appear

So we are always confident, because we know that while we are living in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight. We are confident, and we would prefer to leave the body and to be at home with the Lord. So our goal is to be acceptable to him, whether we are at home or away from home. We all must appear before Christ in court so that each person can be paid back for the things that were done while in the body, whether they were good or bad. So we try to persuade people, since we know what it means to fear the Lord. We are well known by God, and I hope that in your heart we are well known by you as well. We aren’t trying to commend ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us so that you could answer those who take pride in superficial appearance, and not in what is in the heart. If we are crazy, it’s for God’s sake. If we are rational, it’s for your sake. The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:6-15, CEB)

We live by faith, not by sight, but people see us and they are led by what we do and how we act. We want to be acceptable to Christ so that our actions bring God’s light to the world. We do not bring God’s light to the world because of what we get for doing it, we do it because God first loved us and gave us light.

So we live our lives in a way that shows the love of God in everything we do. We do not put on appearances and act in a way to impress, but we live our lives and love out loud for all to see and to see the love of God.

We do not masquerade for people to get a different appearance of us, but we live our life out loud showing off the love that God has given us.

So Love out Loud and do not appear to be something you are not. Love as you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

an eternal stockpile

So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal. We know that if the tent that we live in on earth is torn down, we have a building from God. It’s a house that isn’t handmade, which is eternal and located in heaven. We groan while we live in this residence. We really want to dress ourselves with our building from heaven— since we assume that when we take off this tent, we won’t find out that we are naked. Yes, while we are in this tent we groan, because we are weighed down. We want to be dressed not undressed, so that what is dying can be swallowed up by life. Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, and God gave us the Spirit as a down payment for our home. (2 Corinthians 4:16—5:5, CEB)

Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile.

I don’t know about you, but this eternal stockpile is going to be huge!

But honestly, I know and I hope you know that the trials and tribulations we face here will be completely outdone by the glory we will live in in the fulfillment of God’s kindom.

When the new heaven and new earth are formed and we are all finally with God for all of eternity there will be no comparison.

So face the day, knowing that it will get better. Better than you can imagine.

Loving People. Loving God.

What is it like?

Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? It’s like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in a garden. It grew and developed into a tree and the birds in the sky nested in its branches.” Again he said, “To what can I compare God’s kingdom? It’s like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through the whole.” (Luke 13:18-21, CEB)

It is always interesting to me when we get these images from Jesus.

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which in Jesus’ day was the smallest known seed. But when it was planted, just like today, it takes over the garden in which it is planted. It is a plant we get mustard from, but it can also be seen as an invasive weed. It takes over and will choke out other vegetation around it.

And yeast, once you add it to flour, there is no going back. It takes over.

So if we are mustard and yeast, then we are changing the world into the kingdom of God.

Be mustard and yeast and share love that will change the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

Proof

Those who have sinned outside the Law will also die outside the Law, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous. Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law. They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:12-16, CEB)

When Gentiles who do not have the law do the law even without knowing it because it is the right thing to do prove the law to be written on their hearts.

It is not simply knowing the law, it is doing it. We will be judged by our actions. Even though there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love we should still love the world because God loves the world and God loves us. We should also love the world.

Be proof that God exists and loves all of creation.

Loving People. Loving God.

judge

So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. God will repay everyone based on their works. On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. God does not have favorites. (Romans 2:1-11, CEB)

How many of us judge others?

Well everyone should say they do. We all judge others even when we try not to.

And usually when we are deepest in our judgment that is when we are guilty of doing what we are judging others for.

Love will change us and help us to love those around us more.

Do not judge anyone unless you are ready to be put under the same judgment. But instead, love everyone as God has and does still love you. Fully and openly without judgment.

If we love the world as God loves us, imagine what the world would be like!

Loving People. Loving God.

Produce fruit

Some who were present on that occasion told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices. He replied, “Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans? No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did. What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did.” Jesus told this parable: “A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I’ve never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil’s nutrients?’ The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer. Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:1-9, CEB)

I have been told that it and found evidence online that it can take fig trees 3-5 years to produce fruit. So a three-year-old tree may not have fruit yet. So to cut it down before it is given time to be in the right place and growth to produce fruit isn’t allow the tree to be who it was created to be.

