Presence

The most amazing thing about the first chapter of The Story is that God (who spoke all things into existence, who holds all things together, who desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth) yes that God. Wants to be present among us. Not just way off some where hiding behind the sun or sitting on the throne of heaven, no, here with us. The thought of this is mind boggling. Why? He doesn't need us. In the scriptures He says "If I was hungry I would not come to you." And yet, He wants to be among us. WOW!!!!!!! Now as for us, we feel as if He is the cosmic kill joy, you can't do this or you can't do that. To many rules and regulations, to many commands, how dare he want our money or our time or our worship. We're kind of like teenagers who don't want their parents around because they might embarrass them. As we go through this next thirty one weeks I want to be able to set aside all of my past learning and seek God a new. He promises that if we seek Him we will find Him. What I found in this first chapter is a God who loves all He has made. Realizing that Him setting Adam and Eve out of the garden was not punishment but an act of grace. Not giving them what they deserved but what was best for them, a chance to be redeemed. So thankful that He never changes and His mercy is new every morning. God with us! Simply amazing!!!!!!

The Story

Last April my wife and I were on our way to a pastors conference and we were discussing were we felt that God was leading our church and us. Now, I can tell you that right at that moment things were not looking to good. Attendance was down, some key people were leaving and it just seemed like we were going backward instead of forward. It would have been very easy to just throw in the towel and say well we gave it a try but evidently God was leading us elsewhere. But that is not what either Laura and I wanted to happen. We both were taught to never to give up, words that my Dad had said to my many times kept ringing in my ears, "Son, you can either get bitter or you can get better." So as we headed toward Chicago, we asked God to help us get better. It is in times of not knowing I believe God desires that we trust Him the most. So we did.
After we returned from Chicago, which by the way was a great time of renewal, relaxing and refocusing, I began to pray about what God wanted next for Central. I said before things looked bad but we still had a good core group of people who sincerely desired to follow hard after Jesus. We had just finished a year and half of great teaching by Dr. David Platt, our Monday night ABS was going strong and we had started a Wednesday Bible Study and had gone through Crazy Love and the Truth Project together.
Like I said good things were happening, it just seemed like we weren't all on the same page. So as I prayed for direction a curriculum came across my desk that I believe was a God send. Now I don't put my faith in curriculum, I trust In God and God alone. But I do believe He uses things to grow us into His people. So I began to pray, I presented to the Elders, some key leaders in the church. Well needless to say time flies and the time is here. We started this past Sunday as a church to go through THE STORY together. From those in the nursery all the way to our Senior for Christ.
The atmosphere was buzzing. People were signing up for life groups, people were waiting with anticipation to begin. It was a great day. I heard a few people say "Can you feel it?" It is so awesome to sense God's presence among us again. And I am excited to see what He is going to do in the families of Central. Strap in and hang on! It is going to be an awesome ride!

Alive

I was watching a podcast the other day and the guy said something that has been stuck in my head ever since. I have shared my thoughts about what I heard with a few people but all I have gotten in return are blank stares. Seems to be happening to me more often than not lately. Ya ya Phil, that's nice, let's talk about something less probing, "How about those pirates?" "Isn't the weather brutal?" Now I am not against small talk it just seems that is as far as most people want to go these days.

The gist of the podcast was talking about whether or not we are living the lives God intended for us to live. A life that is lived according to the very words of God, not according to words that we like to make up to make us feel better. You see I think we are missing out on so many of the blessings that God has for us because of the lies of this world. I don't know about you but I don't want to miss out on a single thing that God has for me this side of heaven. Phil, what do you mean? I am living the life God has for me. I have money in the bank, a nice car, a nice home, a good job. My family is doing okay and I am able to go wherever I want for vacation. I've got it good!

I understand, on paper that sounds like things couldn't be any better. Adam and Eve thought the same thing. We have it made. We're alive. Now remember Satan told her "you will not surely die!". God is holding out on you. You have to take things into your own hands and be all you can be. Now let me ask you did Adam and Eve die after they ate the fruit? Technically, NO! But what did they forfit to be all they could be. They forfitted real life. Now they were still alive, walking, talking, breathing, eating but without God's presence. So let me ask you, were they really alive?

Yes we might have everything we need, food, shelter, stuff, but is God present in our lives? I am not asking if you believe in God (the demons believe), I am asking is God present in your life? Are you propelled by the Spirit of the Living God while you work, shop, recreate and sleep? Are you in awe that out of the goodness of His character He chose you to be one of His own. Now I am not asking this because I got this nailed down in my own life, I am asking this because No one else is.