Thought for April 11

 History:

  • 1814: Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba
  • 1876: Order of the Elks organizes
  • 1890: Ellis Island designated as an immigration station
  • 1899: Treaty of Paris ends the Spanish-American War and Puerto Rico is ceded to the US
  • 1900: First modern submarine is purchased by the Navy
  • 1909: Establishment of Tel Aviv as a Jewish settlement
  • 1945: Four soldiers from the Sixth Armored Division liberate Buchenwald
  • 1951: General MacArthur relieved of command in Korea
  • 1961: Trial of Adolph Eichmann begins
  • 1965: Jack Nicklaus wins his second Green Jacket; 40 tornadoes hit the midwest killing 272 and injuring 5000
  • 1968: LBJ signs the Civil Rights Act
  • 1970: Apollo 13 launched
  • 1976: Apple 1 computer released
  • 1991: "Miss Saigon" opens in NY
  • 2015: President Obama and Raul Castro meet in Panama
  • Born: James Parkinson [first described Parkinson's disease], Dean Acheson, Jane Bolin [first Black female judge], Oleg Cassini, Ethel Kennedy, Joel Grey [Cabaret], 
  • Died: Joseph Merrick [Elephant Man], James Anthony Bailey [Barnum & Bailey], Erskine Caldwell ["Tobacco Road"], Kurt Vonnegut, Jonathan Winters, 
Thought:
This morning I'm reading Luke 15:7, a familiar verse. "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance." I have to let that sink in for a moment. Today, the Spirit is working on me with this verse. If the repentance of one sinner causes great joy in heaven, what does that mean for how we do church? 

  • Recently a pastor told me of receiving an email complaining because he was always preaching about salvation and baptism. Think about that in the context of this verse. If a sinner repenting causes great joy in heaven--what is the purpose of church? 
  • Now the Spirit is really after me--Larry
    • What if the service goes too long?
    • What if the songs are not the ones I prefer?
    • What if the room is too crowded, too hot, too cold?
    • What if the pews are not padded enough?
    • What if I was asked to park further away from the building to make room for guests?
    • What if my Bible study class had to move, divide?
    • What if someone asked a question in class and we got sidetracked trying to answer?
  • Then what if one sinner repented and found Christ? What if I was that sinner who needed to repent? 
Lord, help me understand that You left the 99 for the one. That You rejoice over a sinner's repentance, even mine. Help me understand that worship is not about my comfort, my happiness, my satisfaction, my pleasure, my time--it is about Your praise, Your glory, and about sinners finding eternal life in You. Forgive me for making it about me. 

Blessings
Larry

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