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Published: 06 April 2017

Seriously.  Do you want Him?  Why?  What do you think He is about anyway?  What do you think He wants?  If you knew what He wanted, would you still want Him?  I am worried.  Worried that people don’t really want the New Testament Jesus.  People want a 21st Century Jesus that accommodates to the culture and satisfies the whims of western ideologists.  I’m worried that people are coming to Jesus for fire insurance, for get out of jail free cards, for a ticket on the gospel express.   I’m worried about the souls of people that attend our church.  I’m scared that some are going to church but not following Jesus.  It is possible you know.  It is possible to go to church and not follow Jesus.  Do you want Him?  He wants you and He will take you as you are but He has intentions!  He has intentions to forgive you AND transform you.  He wants you to be obedient.  He even said that if we really love Him we will keep His commandments!  So maybe that is the better question.  Do you love Jesus?  Not like He loves you, ‘cause ain’t nobody got that much love,” but do you love Him enough to obey Him?  The proof of your love is the way you love others…including the people in your house, your husband, your wife, your kids, your parents.   You cannot hold a grudge and love Jesus.  You cannot have an affair and love Jesus.  You cannot live angry day after day and love Jesus.  You cannot abandon your spouse and love Jesus.  We’re coming up on Palm Sunday and we’ll be studying a group of people who wanted to see Jesus.  They wanted audience with Him, to interview Him.  We don’t know their motive, we only know that Jesus said, “no.”  Maybe He knew their motive.  Maybe they wanted to use Him rather than love Him.  Maybe they didn’t know that the way of the Teacher is the way of the student.  Maybe they didn’t want that part of the process.  I don’t know.  I just wonder how many Christians today want to see Jesus and why.  We better figure out who He is and what He’s after…and count the cost.  He has a better way that leads to a better destination but His death was required to have it and your death is required to obtain it.  Do you want Jesus?

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Published: 31 March 2017

Considering the number of admonitions to unity in the New Testament books/letters, unity must be both important and difficult.  It is fairly easy to figure out why it is difficult; we’re selfish.  We have our own agendas and personal desires create tension, arguments and fighting.  We think “looking out for number one” means getting our own way even if we leave a trail of bodies in our wake.  That we struggle with unity is not hard to figure out, what may not be as obvious is why it is so important.  Before I answer biblically, a bit of history is in order.  When I came to Calvary in 1995, I learned that this local church had experienced a split years before.  I still don’t know all the reasons, I do know it was painful.  The pain experienced by those who were “left behind” could be heard in their voices and seen in their countenance.   As often happens, values can emerge from trials and one of the values that emerged was the importance of unity.  In some respects, valuing unity is for personal protection.  We don’t ever want to hurt that way again!  But, we must ask the question, “Why does it hurt so bad?” It seems like more than an “evolutionary glitch.”   I think the answer lies in how deeply embedded unity is in the entire universe.  What I mean on the most basic level is that God is Three but One.  In the God-Head there is unity and diversity.  Just imagine what the universe would be like if the Trinity had a split!  As individuals we are created in God’s image and in the new community, under the new covenant, the church is to reflect His image.  In other words, as His image bearers, His representatives and ambassadors, we are here to reflect Trinitarian and heavenly unity and diversity.  This, of course, is only possible as we love one another…and Jesus said that love would be the distinctive mark/characteristic of His apprentices.  So, yes, unity is difficult but something this important requires all the struggle necessary to maintain it.  Read Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and consider Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”  More about this on Sunday…