One!  What a number and what a concept.  But is unity as Christians even possible?  We seemed so fragmented and torn apart that it seems hopeless.  Is one just a song bu U2 that has no place in reality.

Paul in Ephesians says we are already one because of Christ.  Once bitter enemies, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) were now united in Jesus.  We have all come from different cultures and peoples and yet Christ is this unifying factor.

Now the church has always had a tendency to fracture and split apart and yet it was build for unity and strength as it brings the Gospel to the world.  How can we bring things together in a way that is faithful to the truth.  This part of Ephesians is a great place to start – the Cross!  What Jesus did for us is so central to EVERYTHING we do!  What can you do today to hang onto and live out this unity that we ALREADY have in Christ?  Pray, read the Scriptures, and get together with other folks – even those who don’t agree with you.  Love those people – encourage them – learn from them and maybe they can learn from you as we all learn from Jesus!

Back to Ephesians as we continue with this Ashes to Fire Reading deal.  It’s the first half of chapter 2 on tap for today.  First it’s the bad news – if you want to know what kind of life you can have apart from God.  Answer is NOTHING – no life – dead – its over!  Yes it is that bad.  Paul says we were dead in our sins.

So, the bad news sinks in a drives us to despair?  So is God done with us forever?  NO WAY!  There is also this great news – God has this overflowing love and mercy towards us.  We are saved because Jesus died in our place!  That is the big picture of what God has done for us and this truth frames everything in our lives!  We are forgiven and free!  Man – did I need be reminded of that – every day and all the time!  How about you?

Right before Jesus ascends He gives His church marching orders.  These verses (along with many others) spell out what matters most – making disciples!  Notice Jesus doesn’t say go and be busy making members (the way we typically view membership – remember that gym membership – yeah, that one) but make disciples.  Disciples are all in and they follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  This is done (in keeping with this text) by baptizing and teaching.  Lets pray about what part we play in all of that.  How are we doing as far as making disciples and encouraging people to live out their faith?

Wow – what a cool thing. I just got back from a two-day Pastors Conference on the book of Ephesians and here it shows up in our readings!  The presenter at that conference was incredible and really helped all of us get a better handle on this letter of St Paul to a church in a place called Ephesus.  Today begins our readings in Ephesians with an intro of sorts.  This intro focuses our attention on the main point of this entire letter:  that we have redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ and that everything flows from that great truth!  What if the cross were the center of everything?  Stay tuned!

How is your week going?  Is it really hard to make the Word of God a part of your life?  What makes it so difficult?

What does church mean to you?  Is it a place you go on Sundays or is it what you are every day? Church on Sundays is awesome and so important and yet there is more.  Church is the body of Christ and so it goes way beyond Sunday morning! So, how is church going?

What a great gift from God our Moms are to us!  If you are not a Mom and can call or visit yours – do it!  They matter more than you will know.  And if you are a Mom, be encouraged that God loves you and is with you!  Happy Mothers Day!

The Narrow gate?  Jesus is telling us there is only one way to live – through Him.  His life was sacrificed to forgive us and give us life!  That means we are forgiven and that changes everything.  How has your life changed because of Jesus?

Don’t be so judgie!  Judgie?  Is that even a word? You get the idea.  No one like to think that they are judgmental.  Problem is we mistake judging with helpful correction.  The deal is this:  Right is right – wrong is wrong!  Jesus in today’s reading from Matthew is calling us to deal with our own junk.  When I have my junk dealt with I can help others!  How are you doing?