"Death" and the AfterLIFE

Our pastor has been preaching on Heaven. J and I are in a class for the first service and it is too much to stay for the second, so I have been listening to the podcasts. The topic has been on my brain a lot and the kids and I have had some really good talks about it. Anyway, I was driving to LA to visit the family and I had the iPod on shuffle and the song A Briefing for the Ascent by Terry S Taylor came on. Now, if you have known me for any length of time, you know that by absolute favorite band is Daniel Amos. This is one of Terry's solo works. It was written when his grandmother was dying. After I heard this song, I went back and listened to the whole album. I am realize what a joy Heaven will be and that we need not fear it for us or our loved ones. We grieve our loss, those that know our Lord and Savior do not need our sorry.

Anyway, here are the lyrics. I am bolding the part that really hit me as I was listening to it. I need to go back and re-listen to Pastor Steve's messages. There is so much to absorb.

A Briefing for the Ascent

from the album "A Briefing for the Ascent"

Words by Terry Taylor, Music by Terry Taylor and Greg Flesch
©1987 Broken Songs

Take a burning spear
And the Savior's promise
Ride a horse of air
Through the burning forest

With our Father's faith
And a child's wonder
Down the halls of grace
By His mercy go under

It will seem so sudden
Yes, but through God's will
The season will dream and
Time will stand still (for)

Hearts in waiting
Ascending
Hearts in waiting

Beneath a crimson sea
Is a buried treasure
You will find the key
That unlocks forever

Does it seem so sudden
This sad sweet goodbye?
This is what you have lived for
Now for this you must die

Hearts in waiting
Ascending
Hearts in waiting

Close your eyes
And rest secure
Your soul is safe
Your body sure
He that loves you
Is He that keeps
The One that guards you
Never slumbers, never sleeps

Take the greatest care
To hold onto your vision
Climb the golden stair
To the courts of Heaven
It will seem so sudden
But you will laugh as you run
You will wash in the river
You will shine in the Son

Hearts in waiting
Ascending
Hearts in waiting
Ascending. . .

Called to Love

So we are called to love. In love we are to lead those who don't know Christ to Him. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Why, as Christians, do we feel the need to criticize other Christians who do things different than us? Are we convicted by their behavior, ashamed by it, does it make us look silly to our non-Christian friends? Are we afraid the world is going to think that we are like "them".

So a Christian wants to start a "Christian" Facebook. (there is one btw), why do some people feel the need to mock it. To say that they are alienating themselves. Is it alienating to have "Christian" recording companies, or "Christian" publishing companies. Or even a church sponsored "Fall Festival" or Trunk or Treat??? We even have Christian Schools that we send our kids to. And some of us *gasp* homeschool our kids *gasp*

I am off to read 2 Corinthians 6.. and the Great Divorce.. and maybe actually get some schooling in with the kids.

See ya

R

Have we lost sight?

I am going to ramble here so just bear with me.. This post is more a way for me to collect my thoughts on a subject. So here goes

Sometimes I think as Christians we have lost sight of what it means to be Christ-like. I grew up in a AoG church that for the most part was pretty legalistic. No dancing, no drinking, no swimming with the opposite sex, PG 13 movies were looked down upon, etc. I can even remember being rebuked by our youth pastor for drinking a virgin daiquiri. It "looked" too much like the world. We were called to be separate. Now, it seems that it is ok to listen to "secular" music, have a glass of wine, and even go dancing.

I am all for moderation. Granted there are some things that I choose not to do. I won't go into them here, but for me they are areas that are weak spots for me and I choose not to go there.

But what is our purpose? Why are we here? What is our calling as a body of Christ? Is it to live apart? Is it to blend in? The early Christians worked in the world, they lived in the world, but they did not participate in the world. There were things that they just did not do. Was that legalistic? How are we supposed to live? Have we become calloused? Have we become soft?

What about holiness? Are there standards for us to live by?

I don't have all the answers..but I am off to find them.

Thanks for hearing me ramble.. I will let you know what I find out

R