“…can we all get along?”

– Rodney King, 1992

sometimes this quote just pops into my mind…

“On Saturday night Casey Anthony walked out of an Orange County Florida jail.

She had her lawyer Jose Baez by her side plus 2 officers carrying automatic weapons and dressed for combat.

Outside was a crowd of 1,000 onlookers who hurled curses at her. Many believed this “Tot Mom” killed her child because Caylee was cramping her party-girl lifestyle.

They waved signs that said “How Could This Angel (Caylee) Been Born From This Devil?” … “

Continue reading at:

CASEY ANTHONY IS OUT OF PRISON. BUT YOURE NOT! | People of the Second Chance.

- Susan B. Anthony

In Sunday School this quarter, we’ve been studying the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.  This past week, we looked at the letter to Sardis – a church that seemed OK on the outside; but was, for the most part, different on the inside.  A church that was asleep, possibly complacent, just seeking “to fit in and not offend”, or, as a John MacArthur article I read put it, “[Sardis] had disintegrated and was now dead. It was suffering from dry rot while going through the motions of worship and activity.”

The truth was, they were offending the One who really mattered with their reputation-building and complacent lives.

I’m so glad we don’t have that in our churches today. [cue the crickets]

Sadly, as with the letters in Revelation 2 and 3, the same rebukes from Christ are or can become true in churches and Christians today.  This was convicting and challenging on a personal and corporate level for me.

The Susan B. Anthony quote was in a email I got today – it’s her 191st birthday.  It got me thinking about Sardis again and my response to the letter and charge written to them.  [OK, maybe it was the Holy Spirit jabbing me too]

x

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

- Paul, Romans 12:2

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

- Paul, 2 Timothy 1:7

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

- John, quoting Christ in Revelation 3:2

³We [Paul, Silas and Timothy] continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Um, ok…”caught” is probably not the best word.  “Convicted” is probably more appropriate…

Mainly because at times, if I were honest, Paul may have phrased this a little differently about me (…maybe even you).

Maybe something like:

³We continually [lift you] before our God and Father [because of] your work produced by guilt, your labor prompted by obligation, and your endurance inspired by fear of our [gracious] Lord Jesus Christ [and the totally wrong thought you have that you've got to "bank" good things to make Him love you, accept you, and answer your prayers].

x

Oh, to be like the Thessalonians…

Your name and renown [Lord] are the desire of our hearts. (NIV)

My Observation: It’s all about “heart”…without it appearance, words, & deeds are empty. I saw some HUGE hearts on Sunday. I was Blessed and I have to believe God smiled…

Sunday, our church held its 7th annual Car and Bike Show on our lawn. It’s come to be a great annual event that draws many from the community and offers a chance for car and bike (the motor and the pedal-types) enthusiasts to show off their toys and those who don’t have the toys to check them out, even drool (in a dignified way, of course).

The afternoon is always filled with cars & bikes, food, music, a dunk tank, a jump house, and tons of conversation. As in past years, we had a lot of people and the lawn was filled with cars.  People come and hang out for 10 minutes or for three hours…it’s all good!

If that were all it was about, we’d call it good and start planning next year…

But that is not what it was about. As Pastor John put it Sunday morning, “it’s about people.”

It was about people.

It was about community.

It was about getting out of the “cube” in the corner of the lot on 2827 Flint avenue we call “church” and being the tangible hands and feet of Jesus.

Being the true Jesus.

The one that cares unconditionally and that is approachable and interested in talking without any “hitch” or angle – just being a friend.

I saw that. I heard it. I saw people at worship.

For sure, God smiled.