Friday, August 31, 2012

eBay

This post might not be in line with the previous posts on this blog, but I have to share some of the crazy stuff I've discovered in the last twelve hours or so. Once it's written out I'll see what to do with it from there.

I've done some bidding on ebay in the past, not much recently, but it came in really handy in college when I was trying to get text books for my gen-ed classes. I've had a couple other really good finds, like the Perfect Push-up, when it was first out I bought them on ebay for $0.99, not bad for something that got me in great shape.

Over the years there have a been a couple of things I've really wanted, a few I've bought, a few are possible thoughts for the future, and some have been totally scrapped. But usually the first place I look is ebay. Such was the case with the Bowie knife (aka. future daughter's boyfriend deterrent), or the Camelbak backpack I bought for camping. I got great deals on stuff that will come in handy in my life.

However, ebay also has it's down side, you can get great deals on stuff you don't need and end up wasting money. Such is the case with the Jedi outfit I bought during college (Yes I used to be a bit of a nerd). I had two or three great Halloweens with it, and bits of it have been useful for some sermons, but overall, I wish I would have saved the money. (If anyone is interested in, or has use for, a full Jedi outfit, boots/belt/robe/pants/tunic, let me know).

One of those things I used to want, but never purchased, and at this point in my life won't because I've grown up and realized I don't need it, is a bull whip like Indiana Jones'. Occasionally I get on ebay and look just to see what's out there. And yesterday I found something that blew my mind.

There is a post on ebay for a bull whip that Harrison Ford used as Indiana Jones in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. It comes with the proper certification so you know you're getting the real item, and if you've got an extra $47,500 laying around why not make a small investment.

I was curious to see what I could find on eBay that would cost more than that. One guy is selling his entire video game and video game console collection and asking $100,000 for it. Each item is listed, and there are more games than I knew existed. But that price tag is just scratching the surface of the stuff you can find for sale on eBay.

I began to type in words that I thought would yield high price items. I typed in "Presidents", and wasn't disappointed. I found books from John Adam's personal library that are signed by him. There are things bearing signatures from several American presidents, but most of them don't come close to Harrison Ford's whip. However, one item under this category greatly exceeded the iconic movie item, and at the moment was the most expensive item I'd found. There is a Short Snorter, (not totally clear on what it is), but it belonged to FDR in the early '40s and contains the signatures of several world leaders at the time. The description mentions that it would have been present at the Cairo Conference and then to The Big Three Conference in Tehran with Churchill and Stalin, which planned the Normandy Invasion. The asking price, $1,000,000.

But it doesn't stop there. I did a few more searches just to see if that could be beaten, and it was. I typed in "Stamps", and found the largest price tag I've ever seen. There is a bank note from India issued by King George V for 1,000 Rupees. According to the post it is the only known one in the world. It's rare, and the asking price is $20,000,000.

eBay is a place for people to buy and sell their treasures. It's a place to find rare collectibles, important pieces of history, one of a kind items, as well as junk you don't need and will regret buying in the future. And as I type that last line my mind goes back to my time working with my cousin.

Cleaning out foreclosed homes really opens your eyes to how much junk we have in America. In some cases the houses were pretty cleaned out. People had had time and somewhere to take their possessions, others didn't. You see the stuff that people wanted at one point, but didn't value enough to take, or didn't have anywhere to take it. So it was left to me, and the few guys I worked with, to throw it out. It's now sitting in a land fill. Some of it was in good condition, but we were on a time frame and had to get the house empty and cleaned. If someone wants to really help people, find contractors that do stuff like that and volunteer to take any clothes they find, sort them, wash them, and donate them to shelters (that was my cousins idea).

I guess the point of all of this is where are you investing your money? The Bible says that in Heaven the streets are paved with gold. My mentor shared this thought with me when I was preparing for my first funeral. We pave our streets with something common and valueless. No one hordes asphalt or concrete, it is so common place that it is worthless. But gold is something that armies have marched for and civilizations have been destroyed over. The quest for gold led to the discovery of America. It's rare and therefore has value here on earth.

But it says that in Heaven the streets are paved with gold. The thing that is most valuable here and now, exists in abundance there and forever. It is so abundant that it is utterly worthless, and the streets that the righteous will walk for eternity are paved with it. The thing that we strive for most in this life has no value in the life to come.

At the end of our time here on earth, our stuff will be just like the foreclosed homes I spent so much time in. Others will sort through it, see the stuff that we valued, but couldn't take with us. So what are we investing in? Momentary treasures or things with eternal value? Stuff to bring comfort, or lives that make a difference?

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, August 30, 2012

One Day at a Time

The future has been on my mind a lot. As doors close, or never open, I find myself asking God "When?" "What?" "Why?" and "Where?" a lot. There have been several times in my life that I haven't understood why things go they way they do, or why certain things have taken place.

I'm in another one of those times at the moment. Part of me just doesn't understand why God is making it so hard for me to do what He's called me to do. But as I've been asking that question, God has started to make sense of a few things in the past for me.

After leaving Michigan I went through about seven months of no real ministry work. I volunteered with some children's ministry, and did some pulpit supply, but it wasn't my call in life. In that seven months I started dating my wife, and for income I worked with my cousin and her husband cleaning out foreclosed homes. I hated most of it. On a positive side I got to see my goddaughter a lot, and I got to spend time with my cousin. I got a free tree two man tree stand for deer hunting which I found at one house. But on a negative side, it was long hours, working either outside or in houses with no heat during the winter, and it wasn't my calling.
My wife, who was only my girlfriend at the time, heard me complain almost every night on the phone.

I am grateful that my cousin let me come and work for her, but I'm glad that time of my life is over. For a long time I wondered why God had that time in my life. Part of it was for healing. Michigan wasn't a good experience in many ways, some were great don't get me wrong, but a lot of it wasn't. I had some wounds that needed to be stitched up and so God let me go back to a safe place, under my mentor, and heal up a little. But second, it really gave my wife and me a chance to date.

