Gambling on Life, Death and Faith

Recently I read an update on film critic Roger Ebert that prompted the following reflections.

Most of you know who Roger Ebert is. For years he has been one of the more popular film critics and was the long time co-host of “At The Movies” with Gene Siskel and later Richard Roeper.

In 2002 Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He has endured years of treatment and surgery, including the removal of his jaw in 2006.

In his memoir, “Life Itself”, Ebert speaks of his impending death—

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear.

Many readers have informed me that it is a tragic and dreary business to go into death without faith. I don't feel that way. "Faith" is neutral. All depends on what is believed in. I have no desire to live forever.

What I expect to happen is that my body will fail, my mind will cease to function and that will be that.

Mr. Ebert has made a bet. He is betting that there is no Creator God who has given life to each person with an expectation on how that life will be lived and for which there will be accountability and possible judgment.

If Mr. Ebert is correct then it truly doesn’t matter that he hasn’t lived with a view of having a relationship with God or attempting to please God. If he is wrong then death will be a very undesirable experience.

This has led many to philosophically and theologically conclude: “If I bet that there is a God and live that way, then die and find out I was wrong, it is no big loss. However, if I bet there is not a God and live that way, then die and find out I was wrong, it is the all-time biggest loss.”

Of course most of that thinking is around the notion of spending forever either in heaven or hell. I’m sympathetic to the rationale and the concern for people to go to heaven when they die.

Of greater concern to me is this: If God is real (all powerful, all knowing, etc.), and if God has invited us to know Him (forgiveness of sin, justification, redemption and reconciliation), then not knowing God and experiencing His gracious gift of life would be the all-time greatest loss.

So here’s my challenge for Mr. Ebert and everyone else who shares his thinking: Don’t make a blind bet. Investigate, explore, and search regarding whether the claims about God and life with God are true. Don’t settle for a few superficial caricatures of faith based living that are weird, cheesy, flaky or a turn off (and there are many).

Investigate Jesus and Christianity as thoughtfully and carefully as you examine movies. If you do so, I bet that you reach a different conclusion.

Reflections on the Cross

Ryan Holladay is pastor of Lower Manhattan Community Church which meets two blocks from the World Trade Center site. His article in Christianity Today, “Why The 9/11 Cross Should Offend All of Us” is worth a few moments of your reflection.

A cross is on display at the memorial site and this is literally making some atheists sick. The atheists claim that the presence of the cross has caused them to suffer “dyspepsia, symptoms of depression, headaches, anxiety and mental pain and anguish”. Though many are not finding the atheists’ claims to be credible Holladay wonders if the atheists are taking the cross more seriously than do most believers.

Holladay reminds us that the cross “tells the world’s strangest story in an image.” The Apostle Paul said that the cross is to some a scandal and to others a joke (1 Cor. 1:23). Simultaneously and paradoxically the cross declares that mankind is sinful and condemned AND that God is merciful and full of grace.

When the Apostle Peter preached this dual message of condemnation and salvation in the cross the Bible says that “when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.” Kind of sounds like the first century audience was at the same time sickened and hopeful.

Holladay opines, “The atheist litigants have called the 9/11 cross an ‘ugly piece of wreckage,’ arguing that it speaks of ‘horror and death.’ On the basis of the New Testament, these statements are difficult to contradict.”

How should one respond to the cross? Peter advised, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” The Book of Acts reports that thousands of people believed Peter’s message, responded with repentance and faith and their lives were changed forever and their lives changed our world.

In conclusion Holladay ponders, “Suppose God Himself has suffered and died at the hands of evil men. Suppose God Himself has shown the capacity for taking what was intended for harm and using it for good. Might this affect the way we ourselves face evil and suffering?”

Five Vows Worth Repeating

Ray Orlund, the late and longtime former pastor of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, made the following vows to God that are worth our reflection and emulating.

1. Vow to give God all the glory in all your success.
2. Vow to confess your sins and do a thorough job of repentance.
3. Vow never to say anything slanderous or destructive against any of God’s children.
4. Vow not to own anything. Leave all ownership to God.
5. Vow that while you live you will seek to live with enthusiasm and joy by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 56:12
“I am under vows to you, O God.”

