Faithfulness

Yesterday, I was in Strong , Maine to minister the Word in the morning service. There was such a sweet presence of the Lord there. It was very noticeable. My wife who is not one to say something along this line leaned over to me during worship and said, "I feel such a strong presence of the Lord in this place." I was feeling it too, as the Lord was speaking to me spirit about changing my message from the one I had planned. I am glad I was obedient. God really ministered to all of us yesterday.

I guess my point is this: Faithfulness. My obeying the leading of the Spirit to change my message was faithfulness. The pastor of this church has been there 11 years. That's faithfulness. The congregation has been steadfast and able to move from a hardware store to a beautifully rehabilitated former Mason's lodge at a prime location. That's faithfulness. This church body under the leadership of their pastor just continues to plug along doing what God has called them to do without great fanfare and without great recognition. They are symbolical of hundreds and thousands of Assemblies of God pastors across our nation. These are my heroes.

As I thought about these things this morning and lifted my prayers before the Lord for such honorable men and women the word of Paul spoke to my heart:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 NIV

We Are A Steward Of God's Grace

Why do we exist? That is an often asked question. In Ephesians 3, Paul had the answer. This chapter begins in transition. He begins by saying, "For this reason . . . " What are the reasons? Look back to earlier verses for the answer.

(Eph. 2:1) we are no longer dead in our trespasses or sins.
(Eph. 2:4-5) we are alive in Christ.
(Eph. 2:8-9) God has given us grace through Jesus Christ.
(Eph. 2:13, 16) God has reconciled us through Christ.

We exist for a purpose. That purpose or reason is our mission. It is to be stewards of God's mercy and grace. The NIV uses the word "administrations." The idea being presented by Paul is that we have been entrusted as keepers, guardians, overseers of God's wonderful grace.

Then what is expected from us as stewards of God's grace? Paul answers that question too in chapter 3.

Verse 7: We are to be a minister. This does not mean ministry is for clergy. Everyone in the church is a minister.

Verse 8: We are to preach to unbelievers. Maybe "preaching" is not the best choice of words. But we are to proclaim God's grace to all.

Verses 9-10: We are to make known to everyone the will of God. Just what is the will of God? That all might be saved.

These are just a few of my thoughts on this passage as I prepare my "talk" for the Paradigm "gathering" of twenty and thirty something adults this coming Friday.

Slide From Excellence

I enjoy a good cup of coffee and an open Bible in the morning. Two of my favorite coffee stops are Maine Bean and Starbucks. I will stop by a Dunkin Donuts if I am not near Maine Bean or a Starbucks. I also enjoy reading my friend, Earl's, blog. He has a way of challenging me to think deeper about how I can better relate Christ and the Gospel in this culture. So when I saw the title of a recent blog of his at Monday Morning Insight, I could not resist checking it out, epecially having read the book by Jim Collins, Good to Great. The title of his blog: Great to Good: Starbuck Declines One Coffee At A Time. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Equpped for Ministry

I spent last week in graduate class discussing the Theology of the Charismata. One thing definately can be said, "How needful it is for every person to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit as we journey through this life." As I was reading this morning from Ephesians 3, in preparation for leading a discussion group of twenty and thirty something young adults this Friday, I was captured by these words of Paul:

Ephesians 3:7-8 THE MESSAGE
[7] This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. [8] When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

As smart and educated as Paul was, he recognized that he needed a greater source of wisdom and knowledge than he had if he was to be an effective minister of the gospel. He realized that his past upbringing as a Pharisee, studying under the great religious teachers of his day, and being a Jew of Jews, born into the the tribe of Benjamin was not enough. Something more was needed if he was going to be be an apostle (a sent one) to the Gentiles. That something else was "charismata." Without the presence of God actively at work in Paul's life, he would not have been equipped for the mission God had given him.

You and I must allow the fullness of Holy Spirit to rule our lives if we are to be effective ministers of the gospel today.

