. . . the fruit of the Spirit is
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
and self-control.
There is no law (Jewish Law) against such things.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE.

 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE THE WORLD through Him.

Whoever believes in Him is NOT CONDEMNED, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

. . . .

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

living water

I am made in the image of God, not your image of God.

In spite of all the stuff that we see in the world, God still believes that the world is worth saving.

In this season of Lent we challenge ourselves to invite ourselves to be part of the solution and not part of the problem; that we call ourselves as fatihful people of faith, faithful ambassadors, faithful members of the church of Jesus Christ; we challenge ourselves to think of how we could make a difference; how our lives should be shaped by the person, Jesus, that we worship; this person, Jesus, that we read of in the scriptures; this person, Jesus, who was fully human, as well as, fully divine.

We see the evidence of Jesus' humanity throughout his ministry; times when he was tempted.

Indeed, this season of Lent is a time when we remember Jesus who, following his baptism, was driven into the wilderness to be tempted, to be offered all that the world offers us.

We too have those temptations.

We oo are tempted to bow down to the earthly experience rather than to call ourselves to that spiritual place.

Jesus went through that!

And that's another cool thing our Senior Pastor told us.

PROGRAM LISTINGS & PROGRAM SCHEDULES

An Extraordinary Adventure

.
.
.

.
.
.

.
.
.

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you have lived so cautiously that you might as well not lived at all." J.K. Rowling

Two weeks ago, a customer who has become a friend, bible in hand opened to Psalm 22, hurried over to me from his quiet study table and excitedly disclosed what he said he had just stumbled upon: the cries of David echoed through the cries of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

"Isn't that something?" he said, pointing to the two revealing passages, flipping back and forth from one to the other. "Just look at that! It's the same."

I, likewise enthused, and quite familiar with the two passages, revealed that we (i.e., those of us on The Journey who are embarked on this unique adventure to The Lean Side of The Mountain) were coming around a bend, as it were, fresh after our deep exploration of True Love, with the expectation of walking smack into the very connection he was presently observing.

"Really?" he said, repeating really several times in what felt to me like a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and enthusisam. "Really? This very thing?"

"Yes. Exactly," I responded buoyantly.

Thrilled, I grabbed a white paper bag and mapped out for him the path I envisioned us traversing on our explorative journey to the Lean Side Of The Mountain, where Jesus is delivering phenomenal life affirming strategies on how we might best comport ourselves to experience what one might (generously) consider a valued life; a satisfying life; a rich, fullfilling, successful life.

Well, here we are!

As you no doubt have already noticed, I have once again leaned upon my boyhood superhero, David, to open for us this creeky gate on to a rocky road that will take us up blood-stained Golgotha.

Who-ah!

Hold on to your navel, fellow explorers; it is going to be a bumpy climb.

ALL acts Have Consequences!

This is a fundamental nature of our Universe.

All living creatures known abide in this fundamental reality: all acts (all: every single one - good, bad, and indifferent) have consequences intended and-or unintended, regardless of the nature of its actor. This is an inescapable conditition of revealed existence.

Let us consider three significant life-impacting questions:

1. Is there anything known or revealed (divine or otherwise; miraculous or man-made) that ever has (or ever will) upend, reverse, or nullify this reality?


2. Does the inspired scripture (even further, any known inspiration or provable current revelation) confidently answer Question 1?


3. What would be your (personal) stance if it is to be revealed that the unfailing conclusion answering Question 1 is: NO and NEVER WILL?

Prepare to be astonished. Hang tight. Hold on to your navel. This is going to be a rollercoaster ride!

We have barely entered David's opened gate, as it were. Wild flowers strengthened under bracing heat, here, easily crushed beneath trampling feet! This is our entrance. We are yet to climb the rocky road. We'll be by far the better off (as advised by those who have wandered this way before we arrived) to properly prepare for a transformational trip.

Taking heed, let us unpack another profound reality that will come into focus on the way up.

The three questions presented above apply equally here! Let us consider them under this scenario.

Our presumtions entering are as follows: a) The Divine (as David's translated biography implies) is faultless, is in complete universal ownership of everything, and is not a puppet of any sort to any force or being, regardless of state or condition; and b) that the human being (continuously sculpted) is vulnerable and has access to The Divine.

One of the proposed purposes of this journey is to activate being transformed by renewing our minds in order that we might once again prove the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

ACTION: Share current and ongoing experience(s) - body, mind, soul, and spirit - throughout your exploration. Every experience counts; that much more distinctive when fullly embraced. Establish your current mindset.

ACTION: Consider the 3 questions. Discuss. Reconcile thoughts with claims.

"I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, that one will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.   The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," said Jesus, Son of Man, Prince of Glory, Redeemer.

QUESTIONS: Who made the mountains? Who made the trees? Who made the rivers flow to the sea? Who sends the rain when the earth is dry? Who made the flowers to bloom in the spring? Who made the song for the robins to sing? Who hung the moon in the starry sky?

CLAIM: Yes, all that and way much more! Sovereign Creator, Sustainer, Provider. Sees all. Knows all. Can do all things, above and beyond whatever is required. Oh, but don't stuff craws!

Should you give up?

strong - brave - capable - valued - gifted - possessed of joy, hope, peace and love - treasured - entrusted - loved - courageous

May our light shine on sprinkled seeds along The Journey.

"Live Your Life - Live it well. You are worth it."