Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Beautiful Fight.

Okay, so it's actually not a Wes Wednesday (oops! I forgot!), but nevertheless, I wanted to tell you about a cool resource for cultivating your personal relationship with Jesus that I just ran across over the past few weeks. It's a book called The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas.

I actually was required to read this book for a class I'm taking at school this semester, but I found it to be a worthwhile read. Thomas opens up the book by sharing this story about a woman named Perpetua who lived in the Roman Empire, but had such a deep faith that she boldly continued sharing Christ, even at the cost of her own life (which she actually lost being killed by a lion in Rome's ampitheater in front of thousands of people).

The whole premise of the book is helping Christians to embrace a life that shows clear transformation. I think we can all attest that this is one of the most powerful evidences of God's working in a person's life; the transformation that we see in him or her because of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In The Beautiful Fight, Gary Thomas wants to help people embrace that sort of lifestyle; one that really demonstrates a true transformation made possible only by the power of Christ within each one of us.

I know that for me, this book hit me at a good time. The whole theme is something that really captured me; I want to live a life that shows transformation because of my commitment to following Jesus. I haven't felt like I've been hitting that mark lately, and Thomas offers some good ideas on how I can better live a life that, while a struggle, will in the end show the transformational power of God in me. Here at Suncrest, we want to be a church that is used by God to change lives. And I think that starts with us letting God change our life individually.

Really, it's a great read! I'd highly recommend it to you to check out!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Beyond Sunday - People of the Second Chance: This is who we are

...by Larry Walker

Brandon spoke so realistically this week, didn’t he? When he preached on how even the most righteous have questioned and sinned, it just became so much more real to me. Hearing that these mighty people like Moses and Peter didn’t think they could make a difference, it just felt so personal. Moses had to lead people into the Red Sea. Am I really being asked to do something of that magnitude? But still I hesitate jumping in when there is a need. Gosh, work is tough right now. Well, I would but what about the Bears game?

John 21:15 calls us to feed the lambs. Make disciples in His name. Not when we can spare 5 minutes, but that this should be first on the list. There is such joy attained when giving and receiving second chances. We should share this great joy with those who need that second chance. And we should look at it as a second chance to spread His word.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Beyond Sunday - People of the Second Chance: I don't measure up

...by Randy Parish

I think we may all have a little Moses in us. Not that many of us have been asked to lead a nation, but we all have been asked to do something that is unfamiliar or even uncomfortable to us. We usually throw up the “I couldn’t possibly do that” flag. We like routine, we like the familiar. We love our favorite lounging around clothes and “comfort food.” We don’t want someone coming around and asking us to do something outside of our comfort zone. We have a dozen reasons why not before the other person finishes asking. Greg outlined that we think our limits are based on our past, our talents, our strength and our control. When we set these limits, we limit the size of our God. We don’t want to let go because it means we have to give up control. I’ve never done that so I couldn’t possibly be any good at it. I don’t want to fail. We pray for God to give us strength or direction and when it comes…. we shrink back. We have a solution in mind when we pray and don’t feel our prayers are answered until we get our solution. We limit God. Think about how big our God is. He can do anything, or be limited by how big we let him be. We may never have done something before, but we have to let our weakness be filled by what God is offering. He knows where we are lacking and will provide the strength or talent or the experience we need. So even though our limits are self revealing about what our doubts are, those doubts are destroyed by our stepping out in obedience to what God wants us to do.

Cultivate Serving Opportunities

Well folks, hope you enjoyed all of the e100 resources that we posted on here over the past several months! I know that it was beneficial to me to be going through all of that with you... hope it was useful for you as well!

As we sort of get back into a regular rhythm with these next few posts, I just wanted to share with all of you some opportunities we have for serving within Cultivate at all four if our Suncrest campuses. If you're interested in helping out, you can always fill itouton a Connection Card, give us a call here at church (219-365-9000), or just get in touch either in person or via email with your campus Cultivate leader (Bobby at St. John, Larry McManus at Hobart, Rachel Kaser at Walkerton, or myself at Highland). I know we'd all love to hear from you!