God's Sovereignty: Painful, Powerful, Purifying

Some of you won’t be ready to read and consider this post. I pray that you’ll bookmark it for another day.

God’s sovereignty is a glorious and painful subject. Glorious because when we think about or see a life event or circumstance rightly (biblically) we behold something great and grand about God. When we are unable or unwilling to see rightly we can be consumed and destroyed by disappointment, anger, resentment and grief.

John 9 tells the story of a man who was born blind. One day Jesus’ disciples notice him and they inquire, “Was this man born blind because his parents sinned or because of his own sin?” Jesus replied that neither speculation was correct. Rather, the man was born blind so that “the works of God might be displayed in him.” (9:3)

Jesus is basically saying that God, in His sovereign will, caused this man to be born blind and did so in order that God might be glorified because of it. The implications of that text are extremely difficult for many of us. When you apply the theology of that text to your own circumstance it can be very difficult to comprehend and accept.

Did God intend and cause your cancer or bodily defect or disability for His glory? Is God capricious, unkind or cruel?

I’ve wrestled with these questions through the years and feel like I’ve been able to land at a biblical conclusion but rather than sharing my musings allow me to introduce you to John Knight.

In the video below John Knight, a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis is interviewed by his pastor, John Piper. Knight is the father of a son who was born without eyes. Knight’s testimony may be the clearest biblical articulation I’ve heard on God’s sovereignty and it is totally authentic as his words and inflections drip with pain of his journey.

As you view the video (those viewing through a reader may need to click through to the web site) prayerfully seek the Lord, asking Him to speak into your heart and reveal His ways to you. There is a reason connected to God’s sovereignty that you saw this post and that you’re reflecting on this subject.

Wrestling With an Angel

Greg Lucas is a police officer, husband, father, Christ-follower and now an author. For some time I’ve read his blog, which describes Greg’s awakening to and experience of God while providing care for a special needs child with cerebral palsy, autism and a variety of other challenges. Now Greg has a book by the same title as his blog, “Wrestling With an Angel”.

When you have 5 minutes check out the video (those viewing through a reader may need to click through to the web site) and reflect on the grace of God while listening to Greg’s testimony.

Wrestling With An Angel from Brian Patton on Vimeo.

Easter: Exalting Christ, Removing Idols

As we approach the Easter celebration of the resurrection of Christ let us exalt Jesus by removing our idols. David Powlison's list of questions in Seeing With New Eyes are good for a diagnostic test on our lives now and again to help us identify idols.

1. What do I worry about most?

2. What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live?

3. What do I use to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult?

4. What do I do to cope? What are my release valves? What do I do to feel better?

5. What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?

6. What makes me feel the most self-worth? Of what am I the proudest? For what do I want to be known?

7. What do I lead with in conversations?

8. Early on what do I want to make sure that people know about me?

9. What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?

10. What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?

11. What is my hope for the future?

How Things Start

Jim Joyce and Why I'm in Celebrate Recovery

This past summer one of the more memorable professional baseball episodes happened the night the Detroit Tigers played the Cleveland Indians. Armando Galarraga was pitching a perfect game for the Tigers, a rare feat in major league baseball.

Veteran umpire Jim Joyce was at first base. In the ninth inning on what should have been the final out and therefore a perfect game for Galarraga, Joyce missed the call and said the runner was safe. I blogged about it here and commented about what a tremendous picture it became of confession, accepting responsibility, forgiveness and reconciliation. Joyce publicly confessed his error and asked Galarraga to forgive him; Galarraga forgave Joyce; the next night the two teams played again and Joyce was plate umpire and walked into Tiger’s stadium and the crowd graciously cheered him.

Seven months later ESPN has written a story on how the controversy has continued to play out for Jim Joyce. He and family members have received hate mail and death threats. Joyce admits that he thinks about the missed call every day. Though some support and encouragement has continued to come his way from baseball fans, MLB management, and other professional officials of various sports, Joyce has struggled to forgive himself and put it behind him. Though a veteran umpire and well respected in professional baseball, Joyce believes that all of that has been wiped away by one bad call and that he will be remembered and defined by that bad call the rest of his life.

