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The Gospel is For Everyone

8/13/2017

In light of the horrific events that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia where racial tensions once again boiled over into violence and tragedy, Pastor Ellery reminded us that racial and socioeconomic difficulties have been transpiring ever since humans have been interacting with each other. Because of our fallen nature, there have always been comparative problems such as belief in God or non-belief, differences in skin color, social and economic divisions, and on and on. Even the newly born church in the New Testament had to deal with this. Paul touched on this while instructing Timothy as seen in the passage shared today from 1 Timothy 2:1-7. The gospel once again provides the answer to this issue as it does for every other issue mankind has to deal with.
The early church was a mixture of races, cultures, social and economic diversity.

Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, slave, free; people from every walk of life were coming together with one common bond - they had been drawn back to God through the gift of the death and resurrection of Jesus that paid the price for sin. Most of the time we tend to re-group with people of similar looks, wealth, and social status, so we sometimes become sterile and impersonally detached to the needs of those different from us. That is why Paul encouraged Timothy to have believers pray for all people, especially for those in authority.

I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority... 1 Timothy 2:1-2

We lose sight that if we pray for our enemies and they come to Christ, they are no longer our enemies and more importantly an enemy of God. Pastor Ellery shared a quote from Philip Yancey that sums it up well (you can read the entire interview here):

We are fighting battles with evil and injustice – yet, as Martin Luther King Jr. used to say, we fight with different weapons, the weapons of grace. As he said, you can pass laws to force a white man to serve a black man in a restaurant, but you can’t pass a law requiring the white man to love the black man. We have higher goals than politics, and you’ll never attain those goals through politics alone.
I get concerned when Christians see politics as the answer. Politics is an adversary sport in which you win by slandering your opponent. Jesus showed a different way: Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.
The early Christians faced a far more hostile environment in the Roman Empire than we do in the United States today. They set in motion a new community, pioneer settlements of the kingdom of God that could show the world a better way to be human. Tend to the sick, rescue the abandoned babies, free the slaves, love the oppressors, care for the poor – they lived in a new way, and the world took notice.

Laws and politics have never been successful in changing our hearts. We need to remember that regardless of how bad people are to one another, the gospel - the good news of what Jesus did for us - is for all of us. Jesus loves and He died for the white supremacist, even when they burn crosses and harm people just because of the amount of melanin in their skin; He loves and He died for those in the violent fringes of the black lives matter movement, even when they are rioting and looting; He loves and He died for the radical Islamic terrorist, even when they kill in the name of their god.
The truth is that we are all broken and sinful and are in desperate need of the saving grace of Jesus. The world needs to see the example of true Christian community where people of multiple cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds can come together in love and unity. That is how we live in a new way, and and that’s how the world will take notice.

John Clark

John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer

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Grace: Know It or Live It, There is a Difference

8/7/2017

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,A lot of people may or may not know the technical or theologically appropriate definition of grace; but simply put it is unmerited or unwarranted favor. And while most of us may be able to recite this definition with ease, it is an entirely different matter to comprehend what it means and how it applies to us. That is what the pastor shared about this last Sunday (6-31-17), and he used one of the most effective methods to demonstrate what grace is and how it works: he told a story.

The story he shared was about a man named Steve Bartman. This was a normal guy, and an avid Chicago Cubs fan who because of his failed attempt to catch a foul ball during a post season championship game in 2003, prevented a Cubs left-fielder from making the catch. This led to the Florida Marlins being able to score several runs to win the game and keep the Cubs from entering the 2003 World Series.

Bartman became infamously connected with the “curse” of the Cubs that seemed to keep them from a World Series trophy. But after the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, this regular guy was recently given a World Series championship ring by the team. Not only did Bartman not work for it by participating in any of the workouts, the spring training, or by playing in any of the games, he was reviled by other Cubs fans who held him responsible for the Cubs loss to the Marlins and their failure to go to the 2003 World Series. He even received death threats and required police protection for a while.Yet he was given the same reward as the 2016 team that played the game and did everything they needed to do to win the World Series: a diamond encrusted ring with his name on it.
"He was embraced by the team he disgraced" was one particular phrase the pastor said that stuck out.