Are we ready to do things when we really aren’t? And should we be down on people who may not be in the place they need to be to do something? We should focus on preparing ourselves and deepening our own faith.

Because if we do not allow the growth to happen we will be like the Galileans and those living in Jerusalem.

Loving People. Loving God.

Integrity

“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants, nor do they pick grapes from prickly bushes. A good person produces good from the good treasury of the inner self, while an evil person produces evil from the evil treasury of the inner self. The inner self overflows with words that are spoken. (Luke 6:43-45, CEB)

Integrity is a word that most people think they know but I wonder.

When we say we follow Jesus and yet we say that people are going to burn in hell forever, are we actually following Jesus?

Jesus never once condemned anyone for their sins, he forgave them and sent them on their way.

Jesus loved everyone regardless of their being followers of the rules or not.

Jesus loved everyone even when those who were considered religious said that they were not to be a part of the community.

Jesus did not go out of his way to stay away from those others called unclean, because he knew they were not any different from those who thought they were clean.

I have said many times it is always easier to tell the truth all the time than to lie and remember what lie I told to who.

Always be the same. That is integrity. Don’t think sitting in a pew on Sunday makes you any better when you are derogatory and mean-spirited to God’s children Monday – Saturday. The fruit shows the kind of tree.

Love is from God. Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Alive or Dead

“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: These are the words of the one who holds God’s seven spirits and the seven stars: I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, and you are in fact dead. Wake up and strengthen whatever you have left, teetering on the brink of death, for I’ve found that your works are far from complete in the eyes of my God. So remember what you received and heard. Hold on to it and change your hearts and lives. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know what time I will come upon you. But you do have a few people in Sardis who haven’t stained their clothing. They will walk with me clothed in white because they are worthy. Those who emerge victorious will wear white clothing like this. I won’t scratch out their names from the scroll of life, but will declare their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 3:1-6, CEB)

You look like and are seen as being alive but in fact you are dead and not doing anything worthy of the gospel. I wonder how many congregations out there are like this?

Seem to be living and doing things when in actuality they are just surviving and putting on a show.

One question I would ask congregations when I would interview with their call committees was if this congregation were to close tomorrow what would the community miss? Meaning what are you doing that the community needs. If it is nothing then you are dead. Change your hearts and your lives and live for God.

Make a difference by sharing God’s love in a tangible way.

Loving People. Loving God.

who say they are…

“Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really Satan’s synagogue). Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11, CEB)

I know the things that are being said about you by those who say they are _______.

People say all kinds of things about others they think they know about. We think we know others by the few details we have of their life. And we make decisions based upon those details. We do not know the whole story. We can not understand the complexities of someone else’s life when we can barely figure out our own.

Do not let someone else’s judgment of your life determine who you are.

You and God alone know that and it doesn’t matter who they say you are or who they claim to be. The religious may not be as religious as they think they are and even if they are they still are not you.

Do not worry about what others say, worry about what God says. Be true to the person God created you to be and let the others just wallow in their own scorn.

But do it all in love.

Loving People. Loving God.

WHAT?!?!

Jesus traveled through cities and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won’t be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ He will respond, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from. Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you yourselves will be thrown out. People will come from east and west, north and south, and sit down to eat in God’s kingdom. Look! Those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last.” At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” (Luke 13:22-31, CEB)

Those who stand outside and knock saying, ‘Lord, open the door.’ He will respond go away for I don’t know you. Make sure you enter through the narrow gate.

But where is the narrow gate? And is it close to the wide gate, or is there even a wide gate?

This makes it sound like only a few will make it into heaven and it won’t be the ones who think it is them now. Because they are the ones who knocking said they ate and drank with Jesus but he doesn’t know them.

It is about being seen with Jesus, or doing the right things. It is about being known by Jesus.

Does Jesus know you?

Love out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.