Campus Prayer Team: These are the folks who volunteer to stay after service for a little bit to pray with folks who would like to be prayed with. This is an awesome opportunity to get a chance to really give some comfort and peace to this who are hurting and in tough situations. Plus, the time commitment is light! Just a few minutes after service is all it takes to volunteer!

Baptism Class Teacher: At each of our campuses we try to have some sort of forum for talking with folks about taking the next step of baptism. If you have a passion for teaching, then this could be a great serving opportunity for you! You'll get a chance to talk to people about what the Bible teaches regarding baptism and help people take their next steps in faith.

Communion Comments Team: This is the group of people that come up every so often on stage and share the thoughts that lead into our time of communion each week. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, then get in touch with your campus Cultivate leader!

Just wanted to share those opportunities with you to serve within Cultivate. If one of those sounds great to you, then get in touch with us and start serving!

Friday, October 15, 2010

100. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-22:21).

by Wesley Blackburn

So recently, about a month ago, I was diagnosed with this condition in both of my eyes called floaters (I swear that's the technical term... you would think they'd have something a little more "medical" sounding).

Maybe some of you have this condition as well (we should form our own little Suncrest support group). I can't speak for anyone else, but I find this condition to be one of the most annoying things in the world. Basically, what happens in your eye is that if you're nearsighted (like me), oftentimes the different shape of your eye causes the sack inside your eyeball that contains eye fluid to detach from the back of your eye. Unfortunately, though, when this happens, little tiny pieces of debris are let loose into your eyeball. So, anytime you're in areas where there's a solid, bright colored background (like a wall or the sky) or really when you're anywhere that there's a lot of light (like outside on a sunny day), when you turn your head or move your eyes to look at something, you'll see the shadows of these specks, threads, or dots in your vision that are the "floaters" that are floating around inside your eye.

It is truly one of the most annoying things ever. There are certain rooms in our church building where we have meetings that I hate being in because I find myself being constantly distracted by these little moving objects. When I make my drive to and from Cincinnati every week, I know I'm going to encounter these little guys every time I shift my vision or check my blind spot. While they can be signs of serious eye issues in some people, they're actually normally benign and harmless (that's what they are in my case). It is absolutely, completely selfish and shortsighted, but I can't wait to live in a world where stupid stuff like eye floaters won't affect me anymore... when my life is free from little annoyances like that.

You could say that in a way, my eye floaters are making me look forward to heaven.

But for some of us, we suffer with something way more painful and serious than a stupid little eye condition, don't we? For some, basic things I take for granted like vision or hearing simply don't exist. Maybe some of you reading this right now have heard the sting of the word "cancer" and have been told you only have a short time left. Maybe you were in an accident that will make sure you never walk again, or maybe you're suffering from some painful, difficult to deal with disease that won't kill you, but sure makes your life feel miserable to live. Some of us suffer the pain of being separated from those we love: fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, or wives.

And it's in these situations that we feel the incredible joy of heaven calling us.

Truly, I don't think there's a more happy, joyful passage in the Bible than this one. It's a fitting way to end our 100 day study together. Truly, it is incredible to think of a world like heaven where things we just take as everyday realities no longer exist: death, crying, pain, anger, hurt, and yes, even eye floaters, will be wiped away. Forever. And those things will be replaced with the incredible joy of a perfect, unbroken, untarnished relationship with our Creator God who loves us. It brings goosebumps on my skin and tears to my eyes.

This is what pushes us. This is what reminds us it is all worth it. In the moments where I am tempted to give up, to throw in the towel, and to live a shortsighted life that values things of earth above the things of God, heaven should be my focus, calling me to remember the incredible riches that lie in store for a person who faithfully follows God. This is probably why the Bible talks so much about us focusing on heaven... it's a reminder to us that things aren't the way they were supposed to be, and that someday, that glorious perfect order will be restored. Someday, we'll be free from all the junk of this world. Someday, we'll get to see our glorious, gracious Savior face to face.

Someday, I'll get rid of these eye floaters.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Beyond Sunday - People of the Second Chance: I've been wronged

...by Kevin McHugh

People of the Second Chance has been a message series that really resonates with me for a couple of reasons. First of all, the circumstances have been different. My wife has been busy helping out at the Walkerton Campus and my schedule has been different as well. This has resulted in me attending solo a couple times and not in my normal time slot; it's just been unusual and it seems I am tuned in differently. OK, the second reason is much better that this lame lead in....

