May 6, 2009

black

He guys and gals. Thanks so much for being engaged with me for the last year. I appreciate all of your support and comments. I have enjoyed what I do on here and have been blessed out of my mind by writing this blog and hearing your comments. 

I am actually going to be taking a blog-atical for an indefinite amount of time. I am working on getting the Grace Students web-page up and that is where I'm going to be spending the time I usually dedicate to this blog. So thanks for hanging with me. i will post the website address and stuff as SOON as I get it up and running, I'm shooting for the 1st of June, but we'll see. 

If I have any major announcements between now and then you can find them on the church blog, http://gracefellowship.typepad.com/   SEE YOU SOON!!! :)

May 5, 2009

as I follow Christ

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

Stunned. I have read this before. But, I never really soaked it in. This is Paul (the guy who killed Christ-followers, the guy who met Jesus on the road to D-town) who said this. I might be making a leap here. But, are we to have this same boldness? Or is it reserved for the few like Paul, Peter, John?

DARE I say "be imitators of Norm as I follow Christ." This is why I am stunned.... Imagine the weight of Christ's glory that resonates from this statement Paul makes. Imitate me... Follow me... Be like me... Because I am sold out to Jesus in every arena of my life. Because I am throwing myself to the feet and mercy of Christ the King. Because He is invading every corner of my life. Because i will die for Him or live sacrificially for Him. Because I am doing everything in my power to glorify Jesus with every waking breath of my life.

What?!? My eyes are flooded with tears waiting to leap down. There is only so much that I can do to hold them back. I think, "Christ, is every breath of mine glory in YOU?!? Does every muscle of mine scream to be used for your fame?!?! I want to tell people to imitate me as I imitate Christ?!?! But woe am I!!! A man who selfishly desires comfort, who desires the glitter of fame over the beauty of brokenness.  

Thank you Christ for reconciling me to God. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! It is not by anything I have done, but YOU have paid it all. So i will rest in You! I will put my hope in YOU! I will rest myself in Your arms.... amen.

May 4, 2009

near..... far..... near...... far.....


One of my favorite shows of all-time was Sesame Street. It was just the greatest thing on the planet back in the early/mid eighties. 

The sketches on the show were insanely simple and insanely entertaining. I used to love all the characters, but one of my favorite sketches was Grover's near/far bit. 

All he would do is run up close to the camera and say "This is Near!" and then he would run away from the camera and get way back in the background and he'd yell, "This is Faaaaaaaaaaaaar!"  Two things. Near... Far... Really simple. Either you are one or the other. What a funny sketch!

In chapter 9-10 of Hebrews, the author explains to us how great Christ's sacrifice was for us. In fact he goes on to explain if we receive Christ and believe His testimony we can "draw NEAR to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

We have the privilege to draw near to God. It is a privilege for the Christ follower. But we can do so with confidence because of Christ's great sacrifice.

Like Grover's illustration. There is near. There is far. 

Where are you?


May 2, 2009

Saturday Sillies: King of all Cat Videos