"I guess my question is: 'Why did God tear apart perfection because of one sin, did He feel that they would continue to sin?'"
My Answer: "Self-Rule" That Rules Only From The Self, Necessarily Means, that The Self Is the ONLY Rule. The Created Order Was Torn Apart Because the "Self" Ruled... rsg. 6-10-08
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
VOLUNTEERS
This past week we finished working on the renovations to our Sanctuary. Amazing! Unbelievable! Astounding! What an incredible transformation!
Work began the Monday following this past Easter. In unbelievably dedicated fashion, a group of dedicated (mostly) men and women worked sacrificially to improve the worship center of our church. Deconstruction of walls and installation of sheetrock. Mudding, Sanding, Sweeping and Gallons of Painting. Ceiling tiles removed and replaced. Carpet ripped up and installed. Endless feet of Cable and Wire for 2 Projectors, Lights and 2 Flat Screen T.V's. Construction of a new Sound Room and a Platform in the front, the Hanging of 2 Projection Screens and a 16' Light Truss - poised to illuminate the Platform, 14 Fixtures - with 64 Million Different Possibilities! And The Endless Hours of constant Clean Up, Decorating and Arranging of Chairs.
Holy Acts That Result in the Reconfiguration of A Holy Place... For Authentic Worship, Deep Teaching and the Experience of Sacred Community... A Place For Christ To Reveal Himself... Ultimately, For People To be Reconciled To Their God, Among Themselves, Within Themselves and Within The Created Order.
As They Worked, New Relationships were formed and old Relationships strengthened. Faithful Long Time Members and Eager New Members Teaming up, Sharing, Learning, Encouraging, Debating, Consoling, Correcting and Challenging one another, ... Weeks of Aching Muscles, Sore Backs, Dust-Covered Faces, Bumps on Heads and Blood on Hands... Again and again, marshaling everything they have to make the most of those who cheerfully and faithfully loaned from their resources and freely donated to this Vision for Ministry.
Observing this I asked... Why? What do they see? What do they believe about what we are doing? Who, other than Christ, is worthy of this kind of SACRIFICE? During the numerous times that I Spoke, Watched and sometimes Worked alongside them - I found my Admiration and Respect bouncing between the display their Enthusiastic Energy, Their Great Skills, Their: 'Work Smart Ethic' and Their boundless Joyful Hearts. I was repeatedly and profoundly Humbled by their Resolute Sacrifice! It was clear to me that it was the Cause of Christ, that Caused This Sacrifice.
WHAT A GREAT CHURCH! What a WONDERFUL group of people who love their God and love their people!
Personally... This Magnificent Effort on their part, inwardly convicts and drives me to be more faithful with who I am and what I am called to do. I want to be Worthy Enough to Partner with them in those Efforts - which can only be construed as "Acts of Worship" (Romans 12:1-2) for Christ. This is why I found myself constantly Humbled - Because as their Pastor... It appears as if Nothing I have done so far in their Lives, with my Heart, is commensurate to what they did in our Sanctuary, because of their Hearts.
Use Me Lord in the Same Way... In Like Manner, Help Me To Be a Consistently Dedicated, Joyful and Faithful Servant of Yours. May Your Cause LORD, Be My Cause, To Enable the Same Kind of Beautiful, Radical and Astounding Transformation in The Sanctuary of Hearts; As They Did In The Sanctuary of Our Church.
Work began the Monday following this past Easter. In unbelievably dedicated fashion, a group of dedicated (mostly) men and women worked sacrificially to improve the worship center of our church. Deconstruction of walls and installation of sheetrock. Mudding, Sanding, Sweeping and Gallons of Painting. Ceiling tiles removed and replaced. Carpet ripped up and installed. Endless feet of Cable and Wire for 2 Projectors, Lights and 2 Flat Screen T.V's. Construction of a new Sound Room and a Platform in the front, the Hanging of 2 Projection Screens and a 16' Light Truss - poised to illuminate the Platform, 14 Fixtures - with 64 Million Different Possibilities! And The Endless Hours of constant Clean Up, Decorating and Arranging of Chairs.
Holy Acts That Result in the Reconfiguration of A Holy Place... For Authentic Worship, Deep Teaching and the Experience of Sacred Community... A Place For Christ To Reveal Himself... Ultimately, For People To be Reconciled To Their God, Among Themselves, Within Themselves and Within The Created Order.
As They Worked, New Relationships were formed and old Relationships strengthened. Faithful Long Time Members and Eager New Members Teaming up, Sharing, Learning, Encouraging, Debating, Consoling, Correcting and Challenging one another, ... Weeks of Aching Muscles, Sore Backs, Dust-Covered Faces, Bumps on Heads and Blood on Hands... Again and again, marshaling everything they have to make the most of those who cheerfully and faithfully loaned from their resources and freely donated to this Vision for Ministry.
Observing this I asked... Why? What do they see? What do they believe about what we are doing? Who, other than Christ, is worthy of this kind of SACRIFICE? During the numerous times that I Spoke, Watched and sometimes Worked alongside them - I found my Admiration and Respect bouncing between the display their Enthusiastic Energy, Their Great Skills, Their: 'Work Smart Ethic' and Their boundless Joyful Hearts. I was repeatedly and profoundly Humbled by their Resolute Sacrifice! It was clear to me that it was the Cause of Christ, that Caused This Sacrifice.
WHAT A GREAT CHURCH! What a WONDERFUL group of people who love their God and love their people!
Personally... This Magnificent Effort on their part, inwardly convicts and drives me to be more faithful with who I am and what I am called to do. I want to be Worthy Enough to Partner with them in those Efforts - which can only be construed as "Acts of Worship" (Romans 12:1-2) for Christ. This is why I found myself constantly Humbled - Because as their Pastor... It appears as if Nothing I have done so far in their Lives, with my Heart, is commensurate to what they did in our Sanctuary, because of their Hearts.
Use Me Lord in the Same Way... In Like Manner, Help Me To Be a Consistently Dedicated, Joyful and Faithful Servant of Yours. May Your Cause LORD, Be My Cause, To Enable the Same Kind of Beautiful, Radical and Astounding Transformation in The Sanctuary of Hearts; As They Did In The Sanctuary of Our Church.
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