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How Close is Jesus to you?

From way back in college, I remember going to chapel one day and watching a drama.  In the play, there were only two actors; a young student, and a person playing Jesus.  The student was telling Jesus how wonderful it was to have Him as a part of his life now.  But then the calls from friends started coming in, inviting him to attend different parties on and off campus that would involve drinking, women, and other “extra-curricular” activities.  Each time he wanted to go, but Jesus would start following him.  The Jesus character explained that now He was a part of this young man’s life, He would go wherever the student went.  You could tell that the student wasn’t too keen on this idea. 

 Finally, the student has an idea. He is going to go out with his friends, and not take Jesus along.  He went off stage, and then returned with a hammer and some nails.  He took Jesus’ one hand and nailed it to the wall, and then the other hand, in the shape of a cross.  The student then set the hammer down, wiped off his hands, and left the stage.  The Jesus character hung His head, and the lights dimmed. 

When Jesus comes into our lives, He is with us everywhere, listening to everything.  There is no time when He is “off duty.”  He is closer then we could ever imagine Him.  It is easy to think of Jesus with us at church or in our small group, or watching us when we are doing something good and noble.  But Jesus is also there, watching in our darkest moments.  He is there when we mess up and act in the most unchristian-like ways.  Thank God He doesn’t come with judgement.  Instead He comes with Grace, love and mercy. 

How many times have I crucified Christ again and again?  How many times have I nailed Him to the tree and tried to leave Him behind? But no matter how many times I fail, He loves me still.  Thank God He is always that close to me!                PB <><

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Watching the Bumper Stickers

I read bumper stickers. If I’m not close enough to read it, I get closer so I can (usually when we’re stopped at a light, not on the interstate). Bumper stickers say a lot; about the driver, and about our culture.

I was riding behind a car the other day that had a bumper sticker that really caught my eye. This is what it said:

“I like your Christ.
I do not like your Christians.
They are so unlike your Christ.”
(Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi)

It was like a slap in the face. I immediately felt convicted. It reminded me of all the times (daily) that I don’t measure up to the example Jesus gave us. But rather than despairing, it drove me to the one thing that this person with the condeming bumper sticker doesn’t understand… GRACE! Thank God that when I don’t measure up, there is forgiveness for my faults. It doesn’t excuse them, but I am washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. There are too many people who are trying to get to heaven just on their own efforts. But we all fall short. Not a one of us is like Christ. Even recently in the news, Mother Theresa struggled with her faith and her worthiness. Thank God Jesus died for her, for you, and for me. Thank God Jesus came for you and me. And for the driver of that car.

But that bumper sticker also reminded me of something else. Calling myself a Christian, believing in Jesus, living my life in Christ is 24/7. I don’t get to take a vacation from it. I don’t get a coffee break from living my faith. I don’t get to leave my faith at the door of the church so I can pick it up next time I show up at the building. People are always watching. Especially people who want to judge us by our actions, and not by our faith. We don’t have to be perfect. We have to be forgiven. But we also need to know that others are watching.

Why is He so hard to find?

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Music Directory Feature!

Our Music Directory, Paul was recently featured in the Orion Review Newspaper. Take a look here to read the article.

Apples Everywhere!–8/29/07

All my life I have heard Jesus’ words, “I am the Vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” I’ve preached sermons on the meaning of being pruned and how God prunes His children to produce more fruit. But I’ve never really experienced it—until now.
Last year, my dad and I cut back a lot of the trees and shrubs in my yard. In the front of my yard are three apple trees that grow together. We cut the trees back a lot last year, so much so that I thought maybe we were doing damage to the trees. Boy, was I wrong!
This year we have apples. We have so many apples that my neighbor says that she has never seen so many on the tree. So many fall off the trees every week that I’m throwing away 40-50 pounds of apples every week (we didn’t spray the trees so the fruit isn’t edible). I’m making apple sauce in my driveway because I’m driving over the apples every day! It seems the only ones that are happy are the bees that have found a feast in my driveway.
I had no idea what would happen when we pruned those trees. I thought the trees would end up damaged from what we cut from them last year. I’m sure there is no plant that loves to be pruned, just like I don’t like to have things changed or taken from my life. But what an incredible response there was after the pruning. When God prunes away the dead and useless branches, there is so much more room for fruit to grow in our lives. What is there in your life that God needs to prune away? And what fruit could you produce in your life if God were to prune your life? Got Fruit?

New Series!

Parable of the Ten Minas

Watch the video on Luke 19 Parable of the Ten Minas here.

Read the Parable here.

July 15 2007 Sermon

Check out the sermon video here.

Read the parable in Luke 18:9-14 here.