Perhaps you’re like me and you take your work and your life seriously. I am a perfectionist to a fault and when I make an error in my professional or personal life I often struggle to let it go. I tend to replay the scene over again in my mind and relive the anguish of the mistake.

When I read the ESPN story tears started forming in my eyes as I thoroughly identified with Jim Joyce. My failings and sins have never been as public as Joyce’s since millions have no doubt viewed the television and print and Internet coverage. Still, I erred in the way I treated my wife a few weeks ago and though she was quick to forgive me I’m still struggling to let it go.

Regret, shame, embarrassment and sadness are powerful emotions. I believe the biblical promise that when I confess my sin Jesus is faithful to forgive me and cleanse me (1 John 1:9). I pray that prayer every time I err and sin. In my head I sometimes acknowledge my forgiveness while in my heart I harbor harsh feelings toward self.

Sound sick? It is. That’s why I participate every week in the Celebrate Recovery program at my church. Perfectionism messes with me just as much as drinking or drugs or other habits mess with other people. By consistently practicing the 12 steps that are based upon scriptures I’m being set free from my craziness.

I pray that Jim Joyce likewise finds deliverance from his anguish in relationship with Christ and the practice of biblical truths.

Win The Day

Tonight the Auburn Tigers face the Oregon Ducks for the college football national championship. Two undefeated teams, two high scoring offenses and one Heisman Trophy Winner would seem to be a formula for a great game.

Though I’m a Washington Husky fan I’ve enjoyed watching the Ducks all season and I’m always curious about what their next uniform look will be. They are definitely the champions of style.

Oregon is in the championship game for the first time. Under second year head coach Chip Kelly, the team appears to have bought in to Kelly’s philosophy, “Win the day”.

Kelly preaches a single message to his team, “Win the day”. Who cares about tomorrow, who cares about yesterday, all that is demanded of you is win the day. If it is a practice day, win that day, practice with excellence. On your day off have an excellent day of rest. On game day, play an excellent game.

Mondays can be difficult for a pastor if he feels like he didn’t preach well on Sunday. Mondays may be difficult for you as you dread the coming week of work or school. Win the day. All we’ve got for now is today.

And, since I’m a West coast, Pac-10 guy, may the Ducks win the day.

Three Ways to Live

There are 3 ways to live.

The gift of Christmas is the Gospel.

Christmas Reflections, Part 8

After the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the shepherds promptly left their sheep in the field unattended so that they might see the baby Jesus. When the shepherds came to Mary and Joseph they told the story of their encounter with the angels and the message about Jesus that the angels delivered.

And at the story of the shepherds Luke 2:18 says that “all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.”

Who wondered? Who is “all”?

Certainly Mary and Joseph are included in the “all” and perhaps there were a few other people around that are not mentioned in the Bible.

But why would Mary and Joseph wonder? They had both separately had an encounter with an angel as they were “briefed” on what God was doing. Though Mary and Joseph were willing participants in the Christmas story, there was still much that was mysterious and significantly outside of their previous experience with God.

This same wonder continues in us (followers of Christ) when we see Jesus “birthed into the heart of a new believer”. Though we have some understanding of what is taking place and we’ve personally experienced Jesus similarly, there is still something marvelous, stirring, and awesome that takes place every time we see new birth and new life in Jesus come forth. It causes us to “wonder”.

To wonder is to reflect on how great God is; how unique; how glorious; how gracious; how loving; how matchless.

John Jacob Niles captures this splendor in his Christmas carol, “I Wonder as I Wander”—
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it cause He was the King.



(If viewing through a reader click through to the blog site to view the video)

Christmas Reflections, Part 7

Joe McKeever points out when God incarnates Himself as a human in this world, what types of people become “players” in His story?

