The theme that unites the lectionary passages for June 28 is generosity. The word comes from the Latin generosus, which means "noble, magnanimous." And that word ‘magnanimous' comes from the Latin words magnus (great) and animus (soul): a large soul, one that overflows into the lives of others, particularly the lives of rivals or the less fortunate.

That sort of generosity--large-heartedness, if you will--appears in all of this week's passages.

In 2 Samuel, David laments the death of King Saul. This is the same Saul who was David's most bitter enemy, who tried repeatedly to kill him, who went to war against him. Yet David sings of him, "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain...O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your clothes." He generously overlooks the harm Saul did to him and instead focuses on his rival's own generosity and goodness. FULL POST

I've recently learned how to use my new GPS unit. But it will never make me a saint.

When I started working with my GPS unit, I tried all of the computerized voices and arbitrarily selected "Bonnie." I checked off several other preferences, keyed in our home address, and loaded several addresses I knew I'd need in coming days. But using a GPS is a little trickier than that.

Almost predictably I ran into a number of problems. I had driven across two state lines before I discovered that I didn't want to follow the yellow line "Bonnie" was showing me. Instead, I needed to follow the dark red line. No wonder I was getting frustrated whenever the two lines split apart with the yellow line heading west while "Bonnie" was telling me to head east. FULL POST

I remember when one of my older kids hit 18 and went off to university. Their vocabulary stretched by a word or two. I winced, but I didn't offer a rebuke. Instead, I cheated and simply prayed. The Holy Spirit convicted them a while later, and even later during a visit they told me about it. My decision not to say such words had become their own personal conviction--literally without me having to say a word.

In essence, they realized they had never once heard Mom or Dad say such words, and they felt convicted by God to not use such words either. Now, clearly, those terms were "off limits" before they were 18 in our home, but even then not because we had such rules in our family.

Instead, we had simply talked with our older children about how to handle it when others use such terms or make harsh remarks. In our family, we explained, we have made the choice not to be offended. Instead, we always want to be gracious and evangelistic. FULL POST

One of the many things I love about the reading the lectionary (a group of Bible readings consisting of a passage from the Old Testament, a psalm, an epistle excerpt, and a Gospel reading) is the way it juxtaposes familiar texts and makes me think about them in new ways.

The readings for this Sunday (June 14) begin with Samuel's anointing of David as Israel's next king--David the shepherd boy who, though he was handsome and had beautiful eyes, was still the unimportant youngest son of an insignificant family. But God does not look at the outward appearance; God looks at the heart--and God saw in David's heart a man after His own.

We hear this truth echoed in the epistle, when Paul reminds the Corinthians that as Christians, we no longer regard anyone "according to the flesh." Instead, we see the new life they (and we) have received thanks to the gift of Christ in the cross and Resurrection and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Indeed, the invocation of the Spirit also hearkens back to the David story: after Samuel anointed him, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David--and remained with him from that day forward. FULL POST

This week I've discussed how the evangelical church is once again beginning to understand its place within the broader Church, within the much larger family of God, and within the much, much larger kingdom of God.

God's kingdom. God's family. God's Church.

They're not the same, but how are they different?

The fact is, God not only can use anyone to advance His purposes, but God often uses them as a means of drawing them into His family and church today. Take the apostle Paul as a classic example. The fact is, the more opposed someone is when God starts using them, the more likely it is that God will draw them to faith in Jesus Christ. It sounds counterintuitive, but we see this over and over in Scripture, in Church history, in modern biography, and in contemporary experience.

Let's make a distinction, however, between "servant" and "citizen." Not all "servants" in God's kingdom are "citizens" yet. Citizens are going to spend eternity with God. Servants may or may not. God's desire, of course, is that none perish, but that all come to repentance.

Who is God using in your hometown, in national politics, on Wall Street, in the sports world, in the entertainment world? Who comes to mind? Have you ever thought of them as God's servants? Have you ever prayed for God to use them? Have you ever wanted to see God transform their lives?

We need to pray for new eyes to see people as God sees them. Have you heard Bebo Norman's haunting new song, "Britney"? Here's the story behind that song in Bebo's own words:

I was up late, couldn't sleep, watching some news channel, when yet another story about Britney Spears came on. My first instinct was to scoff and write it off, but then there was this freeze-frame shot of a look on her face of utter and absolute despair and confusion and brokenness-a look that I recognized... I think that night I saw her through the eyes of Jesus for the first time. I imagined what Jesus would say to me in my darkest hour and realized that those are the words we should speak to this world, to this culture, and even to Britney Spears in their darkest hour. "I'm sorry. Hope is here."

"I'm sorry. Hope is here." Sometimes, those are the first words we need to say to someone God wants to save. Not, "I have the answers." Not even, "I know God, He changed my life, and He can save you too." Just "I'm sorry. Hope is here."

Many in God's kingdom are His, some are not and some are on the way:

Are you willing to memorize those words, take them to heart, and speak them to someone this week? "I'm sorry. Hope is here." Hope because of who God is, because of what God is doing, and because of what God envisions and wants to be true for all eternity.

