The WELL

On this day of the greatest miracle of all, let us consider how miracles really work. If we are honest, we have all benefitted from the miraculous hand of God in our lives. God has performed something good, something great. Many of us admittedly proclaim that we expect the miraculous. The problem? God has expectations, too. While God gladly creates, redeems and sustains, God also expects. God expects that we will bless and not curse. God expects that we will give and not steal. God expects that we will take care of the widow, the orphan and the stranger. God expects that we will exhibit self-control. God expects that we will revere Him. God expects us to perform the miraculous as well. “Take up your bed and walk.” God has given you the ability to get up; now God expects that you will pick up your stuff and get moving!

Rudy Rasmus:   “Jesus was convincing me that He wanted me to live for Him: completely, totally, and absolutely.   That was the only reasonable response to His sacrifice for me.   As my heart changed, my values changed.” (from the book Touch , p. 32) How do we become Christian?  We sign up to follow Christ.  But why?  Because we recognize that we need Jesus.  It is not because we are so smart or so special.  The first step to recovery is admitting that we have a problem.  Likewise, the first step to redemption is admitting that we need a savior.  We could have a deep theological discussion about hardened hearts and ears that do not hear, we can say it was grace that allowed us to recognize our own wretchedness.  But the reality is: we got to this place of redemption because of Christ.  We are walking in forgiveness, daily.  If we as Christians could really grab hold to this and keep it on our minds, we would live more libe...

As Christians, we are supposed to know that stewardship is about your TIME, TALENT and the TITHE. Unfortunately, Stewardship Sunday is usually about the tithe and beyond in terms of financial giving.   Is everybody clear on that?   Let me just say that I started thinking back, and for as long as I can remember, every single church that I have ever been in talked about money on a regular basis.   I’m really wondering why we are still having this conversation.   Stewardship is about getting the work of the Kingdom done.   It requires time and talent, but it also requires a lot of money.   Now, does that mean that your time and talent aren’t important?   No, of course not.   It’s just that time and talent can’t be traded in for electricity or a bag of groceries or a plane ticket to an underdeveloped country or the supplies to dig wells and initiate agricultural projects.   Does it take time and talent to get these things done?   Y...

  DIVERSITY: Luke 10:27; John 13:34, 15:9-13      Diversity is the latest craze.  Accepting others.  Appreciating diversity.  Respecting differences.  Inclusion.  Recognizing the achievements and contributions of others.  The world is getting smaller.  We are living in a global society.  What does this all really mean?  It means that now that we are actually smart enough to know that human beings come in all shades with a multiplicity of hair textures, languages and habits, we should recognize that we are all a part of humanity.  It is what we have in common that must first be celebrated.        Why not celebrate diversity?  Because we hardly know what that really means.  Let's face it: I might appreciate gumbo as a delicious contribution, while someone else might not consider it delicious at all.  And what about those human beings who make no notable contributions?  What ...

Matthew 11:28-30: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. OUR ABILITY TO LEARN IS GREATLY HINDERED BY OUR DESIRE TO BE ENTERTAINED, BUT GOD IS SAYING LEARN OF ME.   GET TO KNOW ME!   Study.  Pray.  Meditate.  Contemplate.  Reflect.   Getting to know God is like getting an education.  First, you have to want it.  Second, you have to work for it.  Finally, you reap the rewards of having it.   Decide that you want to know God.  Then work at it.  Know that it will be worth the work.