Having smart kids can sometimes be really troubling, because they really put you on the spot. This week my oldest, Claire, who is 5, asked me, “Dad, why did God make Lucifer?” At first I just laughed, because truthfully, the “big” questions that she’s been asking are the same questions I tussle with in my own journey in the Word of God. Another incident this week, again with Claire, was a question about Cain and Abel. “Dad,” she asked, “why did God like Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s?” Again my response was laughter. She has learned so much at the Point and in the kid’s classes that we offer. The amazing part is that she is dealing with some “big” questions. Ironically, I’ve been teaching through the book of Genesis for the past 10 weeks and examining the same “big” questions from the Word of God. I was so glad to have answers to her questions, not because I’m a Bible guru, but because the material was fresh in my mind from the Institute. Wherever you are in your journey with God and in his crazy life, realize that God’s Word holds all, absolutely all, the answers to the “big” questions that life poses. When you can’t find an answer, turn to the Word of God. In 2 Timothy, Paul explains how amazing the word of God really is. He writes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Why do we have the Institute? Small Groups? Preaching? Because the Word of God is the only source of truth and hope we have to depend on.

A beautiful and broken world…really that just basically sums up life. Sunday at the Point was just incredible; nearly 20 people made a public profession of faith in Christ, 3 were baptized, the word of God was clearly proclaim, lives were touch, and yet in the midst of celebration brokenness. Around 5:30 Sunday evening I received a call that Pastor Mark Wentzel was being rushed to by ambulance to Genesys Hospital. The beauty of Sunday morning was eclipsed by brokenness. As I sat with Pastor Mark, Cindy, Shelly, and Ben I was blessed by a family who is grounded, not in religion, but on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ. And yet I was left wondering, “Why?” Specifically for me, why Mark…he’s so kind and really loves God and His people. So rather than turn to philosophy or my own experiences, I cling to the Word of God. In Isaiah 55 God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I don’t know why certain events happen to certain people, but I do place my faith in a holy and righteous God, whose ways are beyond my understanding. During the next few weeks, as we help Pastor Mark recover, my prayer for our church is that we will trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding. In all our ways, we will acknowledge Him, and we will always let Him direct our path.

Amazing Grace

Without a doubt the most famous “church” song in the world is “Amazing Grace.” The song is truly inspirational and written from the heart of a man who understood the grace of God. But sometimes I wonder if I have cheapened the enormity of the grace of God. I have been studying the last few days the concept of grace in the New Testament, and have been astonished by what I have found.

To begin, grace is simply getting what I don’t deserve. 1 Timothy 1:14 says, “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.” The grace of God is shown to the world in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It was in His death, that the grace of God was offered to mankind. That grace includes so much more than just everlasting life, it gives us hope, peace, abundant life, joy, and frees us from the penalty of sin. Sin is revealed to us through the God’s law (Romans 3:20) establish in the Old Testament. But at the death of Christ on the cross, we can return to fellowship with God once again through the grace of God given in Jesus Christ.

But this fellowship is not just a “long distance relationship,” God actually lives inside us (1 Corinthians 6:19). He places His Holy Spirit to live in us and propels us into a deeper understanding of His grace. In Galatians 5 verse 18 it says, “…if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.” And continues by explaining that no longer are we subject to the rules a regulations of the Law, but we are led by the Spirit, which produces from inside us, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which there are no laws against.

Shockingly, the grace of God found in Jesus Christ allows us to be in a relationship with God, where we are in Him (Philippians 3:9) and He is in us. Grace is so much more than an offering of salvation from Hell, it is a radical transformation into an extraordinary fellowship with almighty God.