After going through a the first year of senior pastoring at the same time as the first year of marriage I can say that it was a lot of new. But we had had the opportunity to reconnect and firmly establish a friendship before jumping into it. When we did take on a church we went in fully committed to each other, in this together and supporting each other through it. So it finally makes sense to me.

I've asked why a lot while at the first church. I've been through things I can't believe I've had to deal with in the Church. But at the same time it's given me the chance to learn how to do things. I learned how to get involved with the community and build relationships with community leaders. I'm now comfortable going to meet the School Superintendent and Mayor. I worked with other pastors and church goers in the community to organize a national day of prayer event and resource connection organization to connect people in need to the things that can meet their needs.

I've also had the opportunity to be there for people. The second Sunday on the job I was at the hospital with a man and the doctors weren't sure he would make it through the night. I sat and held his wife's hand for over an hour. I've really learned how to be there for people in need. I've seen first hand that sometimes you don't need to say anything, simply being there is enough.

I performed my first funeral, wedding, and baptism ceremonies. It's been a time of learning, of growth, and of having my calling really shaped as I've seen where my passion in ministry really is. God has begun to answer why.

And in addition to all of this, we found Rosie, our black lab/German Shepherd mix dog (even though she still acts like a puppy she isn't anymore). She's been a great blessing to both my wife and I, and gives us both a lot of joy.

During this first year of marriage I've seen God provide. We had an insurance issue where our coverage was ended and we didn't know about it until after an emergency room visit. God provided for the finances. God provided the money for my wife to be able to join me on the trip to Israel this coming January. God provided a job for my wife that now brings benefits but allows her to have Sunday's off. My wife wanted to go to Cedar Point for our anniversary, and God allowed us to get free tickets. These are the things that immediately come to mind, I know there are others I'm not thinking of.

I've gotten a little off of the point. All of that to say that everything that has happened God has had His hand in. No time or experience has been wasted by Him, and it has all worked out for the best. At times it's taken me a while to understand how and why, but in hindsight it all does, eventually, make sense. That in all things, God provides for those who serve Him, as it says in the Psalms, "I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread" (Psalm 37.25).

This morning I met with my mentor to talk through some of the many things on my mind. As wise as he is, he's still humble enough to say, "I don't know" at times when he doesn't know. This morning was one of those times. After saying that he began to share from his own experience.

He said that one of the ways the enemy tries to discourage him is by having him look too far down the road past what he can see, then trying to convince him that there is a cliff around the corner. I'm realizing that it's a similar situation for me. My mind often goes through the same thing, trying to look too far ahead and then being greatly discouraged by trying to see too much when God isn't ready for me to see that far.

My mentor shared with me something he remembered one of his seminary professors saying, "We have marching orders and enough manna for today." The focus needs to be on living for Christ and sharing His love today.

As I've thought about that throughout the day I've been reminded that today is all we have. Tomorrow is never promised. So I could be wasting today worrying about tomorrow which may never get here. It is not my place to worry about tomorrow because there is nothing that I can do about it. God has provided in the past, God knows the time line and situation that my wife and I are in, and He will not let us down.

The only thing that I can do that matters is make the most of today. Today I must live in the Spirit, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, glorify the Father, and love God and others. If I do those four things, then today is a good day, and I've made the most of my time. It's a day that I can look back at the day and know that I have let Christ shine through me. So that is my goal each day from here on out. I don't want to worry about tomorrow, simply trust and glorify God today.

God knows our needs, He knows our gifts, passions, goals, and dreams. God is going to provide and God will be glorified. I just want to live one day at a time.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Attached to the Vine

I don't know if I've mentioned it on here before, but I'm really into gardening. Now that I think about it I think that I have shared that before. It started with a rose bush for my wife's birthday, which led to a book being purchased. Then it turned into a second rose bush, two different raspberry bushes, and two blueberry buses, leading to a second book being purchased. And the second book is what really did it.

The book is Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Gardening, from Better Homes & Gardens. As I've flipped through the pages of edible plants I've learned just how much it is possible to grow in your backyard. With that I've started to dream and plan.

I've got an idea for a twenty-five tree orchard (15 apple trees, 10 golden delicious [the best all-around apple] and 5 Granny Smith, 2 pear trees, 4 cherry trees, 2 sweet, 2 sour, and 4 peach trees) which will be surrounded by a two rail split rail fence. to the south of that will be grape vines, (Concord, Niagara, and a red one I can't remember the name of) and south of those will be the berries, Latham Red raspberries, Fall Gold raspberries, Blue crop blueberries, and if I'm in a warm enough area blackberries. I'll throw some strawberries in there somewhere, just not sure where yet.

To the west of all of the fruit I'm hoping to get a couple bee hives, for pollination and honey. And to the east is where the vegetables will be. I have an idea for three sections; right now I'm thinking 30'x30', to rotate pumpkins, sweet corn, and watermelon in. Then a larger section, not sure on the size yet, for things like green beans, tomatoes, peanuts, peppers, carrots, potatoes, etc. If I'm really blessed, I'd like a small greenhouse to grow dwarf citrus trees and herbs in year round.

That's my gardening hope someday. But for now, I'm simply tending to the plants I've bought or started. I have one Granny Smith apple tree I started from a seed, and I planted some cherry pits, but what's growing doesn't look like a cherry tree. I mentioned the roses and the berry bushes, but one thing I haven't talked about is the watermelon patch I started in May, the reason I started the post.

I don't know how many seeds I planted, but I have five healthy watermelon vines. I have four melons that are nearly ripe, at least four that are starting to grow, and I've lost four to various things. Not bad for the first time I've ever grown watermelon in my life. The trick now is knowing when to pick them. I've read the watermelon page of my book over and over, and according to it they aren't quite ripe yet. I'm getting anxious. Every morning I examine them, some you can easily see have grown, others it isn't as obvious with. Every day I check to see if they are ripe, but none are ready to be picked yet.

It's important that they are perfectly ripe because my book has told me that watermelon will not continue to ripen once they are cut from the vine. This morning as I was checking the signs to see if they were ready it hit me. When a Christian is removed from the vine we no longer grow, or even ripen.

