Tuesday, May 27, 2008

TWG - May 27, 2008

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TWG - May 27, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 11; Psalm 21; Matthew 22:23-49

Today is May 27, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. This is your invitation to take one step forward every day in your relationship with Christ. We invite you to do something unbelievably radical. We invite you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus

Happy Memorial Day… so what did you do to honor those who served our country and gave their lives so that we could experience liberty? We honored all who served in the Military on Sunday… they deserve our applause. Yesterday Susan and I worked most of the day on a rental. I put new decking on one deck while she painted the other. Evie dropped the kids off for a while. Then we went over the Kyle and Marcia’s for a BBQ. It was a little cold outside so eventually we all migrated into the living room where the ladies laughed obnoxiously and the men talked while we watched basketball. Kyle gave me some nice hand rail and stair jacks which will work perfectly on the deck I am building! What a blessing! So now I have more work to do. I need to pick them up and tear them apart. I put a darling picture of Susan and her dog Tilly on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out.

This week’s theme verse is John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

For God so loved the world. I find that statement amazing. I could understand it if it read, God so loved the nice people of the world, or God so loved the world of believers (which by the way Calvinists say this really means), but that is not what it says. The world consistently is referred to as A) the world system – a world view and way of living which is opposed to God, and B) all the people in the world, good, bad and ugly, all of whom begin as lost sinners destined for hell. As to the first we are told that “we are in the world, but not of the world.” And as to the second we are told that “the whole world lies in the lap (or under the control of) the evil one.” God loves the world of unbelievers! That’s more than I can say for most Christians! Most of us, if honest have to say, “and I’m trying!” It’s not easy to love the repulsive. How do you love rapists, murderers, terrorists or even people of a different (and dangerous) political persuasion? It’s a little easier if you don’t know them. But when it gets personal, then it becomes challenging. What if he raped your daughter? What if that homosexual taught at your school? What if they killed your best friend? What if they flew airplanes into your country’s Twin Towers? What if they hate you? And that’s what makes it tough for God; nothing is impersonal to Him. He keeps tabs on all 6.7 billion people on the planet every second of every day. He not only sees just how bad they act, he can hear every vile thought every one of us think. He knows what we are like! And every single sin is as offensive and hurtful to God as porcupine quills are to an over inquisitive dog! Every day a billion billion barbed “sin quills” are stuck into the heart of God. And yet, while we were still sinners… he loved us, he sent his son, he died for us! Some people are appalled that God would send anyone to hell! I’m amazed that God would let anyone into heaven, leastwise yours truly! Because while I can’t see the blackness of any other persons heart, I can see mine. I am confronted with my sins daily and I am constantly amazed that Jesus loves me, and that he loves me enough to save me. And believe me, I need saving! And so do you. I am so glad that Jesus loves me!

Dear Jesus: Thank you for loving me. I know who I am. I try so hard to make other people think that I am a nice guy, but you know what I am really like underneath. What I want is transformation! What I need is your love to change my heart. I am truly grateful that you saved a wretch like me. How can I say thanks for all the things you have done for me! I can’t repay them ever! All I can do is surrender and say I love you too!

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