The second reason I relate to this message series is all about the content and the thoughtful and genuine way it has been taught:

"I've screwed up" (guilty as charged)
"I'm running on empty" (yep - feel that way sometimes)

and this week's message, "I've been wronged"

The first two have been easier to wrap my mind around because of the things I bring upon myself, but this week's message has been harder - What about all the injustice in this world? I have read that this is one of the most common questions heard when people are questioning faith in God. So I sit here wondering who might be reading this and if they wonder where God is when life is really kicking their tail right now.

Greg taught on this using the account of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was subjected to betrayal, slavery, false accusation, imprisonment, and basically had his tail kicked for about 17 years through no fault of his own. Yet in the end Joseph recognized a meaning in it all and told the very brothers who betrayed him about God's plan, and how countless lives would be saved from famine because of the chain of events that resulted from Egypt storing up food based on Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. It is harder to see God when we are enduring an injustice, but Joseph sure did - that's a good example for me and I hope it hit home for you as well.

Greg made the point a few times: Don't mistake God's silence for absence. It's tough to keep a heavenly perspective when things are going bad and it's not even our fault. So the challenge presented to us is to know how much our God deeply loves us and to feel his spirit in us regardless of the circumstances. We have examples like Joseph in the Bible and I also like the account made by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians - check out Chapters 11 & 12. Talk about getting your tail kicked unjustly, but what an outcome! A guy who has guided countless to salvation!

99. Hallelujah (Revelation 19:1-20:15)!


By Steve Butera

The book of Revelation almost always evokes a reaction from people.  Some see it akin to fortune telling and others find it difficult to understand and would rather avoid it.  For sure, it is filled with symbols and realities that require us to pay attention and ask for God’s help in understanding it.  One thing I do feel sure about is that there isn’t any part of the Bible that we can ignore, overlook, or pass by.  Every word, from the very first to the very last is necessary and has the power to transform us.  Each word is intentional by God and is life for us.  So, I pray that I don’t ignore any of it…not the lineage of Jesus in Matthew, the complex descriptions in Numbers, or the vision of Revelation.

Revelation was written by the apostle John to Christians in the first century.  Christians who were facing great persecution, fears, and even death.   Rome, being the epitome of Godlessness and opposition to the Gospel made it very difficult for them.  So, Revelation was written for these Christians to help them in their challenges, suffering and fears.  But like the entire Bible, it is written for us now as well.  The Bible is timeless in that way.   Revelation is also about the final destruction of Godlessness and the final destiny of the Church of Jesus Christ.  Both of these are associated with the return of Jesus Christ.  Chapter 19 is approaching that final moment in all of history when Jesus is returning in Glory.  So when you think about it this way, it’s a part of God’s word we as Christians want and need to know about.

If you back up to chapter 18, you see in verses 21-23 that there is an intense, almost haunting finality to God’s judgments.  We read, 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsmen and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries."  How wonderful that evil is finally being destroyed.  Yet, think about this more deeply, and you realize that this also means there is no more possibility ever of any repentance…how terribly unsettling this is.


So in chapter 19 John’s attention is turned from earth to heaven, and there are some really interesting observations I make in this chapter.  First I notice the reaction of heaven to the fierceness that is going on down on the earth.  They are not ignoring the unfolding judgments.  No, they are singing a chorus about them.  They are rejoicing about them.  So we see that heaven is not uncomfortable with the judgment of God.  If you ponder that, you realize that God’s judgment actually lies at the heart of heaven’s glorying in who God is.


One other thing that’s interesting is that it appears that Heaven is not always a place of undisturbed tranquility.  John says “I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in Heaven shouting.”  Think about a huge stadium filled to capacity and everyone roaring with shouts.  Then multiply that 1000 fold.  Can you imagine?  Later he says “then I heard again what sounded like a vast crowd or the roar of a mighty ocean.”  Notice how he describes it by saying “what sounded like.” It is as if it’s indescribable to him.  God and heaven are so beyond our human understanding; John can only give us a sense of what he is seeing and hearing.  The reason heaven has this reaction is that God has vindicated His own honor.  He has displayed his power. 