There are the young and the old--
(Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus; Simeon and Anna in the temple, Luke 2)

There are the rich and the poor--
(Wise men and Joseph & Mary)

There are Jews and Gentiles--
(Wise men are non-Jews)

There are the highest (angels) and the lowest (shepherds)

John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” From the beginning “the world” and “whoever” are central to God’s redemptive activity.

Christianity has always been inclusive as all are invited to believe and receive Christ.

Christmas Reflections, Part 6

There’s an old saying, “God is never early and He is never late.” In other words, God’s timing is perfect. However there are certainly those occasions when we are asking for God’s help and it seems like He is taking too long. There are other occasions when we’re not ready to do something He’s stirring us to do and it seems as if the opportunity is too soon.

Our timing is often different from God’s timing.

What’s happening in your life today? In what ways do you need God’s help? Wisdom? Financial provision? Healing? Direction?

In the Christmas story Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census. While in Bethlehem Mary delivers the baby Jesus. Some months later wise men from the East travel to Bethlehem, find the Christ child and worship Him. A part of their worship involved presenting gifts to Jesus. One of the gifts was a sum of gold.

Meanwhile, King Herod decides that he cannot allow a potential threat to his throne to grow up in Bethlehem so he sends his soldiers to the town and surrounding region with orders to kill all the male children that were two years of age and younger.

Before a soldier could be dispatched God approaches Joseph in a dream, warns him of Herod’s plot and directs Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.

The holy family who are poor and certainly don’t have the means for international travel were provided gold at just the right time.

In your life circumstances, God will not be early, nor will He be late.

Christmas Reflections, Part 5

I grew up poor. One of my most embarrassing memories was the day one of my teachers called me to her desk, informed me that I qualified for the free lunch program and asked if I would allow her to sign me up. There was no way I was going to pull out that bright yellow meal card to pay for my lunch when all my friends were paying with money. I would have rather starved than to be in the free lunch program.

Have you ever been poor? How do you feel about being poor?

There is nothing that you can conclude about Joseph and Mary but that they were poor. After Jesus is born they take him to the temple to dedicate him to God. As a part of the worship experience they were to offer a sacrifice. Most couples would offer a lamb. Joseph and Mary are obviously poor because they offer two pigeons (Luke 2:24).

There’s no place for prosperity theology in the Gospel story. Yet there is a sizable segment of the American church that preaches that one will have health and wealth if one follows Christ. How does prosperity theology have a leg to stand on when all the disciples suffered for following Christ, most died a martyr’s death and many had few if any possessions when they died?

I’m grateful that I have a house, car, clothes and plenty of food. I count them as blessings from God. But the absence of things is not an indicator that one is not blessed. The Apostle Paul testified that he had seasons where he had much and seasons where he had little and in both cases he was blessed, not because of stuff, but because he had Jesus in His life.

Are you blessed? Are you a blessing to others? Do you steward the things that God allows you to use so that others are helped and God is glorified? Do you experience contentment with what you do have?

Christmas Reflections, Part 4

The word “unlikely” is the single best word to apply to the entire cast of the Christmas story. Mary, a teenage girl who is perhaps 13, is chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Joseph, an older, unmarried and easy to overlook man is chosen to be an earthly father to Jesus. And, a group of smelly shepherds living in the fields with their sheep who were notorious for dishonesty and a lack of integrity are chosen to be the first witnesses to the birth of the Savior.

How unlikely are we for God to use in profound, eternal ways?

Luke 2:8-12 tells us that the shepherds were watching over their flocks one night when an angel visited them and announced that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem. After the angel departs the shepherds basically dash to where Joseph and Mary are with the baby Jesus. Yet, the angel did not command them to go and worship. Their haste to draw near to God and the activity of God was not due to obedience but to awe and hunger.

The shepherds were awed by the announcement of Jesus’ birth and hungry to see and be near the manifest presence of God. All God had to do was give a hint that the Christ child would be found wrapped in swaddling clothes and the shepherds were off searching.

Are you awed by the messages in Scripture? Are you stirred to hunger and thirst after God while praying, while observing nature, or while experiencing music or art? Is there quickness to your movement toward God? When the shepherds told the story of their encounter with the angel, others were amazed and astonished about God (Luke 2:18). Do you have stories of interaction with God that cause others sit up and take note?

