Near and Far Faith

I argued with God this morning from 6-6:30 about getting up. I wanted to get up early for some alone time and as much as I preach it, I need reminding that time with the creator is always something the enemy has set himself against.

I've been in Luke with the intention of continuing into Acts. Here are some of the things getting up taught me from chapter 7:

7:36 - this pharisee probably had an ulterior motive (very few pharisees were like "Jesus! How about lunch at my place?"). Also we can see his heart by his treatment of Jesus in vs. 46.

7:37 - this woman, though a prostitute (it actually just means "immoral" and we typically associate that with a profession) had wealth if she was able to purchase that perfume. But forgiveness made that wealth worth the sacrifice. What will I do to to show God that I value his forgiveness?

7:38 - It seems as though Jesus and this woman had had some kind of encounter before - the Sumaritan woman at the well is recorded in John but it seems as though a similar encounter may have happened and this was an overflow of graititude.

-also - it seems to be a crowded room since Simon the pharisee didn't notice this woman for a bit.

7:40 - "Then Jesus answered his thoughts." (NLT) - WOW!

7:47 - do I know how much I've been forgiven?

7:50 - Her faith exibited a change - that is how he can call her saved. Not because of any prayer she prayed or raising her hand or responding to an alter call. It was the CHANGE that Jesus declared to be the faith that saves.

Thanks for listening.

What does your time rest on? This has been really convicting over the past few months. How would my life be different if I spent as much time resting  on Jesus and the commands in his Word for his kingdom, like showing others love, as I did say... watching TV or texting?

For me personally TV is the one that really is an issue. It not only steals time from God and I, but my wife and kids as well, which I know God wants me to invest heavily in.

Hard decisions are always the ones that bring sacrifice of selfishness. What can we sacrifice today to bring us more intimacy with God and his kingdom?

I finally got my way - I gave Tate a Faux Hawk.

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It's been a while and to be honest I checked out earlier this week... mentally. It's been a long year and vacation was over 12 months ago and I'm feeling it. So tomorrow we're off to Williamsburg, VA to... do nothing. It'll be warmer and frankly, we won't know anyone so we can truly disconnect.

But just to give a quick update, last Sunday we voted in a new pastor. Bob Hampton will begin April 5th as our Senior Pastor and was voted in by 93%. I can't tell you how excited I am to follow this guy. He knows the Word, The Lord, and he can play a good joke.

Here's a link to The Good Love Project article in the Morning Call (which is going so well we've decided not to stop at the Good Love Celebration on Good Friday). If you get the actual paper today the picture of the hot dude is at the bottom of D7 just below the article on American Idol.

So I'm turning off my phone for the week. I turned off the Tweets. Really looking forward to some family RNR.

I've never been on TV before and I guess this is a good place to start - the local Christian station.

One of our Deacons hooked us up with a  local pastor who does a show on the station and I'm going on to promo The Good Love Project. I'll be on with Gary Millspaugh, the director of the Allentown Rescue Mission. Check out how God has been behind this to bring our two ministries together - it's awesome!

I'll link to the show as soon as I get that info. We're taping Thursday and it will air Sunday night at 6:30 and Tuesday at 10 pm.  The program is called "The Living Truth" and pastor Larry Burd is the host. He's the pastor at Calvary Baptist in Bethlehem.

Pray I don't make a fool of myself or have lettuce in my teeth.

So you've heard about it at Carpenter's for the last few weeks and saw the video this week, but in Case you didn't, here's the vision for Good Friday this year...

We have been disenfranchised by people who call themselves Christians but don' DO anything but go to church. That does make you a Christian. I just doesn't. There's also this mentality in the church that it's a fortress to hide in and once you're strong enough or good enough or know enough, then you can reach out and serve. It's backwards from the scripture.  We - the church and those who claim to be Christ-followers - should be moving on the pain and needs of our community... now. Not when you've been in church long enough. Not when you know a certain amount about the Bible. The key is this: if you're following Christ then you know LOVE and that's enough.

So we're setting out to show our community what love is - Good Love - real love. Unconditional sacrifice. And the timing is perfect. We're teaming up with other churches and organizations and focusing on one area  - the living conditions of the people in the Lehigh Valley. We want to help improve the living space of those who can't be that for financial reasons, a physical disability, a parent or spouse is off at war, a single parent who doesn't have the time, or anyone who needs it.

I got the idea from a song by John Mayer, one of  my favorite artists, called Good Love Is On The Way.

So now you've read this and you're hereby charged to get involved. If you're a Christ follower then get involved and make yourself available for the 4 weekends leading into Good Friday to serve at the projects we're lining up. If you don't have the time but have the cash then give it. If you have the time but not the money then give it. Not because anyone deserves it but because our God values people. For more info go to thegoodloveproject.com and click the email link to communicate more.

If you know anyone that is a good candidate to be served by this, go to thegoodloveproject.com or guide them to it and get them an application. It's time to become the church that we are meant to be - a sacrificing body because that was our example.

These projects will culminate on Good Friday with a party of parties to celebrate what God's done and the freedom we have to serve and continue to show Good Love because of His sacrifice.