Has your congregation ever searched for a pastor?

In many denominations the search includes building a profile or description of the congregation, the community it serves and writing a job description. These things can take as long as months before being approved.

Then the position is advertised. Applications are assessed. Interviews follow. The pastor may be invited to “preach for the call” or committee members may travel to where the pastor now serves to critique worship and report back to home base. Read more…

Since you were brought back to life with Christ,
1. focus on the things that are above;
2. keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things;
3. put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion,  passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth)
4. get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins;
5. don’t lie to each other;
6. be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient;
7. put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you;
8. above all, be loving;
9. let Christ’s peace control you;
10. be thankful;
11. let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you;
12. use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct  yourselves about {God’s} kindness. Sing to God in your hearts;
13. everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(read all of Colossians 3:1-17 God’s Word to get the whole story)

I hesitate to write this. Religious people tend to heap contempt on experiences like I will describe. Atheists act with equal contempt. I find, though, in the cyber-world of blogs, a crowd of witnesses for whom this, I pray, will inspire and encourage for the work of Paraclete which they also pursue.

In 2005 I became very ill with Crohn’s Disease, and would have died if my wife had not persisted in a search for medical care. For those few days between death and the life the treatment restored I lived in acute awareness of the spiritual world. Even for some time afterwards I had visions so vivid I often could not tell a vision from “real” life until sometime later.

Since then the visions have come rarely.

But last night a vision came (intense, realistically real and clear). The meaning did not arise immediately. Read more…

How you treat other people, directly or indirectly, actively or passively, reveals your soul. “What enters a person’s mouth does not cause dirtiness, but what exits the mouth, this causes dirtiness” (Matthew 15:11, my translation). Read more…

“ ‘You certainly won’t die!’ the snake told the woman. ‘God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.’ The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then their eyes were opened, and they both realized that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves” (Genesis 3:4-7 God’s Word).

Our garden in June, 2012 – herbs, raspberries, blackberries, vegetables and pear tree

And that’s how it all began.

Humans saw the fruit as sensually desirable, a beauty to pursue and a source for instant, unearned  education. So they ate.

And what happened? Suddenly lusted replaced respectful, romantic love, so they had to hide themselves from each other AND God.

So what do you lust for? God-like power? Things to appease your senses? Easy smartness or status?

These will drive you away from God.

The alternative, “Serve the Lord cheerfully” (Psalm 100:2 God’s Word), leads to eternal satisfaction.