Who are these shepherds? What are their names? What happened to them after visiting the Christ child? All we know of the shepherds is that on one night of their lives God drew near and they were highly responsive. Meeting and responding to Jesus is the most important thing that will ever happen to you.

Christmas Reflections, Part 3

We have hundreds of cable television stations, thousands of songs on our iPod, scores of friends to text, tweet or talk with on Facebook. Our calendar has no margin and we don’t have enough time to get from one experience to the next. During this season of shopping, partying, and traveling many of us will reach a tipping point where we’ll crash or implode.

The idea of slowly thinking about something or pondering is a foreign concept to us.

Yet a key observation and takeaway from the Christmas story is how Mary interacts with God and the activity of God. This inexperienced teenage girl whom God favors and ordains to be the mother of Jesus captures and fully engages it all by pondering.

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced that she would become pregnant with the Son of God, Luke 1:29 said that Mary was perplexed at the announcement and pondered his words.

Are you ever perplexed by what the Bible says or by what you sense in your prayers?

When the shepherds visited Joseph, Mary and the newborn Jesus, they told of hearing an angelic announcement that the Savior had been born and that Jesus was that Savior. Again, in response, Luke 2:19 said that Mary both treasured and pondered these words that the shepherds spoke.

Do you ever see or experience God do something in you or around you?

Mary’s example models for us the act of pondering where we think about something over and over again. Mary did so in the moment and I believe that she did throughout the years of her life.

Fast forward to the end of Jesus’ life when He is brutally tortured and crucified. Mary witnesses these atrocities committed against her son whom she has seen live a blameless life. How does Mary not herself die of a crushed heart? How does she not become angry with God for not intervening and sparing Jesus?

I submit that the ponderings from her teenage years served to establish her heart to trust God and have insight into the work of God so that she was empowered to persevere through the greatest tragedy she had ever experienced.

Philippians 4:8 is an exhortation to you and me to ponder. Will you take time and ponder--
Creation
Incarnation
Justification
Regeneration
Sanctification
Glorification

If you don’t know what these rich theological words mean consult a Bible dictionary and ponder away.

Christmas Reflections, Part 2

Joe McKeever tells the story of a school Christmas play that was to feature shepherds, wise men, angels and the holy family. On the day of the play a mother called the school office to inform the teacher that her son was sick with a bad cold and would not be able to play Joseph in the Nativity. It was too late to replace him so the play went on without Joseph.

No one missed him.

The real life Joseph who was chosen by God to be the earthly father of the Lord Jesus was--
Holy (separated to God);
Obedient (did what God asked);
Faith-full (believed the miracle of a virgin birth);
Loving (committed to Mary though she appeared scandalous);
Courageous (traveled to Egypt in order to protect Jesus).

In history and popular culture Joseph is almost a forgotten part of the story of God’s incarnation.

In God’s evaluation Joseph is a rare and uniquely qualified man to be entrusted with the task of raising Jesus.

How concerned are we with how others view the importance of our lives? How much does God’s evaluation of us matter? In a celebrity culture can we know joy and contentment though our life is common and without fame?

Christmas Reflections, Part 1

There is so much that is familiar about the Christmas story of God entering humanity in the birth of the baby Jesus. And, there are many things that have been misunderstood or overlooked.

For example, the so-called wise men from the east were not kings, nor do we know whether there were three of them. Further, when they arrived in Bethlehem it may have been as much as two years after the birth so they definitely didn’t find Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in a stable. In fact we don’t even know if the holy family ever stayed in a stable on the night of the birth. Because baby Jesus was placed in a manger or feeding trough (Luke 2:7) there was speculation that there was a stable.

When the magi (wise men) showed up in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:2) looking for the one born king of the Jews, no one could tell them where the child had been born. How surprising it must have been to the travelers who had come so far following a star.

When King Herod heard about the foreigners looking for a baby king he called upon his religious leaders and asked where the Messiah was to be born. They concluded from the writings of the prophet Micah that the place was Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was only a couple of miles from Jerusalem but no one had cared enough to bother to go and see. There was an obvious disinterest in God and the eternal activity of God taking place around them.

