We all "play favorites” from time to time, don’t we?  We have a favorite color or a favorite food or a favorite chair or seat in our house… some of us even have a favorite kid!!  hahaha - only kidding.

This is a short blog this week, but I want to ask a serious question - do you have a favorite Bible verse?  Do you have one that stands out to you?  One that means SO MUCH to you?  One that has helped you get through some tough time in your life or that has encouraged you to keep going, and keep fighting, and keep pressing on?

Some of us do have a favorite Bible verse…  does that mean one part of the Bible is more important than any other?  No… 2 Tim. 3:16 tells us that ALL of Scripture is breathed out by God.  In other words, it’s ALL His word, down to the last dotted “i” and crossed “t.”

But we all have times in our lives that a single verse or passage just POPS in our heads and hearts…

A t-shirt I saw recently online reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses… the image of the shirt is below.

While the shirt is funny, in and of itself, it’s also a STARK REMINDER to me of 2 Tim. 4:1-5 that reminds and encourages me as a pastor to PREACH THE WORD, when it’s popular and even when it’s not, because there will be a time when it won’t be popular to listen to God’s Word, and people will want their pastors to tell them “warm and fuzzy” things to make them feel good instead of the hard truths and encouragements and promises of God’s Word.  People will look to other people for MAN’S word and no longer desire GOD’S WORD.

Will that change what or how I preach?  NOPE.  I will PREACH THE WORD… until Jesus calls me home.

So let me ask you this - what’s one of YOUR favorite Bible verses?  Why is it so important to you?  Are you in the Word enough to know of some?  Jump in, dig deep, be blessed.

Yesterday, we did something at commUNITY that hadn’t been done before by us on a Sunday morning - we had a SURPRISE wedding!!!  I couldn’t be happier for David and Jen (the newly RE-married couple), and their desire to follow God’s path for them.  It’s been an honor to be a part of it…

One thing that I love and am also surprised by is by how many people were surprised by the wedding on a Sunday morning, as if it was a little out of place.  Granted, all the feedback I’ve heard so far has been OVER-THE-TOP happy and blessed, but there’s still an element of, “wow - I’ve never seen that before…”

Frankly, I’ve never DONE that before, so we’re all in the same boat - hahaha

But my question is this - SHOULD we be surprised by a wedding during a time of worship to God Almighty?  Tradition says yes, but I think the Bible says differently…

Who are we, Church?  What does Ephesians 5 call the church?  The BRIDE of Christ…  In fact, we read this not only in Ephesians 5, but in Matthew 25, John 14, 2 Corinthians 11, Revelation 19, and Revelation 21… I challenge you to read EACH of those chapters and find the verses that refer to the church being Jesus’ bride.

The wedding, and more, the marriage between a man and woman is used time and time again in the NT to refer also to the relationship between Jesus and His church.  A Biblical marriage is an imperfect example of what will be perfected in us when Jesus returns for His bride!!!

So, I would contend that we should see MORE weddings happening during a worship service, AND VICE VERSA!!!

Here’s something to leave you with today - when a husband and wife are apart from each other for a while, the heart starts LONGING more and more for the other.  Have you experienced that?  Whether its due to business travel, medical issues, or any number of things, we LONG to see and be reunited with the one we’re living life with, right?

Let’s ask this - how is your heart longing to see Jesus?  To be reunited with Jesus?  To FINALLY meet Him face to face, the Author and Finisher of our faith?  Don’t forget, Church - this world is not our home, we’re just passing through.  Don’t get so lost in the daily toils that we lose sight of looking for, LONGING for Jesus’ return.  As the anticipation of a husband and wife being reunited grows over time, so should OUR anticipation of meeting Jesus continue to grow over time, as we fall more deeply in love with Him by learning about Him, by worshipping Him in word AND action, by serving Him, but hearing from Him in His Word and by speaking TO Him through prayer.

Yes, maybe today, my Lord will come for me.  Maybe today, my Jesus I shall see.  Maybe today, from sin I shall be free; Jesus will come, and I will go home, it may be today.

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER with those words!!!!

This past Sunday, I told the church to watch as we saw Mark 4:1-20 would unfold before our eyes and you could not only hear the Word preached, but see the Word alive in the service and impacting people’s hearts and minds… and that’s EXACTLY what happened.  Conversations and prayers happened Sunday that hadn’t happened in people’s lives before.  It’s AWESOME.  There are no other words.

BUT…

I don’t want you to think that watching the Word actually come alive and impact people’s stories is a rare occasion… even though, sadly, it may be a rare occasion in your own life.  But we’ll talk about that a little later.

On the night of Easter, when most church services had been completed, family dinners were over, candy and chocolate bunnies strewn around the house, I saw a short story on FB that brought me to tears and a reverent knowledge that God is working in so many others who are earnestly seeking Him out and staying steadfast (as much as possible) to Him.

The background is that it was in the late 80’s and early 90’s in the Middle East, a time of civil unrest - not unlike it is today.  It was Easter, and there were a small group of Christians wanting desperately to worship King Jesus openly…  Here’s the rest of the story - 

Easter 1991 (a few weeks after Kuwait's liberation): a few people from the church decided it was time to come out of hiding and go to church on Easter. So, carpooling through destroyed roads, bomb shells and dead bodies by the road side, we made it to church- just about 20 of us happy to finally be in the house of God after 8 months. While singing, suddenly the church doors opened wide and in walked about 150 US marines also wanting to worship the risen Christ and filled the church. The Chaplain and the pianist of the marines took over the service and it was the most amazing Easter celebration of my life. Why? We finally had the freedom to worship the One True Lord and Risen Savior in Love and Unity  (You can find it yourself on Facebook using this link)

I get chills reading this… I can see it in my mind’s eye (even though my friend saw it with her physical eyes).  That’s what James 1:2-4 looks like!!!

I can’t help but wonder how many of us will long to worship Jesus when our country makes it more and more difficult for us to do so (and yes, I’m sure it’s coming).  Will the church grow, or will the church wither (like the seeds in Mark 4:1-20)?  It is then that the wheat will be separated from the tares… those TRULY longing to follow Jesus WILL DO SO, and those who are doing it just for a show or just to consume what the church can do or has done for them will fall away.

But - and hear me out on this, church - THE CHURCH WILL CONTINUE.  THE CHURCH WILL GROW.  THE CHURCH’S BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF HER!!!!  

How do I know?  Because King Jesus Himself said this - “the gates of Hell will NOT PREVAIL AGAINST [THE CHURCH]” (Matt. 16:18)

FIND STRENGTH in this!!

FIND COURAGE in this!!

FIND HOPE in this!!

FIND OTHERS BECAUSE OF THIS!!!

Just like Greg Terry (one of our Deacons) said Sunday morning, "what are you doing to lead others to Jesus?"  Those who know, tell those who don’t.

You see, you don’t need a degree in Theology… it’s not required that you lead a Bible study… you don’t have to be perfect… you don’t have to have your life or all the deep questions of faith figured out…  You just have to be willing to tell what Jesus is doing and has done for you when He gives you the opportunity.  And to do it in YOUR way, using YOUR words (not trying to be like someone else, because that’s ingenuine)… be open.  be authentic.  be real.

Now, commUNITY church, LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER!!!  There’s a world of people outside our doors who are COMPLETELY LOST!!!  Let’s show them The Way!!