“What are you seeking?”

“What is that between you and me?”

“Who touched me?”

“Will you also go away?”

“Who are you seeking?”

Now, in our lives today, what is Jesus asking?  Here are four possibilites:  

Question 1.  “Have you opened up to me?” 

It’s a personal invitation.  He knocks and waits for us to open the door.

Jesus says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20)

Paul, the apostle, writes, “This is the mystery: Christ lives in you.” (Colossians 1:27)

Jesus says, “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20)

Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23) 

Question 2. “Are you getting to know me?”  

Jesus chided, Philip, one of his long term disciples, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am?” (John 14:9)

Jesus defines eternal life as knowing him.  In a prayer to his Father he says, “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” (John 17:3)

We can even know the Bible and not know Jesus.  Jesus explains, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” (John 5:39–40)

Question 3.  Am I getting to know you?

This is a huge question, especially for those of us who are religiously active, as you will see from the following passage  wherein Jesus declares, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” (Matthew 7:21–23)

O Lord, save us from haughty presumptions about our relationship with you.   We humble ourselves under your mighty hand and cry all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”

4.  Are you learning to love?

“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” (1 John 4:20)

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” (1 John 3:17)

“If I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3)

All four questions call us into a very personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus.  He is a religionship-buster and a relationship-lover. 

Let’s make it personal.  He’s knocking.

Let’s keep giving ‘em, Heaven!  John Parker  

P.S. 173 questions Jesus asked.

1.      You have made this very day — including me in it.

2.      You are supplying grace today — and I receive it.

3.      You have already prepared good works for me to do today – help me see and do them.

4.      You are supplying all my needs, employment, and usefulness – and I thank you, in Jesus’ Name!

I concede that a lot of unsettling, tragic, sinister, and end times events are taking place on earth.  Jesus told us it would be increasingly so.

“But thank God!”  The great heavenly parade called, “Christ’s triumphal procession,” has already started!  The heavenly realities revealed in the post-resurrection-of-Jesus-Christ part of the Bible tell us so.

It may not look like it down on this troubled earth but, remember our prayer, “on earth as it is an heaven;” and that we, “look not at the things that are seen but on the things that are not seen;” and that we, “set our affection on things above where Christ is seated;” and that we know “our citizenship is in heaven;” and that “faith is the victory that overcomes” everything sinful and deadly going on down here.

The victory parade is taking place now because Jesus Christ has already won the greatest battle of all time by obeying his Heavenly Father and dying on the cross for our lost, captive lives.  When God the Father saw what his son, Jesus, had done in loving obedience to his will, “he canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.  He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:14–15) 

Christ Jesus won! The “spiritual rulers and authorities” led by Satan lost.  Victory!

Believing this sets us set free.  Like the thief on the cross, who asked Jesus,  “Remember me when you come into your kingdom,” we may not feel the full effect of our new life right away — but the victory has happened nevertheless.  “Today, you will be with me in Paradise,” Jesus promised.

Yes, there was an earthquake, the sun was darkened, and the veil in the temple dividing us from a Holy God was torn open, but the greatest and most apparent, victory happened in the unseen heavenlies over all those evil “spiritual rulers and authorities.” They were openly put to shame.

After he died, something like this seems to have happened:  Jesus immediately descended into the holding area of the dead, proclaimed freedom, and took “captivity captive.”  He then began leading all who believed in him up to heaven.  “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”” (Ephesians 4:8)

Jesus is still taking captive those who surrender to his love and is adding us to his triumphal parade.  Through the redemption price of his shed blood he buys us out of Satan’s army of slavery and places us into his own army.  Like the thief, all believers are really glad to be drafted into this great, gracious army of God’s love. (Philippians 3:12)

The “triumphal procession” is going on today!  Jesus leads his victorious army, far above all spiritual rulers and authorities.  “Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.” (Ephesians 1:21–22)

Let’s keep giving ‘em, Heaven!  John Parker  

John Parker coaches, those who want to make an eternal difference. 

What do you think?  Email John 

Lowly Worm appeared last week in my business-side blog (find at sealegsforsuccess.com).  I wrote, “I like Lowly Worm. He’s one of my favorite people, er, ah, worms.  Lowly stands upright, always puts his best foot forward (he only has one), is well-groomed and encouraging to others. 

“Lowly encourages me when I feel lowly myself because, even though he’s a worm, he is hopeful, happy, and helpful.  If he can embrace his wormy issues, I can embrace mine!”

Lowly Worm was the favorite character of the late Richard McClure Scarry (1919-1994) a popular American children’s author and illustrator who published over 300 books with total sales of over 100 million units worldwide.  After his death his widow shared that Lowly was her husband’s favorite fictional creation. (Wikipedia)

I asked my readers to respond by requesting, “Please email me and let me know why you think Richard Scarry liked Lowly best.”  Here are a few of their responses:

Response 1: “I think he liked the Lowly Worm best because no matter what the situation the Lowly Worm always looked for the positive.  He was strength-based and always came out on top.  There was no problem to big or small that couldn’t be conquered.”

Reader 2: “I think Richard Scarry liked Lowly because he was the most grounded (pun intended) of the characters. His common sense approach and humble demeanor would be an attractive persona in any setting.”

