People have been asking this question for a long time.  The Greek, Chinese and Roman "thinkers" whose names are now almost common wrote about this matter and suggested various means to experience the "good life."  Most people today may not study philosophy or world religions to find answers to their questions about the good life but everyone is looking for such a condition.  Commercials are designed to convince us that our lives will be better with a certain car, trip or adult beverage.  We are led to believe that the well off ones have the perfect circumstances because they have health, wealth and time.  However, Jesus (who we believe is brilliant) had something to say about the good life.  He taught us that the well off are those who are living in the Kingdom of God.  Their circumstances may not be perfect and other people may not think highly of them but having the blessing of the King of kings ought to make us stand up and shout!  Our study this week in Matthew 5 is going to make some of those who have been in church a long time scratch their heads.  The Beatitudes have often been viewed as a "means to blessing" rather than a state of blessedness.  It all depends if you are taking the grace road or the guilt road.  We'll be walking the grace road and hopefully begin to see how blessed we really are...if we are Kingdom people.

A person would have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the events last week in Connecticut.  These horrific acts of violence make even those of us who believe in the depravity of man to shake our heads and wonder.  Admittedly, some of our questions are not about mankind...we have seen the depths to which we can go before.  What we wonder about is what the King is up to.  The Psalmist wrote, "For the kingdom is the LORD'S, And He rules over the nations."  But, why didn't He stop that guy who walked into an elementary school with such evil intent?  Of course there are no answers to some of these questions.  A all-wise and good God uses even what seems evil to accomplish His own ends -- that is "providence."  A better question might be, "What are we up to?"  It is a bit disconcerting to hear how many "solutions" people are coming up with.  So many want to deal with symptoms.  I think the idea of a "task force" in Washington D.C. to end violence is a sham.  There are people in this country and around the world who have been working on the solution to violence for a very long time.  When Jesus announced that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, He meant it.  He also revealed what a Kingdom heart would look like; there would be an absence of anger & contempt.  There would be a genuine desire for reconciliation.  People would love their enemies.  Is this some utopian dream?  No, this is what happens to people who choose to follow Jesus and become like Him.  The people who are in the work of "heart transformation" are the ones who are actually doing something about "the problem."  New laws from the legislature are worthless in the long run.  The people who are making disciples through AWANA, Sunday School, Camps, Mentoring etc. are the ones who are working toward a safer environment.  I am very thankful today for all those who have given themselves to serve Jesus by teaching everything that He commanded.  People with a Kingdom heart seeking to help others have a Kingdom heart are the King's great delight...one might even say that He sees them as the "salt of the earth and the light of the world."  Hmmmmm