Two Down…

Thanks be to God, as He graciously helped me muddle through another double-sermon at the Woodville and Billtown Baptist churches this morning.  Many thanks to those who have been keeping Marsha, Alyssa and I in prayer as we make this transition during my supervised field education.  While I’m thankful for the opportunity to speak on a Sunday morning, I’m also very thankful that Pastor Randall will be back from his vacation next week.

Rejoice with me!

⁴ “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ⁸ “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ ¹⁰ “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:4-10)

These parables that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees while they grumbled at his association with the lowest people on the social ladder both speak to the priceless value of people in the eyes of God.  When an estranged son or daughter who’s spent a lifetime running away, then turns around and cries out, “Father, I love you!  Please forgive me!” that Father runs to the child to embrace them (Luke 15:20).  Moreover, there is a party in heaven over such a moment, and (if you’ll permit me a quick dip in the theoretical physics pool) since God exists outside of time, from our perspective, it is a party that never ceases.  As each lost child rushes back in desperate longing to the Father, the symphony of praise and rejoicing grows ever stronger, reaching a crescendo of glory, culminating in the return of The One who called out to the lost.  Imagine the thundering sound of it!  Imagine the resounding glory of such a unfathomable chorus!  A choir of the ages, growing more harmonic and voluminous as each one comes, as the King’s decree is gradually consummated in perfect fulfilment.

These are things that I can never know in this life, but as I read these passages of Scripture, I can imagine them in my mind as I consider what it means when there is “joy in heaven” – a celebration in the presence of an absolute, omnipotent being.  While such glories are beyond my comprehension at this point, I do know the joy that wells up in my own heart this day as my only daughter came to me last night to tell me she had surrendered herself to God.  Alyssa has had an intellectual understanding of God for a number of years, but had not taken that step toward a one-on-one relationship with Him.  Last night, The Spirit spoke through Colin McCartney, one of the speakers at Tidal Impact this year, and whatever miracle it was that was worked in her heart last night, its result was a surrender to Christ.

Until Marsha and I can stand with the saints and angels in that eternal thunderous chorus of praise, we will sing our own quiet song to God and praise His name forever.

Thank you, Lord.  Thank you.

New Life

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one would see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. (John 3:3-8).  He told his disciples that they must become like little children (Matthew 18:2-6).  Peter advises new believers to crave “spiritual milk” like newborn babies (1 Peter 2:2).  One of the reasons for this comparison is that there is certainly no denying that the light of life in a newborn child is unquestionably miraculous and undoubtedly a gift of God.

All of creation groans in it’s present sufferings, and yet God manifests miracles in our midst every day.  On that note, praise Him for the gift He’s given my friends, Serena and Dana, by blessing them with new life.  Jonathan Douglas came into the world on June 3, and while I’m of the mind that newborns aren’t particularly attractive, this little guy is already bound to be a heart-breaker.  Here’s some pics Serena sent us (click for a larger image):

Congratulations Dana and Serena, and may your lives as parents be one blessing after another.  You’re a lucky kid, Jonathan!