Welcome!

Saints!  It is hard to believe, but the Lenten Season is nearly over!  Palm Sunday has ushered us into Holy Week, and soon the declarative voices of Christians all over this planet will once again cry out the exultant “He is Risen, HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

It is only because of His sacrifice that we can enter Heaven pardoned of our sin, free of condemnation.  And so we have focused upon the Good News that our Savior Jesus LIVES. Every Holy day in this Lenten season has pointed us toward what Christ did for us, and in spite any pandemic, we have focused upon Christ during this season. 

But… HOW do we focus on Christ now?  The only upcoming Holy Day in sight is Pentecost… and there is SO much going on in our lives!  We continue to figure out ways to ‘do’ life with over a year now of the pandemic’s scourge.  Might I suggest we focus on Christ by continuing to serve and worship with His Chosen-  by focusing our energy, and making our plans around the lost sheep of His flock.  All too often we fail to realize the place that self-sacrifice and service holds in our walk with Christ.  Christ’s whole existence, all the way from heaven to earth and back again by way of Calvary, was a continual outpouring of Himself for the sake of others.  He says, “If any will be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.”(Mk. 8:34) 

Consider this poem:

The village priest of austerity climbed up in a high church steeple;

To be nearer to God, so that he might hand His word down to the people.

And so in sermon script he daily wrote what he thought came from heaven;

And dropped it down on the people’s heads…Two times one day in seven.

In his age God cried, “Come down and die,” and he cried from out the steeple,

“Where art thou, Lord,” and the Lord replied, “Down here among my people.”

I submit to you that if we want to focus on Christ, we need to continue to spend time with His people and those who are not yet convinced that Jesus’ offer of salvation is for ALL who would believe.  When we talk about focusing on Jesus Christ, many times we conjure up visions of a cloistered, secluded, holy time of fasting and prayer.   We assume that true focus upon Christ occurs only in the form of a mountain top experience.  Cloistered visions and mountain-top experiences may enrich the soul, but the vision dims, and the blessing will not stay if heavenly experience is not translated into earnest service toward one another and the lost.  “We dare not become so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good!”  Consider sharing Christ’s Love actively, in service to one another.  Let us put our love for Christ in motion, focusing upon Him during this season.

May the Lord RICHLY bless you and keep you… may He make this Easter one that draws you closer to Him and draws us closer to one another as we LOVE THE LORD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST!

Give’em Heaven!

Pastor Scott