Jan. 13th, 2016 Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

What a great passage this morning!

When we are around people in a group, there are bound to be some people who naturally rub you the wrong way.

Subconsciously they may remind you of someone who hurt you (Sign of un-forgiveness possibly in your heart...)

Or they may be like you or exhibit a character flaw you see in yourself (Pride, Likes to be in charge, shy, etc...)

Yet we are called to be compassionate, kindness, humble, etc... we do it all though IN GOD'S STRENGTH! Which is a supernatural power!

But just in case, we think that's enough, we are called to forgive them...

I don't read that they asked for it... Do you?

We are to FORGIVE them. And not just superficially with words like a child forced to say 'I'm sorry' by their parents, but with a WHOLE HEARTED, I FORGIVE and will GIVE UP MY RIGHT TO HOLD IT AGAINST YOU forgiveness!

And just wait cause he is just getting started!

NOW add to that PEACE... A COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP SPIRIT.

"NONE OF THIS GOING ODD AND DOING YOUR OWN THING"

So I need to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, and then I need to still hang out with them?

You mean I can't change churches when the going gets rough?

You mean I can't hide?

And to top it all off, LET EVERY DETAIL be done in the name of the MASTER!

We are subservient to Jesus because we LOVE.

Will you love with that type of LOVE, DEEP LOVE, today?

Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young: a 5 star Book!

Rarely do I read a work of Fiction that changes my life, one that impacts me and helps me to deepen my faith.  I have read some great fiction, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Jon Henderson, James Byron Huggins, Ted Deckker and many others; yet none of those impacted my way of life, or my thinking in the way that one author has.

            Classic literature is filled with controversy and topics that made people think.  “Oliver Twist”; “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”; “War and Peace” these are just some titles that not only were good reads but led to a revolution of thought.

            Back in 2008 a book came out by Wm. Paul Young called the Shack.  This single book went on to be on every Best Seller list and sell millions of copies.  The book wasn’t without it’s controversies yet when one set down and read it in its entirety and in the concept of a fiction titles they could understand it so much better.

            Wm. Paul Young is back.  This November 2012 his second work is coming out entitled “Cross Roads”.  I received a free preview copy from Hachette Book Group to review.  

            In this story Young takes on the concept of the Soul.  What is it?  What does it look like?  We follow a man who had it all, wealth, fame, etc… but used his family as a stepping stone as well as anyone else who got in his way.  When his life is suddenly traumatized and he finds him self in coma we begin to see what takes place.

            Follow Tony as he journeys through the hear and now visiting in minds of those surrounding him.  And what happens when Jesus himself tells Tony that he could heal one person?  Will the selfish man win, or will Tony experience a change in heart?

            As always, since this book deals with the Trinity, and deals with the Soul and the topic of what happens when a body is not dead but not full of life, there will be controversy.  Expect it, and embrace it.  Learn from it!

            There is a line at the end of the book that I feels sums it up the best:

“Imagery,” added Grandmother, “has never been able to define God, but it is our intention to be known, and each whisper and breath of imagery is a little window into a facet of our nature.  Pretty cool, eh?”

If you look for Truth you may find comfort in the end.

If you look for comfort you will not get neither comfort nor truth,

Only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin and in the end, despair.   

~C.S. Lewis

This is a must read.  Put all other fiction aside and read this book as soon as it comes out!

You will not be disappointed and you will be led to THINK!

Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

I flew into Grand Rapids, MI this week for a conference. I decided I would read a book since the flights were shorter and the Podcasts I have stored up wouldn't really come in handy due to the shorter times.

So I picked up an advanced Reader Copy of the Heart Mender that came out in May.
This book is by Andy Andrews who has written other works, one of which is the Noticer.

I didn't have any background on the book before hand, thinking it was just another great fiction read. This work blew me away and I couldn't put it down. In fact I had it finished before I even boarded my plane.

The Heart Mender is a story about Forgiveness. 2 lives from lives that lead them to hate what the other represents are brought together through a twist of fate. A True Joseph story such as Joseph of Egypt in the Bible. What man had intended for harm turned out to be for good.

this story is full of numerous references to Historical facts that leave you scratching your head at the end... was it true... Are they real?? Seriously!?!?!?!

As well, along the way you will see the story of forgiveness played out in the lives of the main characters.

It is funny how in our lives the SIMPLEST things, the things that Christ shock his head and said "You unbelieving generation... How many times must I tell you this...". Those simple things can be the hardest to grasp.

If you are suffering from un-forgiveness, maybe you feel you can't forgive a hurt or a wrong, maybe someone won't forgive you and you continually try to seek it to the point of obsession. This book is written for you.

Throughout time fiction has been used to tell stories which ultimately can change your life.

This book will do that for you!

Looking Up

Mandy told me this story about what was said by Gavin during the Walk and Talk at the mall.
They were walking past the Apple store and Gavin said, "Mice. Look Mom, Mice.."
Mandy of course had no clue what he was looking at.
So the next time they walked past he said it again, "Look Mom, Mice.."
So Mandy stopped and asked him where he saw it... He kept pointing and she still didn't see.
Finally she knelt down and looked up. Here at the top of the signs were some very small movie clips and one was the mice from 'Rataouli'...
It wasn't until she knelt down and looked up that she saw this.

Isn't that what we are told in the scripture over and over...
I am going through the OT right now in the Bible Experience and over and over we see where Isreal forgot to look up. they were punished and when they finally looked up and called on God for help, He gave them a stay of execution.
It is the same way in my life and I am sure in yours.
We too quickly forget to take the time and knell and look up so that we can see more of the picture that we are suppose to see.