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Published: 03 July 2015

Symbols or “logos” as they are sometimes referred to, have great power.  If you don’t believe that just try to use one that is already owned by a corporation for your own purposes!  Symbols are not new, they have been in use for thousands of years.  I believe we are designed by God to associate ideas, promises, warnings etc. with pictures or symbols. On this weekend, the flag of the United States of America will be flying proudly all over this country.  People will be wearing red, white and blue clothing and we’ll be eating hot dogs and apple pie.  Fireworks will be going off legally and illegally and light will fill the evening sky.  All that these symbols represent is nearly impossible to put in words. Sometimes symbols get “high jacked.”  Imagine our outrage if ISIS decided to use our flag as their own!  The rainbow was given by God as a promise of His mercy, He said He would never judge the earth by a flood again.  Every time we see those colors in the mist, our hearts should be filled with gratitude for His grace.  Sadly, various groups over the years and around the world have grabbed that symbol for their own purposes.  The same has happened with the cross.  The Crusaders used the cross as a symbol of power and completely misrepresented the purpose and mission of Jesus Christ in the process.  Their misuse of the symbol is still causing people to question the validity of Christianity.  The KKK burned crosses in hopes of intimidating people and used the symbol of God’s love for all people as a tool of contempt.  Of course the enemy delights in the misuse of symbols.  If he can get people to associate wrong ideas with recognizable symbols he has gained the upper hand.  Who will take him to court over trademark piracy?  Let’s not forget what the cross really represents.  Paul gloried in the cross because it reminded him of the love of God, the answer to sin, our separation from the world and the glory of the abundant life.  The cross reminded Paul of Christ Himself; His nature, His character, His beauty and His love.  Join us this weekend as we look upon the cross in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord…who loved us and gave Himself for us.

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Published: 26 June 2015

God cares deeply about this.  There are many important questions to ask in life but that one should certainly make the top ten.  Why? Because it is out of the heart that all the decisions of the inner life are directed.  As we know from God’s Word we can know God’s Word academically and not have a heart that is tender toward what He actually cares about.  People can have an occupation that is for people but not actually care about people at all.  It is relatively easy to have a divided heart. On the one hand we care about certain things that God cares about but on the other hand we’re really only interested in what we care about.  Our heart can get hard.  When we cannot rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep we better do a heart checkup.   We can become cynical, sarcastic, suspicious or aloof.  A heart that is well-ordered is one that loves God and loves others.  A well-ordered heart cares about the glory of God’s name, the expansion of His Kingdom and is eager to do His will.  A well-ordered heart is content, dependent, alert and prayerful.  A well-ordered heart can flex with changing circumstances to meet the needs of others and the “call” of God.  Generally, our outer life is a reflection of our inner life and our inner life is what happens in our heart.  Our text for this week, (Matthew 21:23-32), has a very subtle underlying theme about this matter.  You won’t really see it until verse 32 and even then it is hard to spot.  It is rooted in the word translated “relent” in the NKJV.  Jesus pointed out to the leaders of false religion that their hearts were so hard that they couldn’t rejoice and “relent” even when transformed lives were right before their eyes.  They were so hung up on their own agenda, they couldn’t see the greater work of God in the lives of their fellow human beings.  God’s mission in this world is to redeem people and restore them to His image.  He is committed to this for His glory and the good of all who will submit to His good reign.  Can you rejoice when you see progress in others?  Do you delight to hear that people have repented and have faith?  Have you had a conversation with someone recently that made you say “WOW” about the grace of God and His ability to change people’s lives?  How’s your heart?