Gift (Ministry) of Encouragement/Exhortation

Outline of my 30 minute discussion in my grad class.

Romans 12:6-8 NIV
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:6-8 NASB
6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

David Lim, Spiritual Gifts: A Fresh Look, regarding the list in Roman’s 12:6-8, mentions that “Four seem less noticed gifts: serving, encouraging, giving, showing mercy. Among them are three public ministries: prophesying, teaching, leadership.” (241) I have come to the conclusion that the gift of encouraging may not seem noticeable, but it deeply impacts other gifts.

Word study: “exhort.”
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
A. Verbs.
1. parakaleo: "to call to a person" (a) "to call on, entreat"; (b) to admonish, exhort, to urge one to pursue some course of conduct.
2. paraineo: "to speak of near" or "to tell of, speak of," then, "to recommend."
3. protrepo: literally, "to turn forward, propel." (encourage).
B. Noun.
paraklesis, akin to parakaleo: "a calling to one's side," or "to one's aid." (a) an appeal, (b) encouragement, (c) consolation and comfort.
Romans 15:4 – the idea of parakletos, "an advocate, comforter."

Interestingly, parakletos, variously translated as Comforter, Counselor, or Advocate, is used in John’s gospel to refer to the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), and in his epistle to refer to Jesus (I John 2:1).

What parallels are we able to see between the Holy Spirit, as presented to us by Jesus, and which exists between the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and that of a Christian in relation to the gift of encouragement/exhortation?

In Scripture, who comes to mind when we think of “encouragement? Barnabas (Acts 4:36)

The name ‘Barnabas’ comes from the Aramaic, and probably refers to the gift of exhortation (encouragement). His real name was Joseph, but the disciples called him Mr. Encouragement.

What do we find modeled in the life and ministry of Barnabas?

Barnabas was focused on people. You might call him a “frog kisser.” God used Barnabas to touch people whom we might call “losers” and turn them into princes. Barnabas was willing to embrace people who others would not.

In Acts 9:27 we discover Barnabas reaching out to Saul of Tarsus who had been a persecutor, now Paul who had converted. Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles. He became Paul's advocate. The church accepted him and his ministry in Jerusalem flourished. Barnabas watched him and took note of this.

In Acts 11, Barnabas is the one who sought out Paul of Tarsus, brought him to Antioch, and included him in his ministry. Because of Paul’s previous reputation, no one wanted to touch him with a 10-foot poll.

He had a discerning eye for potential grace and giftings. When the church the church in Jerusalem heard that a church in Antioch had been planted, the one individual that they thought would be a good encourager for these new believers was Barnabas. He could always find something good in people. That’s what his name implied. (Acts 11:22-24 The Message) “When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.” Reproducing leaders are looking to fan into the flames the embers of graces (gifts). Other people are only interested in being critical of the imperfections in people’s lives. Barnabas saw the potential in people in spite of their weaknesses and imperfections. He sought to draw the best out in people.

In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument over another loser, John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along on their missionary journey. Paul had other ideas. Mark had already failed to finish a previous missionary journey. Paul ended up taking Silas. Barnabas took Mark. In later years, Paul wrote Timothy, saying, “Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11)

The gift of exhortation is manifested in people who offer encouragement, wise counsel, support, and empowerment. Those who exhort and encourage stay focused on helping people maximize their own potential and live out their own gifts and skills. Exhorters/Encouragers help other people to build confidence and not grow discouraged. Those with the gift of exhortation/ecouragement make others feel good just by their presence.

Reflection Question:

What other spiritual gifts best complement exhortation (encouragement), and enable us to increase the value and impact of this gift?

Thought From Class - Folk Religion

My professor today made this statement: "Folk religion indoctrinates rather than educates." He mentioned that Islam is a folk religion. Christianity can be a folk religion too. We need to become students of the word and not just spoon fed doctrine. Paul wrote: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Why People Leave Your Church?

