Life after Life afer death

N.T. Wright on Heaven | Check out this video by an excellent theologian N.T. Wright. His book “Surprised by Hope” has impacted me in some huge ways and his writing and teaching have been a big part of my education. I hope you find the video interesting and insightful and worth discussing.

The Story of Adoniram Judson

This is the story of Adoniram Judson.
It is a kingdom story that we should tell and retell and share with each other. I have posted it here for you and I hope you will share it with others.

The son of a pastor, he was a brilliant boy. His mother taught him to read in one week when he was three to surprise his father when he came home from a trip. When he was sixteen he entered Rhode Island College (later Brown University) as a sophomore and graduated at the top of his class three years later in 1807.
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4.23-4.25

[youversion]Matthew 4:23-4:25[/youversion] | After calling his first disciples Jesus begins to travel around a small area called Galilee, teaching in the Synagogues with the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. What does that mean? After all when I grew up hearing the word “Gospel” I honestly thought it was a type of music I didn’t like… But then I was told it was something like, “You’re a vile sinner doomed to hell, but Jesus died for your sins, so if you pray this prayer Jesus will save you and then you can go live with him in heaven for forever when you die.” Uummmmm…hhhmmmmm…not sure this is really the Good News…
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4.18-4.22

[youversion]Matthew 4:18-4:22[/youversion] | So we pick back up with Jesus selecting his first disciples. We cannot miss how crucial this is to the “good news” story Matthew is telling us. Jesus calls two sets of brothers to leave everything they are pouring their lives into and come follow him. So maybe leaving behind a life of bad sunburns and only dating girls who have lost their sense of smell isn’t that hard, but maybe leaving behind everything you have worked for up to this point in your so-so (c’mon you know being a fisherman is only so-so) life would be a challenge. But these four guys lose their fish-sticks over a chance to follow the Messiah. Somehow they have gotten word that this man is worth more than what they are currently giving their lives to. They don’t understand the amazingness that following this man will get them into or what it will cost them… but they follow.
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Finally…

Postings are back up! WooHoo!
The extended break can be explained by a number of things but lets just say with the return of Jack Bauer and something else I got a little “Lost” for awhile. But it’s good to be back. By the way as a side note. When we returned to Pittsburgh after the last 610, we spun out on the icy highway roads at about 60mph. Felt like a free trip on the tilt-a-whirl at the carnival, but we actually landed in a ditch without a scratch on us or the SUV. Obviously it was not our time to go, but thanks for all of you who are praying for us as we travel back and forth. Much love to you all. I look forward to seeing you all on the 7th. Invitations will go out this week - pass them on to whoever you think may want to join us that Saturday.