Galatians 1:6-10

Galatians 1:6-10 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There are a lot of Christian preachers out there, and each one has a slightly different understanding of the Gospel.  Some of them are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while others have drifted, be it intentional or not, and preach a distortion of the Gospel.  None of us are perfect, but some are farther from the truth than others.  The prosperity Gospel is a perfect example of this -- there are preachers out there in today's world who allege that your material blessings (or lack thereof) are a sign of God's favor (or lack thereof).  It's wrong, but it's very popular, mostly because people believe that if they can get their faithfulness straightened out, they'll be rich and buy a boat.  And who doesn't want a yacht?
  I'm not perfect, either.  I try and preach faithfully, but like every other preacher out there, my sin gets in the way.  This is why it's so critical that you read and understand the Gospel for yourself, and that you are part of a religious community that creates room to ask questions.  If you don't feel comfortable asking your pastor tough questions, please find a new pastor who has the humility to accept that they don't know everything.
  The most important thing is this -- Jesus Christ died for you, so that your sins might be forgiven.  God loves you unconditionally and is willing to pay any price to ransom you from the prison of sin and death, and you have been set free by what Christ has done for you.  There is no other name by which we are saved, and there is nothing more we can do that will add to what Christ has done.  You are loved as you are, invited into the Kingdom of God through the grace of Jesus Christ.  This is the Gospel.  Believe it, drink it in, live in its wonder, and be accepted and made whole through the love of God.  You are precious in God's sight.

  In our modern divisive age, in which we're constantly surrounded by negativity and conflict, please here this message -- you are beloved, and you are saved by grace through faith because of what Christ has done. 

Galatians 1:1-5

Galatians 1:1-5 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Paul's writing to the church in Galatia at an important time in the life of that church -- they're adding new believers, and the new believers coming in are different than the current church.  The church is wrestling with how they have to change, and there's a sizable faction that wants to make the new believers follow the old Jewish laws.  Paul, however, is reminding the entire church that the Gospel means that Christ is sufficient for salvation -- there is nothing else that is needed to be done.  He starts clearly here -- that Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us, and it was by the will of God.
  Thousands of years later, the church still wrestles with bringing in new believers.  Often, these believers want to change things, and the church is often busy telling the new believers how they need to change.  There is lots of change involved on both sides, as God refreshes the church and transforms the new believers.  What's important is that we remain open to change, that we allow the room for God to work on our hearts and our lives, that we might not woodenly remain the same, because we then develop blind spots to how God is at work.
  So I'd invite you to find some articles on trends in the church.  Notice what's happening in the larger church world.  Some of these may make you uncomfortable.  Try and understand the motives.  See what is happening.  Some of it may be wrong, and needs to be corrected.  Some of it may be a helpful learning area, and it could help rejuvenate the church in its outreach.  All of it can teach us and help us understand what we believe, why we believe it and how we can be in conversation with the larger world. 
  Personally, I think Christianity Today is a great source.  I'm also a big fan of the folks over at White Horse Inn.  There are countless other sources -- just read, or listen, and see what is out there.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
English Standard Version (ESV)

  So that Super Bowl was terrible.  The ads weren't that great as well.  And I doubt that too many people were eager to see Tom Brady win yet another ring -- but his excellence and perseverance are admirable.  He has endured in a league that is commonly referred to as 'Not For Long'.  He has maintained his abilities and somehow finds a way to win -- the longer that game went on, the longer it stayed close, a Patriots win felt inevitable.
  Tom Brady's Super Bowl rings will fade someday.  They'll last longer than many trophies, but one day they will be forgotten.  What if I told you that you will receive a ring of glory that will not fade, that will not pass away?  What if I told you that God wants to give you something of far greater value than a Super Bowl trophy?  What if the riches and glory of the heavenly kingdom could be yours, and the price has been paid by someone else?
  I think all of us would be willing to work harder if we were offered the chance to win Super Bowl-level glory.  God offers us something infinitely more valuable, and he offers it as a gift.  Paul urges the Corinthians to press on, to claim the prize and revel in the grace of God.  May we do the same, disciplining ourselves to receive what God freely offers us and living into the wonder of God's Kingdom!

Romans 7:15-20

Romans 7:15-20 
English Standard Version (ESV)


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  So the 1-3" of snow last night turned into 5-6", which made the commute pretty tricky this morning.  I'd point my car in one direction, and it mostly went that way.  But even when I was trying my hardest, the conditions on the road were dictating that it was slow and uncertain progress.  Trying to go faster on my own would have been foolish -- so I went slowly and was patient, remembering the blessing of having a car with a working heater and a job to go to.
  In our spiritual lives, so often we want to blast forward in a straight and direct line to the objective, which is a mature and developed relationship with Christ.  In reality, the conditions in the world around us, and the brokenness within us, dictates that it is slow and unsteady progress.  Sin is constantly diverting us, and while we continue to move forward, it's not always a straight line.  Just like the overpass I was trying to climb today, covered in slush, sometimes the wheels spin and the car doesn't go anywhere until it finds some grip and patiently climbs what was once an insurmountable obstacle.
  It's easy to be jealous of those who make it look easy.  Some people with all wheel drive can get around on the snow pretty well.  Someday, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I'll be there, trusting in God and better able to overcome the obstacles.  Until then, I'll slowly push forward, looking for opportunities, counting my blessings, and keeping my eyes on the prize.