It tells me regardless of what rules we try to keep or how many we think we can break in a set amount of time; or what rituals we try to either adhere to or desperately attempt to escape from, only God can save us from our trespasses.The best portraits of grace seem to be of the ones concerning the least deserving. God shows this to all of us in the passage Pastor Ellery shared from the Book of Colossians

“And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:13-15‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Because the first Adam interfered and “dropped the ball” back in the garden, all of us were spiritually separated from God. We bore the disgrace of the human race.
None of us could ever hope to alleviate our shame and judgment. But because of God’s love for us, He chose to embrace us, forgive us, and restore us back to Himself. The gift of Jesus' perfect life, the act of Him taking our place in death, and His victorious resurrection, elevated all of humanity to the same family status as Jesus: a son or daughter of God. A status we simply receive by faith. We who deserved ridicule and eternal damnation have been presented with the gift of righteousness and eternal life through Jesus Christ our one and only Savior. That is the picture of grace we all need to see.

John Clark

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God Goes To The Broken

7/25/2017

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The message on Sunday, July 23rd, came from John 5:1-15 about the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda. It tells how Jesus approaches a man who has been sick for 38 years. He may have spent part or maybe all of those years (the scriptures do not specify) at the pool in hope of a miraculous intervention which periodically occurred when "an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water." ‭‭John‬ ‭5:4‬

Here are a few observations from this presentation of the gospel.

The scriptures reveal very little about what ordeals this man went through growing up, how he or his family (if he had one) dealt with this infirmity, or how long he was at this pool seeking a miracle. We can ascertain or gather from his response to Jesus simple yet probing question - “Do you want to get well?” - that his hope was as paralyzed as he was:

“I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” John‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭HCSB‬

Most of us today would probably blurt out “Well duh! Why do you think I’m here?”
In John 5:3 we read there was a gathering of the sick waiting for the same opportunity to be healed. Now, this was obviously not the best neighborhood to be wandering around in, but Jesus did not get lost on His way through town. He went specifically to that pool, passing by the crowds that were there for a Jewish festival (John 5:1), in order to get to the paralytic man. He purposefully went to the broken, sick and afflicted.

Luke 19:10 says “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” while in Mark 2:17 Jesus says, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”. All of us can relate to this man. Jesus comes to us, right in the middle of our circumstantial or self-induced mess. Regardless of how we act or try to perform, or what formulas we try to follow, we cannot change our situations or even ourselves. Only Jesus can change us and He comes to us to do it. This miracle done on the Sabbath - which was the Jewish day of rest - gave this man rest from his affliction and rest from his hopelessness. It shows us that Jesus comes to bring us His rest which is complete; encompassing spirit, soul, and body.

Circumstances and trials will surely continue but He promised to be there with us through them all. So when God comes to us and asks “Do you want to be well?” we can choose to be silent or we can be proud and self reliant. But how far has that ever gotten us?

Or we can be brutally honest and surrender to Him. He came to pay for our sin. He paid the price for our unrest and our spiritual and emotional paralysis, so we can receive His perfect rest. He comes to us with His promise of wholeness. I pray that we all receive His wonderful gift.

John Clark

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Testimonies - Who Are We Boasting About?

7/17/2017

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As we were getting ready this Sunday to listen to the pastor give the message, someone asked to give a testimony and admonition about how God was with them during a difficult week. One story led to another and the pastor never got to give his full message because most of our congregation was compelled by the Spirit to share how God got them through trying times. As the people shared, we all came to the conclusion that the testimonies that seem to give the greatest encouragement were the ones where we shared how we fell, how we blew it, or otherwise made a mess of things; yet through all of that God is still with us, loving us and lifting us back up and putting us back on the right path.

I am sure most of you have heard those sanctimonious church members that “testify” of how great their faith was, how blessed they are, and how their unerring obedience has garnished them with God’s deserving love. Quite honestly those kind of testimonies never encouraged me, they did the exact opposite. It was very discouraging to hear how perfect they were and how they never did anything wrong. I always thought, what was I doing wrong because my life was never as spotless and blessed as theirs.

