Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008

TWG - June 25, 2008

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TWG - June 25, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 30; Psalm 42; Acts 5:1-11

Today is June 25, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

I am still not feeling well this morning… nothing more than a sore throat and headache… something some people live with every day. Yesterday was the last day of the IFCA National conference. Susan and I slept in. Then we attended the last session where Dr Alex Montoya shared ways that existing churches could reach out and start other churches in Vision America. If we are serious about reaching America, we must plant new churches. After the conference half a dozen guys and gals jumped in there and packed up the sound system. It took us a fraction of the time I expected! Thanks to Nate, Earl and the rest! What a huge help. I returned the equipment to Hi-5 and got in a discussion of the craziness of this world with the owner. I shared that Jesus Christ was the answer. He was willing to concede that Jesus was “an” answer… but his answer is just love. I need to get back in there and continue the conversation! I put up a picture of Dave and I goofing around… we put on some tin hats and made stupid faces. It’s on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD”

Man can live 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air, but he can’t live 1 second without hope! God gives hope. If you try to live without God in this world, there is no hope. This life is completely hopeless without God. What’s the point? Man is a sinner. He is bent on his own destruction. That’s why most alcoholics would rather drink themselves to death than fix their problems. Oh, they want to, but they want another drink more! The same goes with cigarettes, drugs and promiscuous sex. Before we know it, we are rotting to death. We caused our own destruction. But it doesn’t stop there. Our country and our world is bent on its own destruction. We make laws that destroy the economy all in the name of our political agenda. One of the driving forces among greenies is population control. Some of them want to reduce the population of the world from 6 billion to 2 billion or less! How do they intend to do that? And then there is War and terrorism. Suspicion and hatred have caused untold millions of deaths. Why would a twenty something terrorist strap a bomb to his chest and blow himself up in the middle of a night club, hotel or busy market? Without the true, living God we are bent on our own destruction! We have no hope in this life without God! Because real lasting hope in this life is based on what happens after I die. If I have to navigate sickness, poverty, stress, terrorism, war and hatred, I must have reasons for living that are bigger than this messed up world! If this life is all there is, let me out! Why torture me? The best of this life is not worth the worst of it! But if there is an eternal God waiting for me at my last breath ready to usher me into my eternal home, then I have a purpose big enough to persevere. If all my aches, pains and sorrows have reasons that will resonate into eternity, I can do this! If the Resurrection of Jesus taught us anything at all, it taught us that there is a resurrection for all; some to life eternal and some to eternal punishment. It also taught us that in trusting this Jesus we have hope. One day we will enter a paradise where there is no death, no sickness and no sorrow. I close my eyes and dream of the dawning day when the sunshine of eternity drives away the foreboding clouds of this life! I have hope because God is the hope giver!

My Jesus. Thank you for the resurrection! Thank you for hope. Please remind me that eternity is waiting for those who have placed their faith and trust in You. I have renewed hope in this dark and dying world because there is an eternity of joy waiting for me. How can I say thanks for bringing meaning to an otherwise meaningless existence! I love you!

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”-

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:59 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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