Monday, Apr 13, 2009

4-13 US and THEM

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He is Risen! What a great Easter we had. It began at 6:45 for early service. A small group of us gathered around the fire Mike & Jayn had built and we shared some intimate moments as it misted and sprinkled. But it was great. Breakfast was yummy. Then Evie said… hey we need something to keep the kids occupied for a half an hour of dead time… so we did a few puppet plays. It was great. After that came the egg hunt and balloon release. And then more of the good stuff. We had a very long service! It began at 9:30 – pre-service worship. And at 10:00 came our themed worship, “God, You Reign!” It was great as we watched a few videos of Doris and Claude and Carlene share their struggles and then realized that God Reigns! After church, the grand kids came over and we had a few hours of fun with them. Then I hit the snooze button and… finally… finally got some much needed extra rest! Nice touch at the end of a great day.

Today is April 13, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

Today’s Scripture reading is Ruth 4; Luke 22:1-38

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. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

With the current Obama administration I get a lot of alarming emails from concerned citizens. On the one side, the sharp left turn our country has taken has so many Christians… can I say… “fearful” of what the future holds. On the other side, I know some facebook people who love the direction the country is taking. There are occasional political arguments on my facebook page that border on heated and hysterical with name calling and bashing on both sides. Sometimes it feels like the country has been divided into at least two factions “US” and “THEM.” The intensity and heat of the argument concerns me. We all have strong opinions, I’m just wondering when those heated exchanges will turn into fanaticism or violence? I hope it doesn’t happen. The reason I bring the “us” and “them” discussion up is because Paul prophetically anticipated it in 1 Thessalonians 5. Take a closer look at verses 1-9. Verse 1 and 2 are “us” verses. YOU have no need for me to write you. YOU know that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Verse 3 is a “them” verse. When THEY say peace and safety, sudden destruction will come on THEM and THEY will not escape. Verses 4-6 are “us” verses. But YOU are not in darkness that this day should overtake YOU like a thief. YOU are sons of the light. WE are not of the night. Let US watch and stay awake. And verse 9… God did not appoint US to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I can’t help but notice the crystal clear distinction between us and them. The sudden destruction of the Day of the Lord will come upon… who? THEM! (verse 3) That’s clear. But the Wrath of the Day of the Lord will NOT come upon… who? US! (verse 9). That’s crystal clear! How’s that going to work? I thought that the Day of God’s Wrath was going to fall upon all those on the earth? Will believers be supernaturally protected? Some will, others will die a martyrs death. But the answer is that US is gone in the harpazo of 1 Thessalonians 4… the catching away of the saints. That is the great Christian hope! That is good news. It would be nice to have THEM become one of US.

Dear Lord. I pray for our divided country. People are so passionate on all sides. I pray that truth and righteousness would prevail. I pray for repentance and a return to God. Lord heal our land. We have strayed far from you and have even used Your Word to justify our waywardness and sin. Lord grant that we might be passionate in sharing the greatest news ever… salvation, hope and peace in the death and resurrection of Christ!

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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