I subscribe to the blog, Monday Morning Insight. This one caught my eye along with some of the comments. I'll share the top 10 reasons adults switch churches, according to LifeWay Reaseach's 2006 study.

1. The church was not helping me to devlop spiritually. (28%)
2. I did not feel engaged or involved in meaningful church work. (20%)
3. Church members were judgmental of others. (18%)
4. Pastor was not a good preacher (16%)
5. Too many changes. (16%)
6. Members seem hypocritical. (15%)
7. Church didn't seem to be a place where God was at work. (14%)
8. Church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement. (14%)
9. Pastor was judgmental of others. (14%)
10. Pastor seemed hypocritical. (13%)

Now here are several responses to the above blog for further thoughts. One wrote:

"My responses.
1. The church doesn’t exist to spoon-feed us. Rather, we exist to serve God in community.
2. Many of us who say this aren’t even “plugged in” to meaningful church work.
3. Yes, and that sounds like a judgemental statement to me, and I’ve made it before!
4. In Modern America the sermon has become the center of church life. wrong…
5. Hey, the world changes, everything changes except God.
6. Yes, we are all hypocritical, and they will be in the next church you go to.
7. WE are God at work.
8. The first really legitimate complaint I read here.
9. If true, the second…
10. See 6 above.

I’m sorry to say this, but in my experience, most of the “complaints” of people who leave churches I’ve served in have been selfish and shallow. (Not all, but most...) This list just confirms that for me. Sometimes, people want to be “fed” as if they are animals at a trough where the pastor is the farmer doling out food. (Sounds like we have a spiritual eating disorder in America.)

We have such great resources for spiritual growth in our churches and in our homes (the average American home has half a dozen Bibles I once heard) that if we really want to grow, we will."

Another wrote:

"Most people who leave a church say “I was not being fed” in an attempt to spiritualize and justify their leaving. What it reveals is the person’s self-centeredness and consumerism mentality. I would love to see a survey of people who recently left a church and claim it was because they were not being fed, which asked:

1) How often do you read your Bible?
2) In what capacity were you serving in your church? 3) Were you a part of a small group?
4) How many people have you shared your faith with or invited to church this year?
5) What percentage of your spiritual growth do you think is your responsibilty, and what percentage is your church’s?"

Still another wrote:

"I’m always dissapointed at how my first reaction is to brush these off as “selfish” before really diving into what’s behind them. Sometimes it’s easier for me to do that than look at how I could address some of these issues in a Godly way.

1) Yes, some of this could be selfishness, but the church is the place people come to be spiritually fed. In order for them to learn that “meeting someone else’s need also meet’s mine” the church has to disciple and show them this. Often we call this selfish when in reality we dropped the ball on discipleship.
2) and 8) Many churches are horrible at assimilation. Same people do all the work, new people are just expected to watch. How can we better engage people in Kingdom work?
3 and 9) Just because these statements are judgemental doesn’t make them untrue.
4) This one a lot of times is a taste issue, but it also could be a reminder for Pastor’s to continually improve their communication.
5) Change needs to happen, but churches who do change well (explaining the change, not implementing it to quickly, making change a part of vision) will do better.
6) and 10) We’re all hypocritical at times, but it’s a problem when we act like we’re not.

Some people are just going to leave, some are going to make up excuses. We can’t dwell on them, but it might be good for us to at least try and learn from those excuses. Not so we can bring those people back (it’s better to let them go), but so we can continually strive to be a place where people are brought into the work of God’s Kingdom and grow in Him."

Some food for all of us to think about. You can read more at And the #1 Reason People Leave Your Church is…

I will be attending graduate class at Valley Forge Christian College next week. Hopefully, I will have some good thoughts to share as I am challenged to think through my faith next week.

