Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus’ work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.
LifeBlood this past Wednesday night was a blast from the past with a twist of the present. Let me explain… June 6th was one of the major moments of the year. At 2 am I woke up with excitement and anticipation as we were about half-hour from leaving for Sky Harbor airport. The LifeBlood Mission Team was about to depart for Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. Missions is always a major deal for me being that I’ve been on 7 trips in the past 8 years, one of them being a 6 month stint in Roatan, Honduras. Just the thought of launching another mission team gives me a thrill much like the sensation of jumping in a pool of cold water. We were on our way…
We arrived at Sky Harbor’s Terminal 2 about 15 minutes after 3am and the whole team was there. It’s questionable as to their consciousness, but they were physically present. Everyone got checked in over the course of 20 minutes and had a boarding pass in hand. As tradition follows, the parents and other yahoos that show up at 3 am gathered around the team to pray. Prayers full of hope and ambition filled the atmosphere of our huddle as we encouraged the team before sending them off. The close of our prayer dispersed with hugs and smiles, parents and friends embracing each other one last time before departing. The supporters gathered near the security check point to watch the youth travel down the terminal concourse toward their gate. Dios le bendiga.
Following the morning’s launch of the Mission Team, we gathered for wednesday night service at LifeBlood. On hand that night was Pastor Kenny, my mentor and coach for youth ministry. He was there to preach a sermon that has echoed through the years past. A sermon called the Spirit of Summer. The Spirit of Summer parallels the lives of youth with Kind David in the Bible’s book of 2nd Samuel Chapter 11. The question that came out of Pastor Kenny’s talk was “What are you going to do to better yourself and grow in your connection with God during the summer?” King David ended up being lazy and there were some consequences to his laziness. His moral failures and poor decisions that began with his laziness ended up costing 3 people’s lives and he almost lost his kingdom. The talk that Pastor Kenny gave was at the heart level. Everyone in the room heard the words and were compelled to action this summer. Specifically, everyone was compelled to go to camp. Youth camp takes place in northern arizona where we disengage from city life for 5 days and engage with God. In the midst of engaging with God we have messy wars, lake trips, play paintball and have a good time. If you haven’t signed up for camp yet, do it. Do it now. You won’t regret the friendships you make or the unforgetable connection with God that you experience.
To sign up for camp, click on the EVENTS tab and download your 2007 Student Release form. Talk to your parents about going to camp, have them fill out your release form and pay for your tuition. We’ll see you in Payson!
