Friday, Apr 10, 2009

4-10 Predicting the End of the World•

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Hmmm… It seems like I’m making progress slowly. I am now neck deep in my studies for Sunday! Help! Not enough time! But you know how it is… God always comes in for you in the pinch! It happens every time! I can’t wait to retell the Resurrection story! What a powerful and comforting truth! And I can’t wait to share how God Reigns! He rose, He ascended into heaven, He reigns! Last night I went to Melrose Church where a group of us prepared for Good Friday Services… TONIGHT! Pray for it! It’s going to be pressure today!

Today is April 10, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a complete turn of events; it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is life transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential.

Today’s Scripture reading is Ruth 3; Proverbs 21; Luke 21

To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

We are insatiably curious. We want to know! One of the things we would love to know is what’s going to happen next? If you knew when the events of the future were going to take place, you could make a killing! Think of all the TV shows made about this theme… Lots of shows about time travel… there was one about a guy who got a newspaper every morning… a day early, so he knew what would transpire that day. Think of the horse races you could win, or the stocks you could buy! But how about something more important like when you are going to die! Or even more important when the Day of the Lord begins! Sorry. We don’t get to know those things. Jesus told us in Acts 1:7 that it is not for us to know the times and the seasons. Paul adds a twist. He says we ought to know perfectly well about the times and seasons… they sneak up like a thief in the night! We don’t know when they will happen. But we do know WHAT will happen! A summary of future headlines might read like this: “World Leaders Meet to Discuss Peace and Safety,” “Riots Erupt around the World as Millions March for Peace and Safety!” There will be a hue and cry for world peace (already is!). We will march for it, sue for it, chant for it, join hands around the world and meditate for it, and even come to believe it is possible. There will even be a calm before the storm and then all hell will break loose! Sudden destruction will come upon the world. The Day of the Lord will begin like the painful labor of a mother in childbirth and then intensify with unbearable agonizing delivery as the Great Tribulation breaks upon the earth. There will be no place on earth to hide from it. It will be such a time of horror and trial that men will seek death and not find it. People will cry out in fear hoping to end their lives in desperation. Millions, even billions will die horrible deaths in war, pestilence, famine, earthquakes, riots and starvation. Is there any good news? Yes there is THE GOOD NEWS, the Gospel of salvation. This should motivate us to speak up like Noah before the flood or Jonah before the destruction of Nineveh, “yet 40 days and Nineveh will be destroyed!” There is time to turn! There is still time to tell. That’s why God has you here.

Dear Father. Help me to find peace with You! Let me find my safety and security in the shelter of your wings. I know that there is no hope anywhere else. I want to pass that message on… to proclaim it like Noah and Jonah of old. The Gospel is truly good news!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. This is the greatest commandment

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