Walls and Barriers of Prejudice Broken

Ephesians 2:14-18 NIV
{14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. {18} For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Usually, in the Old Testament, when the Bible mentions walls, it is speaking from strength and protection. A city without walls was considered weak and vulnerable. But the draw back to having these great walls of protection to keep the enemy out was that they also trapped the inhabitants in and made them prisoners in their own city. While in Israel, this past June, I visited the fortess of Masada. It was here that Jewish Zealots held against the might of the Roman army for several years. As one last act of defiance, the defenders drew lots to see who would put everyone to death and then commit suicide. Rather than surrender they chose death at their own hands.

I see the same thing happening today. People do the same thing spiritually, relationally and emotionally. Many of God’s people have erected walls to protect themselves from others (enemies). These walls have not been built with hammer and nails or brick and mortar. Instead these walls are built out of hurts, ideas, traditions, prejudices and fears. These walls imprison us. Worst yet, they keep us from reaching out to the very people God has called us to.

Walls separate. Walls divide. While visiting Israel, I prayed at the Wailing Wall (Western wall). It was partitioned into areas for man and women.

The Jewish Temple in Jesus' day was divided or partitioned. There was the inner Court of the Priests and the Temple Proper containing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant stood. Access was limited. There were other divisions: the Women’s Court, and the outer Court of the Gentiles, granting limited access to the sacred places. Walls limit vision, expression and growth.

Walls isolate. They keep people out. When we want to be alone we put up a wall. When we don’t want to be bothered, we put up walls. We isolate ourselves. We can be in a crowd and be alone. These walls may be invisible, but they are real enough to separate us from everyone. The problem is that these walls isolate us from the ones we are suppose to be getting close to.

Walls insulate. Insulation is used to hold in heat or keep out the cold. We insulate ourselves in order to avoid conflict and hurts. The church was never intended to live in an insulated environment. We were never meant to be a private club that simply holds on to and protects its own membership.

Jesus destroyed these barriers and walls. He brings peace. He reconciles people. Reconcile means “to bring together.” "In Christ" we become one (v.15). Authentic relationships occur as we become reconciled to Christ. The media has been portraying the insensitive and degrading remarks by Imus regarding the Rutger's girls basketball team. I am not defending what Imus said. It was absolutely inaprropriate. But I have also heard Jesse Jackson in the past refer to Jews in an insensitive way. In fact, we all have said something inappropriate or hurtful to someone in the course of our lives. However, in order for us to move beyond the barriers and walls of our prejudices, we must reconcile ourselves to Christ, then will we be able to reconcile with one another, and become one, regardless our race or ethnicity. The Jews and Gentiles of Paul's day were learning how to get along with one another after centuries of animosity toward each other.

How To Make Sure Your Church Will Not Be Found

This is a post I found in my internet wanderings from Nelson Searcy at Journey church in New York. A fellow graduate student also shared it on his blog. It's the top ten ways to make sure someone doesn't find your church. I hope it stirs you up a little.

1. Don’t have a website : This is the information age, even 107 year old women have blogs, but not your church. No church website, no blog, no flickr account, and don’t podcast your sermons. Knowledge is power and providing me easy access to information about your church might empower me to learn more or even visit. So even if you must have a website, make sure it is poorly designed, lacking in information, hard to navigate, out of date and doesn’t have an rss feed to make things even remotely easy for me.

2. Be completely inactive in the community : If you’re not doing anything in the community then no one will talk about your church. That makes it a lot harder for me to accidentally find out anything useful. So don’t serve the community or partner with other churches or non-profits. In fact it’s really just best if you stay completely inward-focused and don’t do anything missional in your city.

3. Don’t answer your phone : Regardless of what time I call (weekday, weekend, morning, afternoon, evening) don’t answer the phone and don’t have an answering machine or voice mail for me to leave a message or prayer request. If you do have voice mail, don’t include your website address, service times or directions to your church on your message, and don’t ever answer the phone on Sunday mornings. That way when I’m lost en route to service, I’ll have no choice but to drive around aimlessly until I give up and go home.

