Caring for God’s Creation

This morning I spoke at a chapel service for K-8th grade students.  The theme for the school this month was Caring for God’s Creation.  I shared with them some of my own experiences with God’s creation.  Watching falling stars on the Pacific Crest trail, floating next to a pod of killer whales in Pudget Sound, watching the sunrise, to name just a few.  I also shared the time as a teenager when I heard God (not audibly, yet clearly) say to me, “Eric, follow me”.  I knew at that moment that God created me and called me by name.  Colossians 3:17 says, “whatever you do…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” includes how we treat not only one another, but all of God’s creation. 

Congratulations!

My prayer is that everyone will complete reading or listening through the entire New Testament.  Remember, if you miss a few days, pick up where you left off, and don’t give up.  If you have finished, keep up the good habit of reading your Bible everyday.  I will offer some resources in the comment section that I find helpful in reading the scriptures on a regular basis. 

We will keep the 40 Day Challenge catagory on the blog, so that you are able to continue making comments.  For general comments on the adventure as a whole feel free to comment on this post.”

Click on the day you want to go to…

Day 1 – 2 - 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 – 18 – 19 – 20 – 21 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 25 – 26 – 27 – 28 – 29 – 30 -  31 – 32 – 33 – 34 – 35 – 36 – 37 – 38 – 39 – 40

Real Love Letters

“We are pencils in the hands of a writing God who is writing a love letter to the world.” –Mother Theresa

How we view God and others impacts how we live our lives.  Is it possible that we are blind to the needs of people around us?  What are some things we can do to see people and then act to bring about transformation of the human condition?  If you heard Sunday’s message, what do you hear God saying to you?

Journeys

This is the place to share about your journey with God.  Maybe it is just beginning or has taken a new turn.  What do you hear God saying to you about your life, goals, ministry, etc.?  You can include it in the comment section or email it to erics@zillahnazarene.org 

DAY 40 – Revelation 16-22

We did it!  We have read through the New Testament in 40 days (or as long as it took).  Thank you for going on this wonderful journey.  It has been a blessing to me and to many others.  Find ways to continue reading the Word of God every day.  Maybe start reading through the Old Testament on a daily basis.

It seems that the main message of the Revelation of John is encouraging the seven churches to say “no” to the evil empire (in his day it was the Roman Empire) and “yes” to the Kingdom of God, which is righteous, holy, and will reign for ever and ever.  Amen!  It’s too bad that we have missed this message and the implications it has for living out our lives today.  There are evil empires all around us that are forcefully requiring our allegiance that we must stand up to and say, “no, we will live our lives under the rule of Christ.”  Empires such as consumerism, lust, violence, and apathy which will lead us to our destruction if we choose to align ourselves with them.  May we live our lives following the lamb that was slain and put our trust in the Kingdom of God.

Day 39 – Revelation 8-15

“The kingdom of the world has become the kindom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (11:15).  That’s good news!  What else can we live for where we know the outcome?  The stock market?  Our good looks?  Worldly success?  Our own strength?  May we live for the one who will reign for ever and ever.

Day 38 – Revelation 1-7

Three more days!  Can you believe it?  As you complete the 40 day challenge by reading or listening to the Revelation try to do so in the context of the scriptures of the New Testament.  Our tendancy will be to read it in the context of popular myths, great movies, and in particular the left behind series.  As good as the left behind series may be, they are a work of FICTION!  We are called to live by God’s Word not Tim LaHaye’s (author of Left Behind).

The Mission

What does it mean to share good news as one who serves?  What would it look like to live like Jesus as one who serves?  See Luke 22:27.

Day 37 – 1 John 2 – Jude

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love.”  This would be a great way of gaging my love for another.  If I have to ask, “What will they think, or what will they say,” it may be a sign that there is fear involved in that relationship.  Even more so if that person is wondering that about me.  May I treat people in ways that fear is cast out of our relationships.

Day 36 – 1 Peter 1 – 1 John 1

Peter’s opening greeting is concluded with “grace and peace be yours in abundance.”  The definition of grace itself is about abundance.  It is a gift to us based on God’s goodness and not our deserving it.  When Jesus was on the cross he said, “forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”  Who are the they?  They are the ones who are casting lots for his clothing.  They are the ones who pounded the nails in his wrists, they are the ones who spit on him, they are the ones crucifying him, they are the ones who deserted him.  They are you and me.  Grace. 

Have you noticed that whenever peace is used in the Bible it is alwasy describing something to have today.  The scriptures talk about having peace now, not way off in the future soemtime.  Peace is something that is available to us today, here on this earth.  Grace and peace to you…today.