I see this is getting long, and I try not to do that, but what God is revealing to us through Revelation is so amazing, that it is hard for me to encapsulate it succinctly.  So, I will try to wrap this up.

Going back to the persecuted Christians I mentioned initially, you know how it is when you face persecution and great fears?  You begin to wonder “how is God going to deal with this?”  “Is He aware of what I’m going through?”  You ask yourself “Is God involved, does he really care, is evil going to win in my situation?”  I think we can see Revelation as being about hope.  You may ask “what are you talking about?”  Revelation is filled with judgments, horror and destruction.  Hope?  Yes, hope!  For the simple reason that God is showing us in Revelation how things are going to end.  We get to see that God is the one who has the final word, that evil does not triumph, but God does.  Think about it, all the questions we have about God’s justice, his faithfulness, and whether evil or God will win in the end are answered.  We are assured that God has the last word.  This is what the chorus in heaven is all about, that God has demonstrated His salvation in His judgment. 

If you think of salvation as rescuing people from the bondage of Satan and the powers of darkness, we see that God has saved us; he has defeated our enemy, he has broken the power of satin and cast him down.  So it is like salvation and judgment go together in a sense.  We see that God is true to His word.  God has vindicated His name and glory is brought to Him.  We see GOD has control.  So Revelation is both a comfort to me and also helps me stay motivated to be set apart from the world.  As I think of all of these things, all I can really do is be in awe of God’s awesome, wonderful, and incredible plan that will unfold.  It makes me want to worship Him and give Him the Glory that is due Him!  Praise God!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

98. The Throne of Heaven (Revelation 4:1-7:17).

by Wesley Blackburn

What was the most terrifying moment in your life?

I don't know that I can remember all of mine. I remember passing out on stage one time during a choir number at church growing up. That was kind of scary. I remember feeling really terrified when I was in Brazil on a bus that was going up steep mountain hills on the side of the mountain in the middle of a big storm, wondering if we were going to fall off. I remember the feeling of terror sitting in a hospital emergency room only a few months ago wondering if something serious was wrong with me and if I was perhaps enjoying some of the final moments of my life.

Heck, I actually got a chance to go out with a girl recently and that was pretty terrifying to me, too.

Whatever your terrifying moment is, I think we can all be confident that it will pale in comparison to the sheer terror we'd experience if we were in John's shoes before the throne of God in heaven.

There's a lot you can say about God. Here at Suncrest, I feel like we do a pretty good job talking about God as a healer, forgiver, lover, and friend. All of those things are true. All of them are great. God's identity as those things are some reasons why I worship and serve him each week. I'm glad we focus on those a lot.

But there's another side of God that I don't think we focus in on very much, and that's the scary side (yeah, you read that correctly). One of the most frequent commands in the Bible we are given is the command to fear God... that we would have a good idea of how vast and huge he is and how incredibly tiny and small we are. The Bible tells us in Proverbs that the beginning of wisdom is for us to fear God; to have a proper and reverent respect for who he is.

A few years ago I was reading some reflections from David Crowder, a popular worship leader who's written many songs to help the church worship (some of which we even use at Suncrest). He was writing on an experience he had in France one time where he got a chance to walk around in an old, Gothic cathedral in the city. Crowder noted the very ominous, imposing architecture (both on the inside and outside), but what was most interesting to me was his description that this cathedral "was build to resize you." In other words, that when you would walk into this church, you would be reminded of how teeny-tiny you are and how enormous, large, and powerful God is.

That's always stuck with me. It's great to have God as your friend. I think that's nice and comforting. I'd even say that through the sacrifice of Jesus, we can even argue that it's biblical. But let's not forget the grand, huge, enormous God we also worship. The very same God that is our friend is also the being we should fear the most. Maybe sometimes, it's good for us to get a view of God like the one David Crowder was reminded of. Or maybe the one John was reminded of here in Revelation.

God is great, and greatly to be praised. He is mighty and powerful and to be feared.