Jesus said in John 15.5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

The purpose of Christianity is for us to become like Christ. We are to grow and be molded into Christlikeness. We are to ripen as fruit that God can harvest. But if we aren't connected to the vine there is no life being given to us. If we aren't connected to the vine there are no nutrients being fed to us. If we aren't connected to the vine, growth cannot take place.

Maybe you've grown in Christ, maybe you have some head, and even some heart, knowledge of Him, but that doesn't mean it's time to be removed from the vine, there is still ripening that has to take place. If fruit is picked too early then it's lacking flavor. It won't fully satisfy because it isn't fully developed. No matter long we've walked with Christ, we must never remove ourselves from the vine. When it comes to Christlikeness we are never done growing, we are never done ripening, until we die.

It's at that point that God comes and harvests us. He picks the fruit and brings it into His storehouse. But only when it is fully ripe, only when it is done growing. God is the one who must remove us from the vine, because only God knows when we are ready to be harvested.

As long as you have breath, stay connected to the vine of Jesus, because apart from Him we can do nothing. We are to become like Christ, but if we aren't connected to Him, that cannot happen. Stay connected to the vine. Grow and ripen.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, August 27, 2012

Spiritual Leprosy

Humility is something that is rewarded. Genuine humility is something that is greatly rewarded by God. The Bible talks over and over about how God exalts the humble but brings down the proud. God uses the humble in ways that He will not be able to use the proud because the humble are willing to serve in any capacity that God asks. Those who are proud limit, if not remove, themselves from service because they are unwilling to do whatever is asked.

As I've continued my Bible study into 2 Kings I've noticed this principle in the life of Elisha. He was the humble servant who was blessed, but his servant was a proud and greedy man. In 2 Kings 3.11b it says, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah."

I haven't researched this, but I'm using some other information from things I learned while preaching through the Gospel of John. Elijah the prophet had Elisha as a servant. He would go with him and minister to his needs. Part of the task would have been preparing for ceremonial washing. In the New Testament, and probably in the Old as well, a rabbi would have had a servant/disciple who would go with them and be responsible for washing his feet when he entered a house. I'm guessing that was part of Elisha's duties as well.

In 1 Kings 19 God tells Elijah to go and find Elisha, who will become his successor. As Elisha learns from Elijah he also ministers to him. He serves before he can lead. And because he is a humble servant, willing to do even then lowest task, he is greatly blessed and greatly used by God.

Before Elijah is taken up to heaven he to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." and Elisha responds, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elisha wants to be used greatly by God. He asked to be Elijah's successor and God granted his request because his motives were pure. Elisha did not seek position and power for his own gain, we see throughout his ministry that he refuses gain for his services. God uses the humble because they seek His good, not their own.

Elisha was a great man. He had a ministry that lasted five decades and had great influence in four nations. We have more miracles recorded from Elisha's ministry than Elijah's, but he lacks the fame that Elijah had; although I highly doubt he minds.

Enter the servant of Elisha, Gehazi. Unlike Elisha, he is not a humble man concerned with doing the work of God. His motives and actions are portrayed as selfish and, based on the account of the Shunammite woman's son, lacking faith. Because of these things God will not use him.

Gehazi is with Elisha, he sees and observes him, but he never appears to learn humility from him until it is too late. After the healing on Naaman from leprosy, Elisha refuses the payment Naaman offers. Gehazi, who has failed to learn the lesson that this is for God not personal gain, goes secretly after Naaman and takes a small amount of what he offered Elisha by lying. Then he lies to try and cover it up, but nothing is hidden from God, and Gehazi and all of his descendants carry the leprosy of Naaman.

A leader must primarily be a humble servant. This is the model that Elisha sets, and later Jesus Himself. A leader must be humble because first and foremost He is a servant of God. God cannot use anyone to their fullest potential if they are not willing to be humble. All Christians must be humble servants. This is given all through the teachings of Jesus, and it's the example that Jesus Himself sets. But it is one that has been greatly misplaced, especially in the American Church.

Here, many Christians don't seem to have any interest in serving others. For many the Church is about meeting their needs and making them comfortable. If that doesn't happen, they usually move to a Church where they can slip in and out of the crowd. Many simply refuse to serve and make excuses for why they can't. But honestly, I really don't think it's much different than Gehazi, or even the disciples of Jesus. How much potential is untapped, how much good is undone, because Christians aren't humble enough to serve?

I think it starts with leadership. As leaders we must set an example of humble service for the people to follow. Those who we lead must follow us as we follow Christ. We must live for God not for ourselves. Our motives must be pure, as Elisha's were, and when they are God can use us greatly because there is no task that we are unwilling to do for Him. Those who are motivated by greed, by hope of gain, focused on the Prosperity Gospel, where God's will is for Christians to be financially blessed, miss out on all God wants to use them for. They end up with a spiritual leprosy that is usually passed down from generation to generation.

As leprosy made one an outcast in the Bible, spiritual leprosy in a way makes us an outcast from God. Lepers couldn't engage in normal life. They couldn't work, couldn't attend worship in the Temple or Synagogue, they couldn't celebrate the festivals because they were unclean. In the same way spiritual leprosy has us miss out on the life that God has for us. Pride keeps us from serving, greed keeps us from giving and helping others. As we fail to live as Christ we grow farther from God.

Gehazi is only mentioned one more time in the Bible after he receives the curse of leprosy. In 2 Kings 8 we find him telling of the works of Elisha. We don't know if he stayed proud and greedy while growing bitter. We aren't told if he humbled himself and repented. I do know that he had an incredible example to learn from. Elisha was a humble servant whose focus was the work and glory of God. I want that to be said of me. I want to be a leader who serves, who people can safely follow because I fully follow Christ. I don't want spiritual leprosy, but a clean, pure heart.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Be Unto Your Name

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. If you've followed my blog you've undoubtedly picked up on a little bit of the stress that has been in my life over the last few months. This past week has not been as stressful as the past few months, but new things have arisen that have put a lot on my mind. Life is changing and there is a lot of uncertainty for my wife and I right now.