So what is the difference? It’s all about who we boast about, who is going to get the glory from the stories; God or us. All of us go through things in this life. And we all need God to get us through those ordeals. When I hear about how others get through trying times; it makes me feel like I am not alone, or I am not the only screw-up in this world struggling to make it through. But when I hear about how supremely spiritual someone claims to be, it leaves me downtrodden and without hope that I can do anything as good as they supposedly can.
Ultimately, we all need to remember that without Jesus we can do nothing. It's because of him we can "approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” (Heb 4:16) He did it all for us, He offered His perfection for our brokenness. What we do and how we act is completely dependent on His grace - His love and strength flowing through us to accomplish what we can never do on our own. So yes, I messed up last week , today, and odds are I’ll fall tomorrow. But God still loves me, He never leaves me, and He gives me the strength to carry on. God will always see me through.

John Clark

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Revealing the Finished Work

2/22/2017

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This is the last of a 3 part series by John Clark. Read part 1 & part 2.

In this third and final part of restoration we will look at the end result of God's work in us. The first part showed us that God chose us because of His love for us. Our sin and good works did not have any influence on that decision. In the second part I shared how the process of restoration is usually quite harsh but necessary to mold us into the image of Christ. Now I want to share how we are revealed in His glory to bring praise and adoration to our Maker.

If you have ever been to one of those car shows, I'm sure you are familiar with how the owners react as you wander by admiring their vehicles. They are usually quite proud of their accomplishments and are eager to show off their handiwork. Some of them even display before and after photos of the vehicles so you can get a small idea of the amount of work they put into the project. You may get a similar sense of admiration when you see an exquisite piece of handmade furniture on display in a store or in someone's home. It's especially interesting to me to look closely at the attention to detail if I know a part has been replaced. A good craftsman can blend the old with the new together so seamlessly it is nearly impossible to tell the old wood from the new.

So the good news for you is this - yes there will come a day when your physical body will be changed to illustrate what Christ has already done for your spirit. (Romans 8:18-25). God, the Master Builder of everything, never leaves a job partially done, including you. When Christ redeemed you from the power of sin, death and the devil, He paid for your complete redemption, both spiritually and physically. Spiritually you were born again (regenerated) at the time of your salvation; while physically, your body will be changed from its feeble, perishable bag of muscle, bone, water and tissue to an imperishable, everlasting body that will not grow tired, be subject to infection and injury; be done once and for all with sin and temptation; and be able to behold the full beauty and glory of our God. (1 Cor. 15:53-57)

Remember that while we are still on this earth, every Christian is in the process of restoration. We all have those days that we feel we are taking one step forward and two steps back. We have those times when we start to think that we are getting it right and suddenly we see some undiscovered rust or the paint starts to peel and chip and our flaws are once again exposed for all to see. It is then that we need to remember that God is the one doing the work and He is faithful to complete it. We can also be assured by His word that when it is time for His glory to be fully revealed to us, the finished product will be so unimaginably greater than we could have ever hoped or dreamed, that we will spend an eternity praising the Master for the richness of his grace that He showed to us through His Son. (Eph. 2:6,7; 2 Cor. 4:17)

John Clark

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Grace Is...

1/16/2017

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by Pastor Ellery Aguayo

Grace is untouchable, unmanageable, unstoppable.
Grace walks through walls. It is unencumbered by anything or anyone.
The laws of time, space and nature do not affect grace.

Law is all about balance, weights and measures.

But grace? It's mysterious.
It is not a power or even a force. It supersedes concepts such as those.
It cannot be contained, restrained or measured.
It can be resisted only until it cannot be resisted.

It is winsome and loving.

It cannot be numbered or handled.
It cannot be killed.

It is constant. It has no beginning or end.
It is eternal.

It absorbs pain, death and ashes; repurposing them into comfort, life and beauty.
It turns evil on its head.
It absorbs attacks, abuse and persecution and turns deformity and scars into wholeness and perfection.

Grace cannot be earned, worked for or bought.
It is non-negotiable.

Grace calls the unholy just and the unrighteous good.

It transforms hardened hearts through kindness.
It resurrects those who have crashed and burned for free, through no effort of their own.

It trades its beauty for our ashes and its joy for our sorrow.

It is seen best when things are at their worst.

Grace is like a never ending party with free food and never ending, ever pouring wine.

Grace absorbs the accusation of the Law by becoming the accused and absorbs its condemnation by becoming the condemned.

Grace speaks one language for all of time.
No rules. Just the cross.

No checklists. No to-do lists. Just one thunderous whisper. Just one declaration. Just one announcement:

"Christ died for your sins and rose again on the third day."

