Opportunities

Opportunities to share the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus - the love of Christ - are all around us every day. 

Joy of Proclaiming the Gospel

There is great joy in proclaiming the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Whether we be in the church building, a grocery store, our home, or simply walking down the street, let us proclaim the Gospel with great joy 

At The Quads

Yesterday I wrote about the lawn of the Quads where I realized that I was falling in love with Kim - now my wife. 

It was during the late night conversation that I became friends before falling in love. We talked about school, family, friendships, food, clothes, hopes, dreams, and faith.

I remember various parts of our 5-6 hour conversation. Some parts I am not proud of. 

One question Kim asked me that night was "Do you go to church?". Now, as of that night I had not yet found a church to attend on a regular basis. However, I was leading a small (6 member) student ministry group on campus - Fellowship of Collegiate Christians (FCC). As soon as she asked me this question I thought of FCC, but I was fearful that she would stop talking to me if she found out - why I'm not sure. So, I answered her question, "No, I don't go to church!"

Later in the week, she asked if I wanted to go out Friday night. I had to say "no" because I was going on a retreat with our FCC group. But, instead of mentioning FCC, inviting her to attend the retreat, or telling her about the details of the retreat, once again, I answered dishonestly. I told her that I was going on a camping trip with some friends. 

Friday afternoon came and she asked me up to her room in the Quads, "you can meet my four roommates", she said. And as I walked in and saw her roommates I froze and I panicked. You see, three of her four roommates where members of FCC. What are the odds that half of the FCC group lived with her? 

Kim began to introduce me and one of her roommates said, "Oh we know Adam. In fact, we are going on this retreat together this weekend!" 

When the truth was exposed she was upset; "Why did you lie to me?". 

The fact that she forgave me and continued to talk with me made me love her more. But, when she began to attend FCC and worked with me to find a church we could attend TOGETHER, that confirmed that she was the one I wanted to spend forever with. 

I try to be honest with her to this day. But occasionally I catch myself holding back part of the truth and I am reminded of Numbers 32:23; "...be sure your sun will find you out".

Encouragement for Believers

Are you looking for some encouragement?

Read the Apostle Paul's exhortation to the church in 1st Corinthians 1:1-9. The following at truths for every follower of Jesus Christ, who holds Him as their Lord and Savior.

You are sanctified in Christ Jesus
You have been set apart by Jesus for a special purpose.
You have been marked by the blood of Jesus to accomplish His distinct purpose.

You are called to be holy
You have been invited - urged - to be the most holy thing. You have been called to be a saint.

You have been enriched in every way
You have been made rich - given spiritual riches

You do not lack any spiritual gift
You have been given every gift you need
You are lacking nothing that is required

Jesus will keep you strong to the end
Jesus will confirm you to the final days - bringing you confidence and assurance in your faith

You have been called by God
This call that you have been given is a personal invitation, given to you by God, your heavenly Father.

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful.

Grace and Truth

I was having a conversation with a gentleman that I have never met before over facebook this evening, I thought I would copy and paste one of my thoughts from that conversation here:

"Jesus was the perfect blend of "grace" and "truth" (John 1:14). He said what needed to be said, at the time it needed to be said, and in the way it needed to be said. Never skirting the issue or beating around the bush. Yet He did it with grace, never making it a personal attack against someone, only the sin or situation by which they were involved.

It seems to me that each of us find ourselves somewhere on the grace/truth spectrum. It is important that we identify where we stand on this spectrum and that we aim for the center, the perfect match of grace and truth, as Jesus was. When we find ourselves there (and we never will be perfect as Jesus was), then we will be able to answer critics as Jesus did."

The Answer

We talk a lot at our church about the importance of a daily quiet time with God. Not only is it important that we read the Scriptures on a daily basis (or at least strive to do so daily), it is vitally important that we communicate with Him and allow Him to communicate with us through prayer and meditation.

It is all too often when I allow my schedule to get in the way of my time with the Lord and I find that the later in the day it gets, the harder it is for me to sit down, clear my mind, and focus on God. And I have found that even when I don't feel like sitting down for an extended period of time and meeting with God, as soon as I begin to focus on Him, nothing else matters and I find complete joy in our time together.

However, early last week I would have my quiet time, I would read Scripture, journal, pray, and meditate in His Spirit, and yet nothing. I spent more time, and, nothing. This same thing went of for a couple of days, the harder I tried, the more time I spent, the more disciplines I followed, still nothing.

That is when God made me aware that I had gotten away from a total dependence on Him and that I was instead looking to myself for the answer.

In John 14:5-6  Thomas says to Jesus; "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" And Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

Last Thursday morning I echoed these words of Thomas, "I don't know where you are going, so how can I know the way?" 

It is at these moments that Christ reminds us that, we don't need to know where He is going, we just need to hold on to Him, to cling to his ways, His truths, and His life and we will come to the Father. 

May we all depend on Christ at a very deep level, to His way, His truth, and His life. May we be drawn to God our Father as we are shown where He is going and where He is leading us. May we be open to His call and His ministry through us.