When Bob Dylan recorded his landmark album Slow Train Comin' and first told the world that he was serving the Lord, many cheered, many others jeered, and still many others didn't know what to think.

Based on what we've just considered, what do you think?

A few days ago I commented about how the evangelical church is once again beginning to understand its place within the broader Church, within the much larger family of God, and within the much, much larger kingdom of God.

God's kingdom. God's family. God's Church.

They're not the same, but how are they different?

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. In addition, all of God's people are part of His forever family. Beyond that, however, Jesus Christ is the rightful, exalted King of God's kingdom.

God's kingdom is the context through which He is advancing His purposes through humanity here on earth.

That context includes God's work around the world and down of all ages through emperors, kings, prime ministers, presidents, governors, mayors, and other government officials, whether or not they believe in God yet.

You see, God can use anyone to advance His purposes here on earth. If God could use ancient Pharaohs, and kings Xerxes, Cyrus, and Nebuchadnezzar, and ancient Caesars from Julius to Augustus to Nero, God can use anyone.

We see this in Revelation 21:24, where the apostle John records that fact that "The nations will walk by [God's] light, and the kings of earth will bring their splendor into it." Then look down two verses to Revelation 21:26, where we read: "The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into" the eternal city of God. Then look down three more verses to Revelation 22, verses 2-3: "On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations."

So, in these last two chapters of the Bible, we see God's Church, God's Family, and God's Kingdom clearly in focus.

So what's the take-away value of looking at God's Kingdom in light of eternity?

It puts a whole new perspective on everything in this life -- as we look back through history, as we look at the first few years of the 21st century, and as we look ahead to what may be coming.

It doesn't matter what happens in Russia, the Middle East, and America. It doesn't matter how bad things get on Wall Street. It doesn't matter what Congress is debating. No matter what, God's kingdom is advancing His purposes through humanity here on earth.

It grieves me when we look at someone who is different from us, who may be politically different than us, and assume that God can't use that individual to advance His purposes on earth. Let's never forget: They are God's kingdom servants. So are we. As well, we are God's kingdom citizens. As such, let us bring Him glory, honor, and praise.

If I talk a lot about God and the Bible and the Church, but I fail to ask about your needs and then help you, I'm simply making a lot of empty religious noise.

If I graduate from theological seminary and know all the answers to questions you'll never even think of asking, and if I have all the degrees to prove it...and if I say I believe in God with all my heart, and soul, and strength, and claim to have incredible answers to my prayers to show it, but I fail to take the time to find out where you're at and what makes you laugh and why you cry, I'm nothing.

IIf I sell an extra car and some of my books to raise money for some poor starving kids somewhere, and if I give my life for God's service and burn out after pouring everything I have into the work, but do it all without ever once thinking about the people, the real hurting people--the moms and dads and sons and daughters and orphans and widows and the lonely and hurting--if I pour my life into the Kingdom but forget to make it relevant to those here on earth, my energy is wasted, and so is my life. FULL POST

A few days ago I commented about how the evangelical church is once again beginning to understand its place within the broader Church, within the much larger family of God, and within the much, much larger kingdom of God.

God's kingdom. God's family. God's Church.

They're not the same, but how are they different?

God's family stretches from Adam and Eve to today and beyond. God's family includes all authentic followers of Jesus Christ who belong to the Church. It also includes many others who live outside the Church.

Among others, God's family includes all authentic Jewish believers in Old Testament times.

We see this in Revelation chapter 21, verse 14, where we read that the eternal city of God has twelve gates. "On the gates where written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel."

God's family includes even more ancient individuals like Noah, Job, and Abraham who believed in God long before the ancient Israelite nation, the Jewish faith, and the Hebrew Scriptures existed.

God's family also includes Muslims today who come to faith after Jesus appears to them in visions and dreams. Recently I spoke with two former Muslims who have become outstanding evangelists proclaiming the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They and other experts tell me that Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ by the tens of thousands around the world. One of the most amazing things is how many report that they first heard the Gospel from Jesus Christ Himself, who appears to them in dreams and visions.

I am so thankfully we can be sure that eternity will be enjoyed by all of God's children down through the ages. Among other places, we see this in Revelation 22:16b, where Jesus says: "I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the bright Morning Star." There He speaks both to the ancient Jewish people who believed in Him--and to others who, like the ancient Magi or the tribal chief, can see God's reality, power, beauty, and might in creation and passionately long for that reality in their own lives.

Eternity will be enjoyed by all God's children down through the ages...

Yesterday I commented about how the evangelical church is once again beginning to understand its place within the broader Church, within the much larger family of God, and within the much, much larger kingdom of God.

God's kingdom. God's family. God's Church.

They're not the same, but how are they different?

The first and smallest sphere in our diagram, again, is God's Church.

The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is the Head of His Body, the Church.

The Church is made up of all true followers and disciples of Jesus Christ from A.D. 33 to 2009 and beyond. It's amazing to realize that you and I belong to the same Church that Mary, Peter, James, John, Paul, and others belonged to 1,976 years ago.

Thankfully, the Church is front and center of God's plans for eternity.

