Load Up The Car On Sundays

I read this post from Perry Noble this morning about a guy he has been witnessing to and building a relationship. Perry invited this guy to his church and the guy has come several times. He is coming closer and closer to making a decision to follow Christ.

Please read the whole post from Perry's blog and be challenged and encouraged.

“If you REALLY believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ then why in the world would you show up at church every single Sunday without a carload of people who need Him?”

P

Heaven

This Sunday was week 3 of "So You're Dead, Now What?". Craig spoke about heaven. It's funny how so many times we think of heaven from what we see and hear in movies, cartoons, stories, etc... and not really what Scripture tells us about heaven.

I remember at times thinking of heaven as something from a cartoon. White robe, gold gates, people with halos over their head floating around...You know what I mean. But man, heaven is so much more than that. In heaven we will worship and dwell with our God. The one who is over all the heavens and the earth. It's not like seeing a celebrity and being awestruck for a few moments. We will worship God and be with him forever and it will never get old and it will never be boring. It will be awesome. It's hard to truly put my mind around, but I just know that as good as I can imagine it will only get better.

Mercy Me says it pretty good in their song "I Can Only Imagine":

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

Remember God's promise to us who are made righteous through Jesus:
2 Peter 3:13 (The Message)
11-13Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

P

"Why Can't I See God?"

Perry Noble from NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC had a great post called "What Can't I see God?".

Click here to read it.

I great respect for Perry. He is a leader who truly loves God and wants to lead people to know Christ in a meaning way.

Patrick

Hell

Wow! yesterday was pretty intense. Carig's messsage on hell was pretty convicting for me. I realized how little I think about the reality of hell for those that don't know Jesus. As followers of Christ we can never ignore that hell exsist or just pretend it's not there. If we believe God's Word is true then we have to believe in the truth of a heaven and a hell. Hell is an aweful opposite to the heaven God wants us to spend eternity in with Him when we have realtionship with Him through Jesus.
I was convisted to pray for family and friends who don't know Jesus and don't know about the awesome heaven God has for His people. My heart also breaks to think of those who don't know Jesus and will spend enternity in isolation away from God.
I am praying that you become passionate about sharing your faith through your words and deeds. Tomorrow may be to late. We must make Jesus famous and proclaim His love, truth and gift of salvation to as many people as we can.
I pray God gives you orpportunites to share Jesus even today.

watch this message from LifeChurch.tv

Trying to make Him famous,
P

Death

…He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

John 11:25-26

 

Week one of the “So You’re Dead…Now What?” series began yesterday. Craig spoke about death. The statement that seems to stick with me was: “WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT DEATH AND ETERNITY WILL DETERMINE HOW YOU LIVE.”

Just think about that for a second. Makes a lot of sense. Think about the way you are living your life today. At this moment, you are living your life based on what you believe about death and eternity.

I pray that if you know Christ that you will live your life full of joy and gladness because we have so much to live for.

If you live your life in fear of death because you have no hope and faith of eternal life with Jesus then I pray you find that hope. All it takes is a simple prayer to ask Christ to become the center of your life and then living your life to honor and glorifying His name.

The reality is that Scripture is very clear. There are no alternative ways to heaven. There is One Way. His name is Jesus. He has made a way between us and God. If we are judged by works only, we are so going to fall short. It’s by His grace and mercy that we can know Christ, be in relationship with Him and one day be with Him forever in heaven.

So, what do you believe about death and eternity? That’s how you are living your life today.

Watch the message online.

 

 

So You're Dead...Now What?

Starting this Sunday (8/10/08) we are beginning a series called “So You’re Dead…Now What?”. Kind of a blunt statement and question for a series title, but I love the thought of exploring this and seeing what God’s word says about the issue.

We will talk about questions like: What happens moments after we die? What is Heaven really like? What about Hell? And does what we do in this world really matter in the next? I’d have to say that each of these are questions I have thought about at some time in my life. If you’re breathing you’ve probably thought about some or all of these.

Death of earthly bodies is inventible. We will all die one day. So, I think it’s just human nature to think about these questions. Thank God though for His grace and mercy and the gift of salvation. I mea really, it is a gift. We so don’t deserve it, but God loves us to much. He wants us to be secure in knowing that when we die in the physical body that if we are in relationship with Him and have accepted His gift of salvation through Jesus, this life won’t even compare to eternal life with Him in heaven.

Face is, there is a heaven and a hell. We need to live like it. We need to live here in earth to glorify and praise our awesome God who created the heaven and the earth. I hope you will join us for this series. If you want to view it online please keep up by going to the “Sundays” section of the website and click on “Current Series”.

Trying to make Jesus famous,

Patrick