How much does God matter to us? How aware are we of God’s activity around us? When questioned by others about God’s movement would we be able to answer?

Feasting or Gluttony

In preparation for Thanksgiving Day here’s a quick reference from The Resurgence that will help us have the proper perspective on eating with family and friends over the next couple of days—

Gluttony is eating more than you need with a greedy heart:
*A heart that is seeking satisfaction and fulfillment in the food.
*A heart that just wants more and more.
*A heart that isn’t satisfied.
*A heart that thinks you deserve it.
*A heart that is focused inward on yourself instead of outward on God and others.

Feasting is enjoying a meal with people you love & giving thanks for God’s provision:

*Enjoying the people that God has brought into your life—even the weird ones.
*Thanking God for providing.
*Experiencing the common grace of delicious food.
*Remembering that God tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).
*Anticipating the meal that we’ll eat with Jesus at the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).

With gratitude enjoy God’s many blessings this week.

The Week After a Solemn Assembly

Some have asked for my reflections regarding the Solemn Assembly held at Meadowbrook Church on October 16. Click here for a refresher on what a Solemn Assembly is and why I led one.

In December 2009 I went away to a cabin for two and a half days for a personal retreat with God. While praying and reading I felt impressed that God was calling me to lead the church in the experience of examination, confession, repentance and sanctification (the process of God making a person and a church holy). What’s more, I believe that God was calling me to be a catalyst to the churches in the Northwest that belong to the convention my church partners with. I was elected president of this organization in November.

From December 2009 to October 2010 I have been in constant personal preparation in order to follow through on this calling. It has been very intense for me and I’ve been deeply impacted by God.

What I’m describing has both biblical and historic precedence. From time to time God has called His church to stop wandering and drifting and to return to Him with great passion and commitment. Such seasons have sometimes resulted in a reviving of God’s people and an awakening (disconnected people seeing their need for God and running to Him) of the surrounding region. I believe God was stirring me to be catalytic for this kind of gracious manifestation of the Lord in our midst.

So, what happened? In short it was a very good day. Early in our time together I gave a prayer exercise to all that asked a series of penetrating questions through which the Holy Spirit may stir conviction over sin and confession. Following the personal time everyone paired up with another person of the same sex and spent some time verbally confessing their sins to one another. This could be the perfect moment for resistance and rejection of God’s work in us. I was most anxious about how everyone would respond to this step.

Confession proved to be powerful and though I called us to the next exercise some continued where they were with their partner until all of their confession was complete.

There was also intercessory prayer for one another and for church leaders in small groups. After breaking our fast with the Lord’s Supper and a mid-day meal we concluded the day by responding to God’s call for our church to be catalytic to our sister churches for revival and awakening. To a person all the participants stood with personal commitment to God and one another!

Following our gathering I collapsed at home in exhaustion, gratitude and wonderment. I wondered how deeply we collectively had been touched by God’s Spirit. I wondered how strongly passion for God was stirring in us. I wondered if we had a momentary “spiritual hiccup” after which we would return to “life as usual”.

Historically when God has moved upon a people, the people often melted in God’s presence with weeping over sin and cries for forgiveness and emotional expressions of commitment. We had none of that. And, I don’t personally think that we have to have the emotion but it does make me wonder. Our church is filled with thinking people and if something is percolating at a deep place of thought that results in Holy Spirit breathed transformation and resolve then praise the Lord.

How will we know if a reviving work of God has taken place among us? I believe that we will see the following 4 things be characteristic of us.

1. There will be greater humility in our lives where we make much of God and little of self.

2. There will be greater practice of confession of sins.

3. There will be greater appreciation for justification (this word alone deserves an entire post).

4. There will be greater burden for those who are still under condemnation for sin (this also deserves a full post).

For now we watch and see how responsive to God we become. Meanwhile I’m preparing for the annual meeting of our convention of churches where on behalf of God I’ll issue the call for our sister churches to engage God in Solemn Assemblies across the Northwest.