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Published: 22 February 2017

I have been asked that question quite often.  I decide to try something with a bicycle, skateboard or Jeep and people who love me ask things like, “Are you sure you want to try that?”  I know they have my well-being in mind and sometimes it has caused me to not do the thing I had planned to try.  I would probably have fewer scars if I had listened more!   Lord willing, our oldest son Timothy is going to be preaching on Sunday from Isaiah 6.  You may recall from that passage that the prophet received a glimpse of the glory of God.  We may think a vision of the glory of God would be really cool but we should be careful.  There’s only one reason that a vision of the glory of God is safe…His Son Jesus Christ and His redemptive work!  The Almighty is not to be trifled with.   If you are in doubt about this, read through Revelation again!  As the Narnia Chronicles remind us, “He is not a tame Lion…but He is good.”  It is His goodness and provision that makes Him approachable…not our merit!  Praying the prayer of Moses, “Show us your glory” is not safe apart from the work of Jesus; but because of Him and through Him we have access to a loving and good, good Father.

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Published: 16 February 2017

I imagine that title grabbed your attention .  People say quite often that “sex sells.”  In other words the use of sexuality in advertising creates interest and promotes sales.  People even refer to cars as “sexy.”  Whatever.  Frankly, there are a quite a few people in this culture that can live without sex but no one can live without refreshment.  Refreshment is one of the other appeals used to sell things.  Refreshment is promised from those selling everything from vacations to beverages.  We live in a busy, haggard culture with a lot of fatigue and sadness.  People are in desperate need of refreshment.  A vacation can be a means to refreshment.  A beverage can refresh for sure.  A cold Coca-Cola after a hot day of mowing the lawn just makes you say “Ahhhh.”  But the fact is, vacations and beverages can only provide one level of refreshment and there is a deeper one that we need.  We need restoration and refreshment of our inner life.  A cold beverage can only go so far.  In Peter’s sermon to the crowd that gathered at Solomon’s porch, he said that there is direct correlation between refreshment and repentance.  Repentance means we change our mind about something.  Sometimes I have been stubborn and willful and humbling myself was a relief.  Sometimes I was living according to a lie and when the truth was revealed I was so relieved I could have danced!  There are good people in the church that live oppressed by falsehoods.  Repentance means deliverance from the lies and this almost always brings refreshment.  Too often we think of repentance as the initial step in becoming a follower of Jesus but Scripture makes it clear that repentance is a lifestyle for all saints…one that leads to refreshment.  Friends, refreshment awaits but it starts with repentance and repentance requires means.  More about that on Sunday.