For the past two days I've been helping put in a three rail split rail fence at my uncle's. It's been great to do some manual labor again, and since I hope to one day surround an orchard with a two rail split rail fence it was great to learn how to do it. There has been a lot on my mind, as I've said, and I've enjoyed having a task to do that really does take my mind off of everything else.

One thing I'm trying to do is make the most of my time. Again this week I've been reminded of how short life is. A close friend, one of my Proverbs 18.24 brothers, had a 24 year old cousin pass away this week. Twenty-four, that was me almost two years ago. I've wasted a lot of time recently, and I've been fully aware of it which is the worst part. But I'm trying not to. Driving is one time that I usually have totally alone with no distractions. In the past driving has been the time when some of my most profound thoughts have come. Recently that hasn't happened much, but it's usually a time when I can think, so that's what I tried to do today.

I grabbed a CD so I wouldn't be distracted by the radio. At first I didn't know which one to grab, but finally a settled on one of my favorites, "Revival in Belfast" by Robin Mark. I listened to the songs, and honestly I don't know that I got much thinking done. But I did get to hear an incredible song. It's one of those that I forget about until I'm listening to it, but each time it just hits me. Its a pretty simply one as far as the lyrics, I don't know much, really anything about instruments, but the melody sounds pretty simple. It's a song that just builds and builds as the music flows.


We are a moment, You are forever
Lord of the ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting, reigning on high

Holy holy, Lord God almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises
Honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

We are the broken, You are the healer
Jesus Redeemer, mighty to save
You are the love song, we’ll sing forever
Bowing before You, blessing Your name

Holy holy, Lord God almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises
Honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name (Really starts to build)

Holy holy, Lord God almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises
Honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

Holy holy, Lord God almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises
Honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name


This is the song I can't wait to have played at a Good Friday service. It captures the day perfectly. The Lamb who was slain is worthy of every praise. The eternal God came to earth to die for man who lives a moment. He came to heal the broken so that we could praise Him forever. He reigns on high and is worthy to be praised.

As I think about the choices that will need to be made in the near future I'm reminded that everything is for the glory of God. He alone is worthy of praise, and my life is lived to praise Him, not me. My life is mine so that I can serve Him, not indulge in my comforts and pleasures. Ultimately the question is will I give praise to Jesus? Will I give glory to God?

My wife and I greatly covet your prayers for God's guidance in the coming days and weeks.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, August 20, 2012

One Year In

Within an hour of me posting this my wife and I will officially have been married for one year. It's hard to believe, it's gone by so fast, and so much has happened. We've had some issues along the way, a few fights, one or two times she thought she was pregnant, (and countless times she's tried to freak me out by telling me she was). We've learned a lot about each other. And we've learned a lot about life.

I'd like to say I'm wiser, and I know that I am, but honestly it feels like it's gone so fast and I'm wondering where it went. We've dealt with a lot of things that most couples don't have to deal with in their first year of marriage. We also were in our first senior pastor role, which brings on a whole other aspect of issues.

As we begin year two we're in a time of transition. We're searching for our next ministry assignment. With this we're going to be moving, and more than likely leaving the state. We're not sure how her job transferring is fully going to work out yet, and so there is a lot of uncertainty with this next step.

Part of me is scared and uncertain. Part of me doesn't have any idea what to do. But for the most part I'm glad that I have my best friend with me on this one. I no longer move alone. I no longer go somewhere new alone. I no longer face life alone. She's always got my back.

And as I look to the future I really believe things can only get better. I'm looking forward to the next phase of life. I'm looking forward to having more time with her. I'm looking forward to starting a family with her (the dog doesn't count as much as my wife would love for me to acknowledge the dog as our daughter.)

If you would, please keep us in your prayers as we wait to see where we are headed next.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Advice for New College Freshman

I've been out of school now for a little over three years, and it's hard to believe. Honestly I remember moving in to my dorm as a freshman like it was yesterday. But as it nears the time of year for school to begin again I want to pass on some advice I've shared a bit over the last few years to kids making their way to college for the first time.

This is something that I came up with after my freshman year. Most of it didn't come until my senior year, and some of it came along the way but I didn't put it all together until recently. This is written to a guy entering his freshman year, but it applies to girls as well, just switch the gender and its equally applicable. Also this is written to a guy going to a Christian college, but it's something that can still be applied to all students. And even though it's written to an incoming freshman, there are things that are applicable even to those entering their final year.

When I went into my senior year at MVNU I had four things I wanted to do:

1. Deepen my relationships
2. Soak up as much of my professors wisdom as possible
3. Impact/make a difference in as many lives as I could
4. Experience God in ways I never thought possible

Based on those here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin as a freshman.

First enjoy it. Have fun and soak it all up. You have four years that are different than any other time in your life, take advantage of them.

Second, you only have four years, so make the most of them. Don't wish them away because they go by so fast and you can't get them back once they are gone.

Third, build relationships. I have one friend from high school that I still keep in touch with, but several dozen from college. I met my closest guy friends, and my wife, at college. You'll meet some of your best friends there. Meet people, both students and professors. You'll make connections and friendships that will help you later in life. Get to know your professors, that means talking with them outside of class. Go to their offices, ask questions. It's outside of class that you really learn the important stuff from them.

Fourth, don't ignore your guy friends for the girls. You'll find the right one when God is ready to bring her to you. That's how it happened in the Bible, and that's how God still does it.

Fifth, remember the academic aspect of it. College is also largely about class and preparing you to learn and think. So go to class, study, do the assignments on time. Read, and also learn how to skim. You're there not just for the relationships but also for the degree. Remember that part of loving God is loving God with your mind. So apply yourself to your studies and do your very best.

