If you are single…

Take comfort in the fact that two prominent Bible figures were single men: Jesus and Paul. Now take a deep breath and let that fact sink a little deeper.

Why is this simple fact so remarkable? Because for the first time in world history and in literature, being single became a legitimate way of life. Before these two men appeared on the scene, going to war, getting many wives and begetting many children were the ultimate symbols of manhood.

Then Jesus came. And then Paul. And these two men showed all the single people of all generations all over the world that there is no shame in being single. It’s not a sprint, folks. We will eventually get there. Just lighten up with all the obnoxious teasing. Just because we laugh doesn’t mean we enjoy it.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4 ESV)

Two things we can gather from this text.

First: God is immovable. He is permanent. Despite the changing of times and seasons of the nations of the earth, God is still seated on his throne. He is not moved by our highs and lows. He retains His kingship and Lordship over all creation even when world history is shifting.

Second: God’s presence is so great that it filled the heavens to the point of shaking. Notice how this great display of the majesty of God stood in stark contrast to what was going on down here on earth. King Uzziah just died. He was a proud and unfaithful king. He usurped the duties of priests and offered in the altar of God. As punishment, God struck him with leprosy that he died an outcast. (2 Chron. 26: 16-21). [Read more...]

Clark H. Pinnock on the Holy Spirit:

There is a growing interest in spirituality and religious experience in modern culture, owing no doubt to the extreme dryness of secularism. People cannot go for long without raising questions about meaning and transcendence. Church statistics go up and down, but interest in ultimate questions do not. It stays high.

If Christians are to be effective in mission, they must offer a faith that is vibrant and alive. People want to meet God and will not be satisfied with religion that only preaches and moralizes. Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Christianity was born on the day of Pentecost because a question was asked about a transforming experience: “What does this mean?” (Acts 2: 12). Speaking about God is meaningful only if there is an encounter with God back of it. Only by attending to the Spirit are we going to be able to move beyond sterile, rationalistic, powerless religion and recover the intimacy with God our generation longs for. [Read more...]