Look at what the apostle John wrote in the opening verses of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. Revelation 21, verses 1 to 3:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

The exclamation point of heaven isn't the pearly gates or streets of gold. Instead, the exclamation point of heaven is seen here in verse 3: God is living with men and women from every nation, culture, and people group.

So who do we find in heaven? Well, first, we find God's Church. Revelation 21:14 says: "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." This speaks about how the Church was built on the faith on Jesus' closest friends and followers, often called the twelve apostles.

We see the Church referred to again in the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22, verse 16, the last red letter verse in the Bible. There Jesus says: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches."

Eternity will be enjoyed by all the authentic followers of Jesus Christ....

My friend Mike Paolicelli gave me permission to share his incredible story. He writes:

I wanted to tell you about something incredible that happened Monday, June 1, 2009, while I was in for my chemotherapy. I know you probably read lots of "stories" and wonder if they are true. This one is true, and I happened to be in the thick of it. I think this will encourage you. The ending is amazing, if you are patient to through read it.

Monday marked my tenth chemo treatment. The nurse who attended me was someone who never treated me before. Our boys, Titus and Simeon, were with Janet this time around, to visit me at the start of treatment. This is a rare occurrence, for practical reasons, and because children are not officially allowed in the cancer infusion area (used for chemotherapy).

All of us were standing at the entrance to the infusion area, awaiting my turn, and doing our best to keep our healthy boys' talking away from other patients. Simeon was particularly talkative, adn loud at times, making it difficult if not impossible for him to stay much longer without causing significant distraction for the other chemo patients. My attending nurse came up to us and said, "Would you like a private room where you and your family can sit?" This never happened before. We took her up on her offer, and away we went. The rest of this would not have happened were it not for Simeon -- but God was actually working through him. Were it not for Simeon's being out of character at this moment, the rest of this story would not have happened.

Eventually, it was time for the family to leave, and for me to begin my first chemical injection, commonly called "The Red Devil," because of it's appearance like red kool-aid. The injection must be given gradually, in the back of my hand, over about a 20 minute period. Just before giving the injection, this nurse, whom I don't recall ever seeing before, said, "So, I hear you are a pastor?" I responded affirmatively. Then she opened up.

"I'm Catholic. But I have so many questions, and I want more," she offered.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" I queried.

"Sure," She said.

"On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is I am absolutely sure, and 1 is I am absolutely unsure, would you say that your sins are forgiven and that if you were to stand before God today, He would let you into heaven?"

"I'm a 5," replied the nurse.

"Would you like to know for certain your sins are completely forgiven?" I asked.

"Yes, I would," she responded.

"Suppose you owed someone $5,000,000. How would you feel?"

"Terrible!" She laughed.

I went on, "But suppose that person came up to you one day and said, 'This is your lucky day! I'm going to entirely forgive you of $2,500,000 of that debt you owe me.'" I then asked, "Would you be happy?"

"No," she replied. "I'd still owe $2,500,000! That's still too much!"

"Exactly!" I said. "How would you feel if God only forgave you some or most of your sins, but not all of them? When Jesus was on the cross and said 'It is finished', he didn't wink. Jesus either died for all your sins or you are still in your sins, guilty before God, dead spiritually, and separate from Him."

Then I asked her the key question in life: "Have you ever given your life to Christ for the forgiveness of all your sins? You may know that Jesus died the sins of many, but what about you? Do you realize that your sin was enough to send Jesus to the cross? Have you accepted what He did on the cross for you?"

She quickly responded, "No."

"Would you like to?"

"Yes!" she said. I then motioned to her to come and sit next to me. It was there and then that she closed her eyes as I led her in prayer to acknowledge Jesus' death for her, the forgiveness of her sins, and she invited Him to be the Master of her life. Jesus became her Lord and Savior for the very first time. This is what it means to have Jesus as one's personal Lord and Savior. Amazing.

When we finished praying, I asked her what time it was. She looked at her watch and I said, "Remember this day and this moment. This is when you crossed from death to life." She smiled. Then I read her Ephesians, chapter 2, and explained that though we all have heartbeats, we are all dead -- spiritually dead, and in need to be made alive by God. This is what God did for her, made her alive, the moment she accepted Christ. And there I was, part of her story, involved, yet witnessing the greatest miracle of all before my very eyes: the resurrection of a dead soul to life with Jesus Christ. Does it get any better than this?

Then she said, "I'm just worried about my husband. He may not be interested." I told her to not worry, but to pray and simply share what happened to her that day, her story.

It just so happened that I had a copy of the first in our current message series at Renew with me (I never do). It's the first message in our series "Rediscover Jesus Christ." I gave it to her and she was all excited, as well.

To think, my sickness and my son's loudness led to this amazing event. Don't think for a minute that God can't or doesn't use your difficulties for a purpose larger than yourself. He does.

This nurse was "ripe" for God's picking. She had been prepared by God. There are others just like her all around you. Are you sharing your story with others? Are you looking for God to use you?

Mike Paolicelli
Pastor & Visionary, Renew Church
President, Godfactor, Inc.
www.Godfactor.com
704.800.1207
mike@godfactor.com FULL POST