Grace is...

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The Process of Restoration

6/27/2016

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This is the second of a 3 part series by John Clark. You can read part 1 here.

In this second part I want to cover the process of being restored. I believe every Christian is at some point in this stage. Once the craftsman makes his choice, he begins the arduous task of actually restoring the vehicle or furniture. The professional restorer is not going to haphazardly throw a coat of paint over the rust and call it done. Neither is the craftsman just going to slap some varnish over the broken and scarred wood and walk away feeling satisfied with a job well done. With a car or truck, this translates into sanding or grinding the rust off. If the rust is deep enough, entire portions of the body may need to be replaced. Dents need to be beaten out, scratches need to be filled in, and welding may need to be done. The engine and transmission will also need to be repaired or even completely rebuilt. The piece of furniture will also go through a process that seems quite unpleasant. Wooden surfaces need to be sanded, deep gouges or holes need to be filled in, and severely damaged parts may need to be replaced. Old fabric and upholstery has to be taken off, cleaned, repaired or replaced. Imagine if you can if the vehicle or furniture could feel. Even though the process is necessary to make the objects beautiful again, it would be quite painful. The sanding, grinding, scraping, and replacement of irreparable parts would at times be practically unbearable. But if you have seen a restored car or truck, or have carefully inspected a refashioned piece of furniture you know it was worth it.

Believe it or not, we go through a similar process. It’s called life.

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Chosen For Restoration

4/26/2016

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This is the first of a 3 part series by John Clark.

When I hear of restoration, I tend to think of old, rusted vehicles or worn, tattered pieces of furniture that after the required effort by the right person, become metallic works of art or treasured family heirlooms. This is what the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines as the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. (Merriam-Webster dictionary online). And while this definition is normally applied to inanimate objects, it can be applied to our lives as well.

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Un Árbol Decorado Con Lágrimas: El Lado Oscuro de la Navidad es Porque Existe Navidad by Chad Bird

12/17/2015

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This is a Spanish translation of 'A Tree Decorated with Tears: The Dark Side of Christmas Is Why Christmas Exists' by author and speaker Chad Bird.
You can read his original post here, at www.chadbird.com
Translation by Sonia Olmeda.

En la sala de mi familia hay un árbol que me susurra a mí una historia secreta sobre la Navidad. Está adornado con una serie de luces coloridas, con guirnaldas de ornamentos brillantes. Pero no importa lo brillante y hermoso que lo decoremos, el árbol me susurra su más oscura historia secreta.

Esta mañana, muy temprano, caminé a la sala de mi familia y estaba parado antes ese árbol que tiene una historia. Podía ver su forma cónica, pero no tenía ni una seña de color. O de luz. O chispa. Y el árbol me contó, una vez más, su historia.

Este árbol perteneció a una amiga mía llamada Bárbara. Cada diciembre, el árbol miraba como ella lo armaba lentamente, lo adornaba y retrocedía hacia atrás para examinar su trabajo. Pero no importando las muchas luces ella entretejía a través de su verdor, todo lo que el árbol veía en la cara de Bárbara era una oscuridad que se ampliaba. No importa cuántos ornamentos hermosos ella colgaba en sus ramas, todavía salían de sus ojos lágrimas moldeadas en forma de ornamentos que se escapan de un alma quebrantada. Bárbara intentaba lo mejor para celebrar la natividad, pero eso es duro de hacer cuando se está pasando por un divorcio, luchando para encontrar un trabajo, confundida, enferma, y sola.

El árbol de Bárbara ahora está en nuestra sala; ella nos lo dio. Cuando ella se mudó a un lugar más pequeño, ella dio casi todo. Ella dio los muebles. Ella dio las decoraciones. Ella incluso dio la nevera, estufa. Mirando hacia atrás, ahora pienso que ella dio tanto porque ella sospechaba que no estaría dando nada a ninguna persona en Navidad excepto las memorias agridulces de una vida pronto a perderse. Ella lo había dado todo, rindiéndose.

