car Wash"! We set out with the intent to wash as many cars as possible, to charge nothing for the car washes and to accept no money for our act of love and service. Several means of promotion were done weeks in advance and various signs were made up announcing that this car was was, in fact, "absolutely free".

What we were not expecting was how skeptical people are to anything that promises to be "free". Many cars drove right past because they felt like there must be a catch to this free car wash. Some pulled in with expectation that some donation would be asked for and they seemed to be amazed when we told them that this car wash was, in fact, absolutely free. Then there was the man that almost demanded that I take his money, reacted to my statement that we were not accepting money for this act of service, and peeled out of the parking lot without allowing us to wash his vehicle.

I was blessed through this event today but I was also confused by the reluctance of people to accept "free" and skepticism of people anytime the word "free" is mentioned. But, as I thought about everything this evening it struck me that perhaps this is how many unbelievers see the message of Jesus Christ, His love for them, and the grace and hope that He promises to anyone that places their trust in Him. He promises all of humankind these gifts and He offers them "absolutely free". And, the most amazing thing - the most awesome things - is that it is absolutely free - THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED!  

See, I have been a believer for more than 17 years now and I have been a pastor for more almost six years, and I don't understand all this. I don't understand why God loves me in the first place. I don't understand why He freely gives me the gifts of hope, forgiveness, and an eternal future with Him in glory. I don't understand it but I know that Jesus promises it. And because I know of Christ's promises, because He has assured me that it truly is "absolutely free" - that all I have to do is call on His offer, allow Him to wash me and make me clean, and accept His gifts - I place my faith and my trust in Him.