Celebrate the unity

Posted on October 28, 2020 by jwfisch

What does it mean to be “all in this together?” In the High School Musical movie from which our theme song for this campaign is taken, it means that all the factions that usually make up a typical high school in America, like jocks, nerds, band members, cheerleaders, and various ethnic groups and people of color — even some who were enemies —all come together at the end of the movie to support each other and support the school. That’s what it means to be “all in.” In another popular song and dance routine from the film, “Get Your Head in the Game,” students are encouraging each other to wake up and get engaged in what’s going on, whether it’s the basketball game, or the debate team, or the drama group, or the math club —doesn’t matter — get your head in the game and come together in the end because we’re all in this together.

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Posted in body life, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

‘Abide in Me, Y’all’

Posted on October 27, 2020 by jwfisch

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I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The often quoted verse above contains some hidden truth not readily available in English, unless you want to make Jesus into a Texan. As a typical American — rugged individualist that I am — I would interpret this verse as directed to me personally. Most of the teaching I would find on this verse would be directed in the same manner. It would be all about personal spiritual growth — how each one of us needs to abide in Christ in order to be fruitful in our walk with Him. 

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Posted in body life, church | Tagged , | 3 Comments

We’re All In This Together

Posted on October 26, 2020 by jwfisch

With malice toward no one; with charity for all.  – Abraham Lincoln

Unprecedented early voting numbers are flooding in. This is shaping up to be the greatest voter participation ever. The biggest question will be, however, how well will the citizenry handle the outcome? The strength of this democracy has always been that no matter how divided the country has been in an election, the partisan sides always come together by the inauguration of the newly elected President. This principle will be severely tested this year.

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Where is Nelson Mandela when we need him?

Posted on October 23, 2020 by jwfisch

In our interview with Os Guinness this week, he spoke of his admiration for America even though he is not himself an American, because of the revolution of 1776 and the great experiment of democracy which formed a vision for the country and a government that adopted a biblical basis for governing that at least attempted to take into account the innate sin nature born into the human race. This is why we have the checks and balances of three branches of government in the Hebrew tradition of the monarchy, the priesthood and the prophets.

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Posted in Christianity and politics, community, forgiveness, Justice | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Ready or not here we go

Posted on October 22, 2020 by jwfisch

Things are getting pretty bleak on this side of eternity, but that does not mean we get depressed or lose hope. It just means that things are pretty bleak. Changes in the world’s situation have no affect on the truth about Christ and His promises to never leave us or forsake us. God does not pull the rug out from under His church. We are His bride, remember? He is preparing us for marriage. The reception will be in heaven. God is not playing tricks on anyone. God is a loving, doting Father and Jesus is a faithful husband.

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Posted in church, discipleship, grace turned outward, pandemic, the gospel | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

America in crisis

Posted on October 21, 2020 by jwfisch

Well I know I can’t tell you what to do, but I can pretend I can when I tell you you must listen to last night’s interview with Os Guinness. Os is a brilliant author, thinker and social critic with global insight and a strong Christian conscience. Born in China during World War II to missionary parents who fled from there in 1951 during the Chinese revolution, he was educated in Oxford and helped Francis Schaeffer found his ministry at L’Abri, Switzerland during the ‘60s and ‘70s. As a Christian intellectual, he is beholden to no one and free to speak the truth as he sees it. He’s not a Republican or a Democrat — he’s not even an American, though he lives in the Washington D.C. area — so he is able to have an outsider’s look at our American democracy and our politics. He loves America for its brilliant 1776 experiment in democracy, but he is concerned as he is watching that democracy being eroded away by what he calls a revolution more akin to the godless French Revolution of 1789 than our own of 1776. Our discussion last night was based on his new essay, “1776 vs 1789: A tale of two revolutions and America’s present crisis — ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’”

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Posted in church, community, freedom, Justice | Tagged | 5 Comments

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled’

Posted on October 20, 2020 by jwfisch

Confusion will be my epitaph

As I crawl a cracked and broken path

If we make it we can all sit back and laugh

But I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying

Yes I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying

                        – Peter Sinfield from the song “Epitaph” by King Crimson

What is your life like on this side of eternity? Well first, we know it can’t be all bad because we know there is an eternity to be on this side of. There is life over there; there are people over there; there is a God over there and His Son is there waiting for us. Imagine if you didn’t know that and you believed there was nothing on the other side of this life. I think of the line from the King Crimson song, “Epitaph,” Will no one lay the laurel wreath when silence drowns the screams? What a tragic way to go out.

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In the in-between time

Posted on October 19, 2020 by jwfisch

“This Side of Eternity” can be the worst of all possible worlds, but it can also be the best. It depends totally on your perspective.

With so much bad news going around these days (I think we could all ring off a long list of terrible things right now) it’s time to focus on some good news — news that is ALWAYS true no matter what is going on on this side of eternity.

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Wings to fly

Posted on October 16, 2020 by jwfisch

Do this and live the law commands,

But gives me neither feet nor hands.

A better way His grace doth bring;

It bids me fly, and gives me wings.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

This is the crux of the matter — the means for reactivating the New Covenant. This is the fulcrum upon which everything pivots. It’s all about adequacy. This is the answer to the rhetorical question from chapter two: “And who is competent (adequate, sufficient) for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16) This is the answer. The ultimate answer is: “We are,” but only as it comes with a realization that we aren’t. I know that sounds like double talk, but it is exactly what Paul says here. He answers the question of adequacy by saying, in essence, “we aren’t adequate, but we are.” We are not adequate in and of ourselves, but in the New Covenant, God has made us adequate.

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Mission: Reactivation

Posted on October 15, 2020 by jwfisch

Recovering and embracing the original purpose of the church.

Recapturing the lost experience of discipleship.

Reaching the worldwide community.

Reactivating the New Covenant

Your mission today, and every day, (should you choose to accept it), is to get yourself up out of bed and throw yourself out into the world. That’s right: Get up and get out. This is the way we reactivate the New Covenant every day of our lives.

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Posted in Old/New Covenants | Tagged | 3 Comments