Reader 3:  “Lowly is always ready to greet the new day and tackle what comes his way.”

Now, for you Pastor’s Commentary readers, I add a bit more.   God comforts patriarch Jacob, with these words, “Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” (Isaiah 41:14)

“You worm Jacob,” hardly seems comforting.  Unless, of course Jacob, or in this case, his descendants, were actually feeling that lowly.   Then, to hear that the mighty and great God of the universe let you know that he understands how small and stupid you feel, and that he is going to take care of you no matter how wormy things are, might feel pretty comforting. 

I’ve taken a liking to “worm Jacob.”  In his  lifetime Jacob did a bunch of clever and conniving things to protect himself.  Yet in his old age he describes his life as,  “My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.”  Nothing up-beat, cutesy, and bubbly, about that testimony, yet the God of “worm Jacob” loved, cherished, and promised to protect him and his offspring.

Our Lord Jesus likes lowliness too, calling to us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Peter echoes, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)

Paul hears the Lord say to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” and concludes, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Try finishing this cheer: “Go Lowly Worm!  Go Worm Jacob!  Go __________ _________!” (I’d love to hear yours…my email is below.)

Let’s keep giving ‘em, Heaven!  John Parker  

John Parker encourages those who want to make an eternal difference. Luke 22:32 

Email John john@simplechurchsuccess.com, or confidential voice mail 209.726.0119

The Scout Motto “Be Prepared” has been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907.  It calls the scout to “always be in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” (Wikipedia)

Scout or no, most would agree that it’s good to “Be Prepared.”  How to “Be Prepared” becomes the bigger question.

Some prepare by storing up for a rainy day with money and supplies.  Some seek the right information and news.  Others prepare or protect what they believe to be the best forms of family, school, church or government.

Many prepare physically around food, rest and exercise.  Just today I read “What you do with your body this decade will determine how you live with it the next decade.”  Ominous.

The “Be Prepared” motto’s downside is failing to “Be Prepared.”  We envision the unprepared getting caught with egg on their face, the barn door left open, the cat out of the bag, or an unhealthy next decade.  Such concerns can provide the power behind modern advertising.

Which area to prepare is also a concern.  The middle aged man exercised faithfully but was also very angry and suffered a debilitating stroke.  Was he prepared in one area but not in another?  Perhaps.

Then there are contingencies beyond our control.  One day a nice man who invented a commercially successful diet, slipped, hit his head on the sidewalk, and died.  He was very prepared except for the slippery sidewalk.  So random.

“The prudent (other Hebrew meanings: shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible) sees the danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3; 27:12)  Prudence seems a clear enough reason to “Be Prepared” except for some of the word’s other meanings.  Motives matter.

Thankfully, for those feeling unprepared in one or more areas, there is a verse for you:  “The Lord preserves the simple (foolish, naïve, gullible); when I was brought low, he saved me.” (Psalm 116:6)  What a relief! 

Ironically, Jesus seems attracted to the less wise and more simple when he prays, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)  

He seems to appeal to the little child in us when he teaches, “Do not be anxious about your life…look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25–34)

Indeed, Jesus does call us to “Be Prepared” saying,  “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,” (Matthew 24:44)  and, “Stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.” (Matthew 25:13)

Perhaps the most prudent plan then, among all the plans, is to “Be Prepared” his way.

Let’s keep giving ‘em, Heaven!  John Parker  

John Parker encourages those who want to make an eternal difference.>
Email John john@simplechurchsuccess.com, or confidential voice mail 209.726.0119

Here’s the map for Sunday’s Sunrise service.  Directions:  proceed east 3.5 miles east of Highway 99 on Avenue 26 (Greenhills Boulevard). Turn right at Road 20 (a gravel road directly across the street from the entrance to Berenda Reservoir).

Easter Sunrise Celebration  March 31, 2013  6:30 am  Dick Authier Pond

Campfire, Snacks & Coffee
Dress warmly and for all weather
Bring folding a chairs if you have some.

Voluntary Love Offering received for
Trinity Pregnancy Resource Center

Email for more info

a connections simple church ministry event

Giving ‘em heaven!  John Parker, church planting coach

Got Disciples:
In Youtube:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6m4yULIPY
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W4xIp6ZpXU
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcMU6toPzac
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJq-tDsPp8

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subscribing to Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/simplechurchsuccess

may help you get notified when a new video comes out.

Or if you have a better way to get notified please email me.

See the email below. This is a kickstarter project for a House Church magazine. This is being done by Tony and Felicity Dale who are authors and long time house churchers.

Kickstarter, if you’re not familiar with it, is a cool way to fund ventures. You are not donating or becoming an investor, but are basically “voting” with dollars for something to happen and getting an insider/front-end product in exchange for your support. If the project doesn’t make the funding goal, the deal is off and you don’t pay.

I am backing this and I would encourage you all to look at this and consider backing it at any level. Also those of you in community and networks with other house churchers, please spread the word.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1225433726/house2house-magazine-2013

Seth

Here is the original email Seth refers to:

Visit SimpleChurch at: http://www.simplechurch.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network