Sunday night, we are starting a new message series called "Joy" based out of the book of Philippians. I have been reading and rereading the book, and will continue to do so, letting it saturate my mind and heart over the next month.
Let me just say......We ALL need to do this every so often. It is amazing how renewing this practice is!
Anyway, one thing has been rising to the surface more and more: The apostle Paul knew the 'crucified life'. He wasnt trying to suck all he could out of THIS world, striving for more, more, more. His heart was WITH CHRIST.
"I am torn", he states, "between 2 desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live."....."For me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better...." (Philippians 1:20-24)
This stuff is really challenging me. Most of us live in fear. We live with depression. We live with discontentment. We live with anxiety over the future.
We live with alot of things people who 'live crucified' don't live with.
And btw, dont forget: Paul was in a Roman dungeon for 2 years at the point he wrote this...!
I will talk more about this Sunday night as we start our series "Joy". I saw this 2:20 minute news piece this morning that you really need to take the time to watch.
THIS DEAR LADY KNOWS THE CRUCIFIED LIFE!!
Deliver us from ourselves, dear Lord...
PB
Thanks so much for sharing this and for being such an inspirational pastor. We have the victory in Jesus Christ!! Keep on bringing us these uplifting stories!!! Have a wonderful day for Jesus and yourself.
Posted by: Debbie Bixler | April 24, 2008 at 01:06 PM
PB,
Dude, you're my hero. We need to get together sometime soon. I want to hear about the ARC conference (and that front door idea you guys recently implemented.) Love you, bro.
Posted by: Carter Schultz | April 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
hey man nice blog... loved the video. Grandmas are the best. You should have her speak on stage.
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Check out my blog
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call me or shoot me an email...... Peace
Posted by: christopher | April 18, 2008 at 02:25 PM