I've been reading the book, Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. It's a fascinating book, based on a true story of a four year old boy who,during an emergency,falls into an unconscious state, and when he awakens, says he has been to heaven and back. It is a fascinating read and not complicated. No matter what you think of the book, its worth your time to read. For some, they will read the book with doubt and skepticism; while others will read it for inspiration and hope. As for me, what I found most intriguing about the book is the one constant phrase the little boy kept coming back to in saying, "Jesus really cares about the children." Interesting that this comes from the voice of one who is a child himself. I'm sure everybody will have a different take on it, but for me, I like to think this affirms the amazing, personal love that God has for each person. The creator of the cosmos loves each one of us. God really does. Perhaps the key is in what Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them,for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Maybe the key to knowing God is in learning to become like children - or to put it another way - to become his child once again.
Dennis
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Perfect Love
Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." It appears at first glance that Jesus is asking us to do the impossible. After all, human perfection is an oxymoron. The problem is that we tend to interpret every verse in the Bible as if it requires immediate gratification, but much of scripture is written to show direction in life, and what we are called to become is often more gradual in nature than instantaneous in act. This truth is most evident when we speak of our salvation in God's way.
In John Wesley's "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" he writes, "Neither dare we affirm, as some have done,that all this salvation is given at once. There is indeed an instantaneous as well as gradual work of God in his children; and there wants not,we know,a cloud of witnesses who have received in one moment, either a clear sense of the forgiveness of their sins, or the abiding witness of the Holy Spirit. But we do not know a single instance, in any place, of a person's receiving, in one and the same moment,remissions of sin, the abiding witness of the Spirit, and a new, a clean heart."
Wesley's point is that it takes a new and clean heart to grow in perfect love, and this perfection is a gradual work and takes a lifetime to achieve, but the joy is in the journey. As you further your walk with a risen Savior, ask God to make your love for him perfect. It won't happen overnight, but if we commit ourselves to the task of loving God and loving our neighbor as we are called to love ourselves, then we will once again rediscover the joy of falling in love - falling in love with God and with his call to love ourselves and one another in grace. We can not be perfect like God, but we can grow in his perfected love.
Dennis
In John Wesley's "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" he writes, "Neither dare we affirm, as some have done,that all this salvation is given at once. There is indeed an instantaneous as well as gradual work of God in his children; and there wants not,we know,a cloud of witnesses who have received in one moment, either a clear sense of the forgiveness of their sins, or the abiding witness of the Holy Spirit. But we do not know a single instance, in any place, of a person's receiving, in one and the same moment,remissions of sin, the abiding witness of the Spirit, and a new, a clean heart."
Wesley's point is that it takes a new and clean heart to grow in perfect love, and this perfection is a gradual work and takes a lifetime to achieve, but the joy is in the journey. As you further your walk with a risen Savior, ask God to make your love for him perfect. It won't happen overnight, but if we commit ourselves to the task of loving God and loving our neighbor as we are called to love ourselves, then we will once again rediscover the joy of falling in love - falling in love with God and with his call to love ourselves and one another in grace. We can not be perfect like God, but we can grow in his perfected love.
Dennis
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Just say "Thank You"
As of today, we are in day 7 since we lost power last week due to the extreme storms that plummeted our area with high winds,hail and tornadoes. My wife and I were fortunate in that we only lost power. Our house was not damaged, no trees down, and we have given thanks for small little blessings like gas operated water heaters. Our inconvenience is nothing when compared to the destruction of private propetry and the loss of human life that occured last week. Our prayers continue to go out to all individuals and families impacted by this terrible storm.
Now is the time to show patience and gratitude as well as prayer. The service crews continue to work around the clock as they chop up and remove down trees as well as repair broken power lines. As the days drag on, it is easy to complain about what is not done "at our house" when you see the lights on at "the other house". Let's not become self-centered in time of clean-up. Service crews are doing all they can, working as hard as they can, for everyone's benefit. So, please say "thank you" when you see a service crew today. Say a prayer of thanks for all they are doing for us. Just say "thank you".
Dennis
Now is the time to show patience and gratitude as well as prayer. The service crews continue to work around the clock as they chop up and remove down trees as well as repair broken power lines. As the days drag on, it is easy to complain about what is not done "at our house" when you see the lights on at "the other house". Let's not become self-centered in time of clean-up. Service crews are doing all they can, working as hard as they can, for everyone's benefit. So, please say "thank you" when you see a service crew today. Say a prayer of thanks for all they are doing for us. Just say "thank you".
Dennis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)