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Time and Place For Praise!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 135:21 ESV

If you are like me you probably read through this passage assume that God dwelling in Jerusalem was just a thing for Bible times. After all Jesus told us that the time was arriving when people would no longer worship in a geographic location. God is a Spirit and that is where we should worship.

But if we look at the book of Revelation we discover that there indeed is a place where God will be worshiped for eternity called the New Jerusalem. So where is that place and why would God change His mind?

Well maybe….just maybe it is because the New Jerusalem is not just a geographic location. It is that the dwelling place that Jesus went to prepare is you and I. It is an eternal resting place for God (and us) built of all our brothers and sisters throughout all the ages who have put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. We are the tabernacle of God. Our hearts are the location He has chosen to dwell in. And together as we praise and lift up the wonderful name of Jesus – God will be worshiped in Spirit and in truth forever and forever! Now what could be more worth both living and dying for than that?!

Our Sunday Best

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Perhaps the younger generation has missed out on the experience of Sunday best, so I’ll recap briefly. Even when I was just seven or eight I had to put on dress pants, a shirt and tie and last but not least : black leather shoes. I say last because the Sunday morning ritual given me meant shining those shoes until they gleamed brightly enough to pass my stepfather’s inspection. I’m pretty sure that none of this made us any holier than folks who troop into church with shorts and T-shirts but it did speak volumes about how special the day was to us.

The Bible also lays out a Sunday going to meeting outfit for us to wear. In The third chapter of Colossians Paul tells us to put on compassion, kindness, patience and love. That inspired me this morning to share a little verse. If you are getting dressed for church it is full of fashion advice that just might help coordinate your outfit.

Getting dressed for church on Sunday
There's some clothing we must choose
And an outfit we must pick out
Before slipping on our shoes

Now the Bible points out kindness
And forgiveness are in fashion
And gentleness and patience
Should be worn with God's compassion

But designer jeans of selfish pride
And envy just don't make it
And bitterness should not be put on
Nor the golden chains of gossip

Then over all our Sunday best
What brings it all together
Is the wedding gown of God's own love
That He gives to wear forever!

Wearing Our Sunday Best
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

Thoughts on Rick Warren Retiring

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In case you missed this week’s announcement of the transition beginning at Saddleback church in California: Pastor Rick Warren announced that he will be stepping down from his role as Senior pastor there once a replacement has been found. From a practical point of view this is not surprising. He and his wife Kay have given over 42 years of their lives serving not only their church and its many campuses but also countless outreach ministries around the world. Yet the thought of them leaving their role as voices of calm in the storm of our ongoing American culture wars brings a sadness to my heart. I pray only the best for them both and their family as they seek God’s next step. Too many times we only realize how much leaders need our prayers after an embarrassing public failure or financial scandal. Why not join together and pray that the leadership at Saddleback will have the grace and wisdom to find the person or persons to fill the role of a future lead pastor? If you would like to hear more about this coming transition beyond just the headlines, I am posting Pastor Rick’s video here. I found it both quite interesting and encouraging.

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— Colossians 4:3 ESV