4. Allow misinformation : Sometimes you just can’t prevent denominations or directories from listing information about your church. When contact information changes, don’t tell them about the update. You can save time by providing them incorrect information initially and for added confusion make sure each directory lists different information about your church, all of it wrong.

5. Lack clear signage : Even if I’m determined to visit your church, you have several on site options to discourage me. The first is to play hide and seek. Is your church in a nondescript building or on a street with several other churches? Have absolutely no signage; none, whatsoever. Except maybe on the mailbox, where you abbreviate things beyond comprehension. If you run a Christian school, put up a 10′ x 14′ sign just for it, so I’ll be led to believe the building is only a school.

6. Have insufficient parking/seating : Other discouraging on-site options are lack of adequate parking and seating. Does your church seat 200? Only have 30 parking spaces. Been running at capacity for weeks or months? Don’t start another service, so that there will be standing room only. Have visitors’ parking? Put it in the corner of the lot away from the entrance. Have adequate parking? Don’t stripe the lot or have parking attendants; chaos is best. Have adequate seating? Make it as uncomfortable as possible.

7. Ignore Visitors : Despite your best efforts I have found and attended your church. In fact, I even filled out a visitor’s card requesting more information. Don’t acknowledge my visit in any way. Don’t call me, don’t send me a thank you card, don’t answer any of my questions or give me any information about how to become involved or learn more about Jesus. Also don’t have any literature available to provide visitors and don’t train your volunteers to be courteous or helpful in anyway.

8. Respond half-heartedly to inquiries : If responding to information requests at all, do so extremely slowly and only partially. Wait 1 week or more to return emails or phone calls and if I ask several questions, don’t answer them all. Instead just tell me I should come to a service to find out more. That saves you a couple minutes of response time and makes you look very busy and important. Whatever you do, do not start a dialogue with me.

9. Be evasive about your beliefs : When I ask a direct question about the church’s beliefs, ignore the question or act like you don’t understand and then start telling me about your denomination or church programs. For “What We Believe”, only include the Nicene Creed on your website or literature. If I’m adamant about wanting positional clarity, instead tell me about the love of Jesus and how Christianity isn’t about division. For those times you do answer my questions, act offended that I would even ask, then try and make me feel stupid or sinful for questioning you.

10. Lie to me : When all else fails, simply lie to me about your church. You might just get a few weeks of attendance out of me before I learn the truth. Are you denominationally affiliated? Don’t mention it ever and talk about how independent you are when I find out. Being on mission is important to me, so make it sound like all 500 of your members are actively involved in serving the city, even though you don’t give a single cent to local missions and never talk about it from the pulpit, because you actually hate the city and it’s sinful people. Lastly, spend a lot of time telling me how you are distinctive from other churches, even though you’re not.

Are there some things you need to change about the way church is being done in the 21st century? Just how user friendly are our churches?

The Resurrection - Sunday

Early in the morning, some women came to the tomb of Jesus and found the large stone that had blocked the entrance to the tomb rolled back. An angel nearby told them Jesus was alive. Jesus a little later appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden and then later that day to two disciples as they walked on the road to Emmaus, and finally to Thomas, who had expressed doubt.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" (Luke 24:5-7 NIV)

Christ's Final Week - Saturday

Following Jesus' crucifixion, Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus' body. He was prepared for burial and white linen was wrapped around the body. The body of Jeswas placed in a tomb that had been cut from rock in a side of the hill outside the walls of Jerusalem. A large rock was rolled across the entrance. As the sabbath began, people retired to their homes. Throughout Friday night and Saturday, Jesus' body laid in the tomb. The tomb was secured with Roman guards and Pilate's seal in order to keep Jesus' disciples or followers from stealing his body and then telling people he was raised from the dead. It reveals the length that people will go to deny Jesus' words. People are still trying to discredit Him. But to those who believe, Jesus is the gift of life.