Maybe we need to remember sometimes to worship him solely for that.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

97. Messages to the Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22).

by Wesley Blackburn

So, after hearing about John's initial vision, we now hear some messages from God to several different church communities of the day. Some of these messages contained high praise. Some contained points of rebuke; places where God wanted to see these communities do better. Nevertheless, I think that would have to be a great thing to hear from God himself with some advice for the church you are a part of. Definitely scary and humbling, but cool nonetheless. Reading these writings to churches, it made me wonder what God might write to Suncrest. What would God say about the things we are doing well? Poorly?

But through reading these letters, I noticed a couple of different things. First, I saw that a common theme was for many of these churches to just hold on. Several of these churches were undergoing some severe persecution from local Jewish groups that saw them as a threat, as well as some in the Roman government who saw Christian worship as strange, out of place, and a threat to the worship of their gods. And what does God say to these persecuted followers of him? Hold on. Keep at it. I think that today, in our moments of pain and difficulty, God is saying the same thing to us... hold on. Stay with it. Remain faithful.

I'm also just personally always haunted by God's words to the church in Laodecia in Revelation 3:14-19. God was hard on these people because they were so lukewarm in their response to him; they could simply care less. Based on the description, it seems like this church was filled with wealthy, well to do individuals who felt they didn't need anything from God. They felt pretty self-sufficient. And yet, they were the only church out of all the ones here in Revelation where God didn't say a single positive thing. God still loved and cared for them (see verse 19), but cared too much about them to let them continue in their ways.

I think that the church in Laodecia is scary to me because in a lot of ways I think a lot of American churches are in a similar situation. Has our excessive wealth (and believe me, compared to any other country on the planet, America's wealth is excessive no matter how little your assets are) made us complacent? Are we in danger of needing God's rebuke, just like the Laodecians? Definitely a question to keep thinking about as we continue on as part of God's church here in America.

Monday, October 11, 2010

96. A Voice and a Vision (Revelation 1:1-20).

by Wesley Blackburn

Revelation is an incredible book of the Bible, and without a doubt, one of the most hotly disputed. I'm really looking forward to you all getting to hear some of Steve and Beka's thoughts later on this week about it, but in kicking our brief jaunt through this book, I just wanted to note a couple of things in my reading of Revelation 1.

#1. Jesus comes on the clouds. At least, that's what it says in verse 7. Christ will come on the clouds. This is significant for a few reasons, probably the most important being that this is Messianic-type imagery. In other words, Jesus being this figure who comes on the clouds is something that is actually a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy and actually makes a statement about his lordship.

But I also think that there's a real significance to the fact that Jesus is portrayed coming on clouds in a somewhat metaphorical sense as well. In a time in my life several years ago where God seemed really distant, my friend Brent shared with me Revelation 1:7 and shared that he felt there was symbolic truth there pointing to the simple fact that when the clouds and storms of life come, there we often find Jesus as well. In that point in my life, I was in great pain emotionally and spiritually, but it brought me comfort to think that in the midst of that "cloud" in my life, there was Jesus. He was coming right alongside. And he would use this situation for his glory and purposes.

#2. John was listening for the call of the Spirit. The book of Revelation was actually a letter written by the disciple John, explaining a vision that he had of the end days. This letter would then be sent to several different churches in order to offer some hope and encouragement that in the end, God wins. We have nothing to fear.

But what kind of struck me was the fact that John was truly listening for what God was seeking to do in his life. Could you imagine what would have happened if God gave John a vision, but he simply ignored it or chalked it up to just being some weird dream? John was sensitive to what God was wanting to say to him, and out of that sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, I believe we find the book of Revelation.

So many times, I think that we totally miss what God is trying to do in our lives. We don't find him, often because we aren't looking for him. Of course, you could take that too far, trying to find God giving you some special message in everything, which is probably just as dangerous a habit to get into. But I just wonder how many things I potentially miss, not because God isn't speaking, but because I'm not listening. I don't want to miss out on what God wants to say. And that means having a receptive and open heart that's looking and waiting for God to speak at any moment.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Beyond Sunday - People of the Second Chance: I'm running on empty

...by Beka Jackson

This week seemed familiar to me. Did it seem that way to you? Ecclesiastes reminded me so much of the book of Philippians. In the spring, we walked through that book and learned what Paul had to say about life. I think maybe he learned from the book of Ecclesiastes!

