When I was 12 years old, I traded two Michael Jordan basketball cards to my neighbor for six of his “Pistol Pete” Maravich basketball cards. For me, this was a no brainer. I give up two cards of a player I didn’t really like, for six cards of my all-time hero. At the card shop, however, it was a very different story. Those two Michael Jordan cards I traded were very valuable, worth $250… A PIECE!
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I just had a chance to work through our family schedule with my sweet wife. It’s one of those weeks where all of our evenings (and most of our days) are filled up Monday through Friday.
I am thankful to have such a full life, but at times, it can feel a little bit (okay, a lot) overwhelming. This is especially true when you add kids into the mix.
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“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” — 1 Peter 1:13-15
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“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” — Psalm 90:1-2
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“In regard to these [sins], they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” — 1 Peter 4:4
Dissipation is excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. The world is surprised when you don’t jump into the same pool of sinful pleasures.
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You guys are heroes. You are involved in the greatest work of your life and your kids are so blessed to have you as their mom and dad. I mean it!
I’m not sure about you, but sometimes it seems like my children’s favorite words to each other are things like, “Stop it!”, “That’s mine!” or “NO!”
How many times have we heard this?
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I don’t know about you, but in the midst of marshmallow peeps, chocolate marshmallows, jellybeans, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter 2017 was a blessing to my life! God really reminded me of why Jesus had to die and why I can have tremendous hope because of the Resurrection. Between our six services this past weekend, we had over 1,300 people come through our doors! There were at least 18 people who indicated that they prayed to receive Jesus for their salvation! God was so kind to bring us dozens of new visitors and people who got to worship Jesus and hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. They were also blessed to be loved on by all of the wonderful saints at The Rock.
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Well, if the all the candy eggs and pastel colors didn’t already give it away, you should know that Easter is here! Every year, people come to our church to hear the Good News about something extraordinary that happened over 2000 years ago. Easter is when Christians reflect on that moment in time when history was split in two. A time when Jesus Christ went to the cross to be crushed for our sins. He was buried and three days later the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen! In His death, burial, and Resurrection, He has forever conquered all sin and death. This is the truth that has secured the eternity of all Christians forever!
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Years ago, there was a radio show on Saturday nights called Live And Local. They played only local bands. They had a “name that local band” contest one time during each show. They’d have listeners call in and try to name the band whose song had just been played. As I was listening one night, I heard my old band come on the radio! Being the shameless eighteen-year-old that I was, I called in and won the prize! I won a $50 gift card to a music store. All I had to do was go down to the radio station and redeem my prize. I didn’t go. Those fifty dollars never got used because I never redeemed the prize.
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What or who is an enemy? It’s not always easy to know. It can confuse me sometimes. Other times, however, I can clearly see them. In sin, evil, human atrocities, and temptation, the enemy looms large. Although it is often gross to see (and truly affects me more than I want it to), I almost prefer it when the enemy is easily identifiable. At that point, I can clearly take action (as the following verse describe):
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