The Good Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most of us can recite Psalm 23.  It is read at funerals and brings a sense of hope in times darkness and loss.  But it also says a lot about life.  Verses 1-3 describe a personal intimate relationship.  The Lord’s guidance, His presence in our lives begins the moment we say yes to following Him.

So what does the journey of life look like in the company of the shepherd?
What comes to your mind when your hear I shall not want, lie down in green pastures, and led beside still waters?  Peace? Joy? Fulfillment? Our journey won’t always be easy, but the picture of quietness and peace shows us that God is us rest; restores our souls when we become weary.  He guides us to paths of righteous .  God doesn’t want you depressed or fearful or fussing and wringing your hands.  For His sake, He wants to guide on a straight path of righteousness.  He wants you to be who you were meant to be: a person at peace, a person of joy, a person filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now let’s talk about verse 4.  We all will go through dark valleys. We will experience gloom, fear, and distress in our life. You may feel as tough life is over, it is finished.  When you are in this dark place, it is not your final destination.  Our Shepherd is guiding you through it.

What is the answer to getting past the dark valley?
You do not have to fear, God is with you. All the things that keep pulling you down, give to the Good Shepherd who is there with His rod and staff to comfort you.  When the road becomes frightening, He uses the rod and staff to keep you going through it.

Satan and his demons plant ideals of gloom, fear, and that God doesn’t care.  God is light on our path, He guides you to His table in the presence the enemy.  He is throwing a party, laughing at Satan, you are no longer kept in darkness by Satan’s lies.

Now for the beautiful promise: goodness and love will follow you all your life, you will dwell in God’s house forever when your journey ends, Jesus the Good Shepherd has won victory over Satan.
Yes this Psalm comforts those who are grieving but importantly it describes what it is like to follow the Good Shepherd through the journey of life!
Remember God loves you and so

Preaching Good News In a Time When Violence and Racism Divide Us

Today Dr.Tony Campolo delivered the sermon at WMUMC.  The sermon title was - Preaching good news in a time when violence and racism divide us.  

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:23-29 NIV

It was an awesome message.  I am going to try and share some of the main points of this sermon.   Dr. Tony Campolo said. Some say preach Jesus and he said which Jesus?  Does that sound strange to you?  Well in 2 Cor. 11 is about Paul and the False Apostles.   Jesus is biblical.  Read all the red letters in the Bible. Jesus is speaking to us.  This is the real Jesus.  Now for the question - Is Christ in you?  Do you feel Him?  

I am sure you have heard the word karma.  In Hinduism and Buddhism action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad. Sin in  this world and you pay for it in the next.  Jesus offers grace, we get what we don’t deserve, forgiveness!  Disciples do what God asks them to do.  

Ephesians 2: 14-17. We are told Christ brought peace to us.  He united us Jews and Gentiles into one people.  His death on the cross broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. We are one body brought together by Jesus’ death and our hostility toward each other was put to death. “

If Christ is in you, You feel as Jesus feels.   If you drew a line, and You stood on one side and all those who are different from you were on the other side, where would Jesus be.  Hate to disappoint you but Dr. Campolo says Jesus will be on their side. . Jesus came to save the rejected.   No room for prejudice.  No more barriers.  In one of my passed blogs I told you we don’t get to choose who we love, we are to love all people. Even our enemies. The Bible is very clear, Matthew 25: 31-40 tells us we are to see to those who have needs, - verse 45 - I tell you the truth, when you refuse to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you are refusing to help me.  

I did a talk on Priesthood. We are all priest and we are suppose to share the gospel, the whole gospel.  

The song we sang at the end was - They Will Know We Are Christians by Out Love.  What I will remember today is this - I will love my Father with all my Heart, Soul, Mind and I will Love all others.  You probably are shaking your head and saying really, you are going to do that.  Well I have a helper, The Holy Spirit.  It would be impossible without her by my side.  

Remember God loves you and so do I.