Coffee With The Lord

Montana is “home” for both Sharon and me.  We left it to go to other places years ago – to work and serve.  Lived in several different states, cities, and houses… but Montana (especially Western Montana – The Mission Valley – and Ronan and Polson in particular) is still “home” in our hearts.  We love Montana – and we look forward to returning there whenever we can.

What’s “home” for you?

When we travel “home” to Montana nowadays we have to stop doing what we’re doing, turn around, and travel many miles to get there.  As we travel we recognize locations along the way that bring back fond memories… places to stop, take a picture, visit a special restaurant, places where dear friends live!  It’s refreshing!  As we draw near the Rocky Mountains home just  seems nearer.  Then we come to Missoula, where Sharon went to college and got her nurses’s training… more refreshing memories.  Onward past Missoula to Ravalii, past the Bison Range, and then the first, awesome view of the Mission Range as we top the pass and drop down to St. Ignatius and then… You guessed it HOME!

When I decided to follow Jesus… “Heaven” became my “home!”  Since that day, I’ve traveled many miles, done many things, made a lot of friends, and had a lot of different experiences.  Times of refreshing (also times of trial and testing) have come and gone.  But the truth is, I’m on a long journey… a journey “home.”

All of that came to mind as I read Peter’s exhortation to some people who were challenged to turn around and stop going the direction they were headed, and start their journey “home!”

Here’s how he put it to them… He said, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”  (Acts 3:19–21 ESV)

Yup, glad I turned around one day from the way I was headed – down a wrong road, headed to destruction.  I asked for forgiveness and received it!  Then I started on the long journey “home” – to “Heaven.”  Gotta tell you on this journey I’ve had some wonderful times of “refreshing” (and a few trials, temptation and testing)… But believe me, the journey has been wonderful… it’s been worth it!  I’m headed “home” and one day Jesus Christ Himself will come and take me over the last hill to the place my heart longs for… Heaven is my home!  Hope to see you there!

Ever since serving as National Director for Christian Education and Commissioner on Discipleship for the Assemblies of God, “healthy churches” and “healthy Christians” have been a passion of mine. I have to admit, however, they were a passion much before then… They were a passion throughout my entire pastoral ministry and my involvement at Southwestern Assemblies of God University as a professor and administrator in the College of Bible and Church Ministries.

Here’s a truism you need to write down somewhere: “Healthy, growing churches produce healthy, growing Christians!”

Powerful, strong earthquakes can be devastating!  Crumpled buildings, toppled high rises, weakened structures, fallen bridges, and most of all the loss of life, are the consequences of devastating earthquakes!

Those who live in earthquake zones have learned to construct buildings to withstand both the magnitude and intensity of an earthquake.  The “Richter Scale” is a measurement that has often been used to measure the strength of an earthquake.  Other measurements, however have gained popularity – the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS) and the Mercalli Intensity Scale are also used.

The Bible documents a powerful “shaking” going on in the world right now.  We see its effects all around us.  However, Bible prophecy points to a future cosmic “shaking” referred to as “the Day of the Lord” which will test the strength and resilience of everything!  The issue will be, what will endure God’s “final shaking?”

Here’s what I read this morning in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord”…

“He has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens’ … In order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe!” (From Hebrews 12:26-28)

Let me tell you, His Kingdom – the Kingdom of Heaven – God’s Kingdom will endure!  It will be standing when everything else has failed and fallen!  I don’t know where that fits on a Richer Scale, a MMS, or the Mercalli Intensity Scale – but the specs on that Kingdom are, “Built to withstand an incalculable, immeasurable shaking!” … “And behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.  And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall never be destroyed!”  (From Daniel 7:13-14)  And at the end of time this declaration, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (From Revelation 11:15)