Snapshots and Synapses

NOTE : since this is a long blog, conclusions are summarized at the end of this article    “What is church?” my friend Jim asked as he taught a class on Revelations. Jim had been studying the book for 12 years at the time, teaching it to others in both a unique and interesting way as his understanding grew. There are prophecies in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation to the seven churches, and like all prophecies there are many different interpretations. There are various speculations about what these churches could be. But Jim’s question at the time was more generic, and I took his question as a challenge: “Explain to me what church is meant to be.” Now answering that question is not easy, and while I think most people can come up with a couple quick opinions that reflect their personal experience, those subjective ideas may not line up with God’s plan. Understanding God’s intention for church can be difficult, especially in light of the diverse ways that we have...

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV I think back to when I first started walking with Christ, and I remember so many things:  The excitement of knowing (really knowing!) that God was real and cared about me The fear that God would want me to something I really didn’t want to do The surrender in my heart of knowing that God is God and I’m not It was all about a simple faith, believing that God had a plan and that I could trust Him… the realization that I didn’t have any choice but to either trust or rebel. Not much has changed in past 20-plus years. It s...