Sixth, since I mentioned God let's focus on that. College is the first time in your life that you're really on your own. You'll get to experience God in new ways, and come to know Him more deeply and intimately than ever before, if you are willing to. I didn't do the greatest job of this for a while, I let other things get in the way, but when I finally focused on God He took me deeper than I ever knew you could go with Him. I learned so much about who He really is, and how He wanted to use me for His glory. So make sure you make time for God daily. Find a place where you can read the Bible, pray, and hear from Him. Pour into the book of Philippians (unless God leads you somewhere else), it is through that book that I learned so much about the heart and character of God as well as His plan and purpose for my life.

Seventh, find a church and get involved. You don't need to spend 40 hours a week on staff, honestly I would advise you not to take a staff position at a church during college. I did and I wasn't ready for it, I don't think anyone is at 19. It led to a lot of bitterness that God is still working to remove from my life. But get involved as an intern. Find a church that God is moving in and get involved. You might just meet an awesome mentor and friend, and you'll get to meet and impact some cool kids along the way. Be there on Sunday, remember Chapel isn't church, make sure you are part of a multi-generational congregation.

Eighth, make sure to tell your parents how much you appreciate them and everything they've sacrificed to help you get you to this point in your life. This is something I know I didn't do enough, and it's something I don't think anyone fully understands until they are a parent with a kid going off to college.

Finally, all of this is new, and its ok to be nervous. As move in day progressed I got more an more nervous. At the end I didn't want my parents to leave. After a day or two, (classes hadn't even started yet), I found myself in my dorm room praying that the next four years would fly by so I'd be done. It's ok to feel like that, but don't lock yourself in your dorm and pray like I did. This is new, it's big change, just breathe. Take it one day at a time. Get out of your room and meet people. Get to know the other guys in the dorm. Mount Vernon had different events every day of the week that first week, and then every weekend for about a month. I'm sure most colleges do stuff like that. Go to these events, you'll meet people and make friends. They'll help you feel more at home, and eventually you might just refer to the dorm as home. I remember that when I'd go back to my parent's house for breaks it would be weird and I couldn't wait to get back to school.

This is a big step in your life, be proud of yourself for making it here. The things I have shared are things I wish I would have known going in, and I'm glad to be able to pass on now. Don't feel like you have to remember it all. It's typed out so you can come back to it as you need it. Enjoy this next stage of your life, and live it to the fullest. You're going to make mistakes and do stupid stuff, learn from it. (But that isn't permission to do anything illegal or extremely dangerous.) Do your best, do good where you are (I mean do good). Enjoy it, and make the most of it.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Whose House Get's Priority?

As I've been studying 1 Kings there are two stories of building projects that take place in chapters six and seven. The first account is the building of the Temple, the house of God where His people would worship Him. The second project is Solomon's palace, the home of the king. Both projects take years, both are for royalty, but there is a key difference that can be seen in Scripture.

Chapter six talks about all of the splendor that goes into the Temple construction project. There are windows with artistic frames, cut stone, beams and planks of cedar wood. The walls were built of cedar and the floor was covered with cypress wood. The cedar was carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers. Two massive cherubim and the doors were made of olive wood. There were palm trees, cherubim, and open flowers carved on the walls and the doors. And then it says that all of it was overlaid with pure gold.

The stone was hand cut in a quarry and brought to the Temple mount. Much of the wood was brought in from Lebanon. The wood was placed over the stone, and then hours and days were spent carving and engraving it. But before they were done it was all covered with pure gold.

Chapter seven tells of pillars of bronze being constructed for the entrance, and many other items made for the Temple out of bronze. Other items and utensils were made of gold. So much wealth went into the house of God. In the movie Jurassic Park John Hammond, the owner of the new theme park featuring live dinosaurs, says over and over, "Spared no expense." That's how the Temple was. No expense was spared because this was the house of God. The very best was given.

Solomon's second building project was his own palace. According to the years given in 1 Kings 6, 7, and 9, it appears that he built the Temple first and then his own palace. The beginning of chapter seven gives the account of the palace.

Like the temple the widows had artistic frames, and cedar was brought from Lebanon for its construction. There were costly stones used in its construction, but the Bible makes no mention of anything being covered with gold in Solomon's palace. Solomon's palace was bigger than the Temple, but the Temple appears to have been far more elaborate than Solomon's home.

God's house took priority in construction, and was fully covered in the most precious and costly thing on earth. God was given the best, and Solomon kept none for himself. It makes me wonder, is my house nicer than God's? Am I keeping my best from God by focusing on nice things for myself?

I'm not saying its wrong to have nice things. I'm not saying to become poverty stricken and give everything to the Church (If God tells you to do that then you better do that though). What I am saying is that we need to give God our first priority. Before we focus on taking a vacation, or buying a car, we need to tithe and give joyfully to God. Before we do an unnecessary remodel on our home we need to see if God's house needs any updates to be more effective for ministry.

I remember a few years ago helping my grandpa build some cupboards at church to hide some poorly done electric work. I remember his saying, "No one would ever have done a job like that in their own house. Why would they do it in God's?" It's something to got me thinking. If I invest so much time, energy, and money into a house that I live in for just a short time, why don't I put just as much into the house of God that will be there to minister to countless people long after I'm gone? Which house get's priority?

I understand that God doesn't need a church building, I realize that there are churches that have put so much money into their building and neglected helping the community around them. I was in several different churches during college to observe and compare the different worship styles. One of them had a seven million dollar solid marble altar. When I was in Flint, Michigan, one of the poorest cities in America, I was in a church where one of the ministers was proudly telling me about the twenty-five thousand dollar communion table they just bought.

It's easy to justify things like that in some cases because it's God's house. I'm in no way advocating that. What I am saying is let's not neglect the house of God with the attitude of "anything will work." Let's give God the best we can. For an island nation it might be some freshly picked flowers on a simple wooden altar each Sunday morning. It might be that way for a church in downtown Cleveland as well.

What is the best you can give to God? Do you neglect God by focusing on your own best? Are you focused with comfort and luxury over the worship of God? Am I? This can go a lot farther than I have the mental capacity for in one sitting, and this has gone in a direction I wasn't initially planning.

