Michael McAfee and Lauren Green McAfee: Is the Bible worth reading?     

The Bible is seen by many contemporary readers as intolerant, outdated, out of step with societal norms at best, and a tool of oppression at worst.

No matter where you stand in relationship to the Bible, we want to suggest that it’s not what you think, yet everything you (and we) need.

There are fair reasons to be skeptical that the Bible applies to your own life. It can be a difficult book to read.

We are talking about a book that is not just vintage, but ancient. People have been studying it for centuries and still struggle to understand some of its meaning. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic by various authors, from diverse contexts and backgrounds, over hundreds of years. It is a sacred text to many, and a dangerous text to some.

The Bible does not point us to a rulebook or inspiration we might have expected. It provides the grace we most desperately need. 

But both of us have witnessed firsthand its impact for good and firmly believe that when the Bible has been properly applied to life, it makes the world a better place. Not only has it changed the world in the past; this ancient text, the Bible, has the power to transform our modern world as well.

Here are two reasons we think the Bible is worth reading.

Reading the Bible gives us the opportunity to see God through the lives of others. While times, people, languages, and cultures may change, the God whom people interact with does not.

There are two constants that you will encounter in reading the Bible: the first is the human tendency to fail; the second is God’s steadfast love and patience.

It is true that God’s love is never changing. It is also true that God is just, and therefore God judges people for rebelling against him and hurting others. But that judgment doesn’t discount his love; it actually makes it more real, for he loves people so much that he is willing to make things right in the world by punishing those who perpetuate injustice. The interplay between these two constants is what makes the Bible relevant to our lives today. People still fail — on that we think we can all agree. We also hope you are increasingly open to the idea that God is still faithful.

The Bible is a fascinating narrative that reveals these two constants, and in the end, points to one story. If there is only one message you remember about the Bible, it should be this: the Bible is about Jesus. It’s not all about you and me. It’s not about all the individual stories that are turned into Hollywood blockbusters. It is about the life, death and resurrection of God’s Son Jesus, and how our story collides with that narrative.

The Bible is more than a book of rules. The Bible is a classic, because it is never finished saying what it has to say. Perhaps before rejecting its meaning, you could try to understand its message.

We believe our millennial generation is remarkably gifted to identify timeless beauty when they see it. When you catch a glimpse of the Bible’s message firsthand, you may wonder how you didn’t see it befor

When you come to it on its level and accept the rules of the text, when you are open to seeing Jesus as the source of the Bible’s inspiration, the center of its narrative, and when you recognize how God displays his grace toward us, then and only then will the Bible begin to open up to you.

The Bible does not point us to a rulebook or inspiration we might have expected. It provides the grace we most desperately need.

You Are Not a Victim of Your Thoughts          

Life has a way of unloading her rubbish on our doorstep! Your husband works too much. Your wife gripes too much. Your boss expects too much. Your kids whine too much. The result? Trash. Loads of pessimism, guilt, anxiety—it all piles up. And what about the Pharisees? They killed Christ in their hearts before they killed him on the cross.

Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions. Could that be why Paul writes, “Love…keeps no record of wrongs?” (1 Corinthians 13:5). We do have a choice. Paul says we do when he writes, “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Selfishness, step back!  Envy…get lost! You are not a victim of your thoughts. If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s love? Will standing beneath the downpour of his grace change the way we feel about others? Absolutely!

By Max Lucado

What is Heaven?

A Prayer to Help You Long for HeavenBy Dr. John Barnett            

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." - John 14:2

Before we long for heaven, we have to understand what heaven is:

Heaven is a place from which God looks down to the earth: "The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God" (Psalm 14:2, NIV).

So what is heaven? Not only the dwelling place of God, but it has an incredible vertical imagery. It is the place, first of all, from which God looks down upon us.

Heaven is the place from which Christ came down: " ‘For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world' " (John 6:33). The Bibledescribes heaven not only as the place from which God looks down upon the earth but also the place from which Christ came down to the earth.

More than anything else-heaven is a city. In Revelation 20-22, we see that this city is replete with walls, gates, and streets. This testifies to us as believers being united in one place in the worship of God. We are all going to be delivered securely to a city in heaven that is perfect and eternal. But though a city, it is unlike any city we know here on earth, for this city also possesses the features of an earthly paradise. We will have the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7). There is also the crystal-clear river of life that flows from the throne of God. On each side of the river is the tree of life, that bears twelve crops of fruit every year, and its leaves are for healing the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).

Do you long for heaven? If not, that’s okay—it can be hard to long for something that seems so far away from us. But the more you meditate on the Word and pray, the more you will long to be close to Jesus in heaven. Here’s a prayer you can begin to pray today to draw close to God and long for heaven:

Lord, I confess I don’t often long for heaven. I’m a creature of this world and crave worldly things, not heavenly ones. I ask you would grow a desire in me for heaven. Help me not be satisfied with the things of this world, but long for closeness with you and the perfection of eternity in your presence. Lord, thank you for the hope of heaven and the joy we will have when we get there! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Morning Prayer; 06/22/2019           

Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Debbie McDaniel, The Power of Gratitude