We had a great night of thinking, sharing and planning last night at Northwood.  I believe that we as a congregation are working hard to see what God is up to, and I think that we are getting very excited about joining Him in the journey.  We know and are beginning to think about the fact that Salvation is about more than Heaven.  When we are saved we are promised eternity in Heaven with God, but if being saved were just about Heaven, then the very moment that we are saved – God would take us on home to Heaven, but He allows us to stay and continue to live life here on earth, because there is work for us to do in partnership with God.

It is important to remember that salvation is the work of God!  God saves us according to His plans and for His purposes.  When we are saved our being in relationship with God should reflect who He is and what He is about.  In other words – our lives lived should point people toward God!  Our relationship with God is a very personal thing, but we should never keep it to ourselves.  We need to share our relationship and the difference it is making with everyone in everyway that we can.  When we are saved, we are born into a spiritual family.  This is one of the most often over-looked and taken-for-granted gifts of God.  I tell the world that I am in relationship with God by loving Him and loving others with the same kind of love that He loved me with.  If I am really saved, then I will live a life that is submitted to God and His calling upon my life.

Do you really love Jesus?  If you do then make sure that you are doing your part to grow, deepen and perfect the love.  If you really love Jesus then live as a part of His spiritual family and fulfill your role in the family.  If you really love Jesus, then make sure that you are an active part of His growing body.

We are the people of God and we are a part of the kingdom of God!  God loves us and we will show our love for Him by being a church that helps people come to know Him in a real and personal way, while we grow in our relationship with Him!  I am glad that we are on this journey together and I am so excited about what God is dong and going to do!

We have had some absolutly beautiful days.  I went outside to record a few words that I hope will be an encouragement to you as you face whatever it is that you have to face today!

I was planning on writing a post yesterday, but spent two hours waiting to vote!  I want to take just a moment today, now that this election is over and remind everyone of some things that we as Christians cannot afford to lose sight of!

1.  The election is over and a winner has been declared!  Barack Obama is our 44th President!  You may not like the results or you may love them, but the results are the results and we that are Christians should respect those results and not get side-tracked in frustration or overjoyment!

2.  We still have the same job to do!  Regardless of who wins the White House – our job as followers of Christ has not changed.  We are to go and make disciples!  The election may not have turned out the way that you wanted it to, or it may have turned out exactly the way that you wanted it to, but either way, it does not change the fact that we have a higher calling placed upon our lives by a higher power!  We’ve got work to do, people to encourage, hearts to unburden and lives to change!

3.  Respect is always a good thing!  I was brought up to respect my elders and people in authority!  I have noticed that one of the big things that is missing in our society today is RESPECT!  Most of the young do not respect their elders, because they have not been taught by example from their parents.  When I was a boy – Ministers, Doctors, Policemen, Firemen and Community Leaders were respected!  Now a days, people that serve our community by fulfilling these positions are analyzed, criticized and joked about on a regular basis!

We as Christians need to bring honor to God by being respectful.  So don’t tell that joke and don’t listen to that joke.  Instead of criticizing, take the time to pray for our leaders and most especially our President.  Regardless of what happens in elections – God is still on the Throne!  God deserves our best and most dedicated service and our country needs it now.  So, if your candidate won, don’t gloat and rub it in!  If your candidate lost don’t attack and tear down the other person!  Just remember who you are and who you belong to and get busy building His Kingdom and bringing glory to His name!