God must be given our best, and God must be our priority. Don't do a better job on your house than on God's. Don't fill your house with treasures while the house of God falls apart.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, August 13, 2012

Wedding Challenge

It is now Monday, and I think I've finally recovered from the weekend. I didn't realize how much energy I had expended until I was still worn out yesterday. On Saturday I had the privilege to take part in the wedding of one of my brothers. It's a wedding I've seen coming since I first saw him talking to his now wife back in the fall of 2008. On Saturday August 11, 2012, they proved that I was right by joining their lives together as husband and wife.

For one of, if that the, first times I was at a wedding and I felt nothing but joy and happiness for the couple. For a long time weddings depressed me. As I got older and saw friends get married as I was still single it was hard. I was happy for them, but it was hard. But this time my wife was sitting in the congregation. My sadness and longing for my best friend, the my ezer kenegdo, is over. And I have been freed to simply celebrate with my friends, and share in their joy.

As I watched the ceremony unfold I was filled with joy. But at the same time I was also challenged. I listened to the challenges given to the couple, to the instructions that were shared from scripture, and the wisdom that came from men with years of marriage experience. And as I listened my mind went back to my own wedding, and the simple word I was given from my mentor.

He kept it simple, knowing that most of what he said in that moment would be forgotten. He asked us each to remember a single word. Mine is cherish. I say is and not was because it is still a word I need daily. Everyone told me that the first year of marriage is the hardest. Everything is new, there is so much adjusting and learning. Everyone says if you make it through the first year you're good. I don't believe that's true because we have divorces that take place after decades of marriage. I can't say that the first year is the hardest because, for one more week I don't even have that much time in it. But I can say that the first year is rough.

We've made it, sometimes simply through the stubborn refusal to quit, but we've made it. We've committed to be together until one of us dies. It's a vow I made before God and it is a vow I will keep. But I don't want to just make it. I don't want to just stay together because I don't want God angry at me for getting a divorce. I married my best friend, and I want to enjoy and live the rest of my life with her. And the one word that my mentor gave me fifty-one weeks ago today is how that happens.

The word cherish is one that I haven't always done the best with during this first year. There have been times I've been impatient, angry, probably even mean, and I hate that. As I listened Saturday afternoon, my mind began to think about all the ways that I have failed to cherish my wife.

Ephesians 2.25-31 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

I am to love my wife and cherish her. I've taken up gardening and my wife says I need to treat her like my plants. I need to care for her so that she can grow and blossom into a beautiful rose. I want my wife to be everything you can be. I want her to blossom. I want to cherish and love her as the princess she is. I never want to tear her down or make her cry. I don't ever want to cause her pain.

I want to love my wife as Christ loves the Church. I want to sacrifice so that she can live life to the fullest. I want to enjoy life with her, not at her expense. I want to help her grow into who God created her to be, and walk the journey to His throne hand in hand, side by side.

My prayer is that my brother will learn this early and avoid some of the mistakes I've made in my first year. My prayer is that many will learn this, that they will be the men, the husbands God has called and allowed them to be. If God has blessed you with a wife, treat her well. Proverbs 18.22 declares, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD." She is a gift from God, treat her like it.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, August 9, 2012

I See Christ

For several months now there has been a couple in the church I've spent a decent amount of time with. Their names are Ron and Sue. Sue is a gifted pianist and Ron has a sharp open mind and loves to talk to people about Jesus. Both of them are cancer survivors, and they have been one of the biggest blessings for my wife and I over the last year.

Every time I'm around them, I leave feeling better than when I sat down to talk with them. They are two of the most loving and positive people you'll ever meet, and you can't help but be encouraged by them. They have been a couple I didn't fully appreciate until recently, but honestly I could not be more grateful for them.

I've spent a lot of time with them because Ron is currently battling cancer again. He went through the first round of Chemo and aside from losing his hair, you wouldn't have known. His spirits were high, and every time I was around him, he continued to be a blessing and encouragement to me. He told me that he sees his cancer as an opportunity. While in the hospital he gets to talk with doctors and nurses all day about Christ. I've never met anyone like him before.

When the initial plans were made for Chemo therapy the plan was to do six treatments then have a few weeks break before beginning the second round. But as the first round drew to a close the doctors decided to go right into round two with no break. And through all of it Ron hasn't changed.

He's still the same blessing that he has always been. He told me earlier this week that every morning he wakes up and thanks God for another day. He prays every morning that God will bring someone across his path each day to share Christ with. I wish more people were like Ron. I wish I was more like Ron.

And I say that because when I look at Ron I don't see Ron. Instead when I look at him, I see Christ. I see a man that has been transformed by God into the image of His Son. I see a man who cares more for others than for himself. I see a man who sees each day as the blessing it is. I see a man who sees his own suffering as an opportunity to minister to the suffering of others. I see Christ when I look at Ron.

I pray that some day people say that about me. I pray that no matter what hardships I go through I can focus more on others needs than on my own. That instead of wasting time complaining I see the opportunity to reach out to others and share the love of Christ. When people look at me I want them to see Christ, not Bill.

I love my friend Ron. I love his life and his attitude. I love the example he has displayed and that I've had the opportunity to witness. His life is lived solely for God. I pray mine is the same. I pray that people see Christ in me.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Call Out the Man

Ever since I read Wild at Heart and The Way of the Wild Heart, I've had a real longing to minister to men, and help guide boys into manhood. That is the main subject of the second book. It takes a man to raise a man, to call a boy into manhood and to guide Him on that path.

For a while I've had it on my heart to start a third blog focused on what the Bible says specifically to men. It's still about a year away from actually taking shape, but that's coming. My currant focus as I've shared countless times is on looking for the heart of God. I'm journaling and recording my findings as I read, but that's not the only thing that I'm finding in the my Bible study. The other stuff is often what I blog about.

There is a lot about manhood I've seen and haven't shared publicly simply because it's not yet the time, but the blog is coming. Today I want to give a small taste of what I'm eventually going to be sharing, hopefully daily, on the next blog.

