Memorial Day

It is very easy to become comfortable under the blanket of security and freedom for which we live under. We often forget the great price that has been paid and is being paid to provide it for our lives.  We like busy little ants run here and there accomplishing all our little tasks consumed by the stress of climbing our individual corporate ladders.  In attempt to gain a spot in history or to leave a legacy that might somehow prove to ourselves and those around us that we are successful.  The whole time, there are men and women who have laid down their dreams, their legacy's, and their futures in order for us to even have the freedom to choose our paths.  This weekend take the time to STOP!  Take the time to acknowledge the sacrifice of so many heroes that we may never know by name but their blood was shed to give us freedom.  To every soldier that paid the ultimate price for this country, we want to say thank you for giving your life to give us freedom.

The Greatest Treasure

Many years ago in the country of Israel there was a man, a traveler of sorts, which was making his way up to Jerusalem.  As he was walking he discovered a shortcut that would take him through a farmer’s field and would save him quite a bit of time.  Knowing that it was custom for farmers to allow travelers to use their field for travel he quickly shifted his direction through the field.  As he walked through the field he tripped on something that was protruding out of the dirt.  So he went back and discovered that it was not a rock, a stick, or a clump of dirt. Rather it was the corner of an old wooden box.  So he quickly began to dig as fast as he could to find out what this box could be.  When he finally got the box loose from the ground he quickly opened it to see what was inside.  Sure enough it was just what he thought and more. It was a great treasure that must have been buried there years before.  He could not believe what he had found.  However, what was he to do because he did not own the field and it would take everything he had and more to purchase it.  So he buried the box back into the ground, marking it with his special code.  He then went away jumping and rejoicing about what he had found.  After a short time he was able to sell everything he had in order to get the amount of money he needed to buy this field.  Soon after purchasing the field and with great joy he went to claim the treasure he had found.

Jesus used this story to tell us how valuable the treasure of Salvation and the Kingdom of God is for our lives.  Many of us have discovered the grand value of the Trinity (Jesus, God, and Holy Spirit) in our life.  Once we discovered it we gave away our whole lives in order to gain the riches of eternity.  The Bible says that if you keep your life, you will lose it.  However, if you willingly give your life to God, He will give you New Life (the treasure) like you have never experienced before.  Isn't it time to give up and sell out your life, in exchange for the kind of Life God intended for you to have.  It isn't hard. In fact it is very easy.  Just surrender and seek out God.  The Bible says, "He that seeks me will find me."  Now is your time, this is your day to discover abundant life!

Our City - Our Church

Our City! That is right, it is our city.  In the parable of the talents the master gave each person responsibility for a talent.  Later, for each person that was faithful with that talent, they were given authority over cities.  I believe that Bethel's Rock's talent is the cities of South Minneapolis, Richfield, and Edina.  They are our church.  This church does not consist of the small percentage of people that meet within the walls of this auditorium every Sunday Morning.  Our church includes all the families of these three communities; families as small as 1 or as big as they come, each family finding themselves in very different surroundings.  It would be easy to search out only those who live in stable and prosperous environments.  However, the reality is that true religion reaches those who are hurting, broken, and worthless in the world’s eyes.  They, as well, must be our focus.  Why? It is the defining trait of the church that has life and is fulfilling the Great Commission.  When we stand before God one day we are not going to receive a merit badge for how clean and nice we kept the church building.  Rather our faithfulness will be determined by the impact we made in the lives of people in our city.  Statistically we are told that 90% of people will not make the choice to visit a church.  In fact, most people never even consider their need for a church.  That is probably true of people that even attend church on a regular basis.  Here is the reality, if we are going to successfully impact people in our city, we must leave the four walls and enter the arena where the war is being fought.  We must go into the places where the lost worship and we must present the gospel with love and with power.  No longer can we depend on the four walls of the church to be the access point for leading the lost to God.  Now you and I must become the church and introduce people to the God who has changed our lives.

 A living church is a church that is walking and moving in and out of its community.  A dead church will be found in the coffin of a church building leaving the world to wonder why it hasn't been buried yet.   Bethel's Rock is a church where you can come and experience the Life of Christ.  Every day God is leading us through this city and opening up opportunities for us to help people one person at a time.  Come join us as we fulfill an impossible mission!

This Sunday, we get to celebrate one of the greatest institutions God ever gave to man, Motherhood.  Had Adam had a mother who knows how things would have turned out.  Mothers have an amazing ability to connect with their children like no one else.  On Mother's day there are more phone calls made than on any other day.  So what will you do today for the woman that allowed her body to be used as a playground so that you could have LIFE!  Think about the tireless hours that have gone unseen and those sacrifices that were noticed have been in many cases forgotten.  She is worthy of your love and respect every day, but make this time today a reminder that she really did carry you, a breath of God, into this world.  Many times she could have taken you out, but her mother's grace restrained her from following through.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth every day.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Married to the King

If you have been under a rock for the last month you might not of heard that there was a wedding among the royal family of England.  It is amazing how many people are captivated by this story of a future king marrying a young lady who will be the new princess.  They estimate that two million people will make their way to England only to be left outside while the wedding is going on.  They more than likely did not receive an invitation, but want to be a part of the hoopla that surrounds an event like this.  Others will sit in their homes, some in the United States, who will have to wake up early in the morning to watch this wedding.  Even though many of them hate the thought of having to go to a wedding of a family member. How crazy is that?

The Bible talks about another wedding that will have far more prestige and fame than any royal wedding you have experienced on this earth.  In fact, for this wedding you don't need to dream about what it might be like to be invited, or even to be in the wedding party.  For this wedding you can be the Bride!  Now I know for some of you men that sounds a little awkward and weird.  However, it is all true.  The Bible says that Jesus, the King of Kings, is planning a wedding and one day he will return for his Bride.  Now this Bride is not one person, but plural in reality.  The Bride of Christ will be everyone and anyone who is willing to give their life to Jesus.  So you can be the Bride in the greatest Royal wedding of all time.  However, if you are that person who would say, "I am not really into this Jesus guy.  I believe him and I will follow some of what he says because it is good stuff to live by. But I don't know that I want to be His bride. Take his name?  I don't think so!"  There are many that will take this approach.  They love to be around the wedding, the groom and the bride, but they will be satisfied to just keep their seat to watch the whole affair.  My friend with this I want to be very clear.  There will be no human spectators at the Marriage of Christ with His Bride.  In fact, anyone who is not the Bride will be left outside.  That's right you will not be allowed to just hang around the royal family of Heaven.  Instead you will dwell among the 'Living Dead'. 

So you can sit around dreaming about what it might be like to be married to a Prince, or you can begin preparing to marry the King of Kings and experience it for yourself.