It is Well with My Soul

June 25, 2012 Monday Message:

“It is well with my soul.” c.1873, Horatio Spafford penned these well-known hymn lyrics, allowing us unparalleled insight into the “Joy of the Lord.”

True Joy from the Lord isn’t based on circumstances, things that are happening around you. Rather, it’s the confidence that God has your back, no matter how bleak the current situation appears.

Remember that our God is a rock, an anchor, the cornerstone, unchanging, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He’s a God of substance, not circumstance. The same God who adopted you into his Holy family is there for you forever – in spite of how your current situation appears.

Spafford’s four daughters had been lost at sea in a tragic accident. Only his wife survived. As his ship crossed the same piece of water, he wrote, “It is well with my soul.” Instead of mourning the loss of his children, he rejoiced at the fact that they were now with Jesus. He rejoiced with thanksgiving that his wife had been spared. No matter what went wrong here on earth, he and God were still OK. He was filled with the Joy of the Lord, no matter the circumstances.

Spafford and his wife went on to have three more children, and later founded the “American Colony” in Israel, to help the poor. See, God is still in charge, still on the throne. God is good, all the time, in all things.

Most of us stand before a mirror when getting dressed for the day, wanting to look our best. Unfortunately, what we see won’t last. What is eternal is our soul, our nephesh - and our spirit, ruah.

Is it well with your soul?

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday I’ll be leading worship at Jesus in the City – the old location – lower level of Trinity First, 1115 E. 19^th St., Mpls., 11am, and Pastor Daisy Rader continues our journey through Galatians.

We can’t wait for July 29 – that’s the day that Jesus in the City Sunday worship moves to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

Jesus is the Answer

June 18, 2012 Monday Message:

Paul: “A person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Gal. 2:16a

Those of us alive in 2012 have always had access to a Bible. Long ago, the church collected, verified and authenticated the writings we know as our Bible. We can read and understand how God’s story begins, what occurred, and how it will unfold in the future. We have “systematic theology” - we know how Christianity “works.”

Following Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, worship began without the systematic theology model. These believers knew that Jesus was the Son of God and Savior of the world, but lacked the details of how this new “Christianity-thing” ought to work.

Most of Paul’s letters were written to help establish and give clarity to this new systematic theology, defining how Christianity works, and to encourage straying groups of believers back onto the proper path. Paul would check with and sometimes even confront the Jerusalem apostles in an effort to keep the Good News true to what God had shown him.

Nowadays we know that a person is saved only by faith in Jesus Christ, and phrases like “saved by grace through faith” just roll off our reformation tongues. The answer is simply, “Jesus.” It’s never Jesus-plus-something else. Just, “Jesus.”

Aren’t you glad we have 2012’s clarity about our eternal destiny?

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday I’ll be teaching Galatians 2 at Jesus in the City – the old location – lower level of Trinity First, 1115 E. 19^th St., Mpls., 11am.

We’re looking forward to July 29 – that’s the day that Jesus in the City Sunday worship moves to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

Radically Transformed

June 11, 2012 Monday Message:

Paul: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17

Paul was the original church-planter for people outside of Israel. He found himself on a Holy Spirit-directed journey, and with Paul as your leader, it would be impossible for you to stray far from his walk. His calling as Gospel purveyor to the Gentiles was a reflection of his personal experiences.

Remember, Paul had been blinded by the light on the road to Damascus, struck down by a Holy Spirit slap, and then left with the voice of Jesus echoing in his head, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

But when God shows up in his life, Paul listens. Now instead of persecuting Christians, he was an advocate for Christians. Instead of exterminating churches, Paul was planting new ones and helping them grow. Paul had repented and returned; his position reversed; his attitude flipped around 180º. He was, indeed, radically transformed.

Paul looked for that same radical transformation in all the new churches and in all the new brothers and sisters, as a sign of their new born-again life. His epistles repeatedly tell of the old Paul dying, and Jesus being alive in the new Paul, and he looked for similar evidence of that in all the new Christians.

So as we go and make disciples of all nations, we don’t just want them to know “about” Jesus; we want them to be “radically transformed” by Jesus. Like Paul, we look for radical transformation as evidence of conversion.

Are you radically transformed?

Norton Lawellin

Remember that on July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

People of Hope are leading worship at New Hope Center, Metro Hope Ministries, this Friday, June 15, 7pm. Chuck Hirt will be speaking.

God's Trends - Up and to the Right

June 04, 2012 Monday Message:

David: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.” Psalm 29:2a

If I gave each of you a yellow pad and asked you to describe a person of “good character,” most would write down similar answers. If you were trying to BECOME a person of “good character,” this list could be your goals.

Regrettably, humans don’t all-at-once stop making bad choices and become totally perfect. Our expectation on the journey to becoming a better person, to becoming a better Christian, is progress, not perfection.

Lately I’ve become a “trends” advocate. In life, we sometimes seem to take two steps forward and then one step backwards. But if we continually do just that – take TWO steps forward while only taking ONE step backward – our trend will keep moving up and to the right. Progress (not perfection.)

If you took your yellow pad and wrote down the characteristics of a good GOD, you might fill several pages. Your list would not be exhaustive, but you’d have a good grasp of the “character” of God. So when you can’t find your exact problem, your situation, in the Bible, you know what God recommends because you understand the “character” of God and are confident that His value system will not change.

In Psalm 29, David lists examples of God’s power, providence, provision and everlasting lovingkindness – God’s trends – which is why David finds YHWH worthy of all glory!

Norton Lawellin

We had a great time of worship last Sunday as Rick Anderson and Christian songwriter Janet Carlson shared their gifts. Thanks to both!

On July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.