Paul had said that we need to have the same attitude and make the same choices and take the same actions as Jesus. Which he knew a lot of folks would think might be too hard! So he gave us two examples of ordinary folks who lived that out so that we could know it wasn't just some kind of unreachable goal, but was actually something that is EXPECTED from each one of us.

Who were they and what was their witness to the world? And, more importantly, what is YOUR witness? Are you a testimony to Christ or do your choices suggest you are following a different commanding officer?

Look, I'm sure that your national pride, like that you might have for a favorite sports team, can be a fun component of your approach to life. However, Followers of the Way of Jesus need to make sure that Jesus is Lord!

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul lays out the requirements for being and keeping our citizenship in God's Kingdom. Those may start and end with rejoicing (they do!) but citizenship has both rights and responsibilities attached. If we refuse to live those out, then we aren't citizens of Christ and maybe we never were. But don't despair! Paul explained in some detail the attitude we need to have to be successful! So listen to today's message, then go live it out.

Does it seem that there is more reason for sorrow than for joy?
There's not.

Am I ignoring the pain and suffering which is so prevalent in life?
I'm not. It sucks. We should rely on our JOY as we combat those things.

How can there be anything to rejoice about when there is war, injustice, people being falsely accused and condemned, people taking advantage of others for their own benefit, people working to bring misery on others, people living in fear?
Because JOY is GREATER than that.

The reasons for joy are GREATER than the reasons for giving up. And the JOY that will sustain you comes from a source which is greater than any misery the world can muster. And you can count on it at all times and in every way.

Know what we need a little more of in our lives? JOY! What if I told you that I have a gift for you which can fill you with joy to the point that you NEED to share it because there's too much for you to hold onto yourself? Paul wrote a letter to some friends once, trying to express the same thing to them and letting them know that these things apply to ALL of us! We can all become bearers of amazing and unending love and joy, and bring the gift of wholeness to others around us. In fact, it may be more than a possibility; it may be a command...

Welcome to the Book of Philippians! REJOICE!

DEAD OR ALIVE

Jesus was dead. There is no question about that. So what happened to make someone who had spent their life wishing that was true come to believe that Jesus is alive?

It's Resurrection Sunday! Maybe there's more to it than jellybeans and colored eggs.

LIES ABOUT PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday is the most mistold tale since the Christmas story, making it the perfect cap to top off our series about the lies our Sunday School teachers taught us. Although I probably would lay the blame for this one more on pastors and teachers who turn an event that wasn't into a spectacle.

It's not hard to see how so many people misunderstand what happened that day! All you need to do is STOP READING before the gospel writers finish telling their stories... I guess if you don't like the ending, stop before you get to it, right?

Today, we read the WHOLE story and change the way we understand Palm Sunday to something quieter, deeper, and more dramatic than the lie most people have embraced.

Good news! You have the keys to Hell. The owner has given you the right to come and go as you please. And the right to share Hell with others by sending them in or setting them free. Will you take up residence, or insist that others must, or will you open the gates?

Jesus gave you those keys. He also explained why and how you can use them, if you choose.

TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN... WHERE, EXACTLY?

We are working through some of the lies that we are taught in Sunday School! As in all walks of life, we need to be careful to separate the fantasy and superstition from our religious walk, or our understanding of God and how we were created live will be distorted.

This week we examine what scripture teaches us about what happens after we die. It may not be what you think! Be sure to examine the scripture and history for yourself.