In 1 Kings 2, David is nearing death. But before he dies he must appoint one of his sons to be king after him. His son, Solomon, is going to follow him as the next king over the Jewish people. And before he dies, David charges his son with these words.

"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘ If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’"

David was a man's man. He killed wild animals with hand weapons (1 Samuel 17.35). After he tells those stories he goes off and kills the giant Goliath. His life is marked by war. He camps out in the wilderness while he on the run from Saul. He was a gifted musician, skilled warrior, and a passionate lover. He was a king over a great nation. He wasn't faultless, as we clearly see from 2 Samuel 12 until his death, but David is called a man after God's own heart. He was a leader men followed, fought and died for. Men didn't hesitate to risk their lives for him (2 Samuel 23). And now his son, just out of his teens, must take command of this nation and follow his father.

The first thing David does is call out the man in his son. He tells him to be strong, and show himself as a man. This is a man calling a boy into manhood. He is giving him a statement of confidence. He's saying "Son, you are my choice to follow me as king. I know you can do it. I believe in you. Be strong, and be the man that you I see you to be."

And once he calls forth the man, he gives him instruction on how a man lives. He tells him to walk with God and to obey Him. He encourages him to study and know the law so that he can uphold them. David reminds Solomon that he is picking up where David left off. That David's ceiling is Solomon's floor, and God will do great things through Solomon if he is faithful.

Men must call out the man in a boy. Father's must call out the man in their sons. They need our guidance, but also our vote of confidence. They need to know that we believe in them and see them as men (when the time is right and they are ready to be men). And we must teach them to fear and follow God. We must teach them that being a man isn't about being the strongest and bravest, but about being the most faithful, the lead worshiper, and the most obedient. It's as much about integrity as it is about bravery.

David called out the man in his son. He went on to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and there was peace during his reign. Solomon was able to do the great things he did, in part, because his father, a man, called forth the man in him. Let us, not just fathers but all men, seek to call forth the man in boys. Fathers raise you sons to be men of God, and call out the man in them. All men, take the opportunity to guide boys into manhood that have no man to walk the journey with them. Call forth the man in them.

No boy finds the path to manhood on his own. No boy becomes a man without a man to guide him. You can be that man for a boy. Will you?

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Holiness, that's the Point

I'm getting into that section of the Old Testament that most church going people probably never touch, 1 Kings-2 Chronicles. It contains a lot of history, names that are all but impossible to figure out how to begin to pronounce, and seemingly a lot of stuff that is irrelevant to modern day life. But on my quest to discover the heart of God this is territory that has to be searched because He's there, and I don't want to miss anything about Him.

I've brought a faithful companion along for this journey. A book that has been so helpful to this point. 66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb. The book takes a first person dialogue approach between the author and God, looking at what God is trying to say to all of us through the pages of Scripture.

His approach truly sees each book of the Bible as a love letter from God's heart to us. And with that in mind it shows us that no matter what the content of a particular book of the Bible, there is relevance for us today. There is something in it that we can learn from. There are things about God for us to observe and model.

1 Kings contains some incredible stories. We have the account of Elijah's life, and the amazing encounters He had with God. We see Solomon build the temple in Jerusalem, and when the Ark is brought in the glory of the Lord fills it and the priests are unable to enter and minister because of it. But we also see the kingdom of Israel divided, and a host of wicked leaders to care nothing about God and lead the people astray.

All of this comes down to the fact that the people neglected holiness. It begins with Solomon, see what Larry Crabb writes about what God is trying to say.

"Your desire to be effective, to depend on biblical principles for success in your family, church, career, and friendships, is legitimately strong. But when that desire is stronger than your desire to be holy and to depend o My power for becoming more like My Son, whether you succeed or fail in other ways, then you will not advance My plan, no matter how carefully you follow My principles or how much apparent success you enjoy. And you'll be especially vulnerable to serious sin."

He continues, "He (Solomon) wanted to effectively rule Israel according to My principles. And that was commendable. But his desire to be effective in handling, as you put it, all that life threw at him, was stronger than his desire to be holy in the middle of his difficult challenges. That was Solomon's mistake. When efficient management, especially when you're good at it, trumps holy living, the lack of holiness is either not recognized or is not seen as a terribly serious problem. Compromise, including using illegitimate pleasure to relieve stress, feels warranted. People with little concern for holiness often manage their families well, they sometimes lead prospering ministries, and many are successful in their careers. But the enter of My plan has nothing to do with well-managed families, ministries, or careers. When the enter of My plan is not the center of your hope, your interior world is unstable, and your soul is weakened."

"The power to manage life well never fills the depths of one's soul. It never provides the deep satisfaction I made you to enjoy. without the hope of holiness filling your soul, the need to fill yourself with something will lead to compromise that will seem necessary, even wise."

"Know this: prioritizing managerial efficiency over personal holiness opens the door to sin spinning out of control... leadership without a priority concern for personal holiness over effective management at best produces only outward success.  It fails to engage the real battle in the human soul, between losing your life for Me or gaining your life without Me."

Hopefully since it's all in quotes and I said where it's from I didn't plagiarizer any of that.

Solomon set a tone that led to Israel in many senses falling apart.  The nation was divided, and the people were on track to exile.  God sent prophets to remind His people about the call to holiness, but it didn't last.  One bad leader followed another, building on the wickedness of the previous king.  Things got in the way and the leadership forgot about God.  They forgot about seeking Him.  The neglected holiness at the cost of the nation.

Holiness is the point.  God has called His people to be holy as He is.  Here is a biblical account of holiness that has been neglected.  When we ignore holiness we ignore God.  When we ignore Him we can't become like Him and therefor fall further away from Him.  When we are full of head knowledge about God that never turns into a heart transformation of holiness, we miss the point.  God doesn't want to enhance our lives, but to transform them into the image of His Son.

God calls us to be holy, and has made it possible for us to be holy.  The Bible contains everything we need to know in order to become like Christ.  It contains the instructions of holiness, both in models to follow and examples to avoid.  We see how people honored God by obeying and pursuing Him, and how others disgraced Him by rejecting Him, or trying to use Him for their own gain.