Greg talked about “nothing new under the sun...” When he began to explain earth as being the “under the sun” and heaven being outside or above that, I immediately thought of Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Solomon discovers after years of searching everywhere on the earth, that the earth doesn’t hold the key to life. It is above earthly things.

It was a nice reminder. I am continually looking for meaning and purpose in the things I do, the things I am known for here on this earth. I seek meaning and purpose in relationships. I seek approval like it is going out of style! And I am continually coming up empty. Still feeling the need to search.

The times in my life that I have felt like I have a meaning are the times that I am “think(ing) about such things.” Or like Solomon says it, “fear God and keep his commandments”. When I am searching for His truth, for His calling in my life, I find it. His truth has already been given to me; that’s easy to find. And even though His calling in my life is sometimes unclear, I still feel like I have a purpose even just in the search.

94. Faith and Works (James 1:1-2:26).

by Wesley Blackburn


If someone were to ask me my favorite passage of Scripture I would quickly say James 1:22 “do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says.”  How wonderfully simple, to the point, and practical is that…like most of the book of James.

There are few other favorite convicting verses of mine from this section.  See if they convict you in the same way they do me:

-1:2  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…  If I want to be stronger and better, I have to go through trials.  I’ve noticed that often when people come from difficult backgrounds they often have a strength of character that others can only admire.  My mom is one of these people.  She has continually risen above tough circumstances to become one of the strongest people I know.  Consider the equation:  trial of faith = perseverance = maturity.
-1:19  everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  If only I could get past the quick to listen, then I’ll start to work on slow to speak and slow to become angry.  I think I could spend my entire life on that one verse.  You know the people that don’t shoot off their mouth or say immature things, those are the people everyone else wants to listen to.
-1:22ff  That whole mirror imagery is cool to me.  Do I look into the Bible, the mirror, and see a reflection of myself?  I wish.
-2:1  don’t show favoritism.  How often I cling to that which is familiar, or like me, or safe and comfortable.  How much God calls us to love the outcast, the poor, the weak.
-2:13  mercy triumphs over judgment.  When it is all said and done, I am failing a lot.  Which is why I’m so thankful for verse like this that remind me that God is just as strong in His mercy as He is in His judgment of us.

One of the main points of this e100 HAS to be that we don’t merely listen to the Word, but that we do what it says.  How will you put into play something that you are reading/learning/experiencing about God this week?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

92. A New Creation In Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6:2).

by Scott Skowronski

This world that we live in definitely brings one test after another, challenging us to become the amazing creation God had in mind when we were formed.  However, it is completely up to us to make the decision to pursue it.  Deep in my heart and soul, I feel that we have all been given everything we need to get where we were meant to be.  We must listen and obey in order to accomplish our purpose and carry forward the message that lives in the death of Jesus.

Sit and think about the following for a moment:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

When we feel like quitting, when we get frustrated, when we get angry, when we question going forward, we place our faith ahead of our flesh remembering that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."  We are living a temporary assignment away from home and work to please God so that when it is our time to be with him we can confidently await the promise of heaven.

We must recognize that our sins will not be held against us.  We become a new creation when we accept Christ as our Savior.  We become reconciled to God.  "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."

As I read these passages today, I could not help but to think about how God's mercy has allowed me to arrive exactly where I am.  It became clear to me that I must take the light shining in my heart and help others find it too.  I am fully able to "Let light shine out of darkness."  I was helped to find the glory of God through the face of Christ and am determined to help others also find this saving grace.

When I think back over the past two years of my life, I see a transformation that has reformed who I am and what I stand for on a daily basis.  It amazes me how a desperate honest conversation with God guided me to becoming a new creation in Christ forever changing the rest of my time spent in this world and therefore eternity.

The once dark, sick and isolated world of my life has become filled with hope relentlessly bright and shining with love from every angle.  I trust obediently and through that trust I am provided with all that I need to experience the joy I was meant to receive to bring glory to God.  I am so grateful and invite all of you to join me in pursuing God's will living with this dedication at the forefront of our actions.