SOUNDINGS
"Soundings" measure the depth of water as a boat passes through.
Before the nifty electronic depth gauges, a sailor stood near the bow of the ship tossed out a weighted line to measure the depth of the channel they were entering.
As a Riverboat captain, Samuel Clements knew that "Mark Twain" meant 13 feet of water under his keel and so the passage was safe.
The dictionary adds that a sounding is "…a probe, a test, or a sampling of opinion or intention."
It is my hope and prayer that the thoughts, reflections, ideas and prayers shared in this column may also be indications of God's safe passage for us all.
…that this column may probe into what it means to be a Christian, to test our discipleship, insights and intentions.
I also hope and pray that you feel free to respond back in conversation, emails or on my e-Soundings blog. (www. http://pastorterry.blogs.com)
RELATIONSHIP
Without a conversation about life, we can't be in a relationship.
And our God is a God of relationships. We are called to be in relationship with God, and with each other.
The famous verse of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life..." sums up this Gospel of relationship, this story of Jesus Christ and God's desire to be in close relationship with us.
This was unheard of before the advent of Jesus. For most, the gods were meant to be feared. For the Hebrews, God was meant to be reverenced.
For the early Christians, God invited us to love, …to draw closer to him than ever before, to be
cherished.
John 3:17 is just as important and often overlooked: "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
It tells us that condemnation is replaced by forgiveness. …that our limited, self-centered plans and ideas are transformed by God's infinite strength, death defying life and cosmic centered plans and ideas.
We could easily lose our way if we didn't have some soundings in Jesus Christ from the Bible and from each other.
NEW FRIENDS
In the next few weeks and months we'll gather in each others homes as friends in order to get better acquainted.
I encourage you to seek out one of those gatherings and make it a point to be in attendance. (Sign up today!)
It will be a time where not only will you learn a little more about Joanne and myself, but we'll get a chance to learn about you.
And most importantly, we'll get to learn together about how God's Holy Spirit is putting dreams and ideas, plans and hopes on your heart for our future together.
"'For surely I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
I know that our future season together is one of Hope, for it is one that will be filled with the Lord.
I know that there will be many surprises and challenges, even some tears and pain…, but through it all, our God will journey with us, bringing us ever closer to him and to each other through the power of Jesus Christ.
What scripture has stayed with you this week?
What have others learned about Jesus Christ because of you?
How goes it with your soul?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Terry
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