Missionary Lift

   I heard a missionary speak many years ago about a phenomenon called “missionary lift”.

   When Christian missionaries go to pre-developed countries and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the nature of the Church and of the Christian life has certain consequences.

   A culture defined by such values as deferred gratification, humility and sacrificing for others, of self-control in matters of sexuality and personal health, have a positive economic result.

   Leadership responsibilities help develop entrepreneurial and marketable skills.

  A recent study of 100 countries found that the more Christians in a country, the more robust the economy.

   What does this mean?

   Among other things, I think it means that we are blessed to be a blessing.  What do you think?

 

Miley & Sarah

   Two women drew a lot of attention recently.

   Miley Cyrus (yes, I’m tired of hearing about her, too.), with Robin Thicke who seems at least as blameworthy, gained notoriety for a narcissistic dance of the moment at end of the VMA show.

   Sarah Horn was called out of the audience during a Kristin Chenoweth concert at the Hollywood Bowl.  Ms. Chenoweth regularly asks people who know her songs to come on stage and sing with her, in this case “For Good”.

   Sarah Horn, a voice teacher at California Baptist University in Riverside  blew everybody away with her humility and her talent.  The footage from her friend’s video has been viewed over 2.5 million times.

   We have come to Miley via 1,000 small compromises.

  We view Sarah as a teacher.

 

Jesus: Still Controversial

   A recent Cornell University study of the most controversial subjects on the publicly editable online encyclopedia Wikipedia showed that Jesus is still in the top 10!  :-)

    A currently controversial book claims that Jesus was centrally a Zealot, a political revolutionary, which has been a familiar academic position.

   In an interview the author says, “What I say is that if you know nothing else about Jesus except that he was crucified, you know enough to understand what a troublemaker this guy must have been.”  That may be true.

   Jesus, however, stated and lived the words “my Kingdom is not of this world”.  John 18:36

   If you know nothing about Jesus except that he rose from the dead, then you have the Christian faith, a living faith in the living LORD. 

   

 

World's End

   A feature at the end of The Atlantic magazine is called, “The Big Question”.

   In this month’s issue the question is, “How and when will the world end?”

   Notable authors, scientists, and personalities offer various bleak scenarios for the world’s demise.

   We answer that question each week with the words “I believe in Jesus Christ...and he will come to judge the living and the dead.” (Apostles Creed) or “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”  (Nicene Creed)

   We believe that history has meaning, that it is headed toward a planned end.  God’s already-but-not-quite-yet kingdom has already broken into history and “will have no end”.

   This was at the core of Jesus’ preaching, and offers a word of hope to us and to our times.

 

Youth Today

   Team FLC participating in this year’s Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis was organized by Elizabeth Crowther, a high-school freshman.

   The FLC groups walking in the San Dimas Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society are being organized by Clarice Henry, a soon-to-be college graduate.

   Our first youth representative to our synod assembly, Candace Martinez, is in the beginning of her college years.

   Our youth groups are passionate to know and to live a Christian life.

   When you hear a sentence start, “Youth today…,” where do you think those words are going?

   Our youth give us cause to finish that sentence in praise of God and to look to the future, as well as to today, with hope for a faithful witness to the good news of God in Jesus Christ!

 

Heart of Darkness

   The horrific acts of violence in Boston, and what seems at this time to be the casual, almost offhanded, way in which they were planned and carried out reminds us of a sad truth.

   “All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the LORD weighs the heart.”  Proverbs 21:2

   Joseph Conrad in his book “The Heart of Darkness” (on which the moved “Apocalypse Now” is based) held as his theme that the danger is not in the jungle, but in the human heart.

   Our hope is that Jesus transforms our hearts by love.

   Laws and expectations do not change us.

   It is the love of God that makes all things new.

   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “  John 3:16

   Open your heart today.

 

He Is Risen! Come to Him.

   The Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day, is an exciting time for the Church.

   We try to be at our best for this central celebration.  Visitors and irregulars boost our attendance.  The crowds are energizing!

   Then the Sunday after Easter happens.  Where did everybody go?

   Certainly spring breaks and vacations play into this.  But, still.

   The first Easter was even worse.

   The disciples were in disarray.  The crowds didn’t know what had happened.  The event passed relatively quickly and quietly.

   And yet, it happened.  It happened for a fearful uncomprehending people.  It happened for an indifferent consumerist people.

   It happened for us.

   Lay down the burden of your sin and know Jesus.  "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" Jesus said.  Matthew 11:28

   Every Sunday is a little Easter.  Keep celebrating!

   Christ has died!  Christ Is Risen, for us all!  Come to Him now and live.