"The important thing to remember is Christ will return" (Colson).


Here's a dose of real life: this world is moving towards urban living. In the near future, nearly 80% of the population will be in cities compared to just 2% a century ago. We've all heard statistics suggesting that _________ (insert random percentage here) of stats are untrue. Still, this should serve the purpose to alarm you. It means things are changing and relatively quickly at that. We've got work to do!


The Great Proposal makes sense of all reality. Christianity has the greatest hope of changing the world. People will keep seeking truth and transcendence. The beauty of it all? It fits! The end fits human needs just as well as the journey does (the end does, in fact, justify the means here people). People have a desperate need for justice, a desperate need for the scales to be balanced. Think of South America...the people there turned to Pentacostalism and evangelism because it worked!


Backtracking to the opening quote, He's gonna return. The Kingdom will come in all its fullness, and guess what. Satan. Yeah, he's outta here. Fo sho. Forever.


Church (the body...not the building) has been in expectation that He will return. Now, that's a wonderful sentiment. To some degree, we (the church) need to be living in the now (anyone else hearing Edna from The Incredibles, "You have to live in the now dahling."?). We cannot be hung up on WHEN He's coming. He's coming. Keep living in anticipation of His return; otherwise, we are left predisposed to slack off until we have a better idea when to start pumping out those good works in His name. So...why not just strive for it all the time and have it be more of a living the Christian life attitude where it's more natural to just serve God rather than an "oh crap! I've really sucked at being an honest Christian" sort of mindset?


At the final balance of the scales (final justice), people will be satisfied.


Shalom- we will live in perfect peace and harmony. Heaven on Earth will be witnessed as He will pitch His tent around us.




Acts 17 focuses on how Paul delivered his message to wise men of Athens from Mars Hill (also the name of a mega church). Only a few people actually followed him. Still, the flag there is flown half staff on Good Friday and is full again by Easter Sunday. Why is that important? HE MADE AN IMPACT.




We should be practicing the Joy of Orthodoxy according to Colson. This means we should believe the same thing the people comprising the First Century Church gave their lives for.


Christians have always fought for human dignity. It has succeeded in winning people over. Capitalism. Democracy. The Scientific Method. God's Creation is meant to be explored and fought for.


Revelation 1:1-3 represents a dual blessing. The Jesus in Matthew was a loving servant as compared to the Jesus in Revelation as the Lion of Judah coming back for His people. Thanks Cody for sharing this sentiment from your favorite biblical book. It represents something to, again, be anticipated and not feared.



Ask us questions if you've got 'em. Thanks for reading!



Blessings,



Kevin

"The main goal of the church is to make disciples which means she guides us in the pursuit of holiness" (Colson).


A healthy church is defined by who we are, not just by who or what we go to. OK. So define 'church'. A meeting of God's people called to fellowship as His own (facilitated by the presence of a building).

Let's unpack this a little bit. This says nothing about a building. Sadly, buildings...institutions...churches (emphasis on the plurality)...prove to be the face of Christianity to people. When there is a breakdown here that affects both believers and nonbelievers alike, we MUST work that much harder to be the church.

Whoa whoa WHOA! Just these two statements make me further examine how much I fail. Why is there such a lack of congruence in what I say I am and how I am living a life that is supposed to support those words? I am not obeying. I am seeking to fill a void with church and not with God. Hmmm...

Explore this a little further with me. Politics are important, but a culture needs to be built. Culture is religion incarnate according to Colson. If culture is flawed, it's because the Christians are. That makes sense. We have the greatest propensity to bring about change. In the world, there is exposure to corruption and exposure to The Fall, but we must remain anchored in Christ. Corruption has come as a result of The Fall. In the world but not of the world. We need to be noting this stuff and then trying to change it.

God calls us to a holy discomfort. As Christians, it is easy to blame Satan. He does work harder the stronger a Christian we are and by any means possible to bring us down. Still, suffering does not necessarily mean "bad". It certainly predisposes us to vulnerability for Satan to sneak in; however, suffering, in and of, itself, is a package deal in being a Christian. It's a test. Although you are suffering, and it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, do you continue serving Him? As a body of believers, we MUST be able to answer with a resounding, "YES!".

I mean think of Mother Theresa. She suffered. A lot. There were times she was downright depressed, but she still followed God's call. Case and point, there is always hope. As cliche as it sounds, "where there's a will, there's a way". But oh how true that is here! That pain and that path will look different in and of every single person, evidence of how we are not called to judge one another. What is real to one person may not be as emotionally evocative to another. Clearly, not everyone is going to do what Mother Theresa did, but chances are that God's not calling you to do so, not specifically anyway.

Son, Holy Jesus, is “God became flesh.” He was the mere existence proof and leadership of God on earth. He was the leader and teacher that was a REVALATION. It is because of him, we have the opportunity to be closer, and learn more about the commandments of God.

The Holy Spirit, the empowered guide of strength and love. The power, sent from God to speak truth and wisdom in us all. The REVEALDNESS of God, lighting our way for eternity.



So as far as I can tell, it almost appears like the Trinity is a holy being, as well as a plan for our own growth towards God.

Father --> Son --> Holy Spirit.

The Father was revealed to us and gave us existence. When Jesus came, God was here to guide and teach, but he distinctively spoke of this spirit that would be coming after him. One that would empower us to do more, MUCH MORE. One that woud all us to do great, MUCH GREATER. This can be described as the Holy Spirit, God with us.

John 14:12 (NIV)
12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.


The funny thing is, we hardly ever LET the holy spirit guide us. We try to take control, instead of allowing our God to speak within us. If we would only allow us to follow AND CHASE the spirit, God will give and bless us so much of his blessings. God is an investor, he has invested in us. In the case that we need a recharge, the REVALATION can always be found in Jesus, as well as our own existence.


If you want to do some more reading on this subject, here are a couple items that came up in our discussion.  If you have read these books, make a post. 

 

--- THE BIBLE ---

It's a great book, a must read for everyone!

John 16: 5-16

Talks about the work of the holy spirit. 

Eph 1:11-14
Discusses a quick overview of the trinity, and the purpose of each.

--- FORGOTTEN GOD ---

 - Francis Chan

(From Publishers Weekly)

The author of the bestselling Crazy Love pleads passionately for the church to live by the power of the forgotten God: the Holy Spirit. Calling Christians to more than just a better life, Chan says he wants to live a life unexplainable without the Holy Spirit, so dependent on the Spirit that, he says, if he doesn't come through, I'm screwed. He offers vivid personal stories and illustrations about how the church ought to help Christians discern the powerful gifts of the Spirit, rather than toning down radicals. Biographies of people keeping in step with the Spirit conclude each chapter. Not a comprehensive study but intended for application, it consequently lacks depth of context in most Bible references. Ultimately, though, this serves Chan's aim to end ceaseless talk and follow God's lead to assist the poor, the abused and anyone without hope. Chan himself has given all royalties from Crazy Love to a ministry to children trapped in sex trafficking, explaining that God said to him, I want you to love them as your own children. Chan's voice is fresh, earthy and fiery. (Sept.)

--- Wild Goose Chase ---

 - Mark Batterson

“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” --from the introduction