Christ's Final Week - Friday

We call today Good Friday. It is good because of what Christ has done for us. It is good because it was on such a day that Jesus gave his life for us - that we might find forgiveness for sin. I have visited Israel twicw now (1974 and 2006). One of the highlights for me has been my visits to the the two disputed spots believed to be where Jesus was crucified. Each time I found myslef reflecting on God's great love for me in allowing his Son to die for me in such a humiliating and painful fashion. And to think that God's Son fulfilled such an event with such suffering. Think about it. Would anyone so willingly do a such a thing?

Mt 27:33-44 The Message
Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call "Skull Hill," they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn't drink it. After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: This Is Jesus, The King Of The Jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days — so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!" The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others — he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God — well, let him rescue his 'Son' now — if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

Christ's Final Week - Thursday

It was on this day, Passover, that Jesus met with his disciples in an upper room. He gave the Passover meal new meaning. He pointed out to his followers that the loaf of bread and the wine cup represented his body that was soon to be sacrificed and his blood that would soon be shed for the forgiveness of sins. This became known as the "Lord's Supper. After singing a hymn, he and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony, knowing what lay before him. Unforunately, there were those who were with him who could not watch and pray without falling asleep. When it comes to our spiritual well being, do we fall asleep or are we ever alert?

Christ's Final Week - Wednesday

When it comes to Wednesday in the final week of Jesus' life, the Bible remains pretty silent as his activities. John 12:1 reveals that Jesus arrived in Bethany six days prior to Passover which would be on the following Thursday. Mark 14:1 reveals that the Passover is two days away. If Mark 14:1 is considered in context with the preceding verses describing Tuesday's activity, then do we have Wednesday. It is an unaccounted for day in the life of Jesus. I wonder what he was doing? How was he preparing for the Passover? How was he preparing for the greatest moment in the history of mankind - The Resurrection? Which leads me to some questions for your consideration today? What preparations are you making to celebrate Easter? Are you only planning for a traditional family meal? Or are you preparing yourself spiritually to renew your faith in Christ? Should this spiritual preparation be only once a year or should you be preparing yourself spiritually on a daily basis? I hope the latter is true.

Christ's Final Week - Tuesday

On Tuesday of Jesus' final week on earth, he spent a great deal of time teaching in parables. You can read the account of this day in the he following passages: Matthew 21:23-24:51; Mark 11:27-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:36. It was day in which Jesus's teachings stirred up a lot of controversey among the religious. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the Scribes, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees. They also, tried to trap Jesus with trick questions. However, Jesus' response and answers confounded these men. There are those today who are not willingly accepting the words of Jesus Christ. They reject truth, and in so doing, are rejecting God's Son. There is still controversy over Christ and his words to this day. But for those who believe in his word, there is hope, peace, and abundant life.

Christ's Final Week - Sunday and Monday

This week I plan to walk through the last week of Jesus' life on earth. Yesterday, marked the beginning of Jesus' final week on earth. We call it Palm Sunday. Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. People lined the streets waving palm branches and proclaiming, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." By the end of the week, many in this same crowd would be calling for his crucifixtion. Not much has changed about people over the course of generations. There are those who yesterday were proclaiming the glory of God and today will be crucifying Jesus all over by an ungodly lifestyle. People can be fickle.

Today, Monday, marks another interesting day. On this day nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus entered the Temple and began clearing it out, overtuning tables and chasing the money changers out, saying, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:13) He then began healing the blind and lame that came to him.

Today would be a good day to do some personal reflection. The scriptures speak of our body as being the temple of the Holy Spirit. God resides within us. Is there some clearing out that needs to be done within us? Perhaps it has to do with being angry with someone. or bitter towards someone. or maybe some secret sin that need to be confessed before God. Take a few moments this day to cleanse you temple (body) of those things that may be keeping you from experiencing everything that God has for your life.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:9-10)