Mientras estaba parado en nuestra sala obscurecida al frente del árbol de Bárbara, escuché la otra historia de la Navidad. La historia de mujeres como Bárbara, que su oscuridad arropa lentamente hasta que la luz parece ser una maravilla mítica de un mundo perdido. La historia de niños como la de mi amigo de infancia, Kent, que hace muchos años entró en un ropero oscuro solo antes de Navidad con un arma en su mano. La historia de gente que le gustaría cambiar la fecha de este día de fiesta del 25 de diciembre al 29 de febrero para solamente sobrevivirlo cada cuatro años.

Mientras recuerdo estas otras historias de la Navidad-donde no es una vida maravillosa, donde no hay alegría para el mundo, donde las noches silenciosas son interrumpidas por gritos y sollozos y maldiciones y tiroteos--Yo recuerdo que esta otra historia de la Navidad es precisamente porque existe la Navidad en primer lugar.

¿En qué clase de mundo nació Dios en esa tarde de la noche en Belén?
Un mundo donde… Niños golpeados gimen detrás de las puertas de los dormitorios
Los bebés lloraban mientras agarraban los pechos sin leche
Los soldados heridos gritan en la oscuridad
Las mujeres de la noche descaradamente pregonaban sus mercancías
Puños estrellaron contra las caras rotas en peleas de borrachos
Hombres arrugados suspiraban sus últimas palabras ininteligibles
Y los dientes ennegrecidos de las personas sin hogar charlaban

¿En qué clase de mundo nació Dios? Un mundo donde Bárbaras y Kents no pueden ver nada en el futuro pero solamente un reflejo que se deslumbra a la medianoche. Un mundo lleno de gente herida que lastiman a otros, se lastiman ellos mismos, y a veces harán cosas terribles a sí mismos para poner fin a su dolor.

Dios nació para ellos, para ti. Para los niños golpeados y los hombres quebrantados. Para los soldados heridos y las esposas estropeadas. Para ti – no importa tu dolor, no importa lo perdida que esté tu vida, no importa que clases de decisiones estúpidas has hecho, no importa cómo de asqueroso y vil e inútil tú piensas que eres - porque precisamente para ti Dios nació. Él dejo alegremente un cielo brillante y reluciente para tirarse de cabeza en el fango y la suciedad de nuestro mundo lleno de oscuridad e incredulidad y tragedia. Él no estaba parado en la luz y te señaló a salir fuera de la oscuridad. Él invadió la noche. Él vino en busca de ti.

Tu dices, “Pero yo soy una causa perdida.”
Jesús dice, “me especializo en causas perdidas, porque vine a buscar y a salvar al perdido.”
Tu dices, “Pero yo no puedo seguir adelante.”
Jesús dice, “Tu no tiene que hacerlo. Te llevaré hacia adelante. Tu no necesita tomar otro paso.”
Tu dices, “Pero estoy desesperado.”
Jesús dice, “Yo tengo toda la esperanza que tu necesita. Soy tu esperanza. Yo tengo tu pasado, tu presente, y tu futuro en mis manos cicatrizadas por los clavos.”
Tu dices, “Pero mira lo que he hecho. Soy malo. Nadie me desea.”
Y Jesús dice, “Yo te deseo. Mira lo que he hecho por ti. He tomado tu suciedad y yo me he manchado todo por ti. Tu estás limpio, yo estoy sucio. Mira mi suciedad en la cruz. Mírate limpio en cambio. Yo te quiero a ti - desesperadamente, cariñosamente, locamente, yo te quiero a ti.

En este mundo enloquecido, fluyendo en dolor, atormentado por la culpabilidad, marcado con sepulcros, Dios alegremente y voluntariamente nació para que tú seas su propia carne y sangre. Cuanto más profundamente hayas caído, más adentro él cavará para encontrarte. Entre más oscura tu desesperación, más luz él traerá para buscarte. Entre más lejano estés de Dios, mejor él te ve.

Ninguna vida ha caído tan insondable profundidad que él no pueda cavar hasta agarrar tu mano y salir del hoyo contigo en sus brazos. Esa es la clase de Dios que nació en la Navidad. Esa es la clase de Dios que es Jesús.

Ese árbol en mi habitación cuenta su historia. Pero sé una mejor. Es la historia de un Dios que puede tornar nuestras historias tristes. La historia de un Dios que nunca se da por vencido con nosotros. La historia de un Dios que se da a sí mismo en la Navidad, en él mismo es posible que tengas todo y más.