God has called us to be holy.  Holiness is the point.  The Bible says in Hebrews 12.14, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (NIV).  Holiness is essential, and it is what God desires for all men.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

One of the most well known Bible verses is John 14.6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" I googled the phrase "most well known Bible verses and five out of six had it on the list. The one that didn't have it only looked at the top five verses searched in 2011.

For me it's been a verse I've known for years. But I made a mistake with it until recently. I put more emphasis on the last phrase than on the beginning. Without the beginning the last part isn't possible. The reason that no one can come to the Father except through Christ is because He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. The beginning is essential, not just because the second part depends on it, but because it tells us about who Jesus is, and how to get to the Father.

Jesus is the Way. Christ paved the way to the Father. Not simply by dying on the cross to pay the price for sin. Not just in His resurrection when He conquered sin, death, and Hell forever. But by His life. Christ is the example of how God would live life as a human. Christ is the model of the way to live. In Christ we see the way to live, and as we become Christlike, we get to the Father. The Way.

Jesus is the Truth. In Christ we see what God is really like. We see the truth about the Father. In Christ we see God as approachable, loving and compassionate. We see His gentleness and His willingness to humbly serve. We see that God is willing to do whatever it takes to get His children back. And ultimately we see the truth that God is love. God is not angry, God is love. In Christ we see who God really is, powerful yet gentle, just but loving. The Truth.

Jesus is the Life. In Christ we have eternal life. We have God's quality of life. In Christ we receive life as it was meant to be. Apart from Christ and the life that He offers there is is simply death and a constant search for meaning. But in Christ is found life to the fullest, life as it was meant to be. There is a life of meaning because it is spent in service to God and in pursuit of holiness. And it is through Christ that this is possible. Christ was fully God, and fully man. In Christ we have life, and are empowered to live the life that God created us to life. The Life.

When we follow Jesus as the Way, find our foundation in Jesus the Truth, and life as Christ by the power of Jesus the Life, we are given access to the Father. When we follow the example of Christ, live our lives base on the truth displayed in Him, and live life as He did, we come to the Father. Without Jesus no one can come to the Father, because without Him we don't know how to get to God, we don't know who God is or what He is like, and we don't know how to live the life that He requires nor do we have the power to do so.

William Barclay said this in his commentary on John 14, "It is easy to imagine a God who condemns people; it is still easier to imagine a God who, if people oppose him, wipes them out. No one would ever have dreamed of a God who chose the cross to obtain our salvation." That statement shows how Christianity is not only different, but it gives yet another strong case for its credibility. Only in Christianity does God become fully human, live as a common man, work for a living, and serve those who follow Him. Only in Christianity does God suffer and endure the punishment that was reserved for His enemies. Only in Christianity does God allow Himself to be nailed to a cross and killed as a common criminal. You can't make stuff like this up, because no one would ever imagine a God like that.

But that is who God is. And it is through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that we not only see Him, but gain access to Him. Through Christ we are welcomed into the presence of God for all eternity. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Tarzan, the Ape Man

Last night my wife and I watched the Disney animated movie Tarzan. In typical fashion, I fell asleep on the couch about halfway through it. But the last scene I was awake for hit me in a new way last night. Yet again God spoke through something that has been made, and it points back to Him.

In the movie, Tarzan's parents are killed by a leopard at the beginning of the movie and he is rescued by Kala, a female gorilla that takes him as her own son and raises him. He grows up among the apes and doesn't know that he is a human and there are others like him. Then one day there is a new sound in the jungle, a gun shot. Tarzan goes to investigate and for the first time sees someone like him.

One of the people is Jane, who ends up being chased through the jungle by baboons, and rescued by Tarzan. Once she is safe, he helps her find her camp, which has been trashed by other curious gorillas that have never seen anything like this and are fascinated by the new sounds. Tarzan leaves with them, and immediately Jane's father, and Clayton their guide and gun wielding protector, return.

Jane describes Tarzan to her father, and as she is defending the reality of the situation to Clayton, Tarzan drops into the camp again. Jane's father, a professor who journeyed to Africa to study gorillas, is ecstatic with excitement. He then says, "Look at him Jane. Moves like an ape, but looks like a man. He could be the missing link." And Clayton, who is there to capture and sell gorillas, says, "Or our link to the gorillas." As the scene played it hit me, Tarzan is like Jesus.

In Tarzan, a human raised as a gorilla, a wealth of knowledge is opened to the professor and Jane. Not only are they able to learn things from Tarzan, but eventually he leads them to the gorillas to study them in their natural habitat. They have entrance to the thing that they most desire. They have access to knowledge that is otherwise beyond their grasp.

Plus, gorillas are a bit scary. Earlier in the movie we see Kerchak, the silverback alpha male, fight a leopard. They are powerful and intimidating. But in Tarzan there is a human who is approachable and welcoming. One who is powerful but gentle. One who humans to understand and relate to.

In Jesus, God became man. He opened the way to God, but also shows what God is like. In Jesus we learn about God, we see how God would live life as a human. In Christ we see that a human can live a life pleasing to God. In Jesus there is a hands on model of the invisible God. The spiritual has become physical.

In Jesus we have a God who is fully approachable. It's not that God isn't, but God is intimidating. He is an all knowing, all powerful, all present being that we can't see because He is invisible spirit. He is the one who spoke the universe into creation, who gives life and takes it away. He holds the universe in His hand and calls the stars by name. But in Jesus we have God as a man. Though powerful, we now see His gentleness and compassion first hand.

In Jesus we begin to understand God in ways we couldn't before. And in Jesus we have access to the presence of God. Through His blood sins are forgiven and we have direct access to the throne of God, and Christ is our mediator. It is an incredible gift and a mind blowing opportunity.

God loved the world so much, that He sent His Son not only to save it, but show the world what He is like. In Jesus we see God. In Jesus we see humanity as it was created to be. In Jesus we have access to and justification before God. God became man to lead back to God.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you