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Best Thanksgiving Image Ever

11/26/2015

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(This is an update version of a previous post)

I love this pic. It's a modified still from Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi/horror classic, Alien. If you're familiar with the film, you may have noticed it has been modified to include the addition of a Thanksgiving turkey and decorations.
And it is these additions which to me, make it the best Thanksgiving image ever.

But how so? I mean what does sci-fi/horror and a human flesh eating alien have to do with the family friendly frolic of Thanksgiving?

Lets set the scene:
The crew of the mining ship Nostromo have just gathered together for a meal to celebrate one of their crew awakening from a coma brought on by a giant crab-like alien attaching itself to his face. It is a short lived celebration, however, as he begins to convulse and a blood soaked, razor-toothed alien erupts violently from his chest.
To the shock and horror of the crew, this newly born baby alien scatters across the table and hides itself in the catacombs of the mining ship.
It's not long before this Xenomorph, as it's called, matures and kills all but one of the Nostromo's crew.

Cool, eh?

Anyway, I agree this is not really the stuff Thanksgiving and holiday images are made of.

Yet this 'Thanksgiving-ized' version of the crew's ill-fated dinner just screams REDEMPTION.

It screams redemption because we know the fate of the crew, yet we see them as friends frozen in a moment of joy and thanksgiving.
We know what happened at their celebratory feast, when the alien first shattered their joy, their fellowship, and their peace.
We know things did not end well.

Yet the added Thanksgiving trimmings give the effect that they have been reunited and brought back to the table that had earlier erupted in chaos.

The same table where the alien had once interrupted their peace... their 'shalom' ...is now the table of their joy.
Reunited, they can give thanks. They can laugh and they can share.
They are gathered around a table where the celebration will never again be interrupted by suffering and chaos.
And what's so cool is that this redemption is something we in the real world can hope for also.

In the book of Isaiah 25:6, 8 we read:

...the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined...
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Here, in this announcement of good news, we are told God is going to defeat death, end our tears, and remove our shame.
Then, we are going to be reunited over a table of never ending joy and thanksgiving.

This is good news because even though we all experience the ravagings of the evil in the world around us and - if we're honest - the evil existing within us, we are promised that God - and God alone - will reverse the effects of this evil for us.
He will single handedly take on the alien force of death that spread throughout the world because of the willful sin and rebellion of man.
And He will do this because He loves us.

Yet this is the ultimate fulfillment of what He began over 2000 years ago in Christ.

It was then, in Christ, that He took onto Himself the alien power of sin and death.
He "died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3) as the Apostle Paul writes.
Then He rose from the dead, effectively securing the end of the alien's reign of sickness and sorrow over our lives.
In Christ, God himself has given us hope; hope for a feast, a joy and a peace that will not end.
In Christ, we are forgiven of the ravagings we have caused due to the evil in us as well as healed from the effects of the evil around us.
In Christ, we are freely and fully loved and accepted by God through no works of our own. We are fully loved and accepted by God's GRACE ALONE (God's undeserved kindness and love).
Right now we have the gift of eternal life through faith alone in Christ alone.
Right now the table is set.
Right now we have been invited to the feast.

But right now we also wait.
We wait for the reunion. We wait for the feast.

As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

So until that time, we can give thanks to the God who loved us enough to take on death for us.
We can set the tables of thanksgiving for the God who invited and included us in the celebration.
We can "eat the fat and drink the sweet." (Nehemiah 8:10)
Like the redeemed crew of the fictional Nostromo, we can enjoy a feast of true Thanksgiving.

Pastor Ellery

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John Clark

John Clark

John Clark

John Clark

This is the last of a 3 part series by John Clark. Read part 1 & part 2.

John Clark

This is the second of a 3 part series by John Clark. You can read part 1 here.

This is the first of a 3 part series by John Clark.

This is a Spanish translation of 'A Tree Decorated with Tears: The Dark Side of Christmas Is Why Christmas Exists' by author and speaker Chad Bird.You can read his original post here, at www.chadbird.comTranslation by Sonia Olmeda.

(This is an update version of a previous post)

Pastor Ellery

This is a Spanish translation of 'A Tree Decorated with Tears: The Dark Side of Christmas Is Why Christmas Exists' by author and speaker Chad Bird.
You can read his original post here, at www.chadbird.com
Translation by Sonia Olmeda.